Volume 64, Issue 1, September 26, 2023

Millbrae’s Homeless Housing Approved

Concerns Raised Over Change in Millbrae Culture & Safety

Noor Abdullah opInIons edItor

San Mateo County’s plan to con vert Millbrae’s La Quinta Inn and Suites into affordable housing units for unhoused people have been met with strong disapproval by locals fearing security threats, job losses, and decrease in city revenue.

The County housing project is part of a series of efforts by the nonproft Project HomeKey to shel ter California’s unhoused. Project HomeKey is a statewide program that provides local government agencies, including our San Ma teo County, with funds to purchase and convert properties into longterm housing for the previously un housed.

The county has recently ap proved the purchase of La Quinta Inn and Suites for $33 million as well as a maximum of $8 million for renovations. The hotel currently holds 99 units which will be reno vated into 75 units, housing up to 200 residents.

Millbrae has a small population of unhoused people, with the City of Millbrae claiming there are three unhoused residents and a daily transient unhoused population of 20-30. Many are forced to fnd shelter at the BART Station and others under the awnings of businesses. It is unclear whether they will be receiving housing and aid at the new compound.

“Although it’s not too common around here, I occasionally see homeless people in Millbrae downtown. I hope everyone would help them out however they’re capable to. It’s heartbreaking to understand that they once had a different life before homelessness and I wish everyone would treat them more as humans,” shared Mills student Suzu Kurita (12) when asked about her thoughts on the city’s unhoused.

While the housing issue is recognized by locals, many don’t agree with the plan of action that San Mateo County intends for La Quinta, claiming that it is not an adequate solution. The City of Millbrae shared a letter addressed to the San Mateo Board of Supervisors, those who voted to approve the HomeKeys proposal to purchase La Quinta.

The City of Millbrae suggested negotiating, “...a supportive housing project that serves the County’s stated purpose… without undermining the City’s vibrant and vital commercial and revenue-generating uses.”

Meet the new clubs created this school year!

Armed Robbery Near Mills

Michaela Gonzalez Phoebe Piserchio edItors-In-ChIef

On Friday September 15th, after the Mills vs. South SF football home game, two Mills students were robbed by three young adults who displayed a gun on the Spur trail. The instigators wore ski masks and demanded to have the students’ cell phones. The students called the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Offce, which dispatched at 9:20 PM at the front of the school on 400 Murchison Drive. While the identities of the victims and the robbers have not yet been disclosed, the incident has shaken Mills faculty and students concerning safety around campus.

By the end of the football game, there were at least fve or six CSS (Campus Safety Specialist) members still on campus. Unfortunately, the Spur Trail is a public domain and not offcially a part of the Mills Campus, so administration is unable to enforce more campus safety on the path.

detailed staying until the very end of the night after all of the students had left, seeing only one police car at the front of the school. “I was aware that there was chatter on the walkies of police cars in the front. I went out to my car and it seemed really quiet…” she revealed, going on to say that there was zero commotion or sirens blaring.

“It’s absolutely shocking and terrifying and trauma-inducing,” reiterated the Dean of Mills, Tim Christian, about the unfortunate incident. He said there is nothing that could have been done differently, it was just “the wrong time with the wrong people.”

Principal Duszynski emailed the Mills community on the following Sunday afternoon, writing, “This is an ongoing investigation, and the exact details of the event are unknown.” She also provided services students can use such as Anonymous Alerts and Mills’ Wellness Program. The Mills community remains vigilant during this time, and the administration is committed to taking necessary steps to enhance safety measures wherever possible.

La Quinta has been operating as a hotel in Millbrae for 35 years, time in which it has contributed much to the city’s commerce by bringing in visitors. It also proves to be successful as it averages an occupancy rate of over 80%. La Quinta is located on El Camino Real Avenue. and is walking distance from downtown Millbrae and many popular local restaurants like Millbrae Pancake House. Hotel guests frequented these local businesses which now stand to lose these clients.

The closure of the hotel and the restaurant Bashamichi Sushi located within it will also cause a concerning loss of local jobs. The City of Millbrae shared that 20 hotel employees and 12 restaurant workers are set to be jobless upon the closure of their workplaces. In an effort to prevent business closure, the County is offering Bashami Sushi a fve year lease.

The loss of property tax from the hotel is also a concern according to the City of Millbrae. $552,000 in property tax and transient occupancy tax were paid annually to the city from the hotel. These taxes were used to fund local infrastructure and their loss poses rippling negative effectives. The County had previously offered to give Millbrae one year’s worth of transient occupancy tax but the city claimed that simply was not enough. County Supervisors have

Introducing new and returning teachers at Mills.

since raised that offer to $600,000 annual payments to the city for three years rather than one.

Millbrae residents have also disapproved of La Quinta’s location. Residents are concerned about the proximity to schools posing a possible security threat to children in the area. There are fve schools within a half mile perimeter of La Quinta including Cappacino High School, Lomita Park Elementary School, Green Hills Elementary School, St.Dunstan Catholic School, and Millbrae Nursery School. La Quinta is also 1.5 miles away from Mills High School. To reassure residents, the county has claimed that housing priority would be given to families and seniors and that 24-hour onsite staffng and surveillance will be implemented with the support of an additional two sheriff’s deputies. The sheriff’s deputies will be funded by the county for three years, tasked with providing support and security city wide.

Some Mills students aren’t concerned with La Quinta’s proximity to their school. Kostadina Skyriotis (12) stated, “Personally, I don’t mind having homeless housing near campus. I think people need to focus more on the homeless people’s security. They’re the ones who are really vulnerable and at risk in their current circumstances.”

