Phone policy restricts cell phone usage in classrooms
By Marie De Vré
MHS has instituted a new phone policy in accordance with a new California law, Principal and Chief Innovator of MHS and New Campus Programs Greg Wohlman said. The law, known as the Phone-Free School Act, requires that by July 1, 2026, all schools need to restrict or prohibit the use of cell phones on campus, according to the official website of the California government.
The law leaves it up to schools to regulate phone usage on their campus, Wohlman said. Some schools restrict phones altogether, while others try to restrict phones in a minimal manner by requiring students to simply put their phones away in their backpacks, Wohman added. The school tried to create a policy somewhere in the middle, he said.
“They (students) can have it (their phones) outside of instructional time,” Wohlman said. “As soon as they walk into the class, it needs to go in the pouch, which is not lockable. People can set it in the pouch and do their school, their class, their course, and then when the bell rings, they can take their phone and make their way
to the other class. So that’s a good compromise.”
So far, Wohlman has received positive feedback on surveys he has sent to teachers, he said. Based on widespread research, students will do better in school, both academically and socially-emotionally, with less phone use, he said.
“We know it (the phone policy) is going to help students, and we know it’s going to help teachers,” he said. “So by having something in place now, we can find the adjustments we need to make, and our students will be more prepared when the deadline (July 1, 2026) comes.”
Wohlman wants to hear how students feel about the phone policy, but right now the policy is in a transition period, he said. It’s hard to tell the full impact that the phone policy has had on classrooms since students are still adjusting to it, he added.
“I want to give us more time because in the beginning, it’s like, ‘I want my phone, and I’m freaking out without my phone,’ but now we need to give it some time to get some school background in place,” Wohlman said. “So our students (say), ‘Yeah, it was hard
at first, but now it’s okay.’ We need to get enough time to develop that opinion, but students can still say, ‘I don’t like it at all.’ That’s okay, too.”
If there is any pushback from individuals, his first step would be to have a conversation with that person and talk about the issue, Wohlman said. Exceptions to the phone policy, like those for necessary medical devices, are decided on a case-by-case basis, he added.
“There can be medical exemptions honored, and we work with our parameters within a school about how to solve that,” Wohlman said. “It would be a very unique situation, but we’re working through those as they come.”
In certain situations, students can use phones in class as long as it is related to the curriculum and with teacher discretion, Wohlman said. However, this does not mean that teachers get to allow regular phone use within their classrooms, he added. As of yet, this adaptation is not a schoolwide policy, Wohlman said.
“There could be a one-off situation where teachers and students
SEE PAGE 12
New 5-Star bathroom policy tracks students, limits time outside of class
By Sowmya Sundar
The new 5-Star bathroom pass policy was implemented so administration can know who is leaving class to use the restroom and how often they go, Assistant Principal Sean Anglon said. Students must sign in to 5-Star, create their pass, and then go to the restroom, he added.
Students have eight minutes to go to the bathroom, Anglon said. The policy is currently required in every classroom, he added.
“I think historically at MHS, we’ve had difficulty with the number of students congregating in the restrooms in lieu of being in class and getting their education,” Anglon said. “ This (The 5-Star bathroom pass policy) was to help us know who was going out in the restrooms, so that way we could have conversations with those kids, because we didn’t al-
ways know exactly who was always out.”
If the administration learns about a student who has a medical issue, then they give them an extended amount of time, Anglon said. Eight minutes is an ample amount of time to go to the restroom, especially since the restroom isn’t too far for most students, he said. If students exceed the time limit, there are conversations that administration has with those students, Anglon said.
“So, first we’ll begin with a conversation,” Anglon said. “(Student) A, be careful not to do X, Y and Z. And then, after that, Student A, you did X, Y, and Z too many times. Now you might have a detention. Then it progresses from that. After one time, or a few times, we might get a little bit of a leeway for a split second, akin to tardies, but then if we see a pattern emerging, then we’d have a
conversation.”
The 5-Star system allows administration to create groups of students who should not be out of the classroom at the same time, Anglon said. Within a group, only one student at a time can get a pass to use the bathroom, he added.
“We’re not stressing the teachers out about this,” he said. “It’s more admin taking a peek. We can then have conversations. And then, if we notice some patterns, we let teachers know: ‘Oh, you might want to check.’ Some teachers are monitoring of their own accord. It’s up to them.”
Students will soon be using 5-Star for passes to the counselor and to the Wellness Center, Anglon said. They started with the bathroom passes to test the system, because that was the
District enforces Chromebook security via Securly, restricts certain Google searches
By Harold Hong
Securly, a K-12 online protection and anti-virus program used by MUSD, has implemented loading screens that appear when users open sites, images, and search terms to counteract the issues with Google Chrome’s Manifest V3 extension framework, which created opportunities for students to break filtering rules before a page fully loads, according to the Securly support page. The support page states that the loading overlay scans sites and images to determine if they follow the “user’s policy.”
Securly also enforces image filtering on student Chromebooks through a three-step process that includes keyboard scanning to filter out explicit words and phrases, enabling a search engine’s “safesearch” feature, and only displaying Creative Commons-licensed images, according to the support page.
“Image filtering has been a feature in Securly for over 8 years,” a Securly engineer said in an email interview. “When Google makes changes, we (Securly) work to ensure the end-user experience is as safe and smooth as possible. Our goal is to ensure we work within the Google infrastructure to make learning as seamless as possible.”
In a survey with 192 MHS student-respondents, 90.1% of students reported being annoyed by the loading screens. When
asked whether or not search results were filtered out and how greatly it affected them academically, 73.4% of students reported search results being censored and that it either fairly or greatly affected them academically.
Schools have full control over their filtering policy decisions, the engineer said. The criteria for categorizing websites and search terms all follow Securly’s description of the category, and the school district decides which policy category to block, the engineer added.
“The school district has control over their allow/deny list (for websites),” the Securly engineer said. “When a district has a question, they can call or email our support team or their customer success representative.”
Securly keeps track of all malicious and explicit websites, then categorizes them, MUSD Network Manager Thao Xiong said. Some of these website categories include pornography, network misuse, and social networking, and the district simply chooses to block all websites under one of these categories, Xiong said in a follow-up email.
“If we find a website that isn’t categorized correctly, then we ask them (Securly) to take another look at it and recategorize it,” Xiong said.
With over 250,000 websites created each day, a site can easily
SEE PAGE 12
STUDENT VOICE OF MILPITAS HIGH SCHOOL
Securly shows this block screen to hide restricted search results.
Harold Hong | The Union
The Union’s survey sent out to MHS students shows the opinions of 192 students on the new phone policy.
Seniors Hillary Ha and Kayden Ho were crowned
Marie de vre | The Union
Math acceleration requirements should be stricter
Students who take Math Jam, have the opportunity to advance in math. Recently, the amount of students allowed to accelerate has gone down because of the addition of a performance task to the placement test.
Only 53.2% of students who took Math Jam this year were able to accelerate, according to Assistant Principal Sean Anglon at the MUSD Board of Education Meeting on August 26, 2025.
Calculus, such as polynomial functions or summation.
I believe that the addition of the performance task to the math acceleration program in beneficial. Classes such as Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB or BC, which may only be taken after acceleration, are rigorous classes that require strong foundations in math. Students often have trouble succeeding in harder mathematics when they add a layer of complexity to a shaky foundation of knowledge.
AP math classes build on concepts that students learn in their classes in previous school years. For instance, AP Calculus AB adds a level of complexity to the concepts taught in Pre
Students who take math in the school year will spend a longer time going over these topics, with teachers assuring students comprehend the lessons. Summer class students are not given the same luxury, as they have less time to absorb the same concepts. A teacher will not be able to go in depth about a subject in a few months as they could in an entire school year.
My own experiences with math demonstrates how important it is for students to have adequate knowledge about the subject. I began to accelerate in the seventh grade, and I did poorly in math because I not already mastered the basics while attempting to add complexity. This struggle would’ve been prevented had I strengthened my foundational skills earlier.
Thus, the district is doing good by making math acceleration more rigorous. It will benefit the overall classes because the classes will narrow down the students who have the desire to succeed in the class.
CON
Math acceleration requirements should be lighter
The district’s recent amendment to math acceleration requirements is unfair and limiting to students, and it should be repealed.
According to Assistant Principal Sean Anglon during a board meeting on August 26, 2025, the district has appended a performance task section to the placement test already required to accelerate through Math Jam, a free six-week program offered by SJCC that can take the place of a year-long math class.
Despite its recency, the negative impact of this change in policy has already made itself clear.
According to Anglon, fewer students accelerated in math in the 2025-2026 school year than in the previous school year.
Not all "performative males" are actually performing
If you’ve used social media at all over the past year, you probably know all about the “performative male,” which has been a recently rampant meme. They’re usually depicted listening to Laufey, Clairo, and Beabadoobee on wired earbuds, carrying a tote bag with a Labubu attached, and drinking matcha. They specifically pander to popular trends among women and attempt to appear as gentler and more feminist men.
Society mocks them as surface-level fans of feminine hobbies who deliberately display them in public to attract women. It’s true that there are many men who may follow the stereotype solely to attract women. However, the trend has slowly lost this meaning, eventually becoming a way to laugh at any guy doing any “feminist” activities. The popularity and specific nature of the trend reveal a significant amount about the rising acceptance of manosphere viewpoints and gender role prejudice.
The manosphere refers to the varied online media that promote hypermasculinity and misogyny. It exists in the form of podcasts and street interview, usually including a group of men explaining their life experiences and giving advice on how to best “pick up” women or make money. Their content panders to young, impressionable, and insecure men who feel personally attacked by the feminist movement and aim to reaffirm their identity as men. They attempt to emulate on -
rigor to future colleges, as well as ensure that they are being adequately challenged in their math classes. With the new performance task making the already-challenging Math Jam curriculum even harder, even students whose math skills exceed their current math level at MHS could find themselves stuck in a math class that is neither challenging nor rigorous, and therefore does not benefit them academically nor look good on a high school transcript.
Anglon stated that the new performance task was implemented to remedy concerns raised before the COVID-19 pandemic, when some math teachers at MHS observed that students who accelerated into their math class tended to have lower grades than those who did not accelerate.
However, the implications of optional programs like Math Jam have always been clear: students are responsible for judging their own math skill and deciding if they are ready to accelerate.
If a student has already demonstrated skill and dedication by attending six weeks of summer math instruction and passing the required placement test, it should not be the school’s responsibility to determine whether the student is prepared for a course that the student themselves chooses to take.
To many students, accelerating in math is one of the best ways to demonstrate academic
Furthermore, making it harder for students to accelerate in math brings up questions about fairness. It is unjust that students in one year were allowed to accelerate more easily than students in the following year due to a change in criteria.
The new performance task could also jeopardize students’ already-limited freedoms in terms of course options and scheduling. For a student on the “default” path — Math I through Math III — who plans to take advanced math classes, such as Honors Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, or AP Calculus BC, making it harder to access higher-level math classes could disrupt four-year plans and cause student dissatisfaction with scheduling.
