November Issue 2025

What’s Inside:

2 Robotics lacks

THE

workspace

5 Drama performs “Rumors”

10 Productivity in a.m. or p.m.

crossword!

URLINGAME B Issue 2 Vol 136

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

November 3, 2025

11 Play our

‘Proactive vs. reactive’

California voters decide on Prop 50 PHOTO BY HENRY GARDNER

District adopts protocol for unidentified campus visits

Ballot boxes are available across California for the Nov. 4 special election.

BY PAIGE CORNELIUS

“Don’t be scared.

There are people that will protect and take care of us.”

Business Manager

“I’m thankful to the district for making this policy.”

“It’s just unacceptable.”

“I’ve never, in my wildest nightmares, have had to think about this.”

BY INY LI

Managing Editor On Jan. 25, two officers from the Department of Homeland Security entered San Mateo High School, requesting information about a student who “posted an online threat towards the federal government,” according to San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) Superintendent Randall Booker. The school declined their request because they did not have a judicial warrant or subpoena.

The officers left without further conflict.

GRAPHIC BY EMMA YU

“I actually want the opposite — I want things slowed down, and I want things isolated.”

In fall 2025, an officer from the Department of Defense entered a SMUHSD campus, seeking information about a student and their family without a judicial warrant or subpoena. Again, the officer left without incident.

According to Booker, the district “had a protocol prepared” to address situations when federal agents either enter campus legally with a judicial warrant and the school administration “helps them with their needs,” or agents illegally enter campus and leave without further demands. But in summer 2025, Booker said he began considering situa-

tions where officers demand to see someone without a judicial warrant or identification.

“Part of my job is to think hypothetically to keep our students, educators, and families safe while they’re in my care,” Booker said. “... So picture this: someone, or a group of someones, comes onto campus with masks, body armor, and automatic and semi-automatic weapons, who do not identify themselves and just come onto campus looking for someone. How would you categorize them?”

See “PROTOCOL” page 3

On Nov. 4, voters across California will decide on Proposition 50, which would allow state legislatures to gerrymander congressional districts, potentially impacting upcoming congressional and presidential elections. Early voting began on Oct. 7, and polls will close on Nov. 4. The final results are expected Dec. 12. According to the California Democratic Party, the initiative is a response to gerrymandering in Texas, which could add five new Republican seats to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Gerrymandering is the process of intentionally redrawing districts to influence the outcome of votes. Currently, California is divided into 52 congressional districts, one for each California House member. Districts are typically redrawn every 10 years by an independent commission following the U.S. census to keep districts proportionate to the state population. As of now, California has 43 Democratic seats and nine Republican seats in the House.

At Burlingame, the issue has drawn attention from students and staff, including government teacher Alexandra Gray, who said it is valuable for students to see class topics reflected in real political events.

“As a government teacher, I think it’s extremely important. As a citizen, I think it’s very important, the makeup of Congress,” Gray said. “Which political party has the majority of seats in Congress is a huge determining factor in what legislation is going to get passed.”

Proposition 50 would allow state legislatures to redraw districts for the 2026 and 2030 congressional elections and the 2028 presidential election.

According to Ballotpedia News, proposed maps from demography firm Redistricting Partners and state legislatures predict the 1st, 3rd, 22nd, 41st, and 48th districts could shift from Republican to Democratic. However, this result is uncertain because voters in each district would still need to vote on their representatives.

Senior Anya Malhotra, who registered to vote as soon as she turned 16, said she wants to use her vote to support the nation’s democracy.

See “SPECIAL ELECTIONS” page 2

2

November 3, 2025

News

Robotics lacks adequate practice space and they were very kindly willing to let us use the space for Senior Reporter about a month or two.”

Previously, the Iron Panthers After months without a practiced in an off-campus faproper workspace, the Iron cility they acquired through a Panthers were briefly granted real estate connection. Senior access to a store on Broadway, and co-captain Serena Koopwhich they planned to use for mans said that although it was collaboration and preparation spacious, the commute was infor upcoming competitions. convenient and often disturbed Unfortunately, the team was removed from the workspace practice time.

“It was, with traffic, 20 to 30 earlier than expected after beminutes away from school, and ing notified that the temporary so this really cut into our meetbuilding was unsafe. Since the ing time,” Koopmans said. “The opportunity to use the Broadthing about robotics is, time way space fell through, they is very, very limited.

We only have been relocated to the D have around a month to build a Building. whole new robot, so every day In September, sophomore and practice field manager that you’re commuting, you’re Isha Chitetti posted on the eating into practice time.”

Since the For Inspiration app Nextdoor, explaining that and Recognition of Science and Burlingame’s robotics program Te c h n o l o needed a gy (FIRST) place nearIt’s posed a big W o r l d by to practice. Julie challenge for a team Championand Dennis to be able to figure ships in May, the team has Carlson ofout how we can maxipracticed fered their space on mize our time and the in a space Broadway, resources we current- outside the D Building which used ly have because we to prepare to be a grodon’t have a space to for competicery store, tions. free of practice.”

“If you charge.

Sonali Sharma, junior and look at the “Fordrive coach d i f f e rence t u n a te l y, b e t w een we were rookie teams and less competemailed back by these two individuals, Julie and Dennis Carl- itive teams than us and the best son,” Chitetti said. “They had a teams in the world, one of the space open on 1399 Broadway, big differences that we see is

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY KOSSEN

BY CHIARA WESLEY

The Iron Panthers returned to practicing in the D building after moving out of the Broadway space. that all of them have their own designated practice spaces,” junior and co-captain Rain Yang said.

Yang said that the gap in facilities compared with other teams limits the Iron Panthers’ ability to fine-tune their robot and routines before competitions. According to Koopmans, one area of practice that requires extra attention is the 15-second autonomous period, when no drivers are controlling the robots. The team’s robot stands more than six feet tall and moves at high speeds, making it difficult to find a suitable on-campus space to practice.

“When we have these practice fields with these exact lo-

cations, we can fine-tune this really, really well,” Koopmans said. “And this actually ended up, last year, making us so that we were in the top 1% I believe, of scores during this time period, because we had this practice field and we were able to tune our autonomous routine quite heavily.”

Without a proper workspace, the team faces both old and new challenges. While they are currently working in the D Building, the team plans to move into the cafeteria at the end of December.

“We’re not able to go in there anymore, and that has kind of put us in this position that’s not that great because

we are currently building our sprint robot, which is a new robot we’re trying to build in just a couple of weeks for our next competition,” junior and drive coach Sonali Sharma said.

Sharma said the lack of a workspace also limits the team’s ability to train new members during the off-season.

“It’s posed a big challenge for a team to be able to figure out how we can maximize our time and the resources we currently have because we don’t have a space to practice,” Sharma said. *This story has been updated with additional details because the team relocated from the Broadway workspace.

Special elections determine gerrymandering debate From pg. 1

to gerrymander to offset each other, it could set a dangerous precedent.

“This could end up setting the precedent for mid-decade redistricting and just making gerrymandering much more common, instead of only once every 10 years. And so I do think that that could potentially be negative and add even more pol-

itics into our redistricting process,” Gray said.

For Malhotra, learning about these topics in her government class has helped her understand her role in the current political climate.

“It feels both parts very interesting, because political science is something I want to research, and just having the

entire world having the country be my research zone right now, is interesting to me,” Malhotra said.“But it’s also scary, because when you’re in classes like gov, you can see patterns from decades or years in the past, and you can see mistakes that we should have learned from still be present nowadays. So it’s both parts interesting and scary.”