- Continue Reading on Page 3-

Middle Eastern History needs to be represented in our curriculum.

Remembering a not so cruel summer -- The Eras Tour.

Girls Flag Football kicks off the season with a frst win.

noor AbdullAh / The Thunderbolt

LA QUINTA INN: Close-up shot of the soon to be transformed La Quinta Inn.

Mills staff member Ms. Lehner

phoebe pIserCh o / The Thunderbolt

SPUR TRAIL: The sign marks one of several entrances to the long Spur Trail.

400 Murchison Dr. Millbrae, CA 94030

thunderbolteditors@smuhsd.org

www.millsthunderbolt.com

Thunderbolt

Staff

Faculty Advisor Kelly hensley

Editors-in-Chief

mIChAelA GonzAlez ‘24

phoebe pIserChIo ‘25

News Editor

AmelIA nAuGhten ‘26

Features Editor JulIA XIA ‘25

Center Spread Editor

elAIne ChAn ‘25

Opinions Editor noor AbdullAh ‘24

Sports Editor

JoshuA Choe ‘24

Entertainment Editor AbIGAIl ChAI ‘25

Staff Writers

AmeenA strInGer ‘25

ArIAnnA AlVArez ‘24

bIAnCA pAndo ‘26

eduArdo GAlIndo ‘25

IsAbelle yAnG ‘25

JAnelle pAntIlon ‘26

sAnG KyeonG ChoI ‘25

Letter from the 2023-24 Editors-in-Chief

Our names are Michaela Gonzalez (12) (left) and Phoebe Piserchio (11) (right), and on behalf of the Thunderbolt Staff, we are thrilled to debut as the new Editors-in-Chief of The Mills Thunderbolt. We are honored to have this opportunity to work with such an incredible team of writers, editors, and photographers to continue the tradition of journalism at Mills. Our passion for keeping Mills community informed motivates us to continue the long legacy of Editors-in-Chief before us. We take on the duty of reporting local news and student opinions in order to main tain an informed student environment. Entering our 65th year, we hope to create, narrate, and resonate with student voices.

Sophomore Athletes Opt Out of PE for Study Hall

Eduardo Galindo stAff wrIter

Overthe summer on June 27, the district’s Board of Education approved of a program that allows sophomores athletes to use their PE period to instead work on assignments from other classes.

The new study hall program “allows students to complete homework in school so they don’t rush it after sports,” Mr. Keller, the athletics director, explained. This gives students-athletes time to manage their schoolwork during their sports season, and would reduce the stress and workload that comes with managing school and sports. This also allows students to focus on other activities that they might be interested in but not have the time for. This includes quality time to spend with family or friends that are often pushed to the side when students prioritize their schoolwork and GPA.

During their PE period, student-athletes will go to room 133 where they will use the time to complete homework or whatever other work they have. There, they will need to take attendance and if they get more than one unexcused absence, they could risk getting removed from the program. The logistics of the program were set up this way to ensure accountability among students who sign up.

Instagram:

@millsthunderbolt

Spotify: @thunderbolt records

The Mills Thunderbolt

While they are enrolled in the program, their PE grade doesn’t change. Mr. Keller explained, “Their grade when they leave is the same as when they get back.”

However, many concerns have been raised about this program. Specifcally, teachers and students debate whether it actually helps with

the workload and if it warners taking time out of PE to help with it.

One of the concerns is over whether students are using this program as a way to get out of PE instead of the actual use of the study hall. Mr. Moss, a PE teacher for Sophomores, explained, “When a student goes to study hall to work on stuff, that’s fne. But when they are going to skip PE, that’s not the purpose of the study hall.” There is nothing at the moment ensuring that students aren’t using the program to skip PE, but there is someone there to aid in keeping them on task.

Every study hall period, there is going to be someone taking attendance and supervising the students. Mr. Keller detailed, “The adult in the room is charged with keeping the kids on task and making sure that the students get all their work done for the day.”

However, Mr. Moss brought up another issue, stating that on “Mondays they will have homework but after study hall they still have homework.” Students can’t fnish all their work for the day if they don’t get all their classes before having study hall. “Having it in the 1st or 2nd period doesn’t help them when they have academics afterwards. What are they going to complete in their study hall if they don’t have their classes for the day?” Ms. Mugs, the other PE teacher for sophomores, further commented.

Further ownsides of the program are that students “will miss certain units of PE that they maybe should have,” as put by Mr. Keller.

PE teaches skills like frst aid and CPR, vital tools that can save some-

one’s life. Mr. Moss explained. “It all depends on when they do sports. We do frst aid and CPR at the end of the year in May so anyone doing sports in spring will miss out on life skills we teach.”

Varsity cross-country athlete

Janelle Pantilon (10) is enrolled in the study hall period, but has also noted the program’s potentially negative effect. Pantilon has recently observed an infux of Sophomore athletes who join sports and the study hall program, but neglect attending actual practices and games. “The study hall is great, but it’s great if you’re doing it for the right reasons.”

Bianca Pando (10), who is on the girl’s volleyball team and enrolled in the study hall program, also raised similar concerns. “It’s a good encouragement to do sports, but it’s obvious when someone tries to join something only to get out of PE. It defeats the purpose of sports because it makes us seem like we’re all in it for the wrong reason.” Especially for team sports like volleyball where all the athletes need to put in an effort to foster a group dynamic, athletes who neglect their responsibilities risk harming the quality of Mills sports.