Though the district initially created the performance task to support students through the acceleration process and better ensure readiness for higher levels, the policy change is unfair to current students compared to previous generations, who had looser requirements to fulfill in order to accelerate. Moreover, it can trap students in math classes that do not fulfill their educational needs, and further limit students’ scheduling options.
line personalities, and begin to objectify the women in their own lives and view them as inferior.
Over the past few years, this content has become increasingly popular and has thoroughly and exceedingly shaped the mindsets of many young men.
The manosphere has seeped into the general views of society, and we have unconsciously become rigid about gender roles.
The “performative male” trend perfectly demonstrates the effect of this mindset shift.
cle makes it almost impossible for men to engage sincerely with anything associated with femininity.
Why is a specific drink, music style, and clothing style inherently feminine and liked by women? The trend diminishes women who do not enjoy these trends. It subtly puts women into a box.
Another harmful aspect of the “performative male” is its deep connection to capitalism and trend cycles. Suddenly, aesthetic and personal choices such as drinking matcha and listening to indie music have become marketable identities. Social media and fast-paced trend cycles strips all authenticity from these hobbies.
Although the “feminist man” aesthetic may have once been considered progressive, the moment it became a meme, brands and popular social media accounts turned these traits into products.
Once the meme became so popularized, people began to ridicule anyone who adopted its associated traits. The trend cy -
At the same time, it reinforces the idea that masculinity should be separated from consumer trends tied to softness and care. Capitalist systems profit off of gender stereotypes and mock those who subvert them. It creates a strict idea of what a masculine person should be: someone who does not enjoy or “flaunt” anything feminine. The trend also discourages emotional openness, creativity, and individuality, qualities essential for human connection but labeled as “feminine” when expressed by men. Due to the trend, many individuals have jokingly taken pictures of guys in public, posting them online to make fun of them. The trend has made it embarrassing for men to do anything perceived as outside of their gender role. Any guy who might have enjoyed these hobbies and dressing style would now be seen as trying to appeal to women. It implies that there is a default way for guys to dress that isn’t performative.
In the world currently, people who have challenged their gender roles are already in a state of fear and constant attack. It is saddening but not surprising that the current trend of the “performative male” is one that reaffirms gender roles and puts down those who break them.
Collegeboard is not as non-profitable as you think
Most students will recognize the non-profit College Board for its SAT/PSAT exams, along with coordinating Advanced Placement (AP) courses and tests. Established in 1900, it was founded to standardize the highly varied college admissions processes throughout the nation. Over time, College Board’s dominance of the admissions system grew, with over 90% of universities and colleges accepting both SAT and AP test scores for college admissions. However, College Board’s elite status as a trusted non-profit solely dedicated to improving the quality of hopeful applicants to higher education is not as pure as some may believe.
Each year, non-profit tax-exempt corporations are required to file the Form 990 with the IRS. These are then released to the public within 18 months of filing, which provides insight into their finances. Starting from 2012, the College Board corporation has grown its cash and investment holdings by over a billion dollars to a total of $1.7 billion, according to their historical records published by investigative journalism organization ProPublica. A significant amount of these current holdings, worth almost a quarter billion dollars, are located in offshore Caribbean tax-exempt investments, according to the most recent publicly-available Form 990 from 2023.
These investments, which include publicly traded securities, would normally require all corporations that hold them to pay taxes on the earnings. The tax-exemption status of non-profits only ap -
plies to business-related income. Additional revenue, such as from unrelated sources, requires a payment of unrelated business income tax (UBIT). By holding these profitable securities and investments in offshore tax-free locations, College Board can maximize its own profits. Their total profits from investments, which were not taxed, was over $63 million in 2023, according to their IRS Form 990. Considering the already massive amount of revenue, College Board is clearly focused more towards profiting excess amounts through these unethical sources that are not clearly disclosed to students, teachers, and families. Additionally, it is clear that College Board is providing excess monetary compensation. Non-profits are supposed to only provide “reasonable compensation” for employees, according to the IRS. But using their large sums of cash, College Board is able to pay their executive team unreasonable amounts of compensation. In 2023, David Coleman, the CEO of College Board, made over $2.3 million, according to College Board’s latest Form 990. In fact, Coleman’s salary over doubles the salaries for 16 very large U.S. foundations (non-profits created for charitable purposes), according to an independent report on non-profit foundations by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Continuing on, around 2 million students took at least one SAT, and over 3 million students took at least one AP exam last year, according to College Board.
During this period, administration of the SAT suite of exams began transitioning from paper tests to a fully digital system. This change allowed the SAT to become adaptive based on your performance on certain sections and be scored more easily through automated systems. Instead of having to package, ship, and manually grade the physical SAT paper exams, College Board can precisely determine scores with a very quick turnaround. However, the change to a fully electronic system left several test details unchanged. The actual time to receive the scores stayed roughly the same at two to three weeks. The streamlined process through removal of printing and shipping logistics was actually followed by an increase in pricing. In 2021, the SAT exam fee was $55, but the cost has grown to $68 this year. The fees for test cancellations and late registrations have also only increased. The cost to register within two weeks of the SAT date is over half the base exam fee, totaling $106. By constantly increasing the end price for exams and cutting costs behind the scenes, College Board is able to position itself as being pro-education while secretly paying their top executive team millions of dollars. This unethical practice of profiting off unsuspecting students and families continues to occur, and while many will continue to support College Board for its educational services and courses, the number of those uninformed will continue to grow unless major revisions occur.
SOWMYA SUNDAR
JERRY YONG
NATALIE CHEN
REINA TAM
Around 2022, with the launch of Temu, many similar cheap virtual retailers, such as Wish, Alibaba, and Shein, gained popularity among online shoppers. These marketplaces are known for their affordable items but come with many disadvantages, like poor product quality and potentially toxic materials. Not all blame can be attributed to online retailers; instead, the third-party sellers are responsible for the possibly unsafe materials used in these products. Affordable clothing is a hot commodity often sold on these marketplaces. However, many shoppers criticize the type of clothing sold on these sites, with one being fast fashion clothing — clothing that is quickly and mass-produced to meet the latest trends. For example, the online store, Temu,
can reduce clothing prices to as low as 20 cents a piece by not following environmental guidelines and using low-quality fabrics, according to “Is Temu Fast Fashion? How Sustainable Are They?
Let’s Discuss,” an article written by Grace Greaves from eco-stylist.com.
If one buys clothes to follow trends, only to discard them after the trend ends, then that is bad for the environment.
third-party sellers, which has many pros and cons for the retailers themselves. These retailers do not need to produce their own products and always take a cut of the profit from third-party sellers. However, not all third-party sellers follow the guidelines of the online retailers, which can harm the reputation of the marketplace and the quality of products.
HAROLD HONG
Even if not thrown away, the inexpensive fabrics used in these clothes tend to easily deteriorate over time, according to the eco-stylist article.
As stated before, online retailers mainly act as hubs for
Overall, the third-party seller system only benefits the retailers, in turn sacrificing the trust and security of customers. It is a better idea to invest in long-lasting, safe products rather than inexpensive and dangerous items.
EDITORIAL: The Opinion of The Union
"Phone Free School Act" is beneficial to students, staff
Across the country, many states have enacted laws to ban the use of cell phones during instructional time at schools. California’s law, the PhoneFree School Act, allows schools and districts to make their own policies. Our school’s policy is fair and is overall beneficial to students.
The cell phone ban will help improve students’ academic performance by helping them focus in class. When students had easy access to their phones, many would check them and focus less on classroom instruction. In many classes, it was not difficult to find students concealing their phones under their desks, spending long stretches of class time watching videos and texting their friends. In the case of a lax teacher, students would not even need to hide what they were doing.
The school’s cell phone policy solves this problem by separating students from their phones for the duration of the class period. It’s true that students still have access to Chromebooks, but it’s easier for teachers to
control and limit Chromebook use, preventing students from getting distracted.
In addition, the cell phone ban leads students to form more relationships with their peers. Before the ban, many students immediately turned to their phones to relieve boredom in class, instead of attempting to start conversations with those around them. Less social students used their phones excessively and isolated themselves further. Without access to their phones, students are more likely to talk to each other in the classroom and may form new friendships. The cell phone ban will help all students develop social skills, which will help them in the future, no matter what field they choose to pursue.
Additionally, excessive cell phone use leads to symptoms of anxiety and depression, especially among teenagers and young adults. Students compulsively use their phones to chase the dopamine release. Without cell phones in the classroom during instructional time, schools have created a space
where students can take a break from the stress that they cause.
MHS' phone policy is especially lenient compared to many other schools in the state and across the nation. The policy permits students to have their phones during passing time, break, and lunch, whereas in many other schools, students cannot have their phones at all for the entire school day.
The school has also made exceptions to the ban when necessary. For instructional purposes, teachers may allow students to use their phones for tasks such as taking pictures for an assignment. In addition, students can still access information through their Chromebooks.
The Phone-Free School Act is more than a bill; it is a call back to the actual purpose of schools – education. Schools should be a place for learning, meeting new people, and growing physically and mentally. MHS’ compliance with the law allows students to take a break from staring at their phones and reclaim their minds and lives.
EDITORIAL: The Opinion of The Union
Murals would help boost school aesthetic, trojan pride
This year’s homecoming week not only showed off our school pride and spirit, but it also displayed the amazing artistic abilities of some of our students. However, when you walk around the campus, you might notice the dullness and monotone colors of the buildings. These blank, lifeless walls are perfect canvases for displays of student-created, inspiring art. The addition of murals and other artwork on our campus would not only improve the school aesthetically, but it would also increase a sense of school community, spirit, and pride.
More art on campus will have a positive impact on students.
A Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) study titled “The Role of Public Art in Enhancing School Environments” concluded that “an engaging and visually stimulating environment can positively influence students’ mood and motivation … Research has shown that students in visually enriched settings tend to be more focused and enthusiastic.”
Imagine what large murals with vibrant colors and positive messages would do for our student body.
The RMCAD study added that public art helps “to create a calming and welcoming environment for students of all ages.” The study also noted that many schools found success in student-led mural projects; for example, Rocky Mountain College’s own “Stay Creative” and “Rude Building” murals improved student creativity and community engagement.
MHS is one of the only schools in the District that lacks murals. Many other schools feature large murals as the centerpieces of their school. Additionally, YAMsters, a CLOG designed to provide a safe and supportive environment for artists, frequently hosts mural paintings at Spangler Elementary. So, why are there no murals at MHS?
Instead of only decorating Sophomore Lane, ASB and other groups could expand decorations to include artwork in a variety of places around our large campus. These groups can recruit dedicated student-artists to create murals that highlight our school’s pride, history, and diversity. We already have beautiful art-
STUDENT VOICE OF MILPITAS HIGH The views in The Union are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the school, students, administration, or Milpitas Unified School District. The Union is published by the Journalism class of Milpitas High
work featured on some teachers’ doors. These works show off students’ talent and also touch on teachers’ interests and personalities. These connections foster community and spirit among students and staff. The same effects can be created on a larger scale with murals. A system could be developed to determine the purpose and location of a mural. Students would first present a proposal and a draft of their mural design, suggest an optimal location to paint the mural, and then wait for administration approval to begin painting the mural. Some great places to paint murals include the walls of the theater and the large gym, because of their ample space and high student traffic. Ultimately, this system would ensure murals relate to MHS and have relevant, worthwhile messaging.
