Senior Issue 2023

B THE

the 2023

New year, new faces

In2020, this front page was filled with photos of students graduating from the passenger seats of their cars, picking up diplomas at a drivethough station at the front of campus. School was reduced to somber, once-a-week emails and assignments on Canvas.

In 2021, this front page bore the headline “An unconventional year comes to a close,” with photos of socially-distanced students in masks finally returning to classrooms. School was still confined to a ten-inch screen that never seemed to work.

In 2022, we declared the school year one of “adjustment.” Yet again, school didn’t feel normal — it was overshadowed by the drone of portable HVAC machines, six feet of space and the tension over mask mandates on campus.

Finally, in 2023, school actually feels like school. Back in October, we printed the words “New Year, New Faces” in a bold font across our front page. Just seeing human faces after a two-year pandemic was eye-opening. It was strange at first, because “normal” — normal rallies, normal football games, normal dances, normal tests — felt new. We wrote the phrase “for the first time since the pandemic” so many times it felt redundant. Now, though — and just in time for the class of 2023 to graduate — life at Burlingame really is back to normal.

Only roughly 400 students have witnessed the past four years at 1 Mangini Way. On May 26, they will frame their diplomas, etch their names and leave. On the pages that follow, we celebrate their unprecedented high school journeys — and their equally unprecedented futures to come.

GRAPHICBYSOPHIABELLA

THE BURLINGAME B

Editor-in-Chief Jackson Spenner

Managing Editor Elise Spenner

Design Editor Sophia Bella

Sports Editor Michelle Moshkovoy

Head Photographer Jake Rothstein

Business Manager Alex Kelly

Social Media Manager Amanda Nolan

Web Editor Arda Inegol

Diversity Coordinator Lizzy Wan

Social Coordinator Kristie Kim

Copy Editors

Arshia Chakravartti

Isabel Liu

Senior Reporter

Daria Burnosova

Staff Reporters

Theo Au-Yeung

Athena Bostonmaer

Jeannine Chiang

Danny Conway

Sophia Doss

Natalie Gyde

Joelle Huysmans

Brinda Iyer

Abby Knight

Will Kriner

Ana Lunaparra

Ellie Neuman

Zachary Newman

Sophia Puzon

Ruby Rosenquist

Zach Shapiro

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 affliated with the San Mateo Union High School District. The Burlingame B does not discriminate against race, political orientation, 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@smuhsd.org>.

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

Inside the gym construction Practices and games to be relocated, PE adjusted

BY ZACH SHAPIRO Staff Reporter

BY WILL KRINER Staff Reporter

For almost two years, a plan has been in motion to renovate the athletic facilities at Burlingame.

“We have some of the oldest facilities in the district. Our indoor

facilities are a little outdated,” athletic director John Philipopoulos said. “It’s going to be state-of-theart: two stories, two gyms.”

The gym will feature a new weight room, mat room and multiple new offices on the first level. Construction won’t begin until after summer break starts on June 12, and although the expansion and

reconstruction of the gym should offer a new and exciting facility for future athletes, the looming start date poses questions for the athletics program and Physical Education (PE) department. The construction is estimated to take 18 to 24 months, and all sports and PE activities will have to be relocated as the construction takes place.

PE curriculum changes in response to building renovations

For incoming freshmen and sophomores, the PE curriculum is going to experience major changes, as the locker room, weight room, gyms and athletic offices will be torn down. The locker rooms will be relocated to the tennis courts, where two portable rooms will be placed so students can change. In turn, every corner of available space on campus will be utilized in some way.

“I believe they’re gonna bring some of these current lockers we have here, and bring them in [to the new facilities],” PE teacher Anthony Dimech said. “Not everyone is gonna have their own locker like they currently do now. It’s gonna be like our athletic teams: Whatever you need, you bring, and then leave it in when you do PE.”

Smaller portables will also be

added for restrooms and PE teachers’ offices.

Indoor sports such as basketball, badminton and volleyball will be affected the most, as the gym facilities won’t be available for those sports to be played during class.

“It’s going to take a lot of flexibility to get all of those units in,” Dimech said. “We’ve looked into getting outdoor badminton courts and outdoor volleyball nets; that’s going to be a challenge, for sure.”

As a result, the PE department plans to extend outdoor units like swimming for an extra week or two if they cannot find adequate facilities to play indoor sports.

Besides these challenges, there are usually three or four PE classes in session during one period, meaning that the facilities could become more crowded.

“We’ll probably use [the weight room] a little bit more,” Dimech said. “It is going to be relocated to the cafeteria, and we’re going to use that as one of our stations.”

Indoor facilities such as the cafeteria and the library will also need to be used more often in cases of rainy days. Outdoor facilities like the practice field will also be occupied more frequently as well.

Although there are restrictions that will be imposed by the gym reconstruction, the finished product will include more up-to-date, usable facilities for students.

“It’s going to be amazing,” Philipopoulos said. “It’s something that’s long overdue and I think it’ll be something that our students and our community will be proud of.”