Even with these downsides students are really liking the program.“It’s going well and I’m getting work done, especially because I’m doing two sports this fall,” cross-country and club soccer athlete Jocelyn Kwan (10) reported. While the new program has its many virtues and criticsms, only time will tell the true impact on the Mills community.

eduArdo GAlIndo / The Thunderbolt

STUDENTS IN STUDY HALL: Sophomore athletes who opted out of their PE class work on assignments in the study hall.

edu rdo G ndo / The Thunderbolt

STUDY HALL ROOM: The program takes place in a classroom in the history hall.

Millbrae Residents Protest Homeless Housing Approval

- Continued From Page 1 -

Noor Abdullah opInIons edItor

Inaddition to the newly introduced and approved HomeKey project, Millbrae is also currently supporting other local affordable housing initiatives including the recently constructed “The Rollins” complex which holds 80 fully leased units, with affordable rent being supported by $2.88 million of city funds.

Mayor Ann Schneider has shared that The City of Millbrae supports affordable housing initiatives but rather disapproves of the lack of transparency by the County. She said the County didn’t disclose their plans for La Quinta until weeks before approving the purchase leaving the City and residents feeling “blind-sided”. The City claims that the County also failed to consult them on well-valued properties but rather purchased La Quinta, which wasn’t for sale and was successfully operating at near complete occupancy rates, by incentivizing the owners with an additional $3 million over

the appraised value of $30 million. The County then went on to offer “temporary” solutions to long term problems including lost tax revenue, job losses, and security concerns.

Despite these pressing complaints, the approval of the purchase is set to be followed by renovations that are planned to be completed in 12 to 18 months. The location will then be permanent affordable housing.

The County had previously offered to give Millbrae one year’s worth of transient occupancy tax but the city claimed that simply was not enough. County Supervisors have since raised that offer to $600,000 annual payments to the city for three years rather than one.

Millbrae residents have also disapproved of La Quinta’s location. Residents are concerned about the proximity to schools.

Mayor Ann Schneider isn’t satisfed with the County’s actions saying in a press release statement earlier this month, “The county simply did not consider the needs of everyone in Millbrae.”

Recent Spur Trail Sexual Assaults Threaten Student Safety

Millbrae, CA- Within three days of each other, two women reported two separated crimes with sexual violence, one on the Spur Trail and another between 200 Poplar and La Cruz Ave. Both being near Mills High School, students are now avoiding the location, taking longer routes home.

On August 13, at 7:30 pm, a 28year old woman was out on an evening walk on the Spur Trail, leading to the frst assault out of the two.

According to San Mateo County’s Press Statement released the following day, the victim was suddenly approached from behind and groped below the waist. Quickly, the man who groped her left the location, riding away on a black mountain bike, further into the trail.

Two days later, another assault involving sexual battery was reported around the same area. A 38-year old woman and her son were on a walk on August 15, at 10:20 pm, between 200 Poplar Avenue and La Cruz Ave.

Similar to the frst assault, the mother and son were surprised when the man came up to them from behind, and groped the mother below the waist.

With these assaults happening near school grounds, many students now fear for their safety walking to and from school.

For many students who live behind the school, taking the Spur Trail becomes a common route back home. Janna Ramirez (10) is a student athlete at Mills high school, and takes the trail back home. “ I usually walk home after practice, around 6 to 7 pm, when the assaults happened… I feel really scared.” Since then, she has been more cautious of the trail, sometimes even opting to take longer routes if it becomes too late and dark along the trail.

Fanny Montes, a Sophomore at Mills, walks home on the same route where the incident on August 15 occurred. After fnding out that on the same day only six hours later she was walking home a mother and son were violated, Montes exclaimed, “I felt scared to continue walking down that route, even though that is the only route I take to go back home.”

She further adds, “ It happened near the school grounds, I don’t feel

safe anymore. I keep thinking, that could’ve been me.

The Spur trail is not only a route back home for many, but also a common trail the cross-country girls run in.

Jocelyn Kwan (10), cross-country junior varsity runner explains her feelings about running on the trail, after the crimes. “ I feel scared because it happened in an area that I go to a lot… it’s very disgusting to think about,” shared Kwan. For the most part, the runners stay within a large group, however, sometimes a few runners fall behind on the trail. “[When] I fall behind I try not to think about it, ” she stated.

A varsity cross-country runner, Janelle Pantilon (10), added her stance. “It defnitely makes me feel more cautious and makes me more aware of my surroundings,” Pantilon replied. “ I make sure my teammates are also aware of where they’re going so they don’t get lost.”

Especially with the rise of sexual assaults happening, one can take notice within the school’s community and the students. The raise of fear is established, turning schools into a place flled with caution rather than a space to learn.

Our high school is not the only school affected by the cases either. An elementary school, Spring Valley, is only two streets away from Mills, and only four streets away from the Spur Trail. Many kids also take the Spur Trail to school, alongside their parents. However, we can see from the information of the assault on August 15, something like this can happen regardless of an adult being present.

Within our own school, we have our doors locked, and a security man, Micheal, making sure that students are safe. But, will that stop crimes outside of school’s ground?

Does this include the Spur Trail, or are students looking out for themselves after school’s done?

As the assaults are still being investigated, we hope that San Mateo will continue to work on making sure people, including students, not only feel, but are safe within Millbrae. This is an opportunity to bring to light many issues women still face, even in an area deemed as ‘safe.’ Currently, the Millbrae Police Bureau will be partnering with Mills High School in order to provide security in and outside of school hours and grounds, moving forward.