Murals and other works of student-created art will inspire Trojans and fill a void with their vivid colors and uplifting ideas. Our school is already a wonderful place, but beautifying our campus will elevate it to an even higher standard.
Want to advertise in the Union?
Please contact our business manager at milpitashightheunion@ gmail.com. Ads are available in full/half/quarter page and business card sizes. Upon request, The Union staff will also customize and design your advertisement.
STAFF
Kashvi Agarwal
Shivani Arun
Rain Bacungan
Namana Balakrishna
Natalie Chen
Aaron Chiah
Lauren Dang
Marie De Vre
Satvika Gidvani
Joseph Graham
Harold Hong
Jacob Huang
Tejus Karadi
AfungiaHivapeaulu Martin
Alice Nguyen
Kamisha Rodas
Shrihan Sham
Adit Singh
Sowmya Sundar
Reina Tam
Reuben Thayil
Ryan Truong
DieuUyen Vu
Jonah Wu
Jerry Yong
Sanjit Roy
Journalism Advisor
HAVE AN OPINION?
GOT A GRIPE WITH THE SCHOOL?
DESIRE TO PRAISE MHS?
WANT YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD?
WISH TO REPRESENT THE STUDENTS?
SUBMIT LETTERS TO MILPITASHIGHTHEUNION@GMAIL.COM MAKE SURE TO WRITE DOWN YOUR NAME AND GRADE FOR ONLINE EXCLUSIVE STORIES, VISIT MHSTHEUNION.COM
Block schedules, 3D printers, PBL: what Innovation offers to students
By Alice Nguyen
The MHS Extension at MUSD Innovation Campus certainly innovated on how the main campus operated from the past couple of decades. The Innovation Campus offers industry-standard machinery, workbenches with power drills and dremels, and a direct object printer in a room called the Makerspace, Junior Addison Tuet said.
There was a lot of uncertainty about how things would work and run at the Innovation Campus when she transferred, Tuet said.
“One of the big things about innovation, especially the first year, was that anything the student says matters,” Tuet said. “If you want to be the person to take initiative (...) build things, kind of shape the environment around you, then you definitely get the opportunity. Your voice is very easily heard when there’s only 60 of you.”
Tuet was curious to see what the different tools and machines that Innovation offered were like, she said.
“What also appealed was the block schedule,” Tuet said. “I wasn’t seeing the point of school with being at MHS, because it felt like every class was just for a grade, versus Innovation Campus (was) something new.”
Tuet started the club INNYOURSTYLE, which makes custom school merchandise using the Makerspace and 3D printers, she said. Tuet is also started an-
other club called WiSTEM, she added.
“WiSTEM is meant to empower girls, women, non-binary people, with STEM,” Tuet said. “The goal really is to use the Makerspace, learn technical skills, (and) realize that (STEM) is a male-dominated industry, but that doesn’t mean that there’s no place for women in it.”
One of the main reasons why junior Ridhwan Zaman decided to attend Innovation campus after his freshman year was because he didn’t like the environment of MHS or the classes he was taking, he said.
“Innovation offers more handson (learning); that’s kind of the whole point of it,” Zaman said. “We have PBL, which is project-based learning, and we can make our own projects if we want to. We have more resources, like in the Makerspace.”
The Makerspace hosts 3D printers, a machine that prints stickers, vinyl wrapping, and more, Zaman said. He also chose to attend the Innovation Campus because he was interested in e-tech, he said.
“I’ve learned so much more here than at the main campus,” Zaman said. “At the main campus I knew how to 3-D print, but not well. Here, I actually know how to 3-D print. I know how to (use) CAD (computer-assisted design).
I never learned how to use Photoshop on the main campus. But here we’re learning how to use Photoshop, and next year we’re
going to learn about After Effects and video production.”
Zaman is secretary of the eSports club, he said. The eSports club utilizes a lab room at the Innovation Campus filled with gaming computers, he said.
“We are in charge of, technically, the first lab made for esports,” Zaman said. “We have, as of now, a VALORANT team, and we’re planning to add more teams.”
Junior Surese Vu decided to transfer to Innovation at the beginning of her junior year for reasons other than building skills for a tech-orientated career path, Vu said. Students have the option of taking college classes on the Innovation campus in addition to their original schedule at the Innovation, she said.
“I moved here mainly because of the college classes, the block schedule (…) and because it’s more project-based and less quizzes and tests,” Vu said. “I don’t regret moving because the teachers here are really involved, and they actually take their time to teach you materials and get into your life.”
Vu also believes that the environment at Innovation is more welcoming than the environment at the main campus, she said.
“I feel like, here, the people are more friendly and warm because there’s less people,” Vu said. “At the main campus, there’s so many people and sometimes they’re already in their groups and you can’t really join in. But here, I think it’s pretty easy to do that.”
What percent of seniors are taking a T.A. or open period (out of 85 seniors)?
Dual
By Namana Balakrishna
Advanced Placement (AP) classes are not the only way students can potentially earn college credit. Juniors and seniors have the opportunity to take dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment classes in order to earn college credit.
In dual enrollment, students take their college classes during the school day, counselor Julie Cler said. However, in concurrent enrollment, college classes are taken outside of school hours, she added.
“When you go directly to a community college, you are earning credit for a class that cannot be used for anything else but that (specific) class,” Cler said. “If you take from a community college directly through dual or concurrent, again, those credits can’t be manipulated. They (can only be used) for that requirement.”
When taking concurrent classes at a community college, students are responsible for providing their own transcripts, Cler said. The counselors double check that the class is accurate and the course completed is the one they signed off on, she added.
“Then we pass it on to the school registrar, and they are the ones that input (it) onto your transcript,” Cler added. “Although when you go off to college, the colleges are going to want an official transcript for any college work you’ve done, even though it shows on your MHS one, they will still want an official one from the college.”
For dual enrollment, the San Jose City College teachers will send their grades to the MHS counselors, Cler said.
“But when you leave us after you graduate and go on to college, you will send your official transcripts for any college coursework you’ve taken,” Cler said.
Senior Angie Dang first heard about dual enrollment through a cousin who has already graduated, she said. She started taking dual enrollment during her junior year, and this is her second year of dual enrollment, Dang added.
“I just took general education, so that includes math, English, science– just everything in general,” Dang said.
Dual enrollment covers fifth and sixth period in her sched-
ule, Dang said. Depending on the course, students can have a class one day and a completely different class the next day, she added.
This year, Dang has “the same class, and it’s a science class, so I have one lecture and then a lab the next day,” she said. “Fridays are off, so you get to go home early or stay here (at MHS) for a bit.”
Senior Lina Kimoto is taking a biology concurrent enrollment course at San Jose City College, she said. The course she is taking is a hybrid course, Kimoto added.
“There’s video lectures online, and you watch the lectures, and you take notes, and there’s a quiz, and you just keep doing that,” Kimoto said. “The lab is just in person.”
Kimoto chose her biology college course because she thought it would be helpful for college, she added.
“I want to go into medical fields and bio is everywhere,” Kimoto said. “I wanted to know what I’m getting into. If I don’t like (biology) after taking this class I can change it.”
There is a limit when it comes to taking dual and concurrent enrollment, like any other advanced class, Cler said. At most, a student at MHS can take four advanced courses, and dual enrollment counts as two advanced courses, she added.
“You can have a combination of three either AP or honors within your school day, and then do one concurrent class. If you’re already booked with three APs and an honor, say, in your junior year, there’s no adding on.”
Concurrent enrollment classes aren’t only limited to community colleges nearby, Cler said.
“We’ve had students trying to find certain math classes that they’ve been looking for, from northern California to southern California to central California,” she added. “It just depends. But because the classes are done asynchronously, online, it allows that opportunity to take what you’d like.”
During the summer when concurrent enrollment opens up, students should look for courses that would enrich their learning rather than replace a subject, Cler said.
“What are you interested in that we don’t have here?” Cler added. “Take advantage of that. Colleges love to see that.”
Dual enrollment students are exposed to a pig’s heart in biology class.
Alice Nguyen | THE UNION
A workbench in the first room of the Makerspace at the Innovation campus, including drills and other tools.
New Director of Bands Kylie Ward breaks traditional director
By Uyen Vu
MHS’ Music Program has multiple award-winning Bands, being recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the School Board, and the City of Milpitas. This year, Kylie Ward has taken the role of MHS Director of Bands.
The first year at a new job is always the craziest, Director of Bands Kylie Ward said. Even though it is not her first year as a teacher, there were many things that she had to put together and fix, such as taking a complete inventory of all of the school’s instruments, Ward added.
“I wanted to make sure we went
into the school year really organized,” Ward said. “Because if I have my stuff put together, the students will be able to put their things together as well.”
Ward believes it is important that she breaks the mold of what a traditional Band Director does, she said. There is no reason to do things a specific way just because those who preceded her did so, Ward said.
“If it’s (previous Band structure) working for the students, I can be that band director,” Ward said. “But if there are better ways, then I’m not going to stay the same when I can adjust to be better.”
Ward also thinks that her class-
Students who resist indulging in social media
By Sowmya Sundar
We currently live in a world where social media is deeply interwoven into many lives, and it’s hard for many of us to imagine life without it.
However, there are students who live their day-to-day lives with little to no social media use.
es should incorporate music that the students actually enjoy and relate to in their regular lives, she said. While the music that band students usually play is fun, it is not something that people listen to for fun, she added.
“It’s not always like you hop in the car and you listen to Mahler’s Symphony,” Ward said. “People will go home and watch an Avengers movie, which is why some of our groups are playing Avengers right now.”
Ward has been very specific with what she wants to do and puts detail into everything, senior Aidan Quiroz said.
“You should play your instrument, but (you) also pay attention
ing to say in this conversation.”
Senior Jennifer Rokita stopped using social media in sophomore year, and hasn’t used it since, she said.
“I feel like it’s a big dis traction,” Rokita said. “It’s too much noise.”
Rokita uses iMessage primarily to communicate with her friends. She doesn’t feel like she’s miss ing out socially because she’s not on social media, she added.
For school events, Sun often doesn’t resort to Instagram or Discord as main communication, she said. She talks to people in person or looks at the CLOG catalog using her email typically, she said.
“Because of that, I show up to a meeting and no one’s there, and then I check with my phone, and I realize that the meeting was cancelled,” Sun said.
“If it’s important, I talk person-to-person,” Rokita said. “For school events, things like that, (school event) prices, I hear it through my friends.”
Naira Niyamathullah uses Instagram, Youtube and Discord for 35 minutes a day, she said.
“Sometimes I have to force myself, but because I’m so busy with sports and everything, I just don’t have time to be on social media. So I don’t have to (check) constantly.”
