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Faculty protests flag flying at half-staff
BY JOELLE HUYSMANS Editor-in-Chief
BY INY LI Managing Editor
Between 8 and 8:20 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, several teachers and staff members gathered at Washington Park to protest the San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) decision to fly the American flag at half-staff in honor of Charlie Kirk. Participants held signs reading “No Honors for Bigotry & Hate” and distributed flyers explaining their intention and citing statements Kirk made in the past.
“I want students to see their teachers as models of the value of civil disobedience,” English teacher and leadership advisor Bethany Li said. “That if you see something that you feel is out of bounds with your values, that you should speak up and say so and not be afraid to speak truth to power.”
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who co-founded student organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on Wednesday, Sept. 10, during an event for Turning Point USA’s “Prove Me Wrong” tour at Utah Valley University.
Ribbon-cutting marks gym opening
BY JOSIE WETTAN Social Media Manager
After a two-year process of demolition and construction, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday, Aug. 27, to commemorate the opening of the new gym.
The district allocated $40 million from Measure L to build the gym, while the Parents Group raised funds for equipment, including the scorer’s table and weights.
The new facility, which has two floors and a multi-purpose room, is already in use. It accommodates the new dance class and team, physical education classes, and the volley-
ball team. After two years of practicing at Mills High School, senior volleyball player Ava Scatena said she is excited for the team to finally have a home court.
“When we didn’t have a gym, it kind of taught us how to be in survival mode because the other team had an advantage all the time. And so having it now, it feels like home again,” Scatena said.
During the ribbon-cutting, senior and student-athlete Nick Armstrong said in his speech that he looks forward to the sense of community the new gym will bring to the school.
“Not only does the gym allow me
to spend more time with my teammates, it builds a sense of community and pride for the entire student body. Although events out on the field are great, nothing compares to the roaring crowds of the indoor events,” Armstrong said during the speech.
Sophomore volleyball player Gabi Sanchez said the community aspect of the gym will manifest in more student support at home games.
“I’m really excited for home games because I’m trying to get a bunch of my friends to come
President Donald Trump, who praised Kirk and credited him with mobilizing young conservative voters, issued a presidential proclamation on Sept. 10, ordering U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff at all federal, public buildings and grounds, until sunset on Sunday, Sept. 14.
In an email to districtwide educators on Thursday, Sept. 11, SMUHSD Superintendent Randall Booker said the district will follow Trump’s presidential proclamation and fly all U.S. flags at half-staff for the time requested. In a follow-up email on Friday, Sept. 12, Booker said the San Mateo County Office of Education directed the district to comply with the proclamation. He cited Board Policy 6115, which allows the flag to be flown at half-staff “by order of the President and in accordance with presidential instructions or orders.”
After staff received Booker’s initial email, biology teacher Michael Dunn said many were
PHOTO BY JOELLE HUYSMANS
The U.S. flag at Burlingame was flown at halfstaff from Friday, Sept. 12, until sunset on Sunday, Sept. 14.
PHOTO BY ABBY ZARAHN
PHOTO BY OSCAR BILL
PHOTO BY OSCAR BILL
PHOTO BY EMMA YU
PHOTO BY ABBY ZARAHN
GRAPHIC BY EMMA YU
PHOTO BY OSCAR BILL
City advances efforts for street safety
Community calls for change after recent traffic-related death
BY ALEX BERTELLI Copy Editor
During a city council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2, Burlingame’s Vision Zero — a recently launched initiative that aims to reduce serious roadway injuries to zero — reported progress in identifying the city’s top safety concerns. The meeting took place three weeks after a 4-year-old boy was killed in a crash near Burlingame Avenue. It was Burlingame’s third traffic-related death in the past 12 months.
In the past five years, there were an average of 112 traffic-related injuries per year: 96 minor, 6 resulting in complaints of pain, 9 serious, and 1 fatal.
Data from Vision Zero
“You could argue that Burlingame has had as many pedestrian deaths proportionally as some of the most dangerous cities in the country, and for a city that prides itself on a walkable downtown and a very family-friendly community, I think a lot of people find that unacceptable,” Mike Swire, chair of San Mateo County’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, said.
At the meeting, Vision Zero said they identified four areas with higher-than-average collision rates: arterial roadways, school zones, downtown com-
mercial areas, and signalized intersections. They also created a heatmap using community input, highlighting hotspots along streets such as El Camino Real and Carolan Avenue and intersections like the Broadway and California crossing.
“Sometimes it’s pretty hectic, especially Broadway, the intersection, and railroads,” senior Adrian Su said. “There’s a lot of people that don’t know that you’re supposed to just go, and that’s caused a lot of trouble.”
Vision Zero’s outreach efforts found widespread community involvement, with over 650 submissions from 250 residents, according to their presentation during the meeting.
Likewise, after the fatal crash in August, Swire set up an Action Network portal, where 464 community members have submitted messages to the city council pushing for change as of Thursday, Sept. 18. One way the city is addressing street safety is through infrastructural change. In 2024, California passed daylighting laws that prohibit cars from parking within 20 feet of intersections to improve driver visibility. While the rule reduces street parking, daylighting has been shown to lower pedestrian accidents in places like San Francisco. According to Swire, a parking space along Donnelly Avenue was removed after the crash in August, potentially to improve driver visibility.
“The positive news is, I’ve heard that the city has removed that parking spot,” Swire said.