Bianca

MAP: The green line indicates the span of the Spur Trail which is in close proximity to Mills High School.

RUNNING ON SPUR TRAIL: Cross Country Athletes Janelle Pantilon (left) and Jocelyn Kwan (right) run on the Spur Trail.

VIEW ON EL CAMINO REAL: La Quinta Inn (focus of Project HomeKey) and neighboring businesses line El Camino Real

New Hotspot In Millbrae: Sidewalk Is Juicing Soon!

Michaela Gonzalez Editor-in-ChiEf

The famous Jamba Juice that has continuously inhabited 525 Broadway Avenue in Millbrae is shutting down. Out of the 900 national Jamba Juice locations, our beloved Millbrae one is being replaced with a very similar juice and smoothie bar. Sidewalk Juice is a San Francisco-based juice company that we will be welcoming in Millbrae.

For the longest time, Jamba has supplied Mills students with jobs, a cool place to hangout, and their amazing customizable smoothies and newly added acai bowls. Now, Mills students are debating on how to feel with Sidewalk Juice in the community, which is so unfamiliar compared to Jamba. “The staff were always friendly high school students, very welcoming and helpful when I did not know what I wanted to order.” A senior at Mills stated fondly.

The expanding California juicery originates, non-ironically, on a sidewalk. Athlete Jason Naval wanted to spread his love for fresh fruit and veggie smoothies, and he did this on a tiny window on 21st and Valencia in San Francisco. Naval found that his mental and physical health improved when he drank natural and nutritional products. This led him to open up juices all over California to share his passion

with others. The offcial opening of their frst location was in 2006.

From Nutella almond smoothie to the yoga class juice on the menu, many are excited to try the unique favors Sidewalk Juice has to offer. People not only in Millbrae cannot wait for the new hip spot about to open up. From other locations in Serramonte Mall and multiple San Francisco locations, students describe the juicery as “A goto for yummy smoothies.” However, the lack of customizable drinks and more expensive prices makes students less likely to go to the juicery often. The OMG, a delicious mixture of Almond Milk, Peanut Butter, Pitaya, Banana, and ice, sells for a fat $10. Compared to the typical Jamba smoothie, which runs for around $7-8 and is customizable, Sidewalk

Juice prices rank on the more expensive end of a low student salary.

“I go there for the variety; I like the buy-one-get-one-free card.” Manal Faisal (12) refers to the promotional Jamba Juice card. In an attempt to make Jamba Juice more affordable, they introduced a card in which you can buy one drink and get one free for a total of 6 different purchases.

Students are More or less intrigued by the unique favors that Sidewalks juice offers, although the cheaper and more known Jamba juice is often ranked higher. With an array of juice, shots, acai bowls, and smoothies with combinations of favors like almond butter, pitaya, chai tea, and sorbet puts Sidewalk Juice in a unique spot for smoothie lovers (especially vegans) alike.

Mills Drama Program; Sense And Sensibility Cast Interviews

Mills Drama is starting off the new school year with the classic: Sense and Sensibility! The play centers around two sisters whose lives are turned upside down when their father passes away suddenly, leaving them penniless and with reputations at stake.

One of the lead members of the play is a sophomore, Naia, who said, “I really love my role in the play because my character is super expressive and has a very big personality, which makes it really fun to portray.”

She shared that one thing she likes about the play is how engaging the storyline is. “There is so much romance and drama, and so many plot twists, and it is just a really fun and engaging play.”

Underclassman Olive Aguilar (10) plays the family doctor in Sense and Sensibility. One of the parts she is most excited about is insulting the mom of the play. Olive has experienced being a part of a play due to taking drama all three years of middle school.

She shared that there is a lot of miscommunication during the play, which makes it funny to her. Overall, she is excited about everything and shares that the casting for the play is excellent, and the actors play the roles very well.

Another actor in Sense and Sensibility is underclassman Scott

They play one of the gossipers and share that they are also excited to be in Sense and Sensibility. They said, “They’re glad they have the opportunity to be in it, and they’re excited to be a part of the production.” Scott also shared that the actors have good chemistry and work well to make the scenes feel natural.

While the actors play a signifcant part in the production of the play, you cannot exclude the hardworking members of the stage crew. Assistant stage manager Michelle Yeung (11) explained that her main job is mainly making call cues, sign-ups, and going through them to assign new jobs— for example, sound and lighting managers, ASMs, runners, set builders, etc.

Michelle must also keep track of everyone’s skills and schedules to do crew work. In the process, they build the sets and design music, sound, and lighting cues, which get recorded on scripts.

Michelle said that the skills you need to be a stage manager are to combine solid organizational abilities, effective communication, and composure under pressure. She also thinks that being a part of the crew is a delightful experience and would love for more students to get involved.

The cast has been practicing hard during every rehearsal to ensure the fnal day is perfect. They are all super excited to show off their skills as they play in Sense and Sensibility from October 27-28.

Arianna Alvarez staff WritEr

MiChaEla GonzalEz: Editor-in-Chief

SMOOTHIES: Smoothies you can buy from Sidewalk Juice.

M ChaEla GonzalEz Editor-in-Chief

JAMBA JUICE: The inside of the Jamba Juice in Millbrae, soon to close.

MiChaEla GonzalEz: Editor-in-Chief

WEBSITE: Jamba Juice on Google stating that the juicery is permanenty closed

arianna alvarEz: Staff Writer

CAST LIST: Cast list for the play, Sense and Sensibility.

arianna alvarEz: Staff Writer

ONLINE POSTER: For the fall play, Sense and Sensibility.

naia GErMain: Mills Highscool Student

PHOTO: The two leads of the play, Aniyah (left) and Naia (right) posing for a photo. (10).