Niyamathullah feels as though she’s missing out a bit socially due to her use of social media, she said. She is especially affected by school events, she added.
“A specific example – for the senior picnic, they posted about the vegetarian form that you had to fill out by Sunday,” Niyamathullah said. “And I didn’t see it, my friend saw it for me, and it was an (Instagram) story. So if my friend hadn’t sent it to me, then I would have missed it completely, and I might have not gotten the vegetarian option.”
Junior Anna Sun often feels excluded from social events due to her lack of social media presence, she said. She is usu ally very behind on the latest trend because she spends more time doing hobbies or homework, she added.
“For example, the 6-7 thing – no idea why peo ple use that,” Sun said. “So whenever I hear people talking about something that’s online or very popular, I kinda blank out. And I have nothing to say. I have noth-
Sun thinks there might be a benefit to using social media since she could be more up-to-date with more people, and she can make more connections that way, she said. She heard LinkedIn is an important app for professional connections and to network, so she might use that in the future, she added.
“I do think it’s a good idea to limit your time on social media once in a while, especially when things get busy,” Sun said. “I feel like social media is another reason why people procrastinate sometimes, so I think it’s a good idea to limit your time on it and to schedule only a few days a week in which you use social media.”
to the other (instrument) group,” Quiroz said. “Also, (you are) being mindful of how you play and being more conscious of what you do, instead of just turning your brain off.”
Music teacher and District Music Lead Emily Moore and Ward have on occasion combined their string instrument players and wind instrument players, which usually play in separate classes and rooms during the school day, to allow them to play together, Moore said. The different instrument players combine together during concerts to form Symphony Orchestra, Moore added.
“It (combining classes) hasn’t ben in the school day for a little while,” Moore said. “Now it’s during class, so we get more time together, which I think is better.”
Every time there is a new Band Director, it comes with new personalities, goals, and priorities, District Music Lead Emily Moore said.
“Navigating that (transition) is always interesting,” Moore said. “There’s always a little bit of a transition, but this has seemed very positive. Everyone is having a good time.”
Ward has been very organized and energetic, Moore said.
“Because it’s a big job, and you’re managing a whole lot of people, you need someone with lots of energy,” Moore said.
Even though Ward is only teaching band, her experience in various kinds of ensembles has helped her become a better educator, Ward said.
“Having tried all those different things gave me different tools in my toolbox and different things to try that were outside of the regular, traditional band-teach-
New Athletics Director Champ Wrencher plans to foster stronger athlete community
By Rain Bacungan
MHS’ new athletics director is former social sciences teacher Champ Wrencher, Wrencher said. This year, he plans to ensure that the athletics department is well-supported and assisted, Wrencher said.
Before switching to the athletics director position, Wrencher had coaching experience by working with the boys basketball team, Wrencher said. He became the athletics director to support athletes and coaches.
“I’ve been coaching for 26 years,” Wrencher said. “I’m always looking for a new challenge at this point in my career. (Being athletics director) would be one of the few things that I’ve wanted to do, and maybe the only thing other than teaching.”
Wrencher’s passion for coaching stems from how he cannot play basketball anymore and how he likes to be involved with the sport, Wrencher said. Basketball offered him opportunities during his college career; he wants to
ing method,” Ward said.
Ward has played in band in middle school and high school, studied music education, joined a mariachi band, and has studied various other kinds of music, she said.
“In my sixth grade year of middle school, I was like, ‘I want to be a band teacher. I want to do this for the rest of my life,’” Ward said.
Ward also has experience with mariachi and the music department has a class set of guitars not in use, so she believes it would be fun to have a guitar or a mariachi class one day, she said.
“A guitar class would be really cool because you have more freedom to play Kendrick Lamar and other stuff that students are listening to right now,” Ward said.
“That would be a really good way to engage some students in music classes that normally would be like, ‘I’m not going to do band.’”
In January, after the construction of the Performing Arts Center is done, the music department will move and use the longer classroom building as their new classroom space, Ward said.
“The new building is beautiful, and we are so lucky to be going in there,” Ward said. “I know all of our staff and students are really, really excited to have that opportunity.
Right now, the band program is still dealing with the effects of COVID, where everybody fell behind and the district’s elementary and middle school programs are still growing, Ward said.
“I foresee in the next however many years, the program will continue to grow because more kids are able to do band and are interested in doing band,” Ward said.
camps so they can get instruction from MHS staff,” Wrencher said. “(This way), they can get a feel for what it’s like to be on campus here at the high school because one day it could be their future school.”
Football coach and math teacher Kelly King states that the camps are also beneficial to students as it enables them to enjoy themselves while also learning at the same time.
“It’s important for kids to get out and have a good time while running around and playing sports,” King said.
The camps are also fundraisers for the athletics department and their specific programs, Wrencher said. Last year, the school had volleyball, flag football, girl’s soccer, badminton and basketball camps; however, some of them had lower turnouts of students compared to basketball and flag football, he added.
give players a similar effect.
“When I first got there, I was a non scholarship player,” Wrencher said. “I was invited to come play on the team, and then after a year, they awarded me a scholarship. I got everything paid for (...) Books, tuition, rent, food.”
Wrencher’s experience playing basketball also contributes to why he became a coach, he added. His experience as a player was positive but had some negative aspects.
“We didn’t always have a good team, but it was very competitive,” Wrencher said. “We won half our games. That was only a part that maybe wasn’t so good –not winning a lot of games.”
This year, Wrencher wants to direct more focus on off-season camps to help build a stronger community for students and to give more attention to athletes, Wrencher said. In order to achieve this goal, he plans to encourage coaches to participate in this more, he added.
Coaches should invite “elementary and junior high kids to those
“(For) the rest of the teams, I (would) like to see their camps become a little bit more successful,” Wrencher said. “That way, each program can raise money and be able to fund some of their own activities without depending on so much financial support from a school.”
This year, the athletics department has implemented a new athletics leadership class, Wrencher said.
“If you want to learn about organizing and setting up athletic events, publicizing and providing media coverage, this is the class for that,” Wrencher said. “We have a team dedicated to events set up to support (athletics), and then we have a website team.”
There are only nine people in the course, senior Ernesto Sto Domingo said. Despite the small class size, they work well together and have good communication, he added.
“We’ve all gotten to the point that we’ve all bonded already,” Domingo said. “We’ve all bonded to the point that we forgot each other’s grade levels, and all see each other as equal.”
Uyen Vu | THE UNION
Director of Bands Kylie Ward teaches ‘Golden’ from KPop Demon Hunters to the lowest level concert bands.
Rain Bacungan | THE UNION
Students in athletic leadership prepping materials for a football game.
How trading cards evolved from baseball cards to valuable collectibles
By Harold Hong People saw
On August 24, 2025, a 1 of 1 signed sports card featuring Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant sold for $12.932 million on Heritage Auctions, a site known for auctioning off prized collectibles, according to “‘Holy grail’ Jordan-Bryant sports card sells for record $12.9M,” an article written by Dan Hajducky from ESPN. At roughly $13 million, this Jordan-Bryant 1 of 1 sports card takes the title of the single-highest-selling trading card in history.
A contender separate from the sports cards community is the Pikachu Illustrator card, which sold in mint condition in July 2021 for $5.275 million, according to “A Short History of Pikachu Illustrator, the Most Expensive Pokémon Card,” an article written by Peter Day from TCGPlayer.
ther as a hobby to pass the time or as an investment. However, card collecting has roots that stretch back to the 19th century, mainly because of the introduction of the “trade card.”
One may ask, “Why do people buy these ridiculously expensive trading cards?” Well, this all boils down to scarcity and the rise in popularity of card collecting ever since its advent.
Over the last five years, card collecting has experienced a resurgence as a hobby for both teens and adults. Current popular trading card brands include Pokémon TCG, The One Piece Card Game, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, and more. The comeback of card collecting can mainly be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which drove many people to collect cards, ei-
Trade cards, which are cardboard cards that depict an athlete or fictional character, were popularized around the 1860s, largely due to the rise of baseball as a sport in the United States. Early trading cards solely depicted baseball players and were typically sold with tobacco products and candy.
From the 1870s to the early 1900s, card producers began using multi-color printing more often in the production of trading cards. The colorful and beautiful designs of these cards caught the attention of many consumers, leading to the birth of card collecting. Fellow card collectors would trade cards depending on which ones they didn’t have, thus coining the term “trading card.”
The complexity of sports cards would increase in the 1930s, as baseball cards started to print biographies, records, and player stats on the back of cards. In the 1950s, trading cards started appearing inside chewing gum products, and instead of only portraying baseball athletes, they started to depict football players and TV and movie stars.
In the 1980s, sports card collecting saw a surge in popularity, which led to older cards being seen as rarer. These older cards can often sell for hundreds of thousands, possibly even millions.
older cards as investments for the future.
In the next decade, trading card games were introduced to the public, adding a whole new level of nuance to the trading card industry. These trad ing card games, much like board games, follow their own rules and systems, but all revolve around using one’s cards to battle another’s cards. Notable trading card games include Magic: The Gather ing and Yu-Gi-Oh!
Recently, trading cards have risen in value because of card grading; grading is a process in which a popular grad ing service, like Beckett or PSA, ranks a card’s condition on a scale of 1 to 10 (“poor” to “gem mint”). Depending on the score it gets, cards can significantly increase in value.
What used to be a hobby has now be come a commercial venture for many. Aside from grading cards, many seek out the business of scalping — buying a product to then resell for high prof its. Long lines you see at the store for trading cards mainly consist of scalpers looking to make quick cash.
Ultimately, card collecting has grown from a simple hobby of collecting sports cards with one’s favorite athlete plas tered onto them to an investment that can return vast wealth. What started off as a line of sports cards has now trans formed into a myriad of different trad ing card brands separate from sports.
Rain Bacungan | THE UNION
Opinion: Trendy collectibles harm environment, promote overconsumption, produce mass waste
Uyen Vu
This year, it has been nearly impossible to avoid stumbling across a Labubu when scrolling through TikTok and Instagram. Labubus are small plush dolls that are sold in boxes that do not reveal their exact contents before the consumer buys and opens them.
Along with Sonny Angels or Smiskis, other examples of blind-box figurines, Labubus were popularized through social media. Video creators will often post their unboxings online, since the unboxing process is a vital part of the product experience. The anticipation of the product reveal is shared between the creator and the watcher.
However, as innocent as the rising trend of small, blind-box collectibles may seem, the trend leads people to overconsume. Although Labubus are only about six inches tall, one box from the most popular collection, “THE MONSTERS - Have a seat” is priced at $27.99 from the official POPMART website. Since every purchase is a mystery, it is a gamble each time, according to “Trending Labubu Dolls ‘Inherently Unsustainable,’” by Dr. Jing Wan from the University of Guelph.
The packaging usually will display the different variations of the product, allowing the consumer to pick a favorite, which further builds their excitement before unboxing. This also encourages people to buy multiple at a time to raise their chances of getting their desired type.
