URLINGAME B THE
Beyond red and blue
Students explore the layers of identity and experience behind their political beliefs
BY JOELLE HUYSMANS Design Editor
BY CONNIE LU Web Editor
Every four years, the presidential election provides students with the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about their nation’s future and explore their own political stances. Whether they lean left, right, or anywhere in between, their beliefs often intersect with external factors, including — but not limited to — identity, family, and community.
In and out of the classroom, students like junior Syum Mehra find their political views welcomed and encouraged, as long
as they are well-versed in the topics they discuss.
“[My teachers] have always valued my opinions, [and] my parents have always asked me how I feel about certain political topics. At least in my experience, my opinion has always been valued to a decent amount,” Mehra said. “But you won’t be taken as seriously if you don’t have that knowledge and evidence and substance behind what you are saying.”
Mehra said he started developing his own political opinions over the summer, after noticing a surge of misinformation about the 2024 presidential campaigns circulating on social media platforms. Scrolling through his feed, Mehra re-
alized that he was consuming information that reinforced his current political beliefs at the expense of accuracy and neutrality.
“On TikTok and Instagram, I saw a lot of political information being spread around but most of the time, it was hard to trust these sources because I didn’t know if they were always right,” Mehra said. “You have to verify by doing self-learning and outside research, which I did by watching videos and reading articles. From that, I started to form my own opinions.”
Although originally a Democrat, Mehra supported
See “POLITICAL,” page 4
City bans electric micromobility in parks
On Nov. 6, City Ordinance No. 2031 went into effect, prohibiting the usage of electric bikes, scooters, skateboards, and other e-mobility devices in all city parks and recreation areas. The ordinance will add Chapter 13.56, “Electric Micromobility Devices,” into the Burlingame Municipal Code, marking the city’s first-ever regulation on e-mobility.
While the ordinance is already active, the Burlingame Police Department (BPD) said they are currently prioritizing education over monetary enforcement during its initial implementation phase.
“Typically, we’re contacting individuals on e-bikes and just providing [them] education of the new city ordinance,” BPD Investigations Division Lt. David Perna said. “Once we feel the word is sufficiently out, if riders continue to violate the ordinance, they could be issued a citation similar to a traffic citation.”
The ordinance, originally proposed by the Parks and Recreation Department, arose from safety concerns tied to e-bikes’ capacity for high speeds. These concerns prompted action by the Burlingame City Council.
Sustainability Program Manager Sigalle Michael thinks the city ordinance will help make parks safer.
“I think it’ll be a positive impact, [make] people feel safe, and also [e-bikes] should be ridden on streets or [in] bike lanes and not in parks anyway, so I don’t think it’ll really have any disadvantages or limit people,” Michael said.
Sophomore Nate Longaker, who rides his e-bike to school every day, said the city ordinance will not significantly affect his usage of e-bikes or transportation routes.
“[The ordinance] doesn’t really change it that much just because I ride mostly on the street, and I’m not riding through parks. I can see some people doing that, but it’s better [to ride on the street],” Longaker said. “I’ve done it once or twice just because it gets me to my destination faster.”
Although this ordinance may not significantly impact students like Longaker, Perna emphasized the importance of educating the public on previous laws regarding helmet usage, limited riding in business districts, double riding, and road rules for bicycles, skateboards, and scooters in general.
Because e-bikes are a relatively new mode of transportation, the city is still working on developing new laws and regulations while also incorporating community feedback.
“People speak up, and we [the city] try and react,” Michael said. “It shows that people can make a difference. If there’s something in the community that could be unsafe, [it’s important] that we’re reactive.”
BY CONNIE LU Web Editor
PHOTO BY CONNIE LU
GRAPHIC BY EMMA YU
Arbizu assumes new district position
BY INY LI Business Manager
After 13 years of serving across the San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) as a site administrator at several campuses, the district selected Assistant Principal Valerie Arbizu as the SMUHSD Interim Director of Student Services. Following an official announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 19, Arbizu officially began her new role at the SMUHSD District Office on Monday, Dec. 2, assuming the responsibilities of former director Don Scatena, now Deputy Superintendent of Student Support Services.
“I’m excited for a new challenge,” Arbizu said. “I’m kind of in a moment where, in terms of site administration, I’ve done it, and so now I’m excited to learn new things and just use my skills in different ways.”
Scatena’s sudden announcement to leave his position as SMUHSD Director of Student Services on Nov. 8 created a gap in the district’s functionality. Arbizu, with her extensive experience in student services, said she expressed interest in the vacant position.
“[Arbizu’s] background and knowledge of the district and the community and the different roles she has had puts her in a great position to continue on our successes but also build on our successes thus far,” Scate-
na said. “Her and I have worked closely over the years, and we have already done training [for this transition].”
As the Interim Director of Student Services, Arbizu will now oversee district-wide enrollment, attendance policies, and behavioral issues. Her responsibilities also include supporting behavioral programs and managing student placement and disciplinary action.
Principal Jen Fong acknowledged the impact of this administrative shift midway through the school year but emphasized administrators’ efforts to ensure a smooth transition.
“We hope that most students don’t see a change to their services,” Fong said. “We are a very strong administrative team and a very strong school, so we have the capacity to handle some transition and change. I think the biggest thing that people will notice is just a slower response time from the administrator, as we only have three people instead of four.”
Assistant Principal Jenny Gibson will move into Arbizu’s role for the remainder of the year, taking over the counseling department. Although her previous role focused primarily on facilities, athletics, and schoolwide testing, this transition now tasks Gibson with deeper collaboration with the counseling and wellness teams.
“It’s a learning curve for
me,” Gibson said. “I don’t foresee this [transition] as an obstacle, but more as an opportunity to learn more about the aspects of high school administration that I wasn’t as deeply involved with. [Overall], I’m just looking forward to connecting with students in a deeper and more meaningful way to really make an impact on their academic and social-emotional wellbeing.”
