The Student Newspaper of The Nueva School San Mateo, California
Red, White, and Who?
As the country begins the presidential transition, Upper School members reflect on who and what make up the collective American identity
Collective pronouns to refer to American nationality—we, us, our— sounded just a little bit different the day after the election; more resonant for the winners, more fragile for the losers. The results were concrete, official confirmation of how “we” do not all view “our” country the same way and are split between party coalitions backing deeply polarized candidates.
Republican candidate Donald Trump won with a decisive 312 electoral votes and 49.9% of the national popular vote,
while Democrat Kamala Harris conceded the race with 226 electoral votes and 48.4% of the popular vote.
The election invites in its aftermath a consideration of what it means today to be an American and belong as an American.
As history teacher Tom Dorrance framed it for the school community, belief in the very democratic process that revealed Americans’ differences is core to the national identity. Dorrance delivered a speech entitled “On Democracy and
Democratic Values” at the all-school assembly the day after the election, and faith in democracy and in common humanity came across as central themes.
“Freedom has been a cornerstone to what we consider American identity, and I think we associate freedom with democracy,” Dorrance said. Conflict over freedom, however, is a consistent pattern in U.S. history. Dorrance argues that supposed efforts to secure an in-group’s freedom have often involved oppression of an outgroup.
Nativist prejudice toward immigrants offers both an ongoing and long-running example.
“The starting point for understanding [American identity] is as something that is contested, and something that people fight for recognition of and fight to deny recognition of,” Dorrance said. “That struggle, I think, lies at the heart of understanding American identity.”
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By Gabriel B. Features Editor, Natalie L. Managing Editor, Alexis C. Staff Writer
Listening and Learning
Students and staff developed Nueva’s first suicide prevention mental health conversations last month
By Kayla L. Opinion Editor
Students of different grades, backgrounds, and social circles gathered in the Swellness Room for three “Tuesday Listening Lunches” last month. Led by the Peer Support Squad, they discussed a range of mental health topics that ranged from school-related anxiety to navigating depression, before finally focusing on culture and unique dynamics surrounding suicide for high schoolers.
These discussions took place in November, Nueva’s first month dedicated to suicide prevention. Then, multiple community groups—the Nueva wellness staff, student-led Peer Support Squad, and local mental health nonprofits—organized an assembly, adult training, and community conversations to initiate discussions about the stigmatized and sensitive topic.
Most students interacted with the programming at a school-wide assembly developed by the wellness team and StarVista, an organization with a mission to aid San Mateo County students and adults through counseling, education, and crisis prevention. Though StarVista regularly conducts a general presentation for high schools, counselors Sydni Marmor and Aviva Jacobstein primarily helped tailor the presentation toward Nueva students.
Marmor acknowledged that presentations can often become dry and information-heavy, so she worked actively to embed “intrinsic experiences,”
tangible stories, and highly relevant information for students.
Her and Ng’s work paid off in the approximately hour-long slideshow presentation that StarVista Program Coordinator Walter Ng delivered to the school. Students were trained selfunderstanding, what the language to use in suicide-centered conversations, and the stigmas surrounding suicide. They also learned about non-harmful selfinjury, which Marmor and Ng described as patterns of behavior such as exercising to the point of exhaustion, skipping meals, or neglecting self-care.
Marmor says that students recognizing these patterns may find power in selfreflecting and realizing that their body, mind, and emotions are telling them something. In addition, they can find support by seeking out a trusted adult.
Peer Support Squad member Rowan B. ’26 appreciated the presentation and its inclusion of relevant information like crisis hotlines.
“The reality is that lives can genuinely be at stake,” he said. “An hour of listening could give people a little more comfort or even save a life.”
Beyond the student-facing assembly, Marmor also coordinated training for adults in the community. Before the assembly, StarVista guided parents through a presentation centered around finding community resources and engaging in mental health conversations
with their children. Additionally, StarVista educated teachers and staff about mandated reporting and assuming the role of a trusted adult.
“Everyone was invited,” Marmor said. “It was really important to me that [not] only a few people in the community [are] the safe ones. I want everyone in our community to be safe.”
After receiving the training the prior day, English Teacher Amber Carpenter initiated the assembly by presenting two student-submitted reflections on suicide.
November’s trainings were Carpenter’s first official experiences, at Nueva, to understand suicide as a teacher.
“That was sort of a shock. Having to sort of chew on that for a minute that, ‘Oh, we haven't talked about this.’ Why haven't we talked about this?’” she wondered.
More mental health-related programming is expected for students
and adults in the coming months. The Mental Health Advocacy Club is active in coordinating student wellness initiatives, while the Peer Support Squad will see a structural revision in the spring semester. Marmor, specifically, envisions the Peer Support Squad with a stronger campus presence that lets new and old students feel welcomed. Meanwhile, Marmor and Jacobstein are busy developing a week of programming in late February.
Overall, Rowan is happy about all of the recent student and adult-led mental health conversations at Nueva.
“We feel like with all the stigma around mental health at Nueva, it's important to host spaces where we can talk,” he said. “It was just cool that people showed up and were there to talk about real subjects. And sometimes things got a little lighter. Sometimes things got a little heavier. But, I think it was important either way.”
Restorative Justice Council Introduced at the Upper School
New student-centered program promotes empathy and reconciliation
By Emily F. Staff Writer
The Upper School has introduced the Restorative Justice Council, an additional student-centered program to go along with the current Honor Council. Guided by Steven Mathis, the US Equity & Inclusion Coordinator, the council aims to build a stronger, more empathetic community through different methods.
The council focuses heavily on restorative justice, a practice centered around understanding both sides of a conflict while addressing issues with consequences connected to them.
“It's not about excusing what was done,” Mathis said. “It's about acknowledging it, looking at the reasons behind it, expressing the harm done.”
This differs from other disciplinary
By the Numbers
By Ellie L. Culture Editor
systems as the consequences of actions are made to connect to the original problem instead of the “one size fits all punishment” that other systems often use and also uses a more empathetic method of solution.
“It's important that schools have a space for us to explore why we do what we do, how it affects our community, and how that can make our community stronger,” Mathis said.
The Restorative Justice Council consists of three people from each grade for a total of 12 members. Tenth to twelfth members have a leader who is required to attend the Restorative Justice meetings and communicate with the grade-level representatives and the Peer Support Squad as needed.
Since the Restorative Justice Council
focuses on the effect on the community, the application process has been created to reflect behavior in the Nueva community. Ninth graders are nominated through advisors while tenth through twelfth graders fill out a form, get recommendation letters from two faculty members, and are interviewed.
The council will handle conflicts be-
“It's not about excusing what was done,” Mathis said. “It's about acknowledging it, looking at the reasons behind it, expressing the harm done.”
were sold for the
tween members of the Nueva community as well as work with faculty, staff, students, and administrators to create an environment that promotes fairness, equity, and justice.
The idea of this new council has lots of promise.
“I think centering the council more on restorative justice will help it have a bigger impact,” a member of the previous Honor Council, Anika G. ’26 said. “Specifically defining the role of the council makes it easier to build partnerships between students and admin to better allow for student input and feedback on cases.”
With the application process over, training will soon begin for the first generation of the Restorative Justice Council.
Lifting off At the end of the assembly, students launched paper airplanes filled with encouragement notes for other people in their lives. PHOTO
BY KAYLA L.
Briefing
By Alvin Y. News Editor
San Mateo County Sheriff Under Fire
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus has received intense backlash from officers and the county’s Board of Supervisors for multiple allegations of an unhealthy workplace since Nov. 12. In a 408-page report from a private investigation conducted by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, Corpus was accused of being unjust and had her workplace labeled “rampant with fear of retaliation.” Furthermore, the report writes, “lies, secrecy, intimidation, retaliation, conflicts of interest, and abuses of authority are the hallmarks of the Corpus administration.” In response to the investigation and allegations, the sheriff has reiterated statements that she would not resign, leading to all five San Mateo County police captains calling for her resignation.
On Nov. 19, the Board of Supervisors voted in favor of a special election on March 4, 2025, allowing county residents to decide whether Corpus is recalled.
Biden Faces Backlash for Pardoning Son
On Dec. 1, President Joe Biden issued a full presidential pardon for his son, Hunter Biden. Hunter has been convicted of multiple crimes, which include lying about his drug use when purchasing a gun and nine tax charges ranging from failure to pay taxes to filing a false return.
Although presidential pardons are commonplace, Hunter’s pardon is the only presidential pardonhanded down before a sentencing has even taken place. Presidentelect Donald Trump in his first term pardoned Charles Kushner, Ivanka Trump’s father-in-law, only after he had received his sentencing. Biden’s decision received heavy criticism from fellow party members; many of his supporters characterized the move as disappointing. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democratic representative for Washington, posted on her X account, “The President made the wrong decision. No family should
Syrian Rebellion Ushers in a New Era
On Dec. 8, the Syrian rebel forces took control of the nation’s capital of Damascus, ousting President Bashar al-Assad and ending the 50 year-rule of the Assad regime. The civil war in Syria has been ongoing since 2011, killing over half a million people and displacing six million more. The al-Assad’s government, famous for brutal war crimes against its own people, was abruptly deposed after an 11-day opposition offensive. Assad fled to Russia, which has historically been supportive of his government. Reactions in Western countries have been overwhelmingly positive towards the fall of the Assad regime, while Israel has taken the opportunity to launch a small-scale attack on weapons depots in Syria. The new government is composed of many opposition groups but is led by the Sunni Islamist group HTS, which the US has designated as a terrorist group. The new government has pledged a more free market economy and an end to totalitarianism.
“Mavericking”
to Victory
Parliamentary debate team closes out the semifinals of NPDI
By Niam K. Staff Writer
The tenth annual National Parliamentary Debate Invitational (NPDI), one of the few technical high school parliamentary debate tournaments in the fall judged exclusively by former competitors, college debaters, and coaches, took place on Nov. 16 and 17 at the University of California, Berkeley.
This tournament is unique in that, due to the panel of judges, debaters often present nuanced arguments that extend beyond the traditional case debate, where teams affirm or negate a proposed statement or resolution. These technical arguments include theory arguments critiquing areas of fairness within the debate space, kritiques that challenge the systems of oppression that the resolution operates under, and counterplans where the negation team offers alternative routes, or plans, to achieve the resolution’s goals.
“NPDI is one of the tournaments we are best equipped to do well at since it demands highly strategic argumentation,” Upper School parliamentary debate coach Julie Herman said.
This year was special though, as they were the first team in history to close out—or have all remaining competitors in the tournament—in the semifinals of NPDI after overcoming all of the hurdles the team faced along the way.
A day before the tournament, junior
Kevin C.’s partner had to withdraw due to illness. At NPDI, debating 1v2, also called being a “maverick,” is highly unprecedented.
However, Kevin C.’26 still emerged victorious. Unfortunately, because he was debating alone, Kevin could not gain points toward qualifying for the Tournament of Champions from his victory. Even so, he wanted to debate for the practice and to expose his weaknesses.
“I think a big part of the setbacks I've had in debate has been working well with a partner. I can improve on communicating to my partner what the last speech should look like or what the middle speech should look like so that we have a cohesive argument,” Kevin admitted.
Meanwhile, Eli W. ’28 and Ritika S. ’28 faced arguably the toughest team in the tournament, both have been debating for years and they were up for the task.
“It was hard because that team runs a lot of unconventional [technical] arguments,” Wee said. “ There were unexpected factors that we had to prepare for as well as preparing our case.”
Between rounds, the teams connected with each other and with teams across the circuit.
Hannah and Mars caught up with old friends who were debating, as well as debate
coaches who attended UC Berkeley.
“We got to connect with a lot of our debater friends from the Nueva debate summer camp. Some people who attend different schools,” Hannah said.
Arishka J. ’26 remembers when they found out Eli and Ritika had won their round, thus making them champions. After an exhausting day of debate into the waning hours of the night, this was a relief, as no one wanted to debate two more rounds.
“It was really cool because we were sitting there while the judges were giving the decisions, and out of nowhere, someone was like, we have some good news for Nueva. We were just celebrating because it was so cool,” Arishka said.
The tournament directors awarded each of the winning teams a stuffed plushie and have either qualified or put themselves in an optimal position to qualify for the NPDL Tournament of Champions this spring at Menlo Atherton High School, the premier national tournament in high school Parliamentary debate.
Members of the South Asian Affinity Group attended the SALA festival
Attendees hope to use this experience to culturally strengthen the community
By Anvi M. Staff Writer
Six members of the South Asian Affinity Group (SAAG) went to the South Asian Literature and Art (SALA) festival on Sept. 28.
The SALA festival is held once a year around the Bay Area. South Asian artists from different backgrounds and fields of work are invited to talk about encounters and experiences that led the speakers to where they are today.
“It feels like we’re under-represented in the arts and literature areas,” said SAAG co-lead Ayaan M. '26. “I think it was really special to see everyone together and hear about their experiences.”
The group attended workshops led by many notable artists from producers including Salima Hashmi, a well-known artist in Pakistan, and Dr. Shashi Tharo-
or, a member of the Indian parliament and writer of The Great Indian Novel.
“We wanted to expose students who identify as South Asian to things beyond just their bubble and one way was to speak to other South Asian artists,” said Veena Krishnan, Upper School math teacher and faculty advisor lead of SAAG.
This year's festival theme was “Plurality in Community”—exploring gender, caste, class, and border division to understand how community and individuality could co-exist. SAAG chose to attend this festival partly because of this theme; the affinity group looked for ways to expose their students to more history and perspectives from South Asian people living outside of the Bay Area.
One of the group’s highlights of the festival was talking with Anurag Wadhera, playwright and co-author for The Parting: The Play. Wadhera’s play focused on the
stories of Partition survivors; those who pulled through the violent separation of India and Pakistan in August 1947.
Because of his expertise on the Partition, he was one of the speakers SAAG co-leads encouraged the attending members to talk to. This helped students learn more about Partition and Krishnan achieved her goal of exposing her students to different perspectives on the issue.
“There was a bunch of networking and socializing with the artists,” said fellow SAAG co-lead Devika M. ’25. “We wanted to make sure that we were utilizing the resources we have in the Bay Area for Nueva.”
By providing opportunities for students to learn from and connect with artists, SAAG hopes to use what they learned at the SALA festival to create a more inclusive and culturally rich community at Nueva.
Student Group Develops Drug-Ed Materials
Under the mentorship of Nueva drug-ed teacher, the group has partnered with clinics around the Bay
By Natalia R. Staff Writer
For the past 7 years, Rhana Hashemi has been educating Nueva students on drug use. As the founder of the organization Know Drugs, she is dedicated to teaching young people about the dangers of drugs with the science of substance misuse.
As a teenager, the drug education she was taught was “just say no.”
“The recklessness of my initial use was curiosity mixed with misinformation and lack of guidance,” said Hashemi.
Interested in Hashemi’s talks at Nueva, Natalie L. ’25 messaged her with a project idea to spread awareness about drugs.
“At the end of sophomore year I
reached out to her because I wanted to do something more substantial,” Natalie said. “I really enjoy writing and so I was talking to her about a project that did drug education through a form of writing and distributing that writing.”
As the project grew, Nueva, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, and St. Ignatius College Preparatory students joined. The project became a teen advisory board under the mentorship of Hashemi.
“I mainly wanted to join to get a better understanding of drugs and substances in general since my schools haven’t really educated me on them,” said Rachel Hu, a student at St. Ignatius and one of the members.
The group creates drug education material for clinics and digital distribution and
has recently partnered with Stanford Teen Van, a mobile medical clinic in the Bay Area offering free health services to over 12,000 youth from ages 12 to 25.
The group saw the Van’s outdated information regarding substance use so they replaced abstinence-based pamphlets with relevant, reality-based information for the Van to share in the coming month.
