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Palo Alto Unified School District Henry M. Gunn High School 780 Arastradero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94306

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New bell schedule shortens school day Ezra Rosenberg In-Depth Editor PAUSD has implemented a new bell schedule at Gunn and Paly for the 2026-27 school year and both schools have reduced passing periods from 10 to seven minutes. Brunch and its attached passing period will remain 15 minutes long, while lunch and its passing period together are now 37 minutes long instead of 40. Gunn students will also attend both a Study Hall and SELF class every Friday, rather than alternating between the two every other week. According to Principal Erik Olah, digital attendance is still in effect, but staff will be more lenient on tardies early on in the year as the community adjusts to these schedule changes. He also said that due to the removal of the portables colloquially known as the Village, the passing periods should be more manageable. “We had some people (time) how long it’s going to take, and seven minutes was plenty of time at Gunn, especially since we don’t have the portables,” he said. PAUSD Public Information Officer Lynette White cited recapturing instructional time for student-athletes as a key factor in the push for this new schedule. She notes that Gunn’s process for reaching the schedule change included input from some student leaders, though it was primarily staff-driven. While it has generally received wide support from staff, both Gunn and Paly administrators are aware of student concerns over the new schedule and will gather

additional student input after the first month of the school year to determine future steps. Paly senior Leilani Chen started a petition on Change. org to bring back 10-minute passing periods. With over 1,120 signatures, the petition contends that the trade-off of gaining a slightly reduced school day is not worth students getting less time to talk to their teachers after class, having to run across campus to be in class on time and not being able to use the bathroom. Chen acknowledges that admin intends for the passing period to mostly be for getting from class to class. “I think the admin team has made it clear that the passing period is for passing, not for socializing or for talking to teachers,” she said. “It’s understandable. Students are going to have to prioritize just getting to class on time and not pausing to talk to friends or teachers.” Social studies teacher David Bisbee has experienced multiple changes to school schedules in his career and predicts that this change will go smoothly, just like the others. He is curious to see how students will be impacted by the new schedule not running solely on 5s and 0s, but is confident people will adjust. “I’m fine with the bell schedule change,” he said. “In my career, I’ve dealt with it multiple times and there’s never been one that’s been awful for the students or the teachers. My recommendation would be to take a picture of the schedule, have it in a place that you can get to it really quickly. I think that will help make (the schedule change) less disruptive.”

Thursday, August 13, 2026 Volume 64, Special Edition

780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306

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New policies launching in 2026

District, site launch leadership, technology initiatives Athena Gao and Emma Chen Sports Editor & Reporter The PAUSD Board of Education announced new superintendent Dr. Jason E. Glass on June 13, after a turbulent four-month search. This marks just one change out of many for the coming school year, including new district and site leadership, new transparency and mental health initiatives, a new bell schedule and e-bike and technology restrictions.

Superintendent Appointed in a unanimous vote at a special PAUSD Board meeting on May 31, Glass’ term officially began on July 1. Early on, he intends to meet with community members to hear their stories and understand both the history of the district and what it needs moving forward. “We’ve gone through a lot of change and shifting over the past several months,” he said. “Right now, I think what we need is (for) things to steady out for us (in order) to have a really good beginning to the school year (and) for me to spend a lot of time listening (to) and understanding students, the community and our staff. Then, we talk together about where we go next.” Glass has ser ved more t han eight years as a superintendent, most recently at Laguna Beach Unified School District in California (2025-2026). He has also worked as Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education (2020-2023), and as a social studies teacher at Hazard Independent Schools in Kentucky (1996-1998).

Transparency A mid communit y concerns of lack of distr ict

transparency and several leadership changes this year, Glass emphasizes the importance of administrative clarity and communication. While the Board has legal requirements around posting its materials, Glass intends to go further by sending regular communication and creating formal opportunities for the community to understand new initiatives and give input, including board meetings, committees and task forces. He also aims to form a superintendent student advisory panel that meets regularly, allowing students to discuss issues at their schools and advise him on how to build a better system. Glass believes his past work has taught him the importance of involving students in the decision-making process. While the student advisory panel will be one way he works with students, the same principle of active listening will apply to all collaboration to elevate the voices of those directly impacted by his decisions. “If you work with people, you don’t come in with all the answers,” he said. “You don’t come in and say, ‘Here are the things that we’re going to work on, and here’s what we’re going to do.’ (Instead, the answers are) developed together. That makes sure that we’re working on the right things.”