As for Scatena’s new role as Deputy Superintendent of Burlingame School District, he will continue overseeing safety, attendance, and enrollment
while working with students with an Individualized Education Program and wellness and health needs. Scatena’s previous position as principal of Middle College will also be handed off to Principal Ronald Campana of Peninsula High School.
“Currently, I’m getting familiar with where the Burlingame School District is at in many aspects of the job and understanding the organization chart and areas and gaps that need to be filled immediately, including [short and long term plans],” Scatena said.
Although mid-year administrative changes are challenging for both the district and high schools, Arbizu said she views this shift as an opportunity for the community to grow.
“It’s hard to leave places where you have solid connections, but at the same time, that’s where growth is,” Arbizu said. “I’m really excited to learn something new, but it feels like a ripping-off-the-bandaid situation where you now made a decision, and if it lingers too long, that feels odd too.”
Valerie Arbizu concludes her term at Burlingame on Monday, Nov. 25 and prepares for her transition to the district office.
California ends legacy admissions
BY HENRY GARDNER Head Photographer
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1780 in October, banning legacy and donor preferences at private universities statewide. Set to take effect for the 2025-26 admissions cycle, the new law eliminates practices at private universities that have traditionally given advantages to applicants with family ties or financial connections.
California became the fifth state to ban legacy admissions, and the second to ban them at private universities.
Legacy admissions, the process by which students receive preferential treatment if family members attended the college, was already banned by the University of California (UC) system in 1998 but remained prevalent in private schools like Stanford University and the University of Southern California (USC). In 2022, 14.4% of USC’s first-year applicants had a legacy preference, while 13.8% had legacy status at Stanford. According to Opportunity Insights, a research group at Harvard University, students with legacy are 33% more likely to be admitted than applicants with identical test scores.
Due partly to this disparity, Assembly Member Phil Ting introduced AB 1780. The bill was co-sponsored by various organizations, including the Campaign for College Opportunity.
“[Ting’s] office was very aware of our work and asked us if we would consider sup-
porting the legislation and help shepherd it through the process,” Campaign for College Opportunity Legislative Affairs Manager Valerie Johnson said.
Johnson said the legacy admissions process can support biases along race and class lines, decreasing the equity of the admissions process.
“The data points very clearly to the fact that legacy admission typically acts as affirmative action for the white and wealthy,” Johnson said. “Not a lot of first-generation college students benefit from legacy admissions.”
Some of these wealthy admitted students were the children of large donors, many of whom donate with the expectation that their funding will help their children’s admission in the future.
“The extra building or however much money, tens of thousands of dollars that they donate [to the university] is going to outweigh the fact that there’s one person that only 50% deserves to be there,” senior Alex Winter said.
Even with the supposed benefits of legacy preference, elite universities like Stanford and Claremont McKenna College still maintain extremely low acceptance rates, making admission highly competitive even for legacy applicants.
“I don’t think I would get into [Stanford] even though I have a double legacy,” junior Zadie Tsai said. “I just don’t think legacy is so large of a factor that I would get in.”
The bill was proposed partly
in response to the Varsity Blues scandal, a decade-long fraud scheme intended to fake information and cheat on standardized tests to help the children of the wealthy and influential get into better colleges.
“Some colleges and universities had been identified as providing special admissions guarantees or cheating the system to allow students who are from wealthy backgrounds to be put on sports teams in order to get into certain colleges, or cheating the system in other ways,” Johnson said.
The scandal gained nationwide news coverage, leading to calls for serious reforms to the admissions process.
“[Varsity Blues] made people see what was going on, and it also put the spotlight on the
people that were abusing the whole college system,” private college counselor Marya Harrington said.
In addition to concerns about the Varsity Blues scandal, private universities are often responsible for releasing their own admissions data, leading to potential issues with integrity.
“Colleges self-report their legacy data, so there’s questions about the transparency of how things are reviewed,” College and Career Center Advisor Jonathan Dhyne said.
While the bill continues to eliminate legacy admissions in California, the rest of the country is lagging behind, as Colorado, Virginia, Maryland, and Illinois are the only states to end the process.
“[Passing the bill] was a hard win, many states have tried to do it and haven’t been able to,” Johnson said. “California is leading the nation; we were the second state to ban legacy and donor admissions at private colleges.”
In the meantime, the proponents of AB 1780 believe it will make large strides toward leveling the playing field in California.
“High school students can feel reassured that their applications to private colleges like USC or Stanford are going to be judged more fairly,” Johnson said. “They’re going to be judged on their talents and their accomplishments, rather than their family’s wealth and connections.”
Seven students selected for All-State music program
BY ALEX BERTELLI Senior Reporter
This year, seven Burlingame students were selected to participate in California’s All-State music program, a set of competitive ensembles featuring the state’s best musicians from among thousands of applicants. Sophomores Nick Koomey, Alona Savella, Aidan Vega, and junior Siena Polasek were selected for vocal jazz. Freshman Shonna Foo will play first violin in the symphony orchestra, junior Jaslene Lai will be a pianist
in symphonic band, and senior William Kwok will play tuba for the wind symphony.
On paper, the audition process appears straightforward: applicants submit recordings of a few select songs and musical scales. Getting selected, however, is not — according to music director Kyoko Yamamoto, while over 4,050 Californian students auditioned this year, the program only has room for around 100 per ensemble and a mere 16 per chorus. Students — even experienced players — must spend hours diligently
practicing to make All-State a reality. Foo, for instance, spent over 11 hours across five days just perfecting the recordings, while Lai burned through over 300 takes to get it right, according to Yamamoto.
For Savella, Lai, and Kwok — all repeat All-State attendees — the hard work is worth the payoff. For Kwok, getting to meet fellow musicians was one of the most rewarding parts of All-State.
“Just interacting with other musicians — I think that’s the best part,” Kwok said.
He first auditioned as a sophomore after hearing about the program from friends, and the collaboration aspect was what brought him back ever since.
“The ceiling is incredibly high, and I find it motivating to be surrounded by like-minded individuals. You’re able to get so much more done because you always have people around you that know what position you’re in, and they’re motivating you,” Kwok said. “Honestly, a lot of other people have done some crazy things in All-State. I’m in the same room with all these other people. I find that to be [an] amazing experience.”