Often, blind-box companies will add a “rare” variation of a figurine, such as the “Secret Labubu” that adds extra ex-
clusivity to the product. These “rare” variations will sell for sky-high prices on second-hand sites.
Additionally, blind-box companies encourage consumers to own all the variations to complete a set. Companies will often continue to release more collections, which builds a never-ending cycle of manufacturing and consumption.
Labubus and similar figurines are different from usual collectibles such as baseball cards or toy cars because they are tied to social media trends. Their popularity is gained rapidly, promoting unhealthy cycles of mass consumption before consumers move on to the next fad.
Blind boxes in general lead to a “disposable mindset”, according to Dr. Jing Wan from the University of Guelph. Their value is built off of excitement and novelty, which makes the products’ demand susceptible to fading with time.
Purchasing these collectibles creates a large amount of waste, as the boxes and plastic packages are immediately thrown away after purchase, and the collectibles themselves are made of materials that are resistant to biodegradation, according to “Sonny Angels and Smiskis: The Environmental Impact” by New University. Furthermore, most do not have real use—the products are for display.
The environmental concern is significant because people will buy trendy products like Labubus, Sonny Angels, and Smiskis en masse. Not only are they buying multiple of one collectible, they quickly move from trend to trend, creating even more waste.
Collectibles are not inherently harmful. Building collections can create community, especially when it requires collectors to actively search for new pieces, according to “A Deep Dive into Toy Collector Culture” by Audrey Fairbrother from eCommerce platform EQL. However, the momentary nature of the trendy blind boxes should encourage consumers to think critically before they buy.
Age of trading cards to action figures
By Shrihan Sham
Collectibles have been popular for generations. They capture the life or spirit of an era and reflect cultural interests. People can collect anything from trading cards to limited edition albums, and the evolution of collectibles shows how trends adapt to the changes of each generation.
The 1990s marked a huge turning point for collectibles with the rise and increase of Pokemon cards. Originally launched in Japan, the card game became widely popular around the world. Children and teenagers started to collect these cards and hoped to find the rarest of them, the 1999 Charizard. This card, in mint condition, is worth around $450,000 today. Beyond the game itself, the introduction of Pokemon cards became the foundation of collecting toys or games from cards to action figures. Before Pokemon cards were introduced, collectibles were not a popular hobby in many parts of the world. In the 1980s, kids were drawn to Garbage Pail Kids trading cards, Star Wars action figures and G.I. Joe. These items were more like toys or something to play with. The design and the quality of the Star Wars were much ahead of its time. Star Wars action figures were the first to release limited edition action figures. Some people
bought them and kept them in good condition, hoping their value would increase over time, and they did. In 2014, a man bought a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Freddy funk Joker for $600. Today, the same funko pop is worth around $15,000. Each new different type of collectibles highlighted not only consumer interests but also how media shaped childhood experiences.
Funko Pop Vinyl figures have become extremely popular in more recent times. Known for their oversized heads and wide range of designs, these figures appeal not just to children, but to people of all ages. Funko Pops range from superheroes to television characters, and collectors like to visually display their fandom. Unlike trading cards, which are mainly used for games, Funko Pops emphasize identity and display as many collectors decorate their rooms with Funko Pops of the characters they like. In recent times, people have begun to collect limited edition sneakers, gaming consoles, cell phones, cars and other items. Because of the internet, people collect Non Fungible Tokens (NFT) which go from cryptocurrency, to other different digital tokens.
Despite all these evolutions, the idea of collectibles remains the same: collecting rare items with the hope that their value increases over time. However, whether you make money or not, collecting can still be a fun hobby to pass
Minimalism saves money, resources
By Namana Balakrishna
How many times have you strolled through the mall, after reminding yourself endlessly that you’re just there to window shop, and left with two bags of items and a dent in your bank account? This phenomenon is known as overconsumption, which refers to overly buying items they don’t require, without being consciously aware of it. People may overconsume due to impulsive spending habits, an attempt to keep up with trends, or just general influence from social media. These habits aren’t just unnecessary and bad for the environment, but it’s an easy way to drain all your money. If you find yourself being an overconsumer or your bank balance seems to easily disappear, here are some ways to minimize your spending and consumption:
Make mindful spending decisions
One of the easiest ways to spend a lot of money is by buying everything you see. You may not even notice how much you spent until you get home and finally check your receipts. When going to the mall or exploring a new city, it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying everything that catches your eye. Before buying, try to think about if you will actually use the item. For example, if you want to buy new clothes, think about how the piece of clothing will work with the rest of your closet and clothes. Think about if it matches most of your other clothes and if you could create multiple outfits with it. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also end up saving space in your room by avoiding clutter.
If you feel unsure about your decision, try and get a second or third opinion. Sometimes, other people can help you in making better decisions. Another option you can try is leaving the item and coming back to it at a later time. Anywhere from half an hour to a few weeks, depending on your situation. If you still feel yourself wanting to buy the item, then go ahead. If not, then take it as a sign to move on.
Thrift or borrow items
A way to help reduce waste when shopping would be to shop at a thrift store. Some places around the area include Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and Hope [Nevuo] Thrift. Shopping at a thrift store or second-hand use store helps reduce waste and give used items a second chance. Another positive is that you can also buy items for much cheaper. Rather than buying something to use it once and then collect dust, you can borrow it from someone else. This also helps you
Studying tips help students stay organized
By Marie De Vré
The avalanche of assignments that accompany schooldays can easily become overwhelming. Students are juggling sports, homework, jobs, and their personal lives — all while trying to maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Obviously, finding a healthy work-life balance has some challeng es, so here are some tips to help you out.
for them to stick to a sleep schedule is setting aside time each night to unwind, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Spend some time reading your favorite book or playing your favorite game. Just keep in mind to avoid screens as much as possible before bed.
Every routine that a student can create for themselves saves them time and stress during incredibly busy days.
method breaks things down for you, allowing you to more effectively focus for short periods of time.
save money in the long run. The Milpitas Library offers a wide range of items to be borrowed, from household appliances to technology to hobby kits.
You can also ask your friends and neighbors if they have something you need to use. If you want to try out a new hobby, for instance, don’t just jump all in and buy every single supply you need. Instead, try borrowing a friend’s supplies and try out your new interest.
For example, if you want to learn how to paint, borrow a friend’s painting materials and try it out. If you want to learn how to play tennis, find someone who plays the sport and tag along with them. Try out the activity for a week. If you feel confident in pursuing this hobby, then go ahead and buy everything. If not, you just saved yourself a lot of time and money.
Add a spending limit
Keeping a budget will also help you consume less goods. Every time you go shopping, give yourself a budget and try to stick to it. If you feel ambitious, try to limit yourself from going out and spending money every single day. Aim to go out and spend money once a week rather than every day if that’s your habit.
Be resourceful and use things you already own Oftentimes, you end up buying things you already have just because it is trending. For example, Stanley water bottles were trending a few years ago, where people ended up collecting multiple bottles even though Stanleys are meant to be reusable.
In reality, you don’t need to buy everything trending online. By the time you join in on the trend, it usually has moved on, leaving you with something you may not have really wanted to begin with.
On that same note, you don’t need to buy a drink, snack, or takeout every time you step foot out of the house. While it doesn’t seem like a lot, the price can quickly add up. If you want to buy something to eat, see if you can buy the ingredients and make it at home. Oftentimes, it’s cheaper to make it yourself than to buy it at a store. Plus, you have more freedom to customize your dish or drink to suit your own tastes.
Conclusion In all, it’s very easy to lose track of how much money you spend. What starts off as $5 can quickly escalate to $500. All you need to do is slow down and be more mindful about where and how you decide to spend your money. By doing so you could potentially save up for a bigger and more meaningful purchase, like a new car or a nice vacation.
Es tablish rou tines: To make your mornings easier, lay out the clothes you want to wear and prepare your backpack for school the night before. Establishing a morning routine creates less stress in the morning. Creating a routine for homework is also beneficial; a quiet study space and a studying method used every day creates a zone of focus that a student can instantly switch into. Arguably, the most important routine that a student can create for themselves is a consistent sleep schedule. Sleep is incredibly important when it comes to school: it helps with focus, information retention, and attention. Information retention is crucial for test taking, so having a good night’s sleep is just as important as studying.
Sticking to the same schedule daily makes it easier for a person to fall asleep and wake up on time in the mornings. A few things a student can do to make it easier
Use the Pomodoro method: The Pomodoro method is great for studying. It times blocks of 25 minutes to dedicate to studying. After each 25-minute period, you are rewarded with a short 5-minute break.
Its dedicated 25-minute-work blocks help you focus on home work so you can actually get things done. The 5-minute break is just enough time to scroll through vid eos or stretch before you get started on the next 25-minute focus period. These little breaks keep you motivated, especially when you realize that after 4 focus periods, you are rewarded with a long 15-minute break rather than the usual short 5-minute break. While the amount of homework you may have seems daunting at first, the Pomodoro
Use a planner: With so many different classes to keep track of, it becomes very easy for a homework assignment to slip your mind. Losing track of the assignments you need to complete often results in the last minute scribbling of answers, or students just not turning their work in at all. The best way to combat this is to have some sort of planner or to-do list on hand.
Your planner can be either physical or online depending on what works for you. Keeping an updated to-do list enables you to see what assignments are due, which helps you prioritize what needs to be done first. Planners can also be used to record test dates to remind you to study in time rather than cram the night before an exam.
Planners aren’t just for academic tasks; you can use them to keep track of non-academic events, too. By using your planner for non-academic purposes, you will be able to see when you have time to study. Plus, you’ll be better able to plan for social and leisure activities, so you’ll make sure you have time to relax, too! These tips are all modifiable to meet each student’s needs so that they can earn better grades and become the best version of themselves possible. Good luck studying this year!
Scholarships found through various online resources
By Alice Nguyen
The most dreaded time for high school seniors has final ly arrived: college application season. Among the endless supplemental essays to be written, letters of recommendation to be request ed, and extracurriculars is the daunting price of tuition, adding one more troublesome task of finding and applying for external scholarships.
External scholar ships are just what they sound like: scholarships that you apply for outside of your schools. Scholarships can be found in a variety of ways and places, one of the most helpful being the College & Career website, with an entire section titled “Scholarships.”
The College & Career Website can be found by going to the MHS website, hovering over the “Student Life” tab, and clicking on “College and Career.” They include lists of scholarships only open to MUSD as well as other ones outside the district. MUSD scholarships can range from $500 to $3,000, while other scholarships may range from $500 to $10,000. The College & Career website also lists other scholarship search engines such as BigFuture (from College Board) and various websites with resource guides for scholarships.
The College Board website also has a section to search for schol-
arships. It provides nearly 32,000 different scholarships from across the nation, and they provide filters such as location, GPA, fields of study, etc., to help you narrow down your search. Some scholarships may require a certain GPA or require you to live in a certain place, so it’s crucial to find scholarships that will fit your needs.