New site leadership In an email to PAUSD staff on May 21 on behalf of Acting Superintendent Espiritu, PAUSD Public Information Officer Lynette White announced that former Gunn principal Dr. Wendy Stratton would move to the PAUSD district office as Director of Secondary Education, and that former Assistant Principal Erik Olah would become the new interim principal. This transition followed several recent departures in the district that left three administrative positions vacant. Olah’s goal as interim principal is to continue building opportunities for students to discover their passions.

“My general philosophy with working at a high school and working with high school students is that ‘belonging’ piece,” he said. We have so many opportunities for students at Gunn. My role is to help foster those (opportunities), guide students towards their passions and be a part of all that as it’s happening.” Olah plans to continue direct communication with students, parents and administration through hosting “Principal’s Coffees”, periodic morning meetings with parents to discuss school updates and answer questions, and participating in Titan Town Halls, a Q&A session between site and district administration and students. Additionally, he plans to create a principal’s student advisory group to meet once a month and provide student feedback on multiple initiatives that launch at Gunn. Alongside Olah, two new assistant principals, Ryan Lundell and Janeen Malatesta, as well as Administrative Teacher on Special Assignment, Latrice Bennett, will join Gunn site leadership.

Mental health program PAUSD is introducing the Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Education Initiative, which provides mental health training to all secondary students and staff. Gunn and Palo Alto Middle College, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing worked with district and site wellness teams to design two programs: Teen Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid Teen Mental Health First Aid teaches students coping strategies and methods to support peers with mental health challenges. This year, the program will run during underclassmen’s second-semester P.E. classes. Juniors will have a special schedule designed to include this program on four Mondays in the first semester, and seniors will attend it New administrators—p.2

THEORACLE

THEORACLE 780 Arastradero Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 354-8238 www.gunnoracle.com

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Sarah Grupenhoff Managing Editors Vaani Saxena Melody Song News Melody Na Fiona Wu Forum Olivia Lee Michelle Zhou Features Arjum Ahluwalia Noa Zeitlin In-Depth Ezra Rosenberg Cici Zhang Sports Mayher Dulani Athena Gao Lifestyle Annabel Brown Ellen Kim Yuji Song Social Media Athena Gao Ellen Kim Noa Zeitlin Photo Editor Laura Wang Graphics Editor Dani Massarweh

Staff Business/Circulation Olivia Lee Graphics Artists Kai Knutson Sophie Kou Alexandra Liu Sahana Mahadevan Photographers Inaaya Ahmed Reporters Emma Chen Sumayya Khan Pandora Gallusser Naomi Weiner Michelle Jin Nandita Ramakrishnan Adviser Kristy Blackburn Mission Statement The Oracle seeks to serve the needs of the community and thereby publish the most accurate information and provide content from diverse perspectives. Freedom of speech and of the press is also a vital component of the process in order to foster intellectual freedom within a complex community.

First Day of School Issue

Leadership, mental health, technology restriction initiatives launch at PAUSD, Gunn New administrators—p.1

during Living Skills. After completing the training, which also counts towards community service hours, students will receive a three-year certification as a Teen Mental Health First Aider. According to Olah, after this school year, the program will run in freshmen P.E. classes, as students will only be expected to complete the training once in their high school career. Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches staff how to support student mental health, including recognizing warning signs and linking students to support. The district has partnered with Momentum for Health, a mental health services nonprofit, to support district and site wellness teams in the training of students and staff in both programs. According to PAUSD Director of Mental Health and Wellness Dawn Yoshinaga, schools have autonomy in their sites’ mental health programs, meaning that programs will differ between Gunn and Paly. She adds that the district wellness team is focusing on educational and preventative measures with this initiative, which Yoshinaga hopes will destigmatize mental health conversations. “We want to be able to talk about our mental health, and we want to be able to be honest, open and supportive with one another,” Yoshinaga said. “(We hope that) kids will reach out for help when they need it.”

technology Alongside administrative changes, new state and site policies will impact the use of technology on campus. PAUSD will restrict all smartphone use within classrooms in accordance with California Assembly Bill 3216, also known as the Phone-Free School

Act, passed in 2024. The law requires public school districts to adopt and update policies every five years that limit or prohibit student smartphone use during school hours. At Gunn, students must store smartphones, as well as smartwatches used for communication, in a designated holder during class. Smartphone use is still allowed during non-instructional time, which includes passing periods, brunch and lunch. Olah asserts there will be certain exceptions for students with medical needs or unique circumstances. In a 2025 meeting, the PAUSD Board of Education delayed decisions on stricter all-day smartphone bans until 2028. In the meantime, state law continues to develop. Gunn Board Representative junior Enzo Wolff de Tourreil spoke at this meeting in support of the most minimal version of the restriction on smartphones. He believes the new policy is not necessarily a phone ban, as it is similar to what Gunn had in place last year. “There may be stricter phone policies during classes,” Wolff de Tourreil said. “But I really don’t think that we’re going to see a lot of major changes from this district policy.” Personal laptop use will also no longer be allowed in certain classrooms, as part of a new pilot program where some teachers will have Chromebook-only classes.

campus and give warnings to students before impounding their e-bikes. According to School Board Member Josh Salcman, e-bike restrictions will continue to be a topic of conversation for the administration and the community.