Savella was similarly motivated. As the only selected vocalist from Burlingame last year, she was nervous going in but quickly came to enjoy performing with peers from across the state.
“I learned that it’s really important to get to know people when you sing, because when I became friends with those people, we sounded a lot better,” Savella said. “It’s just better to have that special connection with people when singing.”
For Yamamoto, four Burlingame students being selected for the vocal jazz ensemble is an achievement. Out of hundreds of applicants, only 16 make the cut; this year, Burlingame students represent a quarter of the total group.
“We don’t have a vocal jazz program, but I kind of switched the curriculum from traditional chorus to jazz, so it really brings us joy [to see this],” Yamamoto said.
Taking place between January 15-19, All-State involves hours of rehearsals leading up to a final performance. Yamamoto said she always attends all the performances in person to cherish her students’ accomplishments.
“It really makes me so proud of my students, because [it represents all the] work that they put into [it],” Yamamoto said.
“It’s just seeing your own students shining on the stage. I’m so proud [of them].”
Though the performance is still over a month away, Foo won’t stop practicing anytime soon. She’s a first-time All-State participant, but her nine years of music experience have taught her the importance of consistently developing musicality and technique.
“It’s built into your system. If you’ve played violin for more than one year, you’ll know you need to practice, no matter what,” Foo said.
As the year approaches its end, the musicians — new and experienced alike — can look forward to continuing their musical journey. That said, AllState is neither the start nor end of this journey, just a milestone.
“I’ve learned a lot since my first year. I’ve had a lot more orchestra experience, and I know a lot more people and music,” Kwok said. “I’m just hoping I can end out my time at All-State on a really positive note.”
Burlingame is sending seven students to Sacramento to participate in the selective All-State music program from Jan. 15 to 19.
Students engage in political discourse Everyday encounters
BY INY LI Business Manager
The B spoke with students to capture small yet meaningful moments, sharing stories of heartwarming encounters with strangers — from community events to the first sparks of new friendships.
“American Cancer Society (ACS) club [recently] had a bake sale where I met alumni who bought pastries made by my club. There were [many] older people who couldn’t buy pastries due to health conditions, but still donated and asked about our school.”
- Ivana Ma, junior and president of ACS
“There was this one guy in line who had a tattoo sleeve, and I was like, ‘I kind of want to get tattoos in the future,’ so I went up to him and asked him about his [experience with tattoos]. I felt really connected because it was a topic he was excited to talk about, and he even came back later giving me advice.”
- Andy Yap, senior student poll worker
“[When] I joined cross country, I was scared because I’m not very fast. [During] our first practice, I had a really hard time getting to the end, but then Tad Folgner helped lead me. Now, I try to run every weekend, and I feel like part of that is because of the help he gave me at the start.”
-Ethan Chen, sophomore
From pg. 1
Republican candidate Donald Trump because he aligned with Trump’s economic policies. Mehra said that his identity may shape his opinions differently than if he had other lived experiences.
“I’m not a woman either, which is one of the big things that people like to bring up about Trump,” Mehra said. “So I empathize a lot with them, but I will never be able to really put myself in their situation and I do think that if I was in their situation, I might not have the same stance.”
Senior Bernie Panlilio also feels that her identity influences her political opinions.
“I’m a first-generation student and birthright citizen of the United States, so the fact that my parents are immigrants to begin with heavily in fluences my beliefs to support the Democratic Party and not Trump or the Republican party,” Panlilio said. “As a woman too, seeing the fear that other women have following this election is really disheartening and makes me aware of my identity and how that will be affected by this election.”
55% of Republicans and Democrats are estimated to hold extreme political views
30% of Republicans and Democrats actually hold extreme views
comes up in con tions with friends.
well-informed, Monteverdi said she has chosen not to align with any political party or candidate.
“I myself am very impartial because I just feel like I don’t know enough,” Monteverdi said. “… if you’re informed, then you should definitely voice your views, but you just need to know what you’re advocating for.”
I’m a first-generation student and birthright citizen of the United States so the fact that my parents are immigrants to begin with heavily influences my beliefs to support the Democratic Party and not Trump or the Republican party.
— Bernie Panlilio, senior
In addition to identity, family can be a critical force in determining one’s position on the political spectrum. According to a 2019 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 81% of parents who were or leaned Republican had teens who also identified as Republicans. Comparably, 89% of parents who were Democrats or leaned toward the Democratic party had teens who described themselves the same way.
However, children can also stray away from their parents’ political beliefs, as was the case with one Burlingame student, who wished to remain anonymous for privacy purposes. While her parents are conservative and align with the Republican party, she is a Democrat who supported Vice President Kamala Harris in the recent election. The student said that even if political differences occasionally lead to tension, they often spark meaningful discussions.
“Sometimes the dinner table is a battle zone, but not enough to affect our relationship because there’s still so much love in my family, and political affiliation will not get in the way,” the student said. “Once, my father and I argued about pro-choice and he was able to see my point and change his opinion, and the same goes for me for topics that he supports.”
In contrast, junior Sofia Monteverdi said that politics rarely
Whether actively engaged in politics or not, government teacher Alexandra Gray encourages all students to participate in political discussions in the classroom. During senior year, students are required to enroll in a one-semester American Government course, where they learn about the structure of their government and current political events. Gray organizes a “bellringer” activity each block day so her classes can watch videos and discuss news from sources like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
They asked 2,100 Americans to weigh in on issues and predict what the other party would say. The study’s participants believed that 55% of Republicans and Democrats hold extreme views when, in reality, only 30% do. At Burlingame, the anonymous student said that some may feel reluctant to speak up about their political views, considering that California has been a Democratic stronghold for over 30 years.
“There are definitely many students at Burlingame with different political ideas, but I feel like people with more controversial ideas just end up not speaking about it,” the student said. “A big part of that is cancel culture in the media because you don’t want to say the wrong thing — not that there is one — out of fear of how people would react. Most people just want to fit in in high school.”
