May Senior Issue 2021

WHAT’S

INSIDE

THE May 24th, 2021

6 Senior map

2 News

8 Sports

12 Student life

URLINGAME B Burlingame High School, 1 Mangini Way, Burlingame, CA 94010

Issue 1 Vol. 131

THE SENIOR ISSUE AN UNCONVENTIONAL YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE

In-person graduation caps off senior year

BY ALEX KELLY Staff Reporter

After a hectic and primarily virtual school year, Burlingame will be hosting an in-person graduation for seniors on Thursday, May 27.

The decision came as San Mateo County began to lift their restrictions on gatherings and students returned to school, with the administration sending out a survey about graduation preferences. The pandemic took many of the traditional celebrations away from seniors, including prom and senior sunrise, but they will be able to conclude their high school careers with their peers.

“I’m really excited that we’re actually allowed to have the graduation high school experience as opposed to the virtual one, and I’m excited to see my friends,” senior Ronan Muldowney said.

For many seniors, this will be the first time they are together as a class in over a year, and the last time they will see each other at the Burlingame campus. However, even though this event will be in-person, some restrictions hold. The speech-

es and commencements will happen both virtually on Wednesday, May 26 and during the in-person ceremony on May 27. As of May 6, each senior will only be allowed to bring two guests, and all attendees will remain masked and distant throughout the ceremony. During the in-person ceremony, there will be a live stream for guests who cannot attend and for seniors who opted for all virtual ceremonies.

“We have provided for the live streaming, that’s not really health and safety protocols but in some ways it is because we know that certain family members may not be able to see it in person,” assistant principal Michele Fichera said.

Additionally, there will be senior events organized for the end of May. These events will serve as an opportunity for seniors to try to make up for lost time, including a photo op at Filoli Gardens, a senior picnic and a celebration at Long Branch Farms in Half Moon Bay. The Burlingame High School Parents Group and the administration hope these events will make this a memorable end of the year.

“High school graduation for me

doesn’t just feel like four years of high school,” senior Olina Du said.

“It feels like elementary school to middle school to high school, so it feels like the accumulaation of all [13] years of your education.”

Seniors will finally be reaching the end of the road at Burlingame after a chaotic year, but the future is bright for them as they will get to reunite for one final time at graduation.

New bell schedule to keep block days, increase minutes in class

BY MATTINGLY GERMACK Staff Reporter

PHOTO BY MATTINGLY GERMACK

As plans for next school year begin to take shape, the district is working to write a new bell schedule, making changes to better support the student body.

The biggest of these changes is a shift to four block days a week.

Mondays will be a traditional onethrough-seven period day, with 49 min-

utes. Even period block days will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and odd period days will be Wednesdays and Fridays. Block periods will be 91 minutes long, compared to 75 minutes this year.

Block schedules have yielded positive results for students this year, and have allowed the district as a whole to be more in sync. “[Block days] have provided students an opportunity to balance their homework load between days… [and they] also create opportunities for teachers to work together across the district, since [the entire district] is on the same schedule,” assistant principal Michele Fichera said.

In accordance with new California start time laws, school will start at 8:30 a.m. five days a week.

It will end at 3:35 p.m. on Mondays, 2:54 p.m. on even

days and 3:39 p.m. on odd days.

The district is still working to adapt after-school sports, which have had practices starting at 3:30 p.m. in years past.

The district created the new schedule to increase instructional minutes to a level similar to years past, in contrast to this year where class time decreased for distance learning. There will be 1,851 instructional minutes a week next year, compared to just 1,440 a week during the 2020-21 school year. Distance learning decreased education quality last year,

and t h e district hopes next year will make up for that loss.

2

News

May 24, 2021

Brittney Otero checks out of Burlingame

Burlingame hires new faculty to prevent spread of COVID-19

PHOTO BY AMELIA HARRIS

PHOTO BY ADIAN HAY

Otero will become a reference and instruction librarian at Palo Alto University and will aid students and staff in their research.

BY CAROLINE YEOW

Opinion Editor

Burlingame hired new faculty members for daily health checks, testing purposes and general crowd management.

3 and has worked at gate three, screenings.”

BY AIDAN HAY With the school year coming located by the pool, as well as at Staff Reporter gate one, by the entrance of the to a close, these modifications While many students were school. Although gate one is quite have successfully allowed the eager to return to school, behind busy because of its location at the school to reopen safely, and they the scenes the administration was front of the school, Gonzales feels will remain in place until the end working to plan and restructure that the process has been working of the school year.

“We’re pretty pleased right the Burlingame campus and pro- smoothly, regardless of the hefty with how the system is gonow students. of stream tocols. In order to reopen, the San So I don’t see anything ing… could it best the it’s think “I Mateo Unified High School Disin terms of our attenchanging would I so Tuesday, a is Today do. memstaff trict had to hire new bers to help mitigate the spread of have to see the whole week, but dance practices and gate access,” as of today, everything seems to Bigue said.

COVID-19 on campus.

As far as the next school year Many of these new hires help work fine,” Gonzales said. the future is slightly unclear. goes, to modifications the all With mornevery to check students in ing. These staff members confirm the buildings and school policy, With COVID-19 vaccines now that students have completed new faculty members are neces- being administered to anyone ages 12 and up, Bigue is optimistheir LiveSafe health screening sary to help enforce the rules. tic that next year will operate closanywhere about have “We the let to and scan their ID cards school know that they are on cam- from like 300 to 360 kids com- er to normalcy.

“My hope is that as many peopus for the day. Once approved, ing on [campus] daily, and that’s get vaccinated as possible… ple Domprincipal vice challenge,” a students also must wear a wriststudents choose to be vacciand also to had “We said.