Future GOALS The Board has several goals this year: ensuring the district is on solid financial footing, finalizing policies regarding device usage and continuing to address student mental health. As the school year begins, Wolff de Tourreil emphasizes the importance of student representation in site and district decisions. He encourages his peers to show up to board meetings, as student engagement has made a significant impact on past board decisions. “At the end of the day, the only people who know what we really need are us,” Wolff de Tourreil said.

e-bikes PAUSD announced new safety measures for e-bikes in June, citing concerns about student safety after six e-bike collisions in March. Only Class 2 and 3 e-bikes will be prohibited on campus this school year, but all e-bikes, including Class 1 e-bikes, will be banned for the 2027–28 school year. Campus supervisors will assist in monitoring e-bike usage on

Summer news recap: international crises stun communities, Supreme Court makes major rulings Emma Chen and Michelle Jin Reporter & Reporter This summer, North America opened its doors to tourists and players of the 23rd FIFA World Cup. With 48 teams competing, the tournament marked the largest number of countries to ever participate in a World Cup. On June 24th, two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela, separating more than 50,000 people from their families, according to CNN. The United States responded with $300 million in aid and mobilized the American military to help with community efforts. In Palo Alto, community members are doing what they can to assist in providing humanitarian aid. Local humanitarian Mauricio Sepulveda organized a community response to the earthquakes with his wife, noting an overwhelmingly supportive response. “A couple days after the earthquake happened, my wife posted (to Facebook) asking for support in the (Palo Alto) community, “ he said. “The response was unbelievable.” Partnering with the humanitarian aid organization Boots on the Ground, Sepulveda takes donations of first aid kits, baby food and pharmaceuticals to send to the front lines. The campaigns will run throughout the year and send shipments every two weeks to Venezuela. Regarding the war in Iran, after the announcement of a 60-day interim peace deal on June 17, the deal was broken on July 7, after American claims that Iran did not hold up their end of the deal. U.S. involvement in Iran has yet to conclude and the two countries have not yet reached a peace agreement. June saw several major Supreme Court rulings including Trump v. Barbara, in which the Court struck down the Executive Order 14160 in a 6-3 ruling, preventing him from

eliminating birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants and temporary residents. The Court also ruled 6-3 in West Virginia v. B. P. J. and Little v. Hecox that states may bar transgender women and girls from participating in female sports teams in all public schools, citing biological differences and fairness concerns. In preparation for America’s 250th birthday, President Trump decreed the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. be painted “American flag blue,”. However, the pool made headlines for turning green with algae and other signs of dilapidation soon after the project’s completion. Footage emerged of Olympian David Carter Hearn touching a piece of plastic lining that had peeled away from the pool, leading to an indictment for charges of v a n d a l i s m and property destruction that were eventually dismissed. T r u m p also rejected a bipartisan bill meant to lower Americans’ housing costs. Hours before the planned signing ceremony, Trump announced that he would not sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act until Congress

passed the SAVE America Act, an election reform bill that would require voters to show documentary proof of citizenship and ID to vote. States held primary elections this summer, where voters from each party elected representatives and senators to represent them in the midterms on Nov. 3.

Kai Knutson

First Day of School Issue

Thursday, August 13, 2026

STAFFERS OFFER WORDS OF WISDOM TO EACH CLASS Sumayya Khan Reporter Dear Class of 2030, Welcome to Gunn! The beginning of your freshman year may seem like staring out into uncharted waters. You’re probably feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness, as you scatter about to find your classes. As someone who has successfully navigated the confusing campus myself, I can relate to those first-day jitters. But with the right mindset, you’ll be smooth sailing in no time. The people you meet and the community

Mayher Dulani Sports Editor Dear Class of 2029, Now that you have managed to navigate campus and discover the most effective energy drinks, hold on tight to those memories, because this year will be different in more ways than one. Sophomore year is full of surprises: accomplishment, bittersweet nostalgia and excitement. You are no longer the youngest, and you may have realized that life is moving by pretty fast. This year is an opportunity to discover yourself outside of others’ expectations.