For that reason, the student said she has come to value the diverse political affiliations in her household because she was able to develop a more well-rounded perspective and understand that one’s political views should not interfere with a relationship.
You have to verify by doing self-learning and outside research, which I did by watching videos and reading articles. From that, I started to form my own opinions.”
“Right now, we are so polarized in our society so I sometimes think about me disagreeing with my parents’ political affiliation as a gift because it’s allowed me to see other sides of the story,” the student said. “I love them so much, despite how many fundamental ideas we disagree upon. That shows you can coexist with disagreeing and respect the other person without having any hatred.”
“Some students come into my [government] class already watching the news and talking about it all the time with their parents and friends. Others come in not really having thought about [politics] much at all,” Gray said. “I welcome it all, I think it’s great. The whole point of government class is to make sure that we are all able to start talking about politics at some point.”
— Syum Mehra, junior
Senior Aron Martin also welcomes political discussion in his relationships. Disagreement is bound to happen, but when that’s the case, he hopes students will choose respect and interest over reproach.
According to a 2019 study published by More in Common, polarization in America is largely fueled by the false beliefs people have about their political opponents.
“Politics is how we live in society. That’s how we make rules. So I think you can’t keep [politics and your relationships] separate because that’s one of the most fundamental aspects of how we live,” Martin said. “But I think there’s a healthy way to do it in debating and discussing, rather than demonizing.”
All I want for the holidays is...
The holidays are around the corner, and the search for gifts begins. This gift guide is designed to ease the search, with ideas inspired by what students told us they want this year. From viral favorites to classics, find the perfect picks for yourself or someone special.
Hoodies & sweaters
I really want a White Fox hoodie. I see it everywhere on [social me- dia].
— Katerina Karkazis, sophomore
Experiences
I always prefer experiences over stuff. I feel like we have enough stuff in our lives and I think they hold a lot more memories.
— Michelle Riley, ethnic studies and yearbook teacher
Books
I want any type of fiction novel. I really love the “Keeper of the Lost Cities Series” and the 9.5 book is coming out so I’m really excited for that.
— Alexa Ardrey, freshman
BY KAYLEE HWANG Social Coordinator
BY AUDREY WEI Senior Reporter
Lipproducts
Perfumes & cologne
One perfume that I’ve been wanting is the Good Girl one from Carolina Herrera.
— Nicolas Lee, sophomore
Burr baskets
Shoes & footwear
I want the New Balance 480s. I saw them in a mag- azine and I think they are re- ally cool.
— Aidan Vega, sophomore
Stuffed plushies
I want a jellycat croissant because I’ve been eyeing it for a while and I’ve been see- ing other people with it.
— Nikita Vozmitsel, freshman
GRAPHICS BY EMMA YU
BY ABBY KNIGHT
Social Media Manager
BY ABBY ZARAHN Staff Reporter
BY CHIARA WESLEY Staff Reporter BY CONNOR LEONG Staff Reporter
Kagan Goldstein’s Noodle Kugel
Crisp. Sweet. Eggy. Unexpected. These are the words junior Kagan Goldstein uses to describe noodle kugel, a Jewish dish, that she has made with her mother and brother each Hanukkah for the past five to six years. Yet it’s not the taste of the dish, but rather its memories and connections to Goldstein’s heritage, religion, and family that make it special.
Goldstein’s grandmother passed the recipe down to Goldstein’s mother. Growing up in rural Russia, her grandmother grew a lot of her own food. The recipe gave Goldstein the chance to learn more about her family’s history.
“[My mother] discovered a lot of food
NOODLEKUGEL
The holiday dinner
through dating, even. When she would go on dates with guys, they would go to restaurants, and she would always take more interest in the food, rather than her company,” Goldstein said. “So I thought that was kind of funny, and also just shows how she grew up.”
Goldstein hopes the family traditions associated with noodle kugel will be passed down to future generations.
“I think the bigger picture is just not losing your heritage and where you come from and your values, and I think cooking is a very niche way of expressing it, but I think that it is more important than many may think,” Goldstein said.
DOLMAS
Yousef Alfakhouri’s Dolmas
For freshman Yousef Alfakhouri, being able to make dolmas is a significant part of his family’s religion and heritage and a long-lasting tradition his family has carried with them through multiple generations.
“[Dolmas have] been in my family for…a long time,” Alfakhouri said. “Everybody in my family makes this meal.”
Dolmas consist of grape leaves stuffed with rice and beef cooked in a pot, and can be served with lemon on the side. Originating in the Middle East the dish holds special significance for Alfakhouri, connecting his family to their former home in Dubai.
“It’s a recipe that my mom’s parents used to [make] and a lot of people we know [make] in the Middle East,” Alfakhouri said.
“The taste is really good … it’s wrapped and hot. It doesn’t look that good, but once you taste it, you expect it to taste good and it [does].”
Alfakhouri and his family eat dolmas year-round, often making the dish during the month of Ramadan. The dish holds a special part of Alfakhouri’s identity, as his family has been making dolmas for almost 10 years. Alfakhouri said making the dish together with his family is one of his fondest childhood memories.
“When I was young, I made it for the first time with my family [which is] probably one of my best memories,” Alfakhouri said. “We just enjoy making it together.”
dinner spread
Scan to view the full recipes
Haruka Ota’s Toshikoshi Soba
Every New Year’s, freshman Haruka Ota eats toshikoshi soba with her family. According to Ota, toshikoshi roughly means “to jump from the old year into the new.” The soup is eaten by many Japanese people during the New Year. Every variation of the soup has some type of broth as well as soba noodles, but from there they can vary greatly. Ota’s family recipe includes fried mochi, which they cut, bake, and place inside the broth, adding a distinctive touch to the dish.
“The soups that we make can have anything you want in them. It doesn’t always have to have tofu and seaweed, you can add other things inside. So sometimes we add fish, and if you’re feeling different you can add carrots, even carrots and meat, and
make it a bit more brothy,” Ota said.
According to Ota, soba noodles represent longevity in Japanese culture.