The teen advisory board is the first step of Know Drug’s goal to create more peerto-peer educational programs at schools.
“Young people are the most underutilized asset in public health,” Hashemi said.
“Any successful drug education initiative needs to have either advisory boards made up of young people or initiatives dedicated to empowering young people to distribute information.”
Victory Pose Kevin C., Ritika S., Eli W., Charlotte S., Hannah F., Mars R. hold up awards. (Arishka J.'26 not pitctured) PHOTO BY JULIE HERMAN
PHOTO BY MANUEL BALCE CENETA
I
Life, Death, and the Curtain Call
A peek backstage into the Upper School fall production of Our Town
By Senna H. Staff Writer
magine a play that invites the audience into the conversation, transcends time and place, spills both tears and giggles—that’s the charm of Our Town.
Written by playwright Thorton Wilder in 1938, the Upper School fall drama production, directed by drama and dance teacher Zoe Swenson-Graham, follows the happenings of a small New Hampshire town of Grover’s Corners from 1901 to 1913. The play is split into three acts: Daily Life, Love and Marriage, and Death and Eternity. Perhaps there’s no tale of a great Herculean hero or fantastical beings, but there doesn’t need to be.
“[It’s] a snapshot of daily life, it’s focused on people not necessarily doing big grand things, just people being people,” Miah K. ’27 said. “That's worth exploring in a story.”
The play engages the reader with its witty, metaphysical framing and the depth of its characters. For instance, there’s a stage manager role that's shared by three actors. They lean on the side of the stage with a casual air, physically pushing the limits of a “typical” play. The part speaks to the audience and frames the story of life in the Grover's Corners, allowing Our Town to poke fun at its role as a play.
“Our Town reflects the art of theater itself. It's telling us what we usually don't see,” Lily Z. ’28 said. “It wants us to slow down and look at everything. It reminds you of exactly where you are and what’s around you.”
The show’s stripped-down atmosphere is
reflected perfectly by the set. During the whole two and a half hours of the play, the curtains remain open. The backdrop—a collage of hand-sewn, mismatched rectangles of fabric—is homey and familiar. The stage is considerably bare, featuring only a string of fairy lights, a few pieces of brassy, wooden furniture, and perennials climbing up two white arches. All of the props within the play are mimed, challenging the viewers to imagine them.
"It's not a very showy piece,” Lily said.
“You have to work with a very limited set, because that's part of the philosophy behind the play.”
Ditch the Disposable Closet
Our Town focuses on the beauty of life, and how we, the ones living it, often take it for granted. For cast member Emily M. ’26, this message has followed them into their life outside of the theater.
“[It's] a play that makes the actors think as well,” Emily said. “It’s made me shift how I see the world. The other day I was driving and I saw the evening light falling on autumn leaves and I almost started tearing up.”
At its core, it’s serious, loaded with a somber introspectiveness that grips the audience, bringing many to tears… especially during the third act. But despite these heavier moments, the cast still made sure to keep the atmosphere fun and joyful.
“Everyone's always really positive, and there's always a joke to be made. It takes off a lot of the stress of memorizing a really long and really serious play,” said freshman Lauren J. ’28.
Stage manager Lila P. ’26 echoed the sense of community that the cast holds and uplifts. “They’re all very vocal about their supportiveness. We have a long running tradition of writing appreciations to each other during tech week and then giving them to each other on opening night,” Lila said. “Their energy, their love, and the way they show it really inspires me, [and] I try to take that into other communities I'm part of.”
By Callum S. Staff Writer
How quality pieces and secondhand finds can create a wardrobe that stands the test of time
With winter upon us and the holidays rapidly approaching, it’s time to start thinking about a wardrobe that’s warm and stylish—but more importantly, one that will stand the test of time.
The key to a reliable rotation isn’t just following the latest trends or snapping up cheap finds; It’s about investing in quality, timeless pieces that fit well and feel great year after year.
Turning to fast fashion is one of the most common pitfalls when building style. While brands like Shein, H&M, and Zara are often criticized for environmental harm and exploitative labor practices, my biggest issue has been their lack of quality.
After just a month or so of wear, clothing from those brands would start to pill, seams would unravel, and, more often than not, they just wouldn’t fit. Not only did they often run too large or too small, but the low-quality materials would shrink even further after a wash, making them completely unwearable.
This brings me to another crucial aspect of building a reliable wardrobe, finding clothing that truly fits. Even if those cool new baggy jeans seem appealing, a waist that’s too loose or an inseam that’s too long can make all the difference. At first, it might seem inconspicuous, but over time–consciously or subconsciously–those pieces are often pushed aside and worn less frequently.
From what I’ve seen, many people turn to fast fashion, thinking it’s the cheapest option—but it’s not when considering the cost per wear. Thrift stores often offer better value and surprisingly nice clothing. Some of my favorite long-lasting pieces have come from thrift stores, where you can find quality clothing—sometimes even designer brands—for a fraction of the original price.
A misconception that I commonly hear about thrifting is that the clothing is “gross,” even though most items are just
lightly worn. After a thorough wash, I believe it’s no different from a hand-medown, whether from a sibling or complete stranger.
More importantly, buying pre-owned clothing is also a sustainable choice that helps reduce textile waste and the environmental impact of producing new garments.
Style Staples
Three Books To Read Over Winter Break
By Raya I. Guest Writer
Winter break can feel at once too short and impossibly long: the whirlwind of holidays, the cold weather, and the strange contrast of the end of the calendar year and the beginning of a new school semester. If you find yourself bored on a flight or at home, or yearning for something to take your mind off current events, here are three fiction books that embody the loneliness and beauty of winter.
A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos
Originally published in 2013. 448 pages
A Winter’s Promise is a brilliant fantasy, weaving together a fascinating world, well-built characters and a large-scale mystery plot. It is set in a world of floating “arks,” each governed by a family spirit who endows their descendents with different family powers. The protagonist is a powerful girl from Anima named Ophelia, whose stable life is upended when she is betrothed to a mysterious, cold-hearted man from the Pole named Thorn. The Pole controls illusions, and the book itself reads like a series of increasingly complex mirages—as soon as the fractured world begins to make sense, Dabos reveals another dimension, propelling the plot forward in brilliant writing. Ophelia’s solitary struggle to understand her overwhelming new home exacerbates her loneliness; but the intensity and constancy of her isolation also makes the moments of connection all the more beautiful when they arrive. If you’re looking for an escapist, well-crafted read for the long, slow days of winter, this book will beguile you. You will have no choice but to read the other three.
Disappearing Earth by Julia
Published in 2019. 272 pages
For those on a limited budget who don’t have time to thrift, shopping secondhand on platforms like eBay or Depop is another smart way to find luxury pieces at a lower cost.
Through thoughtful decisions and a focus on quality, it’s possible to build a wardrobe that reflects personal style, stays within budget, and stays in rotation for years to come.
Phillips
Disappearing Earth is a perfect read for the depths of winter: spare, haunting, and absolutely gorgeous, it will linger with you long after the final page. Its premise is simple. On a dusty, sunny day, two young sisters go missing in a small town on a far-flung Russian peninsula called Kamchatka. Then, eleven more chapters—one for each month—spin out into the larger Kamchatka community and examine the lives of women and girls who have been affected, directly or not, by the tragedy. Although billed as a novel, the book truly lies somewhere between novel and short-story collection, playing with form to suit its needs. It is quiet, but not plotless; unsettling, but not a thriller; stunningly written, but not ornate. It is a sad book, and it is a lonely book, but as in any sad or lonely book, there are moments of genuine connection and love that appear like tiny, determined flowers, altering their surroundings just slightly: little lifesaving glimmers of beauty.
Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri
Originally published in 2018.176 pages
At just over 150 pages, Whereabouts is a slim book, but its power lies in its brevity. A collection of vignettes, it follows an unnamed narrator as she navigates one year of her mostly solitary life in an anonymous Italian city. She exists acutely in her surroundings—the vignettes have names like “On The Balcony,” “In Winter,” and “At Dawn.” The geography of her world, painstakingly drawn, is like a second narrator, pulsing underneath everything, exerting quiet influence, and amplifying human solitude.
The prose (written by Lahiri in Italian, then self-translated) is spare, sometimes dry, but gorgeous in the way of late-autumn sunlight filtering through the bare branches of a tree. It is the skeleton upon which the narrator’s neuroses, worries, and desires stand, which allow this book to linger and haunt.
Love Onstage Mari M. '25 and Brenna A. M. '25 embrace during their characters' wedding. PHOTO BY DAMIAN MARHEFKA
Fourth Wall, Where? The stage managers stride downstage to close the second act. PHOTO BY DAMIAN MARHEFKA
Culture Corner
By Lexie S. Staff Writer
Building and decorating gingerbread houses is a Christmastime staple. Whether you build from scratch or assemble kits, the delicious, spiced gingerbread is Christmas in a cookie, and the frosting and candy decor are tasty additions. Prices can vary but the best gingerbread house kits aren’t too expensive, like ones at Michael’s or Target. They’re the best value, and usually have good quality frosting and cookies. Creating gingerbread houses is a great activity to do with friends and family, and though it might be hard, the end result will not only be scrumptious but definitely worth it.
Moana 2, sequel to Disney’s Moana, is a cute, captivating film that follows Moana venturing into the ocean to find life beyond the people on her island. It is the quintessential sequel, and perfectly balances the entertaining and imaginative aspects. Though the songs are not quite like the ones from the first movie, there are some exciting songs that perfectly complement the scenes they’re used in. Whenever you have the time, pop by the theater to see the new sequel and have a fun refresh of Moana’s journey.
Sabrina Carpenter’s A Nonsense Christmas is here to lift your holiday spirit. At 50 minutes, it’s an amusing watch, where Carpenter sings classic Christmas songs and her own, like “buy me presents” from her album Fruitcake. She’s occasionally joined by other celebrity guests, including other artists and actors like Cara Delevigne and Sean Astin, in skits. Enjoyable and lively, A Nonsense Christmas is definitely something you’ll want to add to your watchlist.
My Dumpling opened in late October, and has a diverse menu of tasty options for both lunch and dinner. The restaurant even has vegan dumplings. But the best dish lies outside of dumplings, in the green beans, which have the perfect crunch and flavor. All the food is fresh and flavorful, and is the perfect restaurant in San Mateo if you’re ever craving mouthwatering food with an exta tangy kick.
An Unexpected Play Call At The MOMA
By Gabriel B. Features Editor
The “Get in the Game” exhibition is an eccentric attempt at a sports-modern art crossover
The elevator rose to the seventh floor, the doors parted, and I stepped out into a crescendo of stadium crowd cheers. I let myself imagine the rush of emerging onto the field out of the tunnel leading from the locker room. The hardwood floor with painted white arcs doubled as a basketball court and track. I found lane one marked underfoot, and began my walk through SFMOMA’s expansive “Get in the Game” exhibition.
Wandering about the room, I gravitated toward a series of displays for sports equipment over time: a progression of tennis rackets, from a wooden frame with gut strings to graphite with synthetic strings; a soccer ball from each men’s World Cup; football helmets dating back to 1920; McLaren Formula One steering wheels; and running shoes past and present. My fascination stemmed from an avid sports history interest more than an artistic lens. Although they do center around craft, I would argue that these fall under memorabilia rather than modern art.
I came in with measured curiosity about how sports could mesh with modern art, and came away with solidified skepticism. Much of the artwork felt tangential to sports, passing off open shots at addressing the people and the action in a game and stadium. Instead, I saw sports imagery inserted into unnatural contexts.
One of the most prominent pieces was NBA jerseys quilted together to look like Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. Since I do not couple basketball with the evils of war and Fascism that Picasso had his mind on, I thought little of it. Nor could I dredge up interpretations for the numerous distorted portrayals of athletes. I had expected to see reflections of the heart, competition and drama I associate with sports, but instead I saw ambiguous art first and sports content second—if at all.
Other displays, while related to sports, bordered on and crossed into the bizarre. In a striking example, I winced at the literal elbow bone spurs attached to a net in front of pictures of baseball pitchers. The piece was in a portion of the exhibit set in the dark and placed next to other representations of sports’ physical toll.
A handful of works were visually appealing and struck meaningful chords. I admired a massive portrait, made from beads hung
vertically along strings, of former Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson. During his career, Iverson was known for empowering more self-expression in the game, and his braids were one iconic part of his style. To me, that made him a fitting subject for an artistic portrait, and beads—a hair accessory—a fitting item to use.
A bookshelf with immigrant athletes’ names on the ornately illustrated spines also caught my eye. The names were printed in gold lettering over colorfully patterned backgrounds. The decorative ode to athletes of diverse origins contributed to a theme of inclusivity in sports that I found present throughout the exhibit.
The spectacle perhaps most directly tied to sports was a disappointing misrepresentation. In a back room, projectors showed tape of French soccer icon Zinedine Zidane during a game. The camera was as immersive and close-up to Zidane as possible without being directly in first person view. The
intention, I recognized, was to shake people from the comfort of spectatorship and feel the pressure and intensity on the players. While the premise engaged me, Zidane’s breathing, the crowd noise, and the sounds of the game were all strongly amplified or piped in, exaggerating the sense of chaos on the field to a falsely provocative extent. I believe there is endless material for art in the athlete experience, fandom, the microcosms of humanity found within a game, and the impact of sports on culture. Parts of the exhibit met my expectations to see creations based on those premises. It frustrated me when, despite all the possible dimensions of sports to highlight, the abstract or unorthodox traits of modern art overshadowed athletics. I suppose, in the end, “Get in the Game” belongs in the SFMOMA precisely because of its unexpected elements.
CHROMAKOPIA is Tyler, the Creator’s most personal work
By Natalia R. Staff Writer
CHROMAKOPIA begins with advice from Tyler, the Creator’s mom: “You are the light / It's not on you, it's in you / Don't you ever in your motherf***ing life dim your light for nobody.”
Her advice is followed by a hushed rap from Tyler, then a passionate chorus with Daniel Caesar. Tyler exudes confidence while also questioning his longevity and purpose, alluding to the personal subjects addressed in his music.
Daniel Caesar is only one of the excellent features on CHROMPAKOPIA—in fact, for an album so personal, CHROMAKOPIA’s features truly stand out. In “Sticky,” GloRilla, Lil Wayne, and Sexyy Red have strong verses; their flows all complement the pep rally-type beat and make for the catchiest song on the album.
Similarly, the abrasive second track, “Rah Tah Tah,” is also reminiscent of the bold, high-energy side of Tyler, the Creator’s earlier albums. In the song, Tyler’s trademark unapologetically explicit and provocative lyrics showcase the confident, carefree side of him. The end of “Rah Tah Tah,” however, briefly mentions people confronting him
in public, lyrically connecting to the next track, “Noid,” and shifting the tone to more introspective.
On the lead single of the album, Tyler, the Creator expresses how people disregard his privacy and boundaries due to his fame. He sings, “No cameras out, please, I wanna eat in peace.” The song’s fast pace creates an anxious atmosphere as his paranoia grows.
A sample of “Nizakupanga Ngozi” by the Ngozi Family only adds to this, as the Zambian song is about resenting gossiping and wanting privacy, the same message as “Noid.”
The incorporation of samples throughout the album, almost all from Black artists, showcases both his creativity and serves as a tribute to Black culture. Notable samples come from James Brown, Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, and Pharrell Williams—all iconic pioneers in music. Their inclusion is a reflection of Tyler, the Creator’s pride in his identity and history.
Identity, especially racial identity, is a central theme of the album. “I Killed You” focuses on how society has viewed Black people’s natural hair as something to suppress with lyrics like, “Feel ashamed, so we
straightened you out without a doubt.” By the end of the song, he embraces his hair, saying, “Talkin' 'bout my heritage / I could never kill you. Tyler continues to challenge conformity in the ninth track, “Take Your Mask Off.”