Bigue inic that proof band for the day as they are cleared to be on campus. do the student [COVID-19] test- nated because I think that’s the Richard Gonzales, one of the ing… [so] we’ve hired addition- best way [that] we can get back newest members on staff, started al staff and our athletic trainer to some sense of normalcy,” Bigue working at Burlingame on May moved into supporting the health said.

For the past five years, Burlingame librarian Brittney Otero has worked to make library resources accessible, helped students navigate library databases, organized book distributions and solved tech problems. While working at Burlingame, Otero was also completing her master’s degree in Library and Informational Sciences at San Jose State University and finished her degree in December 2020. Armed with newfound knowledge in research methods, Otero plans to further her career in librarianship by becoming an instruction and reference librarian at Palo Alto University.

“I recently got my master’s degree… I really want to apply it, and I want to keep developing my career and growing professionally. Unfortunately, I can’t do that here, even though I really love it here and I love so much about working here… but I am pretty maxed out in terms of where to take the professional librarianship,” Otero said.

At Palo Alto University, Otero will apply the research methods she learned from her master’s degree, helping to facilitate

research and collaborating with faculty and professors. The university places special emphasis on psychology and counseling, an area in which Otero is interested in working.

“I do really like psychology, so I am pretty interested and excited to help with that. Beyond that, I think that most of the time I’m really interested in English literature and helping with those kinds of research needs,” Otero said.

As an instruction and reference librarian, Otero will also collaborate with the academic technology department and faculty. Her responsibilities will include providing library instruction to students, guiding them in reviewing resources, outlining research methods and supporting teaching and learning.

Although Otero is excited to work with more rigorous aspects of research, her departure from Burlingame is bittersweet.

“I’ll definitely miss the English department. I love them; they’re my homies in that department. And I will miss the really cool interactions with kids about talking about books or TV shows that they’re watching and just those connections that I’ve made,” Otero said.

Underclassmen make up majority of in-person population Staff Reporter

Jake Cacciato finally felt like a senior in high school — after a year of distance learning, he found himself in the senior quad, enjoying cookies and juice with his yearbook class.

His classmates sat spaced out and masked, and a sense of abnormalcy lingered — but the moment felt significant to Cacciato.

“It was definitely a good feeling to just laugh and smile with some of my classmates that I just met in person and face-to-face for the first time,” Cacciato said.

As excited as Cacciato was to be back with his classmates, he was one of just 88 seniors to return to school.

Ruby Lawrence, like the vast majority of seniors, chose to not come back on campus. While she misses the social and academic aspects of in-person school, she feels that returning is an unnecessary hassle and risk.

“I think [for] seniors, especially, the focus now is on getting [to go to college classes] in person next semester,” Lawrence said. “I feel like a lot of my friends have [already] said goodbye and … ac-

cepted the fact that we’re not going to have a normal senior year.”

Junior Jayden Schlesinger also opted out of a return, citing similar reasons.

For Schesingler, hybrid learning didn’t seem feasible or worthwhile: a key teacher chose not to come back, most of her friends weren’t returning and she would have to arrange transportation every day.

Most significantly, she had begun to thrive in distance learning.

“It was just me getting more comfortable with distance learning and not wanting to really change it,” Schlesinger said. “Oddly enough, going back to in-person school felt like a big change.”

Among the underclassmen, there was more enthusiasm to return, with 140 sophomores and 202 freshmen opting to return to campus. Freshman Ryan Daly, for instance, was eager to change up his routine and interact with friends. When the school began to offer in-person learning, he jumped at the chance to escape the confines of his room.

“It’s the same amount of excitement you get from the day before school. You’re going back to school and you get to meet new people,” Daly said. “I was excited to actual-

PHOTO BY ELISE SPENNER

BY ELISE SPENNER

Students mingle around the freshmen quad on Thursday, May 13. With 202 students returning, freshmen are by far the largest class on campus. ly be able to see friends in person.”

Although Daly was slightly frustrated that he was not able to see all of his teachers in person and that the class sizes were restricted, he values the in-person interactions.

“It’s really easy when you’re on-

line with [your friends] to just stop talking,” Daly said. “But when you’re next to them, there’s an actual real conversation going on, instead of half a sentence every so often.”

For Daly, the inconveniences of in-person learning are outweighed

by moments like that. However, he predicts that the initial buzz will wear off quickly.

“By the time we’re a month in next year...everyone will be wishing we can go back to distance learning,” Daly said.

THE

B

I, Sydney Crespo, will the Burlingame High School’s Kids In Need Foundation (KIN) Club to Samantha Palacio, Olivia Orsi, Jaden Luke, Ella Crespo and Harjyot Kaur. Keep making change happen!

BURLINGAME B Editor-in-Chief Amelia Harris Design Editor Allison Szetu

Copy Editors Lexi Goldstein Jacob Lubarsky

Hubert Chen Caroline Yeow

Isaac Bostonmaer Farah Caban Mattingly Germack Aidan Hay Isabelle Idio John Kelly Kristie Kim

I, Anna Porto, will the leadership of the GirlUp Club to Clara Porto and Lizzy Wan. Hope you guys take good care of the club and do great things with it.

Good luck!

Safia Loomba Jaden Luke

I, Camelia Nouredinne, will the Leora Trust club to Sophie Noureddine. This took a while to create so don’t mess it up! Just kidding, you’ll do great next year. Love ya!

Thomas Luxton

I, Ruby Lawrence, will the BHS GSA to the capable hands of Kimberlly Baldwin and Julianna Oliver. I can’t wait to hear about all the cool stuff you do!

WIL

I, James Varah, will the chess club presidency to Isaac Van Voorhis. I hope you keep the chess club fun and welcoming, and grow the membership even further in future years! I trust you to organize the rest of the chess club cabinet with your friends to keep our club going into the future.