“You add soba noodles in it, or some sort of noodles, because [in Japanese tradition] and other traditions, noodles represent health and long life. So that’s why you eat it [during] New Year’s,” Ota said.
Ota and her mother make the dish together every New Year’s to preserve the tradition that Ota’s grandmother began.
“My grandmother used to make this dish for us, because before she would come over to the U.S. and make this dish for us, but now she’s too old, so she can’t come. But those are some fond memories I have,” Ota said.
TOSHIKOSHISOBA MAMON
Rhian Cordero’s Mamon
Originating in the Philippines, this fluffy, soft, and delicious dessert carries many memories for senior Rhian Cordero’s family. Mamon, similar to a sponge cake, is relatively easy to make and can be paired with a variety of toppings such as fruit, chocolate, and ube — a sweet purple yam often picked by Cordero’s family.
“When I was a kid, it was really easy for me to make, and my grandma would teach it to me a lot, and it has a really deep meaning in my family,” Cordero said.
Mamon reminds Cordero of the lessons she learned when visiting her grandmother’s bakery in the Philippines.
“When I went to the Philippines, my grandma would teach me her bakery, and I
remember all of the bakers trying to teach me how to make this dish.” Cordero said.
To Cordero, mamon is more than just a dessert; it’s a cherished family tradition. Cordero hopes to pass the recipe on to future generations and friends in order to keep the tradition alive and spread the joy it has brought to her family.
“[My grandma] passed this down to me as something I can make for friends and families, and so I can share our recipe,” Cordero said.
This simple and quick recipe is perfect for the holidays, bringing warmth and a sense of tradition. Its versatility makes it easy to customize with toppings and mixins, allowing for a variety of flavors.
Korslund wins national coach award
BY ZACHARY NEWMAN Managing Editor
It’s not supposed to happen this early. Most coaches usually need at least five years to establish a culture, stability, and results. But varsity girls’ volleyball head coach Hannah Korslund only needed one season to lead the team (27-6) to a Division III Central Coast Section (CCS) championship and earn a Division I State Tournament berth.
In her second year at the helm, the Panthers took home the Peninsula Athletic League title with a 13-1 record, qualifying for the Open Division of the CCS playoffs. In November, Korslund received the American Volleyball Coaching Association (AVCA) 30 Under 30 High School Honor for her achievements. The award recognizes 30 up-and-coming high school volleyball coaches under 30 years old.
The AVCA promotes professional development, hosts tournaments, and governs volleyball in the United States. They also highlight impactful high school, club, and college volleyball coaches.
“It’s nice to get recognition, but it’s not why I coach,” Korslund said. “I think it’s cool to see Burlingame’s name out there as a program that’s being
Cookin’
BY OLIVIA NEWMAN Staff Reporter
recognized nationally. But ultimately, I don’t coach for the awards. If I hadn’t won this, I would still say the season, and my time coaching at Burlingame so far has been a success.”
Korslund’s accomplishments extend beyond girls’ varsity volleyball. In her first year at Burlingame, Korslund led the girls’ freshman volleyball team to a 14-0 league record and coached boys’ junior varsity volleyball in the spring season.
“I really enjoy coaching high school,” Korslund said. “I’m grateful for the relationships I’ve built with my players over the years at Burlingame. Being part of a high school program where you see players grow up from freshmen to seniors is really special.”
Korslund also has experience at the club level and currently works with the Women’s Coaching Alliance to help other coaches develop their volleyball curriculum.
“It’s all about failure for volleyball players, I think that’s a really important life skill… You’re succeeding 30 percent of the time and learning to be okay with when you’re failing 70 percent of the time,” Korslund said.
Korslund’s road to coaching wasn’t exactly conventional. While she played collegiate volleyball and won a national
Since becoming the head coach of girls’ varsity volleyball, Hannah Korslund led her team to a 47-12 record over the last two seasons, including two Central Coast Section appearances.
championship at Johns Hopkins University, it was actually her time off the court that ignited a passion for coaching.
Korslund suffered knee, hip, and back injuries that forced her to miss two seasons. To stay involved with the team, her college coaches encouraged her to be an assistant while rehabbing from injury.
“I was lucky to have three really awesome college coaches … Those coaches all brought me into an assistant coaching role,
and recognized that if I was out and injured … coaching could be a natural fit for me,” Korslund said. “I’m grateful for them bringing me behind the scenes of coaching, planning practices, giving feedback. They’re also always an ear to listen to,” Korslund said. “If I need to have a difficult conversation with a player or their family, they’ve seen volleyball through many levels, so they have a lot of experience that I can draw on.”
While Korslund was disap-
pointed about the end of the girls’ volleyball season, she’s excited to keep growing the program for next year.
“It’s a really strong program,” Korslund said. “We have a lot of girls trying out every year, and we’re hoping to build on what we’ve accomplished so far. I’d love to make it further into NorCal and compete for a state title, keep building a program that’s positive and supportive and represents Burlingame well.”
in the kitchen: pickleball’s popularity surges
peal. In Burlingame, the sport’s rise mirrors nationwide trends, with players of all ages finding enjoyment and recreation in the fast-paced game. The 2023 Topline Participa-
three years. Its playable pace, simple rules, and lower physical demands make it an easy sport to learn. Less demanding than tennis, pickleball also invites players of all skill levels to pick up a paddle, building a devoted following in communities nationwide — and Burlingame is no exception.
Senior Hailey Miller’s tennis background drew her to pickleball. Although her tennis experience has helped her play pickleball, Miller said adapting to a new sport allowed her to learn and develop new techniques.
“It’s an adjustment from tennis. You have to learn to not swing too hard or not overpower your shots because it’s a really small court in a small space,” Miller said. “...I’ve had to learn how to keep my feet back and not put my weight forward.”
Senior Rocco Brajenovic’s
pickleball journey and interest in the sport began after he walked by and observed others playing on a court. A multisport athlete, Brajenovic attributes his skills learned from soccer, basketball, and water polo to his footwork and handeye coordination on the pickleball court.