Construction to disrupt practices, games for indoor sports

The reconfiguring of the space for PE classes has required significant coordination between Principal Fong, PE teachers, the facilities management team and the District, but it’s also posed many questions for the athletic department.

“The thought of losing… all our facilities for two years is a little worrisome,” head wrestling coach Ernesto Nuñez said. “Where are we going to practice, where are we going to train, where are we going to play? I have all those questions just like anybody else.”

Scheduling games for the indoor sports will be fairly straightforward: Every team will play away.

“At first, [the away games] will be an obstacle,” varsity basketball junior Ryan Dougherty said. “But I think it’ll be a unique experience that will become part of our identity.”

As for practices, the logistics get more complicated. Wrestling will likely join up with a nearby squad like Mills or San Mateo for weekly practices in their mat room.

“Where I’m a little concerned is in the winter,” Philipopoulos said. “We have six [basketball] teams — most other schools in the district also have at least five — so that’s where it’ll get tricky with the amount of teams vying for the same space.”

The relocation also introduces a threat to team morale. Playing in a hostile away environment for many successive games often becomes a challenge for players and coaches in need of energy to attack opposing teams.

“It could go one of two ways,” Philipopoulos said. “It brings the team[s] together in an all-for-one, one-for-all mindset. Or I’ve seen situations where… it breaks teams apart a little bit.”

Summer training for the basketball team will look very different. The schedule will vary week-toweek with Burlingame sliding into any open slots available at Capuchino High School. Similarly, the football team will have to adjust their practice regiment due to the

relocation of the weight room to the cafeteria space.

“The district athletic directors, we all work very closely together,” Philipopoulos said. “They’re all aware of our situation here… so I expect it to be a harmonious thing.”

In addition to being prepared to forego space for PE classes, teachers will also have to remain flexible with their teachers’ lounge. Head trainer Matt Smith will lose his office in the gym with the demolition as well and, as a result, will be relocated to the A-Building teacher break room.

Two small portable buildings will substitute as locker rooms mainly for the football and lacrosse teams, but will potentially also serve as offices for some PE teachers and coaches.

“It’s the only office and gym I’ve known but at the same time I’m ready to turn the page,” Philipopoulos said. “It’s going to be the envy of the Peninsula… a 100-year building.”

A rendering of the new gym facilities’ renovation displays the state-of-the-art building to come in 2025.

AVID field day celebrates four years of impact

BY ZACHARY NEWMAN Sta

Reporter

Students from each of the San Mateo Union High School District’s (SMUHSD) Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) programs met for an off-campus field day on Wednesday, April 26.

The AVID program helps students prepare for college by working to improve their writing, inquiry, collaboration and time management skills. The elective class first became available at Burlingame in the fall of 2019.

“There are a lot [of] students on this campus that benefit from AVID and it’s encouraging information is getting out there to the community,” AVID teacher Mary Dhyne said. “We have the time to work on those [skills] and then apply them to our other classes.”

During a spring season that has been dominated by gloomy weather, the sun came out to honor the fun day. A scavenger hunt aimed to enhance team-building skills marked the beginning of the celebration. Bouncy houses offered students a way to get out their energy. Soccer and badminton games offered friendly competition and the music and popcorn only added to the excitement.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things from my students,” AVID teacher Thomas Bennett said.

“They all enjoyed a day out and got to meet a lot of other people.”

The purpose of the field day, according to Bennett, was to allow AVID students to connect with others in the district and celebrate their hard work throughout the school year.

“One of the biggest parts of

AVID is creating a community that helps build each other up to reach our goals,” Dhyne said. “The highlight for me was seeing students go meet other people and interact with them in a fun, safe environment outside of the classroom.”

For students, the impact of the program — both in academic support and social opportunities — is profound.

Latino parents welcome incoming students

BY LIZZY WAN Diversity Coordinator

BY JOELLE HUYSMANS Staff Reporter

On Tuesday, May 2, members of the Spanish-speaking community gathered for Latino Parent Night, an occasion designed to provide parents with the means to stay involved with their children’s academic journey. This meeting was aimed at welcoming new Latino members of the Burlingame community, and soon-to-be freshmen and their families were encouraged to attend.

“By being here, parents can connect with me about what they like or want to see change [in] at school,” said Gina Vaninni, who is Burlingame’s Family Engagement Coordinator and organized the event. “This is a way for them to support and get involved in their children’s education.”

Members of the group used the meeting as an opportunity to welcome new students to their community, as well as introduce them to the staff and other families so they could look forward to seeing friendly faces and have a built-in support system on the first day of school.

“Coming to a new school is always nerve-racking so if [students] can see familiar faces, they know whom to go to for questions and make acquaintances with,” said Claudia Orencio, the mother of a senior and incoming freshman at Burlingame, who attends these events regularly. “That’s how you start forming friendships and rela-

tionships.”

Additionally, parents were given the chance to write down “sueños,”’ — translated to “hopes” — that would make their children’s high school experience as positive as possible. Vaninni said she would use those “sueños” to guide her future efforts.

