The Talon | Issue 3 | December 10, 2021

Los Altos High School, Los Altos, CA ■ December 10, 2021 ■ Volume XXXVII, Issue 3

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

BOMB THREAT: THE RECEIPTS Discover the behind-thescenes of the bomb threat and the hidden costs of the resources used. News, 2

Student Feedback on Dress Code Draft Learn about ASB’s revisions to the previous LAHS dress code. News, 4

Embracing Assertiveness Read Opinions Editor Emilie Enser’s take on why women need to understand what they deserve from others.

Opinions, 7

LAHS Student Takes on Bad Parking Find out how a student-run Instagram account helps students be more conscientious of their bad parking jobs.

Features, 11

COURTESY DIANA SUVOROVA

AVID students win national business competition in U.S. Virgin Islands Entrepreneurial team of AVID students presented their award-winning sustainable hair products to judges.

ALLAN FELDMAN Copy Editor

A group of four Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program students from the Mountain View–Los Altos School District won the 2021

Young Entrepreneurz Solutions (YES) National Business Plan Challenge during the first weekend of November, earning a grand prize of $1,000 per student. The students traveled to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands in an all-expenses-paid trip for the

national competition.

The group of four students — Los Altos High School juniors Diana Suvorova, Naidely Gonzalez-Herrera and two other students from Mountain View High School — were the winning team from last year’s local

Disney Princes, Ranked Reflect on your childhood nostalgia with this royal tier list that’s Talon-approved.

Arts & Culture, 14

‘The Princess Switch 3’: A festive, forgettable flop

Business Manager

The team takes on its season headfirst, securing its first win and planning for many more down the line.

Sports, 16

VIA 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS

UPCOMING EVENTS December 21

Winter Solstice December 24

Christmas Eve December 25

Christmas

December 26–January 1

Kwanzaa

December 31

New Year’s Eve January 1

New Year’s Day January 17

Martin Luther King Jr. Day News Opinions In-Depth

2 6 8

Editorial Features Arts & Culture Sports

10 11 13 16

Margaret (Vanessa Hudgens) and Stacy (Vanessa Hudgens) discuss their plan to recover the Star of St. Nicholas. After the Star is stolen, the two royals must recruit their scheming cousin Fiona (Vanessa Hudgens) to get it back. development thwarted the deep NATHANIEL JOFFE emotional impact I’d been hopFeatures Editor ing for.

Move over, Frosty the Snowman.

It’s impossible to understand Watching three different Vanessa the movie without being able to Hudgenses simultaneously kiss distinguish between the lookathree different love interests is like main characters, all played the new cinematic Christmas tra- by “High School Musical” acdition. tress Vanessa Hudgens. There’s Although I’ve never watched Margaret, a sensible and highthe first two installments of “The born queen; Stacy, an AmeriPrincess Switch” franchise, Net- can baker-turned-princess of a flix’s “The Princess Switch 3: Ro- neighboring country and Fiona, mancing the Star” showed poten- Margaret’s scheming cousin with tial as a fun holiday romp. Once coy catchphrases like “spicy” I’d done some quick Wikipedia and “meow.” Like its predecesresearch on the first two movies, sors, the movie’s plot is driven I was all ready to bask in some by the main characters’ identiChristmas magic. Unfortunately, cal looks and the constant barthough I was intrigued by the in- rage of new situations in which tricacies of the Princess Switch they need to impersonate one universe, the constant clichés another. and lack of coherent character “Princess” continues on page 13

“AVID” continues on page 2

Girls cross country makes history at the state championship meet ROSE LIU

Girls Soccer Successes

MVLA YES competition, qualifying them for the national competition this year, alongside three other teams. The other teams came from Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Milwaukee, WI and Orange County, Calif.

From racing in the highly competitive El Camino league to competing in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Championship race, the Los Altos High School varsity girls cross country team has had a record-breaking season, making their mark in LAHS cross country history.

After their outstanding performance early in the season, the varsity girls team competed in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) finals and became the first-ever LAHS team to win the race in the El Camino League.

This first-place finish qualified them for the CCS Division 1 race, the first team in school history to do so.

While the varsity boys team was just short of qualifying for CCS as well, three varsity boys did individually make it to CCS: juniors Boden Sirey, Joseph Falkenburg and Nathaniel Joffe.

On Saturday, November 13, the varsity girls team competed in the CCS Championship race on the hills of Crystal Springs. As they preserved through the heat of the day, they placed second in the race, making them the first LAHS team to qualify for the state meet since 2012.

“Cross country” continues on page 16

COURTESY TOMOKI CHIEN

The varsity girls cross country team poses for a group photo after running a record-breaking race on the Crystal Springs course at their second SCVAL meet.

The Talon December 10, 2021

Read more news articles at lahstalon.org/category/news

AVID CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE The YES competition is one of the many programs that AVID partners with to provide students a variety of career-oriented resources. This program, made possible by a partnership with Comerica Bank, teaches students entrepreneurial skills with speakers like Rutgers Business School professor and Executive Director of the YES program Ernest Ruffin Jr. Teams of students then pitch an idea for an original product to a panel of judges, many of whom are real investors.

The MVLA winning team’s company is called NDEN (made by combining the team members’ first names), featuring their product of dry shampoo and conditioner bars that do not require plastic packaging. Last year, the team won the local competition with a design that included liquid shampoo and conditioner, supplemented by ecofriendly packaging; however, they had redesigned their product for nationals and removed the packaging aspect altogether.

One of the greatest challenges the team faced was the research

behind the design, and presenting that research in an easily comprehensible way for the judges, according to team Chief Executive Diana.

“We’re not really chemists, and the business we wanted to make was very based on the knowledge of chemistry,” Diana said. “[At the same time], it’s very important to understand that your audience is probably not going to care about [behontremonium methosulfate] or whatever else we add into the bars. Our goal was to do the complicated research and simplify it as much as possible.”

Despite the high-stakes environment of the competition with a national title at hand, Diana pointed out that the trip was quite relaxing and welcoming.

“It was very much like a vacation atmosphere,” Diana said. “We went to the beach a lot — our hotel was right in front of one.”

Now with a national title under her belt, Diana sees the competition as a reflection of the work AVID does for its students.

“AVID has connected me to a lot of different pathways,” Diana said.

“I think that the AVID teachers do an incredible job at bringing all the little opportunities that come up in different places for students … [and] at providing students with

COURTESY DIANA SUVOROVA

The team traveled to the St. Croix Island in an all-expenses-paid trip with a private jet. things that really help them build career interests.”

Next year, the national competition will take place in Saint Thomas

island. A winning group of five LAHS AVID sophomores — Diana Flores, Hazel Castaneda-Lopez, Melissa Gabriel, Esperansa

Kulyger and Angel Oregon — from the local MVLA competition this October are already planning to attend.

LAHS bomb threat: The receipts ANIKA SIKKA

administration’s discretion; administration was trying to make choices that would benefit stuFollowing Los Altos High dents the best, according to SatSchool’s October bomb threat, terwhite. The biggest concern The Talon spoke with school and was having students out in the community representatives to heat, so students were moved provide holistic coverage of the to an area with more shade. Alevent as well as its cost. though the move also heightAn unknown LAHS staff mem- ened COVID-19 transmission ber received the anonymous concerns due to the compact threat through a phone call at 8:55 nature of the space, the school a.m. Within 90 seconds of the offered extended COVID-19 testcall, Principal Wynne Satterwhite ing every day for the next week. was notified of the threat, and the Students who needed additional authorities were called. Teachers assistance were brought into the were then notified to immediately portables, and met with counselevacuate students through an an- ors and teachers to address their nouncement on the loudspeaker. needs.

The fire alarm was not pulled in While trying to maintain stuorder to alert students and staff dent comfort, LAHS provided of the situation, — a students and staff strategic choice, acwith food from the cording to Satterschool’s brunch and white. lunch supply for the Fire alarms in“There’s no way to day. Students were quickly pull the fire crease people’s also given water alarm,” Satterwhite anxiety. We from the school’s said, explaining why weren’t trying emergency resource the administration to do that at the bins. decided against pullWhile ensuring stumoment ing the fire alarm. dent safety and well— Wynne Satterwhite “Since we’ve implebeing, school adminmented new techistrators worked in nology in the classrooms, the fire tandem with local and national alarm is triggered automatically. law enforcement to develop a You’d have to walk down to a dif- plan of action for searching the ferent space in order to manually school for the threatened incenactivate the alarm. Fire alarms in- diary device and the subsequent crease people’s anxiety,” Satter- student and teacher evacuation. white added. “We weren’t trying Given the severity of the threat, to do that at the moment.” as well as the number of students Within approximately 15 min- potentially impacted, the Los Alutes, all students and teachers tos Police Department worked were evacuated to the field, and with the Mountain View and teachers were made aware of the Sunnyvale police departments to nature of the situation through provide adequate surveillance of word-of-mouth by the staff-stu- the scene. Local firefighters from dent liaisons Seth Tasman and the community were also present Julie Corzine. on campus along with the Santa Decisions such as moving stu- Clara County Sheriff's Office, dents to the baseball field and Stanford Department of Pubbringing out water and food for lic Safety, U.S. Coast Guard, the students were all due to staff and Department of Homeland SeNews Editor

ROHAN VASWANI

On Friday, October 1, an anonymous bomb threat was called in to Los Altos High School. In order to ensure student safety, LAHS used many internal and external resources; the community also provided LAHS with resources to evaluate the threat. curity and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Division. These agencies are called in any bomb threat situation, according to Satterwhite.

These agencies along with Emergency Medical Services stayed on campus for approximately four hours, assisting local law enforcement and also providing six explosive detection canines to aid in the search for the bomb.

“We’re extremely grateful for the support we received from our community,” Satterwhite said. “It was amazing.”

Students were permitted to leave campus at around 10:55 a.m, and the authorities completed their search determining the

threat wasn’t valid around 2:00 p.m.

Teachers were then allowed to leave campus, and were paid for a full day of instruction. About 10 teachers stayed overtime to help conclude procedures at school and were paid for their time, according to Associate Superintendent of Business Services Mike Mathiesen.

“It’s hard to put a cost on the resources — both internal and external — that we used that day,” Mathiesen said. “There was an immense amount of support from our community, a cost would be hard to quantify, and there’s also an emotional cost with a lack of instructional time factored in.”