“I don’t know if they’ve officially claimed it was related to [the crash], but I think that’s a very positive step, because that’s, in my opinion, unsafe regardless
of whether it contributed in this case.”
In the past, a lack of neighborhood-wide support has stalled pedestrian safety efforts, according to Councilmember Donna Colson.
“Sometimes neighbors do not want to see their neighborhood change,” Colson said. “They don’t like seeing things like arrows get painted on, they may not like to lose parking in their neighborhood or their city if we’re trying to make something a little more safe.”
In April 2025, the city discussed implementing traffic-calming measures and a bike lane near Franklin Elementary School, about three weeks after a car struck and killed a 61-year-old woman crossing Trousdale Drive. The city ultimately decided not to install the Trousdale bike lane to maintain traffic flow and
space for emergency vehicles, but made improvements on Murchison Drive and Davis Drive.
“The fact that they ultimately refused to build the bike lane and slow the street on Trousdale, right in front of Franklin Elementary, was again prioritizing driver convenience over the safety of the kids that walk and bike to school,” Swire said.
According to Burlingame Police Department Traffic Sergeant Jason Orloff, changing road layout often involves trade-offs, making infrastructure projects a “balancing act.”
He cited the bike lane added along Carolan Avenue in 2023, which increased biker safety but led to unsafe driver behavior in some cases.
“It helps tremendously for its design purpose, which is bike safety, vulnerable roadway user safety. Now, because of
that, one lane traffic backs up… so people who are either unaware or don’t care drive into the bike lane and go around,” Orloff said. “Motorists will travel across the wheel line into oncoming traffic to get to where they need to go.”
As Vision Zero nears a finalized action plan — expected in winter 2025-26, according to the city’s timeline — Swire said Burlingame should prioritize street safety over driver convenience.
“We need our elected officials to do the right thing, to spend more money on safer streets, to approve projects when they come before them,” Swire said. “City of Helsinki — it’s probably a couple million people, zero traffic deaths, no pedestrians, no bikes, no cars. That is a goal that is achievable.”
New gym opens, students return to their home court
because they never really got to see me play last year because of how many away games we had, and how far away practices were,” Sanchez said. “Especially as someone who’s not on varsity, I’m excited for the varsity home games because it’ll be a lot more of a school activity.”
In addition to its community benefits, Sanchez said she appreciates the convenience of having the gym on campus.
“One of the reasons why we live where we live is because I live super close to this high school,” Sanchez said. “So, having practices at Mills, it was definitely challenging. I had to get the rides from friends a lot because it’s on the other side of Burlingame.”
The lack of indoor space also created challenges for the physical education (PE) department. Department Head and junior varsity volleyball coach Stephanie Lee said
the weather was one of the biggest obstacles.
“Rainy days and really hot days were really difficult because we’d have to come inside, and that meant we were pushing a teacher out of their classroom on their prep,” Lee said. “Also, consistently raining days there would be like a week where a kid wouldn’t have any PE, which is a bummer.”
As a volleyball coach, Lee said she has already seen the new gym encourage more student interactions.
“After school, you can just see all the different athletes interacting in the hallways,” Lee said. “It just feels good to be back at a gym that says ‘the Panthers’ on it.”
Athletic Director John Philipopoulos, who also spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, said he is grateful to everyone who helped make the gym’s completion possible.
“Today is more than just the un-
veiling of a new building. It is the celebration of a vision and a new beginning that will serve generations of BHS students, athletes, and families for many years to come,” Philipopoulos said during the speech.
A stream of cars moves through the Broadway intersection, with some turning left to cross the train tracks onto Carolan Avenue, which is a hotspot on a Vision Zero heatmap.
On Aug. 27, the ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of the new gym.
Members of the Burlingame community gathered to tour the new gym during the opening event on Aug. 27.
Senior and student-athlete Nick Armstrong addresses the crowd at the ribbon-cutting.
Tariffs raise costs for small businesses
BY AKIRA NAKAMURA Copy Editor
On April 2, President Donald Trump announced a 10% baseline tariff on imports from countries not already subject to other penalties and sanctions. Some tariffs have been reduced since then, but they continue to create challenges for local businesses and consumers alike, according to John Kevranian, owner of the Nuts for Candy store on Broadway.
According to Steinsson, the tariffs have changed rapidly, making it especially difficult for businesses to plan ahead. He said businesses may eventually adjust their supply chains to avoid purchasing foreign goods.
tariff on imports, implemented by the Trump administration 10%
“It’s been terrible. We looked at our invoices and, compared to last year, there has been a tremendous increase in cost, and at the end of the day, that cost the consumer ends up paying, because I can’t absorb that cost. I wouldn’t be in business,” Kevranian said.
Tariffs are taxes that the government places on goods imported into the country. Jon Steinsson, the Chancellor’s Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, said the tariffs will raise prices and have adverse effects on the overall economy.
“Evidence suggests that raising these tariffs will have negative impacts on the economy. It’ll raise prices domestically,” Steinsson said. “That’s probably the most important thing. It also makes the supply chains less efficient. It’s going to be harder to take advantage of low-cost sourcing of inputs.”
“Goods can’t be crossing borders very often when tariffs are high. So that’s going to be a major thing where companies have to change the way they do their supply chain management to avoid goods crossing borders,” Steinsson said.
Kevranian said these tariffs are problematic because many of his products are imported from outside the country.
“In our toy business, the majority of the toys are coming from China. Over 80%, so we have toys from Indonesia, Vietnam, where tariffs [are] less, but the choices are limited, and that is the issue we face,” Kevranian said.