MHS counselors can also offer other suggestions for schol
many students for a limited number of awards. A lot of scholarships may share the same essay prompt such as “What’s your biggest accomplishment in life?” according to studentaid.gov, so you may be able to reuse some of your essays from other scholarships you may have applied to. It’s also important to have several people read your essays to get a variety of opinions — think teachers, parents, counselors, mentors, or coaches. If you’re going to reuse your essays and tweak a few things, make sure they’re the best they can be.
Letters of Reccomendation
Requesting letters of recommendation can also be a daunting task. Ask a teacher who knows you well—maybe they’re an adviser of a club that you’re in or you’re an active participant in their class—and ask them early, giving them lots of time to write your letter to ensure that it can be the best quality it can be. Request a letter in-person rather than over email to make it more personal and be polite when asking.
meeting with your counselor can not only provide you with more information about scholarships, but also give you tips for applications. Applying to as many scholarships as possible is a good strategy, as you’ll be competing against
The application process for scholarships and college may seem daunting, but you are not alone. More importantly than applying to hundreds of scholarships and paying hundreds in application fees, it is important to stay healthy, take care of yourself, and keep a calm head — and although it may seem impossible, to not be too stressed out.
Sowmya Sundar | THE UNION
To cut down on waste, use one bag for the time of your shopping trip.
Laufey’s latest album crafts an emotional story of love, heartbreak
RATING: 5 out of 5
By Marie De Vré
Rating: 5/5
Viral Icelandic singer Laufey recently released her third studio album, “A Matter of Time” on Aug. 22 to an eager fanbase. Laufey is well-known for her unique jazz-inspired style and warm, full vocals.
Some highlights on the album include “Lover Girl,” “Castle in Hollywood,” “Too Little, Too Late,” and “Tough Luck.” The album features four singles, “Silver Lining,” “Tough Luck,” “Lover Girl,” and “Snow White,” as well as a bonus track.
The album blends elements of jazz and pop music to create a full, rich sound. Different classic instruments, including trumpets, violins, and guitars, give the album a unique, nostalgic feel. The jazz elements and bells in the opening song, “Clockwork,” and in “Cuckoo Ballet” are reminiscent of Christmas carols, adding to the nostalgic sound.
The album delves into the memories of a past relationship, the heartbreak that accompanied its ending, and the eventual acceptance of the break-up. The album’s structure is meant to represent this journey; the first half of the album reminisces about falling in love and being heartbroken, but after the interlude, “Cuckoo Ballet,”
Laufey has moved on from the heartbreak.
Overall, the album feels very cohesive. Each song perfectly conveys the emotions of falling in and out of love.
MUSIC REVIEW
Many teenagers can relate to this album, especially when it comes to their first love and heartbreak. They know firsthand what it is like to question what went wrong in a seemingly perfect relationship, a feeling that Laufey expertly expresses throughout her album.
The album starts off soft and slow, with Laufey falling in love and recalling how dizzying the
rush of love felt. However, the third song on the album, “Snow White” is much more reflective and sets up the album’s melancholy tone.
The album then follows the familiar cycle of grief: the feelings of hurt and betrayal, the belief that something is wrong with oneself, which is highlighted in the song “Snow White,” and the regret of not fighting for your relationship.
Halfway through, the album includes an interlude: “Cuckoo Ballet.” An excellent transition, this instrumental song symbolizes the time needed to heal from a relationship and serves as a pause
Sabrina Carpenter’s album “Man’s Best Friend” faces intense backlash, plagiarism critcisms for AI images in advertisements
By Rain Bacungan
Curly hair, doe eyes, and a fashionable taste in music and history, award-winning pop artist Sabrina Carpenter released her album “Man’s Best Friend” on Aug. 29, 2025. “Man’s Best Friend” re-explores that unapologetic, bold and flirtatious nature of pop through its cheeky songs and clever lyrics. It features twelve songs, each about Carpenter’s romantic and sexual experiences with men. The album begins with “Manchild,” a country-synth pop fusion song that sets the entire setlist’s upbeat tone. The album debuted as the No.1 album on the Billboard 200 Chart, according to the Billboard 200 chart.
However, before its release, Carpenter faced intense backlash on social media, including TikTok and Instagram, due to the cover and title of “Man’s Best Friend.” The cover features a photo of Carpenter looking into the camera on all fours while an anonymous man uses her hair as a leash.
Some individuals online perceived the album as “an antifeminist catering to the male gaze”
due to how she objectifies herself on both the cover and in the title, according to “Sabrina Carpenter Addresses ‘Man’s Best Friend’ Controversy,’” an article written by Neia Balao on AOL.com. The album’s tracklist itself doesn’t focus much on the dominant-submissive aspect that the cover is explicitly showing off, thus furthering the negative reviews of the album.
Carpenter is surprised that people are reacting negatively to the album, and states that her recent music is an ironic take on patriarchal relationships, Carpenter said in an interview with Apple Music. She wanted to express that submissiveness is another type of dominance, while also implementing elements of cheekiness in both the album and cover, she added.
Another reason why Carpenter has come under fire is that her advertising team used AI to create stickers they released on TikTok.
The stickers that were “created” are strangely drawn and formatted. For example, a sticker of Carpenter on roller skates doesn’t have the same number of fingers
on each hand. One hand has four fingers, while the other has five. Another example is how inconsistent the eyes are drawn in each sticker; the pupils are different sizes and different colors.
Using AI in art can be seen as lazy, as anyone can type up any prompt that they think of and receive a photo within seconds. Because of how quickly it can generate images, AI has been taking away the jobs of artists, according to corralldesign.com. What makes art special is that it’s made by a person; AI art is not. Carpenter’s use of AI to promote her album suggests that she does not fully take the work of artists seriously.
Although this decision may have been made without Carpenter’s awareness, the use of AI in terms of marketing is both unethical and harmful at the same time because of these reasons.
Despite the controversies Carpenter finds herself in, she expresses her sexuality through the unapologetic, promiscuous lyrics that she creates. Her music is a reminder that people shouldn’t be afraid to express themselves and their beliefs.
within the album.
The song itself follows the album’s story; it begins lighthearted, then crescendos with only sorrowful string instruments playing, before other instruments rejoin, and the song lifts in spirit and cheerfulness again. It is a musical interpreta tion of the grief of heartbreak.
On the second half of the album, Laufey seems to be over her heartbreak. “Tough Luck” is essentially a song saying goodbye to Laufey’s past partner. This song is a refreshing change from the rest of the album’s tone and sadness; it’s upbeat and calls out Laufey’s
ex. It’s as though Laufey is taking control back of her life, and therefore her music.
The few upbeat songs are a breath of fresh air; they balance out the heavy, melancholic songs that make up the majority of the album.
“A Matter of Time” is a masterclass in songwriting and is truly a joy to listen to. Listeners are able to connect with Laufey’s album; they know the pain of wanting to go back to a relationship that isn’t meant to be, and this album gives them the space to grieve. It takes the listener on a journey, and it feels complete.
The Union Crossword Puzzle (Contains all sections)
Across
5. the month TCC tryouts were held this year
7. type of enrollment where students are enrolled in a college class outside of school hours
8. part of what caused the Sabrina Carpenter controversy
9. study method that gives the studier frequent, short breaks
12. type of concern surrounding blind boxes
13. club in the Innovation Campus that empowers women and non-men in STEM
Scan QR Code for answers
Uyen Vu | THE UNION
Down
1. one way to reduce clothing waste
2. franchise in which some band groups are currently playing music from under new Director of Bands
3. popular trading card game introduced in the 90s
4. figurine collectible based on a variety of franchises
6. dance level for advanced students
10. song artist mentioned in both the Entertainment and Opinion sections
11. school level that the Innovation Campus’ recruitment efforts are primarily directed to
Laufey performing at the Oakland Arena on Sept. 29th, as apart of her “A Matter of Time” tour. She’s singing her song “Clockwork.”
Rain Bacungan | THE UNION
Promotional material for Carpenter’s album “Man’s Best Friend,” which depicts her hugging a man.
Courtesy of Sabrina Carpenter
Cross country team aims for CCS title with their talented runners, experienced captains
By Shrihan Sham
This year, the cross country team has a great chance of winning CCS (Central Coast Section), Coach Dillon Hu said.
This is his third season coaching the cross country team, Hu said. The team has had great coaches, but they were unlucky in recent times and could not win CCS, he added.
“Of all the three years I’ve been coaching the team, this year has the highest probability of winning,” Hu said. “We have a lot of talented runners this season, so instead of relying on a few people, we can count on everyone this time.”
Cross country has no tryouts; anyone is allowed to join, Hu said. The coaches had the incoming freshman practice during summer, so they could work on them as soon as possible, he added.
“Missing practice can be very crucial, as that reduces your momentum and it will take time for your legs to get used to running again,” Hu said. “Nothing stops practice; we even run in the rain.”
Everyone starts at JV and then when the coaches see their lap time, they decide if they go to varsity or JV, Hu said. Cross country is one of those sports where even freshmen can be on varsity, he added.
“Injuries are a pain in this sport. A small injury can affect you long term,” Hu said. “Recovery is a long process. We have to do cross training ellipticals, strengthening exercises and by the time the runner recovers, the season will be almost done.”
This year, the team has a lot of young runners, Junior Shourya Kukkala said. It’s gonna be hard, but they are trying their best to win CCS, he added.
“It’s my first year as a captain, and I have to set a good example by being one of the fastest,” Kukkala said. “There is a lot of competition for varsity, and that’s what we like to see as a team.”
The team can get very tired and unmotivated during practice, Kukkala said. The team captain’s role is to motivate and encourage the team to give their best, he added.
“When I was a freshman, the seniors who were the captains really helped me grow in cross country, and I want to do the same,” Kukkala said. “Good team culture is very important as cross country is a team sport and any disruptions can affect us a lot.”
Coach Dillon is very engaging ,and he tries to make practices fun and interactive, Kukkala said.
Coach Dillon observes each one of us and coaches them personally, rather than focusing on the best
Traditional
gets early start on the season
By Namana Balakrishna
This year, tryouts for Traditional Competitive Cheer (TCC) were held earlier so the cheerleaders could start preparing for their season, which starts in November, cheerleading coach Maecy Williams said.
The season officially starts in November and goes until February break, Williams said. During that time they practice four times a week, she added.
“Now we had tryouts in August to start a little bit earlier,” Williams said. “So in September and October, we’re practicing one day a week just to get the girls warmed up and feel more comfortable before the season starts.”
Last year, the first year of TCC, was really rushed, cheerleader Alice Li said. The team started practice in November and didn’t have enough time to get the basics mastered, she added.
“We started recruiting a lot earlier, and our first competition is in November,” Li said. “We just wanted to get the groups ready and have a routine.”
“We can’t throw them (the stunts) if we don’t feel comfortable doing it because it’s a safety hazard,” Garcia said. “We definitely need a lot of time to get to the point where we feel (comfortable) enough to be competent. Starting later kind of messes that up.”
Everyone on the TCC team is also on the sideline cheer team, Li said.
“They didn’t take any new people this year, just because they want people who already have stunting skills,” Li said.
While practices start in the fall, the official TCC season and competitions start in the winter, Garcia said.