GRAPHIC BY KAYLEE HWANG

“This issue does mean a lot to me, because I think that for Prop 50, it’s not necessarily something I want to be voting yes on because I do want citizens to be in control of redrawing and I don’t want politicians to be,” Malhotra said. “But I am voting yes on it, because we’ve seen Republicans in states like Texas redraw their district lines. And I think it’s leveling the playing field if Democrats in California do the same thing.”

According to American Progress, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed Proposition 50 to counter the five new Republican districts in Texas, which Texas Gov. Greg Abbott approved on Aug. 23 after pressure from President Donald Trump in July. Senior Rowan Maher plans to vote in the upcoming special election and said he is interested in how Congress interacts with the president.

“Trump asking Texas to redistrict to get five more seats in the House, it’s honestly disgusting, because he’s essentially trying to control his impeachability,” Maher said. “If the impeachment process starts in the House and he establishes a majority in there. He’s setting grounds for him to continue to do more unconstitutional stuff.”

Newsom is one of the most vocal supporters of Proposition 50. He first publicly shared his plans for the measure in an Aug. 1 post on X and Facebook, which Axios reported was written in all caps to mimic Trump’s online style. Newsom wrote, “CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW, MORE “BEAUTIFUL MAPS,” THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY (DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE)” Newsom then signed the Election Rigging Response Act on Aug. 21, officially introducing Proposition 50. In a statement on his website, he said, “Californians have been uniquely targeted by the Trump Administration, and thanks to the hard work of the California legislature, they will have a choice to fight back — and bring much needed accountability to Trump’s efforts to undermine the democratic process.”

According to Gray, California is just one part of a larger gerrymandering effort that includes states like Missouri, New York, and Florida. She said most attention is focused on Texas and California because their size gives them more influence in the House. However, Gray added that if multiple states are willing

On the left is how the existing California districts voted in the 2024 Presidential election and on the right is how the vote would have changed if the proposed districts were in place then.

November 3, 2025

3

News

New protocol addresses immigrant safety concerns Emergency Response Protocol On Sept. 19, Booker issued a memorandum to the SMUHSD Board of Trustees, proposing a new emergency response protocol to guide all schools if unidentified individuals attempt to abduct or remove a student, parent/guardian, or educator from campus without proper identification or a judicial warrant. The Board of Education unanimously approved the protocol during a district board meeting on Sept. 25.

Under this protocol, administrators must activate a Lockdown/ Barricade response outlined in the San Mateo County Big 5 Emergency Protocols if individuals fail to provide federal identification or a judicial warrant. However, Booker said this differs from the typical Lockdown/Barricade.

“Remember, the generic Lockdown/Barricade [protocol] is to run, flight, and hide,” Booker said.

“It’s a choice. But in this particular procedure, I’m not asking staff to run through that choice. I want them to Lockdown/Barricade — stay put… There’s a little bit of

confusion in that because we’ve trained all along that educators have an in-the-moment decision to make. But when a Lockdown/Barricade is initiated, I would like them to strictly lock down.”

Community Perspectives Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have been reported wearing masks more frequently during enforcement. On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the Trump administration deployed over 100 federal agents to the Bay Area for an immigration enforcement operation.

Rachel Lauderdale, co-executive director and board president of Empowerment Through Action, a program serving underrepresented communities at Hillsdale High School, said the current political climate has created a “heightened level of fear.”

An anonymous student source* said the new protocol is a reminder of their rights.

“I feel safer at school than outside of school because sometimes it feels like they will go after me.

Usted tiene derechos constitucionales : • •

GRAPHIC BY JOSIE WETTAN

• • •

No ABRA LA PUERTA si un agente de inmigración está tocando la puerta.

NO CONTESTE NINGUNA PREGUNTA de un agente de inmigración si trata de hablar con usted. Usted tiene el derecho a guardar silencio.

NO FIRME NADA sin antes hablar con un abogado. Usted tiene el derecho de hablar con un abogado.

Si usted está fuera de su casa, pregúntele al agente si tiene la libertad de irse y si le dice que sí, váyase con tranquilidad.

ENTRÉGUELE ESTA TARJETA EL AGENTE. Si usted está dentro de su casa, muestre la tarjeta por la ventana o pásela debajo de la

puerta.

www.ilrc.org/red-cards

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center created red cards to distribute.

But at school, I have more protection in case something happens. It shows that there are people that still care about us and will protect us,” the anonymous source said.

Community Literacy in Action teacher Kelly Hensley said the increased tensions surrounding immigration enforcement have put a halt to conversations about student immigration status.

“I just said we should not, for safety reasons, talk about our immigration status,” Hensley said.

“It’s a way to protect yourself.

You don’t know who you can trust sometimes, so it’s best if you don’t say anything — that way, you don’t open any doors.”

Lauderdale said she appreciates the district for being “proactive versus reactive.”

“I think any student of color who has been affected by the language used by our administration, the language used across platforms to put people down, has created this big sense of unsafety and given permission for students and other adults to use really horrible, hateful language,” Lauderdale said.

*This source was granted anonymity for legal safety concerns. *Arts Director Emma Yu contributed to this article by interviewing Booker and Lauderdale with Iny Li, and independently interviewing Kelly Hensley.

PHOTO BY HENRY GARDNER

From pg. 1

Classrooms like history teacher Rachel Quillen’s display posters to foster safe spaces.

Booker said these laws reaffirm the district’s existing guidelines and emergency response protocol.

Assembly Bill 49 1.

Prohibits schools from allowing immigration enforcement to enter nonpublic areas without a warrant 2. Reaffirms school’s right to consult and challenge any warrant, subpoena, or court order 3. Public schools to adopt procedures responding to immigration-related requests by March 1, 2026 4. Districts provide training on new procedures

Read the full version online

Senate Bill 98 1.

Schools cannot disclose personal information without a warrant 2. Schools must be safe and accessible to all students 3. Expands California’s “sensitive location” protections

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November 3, 2025

Features

CTE classes build skills for careers Copy Editor

Architecture students collaborate to build intricate structures.

Students prepare cookies together in their culinary arts class.

PHOTO BY AKIRA NAKAMURA

identified around 700 Burlingame alumni and asked whether they found college beneficial.

Overall, many reported both positives and negatives.

“A lot of the patterns that I see is that there are benefits to both, and that you should be open, and that even if you do go to college, you might find yourself in a situation where you don’t find a job, your dream job, or you’re underemployed,” Couch said.

Ultimately, video and game design teacher Henry Francisco said students may not realize how many job opportunities are made available by taking CTE classes.

“I would advocate that students take these classes because they’re learning real-time skills, tangible skills that they can take into the workplace,” Francisco said. “Whatever industry you are getting into, arts, media, entertainment industry, ... someone needs a graphic designer, someone needs a person to create a flyer, a poster.”

PHOTO BY AKIRA NAKAMURA

On Sept. 25, a San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) board meeting reviewed whether Career Technical Education (CTE) classes adequately prepare students for careers in skilled trades. The discussion referenced a July 8 San Mateo Grand Jury report that said CTE classes in the district focus more on preparing students for four-year universities than for direct entry into the workforce.

Burlingame currently offers eight CTE classes, the second-most of any school in the district. Although many students head to university after graduation, Assistant Principal Aimee Malcolm said Burlingame’s CTE classes are designed to prepare students for careers in skilled trades.

“The purpose of CTE classes is to get students prepared for industry-level careers,” Malcom said. “Essentially, we want to make sure that students have the knowledge and skill set to go into technical vocational careers, and that they could be introduced to internships, apprenticeships, jobs, shadowing, and that they’re getting the content skills in the classroom.”

In her architecture and engineering classes, Anna Liu

invites guest speakers and organizes field trips to expose her students to potential job opportunities. Liu said one goal of CTE classes is to prepare students to enter the workforce immediately after graduating high school.

Culinary arts and nutrition teacher Shannon Couch noted that more students choose to attend university due to stigma, reducing the number of people entering skilled trades.