I, Mateo Castillo, leave the boys varsity lacrosse team in the hands of — the man himself — Grant Hetherington. Keep the program alive and successful.

I, Adin Taheri, will the men’s swimming team to Connor McGuane. Hold it down.

BY

J d T ACK R ff HO SON SPENNE Re M por AS LUXTON ters

a n ta S

Staff Reporters

R

I, Jacob Lubarsky, will the role of politics club president to Arda Inegol. Keep the conversations rich and the club welcome to all ideologies. Best of luck!

I, Adin Taheri, will the varsity boys water polo team to Aaron Krimer and Lodo Platerink. Keep grinding and make us seniors proud.

We, Vedika Bhaumik, Elisabeth Weimar, Olina Du and Margot Bender, will the Burlingame varsity tennis team to all of the rising seniors. Make sure to teach the underclassmen how to slow clap properly during the cheer!

LS

Senior Reporters

I, Amelia Harris, will The Burlingame B to Sam Johnstone and Lexi Goldstein. You guys are going to do an amazing job leading the class and I cannot wait to see the issues you produce. Resist the allure of the Oxford comma and don’t forget (vegan?) nachos on PDF days!

IO

Business Manager Allison Webmaster Sam Johnstone

We, Amelia Harris, Sydney Roncal and Gemma Rice, will The Flop and leadership of the cross country team to Rachel Burdick.

We can’t wait to see you lead the team in cheers, rice cake eating and races!

You’ve got this!!

SEN

STAFF

Cohen

3

Senior Issue

May 24, 2021

We , Gemma Rice and Allison Cohen, will the Italian Club to Olivia Orsi. Keep on learning and having fun!

Tobias Matthews Michelle Matthews

BY ELISE SPENNER

Julianna Oliver

Staff Reporter

Clara Porto Elise Spenner Jackson Spenner Elizabeth Wan Page Designers Farah Caban Hubert Chen Allison Cohen Lexi Goldstein Kristie Kim Jaden Luke Clara Porto Lizzy Wan Teacher Adviser Melissa Murphy Policy Statement: The Burlingame B is a student-run newspaper with the sole purpose of providing an open forum for student expression. Anything printed represents the opinion of the writer, but not necessarily that of the Burlingame B staff, the administration, or the faculty of Burlingame High School or anyone affiliated with the San Mateo Union High School District. The Burlingame B does not discriminate against race, political oritentation, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

Although The Burlingame B will never refuse to publish guest submission based on the aforementioned factors, we reserve the right to edit or not publish them.

Letters to the Editor Disagree with the writers? Bring your letters to the room A120 or email them to <theburlingameb@ gmail.com>. Letters may be considered for publication. The Burlingame B reserves the right to edit for clarity, length and accuracy. We welcome all comments.

Website: www.theburlingameb.org Phone: (650) 558-2899 Email: theburlingameb@gmail.com Address: 1 Mangini Way, Burlingame, CA 94010

F R E S H M E N

The time of anxiety, stress, tears and despair is here — just kidding, you got this. According to our experienced and erudite staff, the crucial trick to crushing freshman year is to be a nonswimmer in the physical education swim unit. Sneak around it in any way possible. But when sports seasons come around, try out for a team. Even if you don’t think you are athletic, do it. But if you really aren’t athletic, extracurriculars aren’t limited to sports. Go perform in a play. Go drive a robot. Go march in the band until your legs fall off. You will find a community within a community and discover people with common interests. You will meet people from all difBY SAM JOHNSTONE

Webmaster

J U N I O R S

Junior year is notorious for being the hardest year of high school. Many students begin to think about college, load up on AP classes and spend their weekends studying for the SAT or ACT. As life after graduation rapidly approaches, it’s sometimes hard to remember that being a junior in high school isn’t solely defined by your grades — it’s also defined by your experience. For example, it’s important to make connections with your teachers who might write your future letters of recommendation for colleges, internships or jobs. When picking your classes for junior year, remember that a low grade in an AP class might

ferent grades — seniors who aren’t scary, juniors who survived AP classes and sophomores who can help you navigate campus. When you see those Canvas emails for club week, don’t ignore them — take the time and effort to find clubs you are genuinely interested in. Freshman year is the time to explore, to try new things, to reach outside your comfort zone and to find your passions.

So don’t stick to your middle school clique — branch out, be brave and walk through the senior quad with your head held high (but don’t sit there!!).

BY JACKSON SPENNER

Staff Reporter

At long last, the horrors of freshman year are over!

You are no longer the youngest kid on campus, nor the most shy — but remember, you don’t own the school yet. First off, everyone’s going to tell you that you have to take AP World History, but actually, it’s up to you.

If you hate long history lectures and poring over wordy textbooks, spend your time on a class that better suits your interests. However, regardless of which history course you

ADVICE FOR FUTURE PANTHERS look worse on your transcript than a high grade in a CP class. When studying for the SAT or ACT, Khan Academy offers free online prep or you can check out prep books from the public library. Junior year can be grueling, but it’s possible and beneficial to find a balance with your social and academic life. Something as simple as homework-free Fridays or allowing yourself to sleep in every Sunday can help to prevent burnout and ensure overall success.

