The Nueva Current | October 2018

CALTRAIN ACTIVITES

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

NUEVANS SHOULD VOTE

LAST-MINUTE COSTUMES

Ever wonder what to do on a Friday afternoon after school?

Take a look at this guide for things to see and do as you ride Caltrain southbound. p. 4

Merix G. shares his love and passion for cooking, and provides a recipe that he created inspired by his multiracial heritage and experiences as a student. p. 7

Voting is important. Take it from an experienced campaigner. Many people think that one vote doesn't matter to the overall election, but Luke M. disagrees. p. 14

Haven't decided on a costume for Halloween yet?

Here's a couple costumes you can DIY at home.

p. 19

The Nueva Current

Volume 2, Issue 2

131 E. 28th Ave. San Mateo, CA 94403 www.thenuevacurrent.com The Official Student Newspaper of The Nueva School

OCTOBER 26, 2018

a SWeet EMPtINess Willow C. Y.

instagram’s once-solely-digital trends are now manifesting themselves in reality. pop-up museums are the latest iteration. p. 10

Photo by Amy Shamblen from Unsplash

Let's visit Middletown

Student actors experiment with a technically challenging comedy Antonetta T.

Thalia R. (9) designed the poster for the fall production.

Inside the bustling classroom that houses the rehearsals of the fall production, loud laughter and cheerful shouts escape through the thin, fabric walls. This room has witnessed a diverse cast of characters who have visited through the years—filling it with drama, comedy, intensity, and joy.

From The Government Inspector to Albert’s Bridge, all past productions have taken their form here.

Since August, students in the fall production elective have begun to organize the upper school’s fourth fall production—playwright Will Eno's Middletown—preparing to perform Nov. 1-3. In the meantime, the actors have been hard at work close-reading

the text, understanding the complexities of their characters, and developing their comedic skills.

This play is an updated version of Our Town by Thornton Wilder, which is a metatheatrical play that outlines the daily lives of the residents of a small American town. Middletown, similarly, offers nondescript roles and depicts the everyday lives of ordinary characters in their ordinary town.

The play straddles the contradictions of daily life, intertwining both comedy and pensive gravity. With English teachers Jamie Biondi and Saya Jenks as directors, the cast has been carefully close-reading and analyzing the ambiguous script these past few months.

Louis B., who plays the "Mechanic," explained, “The play is about the little interactions we have in life…a lot of times we might think that the most significant parts in life are the giant things that happen, but this play shows the beauty of two people just having a conversation.”

Biondi describes the play as “vague and nondescript,” but says that “the group is just been running with it. It’s a play that works really well with this gifted population because there are so many connections that aren’t obvious and that your average high schooler isn’t going to find.” p. 4

2 / NEWS

THE NUEVA CURRENT

Briefing

marshmallows consumed in s'mores at the tenth-grade bonfire on Friday, Oct. 12, at Ocean Beach in SF.

Student engagement survey results 0-30 minutes 30-60 minutes 1-1.5 hours 1.5-2 hours

6%

8%

1

New art installation sparks conversations The new art installation, "A Beloved Bookish Community," has sparked a lot of conversations among students and faculty about books. Every teacher was asked to share the ten books that have shaped who they are or transformed their thinking/understanding of the world.

Each poster provides insight into the hearts and minds of Nueva teachers.

15%

%

2-2.5 hours 2.5-3 hours 3+ hours

8%

8

Aliya G. & Jordan M.

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VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

23 %

22%

Presidential alert pushed to cellphones

G 9th

de ra G

7.8

7.3

6.9

7.4

12t h

Average hours of sleep per night as reported by students 0-30 minutes 30-60 minutes 1-1.5 hours 1.5-2 hours 2-2.5 hours

1% 2%

% 10

1%

2.5-3.5 hours 3.5-4.5 hours 4.5-5 hours 5+ hours

11%

22%

18 %

On Friday, Oct. 5, Student Council spontaneously ordered a schoolwide, emergency pajama day. This day was organized in response to high levels of stress throughout the student body.

Many students dressed up and enjoyed a comfortable day in their pajamas. Others felt that, as well-intentioned as it was, the initiative was ineffective in combating stress. “It was kind of sudden and a lot of people did not participate,” said Merix G. (10). Vienna G. (10) said, “The email sent out about pajama day made it seem like a brand new issue. Also, wearing PJs doesn’t really change anything.”

“I read it in one sitting on a sunny lawn while listening to 'Dark Tower'

by Miniature Tigers on repeat and it permanently changed the way I view attachment, structure, relationships, and the underlying beautiful chaos of the world.”

Patrick Berger on Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

22%

De-stress in PJs

de ra G

Photo by Willow C. Y.

10t h

% 13

cupcakes devoured by students attending the homecoming volleyball game on Oct. 18.

de ra

11t h

180

Time spent on extracurriculars per day

de ra G

On Oct. 3, the U.S. tested its new Presidential Alert System by sending a message out to 225 million phones— roughly 75% of the country's population.

The alert said: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

A common misconception— popularized by memes poking fun at the alert—following this text was that President Trump will be able to misuse the alert system.

“I don’t want to be Trump’s captive audience,” says Antonetta T. (10). “If he abuses this function, we will have to turn our phones off.” The proper role of the alert system, however, is to spread emergency messages nationwide. The alert distributed this October tested the readiness of nationwide alerts and identified places for improvement.

According to the the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), emergency alerts are the system’s sole purpose and there are laws in place prohibiting anyone from exploiting or misusing this function.

Average time spent on homework daily

Building a library

“This books started my love affair with language, with the stories of families, and perhaps even California.

What does it mean to live a good life?

How charming to find the questions we ask ourselves mirrored in literature.”

Rachel Dragos on East of Eden by John Steinbeck

ACCESSIBLE BOOKS Nueva's book drive has helped create 16 libraries in six African countries.

All it takes is 1,000 books and $500 to fund a library.

(Photo courtesy of the ALP organization)

Book drive helps increase literacy in African schoolchildren Alyssa H. Since 2011, 18,371 books have been donated to create 16 libraries in six African countries through the school’s partnership with the African Library Project (ALP). A couple of shelves against a classroom wall, 1,000 books and $500 creates a world of learning, education, and literacy for African schoolchildren.

“What I love about what we do at Nueva [for ALP] is that lots of people are involved, lots of kids…it’s really a schoolwide thing. And people at Nueva just love, love, love books, and so it’s just so special to be able to share the thing that we love with people far away,” said Christine Bechtold, the founding and current parent organizer for ALP. ALP is a non-profit organization that helps to organize book drives around the United States

and ship the books to Africa to start small libraries is various communities. With Africa as the continent with the highest percentage of illiteracy, ALP strives to provide school-children with what ALP believes is the best tool to help attain literacy—books. ALP also believes that literacy is the leading path out of poverty.

“So many kids around the world, not even just in Africa, aren’t getting education, and I think that it’s a real problem” said Anya P. (9), currently a student organizer for ALP. “I think the underlying need is education.”

This year both the Middle and Upper Schools will be participating in ALP book drives. Book donations will be collected during the Book Fair from Nov. 26 to Dec. 7. This will be the seventh year the school has donated books to ALP. Adrienne P. (9) and Anya are this year’s student organizers, with Bechtold and Kara Park as parent organizers, and Marilyn Kimura, the middle school librarian, as the faculty

sponsor.

“It's been such an inspiring experience [to work with ALP]. I've always loved reading, so getting to share books with kids all the way across the world is a crazy opportunity that I'm so thankful to have,” Adrienne said. “I think it's really encouraging for us to see that even as kids and teenagers we can make a difference in the world and help other people.”

This is not just another year for the school’s partnership with ALP. This year the school was awarded the 2018 Compassion in Action award, which is granted annually, at ALP’s gala on Oct. 20. ALP’s Compassion in Action award is given annually to individuals and organizations whose contributions to ALP and African literacy have set them apart.

“I think that [the Compassion in Action award] really shows our persistence and really shows how much we care about this organization,” Anya commented.

The partnership with ALP began

with the participation of two third-grade classes in 2011. The third graders created posters advertising the drive, wrote Nueva Notes announcements, counted books, and held a bake sale to raise money as contributions to the cause. In the end, the third graders raised enough in books and money to fund the creation of two libraries in Ghana. Since then, the partnership has been maintained and libraries have been donated to Botswana, Swaziland, Malawi, and Lesotho through the support of various classes, academies, advisories, clubs, and support and donations from the overall community.

“I hope the kids take more and more ownership of it,” Bechtold said of her wishes for ALP in the future. “I hope it truly becomes part of the pride of the school…and that more and more people feel a connection to Africa.”

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THE NUEVA CURRENT

NEWS / 3

Topping-off ceremony marks progress of new wing Upper-school community celebrates the majority of building steel in place FOLDING PAPER Matt Berman, Director of Nueva Center for the Humanities, shows Coby W. (9) how to fold an origami crane. (Photo by Julia Barzizza)

US community comes together to create cranes Students in the Class of 2022 organize day to remember classmate Members of the ninth-grade class invited their upper-school peers to join them in a challenge: to make a thousand paper cranes in a day. The cranes will celebrate the life of their classmate Joey K. and be an installation in Joey's Meditation Room in Family House San Francisco (@familyhousesf), a home away from home for families of children with life-threatening illnesses receiving treatment at the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.

Nivi G., Amanda W., Luke M.

Students gathered outdoors in what used to be the west courtyard during advisory on Oct. 9. They were there to watch the construction crew place the final beam into the new building frame. Head of School Diane Rosenberg spoke about the “continued growth” of the school: “From the first, Nueva was a school with a big dream and a bold vision. A school whose mission was to meet the potential of every student, foster a culture of kindness, and imbue in each student a sense of purpose.”

Following Rosenberg’s opening remarks, Trustees Kathleen Donohue and Rick Holmstrom added their thanks to the people stewarding this process and emphasized the significance of the new wing.

“The school has a vision for these buildings, but that is just the starting place,” Donahue explained. “You, the teachers, the students, the staff, the parents, you bring it alive, and your thinking, your caring, your creations, your analyses, your arguments, your questions, will turn this into something entirely different.”

“This topping ceremony is a way for us to slow down that quick speed of

WORK IN PROGRESS As the Upper School watched, the Devcon construction crew raised and installed the ceremonial "final beam" onto the steel structure of the new west courtyard building. (Photo by Willow C. Y.)

time to say ‘we were here, we are a part of this story,’” Donahue added.

While the ceremony marks progress, there is more to be done. According to Steve Osborne, Director of Facilities and Operations, now that most of the building steel is in place, the aligning and welding of the steel will occur over the next few weeks. The installation of a metal deck has begun; pouring concrete on the deck will follow. Currently, the construction is on track to be completed by summer 2019.

“Devcon will then start…exterior wall framing, which will keep them busy through the end of the year,” Osborne reported.

When the new wing is complete, students can expect to enjoy three stories: classroom, meeting, and shared offices on the first and second floors, plus outdoor learning/gathering patios on the second and third floors.

The new building is being built to the same (or higher) standards of the existing structure, leveraging solar energy, climate control relying more on natural ventilation and fans for cooling than traditional air conditioning, and water-efficient fixtures.

Nuevans turned out in force to support the volleyball teams in the homecoming game. Hats, shirts, and other merchandise in the new Nueva blue were available for purchase outside the San Mateo campus gym.

Students from the Hillsborough campus were able to catch a special shuttle over for the festivities. Attendees enjoyed gelato and made-to-order tacos from food trucks that parked in the east courtyard.

Following the game, a student band performed a quick set in the courtyard.

Go Mavs!

Photos by Jordan M.

Decked out in new Nueva blue, Mavericks turn up the spirit

Tenth-grade bonfire at Ocean Beach

Corrections Corrections for Volume 2, Issue 1, published September 28, 2018:

Photos by Willow C. Y.

The tenth-grade class along with their dean Alexa Hart traveled north after school on Friday, Oct. 15, for the tenthgrade bonfire at Ocean Beach in San Francisco.

There was music, touch football, toasted marshmallows, and the tenth-graders were able to de-stress and enjoy time with their classmates.

In the article “All aboard the Falkor,” readers were led believe that it was solely Jeremy Jacquot’s elective that attended the trip. In fact, many of the students who went on the field trip were not in the Environmental Earth Science elective but students interested in going. In the Culture article “Cliché or Replay,” a quote stated by Nyle DiMarco was miswritten, claiming that the deaf actor was his friend’s son, instead of brother. The feature article “Rebranding the Nueva Identity” incorrectly led readers to believe that it was solely Luke De who designed the bubbling beaker within the open N; the logo was actually created by both Luke De and Elise M. (12). The photo caption (accompanying the article “Cross-country teams dig deep”) misidentified the coach as Coach Robert Lopez. The coach in the photo is Coach Greg Redhorse Benally. In the Sports article “New changes to volleyball,” the photo showing the varsity volleyball team was left uncredited. The photo was taken by Jordan M. In the Entertainment section, the Ken-Ken puzzle had a mistype: “12+” should have been “13+.”