“There’s a lot of societal pressure, maybe family expectations, and personally, I had that for my own children,” Couch said. “I also found myself falling into that narrative that they must go to college immediately and complete a degree to be successful.”

Senior Lucas Zhu said students attend university to build connections and broaden their knowledge, which can be beneficial later in life.

“Besides really offering a technical and practical training, I think the more valuable parts of the university is to give students opportunities and chances to explore outside of their K-12 education,” Zhu said. “It really offers the platforms for the students to have a broader view of the world and society, and it just gives a lot of chance for students to make connections that are really important.”

Over the past year, Couch

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA LIU

BY AKIRA NAKAMURA

Read the full version online

Video and game design students analyze a movie during class.

Multiracial students navigate identity on college apps

BY EVELYN DU

Managing Editor

BY ABBY ZARAHN

Diversity Coordinator When senior Olivia Medina filled out the Common Application, she paused at the race and ethnicity section. Medina checked the boxes for the ethnicities she identifies with by blood: Mexican, Chinese, and Cambodian. However, she said she felt reluctant to mark Vietnamese, even though she was raised in the culture with her family.

“I do speak [Vietnamese], and I do share the culture with

them, but it’s not technically a part of me,” Medina said. “So I haven’t checked the Vietnamese box on Common App, but I do think about it.”

In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action is unconstitutional in the Students for Fair Admissions v.

Harvard case, eliminating racebased admissions at universities. After the ruling, the Common Application made the race and ethnicity section optional, leaving students uncertain whether to check one or more boxes.

At Burlingame, students identifying with multiple races

made up 11.5% of the student population as of the 2025-26 school year. However, College and Career Advisor Jonathan Dhyne said few students have asked him for advice on the race and ethnicity section of the Common Application.

Dhyne advises students to provide information that resonates with them the most.

“When you’re submitting a college application, you just want to make sure you’re putting the truest version of yourself forward, right? And so if you feel like it is important to share that information, then by all means, report it as you know GRAPHIC BY EMMA YU

how it best connects to your identity,” Dhyne said.

Senior Ravi Krishnan, who marked Indian and White on his Common Application, said representing his mixed-race identity was important because it significantly influenced his upbringing.

“My identity has been a big part of my life,” Krishnan said.

“And it’s something I’ve had to learn to deal with, even though it doesn’t impact me that much anymore, like it used to. And I hope [colleges] see that growth as a positive.”

In his essays, Krishnan wrote about his ambivalence toward his identity. While he identifies more with his Jewish side, Krishnan said he doesn’t fit the “expected” description of someone Jewish.

“I didn’t feel like I was able to conform to either of them or any of my identities, and that was the issue,” Krishnan said.

“I don’t look like the stereotypical Jew, and I don’t look like the stereotypical Indian.”

Next fall, junior St. Claire Mendoza plans to fill out the Common Application. Like Krishnan, she said she doesn’t fit the typical “look” of someone who is El Salvadorian, Irish, German, and Austrian and isn’t strongly connected to the Hispanic side of her identity.

“I don’t feel like I look

mixed,” Mendoza said. “And this doesn’t really come up that much in conversation. The only Hispanic thing about me is really my last name and a few traditions that my dad’s side of the family does for the holidays.”

While colleges are not allowed to consider race in admissions, some universities encourage students to write about their cultural identity.

“It’s dicey territory, because they took away affirmative action, but people are writing about their race,” Medina said.

“Still, if I were to write about my race, I think it would give me an advantage and probably have a lot to do with my admissions.”

Though Krishnan opted to write about his mixed-race identity in his essays, he said he understands that others might feel differently. Still, he sees essays as an opportunity for students to express themselves more meaningfully in their applications.

“It’s different for everybody, and everybody’s experience is different, but I feel like they could definitely do it in their essays,” Krishnan said. “I feel like it’s a great way to show experiences. Checking a box shows one thing, but showing experiences through essays is a great way to be more detailed and show how it actually impacts them.”

November 3, 2025

5

Features

Delegates attend AI summit in Italy since I love meeting people from other new countries.”

Throughout the summit, From Oct. 9 to Oct. 13, ju- Fong supervised the students niors Caroline Rafferty and during meals and provided upSophia Weber represented the dates. On top of this, she also United States at the NextGen met with other representatives AI international summit in Na- to learn how countries utilize ples, Italy. At the summit, stu- AI in education. dents and delegates from more “One of the things I learned than 20 countries discussed the is that it seems like other counimpacts and uses of AI, learning tries, in terms of AI and educafrom professors and experts tion, are much more advanced around the world. in their thinking about what To select student represen- they’re going to do,” Fong said. tatives for the trip, Principal Jen “Not every country, but some of Fong said she went through a the countries, there are a lot of strict application process, look- international resources about ing for students with leadership how to use AI in schools.” experience and strong commuOn the other hand, Rafferty nication skills. said she learned how AI is imRafferty p l e m e n te d said she wantinto other AI is really ined to go on areas of life, teresting, and the trip besuch as cuicause of her I wanted to share sine, music, interests in AI my views on it and and dance. and her desire “I learned to meet stu- also learn about that it’s imdents from other people’s p l e m e n te d other coun- views around the into a lot tries. of different “AI is real- world.” things. For ly interesting, - Caroline Rafferty, junior example, it and I wanted can be used to share my in cuisine, to views on it and also learn about create new recipes and stuff,” other people’s views around Rafferty said. “… I also learned the world,” Rafferty said. “And that they use AI music. They I also feel like when I’m older, had several dances done using I might want to do something music made from AI and like with international relations dance moves created by AI,

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEN FONG

BY JASON LU

Staff Reporter

Juniors Sophia Weber and Caroline Rafferty gather with other NextGen summit delegates to take a photo in front of the Royal Palace of Naples. which was really interesting.

I did not know they could do that.”

Throughout the summit, Rafferty and Weber also got to meet other representatives.

However, according to Weber, communication was sometimes challenging because she and Rafferty could not speak Italian fluently.

“Me and Caroline spoke a little bit of Italian, but it was kind of hard trying to communicate with people who spoke abso-

lutely no English, because our Italian isn’t very developed,” Weber said.

Despite the language barrier, Rafferty said she was easily able to connect with the many English-speaking representatives from international delegations.

“Everyone got along so well, I was kind of surprised by that, because you wouldn’t think these people from Japan, Argentina, completely different sides of the world. But everyone got along so well and had a great

PHOTO BY FAITH

time together,” Rafferty said.

After the summit, Fong said she believes students in the United States need to keep up with rapid advancements in AI and their impacts on jobs.

“So that way students choose something in college that recognizes that AI has a major impact, whether it’s replacing some things that we normally do that will no longer exist or innovating using AI,” Fong said.

GRAPHICS BY KAY

LEE HWANG

LEE

Drama team performs comedic play

BY FAITH LEE

Staff Reporter “Charley isn’t doing so well!”

That was just one of the lines from the introduction for the drama department’s newest slapstick comedy, “Rumors,” directed by drama teacher Michelle Shannon and performed on Oct. 24-26.

The plot revolves around Charley and Myra Brock’s tenth anniversary party, where Ken and Chris Gorman find Charley wounded and Myra missing. To defend their friend against a criminal offense and public scandal, the guests attempt to hide the injury and missing hostess from each other, and eventually the police, all without knowing what truly happened to either of them.

Senior Sebastian Lamb played Ernie Cusack. Lamb said this was the first time he had played an older character.

“This was the first time that I’ve had the chance to play a human character who’s older, and it was fun because I had to change

my mannerisms, and it was interesting,” Lamb said.

Lamb said his favorite part of playing Ernie was the physical humor he displayed on stage, including burning his fingers and getting drunk by the end of the play.