BY ALLISON COHEN

Business Manager

As high school begins to slip away and you’re forced to make important decisions about your future, senior year can feel difficult and overwhelming. To keep your sanity, trust yourself and try not to regret the decisions you’ve made — whether you’re thinking about the grades you got, the classes you took or the people you surrounded yourself with. At this moment in time, you still

choose, make sure to familiarize yourself with the Crash Course YouTube channel (you’ll thank me later). Oh, and always bring a hair tie to chemistry. You never know when a high-stakes lab awaits you, and your long hair will practically beg to catch fire. Another thing: you can drive now! Head over to the DMV to get your provisional learner’s permit as soon as possible. Also, way too many sophomores skip homecoming and formal — make sure you don’t miss out on two fun nights that only come around once a year. Lastly, let me be clear: the PSAT is important practice for next year! So take it seriously, study the subject matter and get some good sleep the night before.

have the power to shape your future, and you should focus on the things you can control rather than fixating on what you can’t. While there is fear in the unknown, there are also infinite opportunities to reinvent yourself and learn from your past experiences.

We all end up getting rejected from somewhere, maybe from a college or an employment opportunity, so there is comfort in knowing that we’re all feeling the heartbreak of rejection together. Take classes that challenge you but are also interesting and within your reach, and remember that your grades are only a tiny facet of your being. At the end of the day, we are all far more complex and interesting than anything that could possibly fit on a transcript or resume.

S O P H O M O R E S

S E N I O R S

Senior Issue

4

May 24, 2021

Alternative Pathways

BY ISABELLE IDIO Staff Rporter

Hannah Broman

This fall, Hannah Broman will attend the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff, Wales to study stage management and technical theater. Her involvement in stage managing for Burlingame’s theater productions has inspired her to pursue this course of study. “[Theater has] been part of my life for such a long time, and I want nothing more than to continue that relationship,” Bro-

man said in a survey sent out by the Burlingame B. After being unable to work inside a theater for the past year due to the pandemic, Broman looks forward to being at college in person and putting on live theatrical productions.

“I can’t wait to be in a theater with an audience again,” Broman said in response to a survey sent out by The Burlingame B. PHOTO COURTESY OF HANNAH BROMAN

Kyle Hughes

Kyle Hughes will leave Burlingame in August to attend basic training for the U.S. Army, and will then attend specialty training in database inventory transports.

“I feel like it’s an obligation to serve my country,” Hughes said. “I feel like it’s something that people should do more…

Is it difficult? Sure, because they want the

best from everyone. They push you, they have structure, they discipline you; I think that’s important.”

Hughes also plans on getting a degree in kinesiology and physical therapy. After serving in U.S. Army and taking college courses, he plans to enroll at a police academy to become a police officer.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KYLE HUGHES

Evan Pozzo

After graduation, senior Evan Pozzo plans to join the U.S. Army. He is excited to meet new people from around the country and grow as an individual.

“My whole life I’ve viewed the people in the military as heroes, and for the past two years, I decided that this is what I

wanted to do with my life to set a good example for my brother and really see myself as a hero too,” Pozzo said.

Pozzo is grateful that Burlingame gave him the opportunity to look at different options besides college, allowing him to find the right pathway for himself.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVAN POZZO

Mateo Castillo-Niño In June, Mateo Castillo-Niño will leave the Bay Area to join the U.S. Army. Since he was young, Castillo-Niño knew he was interested in joining the military.

“I’ve always wanted to put on a uniform; I’ve always thought it was really cool,” Castillo-Niño said. “Once I became older… I started learning about the benefits that the military brings — free college PHOTO COURTESY OF MATEO CASTILLO-NINO

Valentin Bakir

After graduation, Valentin Bakir plans to study at an Islamic university in the Middle East for a year. There, he hopes to better understand his culture and religion while also improving his skills in reading and writing in Arabic.

“I’m [also] looking forward to spending a whole year with family I rarely visit.

I have lots of family all over the Middle

East and it will be great to visit them after seven years,” Bakir said in response to a survey sent out by The Burlingame B. Bakir was born in the Middle East and is excited to return to his roots after living in the U.S. He plans on visiting countries including Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Romania next year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VALETIN BAKIR

and the retirement benefits.”

Castillo-Niño says that joining the army is a good alternative for people who are not interested in school or attending college. He looks forward to traveling while in the U.S. Army and visiting different countries and states all around the U.S.

5

Senior Issue

May 24, 2021

Students ponder upon a turbulent year full of surprises

BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY and KRISTIE KIM

Staff Reporter

Expectation before distance learning “I thought it would be more like the second semester of 2019-2020,” junior Sabina Barrolaza

“I expected the shelter-inplace to last more than a few weeks, but not more than a few months. I was excited about doing school from home and the flexibility [and] opportunity it would bring,” sophomore Minnoli Raghavan

Experience with distance learning and returning to campus

“I traveled to Spokane, Washington, and it was actually nice being on a plane with such few people,” junior Joey Marty

“I play softball and COVID-19 affected me by shutting my games [and] practices down, and so much more. It hurt me in a way. But I’m getting back on that field now because of vaccines so it’s okay,” freshman Shayna Young

“I traveled quite a few times over the year, most of the time around California… I also went to Oahu with my family in November, which was an interesting experience to say the least. On one side, the trip was very relaxing and fun, but on the other, a lot of the Covid restrictions limited options and things to do,” sophomore Brooklyn Arcenal

“I learned that I am a social human being and that I need human interaction in real life and not on screens,” freshman Kristina Moya

ALLISON COHEN

Business Manager

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“My main extracurricular is dancing, and since March of 2020, we have been virtual until a couple weeks ago. I haven’t competed in person in over a year, so I am excited to be able to do that again soon,” freshman Tilly Haskell

Takeaways

[#8 Horizontal] Puzzle

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“It got much more challenging and my grade started dropping,” sophomore Camille Miranda

Extracurriculars

Travel “We went to a wedding, drove there and kept our masks on the whole time. Even though we could have flown, we didn’t want to take the chance,” freshman Chiara Simonetti