Introducing This Year’s New Clubs At Mills High School

Julia Xia fEaturEs Editor

Thursday, September 7, was the annual club fair during lunch. The fair aimed to advertise the new or returning clubs here at Mills.

One of the new clubs at Mills is the Linguistics Club, created by Amelia Naughten (10) and Lan Lin (10). The Linguistics club centers around making students passionate about learning new languages and linguistics. “It’s important to be open to learning about the diverse cultures and languages that surround us--I think it allows for a more conscious and connected community, especially when we do so though fun activities and in a safe space. That’s what we hope the Linguistics Club will be able to bring to Mills.”

The club mainly focuses on activities centering around language structure composition, as well as tips for new learners. However, that is not all the club does; when joining it, you get to choose the language you are passionate about and start learning it.

In their pursuit of spreading their love of languages, the Linguistics Club also plans on setting up outreach programs. One idea the club has is to create a program at the local library; it would be a weekly program where club members teach elementary school kids snippets of languages in order to

expose them to different languages and cultures—and then provide any interested students with the resources to continue learning the language.

The Linguistics Club also plans to expand its services to the Mills community by holding free language tutoring sessions before fnals week for students interested in better preparing themselves for the test.

The club meets during lunch every Wednesday in Ms. Canas’ room (123). To learn more, follow the club’s Instagram page at “@mhs.linguistics”.

Another new club at Mills is the Spreading Joy Club; the club presidents are Alexis Ivankov, a sophomore, and Nathan Vazquez, a junior. A while back, Alexis was talking with her friend about her stay in the hospital after she pointed out that the worst part of the ordeal was how boring it was— spending all of her time bedridden and having nothing to occupy her with. Her story inspired Nathan to gather a few of his close friends to create the Spreading Joy Club.

Their main goal for the club is to start fundraisers to raise money for kids in hospitals, making money to provide them with entertainment, such as toys to make their stay more enjoyable and less of a bore. The club plans on meeting every second and fourth Tuesday of the month in Ms. Reyes’s room (221). To learn more about their club, follow their Instagram at “@spreading.joy_”.

The Southeast Asian Club is also a new addition to Mills High School. Jazlyn Luken, a freshman at Mills, created the club to spread awareness and appreciation for Asian countries and cultures that are not as well known to students. The Southeast Asian club’s goal is to create a safe space to learn about countries’ rich cultures. Not only that, but Luken also plans to host fundraisers to raise money for fun activities. One way he plans to do this is by participating in the food fairs, selling food unique to Southeast Asian cultures, “If it’s not spicy, it’s not good.”

When you join the club, you will get the opportunity to learn and share about the many cultures in Southeast Asia. It is a wonderful chance to expand your horizons and knowledge about the world we all live in. The club meets in room 115 every Monday during lunch. To fnd out more about this club, follow “@southeast_asain_club_mhs” on Instagram.

Another club new to Mills is the Pilotage and Mentorship Club, founded by its co-presidents, Vanessa Liu (11) and Elizabeth Bours (11). The club’s focus is empowering the frst-year students at Mills. Looking back at her previous years in school, she realized she missed many opportunities to prepare herself better for the years to come.

Now that she is a junior with more knowledge of the extracurricular activities at this school, she

wishes that, with her fellow upperclassmen, she can help the freshmen thrive at Mills. The Pilotage and Mentorship Club will pair an upperclassman with an underclassman and act as a mentor for them, providing valuable insight, advice, and resources to help the underclassman with their frst year of high school.

“I believe that students with role models, such as older siblings, gain a slight advantage in terms of knowledge and readiness. We aim to bridge this gap and ensure that high school becomes a fulflling experience for all students.” The club plans on hosting meets whenever necessary on Tuesdays in room 125. To fnd out more about this club, follow their Instagram at “@mshpilotage”.

One club that, while not new, was recently restarted with new members is the Mills Dragon Boat Club. The president of this club is Michael Poniente, a senior who created the club to show appreciation and passion for the lesser-known sport–Dragon Boat.

Dragon Boat racing is a water sport where a group of racers paddle in a canoe-like boat shaped like a dragon. Originating in China, people would race across rivers in Southern China to bring good luck to the upcoming crop season. The Dragon Boat Club at Mills plans on learning about the sport and participating in it with the team called the Oyster Point Dragons.

The team will also participate in local, national, and international races. By joining the team, you build strong relationships with your members and learn about teamwork. Club members will train for these races throughout the year, with practices being held on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

“Reach for the stars, plant new goals, and drive to succeed.”

If you are interested in the club, they meet every other Friday in room 309 during lunch. To learn more, follow their Instagram at “@mhs_dragonboat”.

All of these new clubs are more than happy to welcome new members interested in their causes and expand over the years!

More photos of the club fair on pages 6 and 7 of the newspaper!

Mills HigH scHool student

GROUP PHOTO: The Linguistics Club members posing for a photo during the frst club meeting during Wednesday at lunch.

Features Editor

CLUB FAIR: A photo of the Spreading Joy Club at the club fair holding up their poster to advertise their new club.

Julia Xia Features Editor GRAPHIC: Pilotage and Mentorship club.

GROUP PHOTO: Members of the Dragon Boat club posing for team photos after one of their exhilarating races on the water.