“You need that time, because we have to learn the routine beforehand, and then just get used to it,” Garcia added.
For this season, the TCC team is hoping to go to Nationals again, Garcia said. Even though they’ve only had a few practices so far, their team is looking good, she adds.
runners, he added,
“This year our practice is a bit different, ” Kukkala said. “We first do stretches, drills and then we run on the track.”
Cross Country is a fun sport, freshmen Joash Thomas said. The season starts in summer, so a lot of people join the team to do something when they are bored, he added.
“I joined the team for fun, but when I made varsity, I took it very seriously,” Thomas said. “I am very lucky, as freshmen usually don’t make varsity.”
The team has a lot of team bonding activities ,and this improves the social life of the team, Thomas said.
“The team is one big family, and we all try to help each other,” Thomas said. “This is new to me as all the other teams I ran for during middle school didn’t have this, and it was very boring.”
The workouts for varsity are very different compared to JV, Thomas said. The pace is faster; the longer distance makes it even more challenging, he added.
“Winning CCS would be such a special thing, especially if you contribute,” Thomas said. “When you get an opportunity, you have to make full use of it. Coach Dillon has given me a chance, and I will give it my everything and hope it will be useful for the team.”
After tryouts are over and the roster and schedule are released, a choreographer comes in and teaches the cheerleaders their routine, cheerleading captain Alexa Garcia said. From there, they learn and practice their routines until their first competition, she added.
“I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we feel pretty great about this season and we still have a lot of time to prepare,” Garcia said. “I know for a fact that all of the girls on the team are very driven, and they want to work hard and they want to be great. So I definitely think that we’re in for a really great season.”
Courtesy of shourya kukkala
Courtesy of Apoorva Thakaur
The Cheer team encouraging the crowd to cheer for the football team.
Junior and Cross Country Captain Shourya Kukkala running warm up laps during his meet at Lynbrook High.
Shrihan Sham | THE UNION
Innovation Campus expands student population, offers new classes
By Marie De Vré
The Innovation Campus has grown from 70 students enrolled in the 2024-2025 school year to now having 122 students enrolled at the extension, Assistant Principal Robert Richardson said. New classes have been added for this school year, Richardson said.
As the ninth and 10th graders from last year moved up a year, the Innovation Campus had to add new classes for 11th graders, school counselor Valerie Lamb said. New engineering classes were also added to accommodate the amount of students, Lamb added.
“Last year we had Computer-Aided Design (CAD) I, and then we had Intro to Engineering,” she said. “We expanded it and added Exploring Engineering, which is the 11th grade class. We added CAD II, and then we added a ninth grade elective called Digital Electronics that Ms. Berbawy also teaches.”
The Innovation Campus also offers students an opportunity to take dual enrollment on campus, Richardson said. Currently around half of the students are taking a college course, he added. Last year the campus only offered San Jose City College’s engineering pathway, Richardson said.
This year, “we added a new pathway called Advanced Manufacturing, which is with Evergreen Valley College,” he said.
The campus also added a leadership class at the request of students, Lamb said. She hopes that leadership helps to connect students to the main campus, she
added. Currently a representative from each campus’ leadership class keeps in contact with each other, Lamb said.
“I think creating leadership here and also doing the spirit days, and just having the students feel like they belong here and doing more activities here is awesome,” Lamb said. “The rallies, we really still try to keep that going with having them attend, and of course, for dances, we’re selling the tickets here as well.”
Last year the Innovation Campus had a Student Council Club, which generated enough student interest to form a leadership class, leadership and English teacher Sejee Kim said. The club helped build culture and plan events and fundraisers, Kim added. They planned Back to School Night, K-Pop night, and other events at the extension last year, she said.
“I had high expectations for this group because they were really motivated,” Kim said. “They all applied to be in this class (leadership). I will say it’s going really well because the kids are good and everyone is on the same page with trying to help the school out. So even though kids might not know each other that well, they’re working together.”
The class is planning a lot of community events and doing outreach with the main campus, Kim added.
“We want to do (a collaborative event), but we haven’t been able to plan together just because of the physical and logistics of it,”
Kim said. “But in things like for hoco ticket sales, we have a way of selling them here. Our kids will
continue to have full access and participation in MHS events.”
In the future, Richardson hopes to be recruiting 100 students each year into ninth grade, he said.
“If we recruit 100 students, and you retain those students over the course of four years, you have a school of 400 to 450, which means we’re full,” Richardson said. “There are tricks to recruitment, but as I often say, ‘If you build it, they will come, but if you build it right they will stay.’”
Currently the Innovation Campus’s recruitment efforts are focused on middle schools, Richardson said. It’s hard for them to recruit existing MHS students to the extension because they already have an established friend group and schedule at the main campus, he added.
“They (middle schoolers) don’t know where they’re going,” Richardson said. “They’re still making that decision. We go to their schools, we make presentations, and we bring our students with us. We don’t limit it to Rancho and Russell. We go to any of the private middle schools (because) a lot of them don’t have a high school option.”
Lamb is happy to see the growth within students at Innovation Campus, she said. She is glad that students have multiple different pathways to choose from, she added.
“That’s all I really care about, a student finding where they belong,” Lamb said. “To me, it doesn’t matter where, I just want them to feel like they belong and thrive, be successful, and graduate.
Dance courses no longer offered this school year
By Uyen Vu
Dance courses are not currently offered at MHS because the school was unable to fill the position with a certified staff member before the year started, Principal and Chief Innovator of MHS and New Campus Programs Greg Wohlman said. The school posted positions and did interviews through the summer months, he added.
The school waited until late July to early August to decide that dance classes would not be offered this year, since they were confident that the teacher position would be filled, Wohlman said. It was a hard position to fill because the school was searching for someone who had a dual teaching credential in dance and P.E., since hiring a teacher with only a credential in dance would warrant five full classes of dance, he added.
“We can’t have a teacher hired and just have an empty room,” Wohlman said. “That’s not putting our resources in the right spaces or places.”
Starting around November to January, Wohlman wants to start building the master schedule for the following school year, instead of when the school typically starts building in the springtime, he said. Then, the school can start having conversations about bringing dance back, he added.
“Then, we’ll see about school funding, positions, courses, classes, how that fits, and, how do we put dance back in,” Wohlman said. “Or, how does that work in our system?”
The school’s counselors reached out to students who applied for dance courses to fix their schedules, Wohlman said. Assuming students were disappointed after they learned dance was not a course this year doesn’t make him feel good, since the school’s goal was not to eliminate the program, he added.
“For those of us (staff) that go
to our student events, we see how much dance is a part of their performances,” Wohlman said. “And we have dances from multiple cultures here. So to me, it’s another unfortunate scenario that was not planned.”
Fourth period Leadership Lead Varadha Biju found out that dance was not a class this year before the school year started when she reached out to the previous dance teacher about having her classes perform at the Welcome Back Rally, she said. Whenever the school holds a rally, the dance class performance is usually the one performance that Leadership knows is going to be confirmed, she added.
“It was kind of sad to see the one thing that we always knew (would) be there, is gone,” Biju said. “But then it challenged us a little, because now we have to venture out and figure out ‘Who do we want now?’”
Cheer and all the cultural clubs that perform various dances at rallies are great performances, Biju said. Biju thinks that dance performances are really important for rallies, she said.
“People love to watch people perform,” Biju said. “Everyone loves to see people be good at what they do.”
There were two levels of dance, regular and intermediate, Counselor Beth Harke said. The school counselors started changing schedules before the school year started, she added.
“But it (dance removal) happened at a time where there were still lots of options for kids to pick from, and it’s our (counselors’) job; it’s fine,” Harke said. “It’s before school starts. We make a lot of changes because you never know what’s going to happen over summer.”
Dance I was a nice elective for students who had never danced before or wanted to try something new, and it was another option for the Visual and Performing Arts requirement, Harke said.
Two new assistant principals join staff
By Rain Bacungan
This year MHS welcomed two new assistant principals, Dawnel Sonntag and Celena White, Assistant Principal Destanie Ochs said. Both Sonntag and White are great additions to the administrative team, she added.
Each principal has to run different departments, so it isn’t just one person running a single one, Ochs said. By having a team of administrators doing this, it relieves the team from dealing with stress and it allows them to work more collaboratively, she added.
The new assistant principals “are experts in certain departments that they’re over, which is beneficial for the entire campus,” Ochs said.
Assistant Principal Dawnell Sonntag oversees the master schedule and the science, visual performing arts, and campus safety departments, Sonntag said. Being in charge of many departments is a fun part of her job due to its diversity, she added.
“In some high schools, there’s one person in charge of discipline, there’s one person in charge of academics, and there’s one person in charge of leadership,” Sonntag said. “What I like here is that we all get a little bit of everything, so you don’t get bored.”
Sonntag initially wanted to be a child psychologist before she started working, Sonntag said.
When she was a sophomore in college, she realized that she didn’t like the program she was in as there was a lot of research and less social interactions involved, she added.
“For the kids in the intermediate class, a lot of them have been dancing their whole lives,” Harke said. “They just wanted to do it here at school.”
In previous years, to be able to use the dance room after school, students had to fill out a request and get signatures from the office, the dance teacher, and a staff member who could supervise while the students use the room, senior and Vice President of Korean Dance Team (KDT) Elaina Manzon said. The dance room used to be open during lunch for anyone to drop in since the dance teacher was in the room, she added.
“Sometimes, if we (KDT) really needed practice, then we would go to the dance room during lunch and then just use the mirrors to help us with formations,” Manzon said.
Trying to use the dance room after school is a tedious process, Manzon said. KDT either practices at the lower L-Building or at the dance room in the Milpitas Teen Center where people can freely drop in, she added.
“Last year we only really used it (dance room) during lunch,” Manzon said. “We rarely used it after school unless it was (for) auditions.”
Right now, the dance room could be used for cheer practice or as a meeting space while still knowing that the room was designed for dancing, Wohlman said. Still, the room is a space where students could use it to lay out a project, like for homecoming, assuming they are supervised, he added.
“It (room) would be a great space for that, but the intent would be to get us back to teaching dance,” Wohlman said.
“That’s my intent.”
Wohlman’s hope is to bring dance back on the master schedule for the next school year, he said.
“Stay tuned for our course catalog next year,” Wohlman said.
MHS’ larger student population and school spirit is something different compared to the schools that Sonntag has worked at before, Sonntag said.
“I was blown away by the homecoming decorations,” Sonntag said. “They were so creative. And I love that we have spirit days. All the kids that I’ve interacted with have been really nice. I have not had to deal with people being rude or disrespectful at all.”
Assistant Principal Celena White chose a job in education because she wanted to work with children, White said. She wanted to guide students that are growing up and going through different opportunities and challenges, she added.
Part of the reason she wanted to teach is “the experience I had with teachers growing up,” White said. “It was, for the most part, positive and I wanted to return the impact that they had on me onto other students.”
White worked as an English and ELD teacher in the East Side Union District for most of her education career, she said. That district is the only one that she’s been exposed to, she added.