“I have really disliked distance learning and am actually returning to school next week. I really haven’t learned much and as a transfer student, it’s been difficult to [have] interactions with other students,” junior Sohail Erekat

“I feel like this year has been a challenge, but one that a lot of people got to grow and that next year is going to be better,” freshman Lucas Ferreira

DESIGN BY ALLISON SZETU

M A I N E

Burlingame High School

Bowdoin College Haley McGill

W A S H I N G T O N Gonzaga University Corbin Rubero David Conolly

Seattle University Sarah Fletcher

N E W

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Katherine Mitchell

Willamette University Daniel Braker

Boston University

Butte College Ashley Jones

Alexandra Goslawski Austin Moss Gemma Rice Kayla Sykes Gabrielle Privitera

California State University-Los Angeles Natalie Chavez Arroyo

California State University -Northridge Yota Inouye

California State University-Sacramento

Austin Daga Lara Mohammed Taher

California State University-San Bernardino Brian Young

Cañada College Robert Ennis Maxian Lee Daniela Solis Jamar Patki

Chapman University Aydan Aguinaldo Mackenzie Edwards Keunho Kim Kaylin Li Kyle Sieben

Matthew Matveev

Humboldt State University

Jessica Fleming Thomas Luxton

Occidental College Sydney Crespo Keita Yamamoto

San Diego State University

Daniel Ha Noah Larkin Annelise McNamara Allyson Sorof Ethan Suh

San Francisco State University

Trinity Chan Jake Johnson Julia Li Christine Suen

San Jose State University

Giorgios Koutantos Cody Ngai Lara Pankova Kaitlyn Rice

Santa Barbara City College Isabella Franco Katelyn Hennebry

Northeastern University

Waizo Chen Tyler Johnson Ryan Kang Kent Liao Ari Sabsovich Ellery Turner

Jiana Ang Dalton Boyse Hubert Chen Allison Cohen Aylia Siddiqui

Williams College

Aaron Becker Alan Vazquez

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sydney Fleming Ruby Lawrence

College of San Mateo

DeVry University

Angelina Sun

M A S S A C H U S E T T S

C A L I F O R N I A

California State University-Chico

Siena College

Lilian Rubenstein

Ahmed Mir

Isabella Aitken

Arthur Powers Aldric Saligo

Syracuse University

Montana State University

California State University-Channel Islands

Rochester Institute of Technology

Arielle Spivack

Elizabeth Varland

Gamze Akildiz Andrew Alaraj Isabella Arcoleo Dean Barnes Chance Bonifacio Jake Caprini Daelin Chow Justin Dotson Gianela Gutierrez Ryan Larkin Jennifer Mandikian Aiden Mendoza Anthony Privado-Baker Praxedis Ramirez Guilherme Sales Carrilho Kaitlen Sandoval Justice Steinberg Isabella Tarango Julian Young Roni Yaman Isabella Maruri Ronan Muldowney Ziba Safavi Tate Hartley Alessandro Morales Gomez

Margot Bender Cole Fletchall-Silva Katherine Han Kendal Wang

Sarah Lawrence College

Montana Technological University

Jacklyn Nee Andrew Yeow

New York University

Shaira Vohra

M O N TA N A

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Fordham University

Wyatt McGovern

Parsons School of Design

Maximo Alvira Donna Douraghy Madeline Peil

Grayson Dougherty Liam Galia Camelia Noureddine Rebecca Rollins Sydney Roncal Kerry Wakasa Jack Way Vivian Yee Li Hui Helen Zhan Elyce Tse

Columbia University

David Chacon Rowan Kilbridge Sean Platkin

University of Oregon

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Barnard College Amelia Harris

Kimberly Lam Gabrielle Lundquist William Ogg Kyra Schlezinger Lila Sutherlin Adin Taheri

O R E G O N Reed College

Y O R K

R H O D E

I S L A N D

Rhode Island School of Design Hyun Song

D. C American University Angela Crosatto

George Washington University

I N T E R N AT I O N A L Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

United Kingdom Hannah Broman

Sophia University Japan Karin Masubuchi Seina Kurihara

The American University of Paris

France Tabitha Wan

University of Toronto NOT ALL SENIORS IN THE CLASS OF 2021 WERE FEATURED IN THIS MAP BECAUSE NOT EVERY STUDENT COMPLETED THE SURVEY ON NAVIANCE ON TIME

Canada Adelle Slaboda

Cebu Doctors’ University Philippines Marc Magdadaro

H A W A I I

Canada Kai Lazarov

Stanford University

Jessica Chudnovsky Wesley Larlarb James Varah Marguerite Vasy

Carina Husain Allison Szetu Jessilyn Texidor Gabriela Vilchez Sydney Woo

University of Hawaii at Manoa University of San Diego Hollie Allen Gina Ledgerwood Caroline Schoustra

University of San Francisco

University of California-Berkeley

Julian Esparza Olivera Justin Ly

Corey Cuevas Johanna Lazaro Jaynna My Francesca Ty Aron Ryvkin

Vedika Bhaumik Grace Shin Vanessa Teo Cherilyn Yu

University of California-Riverside

Kyle Cheng Karla Estrada Bandala Brandon Fong

University of Southern California

University of California-Davis

University of California-San Diego

Anudari Battsooj Melanie Gordon Sophia-Margot Kamenov Jackson Kriner Lauren Lai Sheda Shehadeh Grant Smith Rachel Tillman Angel Villanueva Caroline Yeow

University of California-Irvine Minami Mori Talia Tehlirian

University of California-Merced

Alyssa Mah Tiffany Tam

University of California-Santa Barbara

Georgia Edmondson Lincoln Freedman Zachary Gratch Yifan Ke Matthias Lin Ella Stitzlein Sophia Weiler Asher Whitten