Caught an error? Please email any corrections or clarifications to thenuevacurrent@nuevaschool.org.

Corrections will be published in the following issue.

4 / CULTURE

THE NUEVA CURRENT

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

The epic end to a YA author's fictional drama

With the final book, Sarah J. Maas closes out a chapter of her publishing life Callisto L. Three weeks before Sarah J. Maas’s Kingdom of Ash was released—even before the Advance Reader Copies had shipped—its rating on the the popular book-cataloguing and social media site Goodreads was 4.59 stars. Roughly 131,867 people had added it to their to-read lists, and its pre-reviews were filling up with excited animated GIFs and pre-reviews with too many exclamation points.

It was almost impossible not to join the fans clamoring for the final installment in the popular, long-running YA fantasy series.

After all, this was a momentous event: the Throne of Glass series was coming to an end.

With it, the first chapter of Maas’s publishing life will be finishing as well: an era marked by an eye-wateringly rapid rise to stardom, followed by a harshly scrutinised life that was to be spent trapped under the spotlight, all of which will soon take a break in favor of a brand new series and the continuation of another one. Over the years, Maas has endured the public breakdown of a close friendship, fallen under fire for failing to speak up about social justice issues, and ultimately retreated from social media.

In 2012, Bloomsbury Publishing released the young adult fantasy novel Throne of Glass; the first of what would become an eight-book series, it followed an assassin who had been freed from captivity by the ruler of her kingdom in order to compete for a chance to serve him and win her freedom. Critical reception was lukewarm. But the reader reception was another story: people loved the books. Throne of Glass has maintained an average rating of 4.22/5 stars on

Goodreads and several pages of gushing fan reviews. With the release of her later books, Maas catapulted into stardom, quickly becoming one of the top authors in the YA sphere.

Early in her career, she became good friends with fellow author Susan Dennard, whom she had met through fan fiction.

Dennard was the writer of the “Something Strange and Deadly” series, which had been underselling, while Maas’s series had been surging in popularity. They frequently mentioned the other on social media and encouraged fans to buy each other’s books: they even co-authored an online serial.

In early 2016, things went awry. Maas and Dennard stopped following each other on social media and abandoned their collaborative writing project. Then came Bookcon 2016.

In the panel Friendship is Magic, four YA authors—Maas, Dennard, Alexandra Bracken, and Victoria Aveyard—spent nearly an hour discussing how they wrote about character friendships. Maas and Dennard never once acknowledged each other.

Attendees noticed. “Guys look at the tension between Sarah and Susan,” commented one user.

“Their rift...it's so cringy and painful to watch.” And “Sarah is a jealous mean girl,” a dig that gave voice to a prevailing fan theory that Maas cut off Dennard after the latter’s books started selling well.

Maas’s isolation isn’t the only aspect of her career that’s come under scrutiny. The presence of what many termed “toxic masculinity” in her books (mostly in the form of romantic relationships that many critics have stated grow possessive and con-

trolling) has been criticized in the past, especially when it came to Maas’s reluctance to speak up. If a figure has as large an online following as Maas does, some argue, then they should use their platform for activism.

Yet Maas has mostly stayed off social media over the past few years, except to announce promotions for her own books and several major life events.

Despite the prevalence of Maas’s critics, others acknowledged that readers shouldn't be so quick to judge her for an issue they know very little about.

In an age where a private life becomes public, and an artist’s personal beliefs and actions becomes tied to their work, how far can Maas go before people really begin to turn against her? Is any of this controversy really deserving of anything more than the literary equivalent of a celebrity tabloid?

The problem is that we live in a world where the expectation to be a sociable, well-liked figure hangs heavy on artists, especially when it comes to the crowded YA space, full of tech-savvy teens and a crowded pile of new releases jostling for shelf space.

In the end, do these allegations against Maas hurt her? After all, she’s delivered for many readers: all she needs to do now is to conclude the series she’s built her career on in a satisfying manner. And if a reader decides to put off Kingdom of Ash in favor of supporting an author who rings truer to them as a person? Well, there are plenty of other readers ready to gobble that copy up.

Let's visit Middletown

Student actors experiment with a technically challenging comedy Antonetta T. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Because Louis is the only upperclassman in this production, he feels “almost like a mentor” to the seven freshmen and two sophomores, all new to Nueva’s fall production, and has been guiding them through the process. According to cast member Sofia I. (9), “everybody’s really supportive in the cast...we all joke around a lot and have become really close.”

“My character deals a lot with mental health issues, so then having to play that role can be a bit challenging, like finding a way to pull that off,” Sofia said, adding that she has struggled to find a perfect balance between serious and comedic when discussing these heavy topics.

“It’s a rare choice for high school,” Biondi explains. “The challenge of giving [students] the chance to try to be funny on stage is so hard but such an important acting skill that we tend to skip over a lot.”

Apart from memorizing lines, one of the actors’ assignments is individualized character work, which is personal to the actors and develops their understanding of their character and, thus, their skill when acting them. Ad-

BUIDLING A TOWN Art teacher May Wilson shows the fall production students an initial model of the set design. (Photo by Saya Jenks)

ditionally, design work is a major aspect of the process, which entails being part of a sets team, a costume team, or a publicity team.

“There’s a lot more room for interpretation in this play because it’s written in a very ambiguous style,” Louis said. “It’s one of the most challenging roles I’ve had, physically and emotionally.”

Biondi is taking over for David Keith, who directed the past fall plays at Nueva and decided to step aside this year to focus more on his acting career. Although this is Biondi’s first time directing in a high school environment, he has an extensive background in theater, describing himself as being “a theater kid” throughout his entire life.

“I did a show in fourth grade [and] the teachers were like, ‘Wow you’re a good actor,’ and it had nothing to do with my acting skills, just that I could speak in front of a room,” Biondi recalled happily.

“And from there, I just got funneled into the system.”

Eventually, he was invited to join an advanced theater program and would go on to major in theater at Yale University, pursue professional theater work, and study dramatic literature in graduate school, “never look[ing] back.”

Because of limited availability of the lower school gym, the performance is taking place midway through the semester. Thus, in the time between the show and the end of the semester, Biondi has a number of assignments planned that aim to deepen the actors’ understanding of Middletown, such as setting up interviews with people from regional theaters and presenting about them, thinking about possible careers for those interested in pursuing acting, reading Our Town and conducting thematic comparisons, and more.

Overall, both Biondi and the actors are pleased with the process so far, with the actors diving into their roles and the general logistics being finalized. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Nov. 1-3 in the GCC.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THE NUEVA CURRENT

CULTURE / 5

Creator and curator exhibit at SFMOMA

Photo by Willow T.

Wayne Thiebaud's final result is a memorable and rich experience

Willow T. SFMOMA’s new exhibit Wayne Thiebaud opened on Sep. 29 and is curated by Wayne Thiebaud himself.

The exhibit features the artist’s own work and pieces he selected to complement them. Thiebaud’s curation is what makes the exhibit special; it offers visitors a unique look into his personal taste and artistic perception.

The exhibit has two parts. One half shows Thiebaud’s own work and the second features the collection handpicked by him. Most of Thiebaud’s paintings and drawings focus on women and fields, along with cakes and other desserts. Displayed in the first gallery are popular paintings such as Pineapple Tray and Girl with a Pink Hat. Sketches depicting the journey to the final art piece are interspersed with the works that they correspond with.

Mostly drawn in dark charcoal or pencil, the sketches depict unfinished versions of the large paintings they hang next to.

The paintings Thiebaud chose to

accompany his work are drawn from an impressive collection of well-known artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe, Richard Diebenkorn, and less recognizable artists. The majority of the artists are European and American modernists who primarily create easel pieces with paint or oil. Nearly all pieces depict ordinary subjects such as fruit, flowers, and landscapes. Thiebaud’s opinion and thoughts accompany most of the artwork.

“This is a big favorite,” says the placard next to Artist, Flowers, and Hemispheres by Helen Lundeberg, who Thiebaud says “hasn’t had enough acknowledgment.” The painting hangs alone in the stairwell adjacent to the gallery, as if to finally give it its moment in the spotlight.

To visitors, it seems like the paintings are randomly arranged. Thiebaud’s selected artworks aren’t organized by time or theme. Instead, Thiebaud chose

Khalid's Suncity EP is a dream Reviewing his latest work

the position of each piece, using the intuition and knowledge he gained in his more than sixty years of being an artist.

One of Thiebaud's pieces titled Sunset Streets stands out. It depicts a wide, black street that vanishes into a windy dirt road in the background. The street is surrounded with colorful buildings and in the background there are rolling green hills. The piece seems to have a lively atmosphere that is only disturbed by the eerie lack of people. The oil-oncanvas piece hangs in the last room of Thiebaud’s works before the next part of the gallery that displays the artworks he curated for the exhibit.

The next part of the exhibit offers insight into Thiebaud’s mind. His comments and careful curation gives visitors a glimpse into what Thiebaud sees in the artwork. His commentary gives the art more meaning, making it possible to view the pieces through the lens of an expert.

TRACKLIST 1. 9.13 – 0:54 2. Vertigo – 4:30 3. Saturday Nights – 3:29 4. Salem's Interlude – 1:21 5. Motion – 3:55 6. Better – 3:49 7. Suncity ft. Empress Of – 3:09

Nikhil T. Khalid just released his EP Suncity on Oct. 19, two years after the production of his debut album American Teen. Since then, he has dominated the Billboard Hot 100 with tracks such as “Love Lies,” “Eastside,” “OTW,” and “Better,” the last of which was the headline single off his latest release.

Two weeks before the EP's release, the Texas singer tweeted an announcement for Suncity, with the simple caption, “Start of a new era.”

It was an accurate foretelling, at least in terms of personal style. In comparison to American Teen, with tracks such as “Young Dumb and Broke” and “Location,” the seven tracks in Suncity remain mostly in the R&B and popsoul genres and have a much more somber ring. In his track “Vertigo”—which is one of the most popular songs in the EP— Khalid deeply reflects on his difficul tlife ,singing, “ Iwish

living life was easy, but mine has been a mess.”

Not all of the tracks in the EP feature Khalid's singing.

The opening track, “9.13,” and the fourth track, “Salem’s Interlude,” both solely contain dialogue. The latter has been ignored due to its lack of singing; however, Khalid explores the direction his life is taking. “I feel like I'm not always in the correct direction. Even though I know I'm on the right path,” Khalid says.

Look to see songs from Khalid’s latest release on the Billboard Hot 100 next week.

Visitors shuffle through the exhibit, pausing in front of pieces that stand out to them and pointing out their observations in quiet murmurs. Each person perceives the art differently.

“I think his choices are so different from his work,” comments an elderly visitor. He describes Thiebaud’s work as “accessible,” while he finds the accompanying art “obscure.” He believes there’s a “hidden meaning there.”

At age 22, Thiebaud made his first visit to SFMOMA in 1942, seven years after its founding. It was his first show and he has been to the museum multiple times since, most recently to curate his exhibit.

The exhibit is set to close on March 10, 2019. SFMOMA, which has now been accessible to the public for more than two years since its reopening, plans to open two new exhibits at the beginning of November: Art and China after 1989: Theater of the World and Brassaï, a photography exhibit.

First ever coffeehouse event at Nueva Imagine the smell of rich hot chcoolate, sugary marshmallows dissolving in the liquid, the sound of your friends’ and teachers’ performances at an open mic night, the sight of twinkly lights illuminating the beautiful artwork created by students and faculty. Welcome to an evening at the coffeehouse, a new event hosted by the Upper School on Friday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m., its first-ever coffeehouse/open mic event.

The WRC will be transformed into a lively, cozy space, with savory food and sweet treats, and a hot chocolate bar.

The event serves as an opportunity for students who might not take part in performing or fine arts classes to show off their talents.

The coffeehouse is an emceed event that will feature both student and faculty artwork, musical performances, spoken word, and comedic acts. Students and faculty are invited to attend and participate in the coffeehouse event.

Scan the QR code below to sign up for a performance slot!

Press Photo by RoLexx

6 / CULTURE

THE NUEVA CURRENT

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

The rundown on local music festivals Forget Coachella and Lollapalooza—the Bay Area has a lot to offer

FUTURE IS RIGHT HERE Artist Future performs at Outside Lands on Saturday, Aug. 11. (Photo by Zulie M.)