While Brajenovic likes to focus on improving his game, the thrills of competition in pickleball keep him excited and motivated to play.
“[My favorite aspect is] the competition… the feeling after a victory, that’s the best part,” Brajenovic said.
Because playing pickleball during the school year is difficult, Miller spends long hours competing during the summer. For Miller, like Brajenovic, playing pickleball is an enjoyable experience because of the
connections and community the game creates.
“[The courts are] conveniently close to everyone’s house, and it’s open really late, so we can all go and spend time together to nine or ten. It’s just a community thing,” Miller said.
Unlike most sports, Miller believes pickleball offers ample opportunities to compete with friends. Since it is easy for anyone to pick up, regardless of experience, Miller expects the appeal of pickleball to only increase as more try to play.
“I think people like pickleball because it doesn’t take that much skill, you just need to know how to hit a racket, and you can bond and spend time with each other while also having fun. It’s a really easy sport to catch on to,” Miller said.
The unmistakable clack of plastic against paddle has taken over courts across the country.
Seniors Rocco Brajenovic and Hailey Miller play pickleball at the Washington Park courts.
Girls’ Soccer
BY KAYLEE HWANG Social Coordinator
Last year, varsity girls’ soccer finished undefeated in league play (6-0-4) for the first time since 2008 and secured the Peninsula Athletic League Bay title. Though their season ended in the first round of the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs against Saint Francis High School, the season marked a milestone for the program.
“Overall, it was a successful year. Although we didn’t play as well as we had hoped in the first round, it was a great year,” head coach Andrew Flaherty said.
With eight seniors departing this year, Flaherty has brought in new players, including promising sophomore Liv Portolan and freshman Kaitlyn Lee. A number of returning varsity players, including team captains senior Charlotte Hughes and junior Gaelle Foy prepare to lead the team and mentor new athletes.
“It’s going to be challenging because we lost a lot of great se niors, but I think Coach Andrew will pull us all together,” Foy said.
December will be a busy month with numerous backto-back games, but the team must find success and perse vere to reach their ultimate goal.
“It’s going to be a lot of managing min utes, managing player rest and recovery, and still trying to compete,” Flaherty said.
To start the season, the Panthers beat Menlo School 2-0 on Dec. 3.
Girls’ Basketball
BY EMMA YU Senior Reporter
After a year full of impressive strides — and making it to the quar terfinals in the Division III Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs — this season, girls’ varsity basketball hopes to see their growth come to fruition.
“It was a fabulous season,” head coach Ned Diamond said. “They just fought the entire year ... We had a great season of growth.”
Last year’s team remains large ly intact with the addition of junior transfer student Sam Arce. Seniors Hailey Miller, Jillian Kiniris, Nat Gyde, Siena La Mark, Ella McHenry, and juniors Haleh Ansari and Addie Uhrich will take on pivotal roles both on and off the court. The abundance of athletes on the 14-player roster gives the team a formidable edge against most opponents.
Winter Sport Spotlights Winter Sport Spotlights
Boys’ Soccer
BY HENRY GARDNER Head Photographer
Last year, boys’ soccer won the Division II California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) NorCal Championship, becoming the first Burlingame boys’ sports team to win the title. But for head coach Anthony Dimech and his team, one title isn’t enough — they’re aiming to build a dynasty.
“It was pretty incredible last year, great run, great memories, but this is a new season,” Dimech said.
While the team only lost a few seniors from last year, their contributions were significant. Some of those seniors, like Altai Ordubadi, Sammy Faham, and Kevin Ascarza, went on to play in college or professionally.
“We lost five, six seniors who were a huge part of what was going on here,” Dimech said. “They’d been with me for three or four years, so it’ll be tough to replace them.”
Filling the gaps left by the outgoing seniors is a group of talented sophomores, including Thalin Rees and Jannik Nomm, along with one of the largest groups of freshmen players in the program’s history.
Wrestling
The team’s strengths lie in height and speed. During practice, Diamond has emphasized improving efficiency, defensive strategy, and communication on the court.
“They have improved so much and they’re really hustling. The key to our year is going to be how much we hustle [and] how well we play defense,” Diamond said.
The team dropped their first two games of the season 37-31 to Castilleja High School on Nov. 26 and Half Moon Bay High School on Dec. 4.
“We have really high hopes,” Diamond said. “If we play defense and play together, we’re gonna have a great [season]. It’s such a nice group and a very coachable group. I think it’s going to be a big year for us.”
BY WILL KRINER Copy Editor
Coming off of a second-place finish in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay standings last season, the co-ed wrestling team is setting its sights on another top-three finish this year.
Several dominant wrestlers are returning this season, including senior Quinn Jones and junior Miles Reeth. Lauren Aguilar is also returning for her senior season, fresh off back-to-back Central Coast Section Championships in the girls’ 120-pound division. Although the team lost key graduated seniors, head coach Er-
nesto Nuñez is confident that his current roster will make up for those absences.
“Their shoes are going to be hard to fill, but everyone coming in behind them is young, so in due time, I have the confidence that the youngsters behind them taking over those weight classes are going to be fine,” Nuñez said.
Wrestling will begin the season competing in regional tournaments to prepare for league meets to kick off on Jan. 14.
“We have to travel from one school to the next and all of that,” Nuñez said. “The strategy is to get everyone here, on time, every day, work hard, learn the techniques as quickly as we can.”
This year’s team will look to replicate last year’s success, but for Dimech, it’s one step at a time.
To open the season, boys’ soccer dominated Capuchino High School 4-0 in their first game on Dec. 4.
“We just want to keep fighting for that [Peninsula Athletic League Bay division] title and get to the playoffs, then we’ll see what happens,” Dimech said.
Boys’ Basketball
BY KAI SHAH Staff Reporter
In his second season at Burlingame, boys’ basketball coach David Lopez is looking to build off last season’s Central Coast Section Division III semifinals appearance. Lopez likes the combination of youth and experience on his roster. After practicing together all summer, the team continues to develop strong chemistry.