Beyond cultural conformity, Tyler, the Creator addresses different types of conformity in societal pressures with age and what it means to be fulfilled throughout the album.
He contemplates settling down and committing to a long-term relationship. He compares himself to other people his age marrying and having kids in the poignant tenth track, “Tomorrow.” Tyler sings, “All I got is photos of my ’Rari and some silly suits.” Although he believes he lacks the emotional maturity for stability, he knows that he’s getting older and has to settle soon.
One final narration from Tyler’s mom finishes off CHROMAKOPIA: “Do your thing, just keep, keep shinin'.” But truly, Tyler, the Creator’s indelible authenticity to himself and his art is the reason CHROMAKOPIA shines.
PHOTO BY NETFLIX
PHOTO BY MY DUMPLING
PHOTO BY DISNEY
PHOTO BY SUGARSPUNRUN
Rapper’s eighth studio album sincerely explores themes of fame, aging, conformity, and identity
PHOTO BY TYLER, THE CREATOR / INSTAGRAM
Head in the Game The staging shaped the experience of the exhibit, and composition made works pop. PHOTOS BY GABRIEL B.
The True Wizard Of Wicked
Director Jon M. Chu crafts a film that feels personal for just about everyone
By Kayla L. Opinion Editor
T
he original “Wicked” musical is magical for its intricate set design, bizarre hair updos, and of course—the heartwarming story and spine-tingling powerhouse vocals of two witch friends. Its film adaptation, released just before Thanksgiving, nearly explodes from even-grander sets, sweeping cinematic dance numbers, and the star power that is Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play Elphaba and Glinda, respectively.
The story of “Wicked” is set in the Land of Oz and is considered a prequel or reimagining of “The Wizard of Oz.” The tale follows two young witches, Elphaba and Glinda. Elphaba, while experiencing discrimination for her green skin tone, is incredibly courageous and talented; Glinda, blonde and peppy, is frequently underestimated for her intelligence. While the two meet only briefly, they impact each other for the rest of their lives. Their paths eventually diverge into their better-known titles as the “Wicked Witch of the West” and “Good Witch of the North” of Oz.
Within such a complex and glorious narrative, it could be easy for most directors to lose
themselves in the fantastical elements. But, as I sat in the theater with teary eyes and a mascara crisis, I quickly realized that “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu easily defies the story’s could-be fluffiness and instead grounds it in gravity (pun not intended).
Chu achieves this depth by embracing the humanity of the story and paying attention to both the small and large details. He finds a voice for not only the characters—but for himself, his actors, and the film’s screenwriters.
Chu’s passion radiates throughout the film and is explained by his love for “Wicked” since its earliest days. While attending USC as a film student, Chu caught a pre-run of the show in San Francisco with his family. “I remember thinking, this is the most cinematic show I’ve ever seen,” Chu said in a New York Times profile.
Since that “Wicked” viewing in 2003, Chu developed his craft for directing feature films in the following two decades. His work has always been intertwined with music and culture, with previous filmography including Justin Bieber documentaries and “Step Up” dance film sequels. His most notable and recent works include “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Washington Heights.”
Upon reflection, it seems almost as if Chu’s
unique filmography had been preparing him to direct “Wicked” one day. As I absorbed the film’s aerial shots, large cast, and other-worldliness, I was reminded of Chu’s work from “In the Heights” and “Crazy Rich Asians” in the best way. Reminders, yet refreshing.
With his unique directorial style, Chu gives us appetizing elements of Ozian culture. For example, he hired a pianist to play live for each song, transforming each set into a makeshift recording studio for Erivo and Grande. In today’s film industry, this approach is unheard of.
Even more illustrative of Chu’s unique direction, though, is his use of close-ups in the most climactic scenes. Setting the film apart from a play’s unchanging distance, Chu brings us so close to Erivo and Grande that we can see beads of water forming in their eyes just about every other scene. I hate to admit it, but my eyes mirrored theirs every step of the way.
To me, it seems that Chu connected deeply with each of his actors—and especially his leading ladies—for their easy shows of emotion can only be a manifestation of a comfortable and collaborative film set. Chu’s direction is unignorable in his actors’ emotional performances, which many online predict will win them Oscars and the like.
Pop Culture Report Card
By Neel G. Staff Writer
Kendrick Lamar’s GNX A-
GNX instantly gained praise for its raw lyrics and powerful beats upon its release—deservingly. While it’s far from my favorite album of his, it’s still a unique listening experience with excellent features; “luther” and “gloria”, both collaborations with SZA, were standouts. Their mellow beats and heart-wrenching lyrics were so catchy, and felt so vulnerable. Similarly, “tv off”, “squabble up”, and “heart pt. 6” were also extraordinary but had a more intense feel, offering a hype and up-beat tune. My only criticisms are for its slightly repetitive melodies and overly-expensive upcoming tour with SZA, but overall it was a phenomenal listen.
Chu’s impact on the film’s narrative also extends into its larger significance. While “Wicked” seems to diverge at first from Chu’s more cultural-themed stories, it’s more a continuation than anything else.
Like others have pointed out online, Chu develops the core essence of the Wicked story by casting Erivo. Erivo, a queer Black woman, is just the second Black Elphaba in history.
Chu has known all along that “Wicked” is a story of otherness, racism, homophobia, sexism, and all forms of discrimination. “I have my own experiences with being green,” he acknowledged.
With his Asian background, Chu was maybe one of the only directors in Hollywood who could’ve told this story with depth, joy, and a personal touch. His enchanting skill has not only achieved critical and commercial success, but soaring creative success. I think, it’s time to crown Chu as a wizard!
TheMessage: An urgent lesson in the power of writing
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ latest book urges readers–and writers–to face the truth in times of conflict
By Neel G. Staff Writer
“This is not about me or any writer of the moment. It is about writers to come—the boundaries of their imagination, the angle of their thinking, the depth of their questions,” writes Ta-Nehisi Coates—one of America’s more prestigious contemporary writers—in his newest book, TheMessage Coates, whose body of work includes writing for Marvel’s BlackPanther and being a finalist for the General Non-fiction Pulitzer prize, embarked on a three-leg journey around the world; he originally recorded his thoughts in a letter addressed to his students at Howard University, where he holds the Sterling Brown Endowed Chair in the Department of English. But eventually, his letter grew into a book of essays that examine how our world addresses narratives through reporting in regards to politics and conflict. Now available for you to read, the book provides the public with a sense of urgency in changing how we communicate narratives.
“I am thinking of young writers everywhere whose task is nothing less than doing their part to save the world.”
At 232 pages, TheMessage insights into unpacking the myths and deceptive corpus circulating in conflict-heavy times, and instead mend society’s disconnect between raw stories and public discourse.
Four main experiences mold his commentary, where he analyzed the given culture and society: his own childhood, and his visits to South Carolina, Dakar in West Africa, and Palestine. Because of these niche experiences, Coates offers a unique perspective for some
of the most pressing points of contention we encounter.
He emphasizes the flaws in reporting today and how oppressive systems use mass media communication to their advantage.
“An inhumane system demands inhumans, and so it produces them in stories, editorials, newscasts, movies, and television,” Coates writes.
His criticisms of the media and its corrupt narrative is crucial for understanding the biased system we interact with today. If you look at recent speculations of prejudiced coverage of the Israel-Palestine war and over-centralized power in TheWashingtonPost , journalism shows to plays a powerful role in politics, and Coates exposes its detrimental effects: “[I felt] betrayal for the way they reported, for the way they laundered open discrimination, for the voices they erased.”
Instead, he poses a more advantageous method of reporting: telling true, raw stories. In order to communicate its advantages, he demonstrates how to do so himself. Instead of simply spreading information, he tells stories—engrossing himself in conflict prevalent areas and building relationships with affected individuals. The resulting discussions and anecdotes proved the depth of his lectures.
He then exemplifies the power writers hold when “expanding the brackets of humanity,” changing the minds of readers through the stories they publicize.
Coates also explains how non-writers, too, can resist destructive media by confronting myths in narratives, or having a “hunger for clarity,” as he explains it.
And through his powerful language, he empowers students to help deconstruct this bigoted structure through their writing, expressing a sense of hope for the youth where “a new narrative—and new set of possibilities—might be born.”
While his comprehensive coverage of his experience in Palestine and Dakar were engaging, my favorite section of the book was his visit to Columbia, South Carolina, where his own book—BetweentheWorldandMe—was banned. He followed Mary Wood, a public high school teacher facing possible punishment for the inclusion of his writing in her curriculum. Both his reporting of the town meeting regarding her actions and his own exploration of the city’s deep-rooted racism revealed how harmful narratives manifest in society, an eye-opening revelation (among many others).
Coates’ journalistic skills are evident in his writing; his claims are both sophisticated and digestible, making it a fascinating and intellectually stimulating read. He collects both memories of his childhood and interactions with relevant civilians to add validity and nuance to his claims, engaging the reader while incorporating a diverse set of perspectives. His skillful storytelling and profound observations only added to the captivating and much needed theses.
If our nation seeks improvement in reporting and our narratives, his theses would prove to be vital. While our world’s standard of reporting continues to decline, Coates’ message would be the first step in revitalizing the way we communicate narratives.
guest editor led a
for the first time in the
about a potential editorial transfer from editor in chief Anna Wintour. In recent years, the cover story has mostly centered around the fame and story of the cover model, but ignored the roots of Vogue— fashion. But in this issue, Marc Jacobs bal- anced Kaia Gerber’s career and political be- liefs with creativity and fashion; “A creative escape” is how editor Taylor Antrim described it. While I appreciated the inclusion of more art and fashion, the front cover felt tacky and lacked nuance, something uncommon for the Vogue legacy.
Alex Consani was announced winner of the highly reputed Model of the Year award by the U.K. Fashion Awards, but not without attracting controversy. Anok Yai, another popular nominee for the title, expressed her dissatisfaction at being repeatedly snubbed: “Alex, I love you, and I’m so proud... British Fashion Council, thank you but I don’t want it anymore,” she tweeted. I wholeheartedly agree with Yai. She has been nominated twice yet has never won. As an international sensation and the first black model to open for a Prada show in over 20 years, she’s one of the most influential models of our time… yet she’s never been model of the year? Still, Consani deserved the win after her trailblazing year of appearing in top fashion runways. However, I am still dismayed by the U.K. Fashion Awards’ ignorance of Yai’s legacy, time and time again.
Spotify Wrapped has always been one of the most anticipated programs for music lovers. But this year, it fell extremely short. It lacked the same comprehensive statistics and unique infographics provided in years past; besides knowing my top artist and songs, there really wasn’t much enjoyable about the app’s year summary. For 2023, we received a map of our listening history for each artist across every month, our listening type, which area in the world our music taste aligned with the most, and other exciting features. But this year, everything was disappointing—even all down to the lackluster graphics. And on top of that, they had the audacity to release it late, leaving us all in torturing awaiting? Hopefully, next year they can compensate for lost potential.
Marc Jacobs guest edits December issue of Vogue B+
Wicked Warmth Cynthia Erivo, Jon M. Chu, and Ariana Grande laugh together. PHOTO BY CBS NEWS
Alex Consani wins Model of the Year
GRAPHIC BY SPOTIFY
The Silent Epidemic
As loneliness grows nationwide, Nueva students reflect on their experiences and explore possible solutions.
By Josie B. Editor in Chief
The Nueva Current sent out a survey to all 450 Upper School students from Dec. 1 to Dec. 15, gathering their opinions on and experiences with loneliness. 112 students anonymously responded.
Students that said they had “often” or “always” felt lonely in the past 30 days
Students that said one of the main contributors to their loneliness was “academic stress.”
Starting at a new school is a notoriously difficult experience, but for Jacob M. ’25, the shift to joining Nueva as a freshman in 2021 felt especially isolating. After over a year of presenting a polished digital version of himself on Zoom, Jacob found it difficult to be open and vulnerable with new classmates in person.
“How do I stop trying to just show the best parts of my life and a version of me that is super happy all the time and be my genuine self again?” Jacob remembered asking himself.
Those questions spiraled into selfdoubt.
“I started to feel like maybe I didn’t have something to bring to the school or bring to a social situation that was valuable, and eventually, maybe I should just keep my distance,” Jacob said.
As his freshman year progressed, Jacob found stronger relationships and happiness at Nueva. Still, he remembers how loneliness once affected him.
“It wears down your resilience; you feel susceptible to feelings pushing
36% of students that feel left out or isolated from other students at Nueva
Students Share Anonymous Experiences with Loneliness
“How do I stop trying to just show the best parts of my life and a version of me that is super happy all the time and be my genuine self again?” Jacob remembered asking himself.
“I would define loneliness as not having sufficient people with whom you feel welcome. I often feel lonely at lunch because now I have to find a table rather than eat upstairs because we can't bring food out of the cafeteria.”
“Often, I have a thought I want to express, but it gets cut off. I feel like I have a lot of things to say, but I don't have many people who’d like to listen.”
“In my advisory, everyone except me is close friends with one another—I'm acquaintances at most with everyone else. It always feels a bit lonely to just sort of sit there alone while everyone else talks about shared experiences that I don't know anything about.”
you one way or another or events and just feel isolated,” Jacob said. “It can be stressful. You just feel like you’re insignificant in the world.”
Even before the pandemic and subsequent quarantine cut people off from friends, loved ones, and support systems, nearly half of American adults were grappling with a different kind of “–demic”: a silent nationwide epidemic of loneliness. Over the last four years, it has continued to affect a growing number of
Americans.
In May 2023, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. He called this public health crisis the “loneliness epidemic.”
As the advisory describes it, the feeling of loneliness is not the same as being alone. Social isolation is “objectively having few social relationships, group memberships, and infrequent social interaction,” while loneliness is a “subjective internal state.”
That being said, feeling lonely is dangerous regardless of whether it stems from external facts or internal feelings. The mortality impact of being socially isolated is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. The feeling of loneliness is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and death.
Young people are especially at risk from loneliness. Recent articles, including one published in The Journal of Psychological Sciences in April, have found that loneliness follows a U-shaped curve: starting from young adulthood, self-reported loneliness tends to decline as people approach midlife only to rise again after age 60.
Another contributor to the growing sense of loneliness among American teenagers is their frequent use of social media.
The Surgeon General’s advisory cited a U.S.-based study that found people who reported using social media for more than two hours a day had about double the odds of reporting increased perceptions of social isolation.
Upper School SEL Teacher Sean Schochet was not surprised when he first read the Surgeon General’s advisory. It aligned with not only many of the studies he had read online but also personal experiences he had in the classroom.
“Whenever I’m not telling students to put away their phones, they are on their phones,” Schochet observed. “It’s ongoing—we have added distraction to our in-person connectedness.”
Schochet sees the growing loneliness in young people as an issue of perception.
“We gather information through our experiences,” Schochet said. “If we don't have enough experiences of connection and togetherness, we might start to feel flawed.”
Rather than on a case-by-case basis, Schochet said that he sees largescale solutions for loneliness as more viable.
“We need societal change. When politicians are saying that every state needs a no-phone policy at every school that is an actual attempt at a better, solution,” Schochet said.
A recent study conducted by The Nueva Current found that of 112 respondents, 36.9% of students at the Upper School had “often” or “al-
ways” felt lonely in the past 30 days. While most students who filled out the survey said they felt they had strong connections at Nueva, just under one in three students said they agreed or strongly agreed to feeling isolated or left out from other students at Nueva. An overwhelming 65% of students said one of the main contributors to their feelings of loneliness was “academic stress.”
While 39.5% said “social anxiety” was a main contributor.
Dav R. ’28 described loneliness as “how it feels when you have a problem and there isn’t anyone you can go to to help you solve it.”
Dav said that it can sometimes be frustrating when people confuse being alone with actual feelings of loneliness.