The student who called in the false bomb threat was identified earlier in November, and was “cited on multiple charges of making criminal threats and for making a false bomb report,” according to a Los Altos Police Department press release.

In order to improve the evacuation process, the LAHS administration sent out a survey to students regarding their experience and is analyzing the results to develop a broader plan for future emergencies.

“My biggest concern at the time was student safety,” Satterwhite said. “If I had to push over the fences to get students out, I would’ve.”

The Talon December 10, 2021

Board agrees to discuss funding for reading specialist and implementation of an ELD program at LAHS NAOMI ICHIRIU Senior Writer

The Mountain View–Los Altos School Board agreed to discuss the addition of a reading specialist at both Los Altos and Mountain View high schools

at a board meeting on Monday, November 8. They also discussed implementation of an English Language Development (ELD) program at LAHS, per the request of the LAHS English department.

This request comes after analyzing both schools’ performance on the Standardized Testing and Reporting (Star) Renaissance test that freshmen are required to take during the first few weeks of school.

OLIVIA HEWANG

The Mountain View–Los Altos School Board will discuss the integration of an English Language Development program at LAHS similar to the one at MVHS. Additionally, the English department at both LAHS and MVHS both supported the addition of a reading specialist.

The test measures reading will naturally struggle with subcomprehension and compares jects other than English.” students’ reading skills relaBennett also pushed for the tive to their grade level. This creation of a formal Engfall, 29 percent of freshmen at lish Language Development LAHS were found to be below (ELD) program at LAHS, one grade level in terms of read- that provides additional lining, a 4 percent inguistic support to crease from last fall. students as necesOver 140 freshmen sary, similar to the have been identified As reading is program at MVHS. as needing “inter- used in esLAHS used to have vention,” and over sentially every an ELD program, 80 freshmen would class, students but the District benefit from a readdecided to conwho struggle ing specialist, accentrate the sercording to English greatly with vices at one MVHS Department Coor- reading will a number of years dinator Margaret naturally strugago. Someone who Bennett. qualifies for ELD gle with subBennett advocated services should be for a reading special- jects other than at MVHS; however, ist at both schools, English. this is not always citing that students the case.

— Margaret Bennett have fundamental “There are at least issues with read65 students that ing comprehension — those would qualify for ELD serthat secondary school Eng- vices and we don’t have anylish teachers aren’t trained to thing for them formally — and supplement. Reading special- that’s problematic,” Bennett ists would pull students out said. MVHS has 169 students for their classes for one-on- who qualify while LAHS has one training, and could be a 65, which is still a substanresource for teachers to learn tial number of students who how to best support students would greatly benefit from the who struggle with reading. implementation of a formal “This is a school-wide issue ELD program.

— it impacts a student’s abilThe Board agreed to disity to access material in all of cuss the funding and details their classes,” Bennett said. of having a reading specialist “As reading is used in essen- at each school; the topic will tially every class, students who be discussed at future board struggle greatly with reading meetings.

‘Burn calories, take the stairs’ sign causes controversy AUDREY ZHU Staff Writer

Content warning: mentions of eating disorders

Three signs that read “Burn Calories, not Electricity. Take the Stairs!” were posted by Los Altos High School’s construction company next to the stairs of the 600s building. The signs raised concerns

from students who claim that they send a harmful message to those who feel insecure about their bodies.

The sign’s intended purpose, according to Associate Superintendent Business Services Mike Mathiesen, was to encourage students to avoid the elevator in order to save electricity. This is part of an overarching effort in helping the school “attain Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design Silver certification,” an accolade relating to energy efficiency. Additionally, the sign’s intent was to “promote occupant health and well-being”, according to QKA, LAHS’s architect firm, which is why the calorie part was included in its message. “[QKA] plans to remove the sign and either replace [it] with a better one or just simply not replace,” Mathiesen said.

RACHEL RUDYAK

A sign that reads, “Burn calories, not electricity,” is posted near the stairs of the 600s building. This sign has caused a lot of controversy among students, and prompted some students to speak out in favor of its removal.

Following the sign’s posting at the comment reads. “For starters, this beginning of the year, sophomore can be extremely triggering for Julia Pletcher started a petition to people already suffering with an take it down because of the harm- [eating disorder], let alone influful message she believes the sign ence others to burn calories.” sends to young students who might “This should not be displayed in feel insecure about their bodies. a place of learning for children,” anIn her petition, she urged LAHS other comment says. to take down the sign Although the peti“to help create a better tion has 150 signa[school] environment tures, Julia has refocused more on men- As someone ceived some criticism tal health and well be- with an eating about her involveing”. ment with trying to disorder and in “[The petition] was recovery, I find take the sign down. a backup if they were “There were some this absolutely hesitant about [takpeople who were calling the sign down], or disgusting. ing me a snowflake if they said, ‘We don’t and saying that I was — Instagram user want to do anything making a big deal out about it,’” Julia said. of things,” Julia said.

“My friend and I started the peti- “It’s just kind of annoying because tion and then we had a good re- if it doesn’t affect you, that’s great, sponse from the school, so we were but it affects other people.” just hoping they’d take [the sign] A poll on Instagram shows that down.” students have mixed opinions LAHS staff and administration about the effects of the sign — had no involvement in the design around half of the responses are or posting of the sign. LAHS ad- from students who claim that it is ministration is unable to remove sending a harmful message while the signs themselves since the the other half claim that the sign buildings are still under construc- is well-written with a positive intion, and full ownership rests with tended message. the construction company, accordJulia asked Assistant Principal Suing to Assistant Principal Galen zanne Woolfolk about the sign’s reRosenburg. moval process a few days after creat“We are considering removing or ing the petition, and Woolfolk then replacing them once we officially asked construction to remove the take ownership of the new build- signs; she was under the impression ings,” Rosenberg said. that the signs had been removed.

Many other students expressed But the signs still remain posted. their concerns about the sign in the “I’ve asked that construction recomments of the petition. move them multiple times (and “As someone with an eating dis- they had been),” Woolfolk said. order and in recovery, I find this “[I’m] not sure if there’s a remainder sign absolutely disgusting,” one out there.”

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Talon Publication Date Talon December 10, 2021 44 TheThe

Administration requests final diploma names; seniors suggest revisions to name change process NINA CROFTS NATALIE WEI Senior Writer

As Los Altos High School gears up for the graduation ceremony next June, the senior class has been invited to specify which name should be printed on their high school diploma. The form, administered by Registrar Elena Baquero, asks students to first list their full name exactly as it appears on their birth certificate, then email Baquero if their preferred name is different.

Student diplomas are typically printed with students’ full legal names. But unlike school transcripts and birth certificates, diplomas are not legal documents, meaning that students may request another name they desire.

“A lot of us have names that were assigned to us at birth by our loving parents, and we may not necessarily love the name as much as our parents did,” Baquero said. “We have kids who are LGBTQ+ or trans who do not consider their given name the name that they identify with.

We just want to be respectful of that.”

Baquero’s email asks that parents be carbon copied regarding diploma name-change correspondence if the student is a minor at the time of graduation.

One primary concern Baquero shared was the possibility of outing a student during the ceremony.

“We do need to respect that the student is a minor,” Baquero said, “Ultimately, it’s the parent who will have the final say. I will say in my experience, I still

haven’t had any students come in and have their parents say, ‘No, absolutely not’ to a name change request.”

Gender and Sexuality Awareness Club President senior Fenn Marsot disagreed with the requirement for parent notification since there is no obligation to use their birth name. They also mentioned that in their experience, most students requesting a name change have already come out or would come out with their diploma.

“There is a small percentage of students who are not accepted as trans,” Fenn said. “Within that percentage, most are people whose parents know that they go by a different name, but don’t approve — when graduation comes, and students have to notify them, their parents will actively work against them. If parents weren’t notified, they wouldn’t be able to mess up the process and make the student feel uncomfortable.”

In addition to students who do not identify with their given or legal name, the option to request a different name on the diploma applies to students with a legal name in a different language or those who prefer nicknames.

“There have been a handful of requests,” Baquero said. “The majority are either students who go by a preferred name, whether it matches their given gender or not, or kids who prefer a nickname or their middle name.”

The name-change process predates the Mountain View–Los Altos District’s gender support plan, though Baquero acknowledges that there have likely been more instances following the

plan’s implementation.

Fenn, however, feels that the gender support plan is not reflected in the process: After submitting the form, they received an automated message stating there was a discrepancy between their answers and school records.

This concerned Fenn, who had already followed the gender support plan to change their legal name to their preferred name in the school’s system.

“There’s clearly some sort of disconnect,” Fenn said. “I

thought that because I’d already changed my name in the system, I really wouldn’t have to worry about changing my name on the diploma at all. I remember Ms. Woolfolk saying that this was the name that was going to be in the yearbook, in the graduation pamphlet and on my diploma.”

Instead of employing a uniform procedure for all graduating seniors, Fenn recommends taking a case-by-case approach to ensure that all students receive the appropriate accommo-

dations.

“It would be better to assume that if someone is serious about changing their name on the diploma, they should be able to get a specific reply or a meeting,” Fenn said. “I feel like that might be a better system: one that doesn’t just send an automated response telling them that the form doesn't match with their information.”

Students interested in having a different name on their diploma should contact Baquero at elena. baquero@mvla.net.

NAOMI ICHIRIU

Seniors are able to request a change to the official name on their diploma; however, some seniors see flaws with the process, and propose changes on how to make the experience a better one.

Revised dress code set to be out for student feedback Faught. Following District approval, the dress code was then sent to the staff, who suggested their own The Mountain View–Los Altos changes. However, the District did School Board approved changes not immediately approve the staffto the student dress code pro- made changes, and is now seeking posed by Los Altos High School’s student feedback on them prior Associated Student Body (ASB) to making any decisions, accordearlier this year, which will soon ing to ASB President senior Aida be released for school-wide stu- Yezalaleul.

After receiving dent feedback. The student feedback, changes were made in the dress code has response to student to ultimately be apconcern over sexist What we don’t proved by a panel rhetoric in the prior want is to creof both Mountain policy. ate an environView and Los Altos These adapted dress ment where it high school admincode policies are inistrators. Faught’s tended to be more le- is distracting initial goal was to nient in terms of stu- for students to have the dress code dent attire, stating the work in. implemented no following: — Associate Superinlater than the be1. Students must tendent Teri Faught ginning of October, wear clothing includbut the feedback ing both a shirt with pants or skirt, or the equivalent, and revision process has contributed to a delay in this schedule. As and shoes.