“Whenever we do improv, or comedy games in drama class, I’m always falling over doing something,” Lamb said. “So I felt like this show was really perfect for me, because that’s my style of humor.”

Senior Gina Saccuman played Chris Goroman. Saccuman said that she enjoyed using her character to contradict the gender norms of the play’s setting.

“My favorite part was being able to take back some of the power in some of my lines towards a male figure, or even a woman. It just felt nice to be able to have a voice in this play,” Saccuman said. “... Just a chance for me to have my voice in any point of the play felt really good to execute on stage.”

Saccuman added that the play helped the cast grow closer.

“I think this play is very easily

intertwined to our normal drama life,” Saccuman said. “The day after closing, I could tell that this community just tightened a little bit more, and that’s what makes it so amazing to be part of these productions.”

Junior Nick Koomey played Cookie Cusack, another guest at the party. Koomey said they highlighted Cookie’s unique personality, which distinguishes her from the rest of the characters.

“The thing is, with Cookie is that in many ways, she’s a bull in a china shop, going to this super classy, formal gathering,” Koomey said. “But in many ways she has a right to be there, and in many ways she’s not on the same wavelength as everyone else at the party.”

Senior Aine O’Toole, who watched the play on Friday, the first of three performances, said she enjoyed the show.

“I did not expect the ending at all, but it was, overall, really great,” O’Toole said. “And the acting and everything was great. Again, a really good play.”

The “Rumors” cast, still in character, ga brate a victorious ther to celemoment.

TH LEE

PHOTO BY FAI

Ella Knight, as Ernie Cusack, as b, m an, danLa n Sebastia s, as Ken Gorm ta ie Fr ax M d Claire Ganz, an e. ce during a scen PHOTO BY

FAITH LEE

Sebastian L am Frietas, playi b, acting as Ernie Cusa ng Ken Gorm ck an, face each , and Max other.

6

7

Club Sports

BY JOSIE WETTAN

A Balancing Act

Social Media Manager

BY KAI SHAH

Sports Editor

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Staff Reporter

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ON FONG HEADY

ence burnout, and up to 35% experience overtraining.

Fong Heady said he thinks the pressure to perform comes from himself and his desire to be the best player he can be. This in turn can derail his internal thoughts.

“Sometimes, if you don’t feel like you’re doing enough, or you feel you’re not doing good enough, then it kind of hinders your abilities while you’re playing in-game, and also impacts your mental health a lot, because you think you’re not as good as you should be,” Fong Heady said.

O OT

Burning money, burning out ver 60 million children and teens play organized sports, but about 70% of them drop out by age 13, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Club sports are a $40 billion industry, yet kids are dropping out of youth sports at high rates. This staggering statistic may be linked to the many negative aspects of club sports, including injuries, burnout, mental health struggles, time commitment, and financial burden.

Some athletes, including senior Payton Fong Heady, have experi-

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Teammates and triumphs

A

t nearly every lunch table, you will likely find at least one student with experience in club sports. Whether in club water polo, soccer, or basketball, these teams have helped shape students’ high school experiences, from learning a routine to building lasting friendships and a sense of community.

For senior Ellora Horan, who began playing club soccer in third grade, balancing soccer with her other activities has helped her build time management skills.

“I run track and cross country.

In every sport, there’s gonna be great players who will never be heard of. There’s players who will never get the chance to be recognized.”

who I want to be. That’s what I need to work towards.”

While competing at a high level has been challenging, junior Lucas Carlson, who has played club water polo since middle school, said that the exercise and access to elite coaching are great benefits in club athletics.

“First of all, great exercise. If you’re really into water polo and want to get really good, really fast, club water polo has some of the best coaches,“ Carlson said.

Another factor that Goldberg said helps her avoid burnout is the

The social aspect of, even at swim meets or events, being around those people just makes me a great person.”

— Chase Cyb, sophomore

— Syum Mehra, senior PHOTO BY KAI SHAH

PHOTO BY JOSIE WETTAN GRAPHICS AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMMA YU

Students and staff evaluate club sports’ role in success

G

irls’ volleyball is one of Burlingame’s most competitive sports. Across three teams, there are only 45 roster spots, while more than 70 athletes typically try out every year. The program’s competitive nature leads many prospective players to search for ways to improve their chances. Head coach Hannah Korslund said many players compete in club volleyball during the offseason to train for the school season. While club experience isn’t required to make the team, Korslund said it helps players prepare for the intensity of tryouts.

“The program’s very competitive,” Korslund said. “So girls that are not playing as much and who are not playing at a high level in [club teams] and are playing only three or four months out of the year have a harder time being successful at tryouts.”

This trend isn’t exclusive to volleyball. Club sports are becoming increasingly important in tryouts for many Burlingame teams.

“Club sports can be a positive or a help for it because [the athlete] has been playing for a long time. Maybe they have skills and experiences others may not have,” Athletic Director John Philipopoulos said. “Coaches want to win. They want to have the best players on their team, and they’re going to make those choices based on

skill level.”

Junior Maya Siu, said basketball players can benefit from practicing in the offseason through private organizations.

“It’s necessary to establish the basic skills, like dribbling, passing and defense [in a club team] because it is sort of a short season with not a lot of practice time and we have a lot of games,” junior and girls’ basketball player Maya Siu said.

While it can help improve skills, senior and soccer player Sophie Glick said club sports can feel like a requirement for the girls’ soccer team.

“If you play club soccer, then you have a leg up,” Glick said. “I don’t think there’s anyone on varsity that hasn’t played club soccer for a long time.”

Similarly, volleyball’s competitiveness can force players to commit to the sport at a

R

CA

BY O S

In addition to adding pressure on athletes, club sports can create a financial burden for families. According to the Aspen Institute’s latest parent survey, the average U.S. sports family spent $1,016 on their child’s primary sport in 2024, a 46% increase since 2019.

With the cost of club sports rising, senior Syum Mehra’s club now charges around $4,000 to $5,000 per season. Mehra said that despite the price, his club doesn’t prioritize player development. He added that the rising costs limit opportunities for athletes who can’t afford these prices.

“In every sport, there’s gonna be great players who will never be heard of. There’s players who will never get the chance to be recognized,” Mehra said. “So I think that’s a big thing in our country as well, is that there may be a player who’s 10 times 100 times better than me, but can’t afford to play, so no one will ever see that.”

PHOTO

enced injuries from club sports that have significantly impacted their playing careers. Fong Heady began experiencing back pain while playing club basketball in eighth grade.

After fracturing his back in January of his sophomore year, surgery kept him out of basketball until the beginning of his junior high school season in October.

“You see a lot of injuries playing club sports because you only focus on that one sport throughout the entire year,” Fong Heady said. “And I think that club sports don’t really give you an opportunity to rest.”

These injuries can lead to negative mental health effects, which athletes struggle with nationwide.

A 2019 study found that about 35% of elite athletes have mental health con- cerns. The report also found that nearly one in 10 young athletes experi-

LL BI

young age just to have a chance to make the high school team, which Korslund said can be tough on younger players.

“It is a bummer that we cannot offer people a spot and the over-specialization of athletes is a bummer because it causes injuries and burnout in athletes at a young age,” head girls’ volleyball coach Hannah Korslund said. “The fact that athletes are being forced into club sports due to overcompetitiveness at a young age is unfortunate because they don’t try new things.”

According to an anonymous student-athlete,* one coach strongly encouraged players to take his private lessons at a local club program in the offseason, with retaliation if they didn’t comply.

“I definitely felt pressured to join his program because I was scared he wouldn’t favor me,” the source said. “And that ended up hap-

The fact that athletes are being forced into club sports due to overcompetitiveness at a young age is unfortunate because they don’t try new things.”