M A R Y L A N D Dylan Diana

P E N N S Y L V A N I A Carnegie Mellon University

Temple University

Olina Du

McGill University

Lili Ghezavat Esha Kung Allen Rudakov

Joseph Rudolph

University of Maryland-College Park

Quest University Canada

University of California-Los Angeles

Connecticut College

Laine Schlezinger

Canada Laurie Tang

Santa Clara University

C O N N E C T I C U T

Carrie Lei Madeline Ishimoto

Fresno Pacific University Madison Kammuller

Loyola Marymount University Peyton Chase William Graczewski

Justin Castillo

A R I Z O N A Scottsdale Community College

Joseph Hawley

The University of Arizona

Westmont College Jillian Hurin

Orange Coast College

Dominic Bottarini

Jorge Mesaros Logan Noworolski

Sahid Jimenez Olivia Rath-Lewan

University of Colorado Boulder

Mikaela Brown Conner Lyons

T E X A S Kayla Bierman Samuel Sarver

Baylor University Isabella Tole

Southern Methodist University Allison Bradley Olivia Jones James Verhoeven

Lehigh University

Alessandro Andre Escobedo-Morales

University of Wisconsin-Madison Jacob McConnell Catherine Myers David Shatsky

M I C H I G A N Michigan State University Reid Scheinman

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Zachary Levine Elisabeth Weimar

C O L O R A D O

Saint Mary’s College of California Rice University Kailey O’Connor

Arizona State University-Tempe

W I S C O N S I N

I N D I A N A Indiana University-Bloomington Jacob Lubarsky

L O U I S I A N A Tulane University of Louisiana James Cacciato Sidney Cimmet

G E O R G I A Agnes Scott College Olivia Casas

Kathryn Crandall

V I R G I N I A College of William and Mary

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Kieran Loftis

W E S T

Jackson Giovara

V I R G I N I A

West Virginia University Sofia Cosenza

N O R T H

C A R O L I N A

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Katlyn Tran

ALT E RNAT IVE

F L O R I D A

Army Reserve

University of Miami

US Army

Howard Harden Ron Kletter Andrew Shatsky

Gap Year

Kyle Hughes

Mateo Castillo-Nino Evan Pozzo Mario De Lucca Miles Kinne

8

Senior Collegiate Athletes

May 24, 2021

BY TOBIAS MATTHEWS

Staff Reporter

RACHEL TILLMAN

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TILL MAN

Rachel Tillman will join the equestrian team at UC Davis after competing as an equestrian in competitions outside of Burlingame throughout high school. She can’t wait to join a team in college and embrace new experiences. “Equestrian meets in college are very different from what I do outside of school, so the style of competition with a team is very new and exciting,” Tillman said. Her favorite memory as an equestrian was when she placed second at a major competition called the National Reining Horse Association Derby last summer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For Tillman, the COVID-19 pandemic allowed her to pursue her sport to a greater extent than in previous years, as she was able to travel and compete in horse shows across the nation without missing her classes or needing to make up missing schoolwork. Tillman is eager and excited to continue her equestrian career at UC Davis, as a different environment and a different city will present new opportunities and challenges.

SYDNEY FLEMING

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Williams College

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University of California, Davis

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After playing softball on the varsity team at Burlingame, senior Sydney Fleming is taking her talents to Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Fleming hopes the next four years with a fantastic coach and program will allow her to develop her skills and she can’t wait to join the team. While her 2020 softball season was canceled, she still appreciates the great moments she had at Burlingame.

One of her most memorable plays was when she hit a grand slam that bounced directly off of a parked car that was located 20 feet behind the fences. Although Fleming got to play some last summer, her club and school team were not able to resume. “It was really hard not playing for so long, but I continued to train everyday and I am excited for the high school and club seasons this year.” Fleming said. She’s excited to play for another four years and is ready for a new beginning at Williams College.

DALTON BOYSE

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Northeastern University

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Dalton Boyse has been rowing since her sophomore year of high school for NorCal Crew, and is excited to continue her career at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Her favorite memory of rowing during high school was going on a training trip to Wonder Valley, California, where she and her teammates took part in practices all week. They were all exhausted from intense competition when her coaches, Chris Del Zompo and Stefan Evano, started throwing oranges and snack bars at them. “It was so nice to just have a couple of minutes for the team to relax and laugh together, and one of my close friends Ellie brought the mood up even higher when she did a headstand in the boat,” Boyse said. She’s been able to continue rowing during the pandemic due to the low contact levels of the sport. Before Boyse begins rowing at Northeastern, she hopes to spend the summer competing with NorCal Crew. Boyse looks forward to creating strong bonds with her new teammates at Northeastern — many of whom she’s already connected with — and helping their program reach further heights.

SYDNEY CRESPO

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Occidental College

Sydney Crespo is looking forward to a new start athletically and academically at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California where she’s going to continue playing softball. Over the past four years, she’s appreciated the connections she has made with her fellow players. “My favorite memory of playing softball in high school has been getting to meet and bond with other [Burlingame] softball players. It’s been great getting to know more people at this school through sports,” Crespo said. Another fond memory with her teammates was a pre-season tournament her sophomore year where the team placed second. After the COVID-19 pandemic put practices and games on hiatus, Crespo had to find creative ways to continue training and navigate a new, unfamiliar recruiting process. She is glad that she will get to have a more normal season with the Occidental team next spring, and cannot wait to continue her softball career.

All information and quotes on this page were gathered through emails and a survey sent out by The Burlingame B.