“I can be sitting in the corner reading a book and I’m fine, but if there is a serious issue going on in my life and I don’t have anyone to talk to about that, I feel lonely,” Dav said.
Dav joined Nueva in 6th grade, but still occasionally feels like he hasn’t fully connected with the people around him.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m not super supported at Nueva, but I think that’s also because of the particular kind of person I am,” Dav said.
Dav said they sometimes feel limited when trying to connect with only people in their grade.
“I wish we had more opportunities for cross-grade interaction so that I could make friends beyond my grade,” Dav said. “Ninth and eleventh graders eat at the same time during lunch but sometimes that feels limiting, and I wish I could interact with the other grades.”
Marcus H. ’25, who joined Nueva in kindergarten, said that being at Nueva for so long has at times made it more difficult for him to maintain strong relationships.
“I feel like the Nueva community is very accepting, but I don’t feel like my closest friends go here and that’s because I’ve known everybody for such a long time,” Marcus said. “It is harder to maintain those friendships over such a long period.”
Marcus observed that once his classmates formed friend groups, some were reluctant to build new connections with people outside of them.
“I feel like people do kind of stick to their groups,” Marcus said. “A pattern I see is I don’t see a lot of new friendships being made.”
Marcus sees forming new connections as possible if people are open to seeking out new relationships and giving people who they don’t know as well a chance.
“I have been able to create connections with people when I am open to new people and seek out relationships with people outside of my group,” Marcus said.
The Evolving Science of Science Friday
A thorough protocol of review lies behind the long-running institution
By Jackson H. Staff Writer
O
n any given Friday lunch, one can find students gathered in the first floor classrooms of the Rosenberg Wing. The production value is evident before the event begins: the presenter is miked, the cameras are ready to record, and students file in to grab a samosa and a seat.
Science Friday is run by Discussions and Talks About Science (DATAS), a club former biology teacher Luke De helped launch in 2017. Week by week, it cemented itself as a quintessential institution of the Upper School.
De left Nueva in Spring 2023, with his role as faculty advisor passing to chemistry teacher Paul Hicks. While Science Friday continues, it has found itself in a new era.
Behind each Friday’s presentation is a month-long process to prepare student presenters for their talk. The procedure, laid out by De, consists of five meetings between a presenter and their “review team” of around three to four DATAS members.
A kickoff meeting aims to familiarize students with the procedure/road ahead. Three meetings with the presenter’s review team follow to hone in on the presenter’s personal story, data, and presentation layout. Lastly, in a “final vetting,” the presenter runs through the entirety of their talk to practice and receive notes.
“The big purpose of the review team is to help someone translate their content knowledge into a form of accessible
communication, which is the heart of Science Fridays,” said Kian S. ’25, one of six leads of DATAS. The club’s six leads include three seniors “phasing out” and three juniors “phasing in.”
Emma W. ’26 came into the Science Friday process with a slideshow on zinc batteries from the summer. For her, the review process was useful in honing in on her final presentation.
“The process was useful for me. I was already trying my best to make my presentation accessible, but they advised me on how to involve the audience in ways that have been tested,” Emma said.
The original time-intensive protocol has been somewhat simplified since De’s departure, with the club becoming more purely student-run.
“You would be assigned a paper to review and make a practice presentation about, and it was probably 30 minutes to an hour of work,” said Andy M. ’26, who joined DATAS the year after De departed and is now a lead. “We quickly scaled that back. We didn’t have the authority to mandate it anymore.”
De’s departure did create challenges. The students in his classes had served as a natural pool of potential presenters which no longer exists, according to Andy.
To adapt, the team has looked further and wider for speakers. They encouraged students to sign up at a recent All Hands Assembly on Dec. 4. On Dec. 20, the
traditional presentation style will be eschewed in favor of a panel of teachers and students who have done scientific research in the past.
“Anyone can come to us looking to present. When I first presented, I was not an expert in what I was talking about,” said Max K. ’26, a DATAS lead who joined in his sophomore year. “Our purpose is to bridge the gap between wanting to present, wanting to talk about science, and actually being able to do so.”
On Dec. 6, the Aquanauts Club cooperated with DATAS to facilitate a presentation by UC Berkeley Professor Jonathon Stillman on the effects of climate change on crab populations. Looking entirely outside of the Nueva community is rare for the event.
The Science Friday process focuses intently on the little details of a quality presentation. So, when looking at the changes it has undergone in the past two years, it is easy to focus on the minutiae.
But looking at the bigger picture, changes to DATAS and Science Friday are reflective of a broader shift from the “Luke De era” to today.
“When he was here, De made the system run,” Max said. “Now we’re in the process of figuring out how to run it ourselves.”
Student and chemistry teacher pilot Environmental Justice & Toxicology elective
Jeremy Jacquot, with the help of Aanya D. ’25, created the course where science is embedded in climate education
By Neel G. Staff Writer
Aanya D. ’25 was ecstatic when her mentor since freshman year, chemistry teacher Jeremy Jacquot, first pitched a new course idea to her for feedback. This past semester, her input was implemented in realtime in room 304.
Through Zoom calls over the summer and research into effective case studies for the curriculum, the teacher-student pair mapped out the Environmental Justice & Toxicology elective.
“It’s been incredible to see the materials come to life in our classroom,” recounted Aanya, who helped Jacquot with the initiation of the course.
Through thorough planning and comprehensive lesson structures, the class deepens students’ understanding of jeopardizing climate effects on society, from both a scientific and social perspective. With collaborative projects, individual research, and real-world applications, Environmental Justice & Toxicology aims to bridge scientific knowledge of drugs and hazardous exposure with systemic analysis of disproportionate climate effects on communities.
“We saw how students have repeatedly expressed interest in justice. As a school, we want to offer different courses that appeal to students from different backgrounds.”
Jacquot explained. “I also wanted to try to shift my teaching so as to bring a more interdisciplinary, socioeconomic human focus.” With that, the course was born.
His hope was that the curriculum would help students broaden their focus from vague climate change narratives to the real people and communities being most affected. By connecting toxicology to environmental justice, they intend for students to see how science can be used to identify and address
those inequities.
“For Nueva students, who are incredibly capable and future leaders, this perspective is vital,” Aanya said. “My hope is that they carry these lessons forward, amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities as they work to create global solutions.”
In order to obtain applicable knowledge, the class examines local and national issues, like Indigenous oppression, East Palo Alto’s environmental accessibility issues, and Louisiana’s Cancer Alley.
“It’s a step toward building a fairer, more equitable world,” Aanya said.
“We really want to push the notion that our definition of the environment is not the same for different groups of people. It’s not just vast fields or lush forests,” Jacquot said. “Your built environment is where you live. Thus, we need to think about what people need and want to be able to survive.”
He collaborated with Aanya to make his vision into a reality. Aanya has extensive experience with and passion for environmental justice; she founded an initiative, EJ Grassroots, which has built environmental curricula for over 350,000 students in more than 600 schools across the Bay Area. Her passion to increase education in climate justice began after witnessing environmental consequences in her family’s hometown in India.
“One of our primary goals is integrating justice into climate education—a critical component often overlooked.” Aanya said. “Piloting this course at Nueva felt like a
natural step in making that vision a reality. Education, unlike short-term activism, embeds knowledge and skills for lifelong change. It reaches young minds, shaping their perspectives towards environmental stewardship.”
Because of her background in environmental justice, Aanya provided Jacquot with specific case studies and resources appropriate for the curriculum. For instance, Aanya facilitated a partnership with a teacher cohort from Start:Empowerment, a Texasbased organization focused on curriculum development projects. Jacquot then used some of their materials to help establish and finalize his lesson plans.
These lesson plans included guest speakers, like Dr. Christopher Labos, a cardiologist at McGill University and the author of Does Coffee Cause Cancer, a book deconstructing health myths circulating in the media, and Dr. Ali Hanks, a UC Berkeley research scientist and lecturer in the Nuclear Engineering department, who gave a lecture on radiation exposure at Hunter’s Point.
“I invite people who either can present really interesting perspectives on issues, and/or are doing work locally or that relates to potential student activity,” Jacquot said.
“Material that can inspire action, and inform about local issues that don’t receive as much local attention.”
While the elective has been going
extraordinarily smoothly, a struggle Aanya and Jacquot initially faced was finding engaging and applicable lesson plans, while dedicating a suitable amount of time to each concept.
“The biggest challenge was making the lessons feel relevant and engaging.
Environmental justice can feel abstract, so we worked hard to incorporate case studies and examples that bring these issues to life,” Aanya explained. “It’s important that students not only learn the theory but also see how these problems manifest in the real world—and more importantly, how they can contribute to solutions.”
It’s also important for Jacquot to balance emphasizing the gravity of the climate crisis while empowering students with a sense of ambition and hope.
“I don’t want people to lose hope or feel like there’s nothing to be done; there are things that can be changed by both adults and students,” Jacquot said. “Things that don’t require voting, but are still actual actions you can take. And, being informed is always a good thing.”
The pair anticipates the elective to continue next year. For now, they are satisfied with what the pilot has accomplished this semester, with a class of “a lot of 12th and 11th graders and some very mature and informed sophomores,” as Jacquot describes it.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of students to start with me,” Jacquot remarked.
Perfect Pair Aanya D. '25 and chemistry teacher Jeremy Jacquot pilot their elective, side by side. PHOTO BY NEEL G.
Poster Palooza Some of the 2023-24 Science Friday Posters. POSTERS BY OLIVER C.
Trailblazing to Eagle Rank
Sophomore’s journey through growth and leadership in scouting
After five years of selling cookies with her Girl Scout troop, Julia C. ’27 decided to trade in her teal Junior vest for a light tan uniform with red embroidery, beginning her journey to earn the Eagle Scout Rank, the highest rank attainable in the Scouts BSA.
In 2019, girls were officially allowed to join “Boy Scouts”—now Scouts BSA—and by December 2020, Julia felt she wasn’t getting what she wanted out of Girl Scouts.
She switched to Cub Scouts and climbed to Eagle with the all-girls Troop 4103 in Los Altos.
Of all Scouts BSA members, only six percent earn the Eagle rank and only around three percent of all Eagle Scouts are women.
After joining, Julia quickly completed the first rank, Scout Rank, by learning what it means to be a scout, knots, and knife safety. Her momentum toward achieving new ranks, however, was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There were some strong restrictions that we had when we met online. It was a lot harder to find motivation to rank up because we couldn't go camping together, we didn't get to see our troop mates, and I was still
"Having gone through that, especially with some of my closest friends, shaped the rest of my scouting experience and life."
Investing in a
relatively new to the troop, so it was a little tough to progress,” Julia said.
Even with the challenge of limited in-person gatherings, Julia quickly ranked up, earning the next three ranks with the extra time she had during the pandemic: Tenderfoot, where scouts camp, learn first aid, and get physically active; Second Class, a rank focused on cooking, hiking, and swimming; and First Class, where scouts learn important survival skills and engage in leadership roles.
As she set up campouts in her backyard and moved steadily through the requirements, Julia's spark for scouting was reignited by completing merit badges—badges focused on specific topics that can be earned by completing requirements—and tapping into leadership roles.
“Being senior patrol leader, I felt a lot more involved in scouting and as the troop began to grow I felt that this was something that really is important to me,” Julia said. “I worked on a lot more merit badges, I reached out to counselors, and I started going on high adventures, so I just got a lot more involved.”
Julia also attributes her successful Eagle journey to the hardships and experiences on outings with her troop.
As well as backpacking for 12 days and hiking over 127 miles at Philmont, a High Adventure base in New Mexico, Julia went to Sea Base in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Tier in Minnesota, and World Scout Jamboree in South Korea.
“The hardest experience I had was probably at the World Scout Jamboree. The conditions were rough, there was a lack of leadership, and things were kind of all over the place,” Julia said. “Having gone through that, especially with some of my closest
Green Future
By Jordan F. Staff Writer
friends, shaped the rest of my scouting experience and life. I know that since I could get through that, I have the strength and ability to do a lot of hard things.”
After reaching Life Rank, the last rank before Eagle, Julia turned her focus to her Eagle Project: a service project aimed to demonstrate leadership for others while benefiting the community.
Her project centered on combining her passion for STEM and giving back to her local rescue zoo and science museum, CuriOdyssey.
“I wanted to combine engineering and building things to help a community that really means a lot to me,” Julia said. “I've always visited [CuriOdyssey] since I was little, and I really attribute that to the fact that I'm so interested in STEM now. The whole process was a lot of learning, but also a lot of enjoyment.”
She worked with CuriOdyssey to produce
Fresh off a significant victory, this club of changemakers looks to the future.
By Ellie L. Culture Editor
Afew weeks before the end of the school year, the notification came in on Anjuli M.’s ’25 phone: Nueva had pledged to not invest in fossil fuels and reduce their existing investments. The win was monumental, the result of a series of efforts from the Clean Energy Investment Team, formerly known as Divestment Club, and communications with the receptive endowment committee as well as Head of School Lee Fertig.
“Our administration is so accessible, and that made all the difference,” Anjuli said.
Anjuli joined the club when it was still called Nueva Divestment Club, in the second half of her sophomore year just as the club started ramping up its efforts to reach full divestment. Although the club has been a fixture for over five years, 2023 marked the launch of the International Clean Energy Investment Coalition. The coalition, with multiple chapters all over the world, is made up of several teams at various independent schools attempting to convince their schools to divest from fossil fuels.
The win last spring has cemented Nueva’s position as a leader among the 51 schools in the coalition, and given extra credibility to their guidance.
“I was honestly most excited to share the news with the world, and have other schools be able to hold us up as an example,” Anjuli said. “I’ve always viewed divestment as a way to send a social message and shame the fossil fuel companies, since [the club’s] inception.”
The process of fossil fuel divestment can take several years. School administrations
are often much less receptive than Nueva’s. There are also lots of financial responsibilities to consider with an endowment, given the important programs it funds. And at the high school level, fossil fuel divestment is certainly not as well known as at the college level.
In a difficult project to navigate, the club tries to fill the gaps. They host onboarding calls, supply research about the financial returns on sustainable investments, and have starter guides of how to get divestment from fossil fuels kicked off at a high school. In the process, club members have met environmentalists from all over the world.
For Swain M. ’25, that experience has taught him the most about the climate world.
“Climate change is a global concern, therefore a lot of people can unite behind it,” Swain said. “That shared goal has taught me a lot about interconnectedness.”
Swain likes to focus on the research side of divestment, drawing from his passion for environmental economics. In his freshman year, Dr. Zach Brown, the Tidelines Institute director, gave a talk about using modern financial systems to benefit the environment, describing economic approaches that included divestment. For his Quest Project, Swain was inspired to draw up financial predictions for what it would be like if Nueva fully divested. From there, joining the divestment club was another way to further his interest.
“In our meetings, we're not just discussing solutions, we're actually trying to meaningfully apply them,” Swain said. “There’s a lot of energy, in that [we believe] we’re truly making an impact.”
That energy stems from the club’s chance to make a change that’s actually “realistic,” as Viola S. ’27 put it.
“Year by year, we get more worried about climate change. So it’s always really exciting to see financial institutions become more environmentally friendly,” Viola said. “[And] our big community of people all around the world aligned on divestment still gives me hope about the future.”
new swinging beds for rescued animals, including ladders for older animals with arthritis.
She started by making design plans and then had some of her troop mates come over to build and stain the beds together. Then she installed them in the exhibits.
“Seeing my eagle project in action when I went back to volunteer made me feel I was truly making a difference. I loved seeing the visitors enjoy watching the animals interact with enrichment and allow them to see my project improve the animals’ quality of life”
After completing her project and passing her intense board of review process, on Apr. 25, 2024, Julia earned the red white, and blue patch, decorated with a silver eagle in the center—completing the Eagle rank.
One of the most important aspects of the club is that community of “changemakers,” especially for Hilde K. ’27.