“It’s really cool to see the older guys taking the young guys under their wings and teach them the ropes,” Lopez said. According to Lopez, the ultimate goal this season is to compete at the highest level, and though wins are important, they are not the only determinant of team success.
“We do want to win, but success for us would be like we competed as hard as we can, and we came together…and at the end of the season, we look back at it, and we’re happy with how hard we worked,” Lopez said.
Seniors Marcus Tapia, Pilot Eis, Arjun Gupta, and juniors Payton Fong Heady and Jean-Luc Uharriet are expected to have an impact this season.
“What I look for in players are guys that can compete, play good defense, like to share the ball, and play with their teammates, but more importantly high character guys who are good students, but more importantly great people off the court,” Lopez said.
The team is off to a 2-0 start, beating Westmoor High School 48-45 on Nov. 30 and Fremont High School 51-41 on Dec. 3.
PHOTOBYHENRYGARDNER
B
THE BURLINGAME B
Editor-in-Chief Sophia Bella
Managing Editors
Jeannine Chiang
Zachary Newman
Design Editor Joelle Huysmans
Social Media Manager Abby Knight
Web Editor Connie Lu
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Business Manager Iny Li
Head Photographer Henry Gardner
Diversity Coordinator Evelyn Du
Social Coordinator Kaylee Hwang
Copy Editors
Sophia Doss
Will Kriner
Josie Wettan
Senior Reporters
Alex Bertelli
Audrey Wei
Emma Yu
Staff Reporters
Paige Cornelius
Connor Leong
Akira Nakamura
Olivia Newman
Kai Shah
Chiara Wesley
Abby Zarahn
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 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.
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Editorial Stop performative activism
BY BURLINGAME B EDITORIAL BOARD
When the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022, you probably saw hundreds of posts and dozens of people declaring their support. Two and a half years later, it’s likely been weeks — maybe months — since you’ve seen anything about it. According to Al Jazeera, in June of this year, “Ukrainian officials said ‘Russian invaders’ had killed more than 12,000 civilians, including 551 children.” People in Ukraine didn’t just stop dying, cities didn’t stop being burned, and families didn’t stop being broken apart. We just stopped paying attention.
The rise and fall of social media activism, or “performative activism,” has become a predictable pattern. Events like the war in Ukraine present a chance for social media users to publicly show solidarity with the latest global tragedy. While many who post have good intentions, some are more interested in appearing informed than making a serious difference. Users may shift from topic to topic, reposting post after post while rarely engaging in the issues beyond the screen.
When the Black Lives Matter movement gained attention after police killed George Floyd in 2020, 28 million people posted a black square on Instagram in solidarity with the movement. Yet, only 13 million signed the petition to arrest the police officers responsible for Floyd’s death, according to The Yale Daily News. Posting a black square is a symbolic act of support and offers a way for people to participate without discomfort, risk, or commitment, which was an easy checkbox on the to-do list of their
conscience. It requires little effort or accountability. Crowding the conversation with symbolic gestures can also risk drowning out resources that help create tangible change. The contrast shows the gap between performative gestures and substantive actions.
Making a post isn’t the issue — it’s posting without purpose that creates a problem. When users share information without making an effort to understand it, they risk spreading harmful misinformation.
According to an article by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) News, false news stories on X (formerly known as Twitter) are 70% more likely to be retweeted than true news stories. Fake news dilutes meaningful discourse and distracts people from finding the resources they need to take real action. For example, during the Ukraine-Russia conflict, a video of a young girl confronting a soldier, which was actually from 2012, gained millions of views despite the inaccurate context. When people
don’t know the truth of a crisis, they won’t know how to help — in fact, it can create more tension and division on the issue. A 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center found that “69% of Americans say the internet and social media have made people less civil in how they talk about politics.”
It’s impossible to feel strongly about every issue in the news — and that’s okay. But when you choose to engage, do so thoughtfully. Educate yourself before you post. Ask questions, seek out credible sources, and have real conversations. The issues that capture public attention deserve more than a passing glance. They deserve more than an Instagram story and more than being forgotten the second another gut-wrenching tragedy comes around. Even after tragedies occur and the headlines fade, the impact shouldn’t. Activism should spark progress and drive meaningful change — anything less risks being lost to a cycle of fleeting attention.
We should not glorify busyness
BY CONNOR LEONG Staff Reporter
How are you doing?
While the standard response to this question likely used to be “I’m doing fine,” it seems we’ve come up with a normalized replacement of “Oh, I’m so busy.” When I picture the ideal high schooler, the words “constantly busy” come to mind. They take hard classes with demanding workloads, spend much of their time doing homework, studying, or participating in various extracurricular activities, and have little remaining capacity for leisure and sleep.
For students, having no free time has become a status symbol. It is the mark of a hardworking student, and to me, this feels unfortunate. First of all — like many other stereotypes — the constantly busy student is only representative of a small subset of the student body. For society to suggest that these students are “better” in some way than their peers feels wrong on a fundamental level.
What underlies and fuels our glorifying busyness is the assumption that students are wasting time if they are not consistently being productive in some way. Relaxing activities like baking, doing art, taking a walk, and reading for fun have
been shoved aside in favor of “being productive” with schoolwork and extracurriculars. However, we must recognize that being busy is not the same as being productive and relaxing is not the same as “wasting time.” Under this model, downtime is to be avoided at all costs, but downtime is conducive to productivity. Furthermore, chronic busyness raises stress levels and causes burnout, regardless of age. A survey by the American Psychological Association found that, during the school year, teens reported higher levels of stress and less sleep than adults, with school being a cause of stress for 83% of teen respondents.
Chances are you were already aware of this problem, because there’s a reason for glorifying our busyness: we tend to find a student impressive when they can manage their overwhelming schedule while staying sane and avoiding burnout. To me, the cost of society’s praise is mental well-being.
Society has somehow forgotten that students are our treasured youth, and we deserve better than to be stressed, overworked, and burnt out at our age. By recognizing this problem and relaxing the demanding expectations we place on students, we can all do our part to change the competitive environment that harms our youth.