9

Senior Collegiate Athletes

May 24, 2021

BY JULIANNA OLIVER

Staff Reporter

WYATT MCGOVERN PH

Columbia University

C OTO OURTE

Wyatt McGovern will attend Columbia University in the fall, where he will play for their golf team. He is looking forward to competing at a higher level, as well as working with new teammates and building long-lasting relationships with them. Although this last year created obstacles for most sports, McGovern’s ability to practice and play has been minimally impacted. “Starting in May of 2020, all golf courses started to open, and amateur golf tournaments were able to resume in June, so there haven’t been too many setbacks, fortunately,” McGovern said.

Overall, McGovern’s favorite memory at Burlingame was being able to compete at the Central Coast Section tournament his freshmen year, working alongside his teammates. “We didn’t even come close [to placing],” McGovern said. But for him it was not about winning, it was about the fun experience with his team.

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KAILEY O’CONNOR

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Kailey O’Connor will play softball at St. Mary’s College of California in the fall. O’Connor is ecstatic about playing at a more competitive level, allowing her to continue growing her softball skills. She is also excited about meeting new people and developing more friendships with teammates. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted O’Connor’s season, but allowed her to improve her technical skills. “This [season was] most of our first times playing games since last year. However, I have continued to train every day on my own. I started doing a lot of strength workouts and anything to get me faster, bigger and stronger,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor’s favorite memory at Burlingame was a tournament where she and her team played against Saratoga High School. She loved playing in the tournament games and being able to compete alongside her team.

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St. Mary’s College of California

MADISON KAMMULLER O OT PH

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Fresno Pacific University

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Madison Kammuller will attend Fresno Pacific University in the fall and play for their women’s volleyball team. Kammuller is excited to travel around the country to play different teams and hopes to continually improve her performance on the court. Traveling will be a change for Kammuller, as COVID-19 limited her high school volleyball career. “[COVID-19] has impacted my sport by totally taking away my 17s season. That was the biggest recruiting season, and it became really hard for me to be recruited by colleges,” Kammuller said. She also commented that tournaments had hard competition and were often cancelled due to safety precautions. Kammuller’s favorite memory at Burlingame was when she and her team won the 2019 Division 3 Central Coast Section Championship. Her time has sadly come to an end at Burlingame, but Kammuller is eager to start a new chapter in her volleyball career at Fresno Pacific University.

KYLE SIEBEN

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F KYLE SIEBEN

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All information and quotes on this page were gathered through emails and a survey sent out by The Burlingame B.

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Kyle Sieben, running back for Burlingame’s football team, will play for Chapman University in the fall. Sieben is thrilled to work with coaches who will help him further develop his skills, and is looking forward to having older teammates who will support him through his first few years in college. This year, due to the pandemic, Burlingame’s typical ten-game football season turned into a six-game season. However, Sieben believes the restrictions that COVID-19 imposed on his life allowed him to become a stronger player. “I have stepped up my training throughout the pandemic,” Sieben said. With precautions in place, Sieben was able to practice safely and work toward his goal of playing in college. Throughout his four year career, Sieben’s favorite memory at Burlingame was being able to connect with his teammates and coaches on a deeper level. “[My coaches molded] me into the person I am today,” Sieben said.

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Chapman University

Student remembers what day it is PHOTO BY MATTINGLY GERMACK

stumbling into the wrong class.

“I woke up early at 10:48 a.m. and made it to third period only like twenty minutes late,” Sung said.

Inspired, Sung searched for ways to replicate his stroke of genius in the future.

“Later that day I found out that I could set an alarm on my phone, and that would also show me what day it is,” Sung said. “It really helps, and like, I really think this is something everyone should do. I mean, I sleep like three inches away from my phone anyway.”

Studies reveal Bvrlingame students overwhelmingly prefer their camera on while in class

BY JACOB LUBARSKY

Elderly Reporter

As students wrap up their first full year of online school, a misconception has emerged among students and teachers alike that if given the opportunity, students prefer having their computer cameras off.

Despite these rumors, studies say this is far from the truth.

“We’ve actually found that students really enjoy being face-to-face with their peers.

Students want more than anything to inadvertently let their peers tour rooms of their houses, and see what they look like 20 minutes after they’ve woken up,” Dr. Mike On, analytics professor of Burlingame Institute of Technology said.

The study, led by Dr. On, monitored a test group in the Burlingame leadership class, where he found that when the instructor made no specific instructions to have their students’ cameras turned on, 17 of 23 students in the class had their cameras on.

“The evidence is simply damning, I don’t know how you can go around the hard-hitting statistics,” junior Seymoure Frenz said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Senior Sam Sung, who sleeps inches away from his phone, recently discovering the alarm clock app.

BY HUBERT CHEN Asleep Reporter On Thursday, May 6, for the first time in over a year, senior Sam Sung woke up and was aware of what day it was.

“I just felt like, really stoked,” Sung said. “I really feel like I’m becoming more independent.”

Sung logged into the correct Zoom meeting in just under 40 seconds. This was because he could tell whether it was an odd or even day schedule before

Seniors, all with their cameras on, smile at their cameras while listening to a Zoom call regarding graduation plans.

But the study goes beyond this one observation. Dr. On found that in an AP Physics class, when the instructor explicitly said that students may shut off their cameras, 94% of the students kept their cameras on, many with large smiles on their faces from their joy of being in class.

“When you’re in a class you just really love, classes like phys-

ics, or ceramics, how can you not keep your camera on to stay engaged?” junior Liv Forscool said.

Students report they don’t just keep their cameras on for the participation points. They do it because they yearn for the social interactions they have missed all year, and wouldn’t give anything to trade awkward smiles with vaguely familiar faces.

Students assemble shrine to the College Board Board logo, and Panthers are encouraged to grab prayer-text books and partake in the ritual of reciting every battle in the Civil War. “It was a group effort putting this all together,” junior April Lit said. “We could not have assembled the shrine, or our movement, so efficiently if it were not for the support of the College Board Official Fan Club.”