Julia Xia Features Editor

DRAGON BOAT: The Dragon Boat racers getting ready for the water race. Julia Xia: Features Editor

FLYER: One of the fyers given out to advertise the Pilotage club.

Evgeniy Yatskov / sHutterstock GRAPHIC: Discover your passions and join new school clubs!

Back to School Back to School

Class of 2024’s Advice to Incoming Freshman Class

Isabelle Yang

Copy editor

As the school year begins, Mills welcomes the Class of 2027. The transition from middle school to high school can be a challenging and overwhelming journey. Despite starting their high school experience virtually, a couple of the seniors still have some helpful advice for the freshmen, speaking from several years of experience.

A common theme among the interviewed seniors was advising the freshmen to have an open mind as they explore this new environment and discover new things about themselves. Senior Amani Rizvi’s frst words of advice that came to mind were, “Don’t be afraid to try new things.” She proceeds to talk about

not letting the fear of outcomes interfere or limit one’s potential.

Another senior, Nicholas Woo, also conveys that freshmen should, “...try to seize every opportunity they can.” He mentions that high school will get more demanding and, “the curriculum gets harder and harder,” as the years go on. Therefore, the freshmen class should take advantage of any chances they get, even if it’s out of their comfort zone. Woo further discusses how building strong relationships with teachers is important, as they can help when school becomes more challenging. He explains that they will, “..provide advice to you throughout your high school years.”

Starting high school can be intimidating at frst for anyone, but online learning made beginning this new chapter even more

diffcult to navigate for many seniors. Refecting back on their frst year, many students wish they had a “normal” freshman year.

Charlene Luz speaks from her personal experiences when she stresses that everyone should be open to casual conversations, especially ones with their classmates. Transferring from another district, she didn’t know anyone and didn’t get to meet other students until sophomore year when school fnally transitioned back to in-person. She expresses how it was diffcult to make friends when the majority of the students already knew each other from middle school. Luz shares, “Being friendly can help others feel more comfortable and build your confdence as well.” She claims she was lucky to make many friendships along the way after overcoming

the challenge of distance learning. Multiple in-person experiences were also taken away from the senior class during their freshman year, leaving them feeling as if memories were taken away, too. Two out of three of the interviewees sadly mention that they missed out on a whole year of high school when asked what they wish they had freshman year. However, there are countless ways to be engaged in our community. Many state that being involved at school in various ways is an amazing way to get to know more about your classmates and even students in other grades. As Woo refects on freshman year, he wishes he had, “joined more clubs and sports.” Even if playing sports doesn’t interest you, going and supporting your peers at games and events can be a fun social experience, too.

Rizvi and Luz both highlight the importance of friendships and events outside of school hours. Rizvi advises trying to spend time with friends outside of a school environment as it, “helps grow your connections and improve friendships.” Similarly, Luz suggests supporting the school sports teams by attending and cheering at games. She says, “You feel like you belong to a community,” when describing the environment at school games. These words of advice and guidance from the seniors at Mills can assist freshmen as they make the new and exciting transition to high school. Hopefully, four years from now, this freshmen class will be in the same position to give their own wisdom to the incoming freshmen after completing their own journeys through high school.

BACK TO SCHOOL RALLY: The Class of 2024 cheers excitedly at their fnal “Welcome Back Rally”.

“Don’t be afraid to try new things.”

- Amani Rizvi, Class of 2024

“Be open to conversation.”

- Charlene Luz, Class of 2024

MILLS CHEER TEAM: The Mills Cheerleaders perform their polished routine with energy at the rally.

Bianca Pando /TheThunderbolt Bianca Pando /TheThunderbolt

CLASS OF 2024: Senior, Charlene Luz quoted above expressing her advice for the freshmen.

Isabelle Yang /TheThunderbolt

Welcome to New & Returning Teachers!

Elaine Chan Center Spread editor

With the school year rolling in, our students and teachers at Mills have settled into September.

A new school year opens the door for all sorts of new opportunities, and the Mills Faculty and Staff are excited to jump into this year with not only brand new teachers, but returning teachers as well!

Just down the English hall you will fnd Ms. Ogechi, who currently teaches both sophomores and seniors. Her frst year at Mills was the 2021-2022 school year, teaching Intro to Ethnic Studies and Modern World History. She immediately enjoyed getting to know her students and expressed, “It was incredible to see the caliber of students and there were so many days when I laughed together with them.”

Come the 2022-2023 school year, Ms. Ogechi took a job at another high school for a year, however this year she has decided to return to Mills! She describes the community at Mills as incredibly welcoming and it truly felt like a homecoming. As she now teaches the seniors she had previously taught in past years, she warmly comments, “..and my seniors, it’s amazing seeing them all evolve and mature, and of

course I love all my new students.”

Now teaching Modern World History and Gov/Econ, her goals for this year are to prepare her sophomores for the rigor of future classes and to support her seniors as they make this transition toward college and university life. The students and staff have expressed warm welcomes to Ms. Ogechi as she returns to the Viking Ship and she stated that many of her former students didn’t hesitate to extend enthusiastic welcomes. Come say hello to her in Room 122!

The Mills Staff has also greeted hello to many new teachers this fall semester. Our Math Department has welcomed Mr. Dao, who teaches Algebra 1, 2, and Computer Science Principles, as well as Ms. Tostado, a Geometry and Finite Math teacher. Mr. Dao has been teaching for ten years, and he explains that this year so far has been, “exciting and all my students are so hardworking.”

As for Ms. Tostado, this is her frst year teaching, and she expresses her excitement for education. She exclaims, “I really like the campus and the community created at Mills!”