You will grow as a student, friend and peer. As your peers find their rhythms, you may feel trapped in the past. But don’t worry: Despite appearances, most people do not know what they want yet. The key is your mindset. Keep on trying new things. Your life is in your own hands. I highly recommend stepping outside of your comfort zone: Check out that club, try out for that sport and talk to new people. While you explore these interests, do not worry about how others perceive you. You will gain so much more self-respect if you try and fail than if you never try at all. Embrace this opportunity to not only strengthen current friendships, but also to make new ones. This year will be challenging, but the key to surviving “sophomore slump” is doing what makes you happy. Whatever it is, take some time for yourself.

Melody Na News Editor Dear Class of 2028, Congratulations on completing the first half of your high school journey! You’re probably full of trepidation, expecting a stressful year with a deluge of schoolwork at hand. Or perhaps you’re bursting with excitement instead, anticipating a school year full of meaningful new connections. Either way, junior year is an opportunity to grow as a student. You’ll

Yu-Ming Liu Gunn Alum Dear Class of 2027, You’ve finally arrived at the final view: graduation. Well, almost. In just a year, your 950-number will be recycled, and you’ll be done with PAUSD, looking forward to life as an adult. Maybe you’re not “looking forward” to it, actually. Perhaps you’re frightened out of your mind. But, before you worry about growing up, we have a few things to discuss. First, let’s go over what to expect in the next four months. Don’t think that first

you build will shape your year. It’s easiest to meet others with similar interests through clubs, and luckily, there’s a huge variety! Checking those out will help you explore your own passions and connect with your peers. Also, make an effort to talk to the people in your classes. Being surrounded by students you’ve never met or spoken to can feel intimidating, but taking the extra step to reach out to others will go a long way. While you explore everything this school has to offer, it is equally important to strike a healthy balance. Ninth grade is when you figure out how to juggle your extracurricular and social life on top of schoolwork such that you don’t overwhelm yourself. Although it’s completely normal — if not expected — to feel that way, you can learn to manage your time. Creating a system for your workload, like a to-do list or planner, will help you stay

organized and less stressed. Don’t forget to be open to trying everything. Whether it’s trying out for a new sport or auditioning for a music group, putting yourself out there is the best way to gain new experiences. Participate in the dress-up days and lunch activities during Homecoming Week! The immense pride you feel as your classmates score a point for your grade during the games is unmatched. Lastly, remember to be open to change. A lot of things can change in your first year, whether it’s who you’re friends with or what interests you in life. Embrace it with open arms. Freshman year is scary at first. But if you dive in headfirst, it will leave you with amazing memories. Sincerely, Sumayya Khan

My biggest piece of advice is to find balance. If you have a lot of homework to do over the weekend, take Friday night off. No matter how much caffeine you consume, rest is necessary. Additionally, know your priorities: Throughout this year, you will feel pressure, but the key is to trust yourself and to avoid comparison. Although you may feel like you have to do everything, it is easy to overload yourself — many small commitments add up. Sometimes, we have to choose. As long as you feel happy with your decisions, that is what matters. As you make your way onto the roads, get through trigonometry and become best friends with the periodic table, soak in every moment because it will be over before you know it. Sincerely, Mayher Dulani

glean immense insight from each novel experience — good and bad. Under a huge workload, it is easy to think you’re the only one struggling to complete every assignment. There are plenty of other juniors going through the same thing. So, don’t be too tough on yourself by constantly comparing your progress to your peers’. Of course, it can be motivating to an extent, but it’s important to acknowledge that multiple pathways exist to reach the same destination. You’ll have to learn the art of strategically allocating your time and energy between assignments. While procrastination can be a tempting escape from the stress of a long to-do list, your work will accumulate and quickly become unmanageable. On an off day, remember to strike a balance, spending time both

semester will be something you can cruise through: The unskippable cut scene won’t start until January. For now, there are college applications and classes that might give you a surprisingly hard time. In the midst of such a chaotic environment, you’ll do some soulsearching. Can you maintain a cool head under pressure? Are you disciplined enough to toil through problem sets when your only motivator is sheer desperation? Unlike other times in your life, you’ll find more answers than questions as you navigate your final year. Next, this is the last year you’ll have as a carefree kid, so make time to be one. Right now, focus on the things you enjoy while you’re not fulfilling responsibilities, whether that be hanging out with friends or going to the movies. When the time comes to join the grown-ups, you’ll know. In regard to developing as a person, I can

relaxing and pushing yourself to work for at least a few minutes. You’ll swiftly build momentum and, ultimately, complete more work than you expected to. Moreover, don’t be afraid to seek out new opportunities. It might not end up being the best thing for you, but it could also be just what you need. At the end of the day, it’s important to start and end the year strong, even if you falter in the middle. Progress is not always linear for everyone. It may feel weird calling yourself an upperclassman at first, but you’ll find yourself growing accustomed to calling yourself a junior and instead find it hard to believe that you’re already a senior next year. Good luck! Sincerely, Melody Na