“Everyone has a lot of passion,” Hilde said. “At my [first] club’s fair, I got sucked into that excitement [and] never left.”
As they look to the future, they hope to continue to make a steady impact, even as they move away from divestment.
“In my mind, the divestment movement has served its purpose. Its purpose is to take away the social license of fossil fuel companies, and make them change their behaviors. That goal has been pretty well accomplished. A lot of fossil fuel companies have made carbon zero commitments,” Anjuli said. “Of course, it’s a whole other conversation for how successful those will be. [But] looking forward, the clean energy space has boomed to a level that was really unprecedented at the start of the divestment movement.”
Under the new name of the Clean Energy
Investment Team, reinvestment—the practice of investing in sustainable startups and companies—is a new focus. The team also hopes to expand their reach by growing their coalition as well as running events at public schools to illustrate the link between economics and environmentalism.
“It’s a lot more of a forward-looking stance,” Anjuli said. “I’m really proud of that transition, and I hope that remains a focal point of the coalition moving forward.”
As for Swain, he hopes to see all of the team evolve and grow with the environmentalism movement, while keeping a simple message in their minds.
“The movement is not about any one student,” Swain said. “It’s bigger than all of us.”
Crafting Comfort Julia C. '27 and troop work to build beds and ladders for rescued animals IMAGES BY MEI C. & JULIA C.
Divest Assured Nueva's pledge for the endowment marked a milestone success for the Clean Energy Investment Team (pictured) PHOTO BY ALEX W.
As the country prepares to transition to the next administration, Upper School members reflect on who and what make up their American identity
By Gabriel B. Features Editor, Natalie L. Managing Editor, Alexis C. Staff Writer
Continued from Page 1
Campaign rhetoric for the election aimed at cultivating voters’ belief that the candidate and party recognize their citizenship in more than a legal sense. Under a longstanding atmosphere of, in Dorrance’s terms, “citizenship as part of a contest,” voters may seek affirmation that their identity places them as the heart, the everyman, or the backbone of the American people.
Broadly, in Dorrance’s analysis, the Republican movement’s successful appeal to voters estranged by cultural politics calls back to an idea of the “real America” posed by the 2008 John McCain-Sarah Palin campaign. Palin’s rhetoric championed small towns over cities and pitted patriotism against cosmopolitan-
ism. Trump’s approach runs along similar lines.
“In my perception of the way in which they talk about themselves, is that [the Trump movement] is speaking up for—and I’m going to be intentionally gendered with this—the forgotten man,” Dorrance said.
Although far from the only relevant window to consider political movements, the election prompts recollections of how time and again, Americans have refused to accept exclusion or underrepresentation and instead pushed for freedom and willed the country to become more democratic. In and of itself, Americans’ pursuit of recognition for their rights and privileges as citizens is an expression of national identity.
“Dissent is as much a part of our tradition as acquiescence to the status quo,” Dorrance said in his Nov. 6 speech. “When you look at that mirror reflecting our national culture and don’t recognize what you see, that does not mean that you don’t belong and it certainly does not mean that you need to stay silent.”
In the weeks following the election, community members have looked into that “mirror.” They considered how the election reframed the country in their eyes, what they associate with American identity, and what American identity means to them now.
Gavin
Bradley College Counselling
In the office of Director of College Counseling Gavin Bradley rests an American flag, folded into a triangle to resemble the tri-cornered hats worn by soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War.
For Bradley, a veteran of the Marine Corps, the flag symbolizes his time in service and his pride in being an American.
“I love America, and I have my version of patriotism that I express—I get teary at the national anthem in the right setting and I tell people that the Marine Corps is the best branch of the military,” Bradley said.
Bradley has also spent much of his life defying the stereotypes associated with someone of his background and identity. As a self-described “cisgender White man from the South,” he believes that people falsely assume he holds conservative views.
“A lot of people with my résumé would be conservative,” Bradley said. “So I often make an effort to present myself in ways that contradict those assumptions.”
Bradley believes that immigrants are central to the identity of America. He is critical of the current political trajectory as one that wrongly “vilifies immigrants,” but believes that America will return to being a more inclusive country.
“When you talk about these sorts of larger issues, there have always been [political] pendulum swings. But, we’re fundamentally a country made up of people from other places,” Bradley said. “I think the problems of deporting a lot of people will be revealed rapidly and we’ll find a different way to be more inclusive. The pendulum always swings back.”
After the recent election, Bradley tried to refrain from a “defeatist” attitude and encouraged his three children to do the same.
“Nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems even in that moment,” Bradley said to them over a text message. “It’s hard not to imagine the worst outcomes happening, but we need to not be defeatist. Be smart, be brave, be safe and have hope.”
Anna A. ’25 has developed a view of American identity that is relative to her parents’ experiences in the former Soviet Union and confirmed in her personal experiences.
“It’s the ability to exercise your freedom within the capacity that this country has for us,” Anna said. “My parents came here because they wanted to have freedom of choice, because they came from the communist Soviet Union. The way they raised me was: to be an American means you have more freedom, more individuality, and more free will.”
Anna's mother was born in Kiev and her father near Moscow. Anna and her brother, Misha A. ’23, were both born in the United States and carry dual U.S.-Russian citizenship.
Growing up, Anna interacted with American nationalism at the public school she attended. Each morning, she sang patriotic songs with her class like “America the Beautiful.”
In high school, her understanding of American identity has solidified in
history classes, both through the content and the opportunity to think critically about the country’s past and its echoes.
“[In class] when we see a lot of rallies and protests and movements, I feel this sense of agency that we have in the United States,” she said.
She feels most connected to the country when she gets to witness the democratic process.
“During times like elections, having the ability to see my country evolve, and see the people around me have the agency to vote and have a say,” Anna said.
After the presidential election, she and her family are concerned, based on the campaign messaging, that Trump and his administration will speak on behalf of others’ rights. For Anna and her family, the preservation of individual agency and democracy are essential to maintaining the national character that drew them here a generation ago.
Nueva Student ’25
Anna A.
Regina Yoong
English Teacher
K
uala Lumpur, Malaysia, the city that Regina Yoong grew up in was a, “mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures.” Yoong learned English, Malay, and Mandarin at school, and was surrounded by Islamic culture; —her childhood experiences are that of multicultural values and beliefs.
Yoong received a Fulbright Scholarship to attend graduate classes in American literature at Ohio University while teaching Malay. Living in Athens, Ohio, one of the poorest counties in the United States, was an eye-opening look into the struggles of Appalachian communities, a part of the United States she had not known.
Despite the mild discrimination Yoong faced there, she remained steadfast aboutin her origins. “You can be ignorant of my culture, but I will continue to tell you my story and history,” she said.”
In Malaysia, where Yoong’s parent’s live, freedom of speech is not guaranteed. “In Malaysia just critiquing an opponent, especially a person in power, is not something that's acceptable. You might be jailed or investigated,” Yoong said.
Davis D.
Trump’s election may signal a deepening divide in American politics, but Davis D. ’25 finds himself on neither side, increasingly disconnected from both the Democratic and Republican party platforms.
“I see this split happening and I’m sort of hovering in the middle of it,” he said.
Eastern Orthodox Christianity is a core part of Davis' life that neither party has outspokenly claimed to represent. He considers his religion separate from, and more valuable than, his national identity.
“I definitely acknowledge I’m American, but when I think about my identities, my cultural and religious identities are more important to me,” Davis said.
While Christianity takes priority, he does feel close ties to his country when he is together with family members who have been involved in the military and
“Sometimes people don't see the value of freedom of speech and [will] just say things and not take responsibility… But what I'm saying is that freedom of speech is a great thing, and I love that we have it here.”
Growing up in Malaysia and living in various regions of the U.S. has helped shape Yoong’s values. “I still have a lot to celebrate about American democracy, and I see things as a model that every country can look up to,” she said. “American democracy is a great thing, and I think it values an individual for who they are, no matter how different they are.”
After living in the United States for ten years, Yoong is on the path towards becoming an American citizen. “Where is home?” is what Yoong asked herself.
“Home is very much still in Malaysia, but my immediate family: my husband, my daughter, they're here. They’re American citizens, and so home is also here.”
Yoong acknowledges the uncertainty of the coming years, and what unknowns they might pose. Drawing from her experiences, she feels optimistic about what American democracy and values stand for.
government.
“When I’m with my family, I remember my personal connection with America, and that does make me feel more strongly about being American—more proud of it,” he said.
History classes also prompt reflection on the United States’ image. There are times Davis thinks “this is awesome” and others when he is “upset” or “confused.” In an academic setting, though, he primarily takes a removed, third-person view of the country.
When politicians call out to American voters’ races, classes, and creeds, Davis cannot fully hear his identity knowing his religion is excluded.
Hunter S.
After the election, Hunter S. ’27 called his mom and grandmother to talk about a myriad of topics—women’s rights, queer rights, the “Muslim Ban.” In the aftermath, he was left with feelings of
hope, given how many Americans agree It doesn't feel
as if the United States no longer stands for the Constitution and America.
For Hunter, one of the most important parts of living in the United States is its First Amendment. “One of the things that makes me feel American is having appreciation for freedom of speech,”
Stoval said. “I have a lot of strong feelings about things so I think that's a really valuable part of being an American.”
There are many issues that Hunter feels pessimistic about, both in retrospect and for the future, but he does feel hopeful. “I’m feeling optimistic that this will bring people together so we can all fight for what we want and our rights,” Hunter said.
Paloma Fernandez-Mira
Spanish Teacher
Paloma Fernandez-Mira spent her childhood and most of her college years in Northern Spain, living in Asturias, Extremadura, and Madrid. Her first time living in the United States was when she was a high school student studying abroad in North Carolina, then later. Again, as a college student, she lived in Boston, Massachusetts. Now in California, Fernandez-Mira acknowledges her different experiences living in various parts of the country.
“My life was very different in all those different places [but] I always felt like the people were super warm and to getting to know someone that was very different. They were very generous to show me everything about their country,” Fernandez-Mira said. “I've
Joshua B.
always felt very supported, like it's okay to be different. I think that's something that the US really shines in; the diversity and the acceptance of difference.”
In regards to the 2024 election, Fernandez-Mira feels separate from American politics. “I'm not a very political person. I was more interested or worried about my own situation in relation to immigration, because my family and I are going through the immigration process. I was just trying to observe and listen to everything that was going around me,” she said.
For Fernandez-Mira, she directed her energy towards the Nueva community, acknowledging that elections can feel especially intense. She encouraged her community to be open-minded and not judge individuals with different views or beliefs.
“I think it's important to not put a label on someone…but really try to understand everyone,” Fernandez-Mira said. “In the case of people that have a story related to immigration in this country, it's really a whole different view...so it's also important to understand them.”
Alumnus Joshua B., now a student at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) with plans to work in cyber warfare, did not share his political opinion with classmates on Nov. 6 when Donald Trump was elected the nation’s 47th president, nor in the weeks before and after.
Students of the USNA are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activity by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Joshua believes that this practice of political impartiality is critical.
“Keeping an apolitical military makes sure that the military is subservient to civil leadership,” Joshua said. “If the military acted as a separate political institution, like in British history when the Monarch had the army fighting on their side, we couldn’t have a democracy.”
Joshua has “always wanted” to serve
Rohan K.
Until he was 10, Rohan K. lived in Knoxville, the third largest city in Tennessee. Since moving to California, he felt as if his [home] state was a place he could visit, but in more recent years those feelings have shifted.
“I've talked to some of my friends there who have noticed this huge change in how things are there,” Rohan said. “You have to be very careful with what you say, I think. We didn’t feel that safe place to go and visit like it used to be.”
Living in California now, Rohan feels he can express his political opinions openly, with those who share his stances or not. “I feel like I can have a conversation with anyone, whatever they believe in, and it would be respectful. I would learn something, we would talk it out,”
in the military, in part inspired by conversations with veterans he’s had at school and through extracurricular activities. He describes Marine Corp veteran Director of College Counseling Gavin Bradley as a “mentor” who taught him about service, and gained confidence in choosing the Naval Academy after talking to Air Force veterans John and Susan Feland, parents of Anna Feland ’24.
“I want to help other people. The military is a good first step for me to join something larger than myself and try to make a difference in the world,” Joshua said. “At the end of the day, we’re all on the same team.”
he said.
Rohan still feels uncertainty about the results of the election, but remains hopeful. No matter what the next few years bring, what he believes is a benefit of this election cycle is his growing interest in politics. While Rohan is not old enough to vote, he began to think more critically about the political environment of the United States. “I was talking about the election a lot more, learning about the election a lot more. I’m interested to learn and see what's going to happen,” he said.
Nueva Student ’25
Nueva Student ’27
Alumnus
Nueva Student ’26
Staying Green this Holiday Season
In conversation with junior Kayla L., founder of No Waste Nation
By Alexis C. Staff Writer
As the holiday season comes around the corner, so does a time of festive consumerism. Kayla L. ’26, Opinion Editor of The Nueva Current, and founder of No Waste Nation, a social media project that promotes sustainability, gives advice on staying sustainable during the holiday season.
Kayla started No Waste Nation in 2023 after she found that her peers were uncomfortable encouraging friends to change habits around sustainability. “There's a little bit of stigma around encouraging your friends to reduce waste,” Kayla said. “I think a lot of people don’t have the language to encourage sustainability without it seeming
are the mascots of No Waste Nation (from top to bottom). ART
BY ANWEN C.
like you’re arguing with them or calling them out.”
For Kayla, her solution is to utilize what she does best—media, humor, and connecting with people. From her short form video content to youth contests, No Waste Nation has become a community that aims to reclaim realistic climate advocacy.
Between shopping haul vlogs and product recommendations, a lot of media perpetuates and encourages consumption. In response, Kayla aims to bring examples of sustainability into social media. Feels like we expect to get a couple examples of that, since you mention it. “On the other hand” swerves away from this a bit abruptly
On the other hand, Kayla acknowledges the elusive golden standard for consumption. “There is a culture that environmentalists have made the mistake of embracing: this zero waste culture that is really toxic,” Kayla said. “[I] say no, I’m going to do my own thing and try to be as sustainable as I can. Not what others can—what I can. I really commend anyone who’s just trying their best.”
For students, Kayla encourages them to follow social media accounts that provide waste reduction advice, including No Waste Nation, as well as take little steps towards a waste-free lifestyle. “As we go into the holiday season, there's a lot of opportunities to get started on this journey,” Kayla said.
Making gifts
From baking to crafting, there are many ways to give homemade and heartfelt gifts. “I think all these things can be incredibly meaningful and just as impactful as brand new gifts,” said Kayla.
Gift wrapping with used paper
Wrap gifts with old newspapers, calendars, paper bags, or even maps! “Lower School Division Head Megan Terra, is the one that gave me this idea,” Kayla said. “She wraps all her gifts with old calendars, and it's really beautiful.”
Bringing personal mugs
Many coffee shops, such as Starbucks, offer fan-favorite seasonal drinks. “If you bring your own mug, Starbucks does infinite refills of coffee and tea,” Kayla said. This way, paper and plastic cup usage can be cut down.
Gifting second hand
While there may be a stigma around gifting secondhand, thrifted gifts can turn out to be just as meaningful and more sustainable. “Not only does it have economic and environmental benefits, it's a really fun experience,” Kayla said. “ I think you can find meaningful gifts secondhand.”
Sentimental decorations
New decorations don’t need to be bought brand new each year. “In my family we have ornaments of photos from when I was three years old, there’s ornaments where my sister put some paint in a ball and shook it up—those are really magical.” Kayla said. Creating, repurposing, and using sentimental objects for decoration can become a new tradition too.