“Oftentimes, families that are here heavily rely on the school to help guide their students and they themselves may not be familiar with all of the resources that are available on campus,” said Christina Cabrera, Burlingame’s lead wellness counselor who spoke at the event. “[Latino Parent Night] helps inform them of support services and it helps create points of contact for our families to reach out to, especially if they’re only Spanish-speaking.

Events like these can be beneficial not just for incoming freshmen, but for their families. By providing opportunities for

interaction and socialization, these events help Latino families to unite and strengthen their community.

“An event like this helps make the [Latino] community stronger because it’s a way for us to come together and celebrate our culture and have fun,” said sophomore Graciela Membreno, who has been coming to these meetings since her arrival at school.

Ultimately, the purpose of these nights is to foster a sense of belonging within the school. The organizers want Latino families to have the greatest possible high school experience by supporting them through events like Latino Parent Night.

“ [I want] for students to feel comfortable and say, ‘God, I like this school. This school has their doors and their arms open to us,’” Vaninni said. “That’s what I want them to take away [from this event,] that this is a family; that we’re happy and proud to have them here.”

efit from the AVID program, but the teachers do, too. According to Bennett, seeing students grow and get excited about their futures, especially on college tours, has been a “rewarding and wonderful to experience.”

On Wednesday, May 10, the program held an AVID Commencement Ceremony honoring the first graduating class of AVID seniors to acknowledge their hard work and celebrate their future.

This upcoming year will see the largest enrollment numbers for the class since its establishment on Burlingame’s campus, and Dhyne and Bennett said they hope, especially with the implementation of more field days to create a connected community, that the program will only continue to grow in the ensu- ing years.

“[I like] being able to have more work time to catch up, and to focus on more of my classes,” sophomore and AVID student Rhian Savannah Cordero said. “I think a lot of people have benefited from it.”

“[The teachers] have built a community with people from AVID,” sophomore Jeremiah Philips added.

Not only do the students ben-

“The friendships in my AVID class are deeper and more personal than the friendships in my other classes,” Bennett said. “The greatest benefit is having some kids on campus that have your back. Beyond that, the professional and the academic development that the students are exposed to throughout the program is very valuable to their growth.”

LETTER FROM THE EDiTORS

Before you make the joke, we’ll say it for you: the Burlingame B is a “Spenner” regime. Just take a look at our staff box: For the first time, two siblings (us) have sat for a year at the head of the paper.

But while it has often felt — at least to our parents — that the dining room table was just an extension of the newsroom (and that Murph might as well join the family), the truth is that our publication is not defined by its editors, but by its reporters and readers.

First, to the reporters who made us smile, laugh, cry, cringe and shake our heads in awe in equal measure. We are so lucky to have had the unique privilege of working alongside each and everyone of you, from the three preternaturally-skilled freshman who refused to be intimidated by the scariest district administrators to the eclectic squad of seniors who brought laughter and levity to the class. You hit deadlines during finals, you wrote investigative exposes about drug culture and shoplifting, and you masterfully juggled the impossible challenge of going to high school with the subjects you cover. We started the year with high expectations, but time and time again, you exceeded them, encouraging us to keep raising the bar.

Second, to the student body — the people who really make this publication worthwhile. You reluctantly let us “do you dirty” on Instagram, you spoke your mind when interviewed and, most importantly, you read our newspaper. Over the past three years, we’ve learned that we can’t take in-person school events for granted, and it’s been a pleasure to celebrate this return to normalcy with you.

Finally, to the administrators, many of whom spent their first year on campus making this school an undeniably better place. As free speech protections are increasingly threatened across the country, the value of your unwavering support for our independent student press cannot be understated.

One Spenner may be graduating in two weeks, but one of us has one more year — Burlingame isn’t out of the woods yet.

Best,

AVID teacher Thomas Bennett and his AVID students take a break from playing in the bouncy houses to enjoy a snack during the AVID field on April 26.

PHOTO BY JOELLE HUYSMANS

On May 2, the Latino Parent Group held its final meeting and potluck to welcome and inform incoming freshmen and parents.

AVID field day celebrates four years of impact

BY ZACHARY NEWMAN Sta

Reporter

Students from each of the San Mateo Union High School District’s (SMUHSD) Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) programs met for an off-campus field day on Wednesday, April 26.

The AVID program helps students prepare for college by working to improve their writing, inquiry, collaboration and time management skills. The elective class first became available at Burlingame in the fall of 2019.

“There are a lot [of] students on this campus that benefit from AVID and it’s encouraging information is getting out there to the community,” AVID teacher Mary Dhyne said. “We have the time to work on those [skills] and then apply them to our other classes.”

During a spring season that has been dominated by gloomy weather, the sun came out to honor the fun day. A scavenger hunt aimed to enhance team-building skills marked the beginning of the celebration. Bouncy houses offered students a way to get out their energy. Soccer and badminton games offered friendly competition and the music and popcorn only added to the excitement.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things from my students,” AVID teacher Thomas Bennett said.

“They all enjoyed a day out and got to meet a lot of other people.”