only say that your passions will likely come to you sometime in the near future. I have a general idea of what I want to pursue, and from an idea sprouts many ways to pursue it. This goal or dream may be the reason you were born into this world, so once you’re ready, go out there and chase it. The cruelest thing you can do to yourself is to not realize what makes you special. It’s fine to not know what you want to do right now, and it’s wrong to assume you need to: while society beckons the young to shed their youth too quickly, I think you should all enjoy a brief paradise until you start playing the adult game. Freedom is right there: you just have to wait a bit longer. Sincerely, Yu-Ming Liu Graphics by Dani Massarweh

First Day of School Issue

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Library

N-building

Wellness Center

For those seeking last-minute study sessions or an area to unwind in the company of good literature, the Muses — inspirational goddesses of poetry and the arts — extend their welcome. The library, in addition to providing academic resources and comfortable seating, periodically hosts events such as the SEC Art & Writing Competition and a MarchMadness-style book elimination bracket. Be on the lookout for slang-packed Schoology updates from the head librarian, Daljeet Gill.

Athena and Apollo, the goddess of wisdom and the god of numerical order, welcome all students enrolled in courses from Geometry to AP Lit to the N-building, the home of the English and Mathematics departments. The two-story building centers around an open-air courtyard where students frequently lunch, jot down last-minute notes or chat with peers during passing periods. Teachers make themselves available during office hours and PRIME.

Asclepius, the god of healing, offers a brief respite to any students looking to relax during a jam-packed academic day. His nurturing presence can be felt in this beanbag-populated haven, located on the second floor of the P-building. A willing provider of reading materials and music, the Wellness Center also offers 15-minute breaks or free, confidential sessions with professional therapists to all students throughout the school day.

First Day of School Issue

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Sophie Kou

Titan Gym

Gunn Plaza

Performing Arts

Hermes and Nike, god of sports and goddess of victory, welcome all student-athletes to Titan Gym. The larger of two gymnasiums on campus, Titan Gym calls to mind the ferocity and determination of the Titans, forefathers of the Olympians. It also references Timmy the Titan, our mascot. The facility houses the badminton, volleyball and basketball teams, and during P.E., students rotate throughout the gym, exploring the attached weight facility and participating in introductory sports.

While returning students may be accustomed to a wine-dark sea of portable classrooms and a Typhon-worthy roar of construction, the Village will finish its transformation into the Gunn Plaza this August. Hestia, goddess of the hearth and home, extends her warmth to those who will frequent the new complex of outdoor seating, greenery and shade that comprises the Village. The recreational area will foster a sense of community among Gunn students.

Dionysus, god of theater, welcomes all students to Spangenberg. This state-of-the-art performance venue is home to orchestra, band and choir. During the school year, Spangenberg hosts concerts, TED Talks, the Homecoming theme reveal, student elections, plays and musicals. Come here for actionpacked performances. —Compiled by Cici Zhang

THEORACLE

First Day of School Issue

Camping outside comfort zones: summer reflections

Students, staff travel abroad, immerse in international cultural exchanges Junior Vivian Wang: Paris, France