Millbrae Still Divided Over the Remodeling of the La Quinta Inn
The city’s residents still want to block the remodeling of the hotel into a supportive housing system
By Alvin Y. News Editor
Along bustling El Camino Real, the Millbrae La Quinta Inn seems isolated from other local buildings. On a Sunday in December, its gray exterior seems to match the damp and pale morning after a night of rain. Cars drive by the lodging without a second thought.
Fifteen months ago, however, the La Quinta’s status was no passing matter, as it appeared the establishment would soon take on a new function. Last September, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 to purchase the inn for a supportive housing program for the unhoused population in Millbrae. Immediately after the news was released, the Millbrae mayor and local residents assembled around the hotel to protest the purchase.
Before being used as a homeless shelter, the La Quinta Inn not only provided 100 rooms for guests to rest in but also economically benefited Millbrae as it had brought in roughly $600,000 dollars a year in hotel tax revenue. Additionally, the mayor and the city were not informed of the decision, further provoking their disapproval.
Residents were so [angry] that in July 2024, the city held a special election that allowed voters to decide whether the two county supervisors, Angelina Cahalan and Maurice
Goodman, who had pushed for the purchase of the inn as a supportive housing system to combat homelessness, should be recalled from their positions on the board. Over 70 percent of voters who turned out voted in favor of the recall—a strong showing of Millbrae’s displeasure with the housing plan.
Resident complaints about the purchase of the inn are varied, but overall they’re unified in their primary concern: keeping the community safe.
Binh Do, a local barbershop owner and Millbrae resident of
60 years has seen a rise in homelessness in Millbrae over time. He claims there is a consistent pattern of disturbance caused by the growing unhoused population, either through biking, trash, noise, or blocking the sidewalks.
“Here, there are nice people because the community is nice and clean,” said Do. “We don’t want to see blankets around the street and have them mess up our community.”
Sam Piazzi, a South San Francisco resident who often comes to Millbrae, echoes Do’s
sentiments and worries about security and cleanliness.
“I’m kind of on the fence [about the shelter],” he said. “We need to help these people but also keep Millbrae a safe space.”
Chen Jiang, parent of Michael Y. ’26 and resident of Millbrae for more than 10 years, still recalls the day the news was released.
“At the time, I was concerned about the safety and adequacy of support services for those using the shelter,” Jiang said. “I was afraid of [the
homeless] not receiving enough mental health care, employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, or others.”
Solutions to some of these issues vary in intensity between many of the residents and citizens who often interact with the city.
“I think we should build or incentivize the development of low-cost housing units in less expensive areas,” Jiang said. “Addressing root causes can prevent individuals from becoming unhoused in the first place.”
Piazzi, similar to Jiang, believes targeting the root causes of homelessness is crucial to stopping this problem in the first place. However, he believes a support system targeted towards the homeless population is a possible solution the city could implement.
“If you need help with finding a job, there should be services to help you find a job and if you need mental health help, there should be services which can help you with that,” Piazzi said.
No matter what happens to the future of the hotel, it’s clear the majority of Millbrae residents agree on one thing: no matter the solution, the first priority should be residents in the city.
Wrapped Up Using recycled paper is charming and sustainable. PHOTO BY KAMRAN AYDINOV / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Meet the Mascots Daisy and Clover
Baked Up Choose to gift something homemade. PHOTO BY MEALS WITH MAGGIE
A New Beginning Millbrae's La Quinta Inn has created tension between San Mateo County and the city and its residents. PHOTO BY KARL MONDON
Don't Forget The Billionaires
America’s wealthiest citizens threw their lot in with Trump. There were consequences.
By Ellie L. Culture Editor
In the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential win, a myriad of criticisms and factors have emerged about why the Democrats lost.
The Harris campaign talked about identity politics too much or too little. Inflation made an incumbent victory impossible. The Democrats abandoned the working class.
The pundits will keep analyzing, the data will keep pouring in, and more theories will be debated for the next four years. Such is human nature and the election cycle.
But make no mistake: this election was not an election of the working class. This election, and its results, was the consequence of the unchecked influence of billionaires on free press, social media, and free speech.
That does not mean that the election results are false or that there are some shadowy figures controlling the country: Trump’s win truthfully reflects America, and its voters.
However, it would be remiss to ignore the unique control and actions exercised by the richest American citizens in 2024.
There are the actions of billionaire donors—Elon Musk, for one, spent over 250 million backing Trump, which occasionally obviously manifested in legal cash prizes that essentially functioned as voter bribes, or extravagant transportation for Trump’s campaign trail around the country. But it is impossible to tell how the 1.2 billion Trump raised was actually used, and the subtler impacts of simply having
a billionaire vouching for Trump. In the realm of free press, however, the control that billionaires exercise is crystal clear.
Right before the election, Jeff Bezos canceled the Washington Post’s endorsement of Harris. Similarly, Patrick Soon-Shiong blocked the LA Times’ endorsement of Harris. Although sources would claim a variety of excuses, they both would later reveal their personal conservative positions: Bezos tweeted in support of Trump after the results of the 2024 election came in and Soon-Shiong appeared on Fox News to state that the LA Times would be shifting their coverage to become “for all.”
Of course, both billionaires are entitled to their opinions. But their actions supersede opinion and the individual. Newspapers are not made to be reflections of their owner’s opinions. And presidential endorsements are composed by multiple journalists on an editorial board—forcing the removal of their opinions is censorship.
Let’s also not forget how Elon Musk, the so-called “free speech absolutist,” removed journalists’ accounts on X (formally known as Twitter), dismantled the fact-checking system often applied to election claims, and encouraged conspiracy theories about a “stolen” 2020 election.
The expulsion of
journalists who disagreed with Musk is plain censorship. On a social media platform, it may seem innocuous. But as we’ve seen, social media contributes to perception, especially for politics, just as the press does. The voices of the people, even if Musk disagreed with them, should have remained.
Social media is also a political echo chamber. Promoting misinformation there is irresponsible at best, and dangerous at worst. America has already seen the terrible cost of election misinformation, and the violent consequences it can induce. Let’s not pretend that Musk’s actions were harmless.
Do not discount the impact of any of these billionaires’ actions. The 2024 election was fraught with accusations of voter fraud, sly gerrymandering, and a state,” and the economy—were the source, held the power to
someone’s mind. When either of these important forces was withheld by the wealthiest citizens, there were repercussions. There were a million factors that resulted in Trump’s impending second presidential term. The Harris campaign did bet on identity politics: maybe that solidified the female black vote, and maybe it alienated Gen Z men. Incumbent administrations are unpopular everywhere, and inflation certainly didn’t help. The Democratic support of the working class did diminish in 2008, and maybe that clinched certain billionaire donors, yet estranged workers. But it’s important to remember the billionaires who helped Trump. Notice the spoils they have already begun to receive, beyond the tax cuts. And in 2028, when the election season sparks up again, do not forget who may be controlling the information and opinions
California's Ballot Propositions are Broken
These nominally democratic initiatives enable plutocratic control over policy in California
By Jackson H. Staff Writer
Money is everything in California politics. The excessive political influence of big money is a national crisis. However, it is a particularly serious issue in California, where our population size and high cost of living makes campaigns even more pricey.
While the multi-million dollar efforts to elect governors and congresspeople are a reflection of the overwhelming influence of special interest groups, they are no match for the antidemocratic tendencies corrupting what hypothetically is California’s most democratic institution: the ballot proposition.
Ballot propositions emerged in 1911 during a nationwide progressive movement. Then-California governor Hiram Johnson, a progressive Republican, pushed for them as an amendment to the state constitution.
Today, there are essentially three types of ballot measures: bond issues to approve large-scale government spending, amendments to the state constitution, and citizeninitiated legislation known as initiatives.
California requires initiatives to obtain signatures
from 5% of the voting population, leading to a 550,000-vote bar. That threshold makes it nearly impossible for a grassroots campaign to succeed. Only well-resourced special interest groups have the power to get initiatives on the ballot.
These special interest groups advertise and often misrepresent the fine print of their bills. As a result, a successful initiative rarely has a genuine popular mandate. But they are still wielded as batons to force the state legislature in Sacramento into enacting preferential laws or locking in spending for pet programs.
In three of the last four election cycles, Californians were tasked with deciding on new regulations for dialysis clinics. Experts in kidney dialysis probably make up a small portion of the voting population, but the referendum still was a sufficient venue for waging a proxy war between the health workers’ union and the clinics.
None of those union-backed measures passed, probably in part because people are more skeptical about voting “yes” on issues they don’t fully understand. But had they made it through, the union would have— for better or worse— sidestepped policymakers in making policy.
But the special interest wars aren’t just waged over
single propositions. They can span the entire ballot. One more sinister example of that from this year is the drama around Prop 34.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, based in Los Angeles, supported Prop 33 to change California’s rent control policies. In response, the California Apartment
This isn't a bad-apple-in-a-goodbarrel situation. The issue with ballot propositions spans beyond individual bad propositions where I personally believe people "voted the wrong way."
Association, which represents landlords, drafted and pushed for Prop 34 to punish the Foundation.
Prop 34 requires that healthcare providers receiving funds from California’s drug discount program spend 98% of those funds on direct patient care. But this does not apply to all companies: the fine text of the bill carves out loopholes and exceptions that leave only one provider, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, affected.
work that Foundation does—such as support programs for unhoused HIVpositive people or medical research—has lost funding.
Let’s talk about potential solutions. This isn’t a bad-apple-in-a-good-barrel situation. The issue with ballot propositions spans beyond individual bad propositions where I personally believe people “voted the wrong way.”
They stop our state from taking in due diligence in policymaking.
I’m not sure about walking back initiatives entirely. While they’ve been co-opted by plutocracy, they are still at heart an instrument of democracy.
Prop 33 failed by a 20% margin, but Prop 34 passed 51% to 49%.
What’s necessary is serious and perhaps even extreme campaign finance reform in this state and nationally. Reinforcing the caps on campaign contributions that bigmoney donors have skirted through political committees (PACs) is a good first step.
Hopefully, we’ll then be able to see initiatives as systems of genuine public debate, rather than just referendums on an ad campaign.
Let’s rethink regifting
By Ethan H. Sports Editor
’Tis the season of giving. For those who celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, other holidays, and even birthdays, the winter months can be a long stretch of spending and searching for the perfect gifts. Ironically though, regifting has quietly emerged as a norm in our gift-giving culture.
Regifting appears harmless and practical—after all, why let an item go to waste when someone else might appreciate it? But it carries issues below the surface, and I for one find the practice to be rather distasteful and morally incorrect.
When it comes to giving and receiving gifts, I firmly believe that it’s the thought and meaning that counts. Gift-giving is a gesture meant to convey appreciation, love, and thoughtfulness. Even if you’re not a huge gift-giver, any purchase still requires an understanding of what the recipient likes and dislikes.
When we choose a gift for someone, it’s an expression of our relationship with them and our desire to show that we care. It seems like a lot of people forget that. The value of a gift shouldn’t be based on whether you plan to use it or not.
This perception of use and efficiency reduces the act of gift-giving down to a transaction, rather than the act of kindness it is. It strips the object of its inherent emotional quality.
Naturally, regifting operates under the assumption that no other party will know the gift was regifted, but having experienced being told that one of my gifts was given to someone else, there are multiple explicit downsides.
For the original giver, it suggests that their thoughtfulness wasn’t enough. And I imagine
It’s time to ditch the thoughtless act
that on the new recipient’s end, they get a message that they weren’t important enough for something new or personal. So for both, regifting can create a sense of distance, leaving one to wonder how much they are valued as a
This perception of use
and efficiency
reduces the act of gift-giving down to a transaction, rather than the act of kindness it is. It strips the object of its inherent emotional quality.
person. It could even be interpreted as a breach of trust.
In my case, I realized that it wasn’t worth it to buy gifts for this person in the future and moved on. But it may not be the same for
everyone.
There are two ways to look at regifting. First: ensuring an item in perfect shape doesn’t go to waste, and you save money at the same time. And second: not appreciating a gift, not taking the time and thought to buy a meaningful gift, and taking the easy way out by passing the item around from one person or another.
Both make sense, that’s undeniable. But, I believe that the second outlook is of the utmost importance. Regifting might save a trip to the store or a couple of brain cells, but it ultimately compromises integrity and authenticity.
So next time you consider regifting, I just implore you to think about the consequences—weigh the pros and cons—before the deed is done. While it’s tempting to take the easy route, true appreciation is best expressed through thoughtful and personal gestures. Let’s keep the spirit of giving genuine and meaningful this holiday season.
I’ll be taking just a spoonful of Robert F. Kennedy’s skepticism
Kennedy’s scientific critiques are wrong but represent a mindset we can follow
By Kayla L. Opinion Editor
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has (just) a few things right.
I know. It’s easy to immediately disregard health secretary nominee Kennedy given his deserved reputation of propagating provenly inaccurate medical information surrounding vaccines, HIV, and fluoride. Yet I believe that Kennedy may be one of our most important teachers as we see a vast transformation in America’s healthcare dynamics under the Trump administration. Kennedy is a skilled questioner. He challenges commonly-accepted medical information and finds its faults. Kennedy doesn’t expect the true, verified medical information to fall into his lap. While Kennedy’s wariness often spirals into dangerous conspiracy and breeds medical misinformation, I do think his skepticism of the truth is admirable and potentially worth trying in our own lives.
He’s not wrong to question science, because sometimes the science is just wrong. For example, in the 1990s, scientists and the general public seriously believed that red wine was a heart-healthy drink and decreased death from cardiovascular disease. However, it was only decades later that researchers proved red wine was not heart-healthy—and it may even be damaging. I do believe in science, but it’s ever-evolving.
Nowadays, social media adds another layer of complexity to health information. On TikTok, the hashtag #healthcare has garnered 1.4 million posts alone. Hyper confident influencers persuasively and convincingly discuss
skincare, dieting, exercise, and other medical decisions without training. Their inaccuracies are widespread. According to a University of Chicago study, 44% of TikTok videos related to sinusitis contain incorrect information.
Kennedy is acutely aware that our culture is flooded with untrustworthy medical information, but that we often don’t ask enough questions about what we do with our bodies. Most individuals simply cannot evaluate multiple scientific research papers and determine what’s true or not, whether because of time, education, language, or purely motivation barriers.
Kennedy is a skilled questioner. He challenges commonly-accepted medical information and finds its faults. Kennedy doesn’t expect the true, verified medical information to fall into his lap.
Part of Kennedy’s appeal is that he does the questioning for us.
In his own way, Kennedy questions the truth of commonly-accepted medical information. In 2023, he claimed that people of Chinese and Jewish descent were less susceptible to Covid-19, while white and black populations were more vulnerable. He thinks that fluoridated water causes IQ loss and bone fractures. Alarmingly, he believes that there
is a link between vaccines and autism.
The only problem? The facts that Kennedy questions are actually…facts. Kennedy’s skepticism goes too far, manifesting itself into resistance to proven facts and science.
I fear that Kennedy, as the potential future secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, will take dangerous advantage of everyday people’s media and health illiteracy. So, rather than letting Kennedy do the questioning, perhaps it’s time for us to take matters into our own hands.
In fact, we can learn from Kennedy by being wary of common or trendy medical information, which is now placed right into our hands on TikTok, Reddit, and other platforms. We shouldn’t be bone-smashing or dieting all day despite what popular influencers may say.
But our wariness cannot lead to damaging, false conspiracies like Kennedy’s does. To take it one step further, we must be healthy skeptics. We must seek the most updated information. We cannot take what government officials like Trump or Kennedy himself say at from untrained social media ‘doctors’ and consult with licensed professionals. We must approach the health
The Nueva Current strives to provide informative and impactful articles for our community. Our issues cover stories related to our school, the Bay Area, California, and other relevant spheres. We are dedicated to helping readers understand the ways in which we can all make a difference in the world around us.
The opinions expressed in The Nueva Current belong solely to the writers and are not a reflection or representation of the opinions of the school or administrators.