2. Fabric covering all private of right now, the final dress code’s completion date is unknown. parts must not be see-through.

After reviewing student feed3. Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities back, the administration will including physical education and make additional changes before the safety requirements of sci- getting a final vote of approval ence, culinary and engineering from MVLA Superintendent Dr. Nellie Meyer. labs.

“Our vision for the dress code 4. Specialized programs may require specific attire, such as was written to be more equitable, performing arts, or athletics uni- inclusive and inspiring,” Faught said. “We removed certain paramforms or safety gear.

ASB initially brainstormed these eters that were very specific about dress code revisions and sent their what a student can and cannot proposal to Associate Superinten- wear — requirements like shorts dent of Educational Services Teri having to be fingertips long,

EMILIE ENSER Opinions Editor

shirts having certain width requirements for the straps or how much midriff can be shown.”

The goal of the changes is to decrease the stereotyping and marginalization of students. Rules like the prohibition of wearing clothing with language of drugs,

alcohol and gang associations will still be in place, according to Faught, although the dress code that ASB is sending out to students doesn’t have any guidelines on such clothing.

“What we don’t want is to create an environment where it is

distracting for students to work in,” Faught said. “We feel that our [new] dress code policy is not going so far to the left that we are going to have major issues where people are getting distracted all the time about what people are or are not wearing.

NATALIE WEI

As students return to campus for the 2021–22 school year, establishing a finalized dress code has been brought to the MVLA’s administration’s attention. The Associated Student Body has proposed a revised dress code in an effort to address concerns over sexist policies, and student opinion will be collected in January to give the MVLA feedback for further revisions.

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The Talon December 10, 2021

5

District releases results to survey regarding bell schedule changes Although there will be no changes made to the bell schedule for the 2021–22 school year, MVLA The Mountain View–Los Altos administrators will use the results District released the results to a to “determine IF and WHAT adsurvey garnering feedback on the justments [to the bell schedule current bell schedule for input on might be beneficial in the future.” potential minor changes to the In the survey, when students bell schedule Wednesday, Decem- were asked how to “create a stuber 8. dent-centered bell schedule that The current bell schedule fol- supports teacher collaboration lows a ABCBC structure — an and innovation,” the most popu“A” day includes all lar comments were seven 45-minute pemainly focused on the riods, while “B” and length of the school The most popu“C” days include days and the ACT peblock periods that lar comments riod, which is a time are 85 minutes each, were mainly when students are alternating odd and focused on the able to work on aseven periods. The length of the signments and make changes in the new appointments with bell schedule for this school days and teachers.

Students school year prompt- the ACT period. suggested making the ed the district to creschool day shorter, ate a ThoughtExchange survey; and including optional ACT/tutothe survey had 214 participants rial periods at the end of the day or and 120 comments. allowing students more freedom “Part of the agreement when the on where they could go for their bell schedule was built in 2019 was ACT time. that during its first year of impleMany thoughts were also shared mentation we would survey our about the ABCBC structure itself. students and staff to gather their According to student input from feedback on this new schedule,” the survey, many students wantAssociate Superintendent of Edu- ed a change in the bell schedule cational Services Teri Faught said. on Tuesdays, which includes the

AUDREY ZHU Staff Writer

NATALIE WEI

At last Tuesday’s Community Conversations event, panelists discussed the disproportionate impacts the pandemic has had on women’s mental health. four odd periods, to reduce stress from homework load on Monday evenings. However, these changes might impact instructional time

and may cause scheduling problems.

The results will be used by the district “to understand [MVLA]

students and staff experience, needs, concerns, and benefits with the schedule,” according to Faught.

Women’s mental health discussed at Community Conversations event VAISHU SIRKAY

to have it all together and take care of everything and do everything. I think the very sigThe pandemic has caused nificant generational pressures disproportionately large men- just make it really hard for tal health effects for women, women to, themselves, recogaccording to panelists at last nize their symptoms.”

Riley Simonsen, a senior at Tuesday’s event focusing on women’s mental health at a lo- Saint Francis and Community Health Awareness Council Teen cal level.

Part of a larger Gender Dis- Advisory Board member, pointparities in the Pandemic series, ed to similar dynamics at the the webinar was co-hosted by high school level as students the Los Altos Women’s Caucus have been encouraged to return and the Los Altos Mountain to pre-pandemic normalcy this View Community Foundation year.

“What they [counselors at St. and is part of the long-running Francis and CHAC] Community Conhave told me and versations program, what I have been which aims to proseeing personally is vide opportunities We need to enthat young women to hear about local courage teens in particular have issues from experts. to not go back had increased presDuring the event, sure to return to the Dr. Nirmaljit Dhami to the old norm, normal,” Riley said. shared observations but focus on “And a lot of this from her work at El whatever their Camino Health, in- new norm might normal is the pressure to be put tocluding an increase gether.” in depression, sub- be.

While the Mounstance abuse, vap— Riley Simonsen tain View–Los Altos ing, reported doSchool District does mestic abuse and violence, PTSD and suicidal not collect gender-specific thoughts and attempts in pa- data on mental health, Welltients. She also cited findings ness Coordinator William Blair from a 2021 study which con- acknowledged the increasing cluded that women made up rates of depression and anxiety about two-thirds of pandem- and confirmed that depression ic-related additional cases of and anxiety, which are more major depressive disorder and prevalent in women, are the anxiety disorders globally. Both most commonly presenting isinternal and external forces sues within MVLA. From Riley’s perspective, this that push women to minimize their symptoms could be re- has manifested in disproporsponsible for the increased tionately large reactions to relprevalence of mental health is- atively small stressors, as well as body image issues. Riley exsues.

“There are just too many ex- plained how the developmental pectations of women,” Dhami and weight changes students said. “Our culture wants us to experienced during quarantine, be in this perfectionistic role, in conjunction with unrealistic Copy Editor

body standards reinforced by increased social media use, has led to discomfort for some students.

“Coming back to school and looking different, feeling different about themselves has been very stressful and anxiety-inducing for girls,” Riley said.

The panelists also discussed ways to provide mental health support and resources to women. At the high school level, Riley believes that readjusting what is expected of students post-quarantine socially, extracurricularly and academically could help alleviate some of their stress.

“We need to try to encourage teens to not go back to the old norm, but focus on whatever their new norm might be,” Riley said.

Some specific resources available to students within the district include the opportunity to speak to CHAC clinicians, and the district is currently working on forming an anxiety-based support group in partnership with CHAC, according to Blair.

Dr. Sandra Escobar, the clinical director at Ravenswood Family Health Services, emphasized the importance of telehealth appointments and creative solutions, like service providers assisting out-of-state

patients in underserved communities, to increase access to mental health resources. She also advocated for self-care to be framed as a necessity, as opposed to a luxury, and Dhami pointed out the importance of non-stigmatizing conversations around mental health and trauma-informed care.

While Escobar acknowledges the difficult challenges facing the community, she believes that there are lessons to be learned from the pandemic that can help patients long after.

“I wouldn’t be in this business if I didn’t have hope,” Escobar said.

NATALIE WEI

At last Tuesday’s Community Conversations event, panelists discussed the disproportionate impacts the pandemic has had on women’s mental health.

6

The Talon December 10, 2021

Read more opinions articles at lahstalon.org/category/opinions

Nina’s Notes

Derive or die ... Or ask for help ANIKA SIKKA News Editor

Last week, I thought I’d finally found my true calling: derivatives. As I was tirelessly dx-ing and dy-ing, I came across a way to solve all hard calculus problems, a foolproof method by which everything would seemingly work out — I just took the derivative and prayed.

This sounded like a perfect strategy, and for a while, it was.

Whenever I was confused, I simply took the derivative, and most of the time, it seemed to work out. I liked my little calculus secret. It was nice knowing that I had something to fall back on.

It also relieved some of my stress.

Anyone who knows me would tell you that I tend to freak out. Like, a lot. So, when I approached problems that I didn’t know how to solve, my secret provided me with some comfort, as I knew I had a way out that historically worked in my favor.

I found that this strategy manifested itself into other aspects of my life. When I struggled with issues that would typically cause an infamous “freak out,” I tried to tell myself that everything would

work out in the end. No matter how broken it seemed, I told myself that I’d be able to fix it all, because everything always works out.

But in trying to embody the essence of my new strategy, I adopted some questionable tendencies — ones that I chose to ignore at the time, but further contributed to the landslide of problems that I eventually had to deal with.

What should’ve given me less stress and made me a calmer individual actually caused more stress.

When I struggled with those darned calculus problems, instead of asking for help or reaching out to my classmates, I kept to myself.

I thought if I just looked at them hard enough they’d simply figure themselves out.

On a larger scale, I simply didn’t ask for help. I’d already told everyone I could handle my workload, that I’d got everything figured out, and I couldn’t possibly go back on my word.

It was about a week ago when I realized the fundamental flaws with my newly discovered theory, but at that point, I was too far in to go back — I’d already closed myself off, and now had to reap the consequences of my words. Everything always works out, I thought.

So, even though I felt like I carried

the weight of the world on my shoulders, I still thought that I’d be able to figure things out.

This was not the case. I was duped by my oh-so-brilliant derivative thoughts, which in fact didn’t end up helping me on the test and instead led me to write my teacher a dramatic apology on the last question, circling and labeling my tear that had fallen on the paper.

I don’t know how I expected to take down calculus or solve some of life’s most complex problems on my own. It was hard for me

to admit I needed help, to reveal that under my facade of “okayness,” things were actually not okay. Everyone else seemed to be doing just fine, so it was almost embarrassing to reveal my vulnerability.

Don’t take my advice to just “derive and pray.” If there’s anything you could learn from my experience, take away that it’s okay to struggle, because everyone is struggling, it’s okay to make mistakes and ask for help, because that’s how you learn. And, I guess it’s okay to not be okay.

OLIVIA HEWANG

Online privacy is not a given: Security is safety DIA HEMMATH Journalism One

Reading the terms of service for social media apps is often grueling, with many users choosing to skip the information and just click “accept.”

But these confusingly dense guidelines are the key to understanding what may be done with the data you create on social media. Even if you consent to your data being used, it’s not a bad idea to know what you’re accepting when you hit “accept.”