The purpose of the field day, according to Bennett, was to allow AVID students to connect with others in the district and celebrate their hard work throughout the school year.

“One of the biggest parts of

AVID is creating a community that helps build each other up to reach our goals,” Dhyne said. “The highlight for me was seeing students go meet other people and interact with them in a fun, safe environment outside of the classroom.”

For students, the impact of the program — both in academic support and social opportunities — is profound.

Latino parents welcome incoming students

BY LIZZY WAN Diversity Coordinator BY JOELLE HUYSMANS Staff Reporter

On Tuesday, May 2, members of the Spanish-speaking community gathered for Latino Parent Night, an occasion designed to provide parents with the means to stay involved with their children’s academic journey. This meeting was aimed at welcoming new Latino members of the Burlingame community, and soon-to-be freshmen and their families were encouraged to attend.

“By being here, parents can connect with me about what they like or want to see change [in] at school,” said Gina Vaninni, who is Burlingame’s Family Engagement Coordinator and organized the event. “This is a way for them to support and get involved in their children’s education.”

Members of the group used the meeting as an opportunity to welcome new students to their community, as well as introduce them to the staff and other families so they could look forward to seeing friendly faces and have a built-in support system on the first day of school.

“Coming to a new school is always nerve-racking so if [students] can see familiar faces, they know whom to go to for questions and make acquaintances with,” said Claudia Orencio, the mother of a senior and incoming freshman at Burlingame, who attends these events regularly. “That’s how you start forming friendships and rela-

tionships.”

Additionally, parents were given the chance to write down “sueños,”’ — translated to “hopes” — that would make their children’s high school experience as positive as possible. Vaninni said she would use those “sueños” to guide her future efforts.

“Oftentimes, families that are here heavily rely on the school to help guide their students and they themselves may not be familiar with all of the resources that are available on campus,” said Christina Cabrera, Burlingame’s lead wellness counselor who spoke at the event. “[Latino Parent Night] helps inform them of support services and it helps create points of contact for our families to reach out to, especially if they’re only Spanish-speaking.

Events like these can be beneficial not just for incoming freshmen, but for their families. By providing opportunities for

interaction and socialization, these events help Latino families to unite and strengthen their community.

“An event like this helps make the [Latino] community stronger because it’s a way for us to come together and celebrate our culture and have fun,” said sophomore Graciela Membreno, who has been coming to these meetings since her arrival at school.

Ultimately, the purpose of these nights is to foster a sense of belonging within the school. The organizers want Latino families to have the greatest possible high school experience by supporting them through events like Latino Parent Night.

“ [I want] for students to feel comfortable and say, ‘God, I like this school. This school has their doors and their arms open to us,’” Vaninni said. “That’s what I want them to take away [from this event,] that this is a family; that we’re happy and proud to have them here.”

DHYNE

“[I like] being able to have more work time to catch up, and to focus on more of my classes,” sophomore and AVID student Rhian Savannah Cordero said. “I think a lot of people have benefited from it.”

“[The teachers] have built a community with people from AVID,” sophomore Jeremiah Philips added.

Not only do the students ben-

efit from the AVID program, but the teachers do, too. According to Bennett, seeing students grow and get excited about their futures, especially on college tours, has been a “rewarding and wonderful to experience.”

On Wednesday, May 10, the program held an AVID Commencement Ceremony honoring the first graduating class of AVID seniors to acknowledge their hard work and celebrate their future.

This upcoming year will see the largest enrollment numbers for the class since its establishment on Burlingame’s campus, and Dhyne and Bennett said they hope, especially with the implementation of more field days to create a connected community, that the program will only continue to grow in the ensu- ing years.

“The friendships in my AVID class are deeper and more personal than the friendships in my other classes,” Bennett said. “The greatest benefit is having some kids on campus that have your back. Beyond that, the professional and the academic development that the students are exposed to throughout the program is very valuable to their growth.”

LETTER FROM THE EDiTORS

Before you make the joke, we’ll say it for you: the Burlingame B is a “Spenner” regime. Just take a look at our staff box: For the first time, two siblings (us) have sat for a year at the head of the paper.

But while it has often felt — at least to our parents — that the dining room table was just an extension of the newsroom (and that Murph might as well join the family), the truth is that our publication is not defined by its editors, but by its reporters and readers.

First, to the reporters who made us smile, laugh, cry, cringe and shake our heads in awe in equal measure. We are so lucky to have had the unique privilege of working alongside each and everyone of you, from the three preternaturally-skilled freshman who refused to be intimidated by the scariest district administrators to the eclectic squad of seniors who brought laughter and levity to the class. You hit deadlines during finals, you wrote investigative exposes about drug culture and shoplifting, and you masterfully juggled the impossible challenge of going to high school with the subjects you cover. We started the year with high expectations, but time and time again, you exceeded them, encouraging us to keep raising the bar.

Second, to the student body — the people who really make this publication worthwhile. You reluctantly let us “do you dirty” on Instagram, you spoke your mind when interviewed and, most importantly, you read our newspaper. Over the past three years, we’ve learned that we can’t take in-person school events for granted, and it’s been a pleasure to celebrate this return to normalcy with you.