Kevranian stocked up on products before the tariffs took effect, and said his inventory should last another six months. After that, he expects to restock many of his toys at higher rates.
tory knowing that [Trump] would increase the tariffs. So we’re in good shape, but when we need to buy things as a fillin, we’re paying extra for gummies from Europe, toys from China, toys from Spain,” Kevranian said.
of toys in Nuts for Candy store are sourced from China 80%
“From January to early March, I did a lot of purchasing where tariffs were reasonable, and we bought a lot of inven-
Derek Fong, owner of Lilikoi, a boba shop on Broadway, said he has also noticed price increases even though he purchases his products domestically. Despite the rising prices, Fong said he is reluctant to switch suppliers because he is familiar with his current sources and satisfied with their quality.
“I could see that being something that I have to research, that could really kind
of depend on where this all goes before it expires,” Fong said. “I am happy with them on consistency with their products that I am familiar with.
Having to source it elsewhere could also affect consistency in what we serve.”
Senior Ron Veksler said he has not noticed substantial price or inventory changes and believes the costs are not yet being passed on to consumers.
“Manufacturers and businesses are both absorbing the prices. There is a lot of stuff that is also made in America already that we don’t realize,” Vexler said.
Kevranian said he believes it is important for customers to understand what tariffs are and how tariffs affect everyday people.
“The consumer needs to
learn the effects of the tariffs and also why these tariffs are hurting people and hurting business owners, hurting lower and middle class families, costing them more out of their income, and they have less spendable income,” Kevranian said.
While tariffs already reach 50% for some countries, Steinsson said he believes they could rise even higher in the future.
“[Trump] does seem to want to raise them more, and that’s been the pattern that there have been more and more tariffs, and he’s talked about tariffs on pharmaceuticals and other industries. So probably we’ll see more tariffs in the next few months,” Steinsson said.
SMUHSD complies with federal flag proclamation
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upset that the school’s half-staff flag would be used to honor Kirk and his beliefs.
“A lot of teachers were very upset that we would have a flag at half-staff to honor a person who promoted ideas like school shootings as necessary and worthwhile in order to protect the Second Amendment,” Dunn said.
It seemed the epitome of hypocrisy that as educators in schools… we would honor a man who promotes such ideas.”
- Michael Dunn, biology teacher
History teacher Matthew McDermott referenced a conversation with one of his students, noting the flag is lowered for Kirk despite Kirk not be-
ing a public official.
“One of my students brought up to me the fact that Charlie Kirk is not a public official, has never been elected to office, has never served in a broad public interest. He was not a school teacher… he was not a public servant, which is usually who we honor,” McDermott said.
For McDermott, flying the flag at half-staff is usually meant to “bring the country together.” He said honoring Kirk while not recognizing the other shooting victims, including former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, is “divisive” and does not call “for the end of violence.”
“What is it about him that unites us?” McDermott said. “We unite in the fact that people should not die, right? But what about the other deaths?”
Visit our website to read the latest version online
Nuts for Candy store owner John Kevranian stockpiled his products in anticipation of the tariffs.
Loey joins as new assistant principal
BY ALEX BERTELLI Copy Editor
After 10 years at Abraham Lincoln High School (ALHS) in San Francisco, Jordan Loey decided to take his own advice about growth and step outside his comfort zone. This year, he left his role as ALHS assistant principal to become Burlingame’s new assistant principal.
“One of the biggest things was professional growth,” Loey said. “I was always telling my staff and my students [that] in order for us to grow, we need to lean into our own discomfort. This was a really good opportunity for me to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, away from the school site and district that I’ve known my entire career.”
This wasn’t the first time Loey stepped out of his comfort zone. He
began at ALHS as a social studies teacher working predominantly with multilingual students, but quickly took on more responsibilities, such as fundraising, planning events, advocating for teachers’ contracts, designing curricula, and leading districtwide training. Eventually, Loey realized he wanted to make a bigger impact on the student body, which led him to transition to an administrative role.
“One of my mentors was like, ‘Hey, … do you want to continue to impact the 160 to 180 students that you were serving? Or do you want to have an impact with the 2100 students at your school site?’” Loey said. “Do you want to have an impact beyond your school site across the district? Because what you were able to do in your classroom role has already expanded outside of your class-
room.”
Loey earned educational administrative credentials from San Francisco State University and applied to become the assistant principal of ALHS after the previous one retired. In that role, he was involved in everything from budgeting and facilities to athletics, student activities, and campus repairs.
“My connections with folks across the district [are] how I learned how to do all of these things. Anytime something came up, it was like, ‘Mr. Loey can take care of it. He’ll learn how to do it, and then it’ll get taken care of,’” Loey said. “So I just accumulated a lot of stuff to learn and do. A lot of my primary responsibilities were to keep the school running.”
At Burlingame, Loey focuses mainly on discipline, athletics, and supervision. During lunch, he manages the lunch line and walks around the school grounds to meet students and familiarize himself with the campus.
Outside of school hours, Loey said he enjoys doing yoga, going bouldering at San Francisco rock gyms, walking while listening to podcasts, and caring for over 50 plants in his apartment. He started taking care of plants before the COVID-19 pandemic and has grown his collection ever since. On his desk sits “Chief Leaf,” his first surviving plant, from which he frequently takes cuttings to give as gifts.
Loey’s goal for the year is to get to know the students and staff better.