Here’s the TL;DR: 1. If you give them access, social media apps such as Instagram would have access to all of your photos (including the ones on your phone and not just on the app), according to Business Insider.

2. Social media companies can share your photos (for free)

with third parties like researchers, and you agree to this in the terms of service, as confirmed by TL;DR Legal.

3. These researchers generally follow social media ethics, but all they require is for researchers to be transparent. Social media ethics don’t require researchers to protect users’ privacy.

Should you be concerned about those third-party researchers having access to the data you create on social media?

Maybe.

Because you create a whole lot of data on social media.

When you talk to your friends and family when you’re apart, like a photo, take a BuzzFeed quiz or even scroll endlessly when you’re bored, you create data. With access to users’ content at just a click of a button, a social media app has become a researcher’s playground. All

sorts of demographic information can be easily deduced through analyzing data alone.

In turn, this data is used in research papers, and users are reduced to information, rather than people.

Most websites and apps have this kind of access to users’ data, and this is a reason why many people think their phones are listening to their conversations.

Your phone isn’t really recording or listening to you, but the truth might be scarier. Your phone doesn’t have to be actively listening to you, because it has plenty of other ways to know what you want to buy. By looking at your search history and comparing the items in it to past purchases, your device can determine what you could potentially need in the future.

By sheer coincidence, you might have been talking about what your device later recommends for you, because the analysis is just that accurate. The same goes for social media. When you click that “like” button, you are declaring to the researcher that you either like the topic of a post, or the user who posted it, and you will continue to be fed similar content based on demonstrated interest.

Data like this can be damaging to one’s privacy. So how do we ensure the safety of users, especially the ones that are not at the age to consent for themselves? Technically, we can’t. Collecting data through social media is perfectly legal, given that we consented

through the terms and conditions by signing up for the app.

Don’t be discouraged though.

You can still watch out for yourself and make sure you’re staying safe and optimizing your privacy. Most critically, do not display your real age, address or any other personal information and make sure you are fully aware of all caveats and add-ons before giving out your data.

And that phrase, “social media ethics,” isn’t going to help you as much as it sounds like it might. It refers to how researchers can go about data collection.

Consent is the main priority, as researchers are required to be transparent about what they will do with the data and what it means for the user. But because social media ethics do not look out for the privacy of the user, that’s on you. Keep in mind that even though you may consent to a researcher utilizing or publishing your data, you may not be ready to handle the privacy implications that come along with your name being in a study.

This is especially important for those on social media who are under 16, the age at which you can consent to someone else using your data without the knowledge of a guardian.

So, what should you do with this information? You may choose to do nothing. But you might consider holding back the parts of your life from social media that compromise your privacy. And at minimum, you should know what hitting the “I agree” button entails.

By Nina Crofts

Taking advantage of the senior slump Have you been spending hours daily avoiding the CommonApp, pushing back work to the very last minute and watching all sense of time management and balance slip away? You may be at risk of the chronic disease known as senioritis!

A colloquial term for the lack of motivation one often feels as a senior, senioritis typically starts to hit around this time of year as we wrap up applications and near our final joyous semester as high school students. And though it’s a humorous term, I’ve realized burnout and exhaustion is unique for seniors compared to that of any other grade level for one particularly anxiety-inducing reason: It encompasses not only exhaustion, but a constant worry about the life-changing decisions we’re making, making this burnout ever more taxing on our mental health.

Senioritis seems to have been exacerbated by the jolt from virtual to in-person learning. After taking my first Advanced Placement classes during junior year at home, I got comfortable with the virtual format of these more challenging courses, making the transition to senior year particularly striking — I don’t think I’m alone in my apprehension to take AP tests in-person, never having done so before. With the added pressures of college applications, work, extracurriculars and the rest of my education hanging in the balance, there’s a huge difference from sophomore year, when I was last on campus.

From what I’ve seen, a lot of us seniors are in the same boat, and with the end of the semester approaching, it can feel like the year is simply happening too fast. For me, at least, senioritis isn’t just a drop in motivation; it’s a paralyzing fear that I’m not making the right decisions about the next few years of my life. It’s also left me second-guessing the goals I’ve been confident about for years, because they suddenly feel so much more real.

The senior slump has, however, presented itself as a real opportunity to evaluate my own priorities and goals. In a way, I think of it as a “nesting” process, as we evolve from one phase of life to another, we come to prepare ourselves for new challenges. If that means budgeting your time to prepare for a college interview or drafting an admissions essay instead of poring over a textbook or finishing a 10-point assignment, so be it.

So, as we wrap up this semester, I urge you (and myself) to not let yourself get wrapped up in worry. Fight the senior urge to slack off, but be mindful of the path that lies ahead as well. High school isn’t the be all, end all, and in a time of discovery and dread, do a bit of exploring.

OLIVIA HEWANG

INTERESTED IN GUEST-WRITING FOR TALON?

If you would like to write about your stance on an issue that’s affecting students at our school, email Opinions Editor Emilie Enser via the form at lahstalon.org/guest-write/

The Talon December 10, 2021

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The internal female fight: Embracing assertiveness EMILIE ENSER Opinions Editor

Time and time again I’ve heard that women are at an inherent disadvantage in the workplace and have to deal with higher social expectations than their male counterparts, because, well, society has always been sexist. Growing up in a progressive and diverse part of the Bay Area, I was also shown by my strong female role models that women are equally capable of having independence, becoming successful in their careers and providing for a family all at the same time. And I’ve always expected no less from my future self. Despite this positive upbringing and having experienced only a handful of instances of overt sexism first-hand over my lifetime, I’ve realized that elements of my mentality as a woman have still held me back from achieving my true potential.

Sitting around the dining table last weekend, I had an extensive conversation about female empowerment in the workplace with my aunt, an executive director at Lenovo and an active participant in the company’s women’s leadership program led by linkage.ink. Talking with her and reflecting on the differences between my male friends’ and my temperament helped me come to a bit of a realization: Yes, women face undeniable external pressures and challenges in their daily lives, but how much of the female struggle is also in the way we think about ourselves and our needs?

What do I mean by this? I’ll say it bluntly — I think men are entitled. Hear me out, I don’t think entitlement is bad. In fact, to a certain extent, it is necessary for the kind of economic and social

success many of us strive for.

Generally speaking, as I’ve paid attention to the male and female dynamics in my own life and the world around me, I’ve noticed that the majority of women I know lack this entitlement to speak as freely as men do and definitely do not have the expectation that others would cooperate with their needs.

In the school environment, for example, as someone who’s always been fairly confident, it’s surprising to me that I still really don’t feel comfortable talking to my teachers. I was in shock when I saw one of my closest male friends ask our teacher for accommodations to turn in all his late-work at once. While I plan out my afternoons from hour to hour to try to finish all my work on time, my friend chooses to simply not, and still find ways to make it work for him.

It wasn’t the concept of turning in late-work that baff led me — I turn in assignments late too — but it was the security with expecting the teacher to be understanding. I know, I know, duh, Emilie, teachers are there to help, but I know I’m not alone in being uncomfortable with having to ask for accommodations, simply because I don’t expect others will do so for me. While initially frustrating, I came to realize my friend was in the right, because in reality, this ability to simply ask for what would benefit him is only going to help him in life, and it’s taken a great deal of introspection to figure out that I should be able to do the same. The world really is for the takers.

After I told this story to my aunt and mom, they brought up the female subconscious selfdoubt they’ve observed in themselves and the women around them that adds an immense

amount of difficulty for women on top of external prejudices.

The idea of the seven internal hurdles women leaders face, from Linkage, was introduced by Women Leaders Managing Director Susan Brady and touches on this exact kind of self-doubt that I’d been pondering. It highlights the fact that women, by nature, have to go the extra mile to feel self-aware and confident. While these two traits are ones I’ve always felt were my strongest, I’ve come to realize that next to the males around me, that confidence is incomparable. We are just as intelligent, strong and capable, yet being able to convey our thoughts and needs to others with the appropriate amount of confidence does not come as naturally.

This has been a concept truly difficult for me to process because any time I act assertively (which is quite frequently), I’m immediately overcome with insecurity in thinking others will think I’m annoying, too bossy or serious. Here’s my takeaway: Screw that. The kind of successful women I look up to have to be this way. And successful men already are this way.

There is no immediate change that can be made for all women to suddenly start thinking like men.

Even saying that sounds silly, but I strongly encourage women to do some self-reflection and think about the tendency to suppress our needs and make accommodations for others rather than ourselves. It isn’t necessarily out of fear or being a pushover, but we don’t even consider what we deserve from others.

To all women: Please, let’s stand up for ourselves. Not because others are always pushing you down, but because the way you stand for yourself is the way others will think to treat you. We will only ever get as much as we ask for, and too many of us don’t even realize just how much we can ask for.

NAOMI ICHIRIU

LAHS 2021 Homecoming parade: The kids are alright something like Walt Whitman’s barbaric “yawp” from his poem, Guest Writer English Department “Song of Myself.” It’s a made-up word that Whitman coined to The basketball team’s jubilant, capture the feeling of unafraid rhythmic jumping and hooting, expression of self. Here’s a big the Green Team’s joyful shout- middle finger for the pandeming back at the teachers cheer- ic. Yawp! Here’s us smiling and ing from the curb, the prom yelling into the doubt and fear court kids sitting atop the fancy that surrounds us. Yawp! Here’s where our home convertibles, looking and community is, too young and too old of how for the moment at the The high school regardless fractured and tribsame time, just as traal we may seem at dition promises. The Homecoming times. Yawp! The Homecoming Parade. parade remains high school HomeBack from the dead! one of a dwincoming parade still Freed from the clutch- dling set of nonrepresents an ideal es of the Year of Doom smartphone worthy of our asand Zoom. pirations. AmeriIt signaled that even experiences can high schoolwith COVID-19 and that offer high ers have long been masks and never-end- schoolers in mocked, parodied, ing construction and this country a and John Hughesbomb threats and vapivied; more reing and depression shared point of cently they have and remote learning connection. also been underand delayed learning, standably traumawe are still here. And better. Because we will not take tized by climate change, school community for granted any- shootings, political dysfunction, more. What is a parade? It’s not and the successful hijacking of just a bunch of different clubs their better instincts by social and sports teams walking down media monopolies. Despite all the road. It’s the entire spec- of that, the high school Hometrum of diverse interests, back- coming parade remains one of grounds, and talents inside each a dwindling set of non-smartof those little communal units. phone experiences that offer It’s all of us together yelling high schoolers in this country a

ROBERT BARKER

shared point of connection that doesn’t involve Olivia Rodrigo* or the Kardashians. It is a rite of passage. And a rite requires ceremony, fanfare, and passion. All were on display on State Street in downtown Los Altos on a sun-splashed Friday afternoon,

October 29. May the same spirit carry forward and vaccinate the next generations of Eagles from the feigned ironic indifference of the insecure teenage world in favor of risking that rarest of things in our culture these days: sincerity. It’s okay, Eagles. It’s

okay, America. It’s okay to care.