Finally, to the administrators, many of whom spent their first year on campus making this school an undeniably better place. As free speech protections are increasingly threatened across the country, the value of your unwavering support for our independent student press cannot be understated.

One Spenner may be graduating in two weeks, but one of us has one more year — Burlingame isn’t out of the woods yet.

Best,

AVID teacher Thomas Bennett and his AVID students take a break from playing in the bouncy houses to enjoy a snack during the AVID field trip on April 26.

PHOTO BY JOELLE HUYSMANS

On May 2, the Latino Parent Group held its final meeting and potluck to welcome and inform incoming freshmen and parents.

Words of Wisdom

“Giving yourself opportunities [to] socialize with [friends] and have fun is really important and arguably, just as important as your school life.”

-Francesca Caban

“School is a lot harder in high school than middle school… so it’s really important to study and be prepared for tests.”

- Henry Gardner

“Remember to be yourself. Pretending to be someone else or acting in a way that isn’t natural to you will never help.”

- Mia Robelo

“Remember to be open to making new friends… Going from middle school to high school can be a little scary so sometimes, in big transitions like [these], you need other people to support you.

- Sofia Monteverdi

Freshmen

“In English or any classes with books and stuff, actually read them. Don’t just [use] SparkNotes, don’t just look up stuff way past when you’re supposed to, actually read it... because it’s really helpful.”

- Reiter Madden

“The thing that helped me deal with the new amount of homework that you’re not used to as a freshman would be finding a quiet place that’s just set for studying.”

- Lexie Levitt

“Just be a person of support for incoming freshmen. I remember freshman year I was really scared and I’m sure a lot of freshmen feel the same way.”

- Nico Bennett

“[Don’t] stress about taking as many APs as you can, because I know a lot of other sophomores feel bad for not taking AP classes. And I think you should still try and have fun, because you’re still an underclassman.”

- Gia Cayabyab

Sophomores

“Don’t worry too much about school. I know it’s the biggest part of your life, but it’s not the end if something goes wrong…You still got one more year left.”

- David Kracke

“I would manage my time wisely and make sure that you get all the homework done on time. And don’t procrastinate.”

- Griffin Reese

“You only have junior year once. Make sure that while you’re studying you’re also enjoying your junior year.”

- Pierce Schuman

“You definitely have to prioritize the activities and classes that are the most important to you more than any other year because it’s a much heavier workload.”

- Olivia Johnson

Juniors

S enior Wi l l s

Dance Team

I, Kaitlin Lim, leave the Burlingame Dance Team to Carine Suherman. I know that you will take the team to the next level and

Boys’ Swimming

Sam, Andrew and Max — lead with confidence, empathy and maturity. I feel lucky to have swam alongside you, and I consider future BHS swim teams lucky to have you as their teammates!

- Tarik Burlingham to Samuel Punter, Andrew Lee and Max Andreski

“Negotiate with Mr McDermott, he’s chill and will help you out.”

- Alejandro Cardenas

“Join a school sport if you can, and join a new one even if it is your last year of high school. It’s a really fun way to meet new people that you wouldn’t have otherwise.”

- Emmi Cate

“Remember that it’s your last year of high school, so have fun. Make the most of your year and enjoy it as much as you can.”

- Shaina Lubarky

“Make meaningful memories with the people you enjoy being around! At the same time, take new opportunities as they come with the goal of learning and becoming a better person.”

- Ethan Wan

Seniors

I, Ana Spano, leave the Band Staff Presidency to Tilly Haskell. Your kindness and intuition will take you far. Best of luck with all of the red folders: you have an amazing team

Band Staff Spanish Club Robotics Model UN

We, Taylor Woo and Kristen Tran, leave the Iron Panthers Robotics Team Captain positions to Angelyn Liu and Zack Weinberg. We wish you the best of luck, and don’t forget to keep on yelling “Iron Pants” in the stands!

- Taylor Woo and Kristen Tran to Angelyn Liu and Zack Weinberg

We, Minnoli Raghavan and Ana Spano, leave the Spanish Club to Ava and Lauren Gonzalez. ¡Buena suerte y no olviden los

I, Alex Kelly, leave the Burlingame Model United Nations to Isaac Van Voorhis,

Surviving junior year, moving up to high school, making new friends and more

Are you ready for summer?

By Arshia Chakravartti, Natalie Gyde and Sophia Doss

Ariuka Purev-Chang

This summer, junior Ariuka Purev-Chang will fill a paid position in an independent architecture firm operated by architect and Burlingame parent Andrea Van Voorhis.

“It’ll really just be a secretary; it’s just to see what architects do. So, I’d be like running around like getting coffee or filing papers, but it’s more like to be in the firm, seeing how people work,” Purev-Chang said.