“At my old school, I had 2100 students and 180 staff, so it took me a while to get acclimated,” Loey said. “That’s the learning curve of all of the systems that we have here, as well as students and staff, but everyone’s been super welcoming, and I really enjoy being here.”
Loey’s Fun Facts
1. Loey is a sixth-generation Chinese-American San Franciscan, and tracked his family’s immigration history as part of his undergraduate work.
2. Loey cares for over 50 plants in his apartment and often gives cuttings as gifts.
3. Loey got into rock climbing in 2017 and started going more often after COVID-19 subsided.
Read the rest of the staff profiles online
Burlingame is welcoming 19 new staff for the 2025-26 school year: assistant principal Loey, a counselor, and teachers across the science, math, world language, social science, english, CTE/VAPA, health, and special education departments.
Jordan Loey, Burlingame’s new assistant principal for the 2025-26 school year, spent the past decade working in various roles at Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco.
Lately, house music seems unavoidable. Whenever a Burlingame student has control over the music, the genre’s signature high-energy beats are likely to echo through sports practices, car rides, and hangouts.
Gen Z’s love for house music isn’t exclusive to Burlingame. Across social media, videos show college students listening to the genre at parties, athletes using it in the background of highlight reels, DJs catering to Gen Z, and advertisements for house music festivals and concerts across the country.
According to Product London, an audio company specializing in house music, 45% of the genre’s listeners in 2024 were between the ages of 18 and 24. Senior Garret Wang fits that trend, calling house music an integral part of his day.
“[House music] is something that I listen to especially in the
morning when I’m kind of tired, or at night when I do my homework and I want to be very productive,” Wang said.
For Leo Lipsztein, a former professional DJ, house music has been a part of his life for years. He grew up going to clubs, attending concerts, and visiting record stores in New York City.
“I really loved going to record stores and just listening to whatever was there. And that was sort of my introduction to it,” Lipsztein said. “Just, organically, learning about it from friends, and then seeking it out myself.”
While Lipsztein’s generation plays an important role in house music’s history, he said the future of house music will be pioneered by today’s youth.
“I’ll say it’s always been young people. You know, it’s a nightlife, going out. It’s dancing and that’s what you do in your 20s,” Lipsztein said.
BY OSCAR BILL Staff Reporter BY HENRY GARDNER Managing Editor
Echoes of 1980s genre reverberate with Generation Z
For Alex Donati, a Burlingame alumna, house music isn’t just a hobby; it’s a way to connect people and bring them together.
Donati, a firefighter and professional DJ based in Los Angeles, began her music journey at Burlingame, where she created mixes for school sporting events by downloading songs off of LimeWire. In college, she realized music could be a profession, rather than just a hobby.
“I graduated from BHS in ‘09 and went to Arizona State, and I went to my first frat party, and I was like, this music is absolutely trash. I can do better,” Donati said. After that, she bought her
own decks and began creating music, eventually landing an internship at Bay Area radio station Wild 94.9. From there, she picked up gigs at local bars, Pride events, and even opened for artists like Mac Miller — all while working as a first responder. Donati said her favorite part of music is bringing people together, recalling a moment when she was DJing and the audience started singing with her.
“I don’t care where you’re from,” Donati said, “I don’t care how you voted, I don’t care what you’re thinking right now. Over the next three minutes and twelve seconds, you and I are going to be on the same page.”
Every day, “J.A.W.S” by Lxury blares out of the speakers attached to senior Grayson Howard’s DJ deck. For Howard, it’s more than a song — it’s the soundtrack to his latest hobby.
“I’ve played the same song like 100 times, just to figure out what everything does and how to mix and how to do all the stuff good DJs know how to do,” Howard said. “With that practice came a lot of the same song and same mixes, so my parents are probably pretty tired of it by now.”
While DJing may be new to Howard, house music certainly isn’t. Howard said he has been a fan for three years, ever since discovering
the genre while golfing.
“[House music] helps me focus, it definitely helped me focus on the golf course, and I’ve listened ever since,” Howard said. “When I’m trying to lock in, or do a sport, or something like that, it just boosts the mood.”
Howard said that after he noticed people ignoring the music at parties, he saw an opportunity to play music more engagingly.
“I figured it would be a good idea to have the full setup of a DJ board, and have people come up and suggest songs,” Howard said. “It’s kind of more inclusive with people, especially at parties, it includes people in the music process.”
PHOTOS
COURTESY OF ALEX DONATI
PHOTO COURTESY OF DONATI ALEX
PHOTO BY OSCAR BILL
Commercialization on
Community adjusts to new retail chains
Burlingame Avenue, long considered a jewel of local culture for its assorted storefronts, is about to welcome new tenants. This winter, chain stores like Alo Yoga are moving in, and Sweetgreen is already promoting a “coming soon” sign on its website.
Burlingame Avenue’s variability marks it as the center of town life. Visitors can grab ice cream after dinner or shop for clothes. For senior Mischa Fellner, this aspect is important because she said it can help accommodate a wide range of needs.
You [get] something from Abercrombie, and you want to return it. It’s convenient to have it on Burlingame Avenue. But then it’s also really nice to look at other smaller businesses that aren’t chains, and kind of take advantage of the diverse variety of different stores.”
Freshman Nico Bowen said the novelty and diversity of small businesses are important elements of Burlingame Avenue. However, Bowen finds himself shopping at larger chain stores more often, which he attributes to the fact that commercialized stores attract shoppers through their popularity.