Zulie M. The crowd in Golden Gate Park roared as fire and multicolored smoke erupted from the stage. Future, one of the most famous rappers of 2018, was headlining a set for a crowd of thousands. At Outside Lands music festival, he was one of many incredible performers. It was hot in the late summer weather, but the artists still drew a crowd of thousands.

Rolling Loud and Treasure Island also took place in this time of year—the busiest time of the year for music. The prices of these events are much lower, in contrast to the obscene prices of bigger festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza. These more low-profile music festivals provide a way for people in the Bay Area to enjoy the same experiences for a much lower cost. Here's the inside scoop on three of the most popular festivals in the Bay Area.

Outside Lands offered a range of performances with different types of music.

Taking place in the luscious greenery of Golden Gate Park on Aug. 10–12, it was breezy but sunny outside and felt like the perfect time for a music festival. Though Outside Lands is much cheaper than Coachella by $300–$1000, it is definitely the most expensive of the three listed

here. However, restrain from trying every incredible food and from buying tons of merch and a budget is very easy to maintain.

There was a total of 78 outstanding attending artists, including The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Florence + The Machine, and tons of smaller bands and solos like Cuco and Sweet Plot. Taking a step back from the main attraction, the music, it important to note that there was also a large selection of other activities to enjoy.

Outside Lands hosted a comedy theater starring many well known comedians and actors, a magic show, a live painting exhibition, plenty of intricate graffiti, and beautiful art displays (just to name a few).

Rolling Loud takes place in Oakland, gearing towards rap performances. This year, some of the biggest names in music attended, including Wiz Khalifa, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert. According to Anam T. (10) who attended both Rolling loud and Outside Lands, “The lineup was better at Outside Lands…but I think the performances at Rolling Loud were much better, just because it was such a small venue and you could get super close.”

Even though the main attraction is the music, they also boast fun activities

to enjoy between or during acts. “It was just really stressful, but there was also a ferris wheel, so you could get in line and watch the stages from the Ferris wheel, which was super cool,” Anam said. A Ferris wheel is also an incredible place to watch shows from, and relaxing away from that stressful environment makes the whole experience so much better.

Treasure Island took place in Oakland on Oct. 14-15, featuring lesser-known artists like Gilligan Moss and JPEG Mafia along with some bigger contenders, such as A$ap Rocky.

The tickets ran at around $100, which is similar to the other two festivals. Even taking in the money spent on food and shopping, budgets can remain pretty low.

Don’t worry about saving up to get home either. While they did accommodate easy Uber pickup and dropoff outside, there was also a free shuttle that ran every five minutes to and from the Oakland BART station.

Besides the good performances, the festival was generally very eccentric and beautiful. Middle Harbor Shoreline Park is in the middle of thousands of stacked shipping containers by the Bay. Perfectly placed between the walls of the multicol-

ored containers are benches and stairs, the perfect place to enjoy some of the delicious (though predictably overpriced) food that they offer and an incredible view of the sparkling San Francisco Skyline atop the water. Multiple 3D art pieces and sculptures had been installed around the park, most made by local artists. Their abstract, silvery, mirrored themes contrasted with the bland park. People could also easily take a break from the current concert and join the crowd waiting to tiedye their shirts and bandanas or create a clay sculpture at one of the craft stands.

Not only was this relaxing and fun, but it also was a good way to get away from the hot sun and loud music for a minute.

All three of these are incredibly fun and give the experience of a big music festival, though they add a more local touch. The price difference is not the only reason they are the right choice for music fans; they also offer so many other activities that can be enjoyed by anyone, which makes it worth it. Keep an eye out for them, because going is truly an amazing experience.

Movie remakes fall into two categories Hollywood's popular movie-remake business sorts movies into two creative groups Gabi B.

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It seems as though completely original films are a dying breed in Hollywood today. While smaller budget films still tell their own unique stories, larger studios are relying more on the guaranteed successes that come from sequels, spin-offs, adaptations, and remakes.

There are two kinds of remakes today: those that tell the same story but with new actors, and those that tell a different story in the same universe with little to no references to the original film beyond an Easter egg or two.

A good example of the first kind would be the recent live action Disney films that tell the same stories that the animated films did, such as Cinderella (2015), Beauty and the Beast (2017), or the upcoming Aladdin (2019). Most of the changes in these films were

relatively minor, serving to make the films easier to adapt to live action, or the tweaking of other minor details. The ability of these films to bring to life the images that viewers had grown up seeing in an animated form, such as the ballroom from Beauty and the Beast or the glass slipper from Cinderella, is a sure way to draw some viewers into the theater.

This second kind is not always strictly considered to be a reboot, but is instead closer to a modern retelling. An example of this would be Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), which took the idea of falling into a board game from the 1995 original, and brought it into a more modern setting. This distinction comes down to whether it is really intended to be the same movie or is attempting to tell a different story but still stay loosely tied to the original.

No matter which kind of remake is being made, some

viewers wonder why these films are being made, and why this recent uptick in the number of remakes is taking place. This could be because it takes less effort than creating a new story due to the certainty of what an audience thinks about it.

It could also be an attempt to draw more people into theaters, as there will be people who hear of the remake and want to see it and others who saw the original and want to see something that has a nostalgic appeal to them. In addition, some people will want to see the original before viewing the remake, and this can lead to an uptick in sales for a previously dormant property.

Viewers today seem to be divided on what they think of these films. Some of them are happy to see their childhoods brought back to life, and the nostalgia that these films bring is able to summon these fans to the theatre en masse. There are also fans who are happy to see films that they never quite fell in the right age demographic for on original release

who are excited to experience something new.

Doubtless there are also fans who are oblivious to the remake status that some of these films hold, and are merely present to appreciate the film as its own entity. However, there are also viewers who see these films as a cash grab by large studios, an example of the lack of originality in Hollywood these days.

On a similar point on the spectrum are fans who see the film and compare it to the original, judging all the slight changes made through their nostalgia-tinted lenses.

As the box office is topped repeated ly by adaptations of books, comics, and now older films, as well as sequels and spinoffs, some people view remakes as just another example of the formulaic way that we are drawn into theaters today. But for those out there who want to see original films, there will always be something new.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THE NUEVA CURRENT

What's Cookin'?

Jordan M.

Tenth-grade student finds identity through passion for the culinary arts

Merix G. (10) uses cooking—a form of expression and art through sight, smell, and taste—to discover more about his multiracial heritage. Growing up in an Asian and African-American household, Merix says that cooking has provided an insight into his ancestry and an outlet for self-expression.

Read below to explore his experiences in cooking and how to recreate his favorite dish: Korean Braised Chicken.

Q A

What is your favorite thing about cooking? What do you enjoy about it?

Food is and has always been a way for me to express myself. I can freely create, experiment, and indulge in a way that is entertaining and educational. No matter how my feats in the kitchen turn out, I am always proud about how much I learned…I feel that every time I cook I can see and taste the improvement.

Q A

How did you start getting into cooking? When did you start?

I started experiencing cooking [when] I was a little kid watching my parents cook from the kitchen counter. Last year, I participated in one of Gordon Ramsay’s cooking shows and that moment really set off my passion. I felt more comfortable and capable in the kitchen, trying new techniques and getting acquainted with my rhythm.

This past summer I worked a few days at a French restaurant in the city and then went to a cooking school in New York. Both experiences opened my eyes to all the people [who] cook and gave me more respect for all chefs. I also found out that executive chefs have no patience for mistakes and will yell at you any time you make [a] smaller mistake!

Merix's Favorite Recipe: Korean Braised Chicken “This dish is one that I completely decided to create on a whim. I wondered if it would be possible to whip up an interesting and flavorful Korean style chicken dish using the traditional braising techniques found in French Coq au Vin.” INGREDIENTS 3-4 chicken thighs Salt and pepper (to taste) 5-6 cloves of garlic 2 average-sized green onions 3-4 thumbnail slices of ginger 1 medium-sized Asian pear 1-2 tbsp gochujang

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~¼ cup soy sauce ¼ cup honey or brown sugar ~¼ cup rice vinegar 1 tsp sesame oil Sesame seeds (for garnish) ~½ cup sliced daikon radish ~½ cup sliced carrots 1 medium-sized potato (chopped)

Q A

What’s one memory you have about cooking that stands out from the rest?

I remember that during my first week of cooking after I made my appearance on Gordon Ramsay’s show, I was making some shrimp dish and I left a paper towel next to the burner. Next thing I knew it was on fire, and when I tried to put it out, I burned my hand pretty bad. So remember, never leave anything flammable near the burners!

Q A

Is there a relationship between your mixed racial heritage and the kinds of food you enjoy cooking?

Being of mixed race was one of [the] driving factors in terms of my culinary evolution. I really want to show who I am and my background through what I present on the plate. I feel like my Korean and African-American sides have really influenced the way I utilize spices and certain ingredients. It also has given me more respect for my ancestors and how resourceful they were with the ingredients they had available.

Q A

What is one piece of advice you’d give to people who are interested in cooking or want to get into cooking?

Just do it. Starting with written-out recipes is important, but when you cook a dish more than once, it is very important to try by yourself without recipes. The reason why I have improved in terms of my culinary skills is [that] I do not follow recipes and [I] try to adapt them for my own taste through experimenting. And make sure to be yourself in the kitchen; the energy and attitude you put in always affects the outcome.

HOW TO BROWN CHICKEN 1. Coat the bottom of a deep cast iron pan with enough canola oil to very lightly coat the bottom of the pan.

2. Sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper onto the chicken thighs.

3. Place the thighs in the pan. If the oil sizzles, it is at the right temperature; if it doesn’t, heat it up longer.

4. Keep at around medium to medium-high heat and brown both sides of the thighs.

PREPARING AROMATIC ELEMENTS Chop up garlic cloves (add more to taste), green onions, and fresh ginger.

PREPARING BRAISING LIQUID 1. Purée or crush Asian pear.

2. Add gochujang, soy sauce, honey and/or brown sugar (I prefer my braise on the sweeter side), rice vinegar, and sesame oil in a mixing bowl.

3. Whisk ingredients together. *As you go about preparing the flavor elements of the braise, make sure to taste as you go and add more of what you need to reach the preferred balance of flavor.

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER 1. Brown chicken thighs. While browning prepare aromatic elements and braising liquid.

2. After chicken is browned, take it out and add aromatic elements; cook until translucent. Afterwards, add half of the braising liquid.

3. While the aromatic elements and braising liquid are cooking, chop up the root vegetables.

4. Add chicken, all the chicken stock (or enough to submerge the chicken about 3/4 of the way), the other half of the braising liquid and root vegetables to pan, spreading evenly.

5. Bring to a boil and let reduce a bit. Cover with tin foil and transfer to oven at 300º F. 6. Braise until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165º F or until juices run clear.

7. You may braise for as long as desired until it has reached your desired tenderness (a few hours is optimal).

Make sure to check on the chicken every 30 minutes to an hour.

8. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds.

8 / FEATURES

THE NUEVA CURRENT

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

Fresh faces: Do you know your new faculty?

Over a month into the new school year, here's what we've learned Isabel C. With over 15 new upper school faculty and staff on campus, it can be hard to get to know everyone. A few months into school now, we discovered a bit more about six teachers in various departments to learn more about them and see how the school year is going so far for them.

Chelsea Denlow (History)

Chelsea has been teaching history and social studies for the past seven years in Portland and Saint Louis. Some of her hobbies include rock climbing, finding good coffee, and spending time with family.

Now that you’ve been at Nueva for a month, what’s something you want to share about your experience so far?

I have enjoyed the people most at Nueva. I find my colleagues and students to be exceptionally dedicated and inspirational.

I look forward to dreaming up new courses and building in more experiential learning, that is, getting everyone out of the classroom.

What's your guilty pleasure food?

A latte in the morning. Dark chocolate in the afternoon. Imo’s pizza from St. Louis always.

Jamie Gao (Chinese)

She has been a teacher for most of her life. During free time, she works on her second children’s book.

NEW FACES Chelsea Denlow, Jamie Gao, Thomas Dorrance, Francisco Becerra, Jehnna Ronan, Sara Petty

Can you share something about your experience so far?

The students' engagement, capacity to learn, and how they embrace challenging tasks really impresses me so far. Every day I find myself not being able to wait to enter the classroom and investigate various topics with them.

What's your guilty pleasure food?

Spicy egg noodle soup!

Thomas Dorrance (History) A Bay Area native, Tom earned his BA in history from UC Berkeley before further pursuing his love for history with a PhD. Tom loves to spend time with his family or play the guitar and banjo.

How's your year going so far?

I really value intellectual curiosity and my favorite moments so far have generally emerged from those student questions that emerge from a place of wonder and curiosity—being inspired by an idea raised in class to then explore further.

What's your guilty pleasure food?

Hamburgers and chips.