Initially, Purev-Chang struggled to find a position that didn’t require him to live in

Isaac Tsai

Since last year, his sophomore year of high school, junior Isaac Tsai has been fascinated by the topological quantum matter theory. After frequently talking with former chemistry teacher, Jeff Cole, about electrons and wave particle duality, he soon further pursued his passion by joining the Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program last summer. He plans to continue to take advantage of this opportunity throughout this coming summer.

“My research mostly surrounded quantum entanglement and quantum commut-

ing specifically,” Tsai said. “This theory is based on the properties of quantum mechanics, and the laws surrounding it.”

Aside from his directed quantum mechanics research, Tsai is also considering a summer internship under Dr. Kalev at University of Santa Barbara (UCSB).

“Over the summer, I may also plan to do some research at UCSB,” Tsai said. “I’d mainly be doing research in their quantum lab on topical quantum matter, it’s such a cool opportunity.”

Lily Grenier

Over the summer, junior Lily Grenier will attempt to get her private pilot’s license, turning her dreams of being a pilot into reality.

“I was traveling so much because of travel softball, and I was flying every month and I literally had an epiphany on a plane as we were taking off, like ‘Why can’t I just do this myself?’” Grenier said.

Grenier will be committing a significant amount of hours to better understand flying and the aircraft that she will be using.

San Francisco. It was actually Burlingame’s own architecture teacher — Anna Liu — that pointed him to Van Voorhis.

While he won’t start working until later in the summer, Purev-Chang already has a good idea of what he wants to get out of this experience.

“Understanding what the work environment is like, what the people do and just kind of like improving my skills as an architect,” Purev-Chang said.

Ella McHenry

With over nine weeks of summer break, students have the opportunity to squeeze in experiences of a lifetime. Sophomore Ella McHenry will go to Costa Rica for three weeks with a non-profit organization called Amigos.

“I’d like to save the planet when I’m older. So on this trip, I’m going to three small different cities and I’m learning about how climate change affects agriculture in Costa Rica, and this will help me figure out what

“I am going to get my private pilot’s license through Carlos Flight Center. And hopefully I’ll have completed that halfway through summer,” Grenier said.

Grenier is mainly interested in flying as a future career.

“I cannot see myself sitting behind a desk. I’m so interested in just experiencing life, but also being able to make a living, so flight seemed like a great option,” Grenier said.

field I want to be in,” McHenry said.

Although McHenry was originally worried about her lack of experience, she hopes to use the trip as a way to learn more about culture and life away from home.

“People need to experience what life is like outside of the city that they’re living in. Staying with the host family in a small village, speaking another language is going to be really beneficial,” McHenry said.

ofClass2023 Athletes

“I thinkdefinitely that all the determina- tion and 4 a.m. wake up calls haveworthbeen it.”

PHOTOCOURTESYOFCHARLIEVAXMAN

PRINCETONUNIVERSITY

FITZGERALD

LACROSSE

“I’m super excited to be a

LINDSEYYANG GYMANSTICS

“I am anticipatingittobe rewardingchallenging,andfun.”

AIDAN ALFERS

“I’m looking forward to the chance to get outside of my comfort zone and get that new experience under my belt.”

UNIVERSITYOF MICHIGAN

NATALIE SULLIVAN-WU WATER POLO

“My growth throughout [Burlingame] water polo has definitely contributed to the player that I am today.”

POMONACOLLEGE

UNIVERSITYOF DETROITMERCY

BROWN UNIVERSITY

ALEX ISTOCK

CHARLIE VAKSMAN CREW

The future that lies ahead is an exciting one for Ana Lunaparra, who is preparing to attend Parsons School of Design in New York City this fall. There, Lunaparra will pursue the major of Strategic Design and Management in hopes of nurturing a long-held — and genetic — passion for design.

“Since [my parents] both studied design, they’re always talking about designs that they see when we go to museums and stu been a part of my family and that’s what really inspired me to pursue it in college.”

This fall, Danny Conway will attend Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, where he will major in comedic arts.

“I’ve developed a passion for comedy from watching shows and reading, you know, works of my different idols,” Conway said, “and I’ve really gone into creating my own stuff. It’s really become my passion and I realized it’s kind of my drive and what I care about.”

Conway admitted that although he doesn’t need to be a star comedian to feel fulfilled, as long as he continues to follow in something he is passionate about, it’s all worth it for him.

PHOTOBYAMANDANOLAN

By Joelle Huysmans,

LANDON STEIN

Drum Major Landon Stein will continue his 10 year music career at The University of North Texas College of Music. Music has played an integral role in Stein’s life, from teaching drum lessons to playing for Stanford University’s Miles Ahead Big Band. In college, Stein wants to learn from skilled musicians across the world.

“It’s a very competitive school, and it’s very big as a music school. I’m looking to really have the small fish in a big pond experience because the skill level is so high and the competition is so cutthroat,” Stein said.

After college, Stein dreams to work in a recording studio or be an educator at a music conservatory.

As his senior year draws to a conclusion, Archer Grenier prepares to bid farewell to Burlingame and depart for the United States Naval Academy, where he intends to major in Mechanical Engineering. Among the various factors that prompted his decision to pursue the academy, the legacy left by his great-grandfather, who attended the same school decades before, appeared to be a major incentive.