The College Board Official Fan Club is a growing organization that students from schools across the country can look to for resources on how to expand the College Board-love at their own learning institution. Student membership has soared 40% in the 2020-2021 school year. At Burlingame, where instruction minutes in each class have been cut by 50 minutes per week, many

new members were enticed to join after the College Board announced that there would only be full-length tests offered. Limited SAT testing availability and chronically confusing AP testing dates generated a second wave of membership.

Sophomore Apollo Push took the College Board’s AP Chemistry exam on May 7 and had gushing reviews.

“It was cathartic to put my pen to paper, and then continue to put my pen on that piece of paper for four hours with minimal breaks,” Push said.

If anything is clear in this year of uncertainty, it is that the College Board is here to stay, and Burlingame’s students are more than willing to keep their On May 3 Burlingame students unveiled the College Board academic savior in business. shrine in the senior quad to commemorate the first day of AP testing for the 2020-2021 school year.

PHOTO BY FARAH CABAN

BY LEXI GOLDSTEIN

Theologist

Students are pioneering a religious movement highlighting their devotion to the education giant, College Board. Now those in grades 9-12 can pay their respects to the corporation and pay them hundreds of dollars. Overcome with feelings of gratitude for the makers of their most favorite four-hour exams, students felt the only way to properly honor their divinity was to erect a shrine in the senior quad.

Nestled between picnic tables, this sacred site is artistically littered with photocopies of AP tests and pledges to take on additional AP courses in the coming year. At night, candles illuminate the shrine, taking the shape of an acorn, the College

Started from the bottom, now we’re back at the bottom

Satire

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May 24, 2021

May 24, 2021

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Student Life

May 24, 2021 PHOTO COURTESY OF GEMMA RICE

PHOTO BY KRISTIE KIM

PHOTO BY ELISE SPENNER

@elisespenner

@kristiekim

@gemmarice

Runners on the track team pass the baton during a 4x400-meter relay at the April 19 meet against El Camino High School.

Boys JV tennis player, freshman Chinmay Rao, serves the ball during the April 27 meet against Hillsdale High School.

Gabriella Privitera, Ella Stizlen, Angela Crosatto, Allison Cohen, Gemma Rice and Italian teacher Antonella Wemple take a selfie at the A Taste of Italy for the 2021 Senior Class event near Burlingame Avenue.

@peterpanther

@peterpanther

Great job Panthers!

Nice form!

BY JADEN LUKE and ISAAC BOSTONMAER

Staff Reporters

Due to the pandemic, students have spent the last year adapting to not only new safety mandates, but new ways of life as well. Now, the end of the pandemic seems within reach, and students could not be more ecstatic to resume their preCOVID-19 lifestyles.

From March 2020 to January 2021, California was under a series of lockdown and quarantine orders put into place by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s health departments. Their decisions forced students to change many aspects of their day-to-day life. Since the lockdowns restricted social activities, students were forced to indulge in only indoor or socially-distanced activities to keep themselves entertained. Some of these activities included spending time with family, binge watching TV shows and movies and finding new hobbies.

“I would walk my dog four and a half miles a day,” sophomore Anna Way said. “I would also bake and cook a lot because we are almost entirely at home.”

Perhaps the most significant

change the pandemic brought to students’ lives was distance learning and the implementation of online teaching platforms, such as Zoom and Edgenuity, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Online school created a different learning environment that presented various challenges for students. During the pandemic, not only were students met with a lack of opportunities for involvement in sports, clubs and extracurricular activities, but they also struggled to adjust to this new form of learning. “[During distance learning] I think it was harder for me to stay motivated to do all the readings and just a little extra stuff that you can do in class,” senior Tabitha Wan said. “But I think I found quickly that learning at home is just different. You just have to work with it.”

However, in late January 2021, restrictions eased. With COVID-19 vaccine distribution, infection rates decreased. Because of these positive developments, Burlingame began to lift some of its restrictions.

Burlingame sports slowly started to resume practice and conditioning in anticipation of being allowed to compete against other schools. And

finally, in early March, the California Interscholastic Federation gave Burlingame and other local high schools the green light to schedule and compete in games against schools in the district.

In April, once the county health officials approved the county moving into the orange tier, the District was able to offer students the opportunity to attend classes back on campus. Although there are many restrictions still in place to mitigate the continuing risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19, students can now be back on campus with peers. Being on campus and attending classes in person provides some sense of normalcy.

As COVID-19 cases continue to dwindle across San Mateo County and the rest of California, students are hopeful about reaching the end of the pandemic and finally returning to normal.

“I’m really excited and optimistic about the near future. It looks like we’re reaching the end [of the pandemic],” junior Aavash Adhikari said. “I’m hoping by the fall semester things will be almost like they were before… I want my last year of high school to be a normal year.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANNAH BROMAN

Students adapt to and perservere through the pandemic

@hannahbroman For “Working: A Musical,” student actors act out and film scenes to prepare for their upcoming screening.

PHOTO BY FARAH CABAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF VANESSA LAW

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELISABETH WEIMAR

@elisabethweimar

@vanessalaw

@farahcaban

Seniors Vedika Bhaumik and Olina Du take a photo with their rackets to commemorate the last day of the girls tennis season.

Seniors Lili Ghezavat, Kaylin Li and Mizuki Yasuda pose for a picture at Pier 39 on April 7.

The Burlingame Activism Club designs posters to advertise the benefits of visiting the wellness counselors on May 4.

@peterpanther

@peterpanther

Go Panthers!

Amazing!

@peterpanther

Amazing Panthers doing amazing things!!