Francisco Becerra (Spanish)

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Francisco lived there for 23 years before moving to Spain to aquire his master's degree to teach Spanish. Francisco enjoys travelling and exploring new parts of the world.

What have you enjoyed the most about your Nueva experience so far?

I have enjoyed the opportunit[ies] to [get to] know my students better and establish strong relationships with them during classes and field trips.

And Jo [Newman] is awesome!

What's your guilty pleasure food?

Enchiladas verdes. I love this dish because it brings back good memories of my family back in Mexico.

Jehnna Ronan (ISoS/Biology)

An East Coast native and a Bay Area resident for the last 11 years, Jehnna found her love for teaching the interdisciplinary themes of science and scientific inquiry during her time at Stanford, researching cancer biology for her PhD. In her free time, she can be found exploring San Francisco, cooking, or reading a good book.

Has Nueva differed from your original expectations?

Coming from a background of teaching college undergraduates, I thought I might need to make adjustments to the depth and detail of my instruction to suit 10th graders. Instead, it seems like our Nueva 10thgrade students are ready to dive into complex or ambiguous topics with interest and insight.

What's your guilty pleasure food?

My favorite guilty pleasure food is homemade chocolate chip cookies, made by either me or my Dad!

Sara Petty (Physics)

Sara has been teaching and researching physics for many years.

When she's not teaching and reading about physics, you can usually find Sara outdoors either hiking, running, or horseback riding.

What is something you've been surprised by at Nueva?

[I'm surprised by the] level at which students care for each other in the classroom. In many schools, competition drives the motivation to learn, so students may not help each other, limited by a fear of not getting credit. At Nueva, students share in their learning, and give each other credit.

How are you doing, mid-semester?

I still feel brand new and that I'm in the middle of a maelstrom given all of the activities and responsibilities. I really enjoy my interactions with students, which keep me motivated and energized to do more.

Afternoon Travels: Caltrain Southbound Take advantage of your Caltrain GoPass to explore the Peninsula, discovering all the cool places that you never knew about The Bay Area is filled with hidden treasures, from boba shops and cafes to art galleries and bookstores. Many of them are walking distance from a mode of transportation favored by much of the Nueva community, the Caltrain. With midterms season coming to a close, teachers and students can take well-deserved breaks and explore the areas around stations they visit every day.

Eugenia X.

SAN CARLOS: GELATAIO Gelataio welcomes long lines of

customers escaping the heat. They serve gelato made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients in a variety of flavors, from classics like chocolate to ones with seasonal flair like pumpkin spice.

REDWOOD CITY: TEASPOON Teaspoon is one of the Bay Area’s

more popular boba spots. They pride themselves “in using fresh and high-quality ingredients.” Teaspoon’s menu offers an array of teas and snows with innovative creations that tread the line between the two, including the green monster, afternoon tea, and hangover 3 snows.

MENLO PARK: KEPLER'S BOOKS Kepler’s Books was founded by peace activist Roy Kepler, who built the bookstore to democratize reading. Today, Kepler’s is branching out to “community engagement, stewardship, and sustainability” in their Kepler 2020 mission, which hopes to transform them into a completely community owned and operated store.

CALIFORNIA AVE: BACKYARD BREW Located down a tiny

alleyway, Backyard Brew is a unique outdoor coffee shop that could be easy to miss. They offer a wide variety of drinks, from a quick caffeine fix or (literally) spiced-up coffee, to an extravagant $24,000 beverage topped with edible gold. The owner is friendly and puts a lot of care into his drinks; customers can also draw on the walls and tables, which adds to the “cute hipster ambiance.”

PALO ALTO: PACE GALLERY With free locations in seven cities

across the globe, Pace Gallery represents over 70 contemporary artists and estates. Palo Alto’s Pace Gallery currently showcases pure abstraction artwork from Agnes Martin, who has been represented by Pace since 1975, with blankets by Navajo (Diné) weavers, to explore “meditations on perfection and balance.” Starting Nov. 14, Pace will host teamLab, a Japanese-based group of artists and programmers.

MOUNTAIN VIEW: RED ROCK COFFEE Red Rock Coffee is based on three values: caffeine, culture, and community. They aim to create a comfortable space where everyone can enjoy a nice cup of coffee and support local artists. Start off the day with their scones and coffee and end it with one of their open mics or local band performances.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THE NUEVA CURRENT

FEATURES / 9

A look into the science behind adolescent eating disorders

Photo by I. Yunmai from Unsplash

Social worker Victoria Freeman talks treatment, debunks myths, shares research

Anna K. Victoria Freeman is a social worker with a master's in social work from the University of Toronto. She is registered with the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Ms. Freeman has conducted extensive research on adolescent eating disorders.

Q

What are the root causes of eating disorders? Is there a general consensus in the scientific community as to what causes them?

A

This is one that is still being researched— there is still a long way to go before we can say we fully understand. The most important point here is that eating disorders are not a choice.

That said, what we do know is that eating disorders are BioPsychoSocial illnesses. This means the cause for each individual is multifactorial and often involves biological (e.g., hormones, genetics, concussions), psychological (e.g., personality characteristics, co-morbid illnesses like anxiety, low self-esteem) and social (e.g., experiences of trauma, being encouraged to diet in health class, societal norms, focus on body in sport or art, stressful life transitions like going to college) factors.

Q

You have done a lot of research around the role of the family in the treatment of adolescent eating disorders. What have been some highlights of your research so far? Are there common family dynamics in young people with eating disorders? Are there any patterns that stand out?

A Victoria Freeman runs freemantherapy.ca and specializes in eating disorders among adolescents.

Tips for Building Resilience

The most important thing to know is that families do not cause eating disorders.

Instead, families are often a large part of the successful treatment of an eating disorder.

Practice seeing the bad and the good. In any situation, take a pause and try to see it from all angles. Try writing them down, or talking it out with someone you trust. Sometimes we get stuck on “one path” of thinking which can shrink our ability to be flexible and resilient.

Helping to support the individual with an eating disorder AND their family can help recovery happen faster.

In my experience, eating disorders are very difficult illnesses and watching someone go through it can be tough! For family members, sometimes that means they experience really high anxiety about their loved one. Without support, this anxiety can turn into unhelpful caregiving strategies like getting into arguments about food, or trying to nag someone into resting instead of going for a run. It can turn into a vicious cycle where the person with an eating disorder feels misunderstood or unsupported and the family member feels ineffective.

In treatment, family therapy helps families learn about eating disorders, how to more effectively communicate and how to support change in eating disorder symptoms without falling into the traps of ineffective strategies.

There is a document that does a great job at exploring how family members are trying their best to help, but sometimes do so in ineffective ways: http://thenewmaudsleyapproach.co.uk/media/animal_analogies.pdf. A little bit of support, warmth, and education can go a long way to helping families become more effective.

Q

Another topic you have researched is the stigma surrounding adolescents recovering from eating disorders. What are the most important findings from this research?

A

Eating disorders are some of the most stigmatized mental illnesses. Both the public AND medical professionals like family doctors hold inaccurate views about the cause and treatment of eating disorders.

The most prevalent stigmas include: Myth: Individuals with eating disorders “just want to be thin” and choose to engage in their symptoms Fact: Individuals with eating disorders are suffering from illnesses that are out of their control. They can no more choose to “snap out of it” than someone with a broken leg can choose to “just walk it off!” They need support and treatment just like anyone else.

Myth: Eating disorders "look" a certain way, and if someone looks OK, they must not be suffering.

Don’t empty your tank. It’s hard to be resilient and flexible if you’re always firing on all cylinders. Practicing good self-care is important (e.g., take breaks, do something fun, get enough sleep, etc.) so you can have the energy to cope when something unexpected pops up.

Fact: You can’t always "see" an eating disorder.

The vast majority of those suffering have a normal body weight!

Myth: Only young women suffer from eating disorders Fact: The public often sees eating disorders as an illness that affects vain young women in Western societies. The reality is that eating disorders impact all gender identities, ethnicities, cultures, and ages.

Myth: Eating disorders are easy to "get over."

Fact: Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness and are very difficult to treat. The best recovery outcomes happen when individuals access support early, but stigma often prevents early access to care, which in turns makes individuals less likely to recover.

The impact of stigma can be dire. It often means that individuals who have an eating disorder feel embarrassed or ashamed and don’t seek help as quickly as they need to. Further, their friends, family and even family doctors might trivialize their illness or misunderstand how severe their suffering is, and how much they need help. This can cause the individual to become isolated and feel alone in their suffering.

Sometimes, the stigma around them is so strong that they begin to internalize it, believe that they are in fact “choosing” to be ill and “weak” for being unable to get better on their own.

Breaking through stigma is a crucial part of ensuring individuals can recognize the eating disorder as an illness, feel empowered get help quickly, and feel supported in their recovery.

Q A

What is the most exciting, newly emerging research in your field?

New research using technology such as websites, video counseling, virtual reality and phone applications is very exciting!

There are unfortunately too few resources in mental health, which means sometimes treatment is inaccessible to people living in more remote areas, or who don’t have the financial resources to cover the costs of treatment. Making treatment more accessible to families and individuals through technology is an amazing step forward in making sure everyone has access to treatment when they need it!

Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is a tool for your brain to grow stronger and stay resilient. A lot of research shows practicing mindfulness for a short amount of time every day is very helpful! Try different tools like “Smiling Mind,” a free app and website to help you learn and practice mindfulness.

Stay connected. No matter if you are an introvert or an extrovert, all human beings need safe, supportive connection. Developing and keeping a circle of support is important.

10 / FEATURES

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

THE NUEVA

DO IT FOR THE 'GRAM

$38

Every pop-up museum has a pit full of inedible versions of an object that is related to the theme of the experience— Candytopia had a huge marshmallow pit. As children and teens jumped from the staircase into the styrofoam, parents clustered around snapping away on their phones.

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is the amount people pay to visit the Museum of Ice Cream

500–75 A group of adults catching the 6 p.m. tour press in for a selfie in front of a wall upon which were stuck the huge, flowery letters of "Candytopia." The wall itself was adorned with pink paint, white outlines of flying pigs, and no small amount of neon LEDs.

people visit the Ros another pop-up, e according to Blo

405k A man takes a photo of his cousin and her daughter in the confetti room. Confetti grabbed from white, plastic buckets was blown into the air by multiple leaf blowers.

users follow @themuseumofice on Instagram

251.9k Parents take photos and videos as those inside the marshmallow pit gaze up at a small trapdoor that promised a "marshmallow tsunami." The "tsunami" ended up being about 30 marshmallows dropping unceremoniously down into the pit for three seconds, after which a few minors took to throwing individual marshmallows at the contraption. (Photos by Willow C. Y.)

posts are under the combined #candytopia, #refinery29, and #thecolorfactory tags on Instagr

A CURRENT

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

FEATURES / 11

SWeet EMPtINess instagram’s once-solely-digital trends are now manifesting

themselves in reality. pop-up museums are the latest iteration.

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Willow C. Y. Before you embark upon the Candytopia “experience,” even before you enter the building, the museum and its crew already expose their own impermanence, their own frivolously simple purpose.

“If you want to sign up for the Sugar Rush”—a strange kind of plus-package that allowed for vague bonuses—”just go to the website on the poster over there. Oh, wait. When you sign up and confirm, you’ll get an error page, but just check your email and it should be there,” said a greeter dressed in a ridiculously white jumpsuit with a black, leather-looking belt, standing in front of a column upon which a woefully simplistic painting of a unicorn, doing what could only be described as excreting rainbows, was propelled at at least 20 feet in the air, presumably through the force of the multicolored expulsions.

“Wait. Also, you’ll have to take a screenshot of the email. The WiFi isn’t great down there.”

Candytopia is one of the latest attractions in the saga of popular “pop-up museums.” They’re a colorful, and—loosely—themed series of rooms in the format of what are essentially photoshoot sets: they exist solely for the picture, for the social media post that will inevitably come later. Although loved by Gen-Z, millennials, and Instagrammers alike for their bright, post-worthy backgrounds and “exhibits,” their critical reception was not nearly as positive. The Chicago Tribune referred to them as “more museum-lite than museum,” while The New York Times decided that they were “an existential void...the total erosion of meaning itself.”

In turn, pop-up museums are one of the latest attractions in the series of physical trends, created solely “for-the-gram.” In other words, trends that used to just be hashtags and maybe the occasional low-maintenance picture—like the mirror-selfie or the peace sign—now involve going places, doing things, and sometimes creating entire economies.