“From the stories that I’ve heard about him, I’ve grown to recognize him for his service and the values that the academy instilled on him,” said Grenier. “Those are the type of people that I want to strive to be like.”

Alternative Pathways First Generation

By Athena Bostonmaer

Maylen Rodriguez-Lemus will be the first member of her family attending college this upcoming fall.

“I didn’t have the support from my family because they’ve never been through the process,” Rodriguez said. “They didn’t have the resources I have — they didn’t have the option.”

Although Rodriguez’s circumstances were difficult, she utilized the resources Burlingame provided and reached out for help. College and career advisor Jonathan Dhyne has been a great help to Rodriguez as he provided information regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and much more.

“I wasn’t able to ask my parents about specific things. I had to figure that out on my own,” Rodriguez said.

Luckily, Rodriguez did figure it out on her own, as she has enrolled in the College of San Mateo under the Transfer Admissions Guarantee (TAG) program, allowing her to gain admission to a University of California campus after two years.

After navigating a long college application process, senior Alina Zohdi has committed to attend the University of Nevada in the fall. “Being able to find resources to help with the whole process [was one challenge],” Zohdi said.

Growing up in a household with two immigrant parents left Zohdi perplexed in the admissions process, as her parents had little to no experience with the American college system. Thankfully, Zohdi knew an admissions counselor that understood the process.

“[The admissions counselor] would send me articles that told me what [colleges] are looking for and she’d revise my writing,” Zohdi said.

Zohdi’s college admission experience demonstrates that regardless of family history, dedication to her future allows her to achieve her desire to attend a four-year college. Now, she is looking forward to the unfamiliar college atmosphere.

“[I’m looking forward to] new people, a new school, new activities and a completely fresh start,” Zohdi said.

As a freshman, Michaela Nee was sure she would not attend college. In spite of what her 14-year-old self thought, Nee will be attending the University of California, Berkeley this fall.

“I was really discouraged at first,” Nee said. “My grades were not where they should have been. I thought that’s all that mattered.”

In spite of a rocky start, Nee became well-informed about what it takes to get admitted into college, such as volunteer work and clubs. As a first-generation student, Nee lacked assistance from her family, but found it elsewhere.

“I took the initiative to outsource to a college counselor, and I then started working and studying with her,” Nee said. “When I did seek resources, I was reassured that I could go to college.”

With the help of her college counselor, Nee received proper advice and guidance, resulting in her acceptance.

“I’m most looking forward to keep on pursuing my goals,” Nee said.

PHOTOBYJO

PHOTO BYJOELLEHUYSMANS

DANNY CONWAY

ANA LUNAPARRA

ARCHER GRENIER

MAYLEN RODRIGUEZ-LEMUZ

MICHAELA NEE

ALINA ZOHDI

Sophia Puzon and Amanda Nolan

PHOTO BY ATHENA

BOSTONMAER

PHOTO CREDIT BY ATHENA BOSTONMAER

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALINA ZOHDI

GRAPHICBY SOPHIA PUZON

GRAPHIC BY SOPHIA PUZON

Seagulls get own lunch cart

Coach E caught speeding in golf cart

BY DANNY CONWAY Staff Reporter

“Screw this, I’m out,” Coach E said, just before speeding off into the distance, leaving nothing but a trail of diesel gasoline and heartlessness.

BY JAKE ROTHSTEIN

Seagull Analyst

Burlingame has recently announced a groundbreaking new lunchtime addition — a dedicated lunch station for seagulls. The move comes after a recent spike in reported food theft from seagulls and aims to revolutionize the way these feathered fiends enjoy their midday meal.

According to the school administration, the decision was finally made after a year of closely observing the behavior of the seagulls that frequent the campus.

“With new administration comes new policies, and seagulls are certainly no exception,” Principal Jen Fong said. “Throughout the school year, we noticed these birds were often scavenging for food both in trash cans and stealing out of students’ hands, which can be dangerous for both the birds and the students. Our goal with this new program is to create a safe and healthy environment for all students and birds alike.”

The new lunch station features a variety of bird-friendly foods, including fresh fish, bird seed and school pizza — a Burlingame seagull staple. The station is also equipped with two water fountains and a shaded area for the seagulls to rest and socialize.

Though with all good things comes its drawbacks, and when allocating funds for the new bird cart, cuts were made to the existing school lunch budget.

“I understand the need to solve the seagull problem, but if budget cuts were made to the school lunch program, we would only be able to serve lunch and cut out brunch entirely,” cafeteria manager Vicki Ottoboni said.

Despite concerns, school officials remain optimistic about the new lunch station.

“As one of the most prominent issues at our high school we believe that by providing a safe and healthy environment for the seagulls, we can reduce the likelihood of conflicts between birds and humans,” Fong said.

So if you find yourself at Burlingame and happen to see a seagull enjoying a fresh piece of salmon, don’t be alarmed — it’s all part of the new lunchtime experience.