We are always happy to have new and of course returning teachers at our school who support and encourage our students to thrive in the community. The always-growing Mills family wishes for a fulflling year for both teachers and students!

Club Fair Captured

Coming to School After COVID

Joshua Choe SportS editor

In 2020, it was a hard year for schooling, as it was in general for all workspaces. Mills, however, as in common with all other high schools nationwide, went online in order to keep up teaching and learning during a time where people could not congregate in person. The next few years, when school returned back to in-person, guidelines were established, as COVID was still very prevalent and cases still ran high. These guidelines consisted of all school personnel and students wearing their masks at all times during the school day, with mandatory distancing between people. These guidelines were lessened, as the situation with COVID evolved, gradually becoming more lenient. Eventually, masks were only required in classes, and any time students were outside of class, masks could be removed. Come 2022, masks were highly recommended, yet most students and faculty chose not to wear. Throughout this duration, anyone found to have tested positive for COVID would be required to stay home for a minimum of a week, to ensure full recovery, along with a negative test afterwards. Students that had the same class as the person that tested positive would receive an alert through email and or text message via opting in, alerting them of their close proximity.

In the present day, during this 2023-2024 school year, the requirement of masking in school has more or less become obsolete. Some regulations still remain, including a requirement of around a fve-day minimum stay at home requirement for those who have contracted COVID, as well as alerts still being sent out the same.

CLUB FAIR: Above are some student-run clubs like Filipino American Alliance (FAA), Leadership & Arts, Entourage Club, and Latina Mentor Program (LMP).

Assistant Principal Ding /TheThunderbolt

Should the Mills Viking Lose its Job as Mascot Due to a Violent Past?

Sang Choi Staff Writer

“Home of the Vikings”. At Mills High School, we see these words plastered repeatedly on the walls around campus, on posters, and on sports uniforms and school merch. This all started in fall of 1958, at the time of the school’s founding, when Mills students voted on the school colors and mascot. Since that day Mills has been recognized district wide by its red and gold colors and long bearded, horned-hat-wearing Viking mascot.

Like professional sports teams, high school sports teams are often identifed by their school colors and mascots; there are the San Mateo Bearcats, the Capuchino Mustangs, and Burlingame Panthers. By defnition, a mascot is a person or thing that is used to symbolize a particular event or organization. The Mills Viking is within these guidelines for what a mascot is. Recent controversy has brought up the questions, “Does the Viking properly represent Mills High School? Does Mills High School’s mascot need to change?” In my opinion changing the mascot is not necessary.

Those who disagree claim that the reason they want to change the mascot is tied to Vikings’ history of being violent conquerors and upholding ideals that are unrelated

to Mills. Also, there is the concern of other schools having viking mascots which may cause confusion.

At the middle school I attended, the mascot was a pine tree. Of course, a pine tree doesn’t ft the description of a perfect student of that school, however, it has become an identifer of the school. This shows that mascots don’t need to just be mirrors of the ideals of a school but rather simply something that identifes the school. The students at my middle school aren’t trees and the students at Mills aren’t historic Vikings, these mascots are simply symbols.

Despite some people’s concern that the violent history of Vikings refects upon Mills, this doesn’t seem to be a connection that many students make. Eduardo Galindo (11) shared that he had no problem with our current mascot and when asked ‘What do you know about Vikings, historically?’ He answered, “Not a lot, they were pretty tough.”. He went on to say he doesn’t think of the history of vikings being associated with Mills, just the image of a viking.

It’s also important to keep in mind that if the original mascot is changed to a new mascot people will be confused. Changing the mascot that has been a constant since 1958 will create some confusion for school members and people who know Mills High School. It will be useful to keep the original mascot so that people could remember Mills

High School better. Also changing the mascot means changing what symbolizes the organization. It can shape the image of the school differently.

Organizations need to be united in order to not weaken but rather continue to improve and a mascot is one of the reasons people unite together.

A mascot provides entertainment and encouragement for the students, staff, and teachers. It is always included in campus and community events.

A mascot is a unifying factor but it can easily become the subject of arguments. While interviewing students around campus, I noticed that there is one thing they can’t seem to agree on. When asked “If our mascot was no longer the Viking, what would you want it changed to?”, the students interviewed had a variety of answers. Peter Alhaj (11) said “lion” and Eduardo Galindo (11) said he couldn’t decide.

If the mascot changes, many people will be disappointed at the organization for changing the promised symbol. Mills High School’s mascot the Viking has no short history. It has been tied to the school for 65 years. It was voted on by students and there has been no push back against it for decades.

A mascot change will have a lot of negative effects that in my opinion aren’t worth the trouble that Mills will have to go through to rebrand. The current mascot has become synonymous with Mills, it has withstood decades and can continue its purpose of representing Mills for decades more.

Announcing a New Column; Vikings’ Voices

Noor Abdullah Opinions Editor

TheThunderbolt is proud to be introducing this new addition to our monthly publication: Vikings’ Voices. We are offering all Mills High School students the oppurtunity to have their voices heard. This column is dedicated to sharing relatable, unfltered, and student-related stories and ideas. Writing to an audience is a priviledge that all Mills students are entitled to and we are ready to help you share what you have to say.

Possible topics include but are not limited to: news relating to Mills, opinions on school events, and hot takes. Students may contribute with a small paragraph or an entire article. There are no limitations on the amount nor style of writing. No writing experience is necessary; Thunderbolt editors will provide support through every step from developing an idea to having

it ready to publish. Students can even choose to contribute anonymously. The Thunderbolt simply asks that writers remain respectful and sincere.