— Hannah Korslund, volleyball head coach

pening when he found out I was training with a different coach and he revoked my privileges and even has the right to kick me off the team.”

Philipopoulos said he would not support coaches offering incentives to players for offseason play.

“I’m not aware of coaches offering private lessons to athletes, but if I was, I would definitely take care of it,” Philipopoulos said. “I would most definitely call that a conflict of interest and would not be supportive of it.”

According to Korlsund, limited player capacity in Burlingame’s popular sports pushes out less-experienced or casual players, making tryouts even more competitive as those who do participate must perform at a higher level to be considered for the team.

“That’s really the biggest bummer. It’d be great if, for high school sports, a kid could come and say, I’d love to play volleyball. I’ve never played volleyball before, and they can make a team,” Korslund said, “But right now that’s not the reality of how many girls we have trying out.”

*This source was granted anonymity because of disciplinary consequences. For more information, read through the B’s anonymous policy.

It means that I go from practice to practice, so I need to manage my time better,” Horan said. “So I’ve built good habits because I don’t really have time to procrastinate. I just have to do my work then and there.”

Junior Hannah Goldberg, who has played club soccer since early elementary school, said that despite the pressure of club sports and the challenge of managing her time, working toward her goal of playing collegiate soccer has kept her motivated and excited to attend practice every day.

“Being surrounded by girls who have made it and they’re committed to these top teams, or, talking to coaches, getting experience and feedback from other coaches, just makes everything so real, and it makes you realize I can work hard and I can get there, and hopefully I’ll get to that,” Goldberg said. “It’s kind of inspiring. For me, it’s just motivational, that’s

soccer community and the friends she has made throughout the years.

“I love that because my soccer is so far away, my soccer friends are completely separate from my school friends, and I’ve created this whole other side of my friendships that I love,” Goldberg said. “When we hang out outside of school and see each other, it’s so fun because we update each other on our lives.”

Similarly, for sophomore Chase Cyb, club swimming may seem like an individual sport, but the community he has built at his club keeps him participating.

“The social aspect of, even at swim meets or events, being around those people just makes me a great person,” Cyb said.

6

7

Club Sports

BY JOSIE WETTAN

A Balancing Act

Social Media Manager

BY KAI SHAH

Sports Editor

BY OSCAR BILL

Staff Reporter

A

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F HANNAH

O SY

O COU RTE

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SY O

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AYA SIU

GOLDBERG

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F PAYT SY O

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ON FONG HEADY

ence burnout, and up to 35% experience overtraining.

Fong Heady said he thinks the pressure to perform comes from himself and his desire to be the best player he can be. This in turn can derail his internal thoughts.

“Sometimes, if you don’t feel like you’re doing enough, or you feel you’re not doing good enough, then it kind of hinders your abilities while you’re playing in-game, and also impacts your mental health a lot, because you think you’re not as good as you should be,” Fong Heady said.

O OT

Burning money, burning out ver 60 million children and teens play organized sports, but about 70% of them drop out by age 13, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Club sports are a $40 billion industry, yet kids are dropping out of youth sports at high rates. This staggering statistic may be linked to the many negative aspects of club sports, including injuries, burnout, mental health struggles, time commitment, and financial burden.

Some athletes, including senior Payton Fong Heady, have experi-

PH

EHR

MM YU FS

Teammates and triumphs

A

t nearly every lunch table, you will likely find at least one student with experience in club sports. Whether in club water polo, soccer, or basketball, these teams have helped shape students’ high school experiences, from learning a routine to building lasting friendships and a sense of community.

For senior Ellora Horan, who began playing club soccer in third grade, balancing soccer with her other activities has helped her build time management skills.

“I run track and cross country.

In every sport, there’s gonna be great players who will never be heard of. There’s players who will never get the chance to be recognized.”

who I want to be. That’s what I need to work towards.”

While competing at a high level has been challenging, junior Lucas Carlson, who has played club water polo since middle school, said that the exercise and access to elite coaching are great benefits in club athletics.

“First of all, great exercise. If you’re really into water polo and want to get really good, really fast, club water polo has some of the best coaches,“ Carlson said.

Another factor that Goldberg said helps her avoid burnout is the

The social aspect of, even at swim meets or events, being around those people just makes me a great person.”

— Chase Cyb, sophomore

— Syum Mehra, senior PHOTO BY KAI SHAH

PHOTO BY JOSIE WETTAN GRAPHICS AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMMA YU

Students and staff evaluate club sports’ role in success

G

irls’ volleyball is one of Burlingame’s most competitive sports. Across three teams, there are only 45 roster spots, while more than 70 athletes typically try out every year. The program’s competitive nature leads many prospective players to search for ways to improve their chances. Head coach Hannah Korslund said many players compete in club volleyball during the offseason to train for the school season. While club experience isn’t required to make the team, Korslund said it helps players prepare for the intensity of tryouts.

“The program’s very competitive,” Korslund said. “So girls that are not playing as much and who are not playing at a high level in [club teams] and are playing only three or four months out of the year have a harder time being successful at tryouts.”

This trend isn’t exclusive to volleyball. Club sports are becoming increasingly important in tryouts for many Burlingame teams.

“Club sports can be a positive or a help for it because [the athlete] has been playing for a long time. Maybe they have skills and experiences others may not have,” Athletic Director John Philipopoulos said. “Coaches want to win. They want to have the best players on their team, and they’re going to make those choices based on

skill level.”

Junior Maya Siu, said basketball players can benefit from practicing in the offseason through private organizations.

“It’s necessary to establish the basic skills, like dribbling, passing and defense [in a club team] because it is sort of a short season with not a lot of practice time and we have a lot of games,” junior and girls’ basketball player Maya Siu said.

While it can help improve skills, senior and soccer player Sophie Glick said club sports can feel like a requirement for the girls’ soccer team.

“If you play club soccer, then you have a leg up,” Glick said. “I don’t think there’s anyone on varsity that hasn’t played club soccer for a long time.”

Similarly, volleyball’s competitiveness can force players to commit to the sport at a

R

CA

BY O S

In addition to adding pressure on athletes, club sports can create a financial burden for families. According to the Aspen Institute’s latest parent survey, the average U.S. sports family spent $1,016 on their child’s primary sport in 2024, a 46% increase since 2019.

With the cost of club sports rising, senior Syum Mehra’s club now charges around $4,000 to $5,000 per season. Mehra said that despite the price, his club doesn’t prioritize player development. He added that the rising costs limit opportunities for athletes who can’t afford these prices.

“In every sport, there’s gonna be great players who will never be heard of. There’s players who will never get the chance to be recognized,” Mehra said. “So I think that’s a big thing in our country as well, is that there may be a player who’s 10 times 100 times better than me, but can’t afford to play, so no one will ever see that.”

PHOTO

enced injuries from club sports that have significantly impacted their playing careers. Fong Heady began experiencing back pain while playing club basketball in eighth grade.

After fracturing his back in January of his sophomore year, surgery kept him out of basketball until the beginning of his junior high school season in October.

“You see a lot of injuries playing club sports because you only focus on that one sport throughout the entire year,” Fong Heady said. “And I think that club sports don’t really give you an opportunity to rest.”

These injuries can lead to negative mental health effects, which athletes struggle with nationwide.

A 2019 study found that about 35% of elite athletes have mental health con- cerns. The report also found that nearly one in 10 young athletes experi-

LL BI

young age just to have a chance to make the high school team, which Korslund said can be tough on younger players.

“It is a bummer that we cannot offer people a spot and the over-specialization of athletes is a bummer because it causes injuries and burnout in athletes at a young age,” head girls’ volleyball coach Hannah Korslund said. “The fact that athletes are being forced into club sports due to overcompetitiveness at a young age is unfortunate because they don’t try new things.”