The slime craze, sparked by a YouTuber and Instagrammer who uploaded “satisfying” videos of slime about two years ago, for instance, saw the selling out and then mass production of Elmer’s school glue. It saw sponsors, eager to get their brand in front of the millions of children and teens, sometimes paying six figures for an ad in a slime DIY video or post, as the New York Times reported. To give some context, a 30-second ad on national television cost an average of $123,000 in 2016, according to Fit Small Business. Or take the ice cream roll fad about a year ago—where videos of the ice cream on big, metal plates being rolled up went viral on Instagram—shops that sell only this have popped up all over nation; downtown San Mateo acquired its own several months ago, San Francisco has three, and greater New York City has a grand total of 10.

Pop-up museums are one of the most recent destinations for those who want to add another flattering photo to their carefully curated feed. Their purpose is solely to provide a quick, aesthetic backdrop for a quick, double-tapped photo. So far, there have been countless museums all around the nation where chil-

dren with their parents, teens, and media-literate adults still young at heart go to drape themselves over plastic thrones, pose with their friends as confetti rains down over their heads, and, at the end of every pop-up museum, sink into a pit full of a random object seemingly in line with the theme of the museum. (Theme is a strong word; the only real indication of such a trope is in the name.)

As Anthony Perry, upper school Spanish teacher and a one-time visitor of the Museum of Ice Cream, succinctly put it, “It’s not a museum; it’s an Instagram backdrop.”

Similarly, Kate E. (10), who went to Candytopia last week, said it was “frivolous” and that posting about it felt “a little like bragging.”

Tenth grader Amanda W. agreed. “It’s just pretty... it doesn’t serve a great purpose,” she said. “You take pictures and they give you candy you can get someplace else.” She went with a large group of friends in May, and said that the experience, although fun and exciting, was a bit hollow. She explained, “People go almost just so that they have something to post.”

Essentially, the thousands of people flocking to these museums are primarily just going for Instagram.

As for the actual experience—typically a whopping $35 dollars for a paltry 45 minutes and six pieces of standard, store-bought candy—and whether or not it’s worth the double-taps you’ll get later, the general consensus is divided. Perry recalled that he received “an average amount of likes” on his post from his trip, and says that his husband had purchased the tickets and he wouldn’t have paid to go himself.

“We did it because someone was visiting,” he said.

“We wouldn’t have gone otherwise.”

Chelsea Denlow, upper school history teacher and visitor to the Museum of Ice Cream, agreed, rating the experience a “three out of ten.” Her ticket cost around $40, and had she not gone with her family, she would have considered the experience worth about five dollars.

However, many students who went had a different take on the experience.

Amanda said that although it was “overhyped, [it was] a solid 7 out of ten,” she said. “It was a nice picture spot, and there were nice sweets. I don’t regret going.”

A group of sophomores who went in October, including Kate, mostly agreed—saying that it was both “lamer” and better than they thought. Of the four who actively maintained their Instagrams, three said that they would post. All six said that they didn’t regret going; it was a fun experience, but one that they wouldn’t repeat.

But that’s the whole idea of these trends, these pop-ups anyway—to provide a quick, pretty photo that can garner likes on social media, that can keep up with the fast fads of today’s internet. It’s fun, it’s mindless, it’s cool; we should expect nothing more.

Photo by Joanna Kosinska for Unsplash

12 / FEATURES

THE NUEVA CURRENT

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

Separating the state

Illustratrion by Amalia K.

Making sense of the legislative differences between California and the United States Grace H. Although California has long been a cultural and political outlier within the USA, the contrast has become particularly pronounced as the actions of Donald Trump’s administration have brought the tension between differing political ideologies to an incredible height.

California itself is often regarded as a sort of bastion of Democratic sentiment; in the 2016 presidential election, 61.5% of voters voted for Clinton, and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is considered by many to be the face of the resistance against the Trump administration’s new legislation surrounding topics ranging from immigration to climate change; the state is currently engaged in 38 separate lawsuits against the administration, and important aspects of California’s existing legislation differ from that of the federal government.

The topics of these divergences vary greatly, with differing legislation in areas ranging from which questions ought to be included on the census to the legality of sanctuary cities, and even how gender discrimination is addressed in court.

In a case which will have its first potential trial on Nov. 5 of this year, California is suing the federal government over the inclusion of a new census question that would ask whether or not a given person is an American citizen, which has been proposed for the 2020 census. The census has not included this question since 1950. California’s argument states that the new question runs the risk of undercounting households

with noncitizens, which may affect population estimates, and thus how the federal budget is divided. The administration’s case argues that including the question will make it possible for the Justice Department to better enforce the Voting Rights Act’s provisions against discrimination.

Alison Williams, Nueva’s science of mind and equity & social justice associate teacher, is skeptical about the motivation behind the change.

“For me this sounds like this is just a disguised conversation around immigration policy, and so I think that the long-term effect would be folks getting deported and/or having families separated from one another,” Williams said.

Immigration has been a contentious issue throughout the Trump presidency, and indeed throughout much of American history. This is reflected in many of California’s legislative differences, including a recent bill signed in October of 2017 by Gov. Jerry Brown that designates California as a Sanctuary State.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, sanctuary policies are defined as those that “restrict when and how local law enforcement can engage with the federal government in immigration enforcement.” However, it is important to note that these policies cannot prevent people from being deported or otherwise limit the ability of the federal government to enforce immigration law within the area’s borders. For this reason, there is some concern that sanctuary policies are likely to paint a target on the cities' immigrants without being able

to increase the protections in place to keep them safe.

“I think it sends the message that this community is welcoming folks in, but if folks that are trying to implement stricter policies around immigration know where to go it might give them a spot to home in on, so I don’t know if it’s the perfect answer but I think it’s worth a shot to create a safe space for folks to go to in the state that we’re in," Williams said.

California also differs from the federal norm in that it has a specific law meant to protect against genderbased discrimination. The aptly named Gender Nondiscrimination Act provides protections to people in that they cannot be discriminated against in housing and employment based upon their gender identity or gender expression.

Although California’s divergence from federal legislation is a source of pride for many, others find it

difficult to feel proud when faced with the knowledge that these pieces of legislation and the protections they provide aren’t available to everyone in the US. Additionally, there is some concern that the current movement isn’t as intersectional as it ought to be.

“I think that having some selfreflection on what California’s representing could be important for the folks who are leading the way, making sure that there are other folks of color, more open for other socio-economic statuses, of race, of gender, of sexual orientation, because it’s kind of being led by a very specific homogeneous group right now,” Williams said. “I think that community partnerships are really important...it’s important to start doing some work to get connected to them and leverage the power that California has to uplift those folks that don’t currently necessarily have as much power.”

California's new ballot measures

Explaining the ballot initiatives that matter to our community Yoav R. As the midterm elections approach, many are likely wondering what local ballot measures are, which ballot measures they ought to vote for, and how the ballot measures will effect them. While the majority of people are aware of the different people running for office, less focus is put on the ballot measures. Here is a rundown of several ballot initiatives important to the Nueva community.

Wondering why it's so important to vote? Turn to page 14 for a firsthand account of the importance and significance of voting.

PROPOSITION 5: PROPERTY TAX TRANSFER INITIATIVE Current California laws allow homeowners over age 55 to transfer the tax-assessment value of their home to a new one once in their lifetime if its value is equal to or less than the previous home, and only in relevant counties.

This initiative was passed in 1978 as Proposition 13, and was amended later in 1986 and 1988 by Propositions 60 and 90, respectively. Proposition 5 would change the law to allow homeowners to transfer property tax assessments to homes with higher value through a formula in addition to the current laws; this means that that these people will have to pay less in property taxes. The new law would also allow the move to happen across any counties, and as many times as needed.

The measure was put on the ballot by 960,361 signatures, a little less than double the required 585,407. This proposition allows many senior citizens to leave their larger, now kid-free homes, but could lower city property tax revenues by close to $150 million, according the Legislative Analyst. A significant percentage of current and former Nueva parents are age 55 and over, and may want to buy a smaller house once their kids grow up.

PROPOSITION 6: VOTER APPROVAL FOR FUTURE GAS AND VEHICLE TAXES AND 2017 TAX REPEAL INITIATIVE In 2017, a controversial law was signed

by Gov. Jerry Brown: the California Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (RRAA), also known as the “Gas Tax.” The RRAA was intended to improve road and infrastructure conditions in California, and to fund the projects created an array of new taxes. The three most relevant to Nuevans are the gas excise tax, the annual zero-emissions fee, and the annual market value fee. The first is the raising of the tax on a gallon of gas by $0.12, meaning that now $0.55 of every gallon goes to the state. Secondly, for the zero-emissions vehicles which are not affected by the gas tax, an annual fee of $100 per zero-emissions vehicle was created. Thirdly, there is now an annual fee for all cars based on market price (ranging from $25 to $200). Prop 6 is an initiative to repeal the RRAA, and was put on the ballot by 963,905 signatures, more than the required 585,407. $36.9 million has already been donated to campaigns for and against this measure, 87% of which in opposition.

The outcome of this bill could affect the annual upkeep costs of many vehicles, including the ones owned by Nueva community members. It may also affect

the quality of California roads, though opponents argue it is unclear how much of the collected money will be spent on fixing existing roads. This is a repeal initiative, meaning that a “Yes” intends to repeal the RRAA.

PROPOSITION 10: LOCAL RENT CONTROL INITIATIVE The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995 was a measure passed by the California Legislature to stop cities from enacting certain rent control measures. The bill protects properties first occupied after February 1, 1995, and all single-family homes and condos from rent controls—laws that cap rent. This initiative is to repeal Costa-Hawkins. It collected 565,000 signatures, far above the required 365,880. Currently, 15 cities in California have rent controls on homes originally occupied before 1995. If this bill were to pass, these cities would be able to expand their policies. The proponents of the bill argue that rent control could secure more affordable housing, whereas many opponents contend that rent control helps neither the landlord nor the tenants as it causes owners to pull homes from the market. A “Yes” on Prop 10 means repealing Costa-Hawkins.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THE NUEVA CURRENT

OPINION / 13

Debate or Model United Nations Which one has more educational value?

Sian B.

MUN focuses on skills needed in everyday rhetoric

Debate provides education that can affect everyone for the better

s

have you learned

fr o

h

t is

e he

x p e r i e n c e yo u

ex

pe ed ?

"I thought it was going to be way more prestigious because of college debate and all the blazers and stuff, but it was really laid back. The first practice I went to I dressed up a little bit and everyone else was wearing basketball shorts, and I was like, 'oh, ok then, that’s not the impression I had.'"

— Amalia K. (10)

ct

t

— Jojo W. (10)

Is

Wh

N?

"People will betray you is honestly the takeaway I get from every conference. If you need to leave the room for a few minutes, don't..."

MU

at

l

es

s on

m

Fellow delegates and honorable chair, In this day and age, diplomacy reflects the evolution of foreign policy and international relations as humanity’s priorities have shifted to worldwide efforts. From the end of the World Wars to NAFTA, national prosperity now relies on negotiation and collaboration. In foreign affairs, third-party organizations help the world retain equilibrium and resolve global issues. Model United Nations (MUN) provides unique education because it reflects the importance of international relations, historical knowledge, and conflict resolution with a focus not only on research but also on working towards a party’s view of the common good.

Research into specific countries help students gain a deeper understanding of imminent issues, how to have impartial judgement towards different points of view, and the increasingly important skills of collaboration. Delegates often have to compromise on certain issues as they are working together to write a resolution to solve the issue. Delegates are usually well researched about the topic so they can focus on accurately representing their constituent and relaying their ideas rather than having to extensively explain all of the background of the topic as debaters often do.

It’s no surprise that debate focuses heavily on research and argumentation.

This teaches students how to write logical arguments instead of the rhetorical aspect of speeches. Using rhetoric to convince your audience with more than just logic is important through all aspects of life. The most effective speeches are able to move and convince its audience even without logic and research. While debate does give you more time to speak and make a point, MUN forces you to make every word count and persuade your audience.

The format of MUN committees depends on whether you attend general assembly or crisis. In each committee, there are procedures that help guide the discussion. In general assembly, two of the most important parts of procedure are moderated and unmoderated caucuses where delegates speak about specific subtopics and form alliances. Crisis committees are a more dynamic approach: delegates can make decisions that affect the scenario in real time (for example declaring war).

Both types of committees give delegates unique ways to approach historical and current events—but at the end of the day, both are focused around solving conflicts at hand.

While debate and MUN do teach similar concepts, they focus on very different aspects of persuasion. In both MUN and debate, you learn in depth about concepts surrounding history, economics, geography, science, and conflict resolution, but MUN focuses more on using this research to collaborate with others to work towards a common goal whereas debate focuses more on proving or disproving a given topic. Both are beneficial to learning yet teach students different ways to articulate and deliver messages to audiences.

I yield my remaining time to the chair.

Eugenia X. I can hear my heart beating as I read arguments off of barely legible chicken scratch notes. My feet tap to the rhythm of my speech—sometimes, my coach likes to tease me and call it tap dancing.