- Mischa Fellner, senior
“The community is affected by larger chain stores. There are less strong relationships and bonds because the community changes,” Bowen said.
Meanwhile, Burlingame Barnes & Noble store manager Skylar Baker said local and chain businesses can coexist on Burlingame Avenue.
It’s not that black and white, people sometimes go someplace, sometimes go some other places... but also, look at how many restaurants we have, right? With different kinds of food. So, they all coexist like that.”
- Skylar Baker, manager of Burlingame’s Barnes & Noble store
As a small business owner, Lew Cohen shares the same sentiment. He opened B Street Books, a used bookstore on Burlingame Avenue, on May 30.
Although other shops on Burlingame Avenue, like Barnes & Noble and Gigglemugs, also sell books, Cohen said he doesn’t view them as competition. Instead, he welcomes their presence, seeing them as a way to bring more readers and book buyers to the area.
“We’re completely different animals, and I welcome more bookstores on the avenue. More bookstores is better. It just brings more readers out,” Cohen said.
However, according to Baker, some impacts of large businesses still remain. He said they can have both a positive and competitive effect on community engagement with local stores.
“There are a few different ways that a larger business can impact [small businesses]. In
many ways, one particular business can be a draw to the neighborhood, that brings more people to shop in the area, and that can be really positive,” Baker said.
Cohen is all too familiar with the additional struggles small business owners face to stay afloat. After running B Street Books in San Mateo for 16 years, Cohen moved his store to Burlingame Avenue to escape rising rent costs. Despite this, Cohen said he is hopeful that the community will continue to support and sustain local shops.
“Independent stores are what people really crave. And it’s hard to find because it’s hard to be in business these days, rent is expensive and help is expensive, insurance is a lot. There’s a lot of factors running against the small business person,” Cohen said.
Even as more chain stores are coming in, Burlingame Avenue continues to attract both local businesses and new ventures.
Abercrombie
on the Avenue
BY PAIGE CORNELIUS Business Manager
BY OLIVIA NEWMAN Copy Editor
Students share views on local changes
In order to collect information about the student body’s opinions, The B sent out a survey and recieved 74 replies. This is what we found.
30% 32% 16%
of students feel concerned about more chain stores opening on Burlingame Avenue
of students feel that it’s very important for Burlingame Avenue to keep its “local” feel
of students shop on Burlingame Avenue once a week
Do you prefer shopping at small/local businesses or larger chain stores?
No preference Larger .chain stores
Small local businesses
Abercrombie & Fitch
Sidewalk Juice Burlingame
La Corneta Taqueria Deja Vu Juice Bar
Fall Sports Spotlights
Folgner flies to finish line
For junior Tad Folgner, running cross country is as much about the team as it is about running.
Folgner, who started running in eighth grade, said the sport is appealing because it’s a team sport and he can run with his friends. He’s now one of the team’s top runners, leading in both practice and competitions.
“My favorite thing about cross country is kind of just the mentality that people have in the races,” Folgner said. “Where people kind of support each other to get to the finish and to clap for each other because we’re all going through the same pain.”
BY AUDREY WEI Social Coordinator
competitions helps him maintain balance in his life.
“An area in my life where I can just get a lot of my academic stress out and just an area where I could be a better person and just talk to people,” Folgner said.
Looking ahead, Folgner is aiming for a personal record on Hallmark Park, one of the ten toughest courses in the country. His goal: break 16 minutes, 50 seconds.
For Folgner, cross country provides a break from challenging schoolwork. He said running in
“I also definitely would like to maybe grow into a more of a leadership position, since we have such a young team this year,” Folgner said.
Lish sets eyes on CCS
As Junior Cailyn Lish heads into her third year on varsity, she said she hopes to perform well in the team’s first official CCS run. With a roster full of underclassmen, Lish is stepping into a leader-
Hopkins stirs varsity waves
Freshmen on varsity are not a common occur rence, typically only one or two joins each year. However, freshman Henry Hopkins, who is playing on the boys’ varsity water polo team, said he’s look ing forward to the season.
BY PAIGE CORNELIUS Business Manager
her feeling more prepared for the upcoming season.
“My inspirations are all the seniors that graduated last year. Every single one of them, we were all one big, real family and we all just grew together” Lish said.
BY AKIRA NAKAMURA Copy Editor
Hollrah makes final hurrah
really collaborating with others is what’s helped me the most. I’d say, because it is such a team sport that being able to have such trust in each other, and also confidence and trust in myself, is something that’s really helped me succeed.”
Tennis team limited by worn-out courts
BY KAI SHAH Sports Editor
When students arrive on campus every day, they are greeted by a brand-new $40 million gym. But just a short walk away, the tennis courts are cracked, overgrown with weeds, and patched with fabric instead of paint.
“I guarantee you there’s no other facility in Burlingame High School that looked as bad as the tennis courts did on our day one,” head girls’ and boys’ tennis coach Doug Stone said, describing his reaction on the first day of the season.
According to junior and player Ali Endicott, the tennis courts needed resurfacing since gym reconstruction began in 2023, and their condition has only worsened. When gym construction began, maintenance placed three portables on the set of four tennis courts closest to the football field, which took one of the eight total courts out of use.
surroundings to avoid injury.
“On multiple occasions, I’ve almost ran into the fence if I’ve tried to get a ball,” Vuong said.
With only six usable courts, the team can no longer host Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) or Central Coast Section (CCS) playoff matches, which require seven courts. However, they are still able to host home league matches.