It’s not weakness. It’s strength.

Any Los Altos High School teenager can tell you that. Onward. *Admittedly, I find “Driver’s License” to be naively melodramatic but irresistibly charming.

ROHAN VASWANI

Seniors Serena Gaylord and Oliver Breitbart wave to community members as students parade behind them at the 2021 LAHS Homecoming parade in downtown Los Altos. The parade was one of the first school- and community-wide events to be hosted since the COVID-19 lockdown.

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The Talon December 10, 2021

NATALIE WEI Senior Writer Graphic Artist

Unlike traditional oven-baked pumpkin pie, senior Carly Watson takes pride in preparing her unique chiffon pie right on the stove. Her beloved family recipe has been passed down from her great-grandmother, who had figured out how to give the pie an unusually fluffy and airy texture. The pie’s unexpected gingersnap crust gives the dessert a punch of spice with every bite. She suggests topping the pie with extra gingerbread crumbs and generous servings of whipped cream for maximum enjoyment.

For her family, the recipe not only represents a special once-a-year dessert, but also the very essence of the holiday season: heart-warming memories of enjoying the Christmas spirit among family members.

“I love caroling to our neighbors with my family,” Carly said. “I love the lights and music. I love the anticipation and the wonderful smells.

I love cooking, baking and hanging out with my family.”

Gingersnap Crust

Pumpkin Filling

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar ¾ cup butter or vegetable shortening ¼ cup molasses 1 egg 2 cups flour

¼ tsp. salt 2 tsps. baking soda 1 tsp. cinnamon ½ tsp. cloves 1 tsp. ginger 6 tbsps. melted butter

Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Cream the unmelted butter and sugar together, then add the egg and molasses. Mix well.

3. Sift together the dry ingredients and add the mixture to the wet ingredients. Combine until smooth.

4. Roll the dough into approximately 2-tbsp. balls.

5. Flatten the balls, then bake on an ungreased sheet for 15 minutes. Wait for the cookies to cool.

6. Crush the cookies, then mix them with the melted butter in a bowl until well-combined.

Press the mixture evenly into a springform pan.

7. Bake the crust for 5–8 minutes at 375 degrees, then remove the pan and let it cool.

1 ¼ cup pumpkin puree ½ cup milk 1/16 tsp. ginger ½ tsp. nutmeg 1 tsp. cinnamon ¾ cup sugar ¼ tsp. orange zest

3 eggs, yolks and whites separated 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin ¼ cup hot water

Instructions: 1. Mix together the pumpkin puree, milk, spices, ½ cup sugar and egg yolks.

2. Pour the mixture into a heavy pan or a double broiler on the stove top.

Heat on medium heat until thickened for about five minutes.

3. Add the gelatin to water in a separate bowl and let stand for 3–5 minutes to absorb. Add the gelatin to the pumpkin mixture once the gelatin has bloomed (absorbed water).

4. Stir the mixture and cool it in the refrigerator until the batter forms peaks.

5. Whip the egg whites and remaining sugar with orange zest, then fold into the pumpkin mixture.

6. Pour mixture in a gingersnap crust and chill until set.

Junior Alice Gerchanovsky recommends the cream puff recipe for its simplicity. Although the puffs only require a few steps and ingredients, they still yield a sophisticated, aesthetic and delicious result, she explained. “[The recipe] is the best thing to bake,” Alice said. “It’s easy, but people are still impressed by it. I guess that’s the thing with pastries.”

Her family immigrated from the Soviet Union, where celebrating Christmas is discouraged. Instead, they celebrate New Year’s among a tightly knit community of other Slavic immigrants. For Alice, New Year’s Eve is more than just a celebration: it marks her favorite night of the year and a treasured holiday tradition spent alongside lifelong friends.

The Talon December 10, 2021

Ingredients (Soup):

Ingredients (Matzah balls):

1 Amish chicken (skin-on) 6–7 medium carrots 2 large onions 1 bunch dill and parsley 3–4 parsley roots Peppercorns and Kosher salt to taste

1 cup matzah meal 4 eggs 1 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/3 tsp. pepper 3 tbsps. melted shmaltz (chicken fat) or vegetable oil 1 tsp. minced fresh dill

Instructions: 1.

Wash the chicken, place it in the stockpot and cover with cold water. Let it simmer until fat rises, then simmer for another 25 minutes.

2. Dump the broth into a colander. Place the veggies, herbs, chicken, and seasoning into the pot. Top the ingredients with cold water and simmer on medium-low for two hours.

3. Combine all the matzah ball ingredients in a large bowl and add minced dill. Chill for 20 minutes, then roll small balls.

4. Drop them into the simmering pot one by one.

Boil them for 25 minutes for dense matzah balls or 35 minutes for airy matzah ball.

5. Serve the matzah balls with soup.

Matzah ball soup is a familiar staple among Jewish families during Passover in the springtime, but the dish also delights junior Mallory Weisfeld and her family around Hanukkah as they kick off their holiday season.

Traditionally composed of chicken broth, matzah balls, root vegetables and a variety of herbs, matzah ball soup is not only time-honored and delicious, but versatile — ingredients such as the broth can be adjusted depending on any dietary restrictions.

“Matzah ball soup symbolizes the coming together of family and joy that happens every holiday season,” Mallory said.

Ingredients: 1 cup water 6 tbsps. butter ½ cup milk ½ tsp. salt 1 cup flour 4 eggs Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Mix the water, butter, milk and salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat until the butter melts.

3. When the mixture starts boiling, mix in one cup of flour, then let cool.

4. Add 4 eggs to the mixture one at a time, making sure to mix well after each egg is added.

5. Pipe the batter onto a sheet into one-inch circles and bake for 20–25 minutes. Make sure the batter is fully cooked through so the puffs don’t collapse after cooling.

6. Pipe puffs with whipped cream, pastry cream or frosting.

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The Talon December 10, 2021

Please send letters to the editor to talon.lahs@gmail.com

Say yes to the new dress code Los Altos High School 201 Almond Ave., Los Altos, CA December 10, 2021 Volume XXXVII, Issue 3

Editor-In-Chief Cedric Chan Managing Editors Rachel Rudyak (Print (Print)) Kaavya Butaney (Web (Web)) Olivia Hewang (Media (Media)) News Editor Anika Sikka Opinions Editor Emilie Enser Features Editor Nathaniel Joffe Arts & Culture Editor Kaley Kwan Sports Editor Mira Sundar Copy Editors Allan Feldman, Vaishu Sirkay Senior Staff Allison Bricca, Nina Crofts, Naomi Ichiriu, Elyssa Kennedy, Rose Liu, Naomi Schulze, Rohan Vaswani, Natalie Wei Staff Audrey Zhu Adviser Michael Moul

POLICIES

No collarbones, no midriff, no hip bones: The Los Altos High School dress code is frustratingly outdated. In May, LAHS’s Associated Student Body began drafting a less intrusive dress code and submitted a proposal to the Mountain View–Los Altos School District this August, a step in the right direction to replace a policy that has been criticized as being discriminatory. After review from the Board and staff leadership team, the proposal is slated for student feedback in January. But it’s taken a crawling four months to get this far — on a project that Associate Superintendent Teri Faught said would be complete by October.

This needs to be a District priority, now.

We hope to see ASB hold itself accountable and send out a Google

form in early January for students to anonymously submit their feedback and also hold multiple lunchtime forums for students to directly converse with ASB students about what they believe the dress code should contain.

This is serious. Sure, not every student will be directly affected by the dress code changes, but there are some students for whom the current policy is hurtful. And we as a student body need to stand up for everyone’s needs.

Across the country, dress codes have been a source of controversy because of their reputations as discriminatory and hypocritical. And rightfully so. Girls are often reported for dress code violations more than boys, even when boys may violate the restrictions provided.

There is a general attitude in dress codes that girls are responsible for creating a “distraction-free

setting,” placing responsibility on them for boys’ learning. And generally, similar irrationalities in dress codes are used against people of color and minorities; for example, many dress codes ban hair wraps, which are commonly used

by Black women and hijabi girls have been forced to break their religious beliefs.

It does not matter whether your clothing shows 2 or 4 inches of thigh or if people can see your collarbone. The only necessary aspects are safety and the basic coverage. Our previous dress code’s restrictions, which included things like skirts and shorts reaching the middle of the thigh, made no difference in our education.

We can learn in crop tops and ski pants alike.

The core of a dress code should be to maintain an educational environment, and while many people

have alleged that strict dress codes do that, limiting the clothing that students, usually girls, can wear to keep other students engaged isn’t fair. These dress code requirements are also ineffective. What do they hope to achieve? It’s not anyone’s business what someone else is wearing and no one should be “getting distracted” by them anyway. If a student is distracted by a piece of clothing, that is their problem, and the person wearing said clothing should not be punished or shamed as a result.

And while some may say it creates a better environment, any restrictions that make students feel discriminated against or uncomfortable are not helping anyone learn. Ensuring that LAHS students feel safe in their community has to be a priority and ASB has to show they want it to be.

Los Altos High School’s Compositional Journalism class is solely responsible for The Talon, Talon, which is published six times a year. The Talon also updates its website, www.lahstalon. org, with full-time coverage.

The Editorial Board sets the policies of The Talon and crafts its editorials and thumbs.

ADVERTISE & SUBSCRIBE Send advertisement and subscription inquiries to talon.lahs@gmail.com.

THUMBS UP to the Stanford Health Van Lucille Packard Hospital’s Teen Health Van has been a new feature on campus this year and its health outreach is a great benefit to our campus. The van offers services like immunizations and medication but also confidential services like pregnancy testing and STD treatments. The presence of the health van is a testament to the efforts to improve student well-being.