“Debate is a unique space to model the state—we get to be listened to for 45 minutes. The institutions are going to be there; but we get to criticise it and to make it better.”

“Education is the only portable impact from the round and why schools endorse debate.”

Arguments for the unique educational value of debate have been echoed so much that I have many of them memorized verbatim, and they carry some truth; if they didn’t, schools wouldn’t fund our programs, and I wouldn’t get to go to tournaments or even meet most of my closest friends.

Model United Nations not only teaches people about international relations but also trains MUNers to become better negotiators. However, the education that debate provides could be more valuable: it gives debaters tools to advocate for themselves and others.

“Debate for me is this very unique organizational paradigm that allows pretty much anybody with almost any interest to come in and find a way to feel like they are advocating for something they care about,” Sam Timinsky, the parliamentary debate coach, said.

The structure of the ballot in debate allows important conversations to happen that can’t in MUN. In most formats of debate, few rules exist: there’s a ballot, you have a certain amount of time to get it, good luck. How a debater gets to the ballot or whether it matters is entirely up to them. This freedom gives debaters room to explore different facets of argumentation, including but not limited to philosophy, critical theory, logic, as long as they can justify those as reasons to vote for them. Debaters have the opportunity not only to advocate for issues they are passionate about but also to learn about their peers’ interests, making the community not only a competitive but also an activist space.

There’s also a certain strength and flexibility that debate fosters.

“Debaters are some of the most open-minded people I know. They know that ultimately, the viability of an argument or position hinges on one’s ability to defend it and not the inherent rightness or wrongness of the position,” Timinsky said. “Debaters are fearless...they’re not afraid to pose tough questions to me.

That tenacity is something that all debaters who stick around for a while learn and pick up.”

This kind of learning is especially important because it helps debaters understand their place in the world and how to effectively interact with the activism that they spur.

At the end of the day, not everyone who does debate or MUN will become a policymaker or be involved in international diplomacy; however, everyone can engage in politics on a personal or community level, and learning to do just that is one of the most beneficial impacts of debate.

THE NUEVA CURRENT

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

Illustration by Anisha K.

14 / OPINION

Take it from a campaign intern: every vote really does matter After the walkouts and protests, it's time to put action to words

39% Young adults (18-24) who voted in the 2016 election

17% Young adults (18-24) who voted in the 2014 election VIA CHILDTRENDS.ORG AND CIVICYOUTH.ORG

Luke M. The upcoming midterms on Nov. 6 will be the first time some students will have their chance to make a difference in our government. While younger people are far less likely to vote, according to Pew Research Center, it is my hope that Nuevans will not be that way. It is time for our generation to get involved and for us to create the change in our culture and lead the rest of our peers into a more politically engaged society.

It may be a cliché, but every vote really does count. As we saw in Virginia in 2017, a single vote going to one candidate or another decided which party took control of the Virginia House of Delegates. Too many times I have heard people talk about how they don’t vote because

Dear America

Letter from a student Willow C. Y. Dear America: Not long ago, while catching up with an acquaintance, I was struck by a bit of hope that I had not expected.

“The midterms are the last hurrah of the Republican party,” she said, with a self-satisfied conviction I both admired and hated. “After that,” she nodded for emphasis, “it’ll be mostly uphill for us, and 2020 will be even better.”

Although I kept quiet and let the conversation flow, her claim has been reverberating in my head ever since. It’s kept me awake for many a night, contemplating the midterms— but instead of my thoughts centering on whether the Republican Party may win the midterms or what that would mean for you, America, my mind has focused on an undercurrent,

an implication that supported her words: that America could, would, return to its Obama-era, pre-Trump self, and that this return was good.

I disagree.

I disagree that the version of you that existed before the 2016 election can be pulled up from the dredges of the past and resurrected in the present. Even if this were possible, I disagree that going back to this America would be a good thing.

I believe that you, America, officially died as of Oct. 6, 2018 with the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The United States of America, the land of the free, home of the brave, the world’s great democratic experiment has failed in its mission. In the past two years, your founding morals have been irreversibly compromised. The separation of church and state,

“it won’t matter anyway.” As an intern on the Ro Khanna for Congress campaign two years ago, I saw just how seriously the campaign staff regarded each voter. When talking to voters door to door, our campaign field director, Chris McDonald, reminded me to wait at a voter’s door for 45 seconds after knocking just in case the voter was slow to get to the door. I was also told to knock twice just in case the voter didn’t hear me the first time. All this extra time and effort was spent for the small possibility that we would be able to talk to one more voter and convince them to vote for our candidate.

Another time I saw the importance of a vote was on election day. In the last hour before the polls closed, the other interns and I raced to homes of supporters of our candidate to make sure they had voted.

If they hadn’t, it was our job to bring them to the polling place. From these experiences, I learned how each voter should be taken seriously. If the people who run campaigns for a living put so much effort into getting each vote, then that should show you just how important your vote is. Your voice matters.

Unfortunately, many people think that midterms are not as important as presidential elections. Fairvote.org estimates 60% of eligible voters go to the polls in presidential elections compared to only 40% showing up for the midterms. The irony of this is that the most change we will experience from the government will come from our local leaders. They will make the biggest difference in our lives. There are certain issues in the Bay Area that affect all of us, such as Caltrain and traffic, and it is important to know what

our local leaders will do about these issues and how that will affect us.

Lastly, as young people, we have the ability to create a substantial change. I’m not just talking about this election but all the elections to come. We can start a movement and get all young people across America to get politically engaged. It just starts with voting. Voting early will make it the norm for all young adults across the country. From what I have seen at Nueva we are a politically aware community. I have seen this from the walkouts on gun violence and believing survivors and protests we have had and the conversations I have witnessed and taken part in. We all care deeply about the issues and will all be affected by our elected officials. We all have our opinions and the best way to express them is to vote.

the provision of freedom and shelter to those who need it, the dedication to being a foundation on which every person is offered a chance at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has gradually been poisoned.

Kavanaugh’s confirmation was only the last of a long night of terrors, and there is no going back from here.

Everything that happens after this will not impact the fact that America is over, similar to how, after a test, it doesn’t matter whether you study or not; the deed is done. Previous horrors—like Charlottesville or the allegations of impropriety against President Trump, for instance—compounded with the growing volume of the radical right’s voice and conviction in its beliefs has created an American nightmare of hate, bigotry, and violent political division.

The hearing's ruling was the clinching knot.

But the real question is: Would it even be beneficial for us to return to the old, Obama version, the era where samesex marriage was legalized and national healthcare was implemented and we had a

President who believed in climate change? Although it seems so bright, shiny, and wonderful now, I’m not so sure that’s the ideal anymore. Yes, it was a great time for the social and fiscal liberals with ObamaCare and NAFTA, but there was an unresolved tension that existed in the country between white people and people of color, poor and rich, Democrat and Republican. This tension never came to full fruition—most coastal liberals didn’t realize how much animosity was slowly building through the years, how radical the ideas on the right were becoming. I think a lot of people were naïve, blindsided by the election.

The 2016 Trump presidential campaign was the catalyst. A lot of voices are now being heard— Black Lives Matter and #MeToo, to name just a couple—and political involvement has gone drastically up. (Emily’s List saw a 1,000 percent increase in women running for political offic,e according to their website, and, as NPR reported, the president has been driving political involvement on both sides of the aisle.) I am in no way

saying that I’m glad the Trump administration happened, only that we shouldn’t try to go back in time. If we attempted to go back to that previous America, we would be ignoring an incredible amount change that has happened, and we would go back to that complacency— except, we would be complacent and naïve in a time when the rest of America and the world is no longer. That model simply doesn’t work anymore.

The best way for America to improve at this point is to keep going on this trajectory—yes, Kavanaugh was confirmed and yes, Trump is still the president, but we also have progressed and grown: we are no longer complacent. We need to keep fighting, keep speaking out, and keep resisting.

The upcoming midterms will be a test of how far we’ve come. We may not be able to go back into time and preserve the past America, but we can do something better: learn and launch ourselves into a new, better era.

Sincerely, Willow

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THE NUEVA CURRENT

OPINION / 15

A broken bridge There

is a

gap betwee

n

grades

Illustration by Michelle W.

Steven H. As a freshman in early August of 2018, I knew virtually nothing of the Nueva upper school experience. Like the other ninth graders, I knew only of the recent Donner Summit excursion, the cherry-picked information showcased by the Nueva Admissions team, and a window into an average school day via shadowing. That’s what I knew. What I didn’t know, what I didn’t have an inkling of, was the grade-based bias at Nueva.

Now, when I say “grade bias,” I mean the stereotyping of the students of each grade as a solid block of students, grouped under a single number. In other words, this type of unfairness would be relevant to you whenever anybody makes assumptions about you based on your grade and where that grade falls in the hierarchy.

Cut to Aug. 27, the first day of school.

The Student Council holds a freshman donut reception, giving out donuts to students at the Caltrain station and the Nueva campus. Seniors don blue to help the newcomers navigate the campus.

Signs and posters plastered all over the school welcome the incoming freshman,

Masthead

and the atmosphere buzzes with anticipation.

But after that, during the first week of school, I came to understand the truth of my status as an underclassman. It was during this period that I became aware of the truth beneath the welcoming appearance Nueva projected.

“There are too many freshmen this year.”

“Yeah, they’re making the lunch line really long.”

By this point, other freshmen were catching on to this atmosphere as well.

During a Science of Mind open session a few weeks later, I asked my classmates about these rumors—whether they had noticed them, and if so, what they made of them.

“Someone came up to me and was talking to his friends about how there are way too many ninth graders. He then noticed me sitting there and told me that I was probably a good person but there were still too many of us,” said Pax H., another ninth grader.

Fast forward to lunchtime in the first or second week of school. I paced the cafeteria as I scanned for a place to sit.

Questions or comments?

We welcome your voices. Please email us at thenuevacurrent@ nuevaschool.org; corrections will be addressed on our website and published in the subsequent issue.

The opinions expressed in The Nueva Current belong solely to the writer and are not a reflection or representation of the opinions of the school or its administrators.

I found a seat at a table occupied by a group of sophomores. As I turned to my food, one of the sophomores introduced herself to me, and we engaged in a short conversation. She asked me about how it is being a freshman, and I told her about the “overpopulation” issue. Of course, this wasn’t big news to either of us.

But then she responded, “Don’t worry, you’ll be a sophomore next year.”

She said this jokingly, stood up with her friends and walked away. As with the “too many freshman” attitude that I realized is prevalent here, I didn’t think much of it at the time. However, a much larger, much more explicit incident became the catalyst for reflecting on these incidents.

One day a few weeks into the school year, I elected to stay after school and finish some math homework. As I began to work my problem set, I noticed two juniors spiraling in on my workspace.

Turning back to my notebook, I made a futile attempt to tune them out, while their conversation drifted into earshot.

They sat down, and one began to tell a dramatic narrative to the other about how a freshman ignorantly bumped into

Editor-in-Chief Willow C.Y. Design Editor Jordan M. Copy Editor Isabel C. Web Editor Elizabeth B. P. Sports Editor Anam T. Culture Editor Aliya G. Faculty Advisor LiAnn Yim

Staff Nivi G., Grace H., Alyssa H., Callisto L., Zulie M., Luke M., Willow T., Nikhil T., Antonetta T., Amanda W., Mirielle W., Eugenia X., Joshua Y.

her with a backpack in the hallway.

The other responded, “Yeah, freshmen are just the worst, aren’t they?”

Up until now, I had ignored this conversation, as it did not pertain to me.

But with this comment, he looked meaningfully at me. I was not the student who bumped into the junior, yet I still took the blame in their eyes because of my status as a freshman.

Now this is grade bias at Nueva.

Grade bias at Nueva is when someone dismisses you just for being a freshman.

Grade bias at Nueva is when someone assumes that you want to be a sophomore, because they associate a negative connotation with being a freshman.

Grade bias is when your identity is reduced to the number of years you’ve been in high school.

As a freshman in late October, I know more about school life at Nueva. I see many places where students are recognized individually, where they are given guidance and help to fit their specific needs. But, at the end of the day, grade bias still exists, and there’s still a long path of improvement ahead.

Have something to submit?

We accept photographs, articles, illustrations, and other pieces of work. Please send them to thenuevacurrent@nuevaschool.org for review; we will contact you if we publish your work.

16 / SPORTS

THE NUEVA CURRENT

“My goal is to be your last coach” After a different coach for each of the last three years, the newest cross-country coach has plans to connect with the community and improve the team

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

SPORTS BRIEFING

Volleyball recovers after loss with win against Mountain View Academy After a discouraging loss against Summit Shasta on Oct. 22, the varsity girls' volleyball team bounced back two days later to sweep Mountain View Academy in three sets, 25-2, 25-9, 25-14.