Noa Zeitlin Features Editor Sophomore year felt like a ferris wheel with its highs and lows. I lost my closest friendship but joined a new friend group. I won an academic award for the first time but cried over math class too many times. These experiences all provided huge growth for me, but I didn’t buy that ticket: teachers, coaches and my own anxiety got me on that ride. Summer break got me off of it. This summer allowed me to pursue challenges and choose the rewards I earned. Rewards that weren’t just numbers on a paper. It helped me to grow in ways I wanted to. To fail at what I chose to try. Even when it was a first date. I didn’t know my date and I were going to end up at the dreaded topic of school in every conversation. But all roads lead to chemistry, I guess. My date wasn’t awful — in fact, it was objectively nice, but it left me questioning my own perception of romance, and whether or not I was meant to date at all. I ultimately wrote about the date and submitted it to a New York Times writing competition. I had a journalism workshop coming up, and in my mind, the results would determine if I was ready for it. I ended up being a runner-up, and I was elated. I chose to turn a strange experience that poked at my anxieties into a tangible achievement of my creativity. This set the tone for summer: choice, growth and creativity. Getting five-year-olds to listen was no easy task, particularly when they were mesmerized by the Minions’ version of “Y.M.C.A.” I had gone to this camp in Idaho since I was little and it should have been an environment I was comfortable in but last summer, I struggled. I was great with kids one-on-one, but I let the older, more experienced staff take the lead and shrank myself. As someone who usually can’t stop talking, being quieter had muted my personality. Consequently, I made no friends at camp that summer. This summer, I went in scared but determined to do better. Within the first week, I had gotten kids to speed-walk when I said ketchup and slow down when I said mustard. I had also realized that friends weren’t going to just fall into my lap. I had to seek them out and sometimes let things be awkward. Through superhero-themed call-and-responses and stepping outside of my comfort zone, I solidified that the summer I wanted was right in front of me — I just had to put myself out there and make it happen. This required tackling my most intimidating summer plan: the journalism workshop, “California Scholastic Press Association.” The first time I even applied for a summer program was CSPA. I worked hard to craft my application, and eventually I got in. But sitting in front of the senior editor of The Athletic, the sports journalism publication of The New York Times, I wasn’t sure I deserved to be there. Too bad, so sad — 40 minutes later, we were writing a news story with only 20 minutes of drafting time. Every day was like that: wake up, write, write some more, get your scores and write again. There was no time to think — you just had to do, even though the assignments were difficult. We ran all over the Cal Poly campus to get mock interviews for an earthquake that somehow hits San Luis Obispo every summer for 75 years and then write an article in a half hour. I forced myself to talk to one of the most intimidating instructors, a New York Times Politics reporter, and loved it. It certainly helped his approachability when I saw him do a top-notch Elmo impression the day prior, but he was welcoming and answered my many questions. After finishing the program, I knew I hadn’t just grown my writing skills but more importantly, my confidence in my abilities to push myself to do hard things.

The bustle of passersby on cobblestone streets merged with the low murmur of conversation as junior Vivian Wang stepped inside the halls of her Paris dormitory in July. In a monthlong study abroad program offered by the Council on International Education Exchange, Wang challenged herself to adapt to a foreign city alone. Wang traveled to culturally significant locations like the Louvre, attended French lessons and explored Paris with friends. “A month was enough to fall in love with the city,” she said. “But it definitely wasn’t enough time to see and do everything.” Known for its glimmering cafés, sprawling museums and weatherbeaten landmarks, Paris required Wang to maximize opportunities to learn and socialize. On top of her daily responsibilities, Wang faced a slew of struggles. Initially, the language barrier posed the greatest challenge. “It’s such a different environment,” she said. “I wasn’t used to hearing native French being spoken so fast.” However, ordering at restaurants, communicating with her host family and engaging in daily French lessons strengthened Wang’s language skills. Had she not developed robust organizational skills during her time abroad, it would have been impossible to manage her itinerary and adapt to Paris. “(Paris) gave me a (new) perspective on different cultures and made me more open-minded,” she said. “I’d love to go back one day.” —Written by Cici Zhang

Photos courtesy of Vivian Wang

Junior Eleanor Lee: Shanghai, China From trying upscale Peking duck to experiencing the bustle of the Shanghai metro, junior Eleanor Lee’s time in Shanghai, China was rife with culture and learning. As part of a language and culture program from the Council on International Educational Exchange, Lee lived in Shanghai for four weeks, studying Mandarin under native speakers. Being abroad in China helped her reconnect with her culture. “I’m half Chinese,” she said. “(But) my parents don’t speak Mandarin and don’t know much about Chinese culture. It was important for me to experience Shanghai and share (it).” While in Shanghai, Lee stayed with a host family and commuted to East China Normal University for lessons. Her afternoons consisted of cultural activities, ranging from making traditional crafts to visiting historical landmarks. For Lee, meeting new people made the trip memorable. “It was interesting to see the differences between China and the (U.S.),” she said. “Getting to hear about (my host family’s) daily lives and staying with them was the best part of my trip.” For students looking to study abroad over the summer, Lee advises them to have an open mind. “Don’t take yourself too seriously,” she said. “Be okay with messing up and trying new things outside of your comfort zone.” —Written by Michelle Zhou

Photos courtesy of Eleanor Lee

Teachers Kirsten Tasker and Julia Angeles: France Language learning traveled beyond the classroom as French teachers Kirsten Tasker and Julia Angeles led their students on an immersion trip. Stopping in Toulouse, Albi, Carcassonne and Paris, this was the first French class trip in five years. Tasker worked with the Council on International Educational Exchange to plan the trip from June 6 to 20. In Toulouse, students stayed with local families and enjoyed various activities, from kayaking across the Garonne to attending a pastry workshop. Tasker arranged to be in Albi for two days, through cultural exchange nonprofit Neighbors Abroad. The group met Albi’s mayor and Cité Scolaire Bellevue’s middle school students. Tasker noticed how global culture brought all students together. “In spite of these language differences, because of global culture, students (across both countries) listen to similar music or (play) similar video games.” Students continued to immerse themselves, touring medieval fortresses, cruising the Seine river and visiting the Louvre. Both Angeles and Tasker hope these trips become a permanent department fixture. Tasker believes exposure to French cuisine and lifestyle has dismantled preconceived notions. She encourages learning languages and exploring new cultures even when digital translation is increasingly accessible. “(We live) in a time where you could pull out your phone and (translate),” she said. “None of that replaces connecting with people and having fulllength conversations. (Travel helps us) understand that human connection is enriched and fostered through language.”