This season’s best movies
Catch two of the season’s most anticipated releases on the big screen
Moana 2
BY AUDREY WEI Senior Reporter
Disney’s track record with sequels might be a hit or miss, but “Moana 2” is a must-watch. Few things are as heartwarming and enjoyable as two heroes teaming up to save the world — and this sequel delivers just that.
The movie was officially released on Nov. 27, and “Moana 2” earned the highest amount of advance ticket sales of any 2024 animated movie.
The original movie focuses primarily on its young heroine, Moana. However, the sequel introduces a vibrant new cast of characters — Loto (Rose Matafeo), Moni (Hualalai Chung), and Kele (David Fane) who join Moana on a quest to defeat storm god Nalo. The sequel also introduces the audience to Moana’s little sister Simea, who adds a new layer to the plot as she strives not to let her
Wicked
BY PAIGE CORNELIUS Staff Reporter
After its 1939 debut, the classic story of “The Wizard of Oz,” featuring young Dorothy Gale taking on the big bad Wicked Witch of the West, became a hit. But what if that wasn’t really how it happened?
Director Jon M. Chu’s lively movie musical, based on the Broadway smash “Wicked,” brings its signature flair to the big screen. Starring pop sensation Ariana Grande as Glinda and Broadway legend Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, “Wicked” is poised to be one of this year’s biggest hits.
Though the two-hour, 40-minute runtime might seem daunting — especially since this movie only
sibling and island down.
The return of the fan-favorite demigod Maui brings more than just charm and heroics. Maui’s struggle with his masculinity leaves him determined to prove his independence, initially rejecting Moana’s help. However, a pivotal moment leads to their evolving partnership that we might see in future movies.
Without musical powerhouse Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was the songwriter for the original movie, critics found the project uninspiring. However, I found the youthful and dynamic music refreshing. Songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear took the reins, crafting a sound that stands out in its own right.
Although the storyline may seem repetitive, the introduction of new characters brings in something different for the audience to watch.
tells half of the story, with Part 2 set for release on Nov. 21, 2025 — I consider it time well spent. The movie was emotional and lively, featuring both heartfelt ballads and dynamic dance numbers. The audience follows Glinda and Elphaba through their hatred-turned-friendship as the movie comes to a dramatic end (for now) when they find themselves grappling with the intricacies of morality and ultimately choosing whether to stand up for what they believe is right — or not. Grande and Erivo nailed their respective roles, immersing the audience in the fantasy world of Oz. Their commitment to the characters was clear when the pair sang live on set, creating authentic emotional moments. Even if you aren’t familiar with the original musical, I’d recommend this movie as a must-see.
GRAPHICS BY JOELLE HUYSMANS
0 2 4
YEAR WRAPPED
BY NATALIE GYDE Multimedia Editor
BY KAYLEE HWANG Social Coordinator
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re looking back on the highlights that shaped the year. Many viral trends became part of everyday life, influencing fashion, food, music, and connecting students through shared experiences. To capture the essence of 2024 through its trends, we asked students to reflect on the top highlights in their year ‘wrapped.’
FOOD
“I like that the [Crumbl Cookies] flavors change every week be cause it makes it more fun to try them but sometimes the cookies are too sweet.”
- Gabby Levitt, sophomore
“[Matcha is] just something different than coffee and it’s colorful and it tastes good. My go-to matcha spot is probably Peet’s [Coffee].”
- Mikey Vargas, senior
FASHION
“I think sambas were popular be cause they look good and you can wear them with any outfit. I mean they’re nice and comfortable to
- Fran Batarao, freshman
“Personally, I really like wearing cheetah print because I think it can really elevate an outfit.”
- Ella Wang, senior
MUSIC ACCESSORIES
“I’m going to the [Billie Eilish] concert on December 11. [“HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” is] a real ly great album and you should listen [to it].”
- Bella Brosnan, junior
“I really love [Sabrina Carpenter’s] energy and vocals. Definitely the best live vocals I’ve ever seen.
“Juno” is probably my favorite from the album.”
- Avery Speight, junior
Crossword
ACROSS
1. River sediment
5. Peppa, for example
8. Highest or lowest card
11. Reviewers of a product, often
13. “___ you kidding me?”
14. ___ Holland (actor)
15. Country that’s “Great”?*
16. Not prime*
18. La Brea ___ Pits
19. Shop sign
21. Main character of “The Kite Runner”
22. One yard, for a yardstick
“I use my Stanley literally everywhere. I use it before school, I bring it to school, to practice, and before bed.”
- Alexa Kiniris, sophomore
“Lip balm is such a universal product, and I think [Summer Fridays] works really well and it’s very good at doing its job.”
- Keira Au, junior
BY ALEX BERTELLI Senior Reporter
24. Reading’s counterpart* 25. Singer of 30-Across 26. Agency to ensure good working conditions
29. First letter of “clues” 30. Famous Disney song... or what you’ve done to modify the eight highlighted answers *
33. Something that peeves, in slang
36. Type
37. College teacher, for short
41. Thieves* 43. “A ___”: relating to deduction
45. Cyclist ___ Richards... found in “preview”
46. Acid’s opposite 48. Control, as a ship 49. Came back to*
51. Anger* 53. It can go after tact or
54. Cushion
55. Row of judges
56. Silent communication form
57. Video annoyances
1. Give captions for*
2. Ramat Gan and Jerusalem reside here
3. Acquires knowledge
4. It can go before angle or cycle
5. Normal speed
6. ___ Panthers
Robotics
7. Like the modified form of 51-Across
8. Like certain bombs
9. C in Soh-CahToa
10. Come into view
12. Nasal mucus
17. Average, in golf
20. Pic
23. Lady
24. Tail’s action
27. Gent
Web prefix
Last letter of “clues”
Popular nail polish brand 33. Peninsula of southwestern Europe
Central points
Cry, sniff pitifully
Italian cheese
Spoke
With limits*
Framework to level the playing
If you love something... sing a song! (30-Across).
GRAPHIC BY JOELLE HUYSMANS