Their loss to Summit Shasta, in three straight sets 19-25, 14-25, 19-25, was the team's first league loss of the season.

They played their homecoming game against Pacific Bay Christian on Oct. 18. The game started with a performance of the national anthem and a game for students and siblings to win giveaway prizes, including Mavericks t-shirts and socks. A balloon arch decorated the entrance to the gym, and blue pom-poms lined the bleachers.

With a final set score of 3-1, the varsity girls ended their last home game to explosive cheering from the stands.

Willow C. Y. Unlike many who are unsure of the origins of their passions, new upper school cross-country coach Robert Lopez knows exactly when he fell in love with running.

When he was young, his father was an avid runner, and between the ages of four and five whenever his father went out for a run, he would beg to go along. Despite his constant “nagging,” as Lopez put it, his father never let him.

One day, when he was around five years old, his father came home and asked him, for the first time, whether Lopez wanted to go with him on a father-son Father’s Day run. “And I said, ‘Of course, yes,’” Lopez recalled. “It was at the mall, and it was a 10k, or 6.2 miles.

I had no idea what that was. So we got there, the gun went off, and my dad just started running. Didn’t look back at me. I’m struggling to catch up with him, and he eventually, you know, leaves. I just start crying for the next hour, and I’m just miserable. Runners were just running by me, they just looked at me like ‘sucks to suck,’ and just kept on going.

“My dad finishes the race, and comes back to find me, and was like, ‘Why are you crying?’ And I was like, ‘You left me!’ and he said, ‘You’re OK, you’re still going!’ So he ran the rest of the way [with me] and then took me out for breakfast.”

Lopez says that the fact that his father ran the rest of the race with him sparked his interest in running. “It’s what I’ve always loved to do, it’s been a passion of mine ever since,” Lopez said. “I’ve never lost that passion.”

From then on and until temporary injuries prevented him, Lopez has been dedicated to running. He described himself as an “average runner in high school,” although he ran a 4:05 mile and was 10 minutes shy of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. In his college years, however, he became interested in running as both an athlete and a coach. His first coaching job came when he was 18 and studying kinesiology at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

“I saw a new dimension to running, because I was on [one] side of the fence as a runner,” Lopez said, “and now I’m on the other side and seeing it from a coach’s perspective.”

Lopez said that his first job was his first time understanding why coaches coach.

“To know all the challenges and all the things that go into developing a team intrigued me to pursue that even further,” Lopez said. “I developed a new passion for running. And I wanted to continue [coaching].”

Due to this experience as both a coach and a runner, Lopez believes that a key part of coaching is “just listening.”

“A lot of times, you see individuals just talk to their athletes, but I don’t know if they’re actually listening,” Lopez commented. “You

Jordan M.

125 DEDICATION Coach Robert Lopez has been coaching since he was 18 years old. He now coaches Nueva's 58 cross-country runners. (Photo by Willow C. Y.)

can learn a lot from your athletes by just listening to them. And sometimes it’s not even listening to what comes out of their mouth but just listening to what’s happening in their life.”

Lopez is an avid believer in understanding and communicating with his team both about running but also about their outside lives: “You find out what drives them, about their struggles, because if they’re battling with something and you're putting even more stress on them, that’s not going to make them successful. It’s going to make it very difficult to achieve the thing you want them to achieve, if you’re not paying attention, if you’re not listening.”

Before coming to Nueva, Lopez coached cross-country at several schools. He was at La Reina High School for almost 18 years. His long tenure allowed him to watch the program, school, and runners grow. He says that although he has been at Nueva for a few months now, he feels that isn’t enough time to really get to know the school; but from his experiences so far, he he is “very impressed” with the student-athletes.

All four teams—JV boys and girls, and varsity boys and girls—are undefeated and have placed in the top half of runners in every single race so far.

Lopez is looking at the League Finals as the culmination for the junior varsity team, and the CCS Championships and the State championships for varsity.

He is also impressed with the athletes off the course.

“They were very, very open from the get-go,” Lopez said. “I am their third coach in three years. This is the third time they’ve had to adjust to a new personality, a new coaching style. That is a very difficult situation.

“And yet, they’ve fully entrusted the process I’ve brought to the table. I give a lot of credit to this group about that, because I don’t know a whole lot of kids that would be willing and open to another change. Of course they were inquisitive and asked questions—and rightfully so—but their trust in the process [has] made the transition so much easier.”

As for challenges he sees for the rest of the season, Lopez cites injuries as a main issue; a “slew of injuries” and a sickness that “spread like crazy” has kept people off the courses, but they’ve mostly recovered and are healthy enough to continue training. Moreover, he isn’t too worried about the team. Although in previous schools, like Oaks Christian, Lopez has assumed the role of remodeling teams, Lopez believes that the Mavericks don’t need it.

“They were successful before I got here,” he stated.

He remembers the first time he saw Nueva runners was at the state meet two years ago, and thinking, “‘Who is that?’ I honestly said that. Because I didn’t remember this team, I didn’t know this team, and then all of a sudden I looked at the results and saw that the girls had finished third. I was like, ‘Wow, this is going to be a team to watch. They’re definitely going to make a name for themselves.’”

If his job isn’t to turn around the team, then what is it? Lopez knows that the the biggest one for him is to provide “some stability.”

“My goal is to be here. I wanted to see myself long-term. My goal is to provide them with tools to succeed and to help them take that and run with it, both figuratively and literally,” says Lopez.

“I’ve told my athletes before, ‘I might be your third coach in high school, but my goal is to be your last coach.’”

digs by Piper H. (11)

kills by Paige M. (10)

135

306

assists by Cate L. (9)

56

aces by Willow C. Y. (10)

Player Statistics from MaxPreps, as of October 24, 2018

Cross-country team on track to winning CCS championship

20:44

Record at Hallmark Park for Varsity Girls' Team (Jenna L.)

16:20

Record at Hallmark Park for Varsity Boys' Team (Caleb D.)

On Oct. 16, all four divisions of the Nueva cross-country team placed first at the fourth PSAL meet, the final run of the regular season. With league finals on Oct. 25, runners and Coach Robert Lopez are ecstatic about their success in remaining undefeated. With this record, Nueva is on track to defend their Central Coast Section championship title.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THE NUEVA CURRENT

SPORTS / 17

Senior rower at home behind oar Lauren H. charts course to elite level of rowing Amanda W. Long before most students are awake, senior Lauren H. is up and out on the water in the Port of Redwood City in her blue racing shell, refining her sculling technique. Lauren wakes up at 4:10 a.m. and puts on her best unisuit, in order to arrive at her 4:50 a.m. rowing practice to catch the best, calmest water. At this time, the sun is barely up. These early morning practices are reserved for technical training when the water is calmer and smoother, to work with her coach one-on-one.

Lauren trains every day both before and after school. This dedication came accidentally when Lauren was enrolled in a rowing camp at Serra High School during the summer of seventh grade. She was the only girl at the camp, rowing with a group of high school boys.

Originally Lauren thought, “What on earth am I doing?” but she was placed in a single scull and realized she loved the sport. After that summer, she had a newfound passion for rowing, a place where she could still be on the water, similar to her previous swimming experience, and be able to work as a team.

“I feel so calm on the water,” Lauren describes. “Before school, as unappetizing as it sounds to be up that early… it gives me a chance to relax, to deconstruct all my thoughts, and fine-tune myself with being outdoors.”

Now, Lauren rows with the Redwood Scullers, under the direction of Coach Monica Hilcu, whom Lauren describes as “phenomenal.” Lauren sculls as the steerer and sits in the back of the boat, or the bow. Sculling is one of the two types of rowing, where the athlete grips two oars.

These rowers row in carbon fiber

boats, or racing shells, that are relatively light, only weighing up to 25 pounds for a single-person boat. They will typically race for two kilometers in the spring and five in the fall, in boats of either one, two, or four people.

Rowing is an intense sport and often includes these early practices and challenging workouts. When training for races, there are generally two types of practices—land and water practices. This water training allows for the fine details to be fixed when the oars are actually cutting through the water, whereas the afternoon land workouts focus on strength training and the muscles fibers that can last you the entire race, especially concentrating on weight circuits to help the leg muscles.

Many people hold the common misconception that rowing is all about the arms, when rowing is “actually 75 percent legs,” as Lauren put it. Out of the arms, back, and legs, the arms are the least important to rowing.

“The accomplishment that matters the most to me is actually from last summer,” Lauren says. This past summer, Lauren won gold in the 19-and-under two-person and four-person events at the Club National Championships in Oklahoma. She also participated in the 23-and-under age group, meaning they would be rowing against college students, describing it as “initially terrifying.” Despite the odds, Lauren and her teammates placed second.

Most recently, Lauren has been selected for the US Rowing Honor Roll.

This Honor Roll consists of 30 student athletes from around the country and is based on their strong academic standing and rowing career.

Lauren will be attending Stanford next year as a student-athlete in rowing, a place where she can “be the best athlete and student [she] can be.”

Pre-Race Routine Quick kick warm-up to de-stress and loosen up muscles Play "Outta Your Mind” by Lil Jon Wear lucky, neon pink socks saved for the big races and final rounds Visualize pro athlete inspos Australian rower Kim Brennan and tennis player Serena Williams

RACING THE HEAT TOP: Lauren H. (12) wakes up long before the sun is up to practice in the Port of Redwood City with the Redwood Scullers. BOTTOM: Lauren rowed her way to gold in the Club National Championships in Oklahoma with her partner from Dallas. (Photos Courtesy of Lauren H.)

Summer training pays off in the long run Caleb D. seeks to post strong finishes in his senior year Nikhil T. Strong. Competitive. Determined. These are words that his teammates use to describe senior Caleb D., captain of the boys' varsity cross-country team. Caleb joined the team in his freshman year as a way to spend time with his friends. And as he improved in the sport, he fell in love with it.

“I love days when I can run on a beautiful trail and I keep picking it up and keep feeling good, like I could go forever,” Caleb says. “It’s a feeling of freedom and accomplishment more intense than in other parts of life, because with just my two legs, I could go anywhere.”

In the summer leading up to his senior year, Caleb doubled down on running. At the beginning of the vacation, he was logging more than 30 miles in a week. Over the

course of the break, as he built up his stamina, he would run an astounding 60 miles—more than most people would run in the whole summer.

His intense training regimen is already showing results, as Caleb beat his already stellar 5K record from junior year by a little under a minute, going from a time of 17:07 to 16:10.

Angus Z. (12), who serves as the co-captain of the varsity team, describes Caleb’s improvement as “superhuman.”

Caleb has found significant personal success this season: He’s placed in the top 5 in every meet that he has participated in, including a win at the Clovis Invitational in Fresno, CA. Beyond his lightning-fast pace, Caleb is regarded as a strong and capable leader by his teammates. “He motivates others to be their best selves,” says Luca F. (12), one of Caleb's

RACING THE HEAT Caleb D. (12) has placed in the Top 5 in every meet he has participated in this season. (Photo by Maya C.)

close friends and member of the cross-country team.

“For me, the position is all about leadership,” Caleb says.

“I do my best to help the guys on the team to all run their best and to create a positive team dynamic.”

His favorite part of the team is the conversations that they have and the atmosphere, which he has helped foster.

Caleb hopes to keep his hot streak going as the team looks forward to the PSAL Championships, which takes place on Oct. 26, and the CCS Championships on Nov. 10.

After the cross country season comes to a close, Caleb will soon be shifting his focus to track, where his mind-boggling junior year numbers are set to improve even more.

For Caleb, who takes the saying “no days off” to heart, the grind really never stops.

18 / SPORTS

THE NUEVA CURRENT

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

THE PRESSBOX

The rise of the RPO Breaking down the hottest play in football today

Photo by iStock

Mirielle W. Frequent additions to football terminology are not uncommon. Every new coach seemingly brings with them a unique offensive system, and if their team is successful, the system’s name is enshrined in the ever-growing lexicon of football.

The latest concept making the rounds is the run-pass option (RPO), popularized after the Philadelphia Eagles ran RPOs nearly exclusively en route to a Super Bowl championship. Since then, football pundits across the nation have embraced the RPO as the game’s next great offensive force. And though some coaches and players are less than enamored, it is undeniably the hottest play in football today. An evolution from earlier option plays, the RPO looks to be fairly shortlived, but has already made waves in the football world and will continue to force defenses to adapt by increasing their athleticism.

The RPO evolved from traditional option running plays such as the read-option.

In earlier option plays, the quarterback had to make a quick decision whether to run the football himself or hand it off to the running back lined up behind him.