Talon Supporters Honorary Pulitzers

THUMBS UP to the LAHS food drive Over November and the first week of December, Los Altos High School donated over $25,000 toward Second Harvest Food Bank, exceeding the goal by approximately $5,000. $25,000 means 50,000 meals will be donated to families in need. The Talon would like to specifically shout out teachers Dayana Swank’s, Cathy Dao’s and Brent Smith’s second period classes for raising over $3,000 each.

Melinda Joffe, Anjana Nagarajan Butaney, Louis Roehrs, Purnima Sundar

Silver Supporters Sonia Brunner, Neil Chainani, Leon Rudyak, Tim Schulze, Preeti Sikka, Elliott Song, Ramya Tallapragada and Samir Chainani, Deborah Tolomeo, Jennifer Urmson

The Talon December 10, 2021

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Read more features articles at lahstalon.org/category/features/

Student-run Instagram account pumps brakes on poor parking etiquette EMILIE ENSER Opinions Editor

From Teslas taking up two spaces to SUVs blocking half the road, parking at Los Altos High School remains a daily conundrum. As students, staff and visitors alike make the effort to find a place to park among limited spots, poor parking jobs have stood out as not only frustrating, but hazardous.

An anonymous LAHS student, infuriated by nonsensical parking making students’ lives more difficult, decided to make light of the situation by creating the Instagram account @lahs.bad.parking, where they post photos of these poor parking jobs.

“My very first post was an image of two cars both parked over their lines, blocking in the only spot left in the parking lot,” the creator said. “I was getting frustrated because, as everyone knows, there just aren’t enough spots for students because of construction, and on top of that I was running late for class. That’s when my friend told me about Willow Glen High School’s bad parking account.”

Inspired by the idea, they created an LAHS account. Although originally coming from a place of

frustration, the posts have been other students, when witnessing made in good fun and are intend- a bad parking situation, often take ed to amuse, not harass. While the opportunity to snap a picture calling out bad parking jobs, the and send it to the Instagram acaccount’s creator has been sure to count. Whether cars are parked at a diagonal angle or not include any names left on top of curbs, and always block out @lahs.bad.parking license plates. aims to be comedic While the account is If ... people are and effectively calls mainly for entertain- now a little attention to both ment purposes, it has more scared students and staff’s also encouraged stuto park poorly, parking abilities — dents to be conscious or lack thereof. of their parking ten- then I’m glad “I started it because dencies. After all, be- because that I was annoyed at that ing publicly called out was exactly the moment, but also to tends to humble our point. encourage people to below-average park— Creator of park better,” the creers, and may just be @lahs.bad.parking ator said. “So if it’s the best incentive to working, and people be mindful in the lot.

“After my car got posted on the are now a little more scared to account the first time, I definitely park poorly, then I’m glad because became more aware of my park- that was exactly the point.”

Students whose parking mising,” junior Kaitlyn Smiley said. “I remember the next time I parked haps have been posted agree that in a hurry I was actually worried, the account, while calling students thinking that I would end up on out, is ultimately harmless.

“I think it’s funny, and I think it’s the account again. Turns out they posted a picture of my car from good they cover the license plates,” Kaitlyn said. “So it’s really more that day only like a week later.”

Although the account began about something to be laughed with the creator taking her own about instead of just hating on the pictures, she started accepting person’s parking because it makes submissions soon after. Now, it more anonymous.”

ROSE LIU

Parking across two spots and onto curbs are among the behaviors that @lahs.bad.parking hopes to discourage.

Gender and Sexuality Awareness Club: An engine for advocacy ROSE LIU

alone,” senior Mia Stoaks said.

“You know that you’re not weird for how you feel or who you are, As senior Fenn Marsot sounds and people can help you get the chime in Room 303, anoth- through it.” er meeting of the Gender and Through a support network of Sexuality Awareness (GSA) club peers with similar experiences, begins. Once everyone finishes members are able to learn from their lunch and files into the upperclassmen’s journeys of classroom, the club sets its at- finding their identities. Having tention on the meetthe guidance of uping board, dubbed by perclassmen has Co-President junior helped those still Bella Sullivan as the Having older struggling with “Gay Agenda.” their identities beWith more than 40 queer people come more confimembers on its Dis- around me redent in themselves. cord server and about ally helped me “I’ve been part 20 members who reg- out. It’s really of the club since ularly attend meetfreshman year,” sebeen the place ings, GSA has built an nior Thomas Mainclusive community where I’ve met linovsky said. “And for LGBTQ+ students a lot of the back then, I had no at Los Altos High people that I’m idea what most of School. the LGBTQ+ letters friends with “High school is an stood for. So having easy place for people now. older queer people — Thomas Malinovsky to feel disconnected around me really from everything, eshelped me out. It’s pecially if they’re queer,” Fenn really been the place where I’ve said. “So our first priority has al- met a lot of the people that I’m ways been to make [GSA] a space friends with now, and it’s meant where people feel welcome.” a lot to me.”

Every Thursday at the beginOne message Fenn tries to ning of lunch, club members share with members is the imform a circle outside of the class- portance of speaking up for room and enjoy their lunches to- themselves when others’ words gether. Through these hang-outs or behaviors are uncomfortable and community-building activi- for them, including combatting ties, members create a sense of the normalization of calling community by sharing personal things gay in a negative conexperiences with identity strug- text. Fenn believes most student gles and supporting each other. and staff are well-meaning, but “Through the club, you can remain unaware of the impact know that there are other people their words have on the queer going through what you’re go- community. ing through and that you’re not While community building Business Manager

ROSE LIU

At a Thursday meeting of the GSA, two club members draft the weekly plan, dubbed “The Gay Agenda.”

The club seeks to provide an inclusive community and spread awareness about issues affecting the LGBT community. has been the core purpose of the club, the members also want to spread awareness about gender and sexuality to help the students and staff understand the experiences of students identifying as LGBTQ+.

“I wanted [to implement] an educational program for the teachers,” Fenn said. “From my experiences, some teachers don’t completely know what kind of language to use or how to talk to someone who is trans. And it would be nice if we could have some resources and programs for those teachers who don’t know a lot about how gender identity and expression work.”

On top of the educational program proposal, GSA is hoping to play an active role on campus by organizing activities that would promote LGBTQ+ rights and awareness. One of their projects includes reaching out to and inviting local drag queens to come into the club and share their experiences.

As its members strive to develop a culture of inclusion, above all, the GSA is always welcoming to newcomers. Whether it’s engaging in advocacy or simply serving as a safe place for those who need one, it aims to cement its place as a fixture of LGBT life on campus.

OLIVIA HEWANG

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The Talon December 10, 2021

Assistant principal Fabian Medina-Morales is the family you never knew you needed ELLIE JI Journalism One

New to Los Altos High School this year, Assistant Principal Fabian Medina-Morales is all about family. The students at the school are his family, his old students at San Mateo High are his family and of course, the people he eats nearly every meal with at home at his dining table in Gilroy are his family.

That’s right, he still lives with his mom, his dad and his two sisters. And his mom still packs his lunch.

She cooks all his meals, actually.

Over-easy eggs, pork chops, white toast and hash browns for breakfast. Medium-rare steak, a baked sweet potato and a salad for dinner. And an easily-microwavable bed of rice, vegetables and chicken for lunch — all prepared with love.

As delicious as it sounds, you’d think a person who leaves for work at 6:30 everyday would be able to pack a simple paper-bag lunch.

But the real reason his mom still cooks his food isn’t that he can’t cook.

Morales still lives at home with his mom, saving money on housing and using it instead for his sisters’ tuition. To thank him for this sacrifice, his mom makes his food.

“My mom — being a really nice Mexican mom, right? — was like, ‘Well my son’s giving up his independence to help his sister, the least I could do is help him with making sure he has something to eat every day,’” he explained.

After breakfast, Morales uses the 45-minute commute from his Gilroy driveway to the high school parking lot to transition from his at-home son character to oncampus father figure. He starts the drive with 20 minutes of news radio, usually NPR or a podcast.

At home, when he’s watching TV, it’s MSNBC, Comedy Central and occasionally Fox News because it keeps him balanced “to hear what the other side says.”

Twenty minutes into the drive, and he puts on his pumped-up classic rock playlist, full of oldies but goodies like the Rolling

Stones and the Beatles. By the last few miles, he’s ready to pull onto campus and face his students with a smile.

Romeo Bienvenido Villanueva, a student at LAHS, is the Co-President of the Latino Student Union.

Mr. Morales has taken interest in the club, lending his support as an advisor and by facilitating club elections.

“In general, whenever I see him around campus he always gives me a friendly wave and hello,” Romeo said. “I think he’s a great addition to the campus community.”

His undeniable charisma and compassion have left a mark on his

colleagues, including fellow Assis- toward college or toward just findtant Principal Suzanne Woolfolk. ing a job.”

They worked together Morales arrived at for more than 13 years the school as an adat San Mateo High ministration newbie School, and she knew I knew that he’s with multiple dehe’d be a perfect fit at always going grees from local uniLAHS. versities. He was the to have a line “I knew that he’s out the door of first in his family to go always going to have to college. Now, as an students that a line out the door of educator and counstudents that want want to talk to selor, he aims to guide to talk to him about him about life. students into realizlife, or about classes,” ing their own goals.

— Assistant Principal she said. “In particu“I try to be reflecSuzanne Woolfolk lar, AVID students, or tive, and help stustudents that need help. He almost dents define what success means to [takes] a parent role in helping them, and then help them achieve

ROHAN VASWANI

Assistant Principal Fabian Medina-Morales sits at his office desk. New to LAHS, Morales has brought his background in counseling to his new role as an administrator, earning the friendship of colleagues and students alike.

ACROSS:

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1. IMPALES 6. 2022 WORLD CUP HOST 7. MASSACHUSETTS UC EQUIVALENT 8. SPRING BREAK MONTH 9. FLOWER OFTEN CHAINED?

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DOWN: 1. FRIEND GROUP 2. 2021 WINNERS OF THE STANLEY CUP AND SUPER BOWL 3. PIONEERING MAKERS OF “PONG” 4. FOUNDATION 5. “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” IN TEXTING SLANG

NATALIE WEI

it,” Morales said. “The only person who gets to decide what success means is the individual student.”

Morales relates this philosophy to his own background as a first generation college student. He’s found that teacher support played an important role in giving him the resources and skills necessary to work self-sufficiently. That support is the kind he wants to pass down to students who are still developing their own definitions of success.