“I wanted to get an idea of what other districts were like,” White said. “I also wanted to go into an assistant principal position just to see what kind of impact that could have (on the school).”
“I decided to switch to something, and I had no idea on what I wanted to do,” Sonntag said. “I was thinking about being a social worker, being a marriage and family therapist, and I took a class that was a sociology of education.”
The class that she took inspired her to major in education, she added. Her newfound passion led her to be a teacher for nine years and an administrator for 21 years.
“Part of it was a seminar, and you’re placed in a classroom at a high school or elementary school,” Sonntag said. “I was placed in a ninth grade English classroom, and I loved it. After that, I decided, ‘That’s what I want to be.’ I wanted to be a teacher.”
Sonntag’s former teaching and administrative experience influenced her to take an assistant principal role, she said. She decided to switch to experience being part of a larger team, she added.
“I was ready for change,” Sonntag said. “I wanted to do something different, and although I was a high school teacher, I’ve never been an administrator in high school. I thought that would be a fun change – to be one of those in charge.”
White oversees the PE and English departments, and helps with the student bank, English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) and AP testing, she said. This year, White aims to better understand how AP testing works, as it is her first time running a section such as this, she added.
“We (administration) started prepping for the testing,” White said. “I know that’s a big task to take on, especially organizing space for it and making sure all students purchase their tests.”
So far, White’s time on MHS has been positive, she said. Her administration experience enabled her to interact with more people involved in the school, she added.
“When I was a teacher, we had our English department team, and we met as a whole school,” White said. “Now, it’s a little bit different. I get to have a better understanding of all the different roles and positions that people play and how they also contribute to supporting our students.”
Administration’s team chemistry with the new principals is both collaborative and positive, Ochs said. Ochs has also noticed that Sonntag and White are working well with other people on campus, she said.
“They fit in really well with the school,” Ochs said. “I think they’re enjoying their time here. I think everybody that I’ve seen has good relationships; they’re building a positive relationship with the staff, the students, and the families.”
Rain bacungan | The Union
Dawnel Sonntag (left) and Celena White (right) pose together in front of the office. They both joined the administrative staff as assistant principals this school year.
Phone policy blocks cell phone use
FROM PAGE 1
agree that for this project, for this moment, we need to use our phones, but that needs to have specific parameters like, ‘Today, during this period we are going to use our phones. And then we’re done with that, and we put the phones away, and we go on with the day.’”
Social studies teacher Danilo Escobar is happy with the new schoolwide phone policy, he said. Last year, Escobar enforced a phone ban within his own classroom, he said. The schoolwide phone policy has made it easier for him to enforce a phone ban within his classroom, he added.
“I felt like it was work for me to convince them (students) why we were doing it,” Escobar said. “It’s not a chore for me anymore. After the first day of school, it’s like, ‘Okay, you guys are turning in the phones,’ and that’s that. It’s less work for me now that it’s a school policy. I feel like there’s far less resistance to it this year.”
Math teacher Ivy Nguyen didn’t have a phone policy in place for her students last year, she said. The main thing holding her back was that she didn’t have a system or place to hold students’ phones, she said. Nguyen noticed a lot of students using their phones during class without her permission, she said.
“It was very difficult to always police it (phone usage) because it was very draining to have to constantly police phones,” Nguyen said. “I think for the most part, most students were on task, but there would be students that would be off task.”
Nguyen has noticed that most of her students seem more engaged in class with the schoolwide phone policy, she said. Nguyen believes the policy is beneficial to students, she added.
“Students not only are more engaged in the learning, but they are interacting more with each other, rather than being glued to their devices,” Nguyen said. “So there
are more conversations this year, on task and off task. I think both are really good for student development and helping to mitigate more anti-social behaviors.”
Freshman Neomi Huynh believes there is a bad side to students being too social during class, he said. Taking every student’s phone is not beneficial, Huynh added.
“Kids get more social because they get bored, and then it makes it louder for the teachers to teach,” Huynh said. “It’s better if you just let the kids who want to use their phones be quiet and on their phones and then let the kids who want to learn (do so).”
Students who don’t pay attention in class are going to find other ways not to be engaged in class, senior Olivia Ling said.
“They (students) can just go play games on their Chromebooks,” Ling said. “They have access to social media on their Chromebooks, and people who are actually paying attention in school will not be on social media, but people who don’t pay attention, will.”
It is much easier to police students misusing Chromebooks than it was phones, Nguyen said.
“Now it’s very clear when students are using their Chromebooks, and it’s very easy to just give an instruction for them to close their Chromebooks, or use Securely, which is not something that I have used, but I know it’s an option,” Nguyen said.
No matter what, the phone policy is going to be maintained now because it is the law, Wohlman said. However, he doesn’t have any intention to make the policy stricter, he said. Student feedback will dictate the future of the phone policy, he added.
“It’s never easy to push in policy,” Wohlman said. “When new laws come into play in our state, it’s never easy. I’m just grateful to work with so many students who are willing to understand that it’s not easy for anybody, but we’re willing to do it together.”
5-Star bathroom policy monitors time students spend outside
FROM PAGE 1
main issue, but also to see how it worked and how well students were able to use it, he added.
“From there, we can slowly expand,” he said. “Hopefully by next year, this time, we’ll be using 5-Star for all our paper passes.”
Junior Ethan Vilaphonphakdy does not like the new bathroom pass system since he usually needs more than eight minutes to use the restroom, he said.
“It doesn’t really matter,” he said. “You can make it 10 minutes because there are some kids I know that go in there and they vape and all that. But some kids –like one of my friends, she’s a girl, she had a period – she came back in 14 minutes, and got yelled at by the teacher.”
Senior Crystal Cao dislikes the bathroom policy because it doesn’t guarantee that students are doing what they’re supposed to be doing, she said. She also does not like that the policy only allows one person to go to the bathroom at a time, despite your gender, and it ends up just locking everyone out, Cao added.
“I think it’s (the 5-Star system) just awkward,” Cao said. “I think there are issues with the Chromebooks too, where it glitches out or locks people out of it, and then no one can go pee because it’s locked out.”
Cao thinks the time limit’s fairness depends on what room you’re in, she said.
“Obviously, if you’re in the L Building you’re way more fortunate, but for classrooms that are further away (from the bathroom), it’s so awkward,” she said. “I take Ceramics (and) the bathrooms are too far,”
Freshman Ada Zheng doesn’t really go to the bathroom because it’s annoying to have to sign in
and out every single time, she said.
“The kids who just leave won’t sign their name at all,” she said. “They’ll probably just continue doing the same thing.”
Junior Vera Loui thinks that the passes are mostly the same (as the new 5-Star bathroom pass system), she said. The new system is a bit better if you don’t want to raise your hand to ask if you can go to the bathroom, since now you can just go, she added.
“I think it’s okay, to be honest,” Loui said. “It’s not that much of a hassle at first. It kind of was because you had to type in your entire email, but they kind of fixed it, so now I just have to type in their id’s. They fixed it two, three weeks ago.”
English teacher and Digital Business Academy (DBA) Lead Ahryun Han said for the first few weeks,the 5-Star system took some getting used to, because teachers were told how to do it differently, and they were all trying to adjust differently.
“At first, students were like, ‘Why do we have to do this?’” she said. “Because they were used to me having them sign out on a physical paper and then take a physical hall pass.”
The bathroom pass policy has been around for a month, Anglon said at the time of the interview. Now, administration can start to see some patterns, and with those patterns, they can start to address it, he added.
“I think the main problem is a couple of kids act like they’re signing out,” Anglon said. “They don’t actually sign out, but pretend like they are. Our campus safety supervisors noticed that because they have the app too. So, I can see who should be out, and if they’re not there, then we can have a conversation with those
students.”
Overall, most people welcomed the new bathroom pass system because the average student knows that they’re in school to learn, and they use the restroom and just go back to class, Anglon said. Teachers were happy to see that there was a system that was being implemented that could actually help to possibly curtail the number of students who chose not to return to class when they went to the restroom, he added.
“A lot of teachers right now, after this first month, are saying kids are in class more,” Anglon said. “That’s the biggest thing, and that’s what we (administration) wanted.”
Zheng thinks the policy can stay since it does not really affect her in any way, she said.
“It’s just there and it works,” Zheng said. It’s a good system, and I guess it helps teachers keep track of who’s going to the bathroom or not.”
Cao noticed that it stops students from touching their phone, but it’s not stopping students from vaping, she said. Students also don’t know the consequences of reaching the time limit, she added.
“If it’s really making an impact, we can keep it (the policy),” Cao said. “But teachers already had a sign-in and sign-out (system). I don’t see the reason why we had to put in a whole electronic system.”
In terms of her class, it hasn’t really had a negative or positive effect, Han said.
“I set my norms up for the class, and I expect my students to act that way, and then they follow it,” Han said. “I can see its (the 5-Star bathroom policy’s) helpfulness and usefulness for campus supervisors and people who are out of classrooms.”
Securly halts website loading, blocks certain images
FROM PAGE 1
be falsely blocked because it was miscategorized, the engineer said.
“Similar to a SPAM filter moving an innocuous email to your junk folder or antivirus flagging a legitimate file, content filters and categorization can be incorrect,” the Securly engineer said.
“Securly works to make constant improvements to our categorization engine, and we continuously recategorize websites to keep up with the dynamic nature of the Internet.”
The district decided that Chrome extensions also needed to be blocked due to security reasons, MUSD Director of Technology Chin Song said.
“There are extensions that allow you to go through and then around filters, and there are oth-
ers that exploit some vulnerabilities in the Chrome system,” Song said.
Social studies teacher Paul Harrison uses Securly in his classroom to monitor students during tests and assignments, he said. This year, he has encountered the Securly loading screens when opening websites and using Google Maps to teach students, which has hindered his teaching, he said.
“It (Securly) is making my teaching job really, really difficult because I use a Chromebook up in the front for display when I do lectures and things like that,” Harrison said. “I was in my ancient history class, and I wanted to show them (students) the Giza Plateau in Egypt. Every time I zoomed in, it went through that filter, and it was making it impossible.”
MUSD teachers can appeal the blocking of certain websites, and IT can then troubleshoot the blocking, Xiong said.
“We have tickets in here and there that teachers can submit for us to look at,” Xiong said.
“Just to make sure it’s not a malicious website.”
The loading screens should either be removed or made faster, senior Jeric Flanagan said.
“My guess is that students are finding a way to search up inappropriate things,” Flanagan said.
“But still, I believe it (loading screens) shouldn’t affect every student because it’s slowing them down from what they have to do.”
Securly’s filtering of images has made it harder to find credible images for school presentations, Flanagan said.
“I feel like I’m being oppressed in a way,” Flanagan said.
Eye on Campus: Homecoming dance
Jerry Yong | The Union AP exam score data provided by Assistant Principal Celena White.
Marie De Vre | The Union
The Union’s survey sent to students shows the opinions of 186 students on the new bathroom pass system.
Ryan Truong | The Union Students roam around at the start of Homecoming, which took place on Saturday, Sept. 27. The dance had a DJ, food, and photo booths.