(Sometimes, this handoff was actually a short pitch to the trailing back.) Often, he made this read based on the lineup of the opposing defense. In contrast, the RPO simply adds a passing option to the traditional option play.

The quarterback doesn’t have much time to decide whether to run, hand off, or pass the ball; therefore, the passing option usually takes the form of a wide receiver running a quick, short route.

So what makes the RPO so different from previous plays?

To start, it is difficult for the defense to successfully defend all three options offered by the RPO. However, this is true for most complex offenses run

today. The RPO truly works because this issue is compounded by the fact that the offensive line disguises RPO plays.

In most offensive schemes (especially in high school and college), the defense can read whether the play will be a run or pass based the blocking schemes of the offensive linemen. When running the RPO, however, the offensive line always blocks as if it’s a running play. This often “freezes” defenders, who don’t know whether they should run to tackle a running back or drop back to cover a wide receiver, and has prompted many defensive coaches to speak out against RPOs, which they feel have undermined the most basic reads taught to defensive players.

Additionally, some coaches, most

An evolution from earlier option plays, the RPO looks to be fairly short-lived, but has already made waves in the football world and will continue to force defenses to adapt by increasing their athleticism. notably Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald, have pointed out that RPOs technically violate the rules of football, giving an unfair advantage to the offense. Under NCAA rules, offensive linemen (who are ineligible to catch the ball) may not advance more than three yards past the line of scrimmage. Fitzgerald has argued that RPOs consistently break this rule, because offensive linemen always block as if the quarterback or running back is running the ball even if the ball ends up being passed. Since passing plays can

take longer to develop than running plays, the offensive linemen end up much further downfield than normal.

However, this rule banning ineligible players from moving downfield is in fact obsolete. It was put in place at a time when it was difficult for defenders to tell which players were offensive linemen versus wide receivers. In today’s game, routes run by receivers are more complex and offensive linemen often weigh over 100 pounds more than wide receivers, making differentiation between linemen and receivers fairly simple for defenders no matter where they are on the field. Even without RPOs, this rule is nearly impossible to officiate since all 22 players are in constant motion, and is consequently rarely called on the field.

Despite coaches’ frustrations, there are ways to successfully defend against the RPO. Right now, the best RPO defense is man-to-man defense, which is fairly straightforward: each defensive player is assigned to guard one offensive player. These players need to have speed in order to change directions quickly based on how the play develops.

For example, if the quarterback runs the ball, the linebackers must be able to change directions quickly in order to tackle him. Meanwhile, if the linebacker sells out on the run, he has to have the awareness and ability to prevent a pass going for a large gain. Sometimes, defenses assign one player to focus solely on the quarterback, known as the “spy” or “conflict defender,” ensuring that the quarterback won’t be “lost” and run for a big gain. Over time, there’s no doubt that innovative defensive coordinators will develop better lockdown systems, and the offense will have to try something else.

Widespread use of the RPO has not happened overnight. Many of the younger quarterbacks in the NFL today are dual-threat quarterbacks, and the RPO allows teams to take advantage of that skill set. By using a quarterback’s running ability to create plays while developing their skill at directing more complex passing-oriented offensive schemes, RPOs can help teams find balance between throwing a huge, complex playbook at a young quarterback and keeping defenses on their toes with different looks. Though not necessarily branded as an RPO, colleges have been running the option with success for years. Defenses at the

college level typically don’t have the same level of talent as those in the pros, and so college defenders have a harder time recovering from the “freeze” explained previously, giving option plays a higher rate of success. In contrast, NFL defenses have the speed and athleticism to recover and react accordingly, and so option plays of all types have historically been short-lived in the NFL. The NFL itself is much less enamored of the RPO than the football pundits. Over the past few years, the league has worked hard to create and revise rules to protect their star quarterbacks, such as the currently infamous “roughing the passer” penalty.

However, these rules are designed for protecting quarterbacks within the pocket. With RPOs, quarterbacks are motivated to run the ball themselves, and once they tuck the ball under their arm, the rules treat them just like a running back. When the quarterback is running, especially when the play is designed and not just a scramble, it’s perfectly legal and rather necessary for defenders to tackle him much harder.

In this fashion, RPOs can cause the very injuries that the NFL is trying so hard to avoid. Even if the tackles don’t cause career-ending injuries, taking consistent hits can shorten the playing span of young quarterbacks.

So, will RPOs change the nature of football in the long run? Of course, only time will truly tell. But in some ways, RPOs are simply the next logical step in the pendulum-like evolution of football, which alternatively favors the pass and the run. On defense, they will encourage teams to go for speed and athleticism rather than size, which was already a trend even before RPOs became popular. On offense, it’s difficult to consistently find quarterbacks who can both run and pass effectively, without injury, and it’s only a matter of time before the defensive minds catch up and find a way to bottle up the RPO. The RPO is not infallible, and it may not last for long; eventually, the constant coevolution of offense and defense will push offensive coordinators back towards the pocket passing model. Still, it’s fascinating to look into the strategy and counterstrategy behind the latest trends—it makes the game itself more enjoyable.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THE NUEVA CURRENT

SPORTS / 19

Sailing Off-Course in Math Class Kate E.

Check these fall activities off your to-do list

It might not be sweater weather yet, but there are still plenty of fall Jordan M. & Elizabeth B. P. activities to explore in the Bay Area HARVEST ORGANIC FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville specializes in berries— raspberries, blackberries, olallieberries—for picking. Make the most of fall by visiting for the apple harvest. Meanwhile, Blue House Farm, between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero, is a u-pick farm with a farmstand and strawberry picking on the honor system.

THE HAUNT AT GREAT AMERICA

HAUNTED HOUSES

Spend a night at theme park Great America during their Halloween Haunt season with family or friends!

There are over 30 great attractions— including rides, mazes, and shows— that are sure to send chills down your spine. Visit on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and pay for your ticket at the park entrance to receive a Student ID discount. The Haunt ends on Oct. 28, so plan for a visit this weekend!

Then there’s Webb Ranch in Portola Valley, which offers a (admittedly tame) haunted house. You can also pick up a pumpkin from their pumpkin patch or buy a glass of homemade cider while you’re at it. If you want to up the thrill factor, then there’s the Winchester Mystery House, where you can sign up for a special “Candlelight Tour" through the month of October.

DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL IT'S DECORATIVE GOURD SEASON Even though the annual Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival is over, there are still plenty of farms where you can grab a wheelbarrow and choose from pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. Drive out to the city by the coast and you’ll see plenty of options.

Many farms also offer other wholesome fun, like the Minotaur's Labyrinth hay maze at Arata's Pumpkin Farm.

RUN THE SF COSTUME DASH Before you gorge yourself on candy, why not run a 5K in your Halloween costume? This is the second year for the San Francisco Costume Dash, a 5K run (or walk) through Golden Gate Park on Oct. 29. There’s a costume contest at the finish line, with prizes from the race sponsors.

GET A HEADSTART ON GIFTS Renegade Craft Fair comes back to Fort Mason Nov. 10-11! It’s the world’s largest curated showcase of indie artists and designers. There will be hundred of makers, plus artisanal food and drinks.

You can also try 33Makers, a holiday fair at Pinterest HQ, on Nov. 3.

You'll find artisanal, locally made gifts for hard-to-please friends and family members. Look for live printing from Social Imprints. Both these events are free.

For the 23rd year, The Unity Council is hosting their Día de Los Muertos Annual Festival on Nov. 4. It’s a free, outdoor festival in the vibrant, culturally rich Fruitvale neighborhood in Oakland.

Stroll down the street to check out the stunning altar installations created by community members paying homage to Los Muertos, or browse work from traditional Latin American artisans. There will be live music, rides and activities, art, ballet folklorico, and more.

FALL FLAVORS OF ICE CREAM

BOORITO 2018

Here’s a reason you should be glad NorCal is still enjoying 65°F weather in October: it's not too cold for ice cream. Stop by Tin Pot and try seasonal autumn flavors like the vegan Baked Apple Sorbet and Pumpkin Almond Toffee ice cream. If you’re up in the city, treat yourself at Mitchell’s in Bernal Heights. Unlike hip newcomers like Salt & Straw and Milkbomb Ice Cream, Mitchell’s has been crafting frozen treats since 1953, and they know what they’re doing. Their pumpkin ice cream is simply delicious.

Get a $4 burrito, bowl, salad, or order of tacos on Halloween when you wear your costume from 3 p.m. to closing. Take a photo of your costumed self chowing down on your burrito at a Chipotle location (like the one in Bay Meadows), and if you post it to Instagram and tag @chipotle, you’ll be entered in the Chipotle Boorito Contest. The winner will be decided by a poll on Chipotle’s Instagram Story featuring the contest's eight finalists. The grand prize? One year worth of free burritos.

You can BOO it!

20 / ENTERTAINMENT

THE NUEVA CURRENT

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

Last-minute DIY costumes Joshua Y. The bright lights shine on the stage and hundreds of pairs of eyes look up as you walk across the stage. You will probably have either of two experiences as you walk across the stage: a happy and prideful parade or an uncomfortable walk. No matter what your costume is, just be confident like these high schoolers, showing off your designs to the school.

ENZO S. (9) — CRAYON

Enzo S. had a memorable Halloween in middle school. Enzo explained that there were competitions for the funniest, best, and most creative costumes at his middle school.

“I had already arrived at school when the idea…of dressing up as something this year [struck me]. I saw that my friend had this elaborate crayon costume. I decided to mimic his costume and challenged him that my costume could win an award,” Enzo explained.

Enzo quickly ran over to the art room and grabbed any cardboard paper he could find to make a rainbow crayon; Enzo topped off his creation by taping an orange cone onto his head.

Enzo described his costume as “a clunky mess that was impossible to

walk in without tearing.” Enzo said that by the end of the parade, his costume looked like it had been “chewed on and torn.”

At around 2 p.m., the whole middle school filed into the gym to hear the winners of the costume contest.

“I didn’t hear my name in any of the typical awards and I became afraid that I would lose the bet to my friend,” Enzo recalled.

However, the announcer began talking about a new award dedicated to a student they saw, the “Last Minute Procrastination Nation Award.”

“The words that came out of the speakers made my heart stop,” Enzo remembers. He had won an award that didn’t even exist prior to his creation.

Enzo said that it was “one of the highlights of…middle school.”

SHALIN Z. (10) — LEMONS

The saying goes, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” That's what Shalin Z. was going for as her Halloween costume in eighth grade. Shalin described her costume as a “janky costume made with the end goal of getting some laughs from my friends.” Shalin's goal for the costume was to have a sign

hung around her neck with the word “life."

However, the costume didn’t go as she had intended. The sign that hung around her neck caused immense pain due to the weight of the cardboard.

Eventually, the pain was too much for her and she couldn’t stand wearing the sign anymore.

After arriving at the school, she hurried towards the art supplies and grabbed any colors of paper she could find. She ended up handing out green, pink, and blue lemons to people.

“When I was walking around the school handing out my beautiful lemons, it took some awkward explanations to people explaining what I was supposed to be,” Shalin said.

However, Shalin did remember that one of her teachers immediately recognized her costume’s meaning and they had a good laugh about it. Shalin described herself as “always being a smart aleck and the funny one.” When Shalin said this in front of her friends, they all chuckled and nodded in agreement.

Illustrations by Joshua Y.

Ken-Ken 25x

12x 5+

5+

Real Talk

Willow C. Y.

A compilation of quotes overheard in the hallways and in classrooms

6x 4x

24x

5

10x

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12x

INSTRUCTIONS: Your goal is to fill in the whole grid with numbers, making sure no number is repeated in any row or column. The number and operation in the upper left corner indicates the sum/difference/product of the squares in that section. In this 5x5 puzzle, you can use the numbers 1-5 to fill in the squares.

Overheard at the San Mateo campus “It was literally just a giant pretzel!”

—Junior on Monday's lunch

Anthony Perry (US Spanish Teacher): “How do you pronounce this [the "z" in Mandarin]?”

5

1

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Jordan M. (10): “It's like you're electrocuting someone... zzzzzzt!”

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Crossword Willow C. Y.

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ACROSS

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1. Flavor of fall 6. Formal change to a legal doc.

11

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7. Acronym for the sixth sense

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9. Car for roadtrips with the family 14

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11. Ginger ______ 13. ______ weather 16. Native American counterpart during Thanksgiving

DOWN 1. Another way of eating 1-Across 2. Makes syrup with 13-Down 3. AM to the ______ 4. Shoes by Nike with a G. S. Warrior 5. Autumnal month, abbr.

8. English translation of verb between "Veni" and "Vici" 10. Arabian pen. nation 12. Video game FIFA's releaser label

16

13. Makes syrup with 2-Down 14. Smoking residue 15. Fourth in "Sweetener"