According to an anonymous student-athlete,* one coach strongly encouraged players to take his private lessons at a local club program in the offseason, with retaliation if they didn’t comply.

“I definitely felt pressured to join his program because I was scared he wouldn’t favor me,” the source said. “And that ended up hap-

The fact that athletes are being forced into club sports due to overcompetitiveness at a young age is unfortunate because they don’t try new things.”

— Hannah Korslund, volleyball head coach

pening when he found out I was training with a different coach and he revoked my privileges and even has the right to kick me off the team.”

Philipopoulos said he would not support coaches offering incentives to players for offseason play.

“I’m not aware of coaches offering private lessons to athletes, but if I was, I would definitely take care of it,” Philipopoulos said. “I would most definitely call that a conflict of interest and would not be supportive of it.”

According to Korlsund, limited player capacity in Burlingame’s popular sports pushes out less-experienced or casual players, making tryouts even more competitive as those who do participate must perform at a higher level to be considered for the team.

“That’s really the biggest bummer. It’d be great if, for high school sports, a kid could come and say, I’d love to play volleyball. I’ve never played volleyball before, and they can make a team,” Korslund said, “But right now that’s not the reality of how many girls we have trying out.”

*This source was granted anonymity because of disciplinary consequences. For more information, read through the B’s anonymous policy.

It means that I go from practice to practice, so I need to manage my time better,” Horan said. “So I’ve built good habits because I don’t really have time to procrastinate. I just have to do my work then and there.”

Junior Hannah Goldberg, who has played club soccer since early elementary school, said that despite the pressure of club sports and the challenge of managing her time, working toward her goal of playing collegiate soccer has kept her motivated and excited to attend practice every day.

“Being surrounded by girls who have made it and they’re committed to these top teams, or, talking to coaches, getting experience and feedback from other coaches, just makes everything so real, and it makes you realize I can work hard and I can get there, and hopefully I’ll get to that,” Goldberg said. “It’s kind of inspiring. For me, it’s just motivational, that’s

soccer community and the friends she has made throughout the years.

“I love that because my soccer is so far away, my soccer friends are completely separate from my school friends, and I’ve created this whole other side of my friendships that I love,” Goldberg said. “When we hang out outside of school and see each other, it’s so fun because we update each other on our lives.”

Similarly, for sophomore Chase Cyb, club swimming may seem like an individual sport, but the community he has built at his club keeps him participating.

“The social aspect of, even at swim meets or events, being around those people just makes me a great person,” Cyb said.

8

November 3, 2025

Sports

Boys’ water polo aims for CCS berth Copy Editor

“We’ve beat teams that we’ve never beat before,” junior Lucas Carlson said.

Boys’ varsity water polo has had a historic season. With a 6-2 record in league play, the team has its sights set on qualifying for the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs and potentially winning the league.

“It’s pretty awesome if you think about it,” Carlson said.

“For example, Woodside, we haven’t beat them since 2017, so this current team hasn’t beat them before… But still, like M-A, those types of teams, we haven’t beat them before, so far, our league record’s really good.”

Senior Adrian Gong, on the other hand, expected this level of success before the season began.

“They’re pretty much exactly what I expected,” Gong said. “I actually was hoping we would be undefeated this season. However, we did mess up against Sequoia.”

Burlingame’s dominance can be partly attributed to its young roster. While other teams lost their best players to graduation, Burlingame has maintained all of its starters from the last sea-

son.

“We have a huge advantage because we didn’t graduate any starters from last year, so we’re basically the same exact team from the past two years, while all the other teams have graduated a lot of their older or more experienced players,” Gong said.

Head coach Rory Hocker said the team’s strong mentality has helped them win games from a losing position.

Some of the strengths of the team are just overall, our commitment to win and our desire to just get after it every single game.”

- Matthew Derossett, senior

“Some of the strengths of the team are just overall, our commitment to win and our desire to just get after it every single game, like when we played Hillsdale on Monday, we went down 4-1 early in the second quarter, and we ended up winning the game 22-9, outscoring Hillsdale

PHOTO BY AKIRA NAKAMURA

BY AKIRA NAKAMURA

Junior Lucas Carlson shoots on opposing team’s goal during practice.

17-2 over the second and third quarter. So it’s just because the team was together,” Hocker said.

Senior Matthew Derossett and Gong have been instrumental to the team’s success, putting up exceptional statistical lines that reflect their impact in the pool.

“Our two senior captains have been our leaders, for sure, both in and out of the pool,” Hocker said. “Matthew Derossett leads the league in goals with 85 [101 as of Oct. 29].

Adrian Gong is second in goals with 40-something. But then he also leads the league in assists.

So they’re both nearing the 100-point total on the season, and they’ve been massive for us every single game.”

Following a narrow 12-11 defeat against Hillsdale High School, the team is now focused on defeating Aragon High School on Friday, Oct. 31. This game will determine whether they qualify for CCS. “We have this game on Halloween against Aragon High

School, which is a team from the league below, to see who’s gonna get to CCS. But we’re pretty confident about that game,” junior Colby Dang said.

As the season nears its end, qualifying for CCS would solidify the team’s historic success.

“Ultimately, make it back to CCS, lead Burlingame to CCS for the first time in eight years.

That really hasn’t changed. It’s just the path has been kind of adjusted along the way through wins and losses,” Hocker said.

Girls’ golf dominates Ocean Division, moves up to Bay

BY ALEX BERTELLI

Copy Editor

While teams typically struggle after losing their experienced players, Liu said the sense of community has boosted their performance.

“The team has been so successful this year because of the dynamic and everybody. Everyone is building each other up, even when we hit bad shots,” Liu said. “Before I joined the team, I felt like golf would be very serious and everyone would be very focused on themselves.

But as I joined the team, I realized that it’s more of a team game instead of individually, even though you only play as an individual.”

Liu also said she felt PHOTO COURTESY OF MICH ELLE RILEY

Girls’ golf played an extremely dominant season, earning an undefeated 10-0 record in the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) Ocean Division. To finish out the season, three players — juniors Elaina Foley and Sharon Sims Calzolai and freshman Jolene Liu — competed in the PAL Individual Tournament at Poplar Creek Golf Course on Tuesday, Oct. 28. They played the 18-hole green alongside students from both divisions, who were selected during individual qualifiers the previous week. Foley placed fifth with a score of 80, Liu tied for 10th with 88, and Sims Calzolai shot a 93.

At the start of the season, the team adjusted to the major shift that occurred after the gradua-

tion of 14 seniors. Coach Traci Kreppel said she was initially unsure about how the team would perform, but saw a lot of talent in the tryout pool of nearly 40 students.

“I didn’t really have a lot of expectations because we graduated so many seniors last year, so I didn’t think that we were going to be a very strong team, [it] was going to be a rebuilding season,” Kreppel said. “But we had our best players that we had last year return, and then we had more great players arrive. So it’s been really amazing for us.”

personally motivated by Foley, who has delivered consistently strong performances, including setting multiple season records at Mariner’s Point — the best being a 1-under par — and being named an athlete of the week by the San Mateo Daily Journal on Oct. 7. Liu applauds Foley for challenging her to “be better.”

Foley, who transferred from an online school, played on a golf team for the first time this season and said being part of a team elevated her experience.

“I used to play individual tournaments, but obviously, since we’re on a team, it’s not just your score, it’s everyone’s score, so we’re always very encouraging towards each other, making sure everyone is included,” Foley said.

While the team struggled last season to find consistent access

to public greens, the new year has brought the opening of Topgolf and reserved space at other golf clubs, giving the team more diverse practice locations.

The girls’ golf team will be younger and more connected going into next season in the higher PAL Bay Division. With longevity in mind, Riley said her main goal is to cement skills that will last after high school golf has come and gone.