“If I can be a person that can help a student through that and help them get to that level, then I’ve done my work,” Morales said.

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Read more Arts & Culture articles at lahstalon.org/category/artsculture/

‘Princess’

right to mistrust Montenaro’s justice system.

As for the main plotline, any sense of mystery dissolves less than a quarter of the way into the CONTINUED FROM movie as a private contractor (who THE FRONT PAGE is also Fiona’s love interest) deduces the identity of the thief. Its Set in the fictional, vaguely initial fast pace grinds to a halt as European-sounding country of the rest of the movie centers on Montenaro, “The Princess Switch Fiona’s exploits as she leads the ef3” opens with the arrival of the fort to get the Star back in a totally Star of Peace, a sacred Christian unnecessary heist involving laser relic once owned by Saint Nicho- mazes and rooftop escapes.

Fiona’s abrasive voice and evil las, to be displayed in a museum.

Of course, almost immediately, scheming from the last movie don’t correspond well to her new the Star is stolen.

To set the stage for Fiona’s re- sympathetic arc, so she’s given demption arc, Stacy and Margaret a backstory in which an earnest inexplicably recruit her to help child actress portrays a young Fiosolve the case. Oh, and at this na being neglected by her mother.

Given that this is glossed over for time, Fiona is doing the vast majority of the community service otherwise lightheartin a convent for kided movie, it’s jarring napping Stacy in a A cheery but whenever it’s glancprevious movie in emotionally ingly brought up, and it a bungled attempt just seems half-baked. to take Margaret’s empty bundle On the topic of rethrone. This is just of Christmas deemability, it’s pretty one example of spirit. hard for me to root for the mind-boggling anyone in the movie. incompetence of Margarent and Stacy as monarchs Although Fiona is virtually the only that distracts from the main story character with an actual purpose, — they trust their kidnapper more her portrayal is off-putting. Marthan their own country’s police garet and Stacy don’t seem to do force. Also, community service for much of anything for most of the kidnapping? Maybe Margaret is movie except impersonate Fiona

VIA NETFLIX

Queen Margaret of Montenaro celebrates Christmas with the king. After the Star of Saint Nicholas is stolen from its museum display, the two royals must recruit their scheming cousin Fiona (Vanessa Hudgens) to get it back. and cheerily talk about Christ- decent job of making the different add any meaningful intrigue.

Don’t be put off — despite its mas, which says a lot about their versions of herself seem like discharacters. As monarchs, you’d tinct people. Plus, given the com- shortcomings, “The Princess think they’d be out and about in- plete irrelevance of the male leads Switch 3” is proof that a movie teracting with community lead- in the storyline, the movie some- doesn’t have to be a visual and stoers and government officials, but how makes it easier to tell the rytelling masterpiece to be enterthey seem to have little sense of identical Vanessa Hudgenses apart taining. It’s versatile in its appeal. social consciousness in their royal than it does their love interests. You can analyze the questionable bubble. Perhaps this is the true in- Not that that’s a bad thing — the character choices and laugh at the trigue of “The Princess Switch 3.” focus on Hudgens playing three ridiculous plot, or simply appreciCould a revolution in Montenaro different people is what makes ate it as it’s meant to be: A cheery be on the horizon? the movie novel, and I doubt that but emotionally empty bundle of To Hudgens’s credit, she does a more relationship subplots would Christmas spirit.

‘Home Sweet Home Alone’: Better stick to the original AUDREY ZHU

clearly malicious intentions. Here, rude and spiteful, and not in an it just feels uncomfortable, and it’s endearing way — he even insults obvious the remake completely Jeff when they first meet by commisses the holiday spirit and the paring him to Frankenstein, for As someone who pretty much feel-good aspect. no apparent reason. memorized “Home Alone” in The type of protagBecause Max lacks Christmas pajamas while sipping onist in “Home Sweet the necessary charm hot cocoa, I had high expectations Home Alone” also If you’re lookthat made Kevin likfor the Disney+ remake “Home varied from the pro- ing for a holiday able, it was hard to Sweet Home Alone.” However, tagonist in “Home classic to get sympathize with him despite a few good one-liners and Alone,” with Max you into the or enjoy his elaborate well-casted characters, “Home being portrayed in a booby traps, and I Sweet Home Alone” fails to meet more negative man- Christmas spirfound myself symthe Christmas goal of leaving ner. Kevin captured it, I’d say stick pathizing with the viewers in a feel-good mood; inthe hearts of millions to the original. couple instead. stead, the film delivers an unapwith his stubborn yet I was hoping that a pealing plot and illogical ending charming personheart-warming endwith no sense of closure. ality, whereas Max came off as ing could make up for the on“Home Sweet Home Alone” going character and plot flaws, but once again, I was left disappointed. Instead of including a happy ending to Max’s dysfunctional relationship with his family, the film gives us a lackluster ending with zero closure.

In “Home Alone,” Kevin initially fought with his siblings often, and wished that they would all disappear. Throughout the film, he learned to be grateful for his family and he and his brother forgave each other for a previous argument. However, in “Home Sweet Home Alone,” we see that a year into the future, Max and his mother are now friends with Pam and Jeff — an absurd ending that makes no sense given everything the McKenzies endured at Max’s hands. There is also no sign that Max has mended his flawed relationship with his family, which arguably is the reason for him getting forgotten at home in the first place.

If you’re looking for a holiday VIA 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS classic to get you into the ChristMax Mercer, a mischievous and spoiled kid, sets up elaborate booby traps to defend his house. “Home Sweet Home Alone” completely misses mas spirit, I’d say stick to the the feel-good spirit of the original “Home Alone,” leaving viewers confused and in no mood to enjoy the holidays. original.

Staff Writer

follows the mischievous and spoiled Max Mercer, who is accidentally left home after his entire family goes to Tokyo without him. Like his predecessor Kevin McCallister, the original “Home Alone” protagonist, Max starts out enjoying his newfound freedom when he gets the whole house to himself. But upon overhearing a plan that his house will be broken into, he sets out to protect it.

Despite the initial similarities, I found myself uneasy for the majority of the movie, largely due to the major change in the storyline of the villains. The antagonists,

Pam and Jeff McKenzie, are a kindhearted couple with financial issues who mistakenly believe Max has stolen a priceless doll of theirs.

As they attempt to get it back, Max sets up booby traps that severely injure the McKenzies. Admittedly, breaking and entering to solve financial problems is taking things a step too far, but hardly something that warrants getting burned or stabbed — especially when it is a generally good-natured but confused couple. The serious injuries endured by the antagonists in the original “Home Alone” seemed appropriate because they were portrayed as bumbling robbers with

A R T S & C U LT U R E

The Talon December 10, 2021

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KAAVYA BUTANEY

VAISHU SIRKAY

ROSE LIU

Web Managing Editor

Copy Editor

Graphic Artist

With new variants of COVID and finals looming, we decided to cover the topic at the forefront of students’ minds during finals season: Disney princes. After an extensive Disney+ binge (that definitely wasn’t pre-finals procrastination), we’ve landed on our definitive ranking of 10 Disney princes, from worst to best.

10. Prince Florian

5. Aladdin

Snow White

Aladdin

Let’s review the facts: Prince Florian, allegedly 31 years old at the time of the movie, kissed Snow White, a comatose 14-year-old. With a predatory age gap and complete disregard for consent, Prince Florian has more than earned his spot at the bottom of our ranking.

Aladdin was a difficult guy to place because on the one hand, he lies to Jasmine for most of the movie.

On the other hand, he’s got a tough hand: monkey for a best friend, no shirt and barely a loaf of bread. So

9. Prince Philip

4. Prince Naveen

Sleeping Beauty

The Princess & The Frog

What is it with Disney princes and kissing unconscious women? Prince Philip’s true love’s kiss is more creepy than romantic. He only outranks Prince Florian because he is four years older than Aurora’s 16, which is next to nothing in comparison to Snow White and Prince Florian’s 17 but still problematic, given that Aurora’s a minor.

Although he’s the first prince on our list with any character development, Naveen falls below the others for his less-than-impressive improvement. He spends most of the movie desperate to return to his life and only seems to change to win over Tiana, which isn’t the greatest motivation. Still, he’s a compelling character with an interesting personality.

8. Prince Adam

3. Li Shang

Beauty and the Beast

Mulan

Adam squeezes in at eighth with at least one count of kidnapping. Even though he has a fantastic house with snappy silverware and a great library, Adam still sucks for his confusing temperament and imprisonment of Belle’s father.

We’ll admit, the casual sexism in “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” doesn’t give Li Shang the greatest start, but as the movie goes on, Shang redeems himself as he learns to see Mulan for who she is, rather than her gender. Plus, he won major bonus points when he rode on horseback across China just to give Mulan her helmet back.

7. Prince Charming

2. Kristoff

Cinderella

Frozen

We know nothing about this guy. He has around 15 minutes of screentime, during which he falls in love with a girl during one dance and then immediately loses track of her. Charming is middle-tier solely because he does not commit any crimes other than having the personality of a saltine cracker.

Okay, we admit, Kristoff is kind of perfect; he’s kind, brave and has a healthy, therapist-approved relationship (thanks CinemaTherapy) with Anna. Unfortunately, this makes Kristoff a little too boring, lacking character traits beyond being a great boyfriend and his only friend being a reindeer, so we had to rank him second.

6. Prince Eric

1. Eugene

The Little Mermaid

Tangled

Is it concerning that Prince Eric fell in love with Ariel without ever speaking to her? Absolutely. But with his chill, beachy vibe and heroic save at the end of the movie, it’s not hard to see how he won over King Triton and ultimately got the girl, even if he is painfully superficial.

While Flynn Rider doesn’t immediately seem like prince-material, this witty thief with a heart of gold certainly stole our hearts — and Rapunzel’s. Yes, he’s flawed, but that makes him a complex character who grows over the course of the movie and is impossible to root against. Effortlessly charming and a devoted partner, he’s truly the full package (even if he’s a lessthan-ideal hair stylist).

A R T S & C U LT U R E

The Talon December 10, 2021

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Peet's Coffee Holiday Treats

VAISHU SIRKAY

NINA CROFTS

Copy Editor

Senior Writer

’Tis the season to be caffeinated. As the holidays roll around, they’re ushered in by arguably the best part of the season: seasonal treats. After trying five holiday offerings from Peet’s, we’ve given them a definitive score, so you can see how they stack up.