Athletic Director John Philipopoulos said the original plan was to resurface the courts after gym construction, once the portables could be removed. However, the portables have stayed in place and been converted into classrooms to accommodate increased enrollment. For Stone, the portable classrooms not only block his view of half the courts but have also drawn complaints from opposing coaches.
I guarantee you there’s no other facility in Burlingame High School that looked as bad as the tennis courts did on our day one.”
— Doug Stone, head tennis coach
A second court is unplayable because a fence was added during the gym reconstruction to separate the portable classrooms from the courts. Sophomore and player Ella Vuong said the proximity of the fence made her more aware of her
“They are challenged playing their teams here, because not only are the courts potentially dangerous with the way they are currently, they cannot coach their teams to the ability that they would like to,” Stone said. Stone added that the poor court conditions are causing tennis balls to wear out by the end of the first set. Typically, the tennis balls last a full match, but players must now play with low-quality balls as
their match progresses.
“By the end of the second set, there’s nothing left to them, and if they have to play a third set tie break, they’re playing balls that should have been tossed out,” Stone said.
Due to the ongoing issues with the courts, junior and player Shea Mulready said she thinks the school prioritizes more popular sports over tennis.
“A lot of people care about football and whatnot, but I think that tennis is really an amazing sport, and they should definitely give it more thought and attention and care,” Mulready said.
Despite differing opinions, Philipopoulos said he values the Burlingame tennis
program. According to Philipopoulos, he and others had initially recommended placing the portables on the softball field instead.
“I know for a fact that I don’t, and our administration, we don’t minimize the contributions and the importance of boys’ and girls’ tennis here at BHS,” Philipopoulos said.
On Wednesday, Sept. 10, Stone met with Principal Jen Fong and Philipopoulos to discuss future plans for the courts. According to Stone, the portables have a strong chance of removal after this school year. While the timing of the resurfacing and other court improvements is still undecided, he said that if the courts are resurfaced this year, the work
would be scheduled between the girls’ and boys’ seasons. In addition, Stone hopes for a broader plan to upgrade the entire facility, including necessary changes to the nets, net posts, screens, and fences.
“We’re leaning towards getting the resurfacing done, because at least it’s a step in the right direction,” Stone said. He and administrators aim to bring the facility up to standard within about a year, but he said neither he nor the administration is satisfied with the lack of a clear plan.
“We need to figure out what the plan is and try to drive it,” Stone said. “And as far as a greater plan is concerned, nothing is happening until these portables get removed.”
Women’s professional sports deserve more respect
BY ABBY ZARAHN Diversity Coordinator
When the score was tied at 75, with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter, the game between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries suddenly came to a stop. During their Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) matchup on July 29, a sex object thrown from the stands landed near the free-throw line, halting play.
But it didn’t stop there.
The stunt was repeated not once, but twice, three days later. First during a Valkyries game against the Chicago Sky, and again during a Washington Mystics game against the Atlanta Dream. Four days later, a sex object was thrown onto the court during an Indiana Fever and Los Angeles Sparks game, landing near a player.
According to Reuters, the recent objects thrown onto WNBA courts have been linked to a cryptocurrency group promoting a meme-coin, which said that their goal was to combat the “toxic” environment in the cryptocurrency world.
These stunts highlight the ongoing lack of respect that women athletes face at the professional level. WNBA players have long spoken out about unequal treatment, low pay, and less media coverage compared to men’s leagues. For instance, during warmups for the July 19 All-Star Game, players wore “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts, demanding a more equitable share of the league’s grow-
From July 29 to Aug. 7, sex objects were thrown during WNBA games a total of seven times.
ing revenue, according to ESPN. What makes the issue even worse is that these stunts happened repeatedly. Specifically, seven times from July 29 to Aug. 7. Some were on the court, and others were in the stands, nearly hitting some people, including a child.
Players and coaches have spoken out about these issues on social media and during
post-game press interviews. The following are a few of the statements they made.
According to Associated Press, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said on her “Show Me Something” podcast, “Everyone is trying to make sure the W is not a joke and it’s taken seriously, and then that happens. I’m like, ‘How are we ever going to get taken seriously?’”
On Aug. 1, Isabelle Harrison, a forward for the New York Liberty, posted on X, “ARENA SECURITY?! Hello??! Please do better. It’s not funny. never was funny. Throwing ANYTHING on the court is so dangerous.” Her X post gained 4.5 thousand likes and was reposted 485 times.
The truth is, these incidents aren’t new. According to USA Today, similar incidents have happened in men’s professional sports leagues, such as the NFL, Premier League, and professional hockey leagues.
Despite ongoing challenges, it’s important to note that women’s sports have made progress. For instance, on Aug. 23, Bay Football Club (Bay FC)
Runners in the preliminary heats of the women’s 1500 meter race
broke the record for the highest attended event in the history of U.S. women’s professional sports leagues, drawing 40,091 fans to Oracle Park to watch their match against the Washington Spirit. While women’s sports have made important strides, challenges remain. For decades, women athletes have faced doubt and discrimination. They have been told they weren’t strong enough or capable like men. I believe the recent toy-throwing incidents in the WNBA are a wake-up call to the
sports world about the ongoing lack of respect and attention women’s professional sports receive.
Read the full version online
Cracks are visible on the courts near the football field, with weeds beginning to grow through them. PHOTO
B
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
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 It’s time to reclaim the flag as a symbol of unity
BY THE BURLINGAME B EDITORIAL BOARD
The USA-themed football game is a staple of Friday night lights at Burlingame, but this year, the theme faced extra scrutiny. What made it so controversial?