“My ambition is always just to have the girls feeling confident and comfortable,” Riley said. “It’s lovely when they win.

But I think the larger skill is conquering your mental capacity to be like, ‘Okay, that didn’t go well, I’m gonna move on.’ That’s a skill you’ll use the rest of your life.”

November 3, 2025

9

Sports

FOOTBALL

O ve

Lucas Carlson

rall Rec ord

14-9

“We’ve beat teams that we’ve never beat before … for example, Woodside, we haven’t beat them since like 2010.”

O ve

Ravi Krishnan

rall Rec ord

5-3

“It’s a must win. Not only because of senior night, not only last home game, but it’s for playoff standings as well.”

Kendall Gorshen 10-6 “I am just really thankful to be a part of this team. I think we have come a long way from the start.”

Katie Trevor “I want the underclassmen now to feel that sense of belonging and teamwork that I felt coming into cheer.”

Sam Mullen-Weaver “I feel like our team is very strong and we have chances to go to state and CCS.”

GIRLS’ TENNIS

rall Rec ord

GIRLS’ WATERPOLO

BOYS’ WATERPOLO

“The team has been so successful this year because of the dynamic and everybody.”

O ve

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

10-3

FLAG FOOTBALL

Jolene Liu

rall Rec ord

CHEER

O ve

CROSS COUNTRY

GIRLS’ GOLF

Season in Review

O ve

Sam Tom

rall Rec ord

17-6

“I hope everyone on the team is happy with where they’re at and I hope every game is really meaningful to them.”

O ve

Aria Sherwood

rall Rec ord

13-1

“Everyone’s been really congratulatory, really excited for everyone else’s success, and I’m really happy about that.”

O ve

Jordan Toomey

rall Rec ord

18-13

“It was just a very cool thing to be the first game in the new gym. It was a very cool experience.”

Records are accurate as of Oct. 30.

10

THE BURLINGAME B Editor-in-Chief Joelle Huysmans Managing Editors Evelyn Du Henry Gardner Iny Li Design Editor Kaylee Hwang Sports Editor Kai Shah Social Media Manager Josie Wettan Business Manager Paige Cornelius Arts Director Emma Yu Diversity Coordinator Abby Zarahn Social Coordinator Audrey Wei Copy Editors Alex Bertelli Akira Nakamura Oliva Newman Senior Reporters Chiara Wesley Staff Reporters Andrew Barrera Oscar Bill Peili Brown Leia Burlingham Abigail Chou Addison Chu Lea Von Hagen Claire Hwang Scarlett Ko Chantal Lay Faith Lee Jason Lu Jonah Moss Eddy Josue Ortiz Tehya Scholz-Moresco Elsa Scimeca Teacher Adviser Melissa Murphy

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

BY THE BURLINGAME B EDITORIAL BOARD The Italian exchange program has been a part of Burlingame for years. Yet, it is not the largest foreign language program in terms of classes or students, and no similar opportunities exist for Spanish or Mandarin students. Students in every language program should have the opportunity to be immersed in another language and culture.

The Italian program allows students to visit Italy for two weeks and host Italian students in return. Like similar programs, it has measurable benefits. According to a 2014 study conducted by the researchers at the University of Bern, learning a language through cultural immersion rather than a classroom improves cognitive flexibility. Being surrounded by a language and practicing more frequently also helps increase fluency.

Through exchange programs, students can also network with peers around the world, helping them understand other cultures and opening doors to new opportunities. During the exchange, students attend school in Italy and meet new teachers, students, and families. Beyond that, the con-

The Italian foreign exchange students and their hosts took a field trip to Chinatown on Oct. 20, one of the visits on their travel itinerary. nection between foreign students and their hosts often runs deeper, creating friendships that will last a lifetime. The strength in these connections was evident on Oct. 27, when Burlingame and Italian students parted ways and reacted emotionally to the program’s end.

This cultural experience should not be exclusive to Italian students.

Mandarin and Spanish are widely spoken and used around the world, and students learning these languages deserve the same opportunities.

According to Pew Research, 92% of students in Europe learn another

language, compared with only one in five K-12 students in the United States. We should aim for the same emphasis on language and culture, and exchange programs are a good way to do so. These programs are expensive and challenging to coordinate, but we should work to make them accessible to everyone.

Instead of individual boosters, Burlingame should focus on creating a unified program. By spreading funds to facilitate exchange opportunities for all foreign language courses, our school would give every student the chance to have this transformative experience.

I work better in the...

Morning

BY CHIARA WESLEY

Senior Reporter

Transitioning from sophomore to junior year was a bigger academic leap than I expected. I soon realized I would have homework from most of my classes every night. With that came a switch in study habits: procrastination would no longer work.

Initially, I stayed up late working, but I struggled to keep my eyes open at midnight. When a friend told me she was waking up at 5 a.m. to study at a coffee shop, I joined her. In that first study session, I realized I was far more productive in the quiet morning hours than I had ever been late at night.

By starting off my day earlier and putting myself in a focused environment, I built a routine that helped me overcome initial feelings of sluggishness and get more sleep. Before, I’d convince myself I had endless time to do my work, and would resort to scrolling through social media or calling my friends, telling myself I’d just “go to bed late.” However, since adopting a morning routine — one that Harvard Business Review says 92% of highly productive people follow — I have gained far more self-restraint.

I assigned my studying and drilling to be completed in the morning, leaving smaller tasks for the evening.

According to Oxford Learning, the best time to learn new material and review notes is in the morning, when the brain is sharpest and refreshed from sleep. At night, I struggled to retain information from assigned readings, but in the morning, the same chapters made sense instantly.

As someone who used to procrastinate and would often end up stressed, I noticed a difference in my mood and focus after I started waking up earlier. My mornings have become a quiet, productive time that sets a positive tone for the rest of the day. I’ve found myself to be less inpatient and irritable, even when work piles up.

There’s no better feeling than coming home after a long day without unfinished work hanging over me.

Night

BY ALEX BERTELLI

Copy Editor

There is an art to nighttime; I mean this in two ways.

First, there is something simply beautiful about nighttime. It is tranquil; light fades, and so does the burden of time. For me, the world grows undisturbed, and I can be alone with my work, my thoughts, myself.

Second, there is a technique for using night hours, and it relies on how we approach it. While genetic factors play a role — only around 15% of people are chronotypically “night owls” — many more can use night hours effectively if they are in the right mental state.

For me, night works best when I focus on something I enjoy and view the time as a freedom as opposed to a prison. When free time becomes a delicacy, mindset is the difference between fighting to stay awake and staying awake to fight.

That said, it is not always a pretty fight. Some days, homework, sports, or extracurriculars mean there is no choice but to get home late and stay up late.

Getting up early to address the workload may seem like an alternative, but I personally find it harder to sleep with that burden on me, knowing that my rest can only last so long.

There are other concessions I have to make. Yes, early birds tend to have more organized routines. Yes, society tends to prefer early risers, and you’ve probably encountered the (false) dichotomy of early-morning CEOs versus late-night slackers. But statistics can only say so much. Chronotypes are biological, so for some, it isn’t as simple as just waking up early to be productive. Morning people may be happier on average, but it’s more complicated when I prefer the night or have obligations that keep me from sleeping early.

At the end of the day, your lifestyle is yours to decide.

If you work best in the morning, by all means wake up early — just don’t assume that everyone can or should do the same.

GRAPHIC BY CHANTAL LAY

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.