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Corrections for Issue 2, published Nov 4, 2024: On page 9, in the article “Teachers, Now Turned Students”, we misspelled Jim Munzenrider’s name incorrectly as Jim Morrison. On page 8, in the story “Eating good in the neighborhood,” we incorrectly stated that there are seven businesses—there are eight.
PHOTO BY JOSH EDELSON / AFP - GETTY IMAGES
Student Standoff
The recent shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson created massive ripples in media and online. Two students share their perspectives on the incident.
Brian Thompson, the CEO of an American health insurance company United Healthcare, was fatally shot on Dec. 4 in New York City. He was 50 years old at his time of death. After a five-day manhunt, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was arrested and charged for the second-degree murder of Thompson.
The First Shot of a Looming Class War
The peculiar appeal of a murderer speaks to burgeoning anti-rich sentiment
By Ellie L. Culture Editor
The internet has a new boyfriend: Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The Levi’s jacket seen in grainy security footage has become a bestseller online. Tweets swoon over Mangione’s shirtless pictures from suspended social media accounts. Merch emblazoned with the words engraved on the bullet casings— deny, defend, depose—has exploded online.
This is all distasteful. A man was shot in cold blood.
nition. The one-star review-bombing of the McDonalds, where Mangione was arrested, is a retaliatory attack. The explanations of jury nullification are pre-emptive battle plans. The countless stories about denied insurance claims at the heart of the online storm are the
But the outpouring of hatred towards the health insurance industry cannot be distilled to mere cruelty. Rather, the exhibited anger, coupled with frustration towards wealthy Americans, allowed people to bypass their natural sympathy, and instead voice their bitter views.
The Price of Privilege, Pain, and Systemic Failure
Unmet expectations and systematic neglect led an unexpected suspect to extreme violence
By Josie B. Editor-in-Chief
When the three-day manhunt for the shooter of UnitedHealth’s CEO Brian Thompson ended with the arrest of a suspect who was valedictorian of his private high school in suburban Maryland, a computer science major from UPenn, and an avid Goodreads user, I was caught slightly off guard.
The alleged shooter, Lugi Mangione, has a résumé that seems a little too familiar. He was passionate about his education, cultivated a funny online presence, appeared seemingly successful, and came from a background of achievement and privilege. His friends have commented on how well-liked he was when they knew him and how out of character his recent (alleged) actions have been.
If this personal experience with the healthcare industry was what radicalized Mangioni, it would appear he was the product of a system that failed to address the frustrations of someone who was conditioned to believe they should succeed no matter what.
On paper, Mangione looks like someone who had everything to lose, and yet he was willing to risk his success, privilege, and future for the sake of taking a shot at a system that failed him.
To me, Mangione’s story raises questions about how we are shaped by the institutions around us. Are we taught to seek solutions for systematic problems or to internalize our frustrations? How often do we hear about systemic issues and feel powerless to make meaningful change?
I believe this is the beginning of an American class war—a civil war, but not the long-forecasted partisan war between liberals and conservatives. Support for Mangione has been surprisingly bipartisan. Citizens are united by their resentment of the wealthy, and the alleged killer’s scattered political beliefs online help—many can find at least one viewpoint that resonates, whether it’s rationalism, anti-“woke” sentiment, or libertarian ideals.
It is true that bipartisan efforts, even an uncaring online deluge of comments, are rare. However, I believe that unity is precisely what makes the prospect of a physical outbreak of violence so dangerous; the ubiquitous support for violence as a tool of change may set a treacherous precedent for copy-cat assassinations.
So far, the start of this class warfare has been digital. Thirst tweets and jokes about Mangione, no matter how obnoxious or insensitive, are ammu-
I see these as tactics serving a simple purpose: to keep class inequality at the forefront of the conversation surrounding Thompson’s death.
In an assassination that’s being consumed and defined by public opinion, perception is vital.
Thompson’s murder is undoubtedly a tragedy. It is important to recognize Thompson’s humanity—he leaves behind a wife and two sons. Yet, the role of the insurance industry and widening class inequality in provoking such rage, also cannot be forgotten.
Let’s hope that people’s frustrations continue to remain limited to online venting, and that legislators prioritize reforming the insurance industry. Otherwise, brace for more inappropriate, indifferent jokes, tweets, and memes to make us all the more unlikeable, as the country inches towards civil war.
And yet, he ended up the suspect of a brazen homicide, a controversial figure at the center of intense public scrutiny and discussion.
On social media, Mangione has become a symbol for many users of retribution against a healthcare system many consider fundamentally broken. This narrative is dangerous. It suggests that when people feel trapped or neglected by the systems meant to help them, they may start to turn to violence because they feel there is no other way to hold those who created the systems accountable—and that this violence is acceptable.
What radicalized Mangione to the extent of murder and fixated him on the health insurance industry is not fully known, but some clues may exist in what’s known of his online posts and health history. An X-ray he posted as his Twitter background appears to depict spondylolisthesis, a spinal condition in which a vertebra slips out of place and can cause chronic pain.
It’s easy to think, “No one I know would ever do something like that.” But reflecting on Mangione’s story, I realize how quickly we can underestimate the impact of feeling powerless in the face of systematic issues, even on those who seem to have everything.
I’ve heard people at Nueva (friends, even myself) say things like, “It’s bad to use single-use plastics or AI, but what can I do to stop issues like climate change when the entire system is designed to sustain these practices?” This kind of thinking is valid to an extent; systemic issues can feel overwhelming and paralyzing. However, it’s equally important to consider how we can create meaningful change within the system—without resorting to unacceptable violence.
Disillusionment with the systems we live under can push people to the edge. And it’s not enough to just ask why this happened; we have to start asking what we can do to stop it from happening again.
Trails and Parks Near Campus
Check out these six green spaces close to campus!
By Senya S. Staff Writer
Bay Meadows Park (0.01 miles away)
The Upper School’s neighboring Bay Meadows Park is a ubiquitous location for students and teachers alike. It has a large field that is always lively: children can be seen playing soccer, Nueva students playing ultimate frisbee, and a large flock of geese congregate there. Next to the field is a pond where many species of birds can be seen. It is a perfect place to take a short walk or have a picnic on the grass!
Bay Meadows Community Garden (0.3 miles away)
Still very close to campus—yet somehow less well known than Bay Meadows Park—the Bay Meadows Community Garden is a colorful oasis for San Mateo residents to grow food. It is a short but pleasant walk and contains a few benches in addition to a long communal table under a pergola. Though the garden itself is only open to residents of the area, the surrounding area is a great place to clear your mind or chat with a friend!
Beresford Park (0.9 miles away)
Located about a mile west of campus, Beresford Park is a vast park that has everything anyone could ask for! It contains four tennis courts, a field, bocce ball courts, and a skate park. In addition, the park has a large play structure whose architecture was inspired by the villages of the indigenous California Miwok tribe. If you’re looking to go on a longer walk to a park with many amenities, Beresford Park is an excellent place for you.
Shell Cove Park (1.8 miles away)
Shell Cove Park, nicknamed “The Lagoon” by the cross country team, is a wonderful waterside trail. The journey there isn’t easy though, as the rough 1.8 mile trek crosses over the 101. Nevertheless, once you arrive you’ll be greeted with a stunning view of Foster City’s lagoon!
5. San Mateo Central Park (2 miles away)
San Mateo Central Park is located 2 miles north of campus. It is a chill walk or run but if two miles seems daunting the park is also a mere two Caltrain
“I’m seeing Sambas, Doc Martens, Nikes, and those slip on UGGS.” — Amber Carpenter, English and Creative Writing
“I’ve been dabbling with the baggier pants trend that is going on, and people tell me, ‘Wow, it's so Gen Z of you.’” — David Eik, Science & Lab Tech
“No one when I was in school here had the zoomer perm, the curly hair. I also see a lot of the Silicon Valley hoodie deal.”
— Liam McDonald, Math
“I would describe my student’s fashion as very Gen Z. High school fashion has changed immensely from when I was in high school and because social media has been such a big part of your life there is a greater acceptance of diversity of fashionable choices.”
—Lindy Jensen, Biology
“I think things from the past making a comeback is nice, things previous generations once enjoyed that we get to enjoy now.”
— Ihmar Aldana, Math
stops away! This park contains multitudes: a rose garden, a Japanese garden, tennis and pickleball courts, and a play structure. Furthermore, since the park is located in the center of San Mateo, there are a lot of good restaurants and places to get snacks nearby.
Laurelwood Park (2.4 miles away)
Laurelwood Park is the closest source of the hiking trails to campus. It is a long but enjoyable journey that passes through pleasant south San Mateo suburbs. Once there, you’ll be greeted with many
great hiking trails in addition to a small park. Trails of varying steepness take you to the top of Sugarloaf Peak for a panoramic view of the bay.
Teachers,Style? In What's
By Alexis C. Staff Writer, Jordan C. Staff Writer
We asked Nueva teachers to describe the style of Gen Z students on the High School Campus.
Here’s what they said:
“I was walking down the stairs behind two students and one of them complimented the other on their crew socks. So, mid-calf socks, I guess?” — LiAnn Yim, Journalism
“I see a lot of cool vintage sneakers and a lot of looser clothing, sweatshirts, so oversized fit seems to be stylish right now and more crop tops feel really Gen Z.” — Brianna Beehler, English
“Even though my experiences are very different, I do remember a lot of us wearing uniforms put on baggy clothes over, and I see that here.” — Ting Zheng, Mandarin
Styles Galore Some essentials seen around the San Mateo campus. CLOCKWISE: AIR JORDANS, NIKE.COM, CREWNECK, SFCITYWEAR.COM, HOODIE, ZARA.COM, SOCKS, TWLOHA.COM, JEANS, PARADOXEPARIS.COM, HOODIE, STUSSY.COM, UGG SHOES, UGG.COM, BOOTS, DRMARTENS.COM, JORTS, COSMICCLOTHING.US, PANTS, ZARA.COM.
Doodle to Destination A map of the San Mateo campus and nearby trails. ILLUSTRATION BY SENYA S.
Comic: Candles
By Anwen C. Staff Writer
Crossword
By Marcus H. Guest Contributor
of four on
25) Best-liked, in texts
27) Suffix with serpent
28) Vehicle at the front of a
30) Told (on)
32) Computer whiz
34) Big name in chips
35) Event in Rosenberg Courtyard to explore student groups 38) "Puppy Love"
Cocktail party bite 42) Writing that needs defending
Chess Puzzle
By Michael H. Guest Contributor
44) Lower school building 47) Floral necklace 48) Apple product 50) Able, facetiously 51) College sr.'s test
52) Feline
53) W, informally
55) "Yikes!"
56) One of four on Nueva's college counseling team
59) Sport where birdies fly 63) Notable period 64) Famed New York eatery
65) Flushed
66) One of four on Nueva's college counseling team
Find a checkmate for Black in chess notation. The checkmate requires three moves: two from Black, with one forced move from White.
The instructions for notation are as follows: letters correspond to specific pieces on the chessboard.
Pawns are represented by lowercase letters based on their file, so a pawn on the c-file, for example, would be written as "c".
Uppercase letters are used for the other pieces: "Q" stands for Queen, "R" for Rook, "B" for Bishop, "N" for Knight, and "K" for King. The letter "X" is used to indicate a capture. Coordinates are referenced according to the grid, with the square h1 being the white square in the top-left corner of the board.
Sudoku
By Alexis C. Staff Writer
Comic: Goose Alignment Chart
By Senya S. Staff Writer
Endurance, Sacrifice, and Success: The Making of Nueva’s Cross Country Team
Varsity teams reach state championships after season-long battle
By Anwen C. Staff Writer
November 20, 3:30pm: The weight room buzzes with energy, though not the kind anyone necessarily loves. It’s crowded. The boy’s soccer team is sharing the equipment. A fluorescent white light glares overhead, bathing the scene in an intensity that matches the sounds: metal clanking against the floor, bursts of electronic music, the occasional laugh, and a hum of chatter. Despite it all, everyone seems oddly well-adjusted. Maybe it’s the late-November, calm-before-the-storm of CIF State Championships. Or maybe it’s the camaraderie that comes from knowing they’re all stuck here together.
“Today we're doing weight room, and then we're gonna do a 50 minute run, and then sprints,” Gabby L. ’26 said, her voice cutting through the noise. “We've been trying to improve our speed, and “kick” at the end of races. So to do that, we've been doing speed work at the end of our easy runs.”
Near the whiteboard, strength and conditioning coach Nick Hryekewicz calls for attention. The team quiets down, a loose semicircle forming around him as he points at the scrawled workout schedule. Today’s agenda includes Bulgarian split squats, modified good mornings, box jumps, resistance band pushes, and a one-rep max deadlift. To be honest, weight training isn’t everyone’s favorite. For some, the iron is a necessary evil; but for others, it’s the highlight of the week.
After a 30-minute session in the weight room, the cross country team moves onto the day’s main event: the “easy run.” As they hit the road, the grungy, electric beats of hardstyle from the weight room fade into the softer sounds of Noah Kahan, beaming from a handheld speaker. Each downbeat feels amplified by the rhythm of their steps—a sort of emphatic, running remix. Today’s run marks the start of a “taper,” a short period of rest and preparation for the meet ahead. The 50 minutes on the clock
begin and end with the satisfying beeps of Garmins and Apple Watches, each slightly, but pleasantly, off-sync.
These kinds of “chill” long runs are a staple of the team. They’re some of the first workouts a new runner experiences and some of the last they’ll carry into a big meet. For the incoming freshmen, they’re a sort of initiation—a rite of passage. The miles lay the foundation for endurance, but they also teach the quiet joy of running together.
“There's this one particular practice, when I was trying to keep up with [this junior], Eric W.,” Lazlo S. ’28 recalled . “So my friends…two other freshmen, all tried keeping up with [him]. And we broke records. [Eric] kept encouraging us, like, ‘you got this keep going harder!’ He's really fun, and a great mentor.”
“[The team] was like my guiding beacon,” Eric W. '26 said. “They helped me stay motivated. Even in the toughest conditions.”
Jason L. ’28 echoed the same sense of team support. “Although [Eric] has had more experience, he still ran with me,” Lou added. “That was really kind of him.”
This has been a season of growth and adaptation for the team. New weightlifting regimens, new coaches, new locations, and a sharp uptick in mileage were all part of the effort to improve performance. With State Championships being the final race of the season, it feels like the culmination of months of work.
But the road to State hasn’t been with-
Overcoming a Culture of Silence
What we can
learn from
By Natalia R. Staff Writer
T
out its challenges. Running is a sport of paradoxes: the joy of effortless strides counterbalanced by the relentless wear and tear on the body. As a result, overuse injuries are (unfortunately) typical of the sport. But for the varsity teams—especially the girls—this balance had tipped precariously in later weeks. More than half of the varsity girls team reported some form of injury in the lead-up to state. These aren’t dramatic, season-ending injuries but the slow, creeping kind: a knee that twinges on uphills, shin splints on long runs, or a hip flexor that resists the rhythm of a stride.
“Until our taper, we were just going up and up and up… just increasing,” Jason said regarding the new training schedule. “More mileage is technically better for your performance, but then there's a certain point when the cost is too much.”
But when running-related pains hit, they’re rarely announced outright. The fact that they’re gradual makes it easy to smother them with a shrug and a casual “I’m fine.”
In the final weeks of the season, the team sticks it out anyway. Rest days are taken begrudgingly but wisely. Hopping on an exercise bike offers a low-impact alternative for an achy shin. Strengthening and stabilizing movements have become part of the
two documentaries shining a light on abuse in professional sports
he releases of two recent sports documentaries have highlighted the structural abuses faced by elite athletes. They make for uneasy but enlightening watches.