The troubles began for E during an incident early last week. E, who has a notoriously small bladder, had what he described as a “dire need to urinate.” Unfortunately for E, all restrooms, including staff and gender neutral ones, were closed due to misuse. E frantically drove his golf cart, (which he uses to transport around campus) in an attempt to find an open toilet, reaching speeds of up to 50 mph before eventually colliding with colleague Coach Rich.

“As a longtime friend of Coach E’s, this was very disappointing,” school mascot Peanut the Panther said. “But, to be fair, the bastard should have gotten out of the way.”

The most troubling part of the incident, however, was the lack of remorse E showed. Rather than caring for Rich, E threw what witnesses described as a “temper tantrum” after the donuts he had just bought from Royal Donut went flying on impact.

“Coach E works hard all day. He drives, he lifts, he deserves donuts. That’s all Coach E looks forward to: his donuts,” said English and Journalism teacher Melissa Murphy.

E’s frequent visits to the local donut shop Royal Donut have also been put in a different light after the incident. What be-

gan as a wholesome tradition has evolved into a health concern for students.

“He comes in every day and buys at least a few dozen donuts,” said Royal Donut owner Johnny Donut, “he is easily our most loyal customer.”

Coach E takes pride in handing these donuts out to Burlingame students, causing the health of Panthers to plummet.

Burlingame students rank dead-last in mile time, cholesterol health and obesity rate in the San Mateo Union High School District. There has also been an alarming increase in Burlingame diabetics since E’s tenure at Burlingame, and several teachers have reported an unusual amount of

chocolate frosting and powdered sugar on desks.

But when did that tenure begin? Coach E bizarrely claims that he has been working at Burlingame since the mid 1960s, but Principal Jen Fong discovered that E is nowhere to be found in the district’s list of employees.

Don’t worry, though: In her seventh email blast of the week, Fong announced that Coach E will be given a role in Burlingame’s cafeteria, baking and distributing low carb and sugar health donuts as an alternative to the fattening treat Burlingame students have become accustomed to stuffing their faces with.

Admin uses new bells to enhance student performance

BY ALEX KELLY Sound Designer

After the success and student-wide adoration of the new six chime bell, the administration made the decision to add an additional 10 buzzes to the bell. The administration found that with the change of this year’s bell from the more normal one ring to the six loud annoying buzzes, students were found to be more motivated to complete their work and get to class on time.

“We found that there was above average attendance and decreased tardiness throughout the year, and we directly attributed this to our new bell sounds ringing through the halls,” Joshua Knudson, assistant principal and expert in correlation and causation, said.

The new sound system installed in every Burlingame classroom allowed the administration to get creative with how they reminded students to get to class on time. So in their process, they looked at ways to cause the highest amount of annoyance and stress to students, and settled on the six-buzz bell. And after succeeding with this bell, what better way to motivate students than adding an extra 10 buzzes, the administration thought.

“Our goal throughout the day is that students should be angered by the bell, and they should then harness this anger to improve their work,” Knudson said.

For students and teachers alike, this approach has been highly successful and appreciated. Teachers overwhelmingly reported that after hearing the bell, their lessons became more heated and impassioned, with some even playing it through

their headphones to drive their lesson forward.

“I feel like they really hit the mark with the six buzzes. The sixth one always gets me ready for class after hearing the first five,” English teacher Timothy Larkin said. Students also reported that they tend to increase their pace to class after hearing the six buzzes.

“The bell this year has totally changed and improved my level of work,” consistently-on-time senior Luke Amdursky said. “I can’t think of a better change the administration has made.”

Despite the positive feedback and all around happiness with the bell, the ad-

ministration had to ask: Is this annoying enough? So they went back to the drawing board, and decided the additional 10 buzzes would piss off students the necessary amount. They will also be trialing a number of more bells throughout the school year, including the shrieks of a crying baby, nails on a chalkboard and even some of Taylor Swift’s music.

“I can’t wait to hear the screams of dying animals and Jack Harlow reverberating through the halls; I think it will build a great sense of community at Burlingame,” Knudson said.

Lead

Birds flock to the new bird food cart during school lunch.

PHOTO BY JAKE ROTHSTEIN

Coach E jumps out of his golf cart after colliding with trash cans near the C-Building.

Seniors in Christian Balmy’s class cover their ears as the new 16-buzz bell rings.

My favorite memory was the freshman year rally... it made me realize this school’s community... it’s a place where I want[ed] to be for the next four years.”

- Elizabeth Fitzgerald

[My favorite memory] is hanging out with my friends.

- Vanessa Yee

I would like to stay here more, but I’m a senior...

- Gabriela Silva

My favorite memory is... ceramics class... I love our interactions and I love the arwork we do.

- Antonio Herrera

My favorite memory has been running with friends and meeting new people on the track and feld and cross country teams.

- Romer Rosales

[My favorite memory] was playing spors.

- Isaac Chacon

[My favorite memory] is the senior sunrise [because] I thought it was fun to all be together and celebrate the end of our high school career.

- Vanessa Yee

[My favorite memory] was probably my senior night.

- Lily Harley