International Destinations. —p.8

—Written by Athena Gao

Photos courtesy of Kirsten Tasker

First Day of School Issue

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Summer local activities: students make impact on community Freshman Vijay Shroff: Boy Scouts

Sophomore Jane Han: Camp Roberts

Roasting marshmallows, assembling campfires and mentoring fellow scouts summarizes freshman boy scout Vijay Shroff’s summer. Camping out in the Sierra Nevadas at Camp Oljato has long been a summer tradition for local Scouting America members like Shroff. The weeklong camp provides an opportunity for members to obtain up to three merit badges, with older scouts who have already earned them serving as guides. This was Shroff’s first year as a counselor-in-training, which comes with the responsibility of aiding younger scouts in earning badges. His favorite part was assisting with the shotgun merit badge course. “The first week I worked at the (shooting) ranges, and I helped out with shotgun,” he said. “During the second week, I worked at Scoutcraft, and I helped with the citizen merit badges. I got pretty good at (shotgun) this year and I helped teach people stances, how to use a firearm correctly and how to clean it.” At camp, the day is filled with activities on both land and water, such as boating, first-aid training and metalworking. However, Shroff appreciates the free time toward the end of the day, as it allows him to connect with his peers. “After dinner … you’ll have a campfire with your troop, or we have planned (activities), like skits for the whole camp,” he said. “I remember one night we stayed up until 11 p.m. ... and that was really fun because there were 17 CITs (that I got to bond with).” Shroff has been working toward becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in scouting. One of the requirements to fulfill this is to complete an Eagle Scout service project. His longstanding passion for building things has motivated him to expand MakeX, a local community makerspace in Palo Alto as his project. “I wanted to open up another (MakeX location) in East Palo Alto where they don’t have any free workspaces,” he said. “I want to get funding from companies because they usually want to (help with) community work.”

Spanning 42,000 acres across San Miguel’s golden terrain is Camp Roberts, California’s largest National Guard Post. For eight days in June, Camp Roberts becomes home for hundreds to high schoolers who participate in military encampment. Sophomore Jane Han staffed for Camp Roberts from June 20 to 28. During the school year, Han is a Bravo Flight Sergeant in the Palo Alto wing of the Civil Air Patrol, which operates within Moffett Airfield. CAP is an auxiliary of the United States Airforce and uses a military-inspired curriculum to train youths ages 12 to 21. As flight sergeant, her duties include co-piloting airplanes, training new cadets and conducting drill tests. Han joined CAP in 2025 upon learning about the opportunity to fly airplanes, and was originally disillusioned by the program. However, in December, Han attended her first encampment at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. “Encampment is such an intense and rewarding experience,” she said. “You learn so much about teamwork, wingmanship and aerospace.” This summer, Han attended Camp Roberts not as a cadet but as a logistical support staff member. While cadets spend their days doing physical training and practicing marksmanship, Han maintained operations by folding bed rolls, preparing sound systems for morning reveille and delivering essentials around camp. “Being (on) staff is more rewarding than being a cadet,” she said. “We’re the support that helps encampment run. Support staff don’t get respected as much by the cadets because we’re never seen, but I think (this) was something really special to me, because to staff encampment.” Photos courtesy of Jane Han

—Written by Annabel Brown Courtesy of Vijay Shroff

—Written by Michelle Jin

Staff Janeen Malatesta: Surfing All summer long, new Assistant Principal Janeen Malatesta rode the Santa Cruz waves with her husband. Malatesta, who has surfed for two years, and her husband, who surfed for 20, drove down to Santa Cruz almost every Friday from their home in Pacifica to spend the morning in the ocean and she values the grounding moments that come with a

great surf. “I love (that) when you’re out there, you’re just there,” she said. “There’s no technology. It’s beautiful. You have to be in the moment so you don’t get knocked off your board.” Malatesta lived abroad for two years in Italy, Mexico and Spain. There, she was surrounded by different types of nature, learned about new cultures and experienced unfamiliar environments. Now that she has settled down in Pacifica, Malatesta enjoys spending her time locally. “Because I had the opportunity to travel in my twenties and now live in a beach town, I’m really happy to be where I am,” she said. “I think where we live, we’re very lucky.” Malatesta appreciates the community that comes with staying local for the summer, especially the familiar faces from surfing. The more she surfs at the same beach, the more friends she makes and continues to see. Malatesta expresses the thrill she gets from surfing, even in a familiar setting. “Every time you go out in the water, it’s different,” she said. “So no matter where you are, it’s not boring. You never know what you’ll see out there.” —Written by Ellen Kim Photos courtesy of Janeen Malatesta