Editorial Exchange programs should be more accessible PHOTO COURTESY OF DEEPTI SINHA

B

November 3, 2025

Opinion

November 3, 2025

11

Community

Athletes find adventure in extreme sports

ACROSS 1. 1 of 12 in a dodecagon 5. 63-Across when it gets really cold 9. Bloody ___ 13. Enough 63-Across can form one 14. What you might after a bad encounter with 26Down, if you’re allergic 16. ___ vera 17. Advantage

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18. Palaces that may only last so long 20. CD above can?* 22. Like moles and yards 23. Solo in an opera 24. Smidgen 27. Like the thing you take care of if you 3-Down 28.

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Man 33. Shallowest Great Lake 34. Emergency situation 37. Gifts 40. What you might lose if you do something embarrassing, I guess 41. Lukewarm 42. Positive exam critters?*

Junior Damien Gong does a no-hander over a gap.

Freshman Caetano Calogne hits a jump during an enduro event.

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56. Strung puppet 59. Not odd 60. Last word in a prayer 61. Swedish currency 62. Like a 5x5 crossword 63. It falls during storms and is, in my opinion, pretty cool 64. Go against, in fencing 65. Back talk

LEE HWANG

Crossword

They started out riding casually but eventually began competing in local events, such as the Sea Otter Classic, a yearly race in Monterey, and biking on more extreme trails in their free time.

The two now compete in multiple events, including enduro, cross country, and freeriding, and both hope to continue the sport as they get older.

“Some of my favorite memories are big rides with friends and jumps,” Matthews said, “I think the sport is going to grow because there’s a bunch of people starting the sport, you see the videos on social media, and it sort of just spreads from there.”

According to Calogne, as the community grows, proper trail maintenance also becomes more important, since building and maintaining trails is a collaborative effort that often yields more elusive trails.

“There’s always secret trails that you can find, and they’re always really good,” Calogne said.

For Matthews and Calogne, mountain biking will always have a special place in their heart, going beyond the competitive aspect.

“It’s not the competition that draws me to the sport,” Matthews said. “It’s the fun.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAETANO CALOGNE

“Adrenaline rush.”

That was how junior Damien Gong — president of Livin’ the Dream, a club focused on extreme outdoor sports — described the excitement of mountain biking.

There’s no denying that the sport’s speed and difficulty can be dangerous, but the intensity is what attracts many athletes, including Gong. Some of Gong’s favorite memories involve executing his most extreme stunts.

“My favorite memories are probably sending my first big jump and landing it, as well as landing my first backflip,” Gong said.

While Gong now mountain bikes at a high level, his interest started during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he began going on trail rides with his dad to pass the time. Gradually, he took on more challenging trails and events. By the time he started high school, Gong said he was fully invested in the sport but noticed a lack of a mountain bike community at school. That inspired him to create the Livin’ the Dream club, where students can bond over extreme sports.

“I wanted to create a club

for people who are into smaller activities. Mountain biking obviously isn’t a super popular activity. When I started, I only had two friends who mountain biked, and I wanted to make that community bigger,” Gong said.

The club has garnered attention from not only mountain bikers but also skiers, surfers, and snowboarders, covering a range of extreme sports and skill levels. In addition to sports, members also focus on community service.

“We’ve done a beach clean up and it’s really rewarding to get to pick up trash and beautify the beaches that we all share,” junior Hannah Osinski, the club’s vice president, said. “The club encompasses a lot of outdoor adventures.”

Gong hopes the club will continue to grow and eventually resemble sports clubs at other schools.

“I know Carlmont has a big [mountain bike club] because there’s a trail right there,” Gong said. “I hope Burlingame can become something like that: a lot of people riding in a big group.”

Gong’s passion for the sport is shared with freshmen Stephen Matthews and Caetano Calogne, both longtime cyclists.

GRAPHIC BY KAY

Staff Reporter

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAMIEN GONG

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47. Visitors in a UFO 48. Back-and-forth sport 52. Things on 39-Downs 53. Resident of Helsinki 54. Europe’s largest volcano 55. Close 56. Injure 57. Reddit interview format, for short 58. Hiking gear store

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November 3, 2025

12

Cottage Goods

BY ABBY ZARAHN

Diversity Coordinator

Businesses deliver home-baked pastries to communities MICRO BAKERY Veronica Cotter’s love for baking began with her grandmother, who nicknamed her a “ragamuffin” because of Cotter’s messy hairdo during early morning baking sessions. Cotter would use the nickname for her Class A cottage bakery: Ragamuffin Bakery LLC. “She always called me a ragamuffin when my hair looked a mess. She’s like, ‘Why are you looking like a ragamuffin?’

And it’s just something that always kind of stuck with me, and I kind of liked it,” Cotter said.

Based in San Bruno, Cotter started Ragamuffin

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VERONICA COTTER

I would like to just be a presence for the community and be a pillar for high-quality baked goods.”

Bakery in July. She keeps a small menu, offering items like brioche, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and sticky buns.

Through her bakery, Cotter said she hopes to bring a missing piece to San Bruno by providing homemade artisanal baked goods made with organic ingredients.

“There’s not many organic bakeries around here either. So again, finding gaps and filling those, I’m hoping, will help me be successful,” Cotter said. “... A lot of bakeries go under; it’s hard to have momentum and keep things moving forward.”

MICRO BAKERY For home baker Carrie Ann Dixon, Farmette Bakery in Half Moon Bay was inspired by her longtime passion for decorating cookies for family and friends and her dream of owning a hobby farm, or “farmette.”

“I read an article, actually, somewhere about a local woman who had a cottage bakery, and I hadn’t really heard of them before, but I decided that this is something I could do with kids at home. And I was kind of amazed that this was an option,” Dixon said.

When Dixon started Farmette Bakery in the summer of 2019, she primarily sold decorated

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARRIE ANN DIXON

I think having a really quality product, or at least something that you’re really confident in selling... is key.” sugar cookies and seasonal baked goods. She was also experimenting with sourdough, and by the end of 2019, transitioned into a sourdough-focused cottage bakery that sold her breads at a stand called “The Farmstand.”

“I was just selling sourdough bread at first, but now I’ve branched out to sourdough bread, sourdough focaccia, sourdough pizza dough.

All my breads and muffins I incorporate sourdough starter into, I even do sourdough cookies,” Dixon said. “So everything kind of has a sourdough focus on it, and I just love sourdough.”

Cottage style bakeries revolve around one central element: serving the community.

An industry that has grown more since the COVID-19 pandemic, these businesses offer affordable homemade baked goods.

The B spoke with two Peninsula-based cottage bakeries to learn about their paths to becoming licensed businesses.

GRAPHICS AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMMA YU

A cottage industry bakery, also known as a cottage style bakery, is a small baking business run from an individual’s home. These businesses can sell certain low-risk foods in accordance with the state’s Department of Public Health’s list of approved foods.

Cottage bakery owners must complete a food handler’s course and obtain an approved business license. They are also required to label each product with an ingredients list.

Eventually, home bakers can be officially recognized as a cottage bakery through two types of permits: Class A, which allows for direct sales only, and Class B, for direct and indirect sales.

Jake Feuchtwang

Although not an official cottage bakery, freshman Jake Feuchtwang started his own home baking business, Jake’s Kitchen, in June.

His passion for cooking and baking, along with seeing his aunt run her own bakery, inspired him to start the business.

“I kind of want to do the same, sell baked goods in the community.

I know my parents really enjoy my baked goods, and I wanted to share that with my friends,” Feuchtwang said.

Feuchtwang offers a four-item menu: challah, a braided Jewish bread; babka buns, a sweet bread typically swirled

with chocolate or cinnamon; and confetti and chocolate chip cookies.

Feuchtwang said starting his business was challenging, but with time, it has become what he had hoped it would be.

“I was pretty nervous starting out, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, and I kind of set these huge expectations for me,” Feuchtwang said. “… I would just say that it takes time to do it, and eventually you will get the business that you want.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAKE FEUTCHWANG