The first, Simone Biles Rising, provides an inside look at the gymnast’s triumph at the Paris Olympics, and the second, #SeAcabó: Diary of the Champions, takes viewers into the world of the Spanish women’s national team.
Although the two documentaries take place in vastly different sports and arenas, both emphasize a culture of silence in the athletic world that has made athletes the most susceptible to exploitation.
In the Simone Biles miniseries (fully released Oct. 25), Biles opens up about how Larry Nassar’s conviction of sexually abusing at least 256 young girls, herself
included, had a detrimental impact on her mental health even while at the peak of her career following the Rio Olympics.
The effect Nassar had on Biles and hundreds of other gymnasts is why just stopping abuse isn’t enough. There needs to be more focus on preventative measures like screenings and establishing boundaries so that abuse in athletic environments doesn’t happen in the first place.
Decades of dismissed complaints about Nassar’s behavior show a normalization of protecting abusers over victims in professional sports. This is also seen in #SeAcabó: Diary of the Champions (released Nov. 1.)
The documentary describes the mistreatment of the Spanish women’s national team by the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
In the 2023 World Cup final, the Spanish team beat England 1-0. What happened after the final whistle, however, would overshadow their win.
As she accepted her World Cup medal, player Jenni Hermoso received an unsolicited kiss from Luis Rubiales, president of the Federation.
Once Rubiales began facing criticism, Hermoso and the rest of the Spanish team were increasingly pressured and harassed to defend Rubiales’ actions.
Protecting their abuser, whether because of external influence or inner turmoil, is something athletes in both documentaries face. Validating and supporting victims lets them know they’re being heard.
On Aug. 25, player Alexia Putellas tweeted, “This is unacceptable. It’s over.
cooldown routine. Ice and sports tape are always within reach.
Even still, the State Championships waits for no one. The Nov. 30 event—nestled in the rolling hills of Fresno—is a mecca for thousands of high school runners. For Nueva’s varsity teams, the trip has its traditions: decorating “the van” with window paint, listening to Coach Robert’s obligatory pep talk, and collapsing into hotel rooms after a long day of travel and anticipation.
“[The team] was like my guiding beacon,” Eric W. ’26 said. “They helped me stay motivated. Even in the toughest conditions.”
And it seems like the hard work paid off. At CIF, varsity boys co-captain Ryan F. ’26 laid down a 15:27 5k, and last-minute alternate Jeffery L. ’28 ran a personal record by over a minute. The varsity girls, too, held their own, fighting through fatigue and expectations to represent the team.
Now, the winter sun has grown lazy, slipping closer to the horizon earlier and earlier. The varsity teams have traded their precious 4pm warmups for the year-end MA grind. The Garmins will stay quiet for a little while, and the trails they’ve come to know so well will wait patiently for their return.
With you [Hermoso].” The team would no longer stay quiet. Less than a month later, Vilda was dismissed as national team coach, and Rubiales resigned.
Widespread cases against abusers such as Nassar and Rubiales are the beginnings of an overdue and necessary cultural shift regarding the oppressive environments fostered by top-flight athletic organizations.
Teams should be inherently receptive to feedback and establish open communication with their athletes to ensure everyone is safe and heard.
Left: Jenni Hermoso after winning the World Cup. Right: Simone Biles at the Rio Olympics. PHOTOS BY RICHARD CALLIS/FERNANDO FARZAO
A Youth Overhaul
Varsity
boys basketball team rebounds with underclassmen
By Niam K. Staff Writer
With the start of the winter season, the boys varsity basketball team is back in action with many new faces. The team lost four seniors last season, but supplemented their absence with six newcomers. Among them are three freshmen, the most in program history. This unprecedented decision by coach Mike Green is the result of a culture shift in the program.
Along with the youth overhaul, Coach Green has also recruited two students to serve as the team managers: Aadit B. ’26 and Gavin Z. ’25. Aadit and Gavin have a multiplicity of roles on the team, including quantitative analysis, facilitating team practices, and mentoring the players.
“It's an administrative coaching role, along with elements of statistics. It involves helping the coaches run the plays and drills,” said Aadit, describing his role. “I also help out with statistical analysis on all the stats from the games to identify patterns.”
To the players, the team managers have been a pleasant surprise, as they have elevated the handling of the little things. Team captain Jackson L. ’25 spoke on this.
“The team managers have been nice. They've been keeping the stats. They've been showing up to practice. I think it's cool that we have team managers. It's not something that I would have expected that we would get at Nueva,” Jackson said. “Just to have someone who's supporting the team, coming to all of our away games, keeping our stats, helping us stay focused. That's a great bonus.”
This season, in order to improve, Evan
W. ’26 is trying to elevate his offensive skills by watching NBA film.
“I really want to model my game after NBA players, seeing how they play, what type of moves they do. I was looking at some Warriors players, modeling my game after Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, and Pat Spencer.” Evan said.
After an 0–4 start to the season, the team stormed back with a 50–46 win over Design Tech High School on Dec. 10. Fellow team captain Diego A. ’25 led the team in scoring with a monumental 30 points, a tally only five points off the school record.
Overall, Jackson, Evan, Aadit, and Coach Green all had the same goal for the season, making the CCS playoffs.
Kickstart to the Boys Soccer Season
By Anvi M. Staff Writer
The team builds on a strong foundation
The boys soccer team kicked off the season with their first game against San Mateo High School, ending with a close 0–2 loss after being tied at halftime. The team, however, wasn’t discouraged just yet.
“Even though it wasn't the best result we could've hoped for, it got everyone super excited for the season to come,” said Nathan S. '25, co-captain of the team alongside Landon X. '25, Logan X. '25, and Ethan C. '25.
So far this season, the team has played other preseason games against Harker, Pinewood, Gilroy, Crystal Springs, Lynbrook, and Monte Vista Christian.
With more than seven new athletes joining in the new season, team dynamics are still on the road to improving.
“Our practices have been pretty solid and there's a lot of great talent on the team this year,” said Nathan. “The chemistry needs a little bit of work, but I'm confident
Tackling a New Season
The girls soccer team kicks it off with bonding and goal-setting
By Kayla L. Opinion Editor
The 31 players on the Nueva girls soccer team giggled as they tilted and contorted their faces to move an Oreo from their foreheads to mouths on the Rosenberg lawn. It was their first day of practice, which consisted of captain-organized minigames like dizzy penalty kicks and soccer bowling.
The games bonded a newly formed team that spans all four grades. “We just wanted people to know each other's names before they started,” said team co-captain Lena C. ’25.
Lena, alongside five other seniors on the team, is kicking off the season by building on the legacy of graduated players while ushering in a new friendlier team culture. While maintaining a high level of play against other teams, they aim to make the team more focused on collaboration, spirit, and bonding.
“To build a personal team is really important to us. To build a personal connection is one thing, but [we want] to have everyone feel like they're included and very close to everyone else,” said fellow co-captain Liv R. ’25.
While the team has played just five out of the 19 scheduled matches so far, they have already carved out over
a month of practices. Unlike prior seasons, when practice locations were split between Skyline College and the Bay Meadows campus, the team now practices at Skyline for all Monday through Friday practices.
The scheduling change is a slight challenge, but more significant is the loss of three key graduated senior captains. Beyond the bittersweetness, these losses left strategic holes in the center back and winger positions.
Magically, the five new freshmen joining the varsity team “filled these gaps flawlessly,” said left outside back Julia C. ’27.
Freshman Cassie L. ’28 is grateful for the sense of belonging she feels even as a new member. “Even since the very beginning, [the captains and team] went out of their way to talk to us and include us. It made me feel part of the team,” Cassie said. Meanwhile, returning players are adapting quickly through bonding activities and the daily practice schedule. “The freshmen are bringing fresh energy!” Juliet C. ’26 said.
Assistant coach and US Master Scheduling & Academic Data Coordinator Kevin Dineen is excited to return for his second season of soccer alongside head coach Daniel Zerabruk.
we'll be in really good shape by the time our preseason games are done.”
Like most team sports, soccer requires effort and communication on and off the field. Even with the bumpy start in the team's chemistry, this communication aspect seems to be flourishing as the season progresses.
“Everyone has a voice on the team. This can be difficult with a big squad [of 24 athletes], so I'm happy that we're doing well on that front,” Landon said. The abundance of players is a step up from last year’s numbers. Last season’s lack of players made it difficult to find enough athletes who were available on game or tournament days. Now that more athletes have joined, the team has opportunities to play against more schools.
After starting the season with a promising roster and a strong work ethic, the team is poised for a successful season.
“There's a lot of fun, laughter, and camaraderie,” said Dineen, who is also the primary goalkeeper coach for both teams. As the team continues to play more official games, he continued, its “essence will be further defined.”
Looking to the future, many players are excited to potentially advance in the CCS playoffs. In previous years, the team has steadily advanced past the qualifiers, quarterfinals, and semifinals. Last year, the 2023–2024 team reached CCS finals and lost in a tight match against Crystal Springs Uplands School.
Left outside back Julia C. is hopeful to leverage each player’s individual talent to advance further than ever before and succeed as a team. “[We have] what it takes. We just have to come through when it matters,” Julia
C. said. Juliet C. is even more optimistic about the team’s prospects at the CCS playoffs. “This is the year that we're gonna win it all,” she said. “I'm calling it now!”
Shooting their shots Top: Juliet C. '26 and Caroline F. '28 during a home game against Ace Charter. Bottom: Senior players Luki D. '25, Cameron M. '25, Charlotte R. '25, Lena C. '25, Devika M. '25, and Liv R. '25 during their Vype Media Day. PHOTOS BY DIANE MAZZONI
Kicking off. The boys soccer team plays their second game of the season against Harker. PHOTO BY DIANE MAZZONI
Seizing the moment. Newcomer Dylan S.'27 sizes up a Crystal Springs defender. PHOTO BY DIANE MAZZONI
A Cut Above
Two juniors make their mark for Team USA in international fencing competition
By Ethan H. Sports Editor
S
ydney L. ’26 and Govind R. ’26 stand on opposite ends of Asics Arena, preparing for their first bouts—or matches— of the competition. The normally indoor track stadium, now refurbished with fencing strips, buzzes with energy and enthusiasm.
On the weekend of Nov. 16, Sydney and Govind traveled over 10 hours to Sofia, Bulgaria to compete as one among the 40 members of Team USA in the European Fencing Confederation’s Cadet Circuit, a U17 international World Cup tournament for sabre fencers.
“I’m super proud to represent my country,” said Govind, who was the last member to be selected. “I actually found out in the middle of an English class work period. It was hard to keep it all in, but I emailed back and texted my family about it right away.”
The win was particularly meaningful for Sydney, who had been hoping to join friends already on the team.
“Being on the cadet Team USA was something that I had wanted for such a long time,” she said. “I didn't think I was going to get there at one point, so making it was such a great feeling.”
Both fencers participated in individual competitions, where the first to 15 points is victorious, and team competitions, which consists of three or four fencers who switch every five points until one side
reaches 45 points for the win.
“I felt some pressure, especially in teams since I was representing a whole group of people and not just myself,”
Govind said. “But I got to interact super closely with the other members of Team USA, and everyone just stuck together with fantastic camaraderie.”
Govind placed 38 out of 266 in individual competition and 6 out of 57 in the team event while Sydney placed 19 out of 229 in individuals and won teams.
“I wasn't the last one fencing [in teams], but when my teammate got the final touch, we were all jumping up and down and celebrating and we all ran over to her,” Sydney said. “I've only ever won
Dribbling to Success
Girls basketball looks to overcome challenges this coming season
By Lexie S. Staff Writer
The girls basketball season began in early November and tipped off with their first game against Mercy High School on Dec. 3.
The girls basketball season began in early November and tipped off with their first game against Mercy High School on Dec. 3.
Although Mercy pulled away in the second half winning 53–23, the Mavericks made every effort and kept it a close game in the first half.
“Overall, I think our team did well for the first game of our season,” said Cate G. ’28, one of three freshmen who joined the team. “We made some mistakes, but I think as the season goes on and we practice as a team it’ll be a lot easier.”
The girls basketball program has one team, composed of athletes from all four grades. Though only 12 people are on the team this year, it is a larger number than
one other tournament, so it was a huge confidence boost.”
With the varying results, both Sydney and Govind see the tournament as a learning opportunity.
“There's a feeling I sometimes get on the strip for timing, technique, and really everything,” Sydney said. “It’s like a flow state, and I got a new and much better sense for it while I was there.”
Govind saw the same as a strong area of improvement, emphasizing staying calm and patient while simultaneously drowning out the noise of the crowd or external stimuli.
Apart from the fencing itself, the two saw the competition as a cultural experience. Sydney recounted hearing the immense diversity of languages spoken at the convention center, and Govind reflected on mo ments with other teams, citing
previous years.
There are seven underclassmen on the team, and many of the athletes have less basketball experience than some of the older members. The age and experience difference is not ideal, but the more experienced players are very supportive of the newer athletes, and are role models for them to look up to.
However, these differences in experience are not their only obstacle. With only 12 members, the team often misses members during practices and games, making it harder for them to grow and bond as a whole team.
Although their second game was only a few days later, Cate felt that they had a definite improvement in their playing and communication.
“I think we played a lot better and we were more comfortable with each other and on the court,” she said. “It was a good start to the season and I think as the season goes on, our team has a lot of potential to improve a lot.”
The team looks forward to the rest of the season with plans to work harder and become stronger to succeed further and win games.
“I’m super proud of the team,” Coach Dani Moseley said. “I feel very confident with everyone's skill set as the season progresses and we have more practice time.”
Following successful tournaments, both 11th graders are looking ahead to the future with goals both large and small.
“I prefer to focus on the next moment or the next competition. I’d like to do well at the next tournament I'm going to in Germany,” Sydney said. “I’d like to improve my fencing, but not even my results necessarily, but just general skills to get better.”
“I would love to represent [Team USA] for under 19 and eventually open division,” Govind said.
“That's my goal for my career: being able to compete in senior World Cups and senior World Championships, or even junior World Cups and junior World Championships.”
Gold to Grit: A Season of Setbacks
A season defined by injuries leaves the 49ers hopeful for a healthier and stronger 2025 campaign
By Callum S. Staff Writer
The 2024 season hasn’t been the storybook year that 49ers fans envisioned. What began with Super Bowl aspirations has become a nightmare, marked by frustration and untimely injuries.
While the team showed flashes of brilliance, the 49ers' season has been marred with inconsistency, reflected in their 6-8 record. Their recent loss to the Rams has all but extinguished their playoff hopes, now sitting at just 11%, as fans begin to focus on the coming year.
This year’s most glaring issue has been the extensive injuries to most of the team’s key players. Christian McCaffrey, the NFL’s top running back last season, missed the first eight games, leaving behind a significant gap in the 49ers’ offense.
"Not having McCaffery for the ma-
jority of the season was a really big issue because that kind of opens up the rest of Shanahan's offensive scheme making the 49ers really inefficient,” said avid 49ers fan Samuel C. ’27.
In what felt like a half-rebuilding year, this season gave Jordan Mason and Jauan Jennings the chance to shine and establish themselves as key contributors for the future.
Jennings, in particular, has proven himself as a reliable wide receiver, earning the nickname “Third and Jauan” for his consistent ability to deliver on critical third-down plays.
While the 49ers most likely won’t be making the playoffs, fans have plenty to look forward to next season. The return of a healthy Christian McCaffrey and Nick Bosa next season could reignite the 49ers’ dominance and put them back in the conversation as serious title contenders.
how Great Britain cheered for Team USA in their bouts.
Gold and Glory Sydney L. '26 (right) on the podium with her teammates PHOTO FROM HALBERSTADT FENCING CLUB
Fencing Family Govind R.'26 (left) snaps a photo with his teammates at Asics Arena PHOTO FROM GOVIND R.
Third and Jauan Jauan Jennings dives for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 8 PHOTO FROM ABC7 NEWS