Junior Ren Lin: Volunteering Since the second week of June, junior Ren Lin has spent her summer creating social media content to raise awareness of the nonprofit Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse’s resources for survivors of domestic violence. As a volunteer for the San Mateo-based organization, Lin has drawn on her experience managing social media and designing graphics to help promote CORA and its services. “While managing the @gunnclassof2028 Instagram (account), I learned a lot of ways to grab people’s attention with colorful visuals,” she said. “I wanted to implement the same skills (to raise awareness for) CORA.” Courtesy of Ren Lin CORA provides a range of resources for survivors of relationship abuse, including legal advocacy, emergency housing assistance, counseling and support programs. One of Lin’s goals was to understand the barriers survivors face when seeking support, particularly around mental health. “Many people struggling with domestic abuse are often threatened and ostracized when reaching out for help,” she said. “Domestic violence and intimate partner violence are, unfortunately, more common than you’d think, and a lot of survivors can benefit from these resources and recover with the right help. CORA has a lot of mental health resources as well, and I think there tends to be a lot of stigma around reaching out for help.” Lin first learned about CORA through her older sister, who had previously volunteered with the organization. After learning about the program, she decided it would be a good fit for her. “I’ve always been interested in social justice and thought (volunteering) would be a fulfilling way to spend my summer,” she said. “I couldn’t have been more right. Volunteering at CORA has given me more information on how to be sensitive with topics like domestic violence, and as a result, I hope I can continue using what I’ve learned here to support people at Gunn.” —Written by Fiona Wu

First Day of School Issue

THEORACLE

THE ORACLE’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL CROSSWORD ACROSS

1. School supplies carrier with 5 across 5. With 1-Across 9. Egyptian mountain 14. __ vera 15. Zip-__-__-doo-dah 16. Pass into law 17. What one might cross when overstepping boundaries 18. Bird known for crazy simile 19. __ reef 20. Tools that attach two or more pieces of paper together 22. A journalist’s ear decoration 23. Gunn research class (abbr.) 24. Sugar suffix 25. Drink suffix 26. What one does to their own horn 28. Detective’s assignment 30. Said’s future 33. “Gimme a few __” 34. Pages at the top of a browser window 35. Uno + due 36. En __ (all together) 37. Enzyme suffix 38. Places for laces 40. Sch. near Harvard 41. Relaxation day spots 42. Rowboat pair 43. Smaller than triple batteries 44. Notices 45. No longer here 46. “To Kill a Mockingbird” author 47. Works on walls 48. Texas airport code 51. Sea between Greece and Turkey 54. Tool for second part of CMD+X, physically 56. Capital of Oregon 57. Upon 58. Large 59. As __ (generally) ( 2) 60. Intrument for Orpheus 61. Infinitive of use verb Spanish 62. Beg 63. Ballpoints 64. Hamilton bills

DOWN 1. Light wood 2. ‘__:Battle Angel” (2019 cyberpunk action film) 3. Scammers (2) 4. Hold onto 5. Lightest shade 6. Love to pieces 7. Corp. bigwigs 8. Barbie’s beau 9. Break away 10. Hole-__-__ (in golf) 11. Undercover cop, colloquially 12. Berry known for its bowl 13. “__ cost you!” (2) 21. Like baggy jeans 22. Go by 27. Add-__ (extras) 28. Houses in Spanish 29. Fivers 30. Where wares are kept, alternative name 31. Greek god of War 32. No, on opposite day 33. __ Learning (Gunn application) 34. 53-down’s sibling 36. UFC sport 38. Blackens with chimney dust 39. __ Solo 41. Spotted 44. Joined, as pieces of clothing 45. Kvetches 46. One-eyed “Futurama” star 47. Prized possession of Scrat from “Ice Age” 49. Church music maker 50. Who might depend on a manual with a new purchase 51. Quickly, please 52. __ grey tea 53. 34-down’s liquid counterpart 54. Eye sore 55. Not open 57. Swiss peak

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—Crossword by Ezra Rosenberg

Finished the crossword? Come to P-115 during lunch or 5th period with your completed puzzle to collect a prize!

International destinations: Gunn Titans travel the world Students, staff travel abroad. —p.6

Dani Massarweh