Holiday Spice Latte Featuring a pleasant but not overwhelming fusion of cloves, ginger and cinnamon, the holiday spice latte is a refined festive drink that we honestly loved. While it is made with Peet’s signature dark-roast holiday spice blend, the coffee flavor is not overbearing, so it would definitely hit the spot even for a medium or light roast drinker. The latte highlights the spices — the best part of the blend — while not being overly complicated. It pairs perfectly with either of the gingerbread offerings.

Gingerbread Person As soon as we saw it in the display case, we knew that we had to try this adorable, humanoid cookie. Hand-decorated with snowy white icing, the gingerbread person feels like it was made with love and instantly evoked memories of class holiday parties from elementary school. As we took our first bite (the head, of course), we were pleasantly surprised by the strong, warm notes of cinnamon and ginger this cookie packs. While the gingerbread person is a bit too chewy, the flavor and presentation mostly compensate for that deficit.

Peppermint Mocha While mocha lovers might love this drink, the unpleasantly rich and heavy dark chocolate overpowers the rest of the flavors. That said, the mint is perfectly balanced: present and sweet, but not aggressive as some peppermint mochas can be (looking at you, Starbucks). Still, though it tasted great, the richness made it hard to imagine having anything other than a small, and even that might be difficult to finish. That said, this drink is probably perfect for a mocha-lover who’d like to add some holiday flair to their morning pick-up.

Iced Gingerbread The iced gingerbread loaf is the exact opposite of its cookie counterpart.

While the gingerbread person struggles with the texture but excels in taste, the iced gingerbread is wonderfully moist and tender, yet sorely lacks that quintessential gingerbread flavor. The cake itself tastes more like molasses than anything else, and we were missing the zing of ginger or punch of spice expected in a gingerbread loaf. While the icing adds some visual contrast and the crystalized ginger sprinkled on top is a nice touch, we were overall underwhelmed.

Cold Brew Oat Milk Latte Unfortunately, the Holiday Spice Cold Brew Oat Milk Latte brings out the worst in the Holiday Spice blend — so much so that we didn’t even want to finish it. The depth of the coffee and hints of spice that we loved in the Holiday Spice Blend are absent, and the initial flavor and texture is watery, probably due to the brand of oat milk Peet’s uses. The aftertaste is initially pleasant and reveals more spice flavor, but it quickly becomes bitter. However, we still give this drink a passing grade, because those who enjoy regular oat milk drinks at Peet’s won’t have the same complaints that we did, and it’s a refreshing alternative to the hot version of the Holiday Spice latte.

GRAPHICS BY OLIVIA HEWANG

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The Talon December 10, 2021

Cross country CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE As the top two finishing teams in CCS, the team headed toward the CIF State Championships race, which was their goal at the beginning of the race. On Saturday, November 27, in Fresno, the team finished their season placing sixth in the state meet. They set yet another precedent in LAHS’s cross country history as the highest placing team in the state meet.

Along with their impressive accomplishments, the team continued to improve throughout the season. In the state meet, their combined time for the 5k distance beat their previous record in October by two minutes and 20 seconds.

Racing to the finish line at CCS With the roaring sound of the starter pistol, the runners sprinted away from the start line, elbow to elbow. Surrounded by an ensemble of cheering and shouting, the runners persisted through a grueling race. As the runners sprinted through the finish line, everyone’s attention was shifted to the scoreboard. Mixed feelings of disappointment and confusion were spreading among LAHS supporters, as the tight race shifted the Eagles between second and third place.

By the end of the race, LAHS was tied with Menlo-Atherton High School for second place with a score of 65, calculated by adding the first five runner’s placements.

The two schools entered a tiebreaker as a result, where the sixth runner would decide which team got second place. The athletes and coaches from both schools were anxiously awaiting the result, as only the top two teams would be able to move on to the State meet.

Ultimately, the sixth runner

from LAHS, senior Shelli Lewis, placed higher than Menlo Atherton by finishing 25th overall. Upon hearing the news, the team shared an emotional moment as they broke into tears and hugged each other.

“The fact that we tied made it more nerve-racking,” Shelli said.

“But it was also more satisfying. It was a hard race, but I think we all pulled through and did our best.”

While Shelli was the deciding factor in the tiebreaker, all seven runners who competed in the race contributed to the team’s victory as they fought against the high temperatures and persevered across the finish line.

Junior Lauren Soobrian was the first runner from LAHS, finishing in sixth place. Due to an injury, Lauren missed the earlier part of the season but competed in the last two SCVAL races for tempo runs (exercise runs with consistent pacing) as a strategy to get back into racing form. The CCS championship was her first race this season.

“I feel really good,” Lauren said.

“I wasn’t expecting much given all my injuries, but I felt strong, and I’m glad to be qualified as a team.”

Right after her was junior Fiona Bodkin, who placed in seventh and broke her personal record with a time of 18:40. Despite the mental and physical challenges, Fiona sped up in the last five meters of the race and ran past one girl from Menlo-Atherton and one from Los Gatos.

“My throat got so dry, and I was gagging,” Fiona said. “But at the end, I got a boost of confidence because I know this is the race. And I saw girls from Los Gatos High School and Menlo-Atherton, so I decided to just go for it and see what happens. I felt uncomfortable at the finish, but it was worth it, and I felt good about my race.”

Sophomore Maddy Randall, who was the third runner from LAHS, also ran ahead of expectations and finished in 13th place with a personal record of 19:03. Right behind her was sophomore Jasleen Sidhu, who finished in 15th place.

“I felt uneasy before the race,” Maddy said. “But I just kind

of blocked out all the negative thoughts and went for it. On one big hill, I saw Riley right in front of me and I just watched her back and followed her up the hill. But when I passed her, I thought, ‘Okay, now we got to really go.’”

Despite not feeling their best on the day of the race, senior Riley Capuano and junior Ella Fadil finished in 19th and 25th place respectively.

Two weeks later, the girls ran the Division 1 race in the State championship. They were competing against 20 other teams that are the best in the state, and the team ran far above expectations. They finished six places ahead of the Los Gatos team, who won the CCS race and finished 12th in the State meet.

Out of 118 teams from the different divisions that raced in the State championship, the Eagles were tied in 10th place. In addition, out of the 977 runners who competed in the race, every LAHS girl ranked in the top half and Lauren ranked as the 27th best runner in the state.

Boys team meets individual goals While the varsity boys team was just shy of making CCS as a team, many showed up at the race to support the three runners who qualified individually.

Nathaniel was the first runner for LAHS, finishing in 46th place with a time of 17:21. Right after him was Joseph, who finished in 51st place with a time of 17:28.

While neither broke their personal record, they were content with their performance.

“It was a fun race because a lot more people are competing,” Joseph said. “I feel like we competed really well. We didn’t qualify as a team, which was disappointing but we were really close. Next year, we are definitely coming to CCS again.”

The third runner, Boden, unfortunately, stumbled at the beginning of the race and injured his ankle. Despite the injury, Boden persevered through the race and finished in 86th place out of 143

runners.

All three runners gave the race their all, and they gained valuable experiences for their next season, according to Cross Country Head Coach Steph Mackenzie.

“My favorite part of the season was making memories with my team,” Fiona said. “Seeing our growth through each meet and becoming stronger as a team has been exciting.”

The secret behind their successes Before the CCS championship, MacKenzie predicted that the race would be a close one. However, the LAHS team had the advantage of having a team where every runner’s time was close to each other.

“For some teams, if their number four runner has a bad day, their number five is 30 seconds back, but not for us,” MacKenzie said. “Our four through seven runners are all within 10 seconds of each other.

So they are a much tighter bunch which helps with the scoring.”

MacKenzie’s prediction was exactly right.

After the race, MacKenzie commented how the CCS championship race was the epitome of cross country as a team sport.

While the varsity girls runners were strong and resilient, the overall team spirit also added to the team’s triumph.

Many runners showed up to support their teammates during the race, as well as Principal Wynne Satterwhite and Athletic Director Michelle Noeth.

“Congratulations to the boys and girls,” Satterwhite said. “I’m super impressed. It was fun to watch them run.”

While the team had achieved many throughout the season, what they valued the most was their bond with each other.

COURTESY TOMOKI CHIEN

Girls soccer dominates first game in 11–0 win ROSE LIU Business Manager

With almost an entirely new squad of players this year, the varsity girls soccer team is looking forward to a promising season despite the field scheduling conflicts they faced. They won their first game of the season 11–0 in a scrimmage against San Jose High School on Monday, November 29.

Due to construction on the soccer field and lack of

available turf space, as fall sports such as field hockey and football were still practicing on the football field, the boys and girls soccer teams had to alternate days during tryouts on the baseball field.

Despite the difficulties, the team pulled through the tryouts and recruited a diverse pool of new players from all grade levels.

After tryouts, to accommodate all varsity and JV soccer teams, the girls varsity team currently practices from 6–8 p.m. on the football field, which is an awkward time for many players.

“Managing a late practice schedule is difficult,” goalkeeper freshman Tyra Bogan said. “It is definitely hard to squeeze in homework between school and practice. But [late practices] means it’s cooler and we get more of the field, so that’s a plus.”

As the players from different age groups motivate and learn

from each other, they also share a common passion for soccer. According to varsity girls soccer captain Esha Gupta, the team may be the best girls soccer team of the last four years.

“I think in previous years, people were just [playing soccer] to socialize with friends or get PE credits, but this year, everyone genuinely wants to be there and wants to play,” Esha said. “When you have the mentality, it’s a fun environment. We’re going to get better no matter what.”

The team’s sweeping victory against San Jose High School speaks to their strength and future successes.

“It was our first game and we hadn’t really had a cohesive practice because it was right after Thanksgiving break,” Esha said.

“But we played well as a team and we just went after it. It was like 5–0 in the first 10 minutes.”

As former JV boys soccer coach Zanin Mahic joins the team as the

ROHAN VASWANI

Varsity girls soccer captain Esha Gupta talking with her teammates during practice. new head coach for varsity girls soccer this year, he is optimistic about the upcoming season. While the girls soccer team is traditionally viewed as an underdog in the league, Mahic believes they can turn the table around this year.

“Based on the talent that we have this year, and what I’ve seen already, I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people,” Mahic said.

“We’re projected to finish the bottom half of the table, but these girls are very, very good.”