According to a source in the leadership class, the answer lies in the re-election of President Donald Trump. His presidency — and the policies he has instituted in the first nine months of his administration — prompted the leadership Sports Commission to reconsider the theme. While the commission ultimately decided to allow it for the Sept. 12 football game, the controversy surrounding our nation’s flag and colors demonstrates how, in today’s political climate, a symbol of our country’s history has been distorted to mean something else.
Our flag is, by definition, a representation of the entire nation. While its 50 stars and 13 stripes are intended to signify unity, they have increasingly been perceived as a symbol of division and political affinity.
In the wave of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” Republican movement, the flag has, at times,
been appropriated by one political party. A CBS News poll found that 42% of respondents said they would assume someone displaying the flag is conservative, while only 10% would assume a person displaying the flag is liberal. Flying the flag should not indicate a person’s political party; it should be a symbol of pride, unity, and a shared commitment to improve a nation. Our country is made up of a variety of groups, and the flag should represent all citizens equally, even those who may not support the current state of the
nation. Allowing one side of the political spectrum to “claim” the flag alienates the rest of the country and makes patriotic pride divisive. We are not helpless in this matter. As Americans, we have the choice to reclaim the flag as a symbol of our unity rather than division. By flying the flag with pride, we can remind each other of its original purpose and what it continues to represent. Our country is not perfect, but our flag serves as a powerful reminder of how far we have come and will continue to go.
Influencers shouldn’t deceive viewers
BY PAIGE CORNELIUS Business Manager
Chances are, if you’re scrolling through TikTok or walking through a Sephora store, you’ll notice the impact of influencers. One of their most popular video styles, especially among beauty creators, is the “get ready with me” video. These videos are deceivingly simple, but their underlying messages can be harmful. Oftentimes, influencers use “get ready with me” videos as advertisements in disguise, swindling audience opinion for their own gain.
For context, a “get ready with me” video typically lasts up to a minute and shows the influencer getting dressed or doing their makeup while talking candidly to the audience. The content feels casual and relatable, giving influencers a way to connect with viewers. But the setup also provides a natural way for creators to include product placements. Social media has always been a way to make money, but it’s now becoming one of the most effective marketing tools out there.
According to Pew Research, 54% of people aged 18-29 who use social media say that influencers have an impact on what they buy. Influencers are the new faces of our generation, and brands take advantage of that by including them in physical and digital marketing campaigns. Companies often pay influencers to review or promote products, leveraging the weight that their endorsements carry with their target audience. By turning these videos into hidden advertisements, brands make it harder for viewers to decipher which opinions are paid and which aren’t.
Some influencers use their platform to highlight products that genuinely matter to them, but others take a different approach. When your main source of income is the videos you produce, it can be tempting to take every sponsorship offered, even if that means stretching the truth.
For example, in 2023, popular influencer Mikayla Nogueira faced backlash for promoting L’Oréal’s “Telescopic Mascara” as a part of a paid partnership. Viewers were quick to notice that as Nogueira was promoting the mascara, she was also wearing a false lash, which she didn’t disclose. While it may seem small, this lie is part of a larger issue on social media. Popular brands like Tarte Cosmetics have invited influencers such as Jana Craig and Briana LaPaglia on trips to the United Arab Emirates, Turks and Caicos, and Bora Bora to generate market-
ing content. Unlike traditional advertisements that are run through the brand, these campaigns rely on content — such as “get ready with me” videos — made and posted by the influencers. Many influencers rely on their followers’ trust to sell products that aren’t what they claim to be, turning “get ready with me” videos from personal, relatable content into inauthentic lies.
Misleading partnerships can have real-world effects on social media followers. Consumers may be quick to buy products that don’t match what was advertised. While it’s easy to tell influencers to think before they post and engage in responsible content, the money behind sponsorships holds too much sway. Ultimately, it’s up to viewers to pay attention to the media they consume and avoid falling for hidden marketing.
Students dress up for USA-themed football game against Arroyo High School on Friday, Sept. 12.
PHOTO BY CHANTAL LAY
Community
Dance class, team welcome all skill levels
BY CHIARA WESLEY Senior Reporter
Starting this school year, students can now enroll in a dance class or participate in the newly formed dance team. Open to all grade levels, these programs give students a chance to explore dance without needing prior experience.
New dance class instructor Michelle Shannon brings years of professional experience to the dance room.
“I’ve been dancing since I was really little. I danced professionally on stage for many years, and I taught and assisted through high school. In college, I was the assistant to the tap instructor,” Shannon said.
Although she has taught and choreographed kids independently, Shannon begins her official teaching career at Burlingame this year.
“One of the things I want to make sure of is that they have a great time in the class, and that everyone feels the love and nobody feels excluded,” Shannon said. “I really want them to feel confident moving their bodies and knowing what that body has for them — and making them sweat a little bit.”
“Ms. Shannon’s a great teacher, and I just love how everyone has fun. No one really cares, we all just kind of branch out and dance,” Carranza said.
Sophomore Sanaiia Jackson echoes that sentiment.
Although she had not taken formal lessons before, Jackson said she is eager to join the class and develop her skills.
“My goal for this class is to get better at dancing and to make new things,” Jackson said. “My favorite part of the class is all of us dancing with nobody judging us.”
Along with the new class, students can also join an after-school dance team. While the class focuses on learning a variety of dance styles, the team functions as an extracurricular group that performs at school events in a high-energy setting. The team requires rehearsals outside of school and auditions for advanced roles.
Like Shannon, dance team coach Audrey King grew up dancing and majored in dance performance in college. King said she hopes to build a dance community on campus by creating two teams to accommodate different schedules and
Junior Savannah Carranza, with a lifelong background in dance, said she especially appreciates the low-pressure environment of the class.
skill levels. The first, the Panthers’ Dance Team Ensemble, will be open to all students.
“It’s designed to have practices that are specific to upcoming events, so you don’t have to sign up for the whole year,” King said. “Ensemble’s intended for everyone from beginning to even advanced, because I know advanced dancers are really busy at the studio every night, so practicing, so sometimes they might not be able to do other commitments.”
Another addition to the dance program is the show team, which has yet to officially launch.
“The show team is going to be audition-based, which is for your more experienced performers or dancers who have a little bit more technique training,” King said. “They’ll be performing at the rallies with ensemble, as well as at some of the football games and basketball games.”
Sophomore Holly Simson said the ensemble team fits with her busy theater schedule, which allows her to participate in both activities.
“I just want to be able to dance in some way at this
school during fall, especially because there’s no musical going on,” Simson said. “I’m hoping to get the spirit up at events and have a lot of fun all together.”
With a supportive class environment, inclusive team structure, and dedicated instructors, the new dance department at Burlingame has a bright future ahead of it.
“Even getting together in groups to remember the choreography, I just think that’s such a positive start to hopefully a long journey,” King said.
BY ALEX BERTELLI Copy Editor
21. Acronym before someone’s nickname
22. Small discussion
23. Sheep’s wool covering 24. Shoots for the moon (literally, maybe!)
26. Jazz singer Fitzgerald
28. Scatters seeds through soil
29. Engrave, as on a hard surface
33. A sports coach may tell you there’s no “I” in it
35. Frustrated again and again
38. See 48-Down [Your reaction to figuring out this theme]
41. Runs around noisily
42. Repeatedly extract resources from, in video game speak
43. Grains used in whiskey and bread
44. Fencing sword
46. Like X, Y, and Z, but
DOWN
1. Christine’s love interest in The Phantom of the Opera
2. Begin to lessen, as pain
3. “Well ___ damned!”
4. “Out of luck.”
5. Units of time equal to around 32 million seconds, abbr.
not A, B, or C?
48. Like books or artifacts from Chad
51. Sausage typically served in thin slices
56. It may be followed by A or B, but hopefully not X, Y, or Z?
57. “Chandelier” singer
58. Quake in the cold
59. Not cool
60. The current one is a square number
62. “Remember the ____!” (historical chant)
63. Indigenous peoples who were the first residents of Colorado
64. Superfruit berry often used in smoothies
65. Kept going and going and going as a sentence, or perhaps this clue as well because there’s a chance its meta-referential nature has comedic effect and thus justifies its absurdity
66. People’s important 9-digit numbers, for short
67. Pant line
68. What many a Shakespeare work is split into
6. See 38-Across
7. Candidate Haley who ran during the 2024 presidential election
8. Shines reflectively
9. Like swim trunks or bikinis
10. “20 years ago exactly...” (used when memorializing a date)
11. Access granter, for an employee
12. Reluctant, unwilling 13. Uni. teacher
20. Δ
25. Futon, for example
27. You might turn a new one when you reinvent yourself
29. Unit of corn
30. The “natural way of the universe” in Asian philosophy
31. People who shoot others?
32. You have a right to pursue this emotion
34. Philosopher behind the Communist Manifesto
36. Country containing the tallest building, briefly
37. Faux ___ (embarrass-
ing mistake)
39. “Gimmie ___” (just a moment!)
40. Make ___ of (screw up)
45. GPA boosters... or how you could describe the 38-Across and 6-Down entries?
47. Largest desert
48. Excellent quality work... or how you could describe the thing formed by 38-Across and 6-Down?
49. Partner of sharps in music
50. Sibling’s daughter
52. Flowers called “exuberantly purple and perfumed” in the Bible
53. ___ Garde (experimental)
54. Office notes
55. Element of our school’s robotics team!
61. The basketball may hit this but still not go in :(
The dance team meets for mandatory practice on Wednesday, Aug. 27, preparing for their performance at the “Welcome Back” rally.
Kyle Weitzman
“Senior sunrise is a great place where all of our class can get together and enjoy one of the last moments where we’re all as a group.”
Drew Gall
“Coming here with the entire class is just a great moment of community and then coming together for the school year.”
Aidyn Eglington Nicholas
“My favorite thing was just being here with my friends and seeing everybody take all the pictures together.”
Anya Malhotra
“It’s so important that we mark our last year of high school with going to the senior sunrise and just hav ing a specific event to get it all started.”
Ivana Ma
“Over the past few years, I’ve actually gone to a few [senior sunrises] and I feel like our year was really organized, and a lot of seniors showed up.”
PHOTO BY CHIARA WESLEY
PHOTO BY AUDREY WEI PHOTO
PHOTO BY CHIARA WESLEY
PHOTOBY AUDREYWEI
PHOTOBYCHIARAWESLEY
PHOTOBY CHIARA WESLEY
PHOTO BY AUDREY WEI
CHIARA WESLEY Senior Reporter AUDREY WEI Social Coordinator
GRAPHICS BY EMMA YU