We aim to create an inclusive and comprehensive column for students to freely express themselves. We hope students will start discussions, draw awareness to critical situations, share praise or concerns, and begin calls for action.

We ask readers of this column to take this as a chance to read about new perspectives, consider their positions on matters, and develop an understanding of the true thoughts of Mills students.

Students, to get started simply scan this QR code and become a part of the narratives of Mills High School.

Hailey Tan: Mills Leadership

Sang

Choi:

Middle East Overlooked in History Classes; “But Where is My Chapter?”

From the patriotic stories of the Revolutionary War, to the harrowing narratives of slavery, to the overly inclusive history of European greatness, Mills’ social science classes seemingly cover the gamut of all the important aspects of world history.

As students, we can agree that the social science department, while covering the rich history of the world, is making a conscious effort to be culturally relevant and inclusive in the social science curriculum with lessons on underrepresented populations.

However, as a student of Middle-Eastern descent, I feel that Arab historical contributions and history are far too often overlooked or not equally taught from teacher to teacher.

As a half-Palestinian student, who has attended schools in the Millbrae area for 13 years, I have never once seen myself in the books or in the powerpoint slides or the class lectures.

In elementary school I learned rightfully all about the horrors of slavery. In middle school, I learned all about the pains of Asian hate and the indigenous people’s point-of-view on the atrocities of Columbus. In high school, it has been about the contributions and challenges of BLM and LGBTQ+ alongside the other repetitive topics. But I ask, where is my chapter?

In my US History class, I can see the outrage in the eyes of LGBTQ+ peers as we learned about the injustices of the Stonewall Uprising. But I ask, where is my chapter?

Why is it that Middle Eastern culture and history is often skipped over? Is it because Western centrism is the focus of world history? Or simple ignorance of the modern educational system?

The Arab student population of Mills is just under 3% with students from Yemen, Tunisia, Palestine, Lebanon and more. We ask, where is our chapter?

Modern World History, covering years from 1780-2023, is a graduation requirement, all students are mandated to take it. Yet the events of the Middle East during this period that many would argue are integral to modern history often go silent.

For example, for decades Pales-

to violence and apartheid by Israeli policies, exposing Palestinians to systematic human rights abuses. With people kicked out of their own homes and many sent to unlawful detention centers, I recognize some past events being repeated. We can see the similarities to the absolutely inhumane brutalities of the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust, two tragedies which are covered in social science classes. Yet crimes against Palestinians which have hurt generations, changed the political landscape of the region, and personally prevented me from experiencing the lands my gradparents cherished are being disregarded.

As some histories are recognized in social sciences and others aren’t, I have to say, we are lacking true inclusivity in the curriculumns.

Don’t you think it’s important for sudents of all backgrounds to learn about this history too? Notably, students in Mr.Burdette’s class learn about Palestine but students in oth-

er Modern World History classes do not experience the same curriculum.

Palestine is just scratching the surface. Syria has been at war for over 10 years. With a deepening economic crisis, ongoing localized warfare, and destroyed public infrastructure, ordinary Syrians are displaced throughout the Middle East and Europe and require humanitarian aid for their survival. Is this not something we should learn about as well?

The Middle Eastern cultures are slightly touched upon in ethnic studies classes. As ethnic studies and modern world history teacher, Ms.Ogechi stated, “...There is no unit on Arabs or Arab American history.”

When pushed further as to why she stated, “Oh of course 9/11… like that is the essence as to why Americans are so racist against Middle Eastern people. It’s 9/11, it’s the wars we had in the Middle East…”

This idea that one event portrays all Arab people raises exactly why Arab history needs a more prominent

Eastern history and recent events, as evidenced by interviews with teachers and students. This is how it has always been and will remain unless we change. If the correct history is not taught, it will only continue to repeat in silence for those who wish to keep it that way. But if we start incorporating Middle Eastern history into the curriculum, we can all start to transcend the ignorance of Middle Eastern history and culture and become more worldly educated.

How can we expect to see the change if we don’t educate and inform? Ms.Ogechi was open to the idea of going in deeper with the understandings of Middle Eastern cultures and the Middle East to give those more awareness. This is appreciated.

Much can and should be taught about modern Middle Eastern nations. From the industries that export to the different sides of the globe to the importance of the oil trade from the Gulf nations, from farmed produce from the Levantine region to the poets, politicians, and artists who’s words and creations deserve to be valued.

And certainly not to forget the liberators who dismantled European imperialism in the region at great costs, yet aren’t rightfully remembered.

These different aspects from the Middle East have helped shape the world in many ways.

place in the curriculum--to counter the fear that’s boarded by ignorance and shifted into a more fair demeanor.

The curriculum already makes efforts to highlight the perspectives of minorities throughout history. A well-known and taught example of this is the resulting discrimination towards Japanese-Americans during World War II thanks to political tensions. The horrors they experienced is acknowledged and highlighted in our school and schools throughout the country. Yet the treatment of Arabs and Afghans, who experienced such horrors themselves, remain widely unknown. Many faced injustice and unforgivable treatment in the US and in Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of American political actions. This recent history should not be covered up.

When asking students about the

topic of the Middle East being taught in any of their history classes, hesitation and a pattern of not having an understanding of the history was common.

Ytzel Ramirez (10) implied, “...it was brief in 7th grade, not a whole lesson.” I followed up by asking if you could tell me one positive fact about the Middle East. The student was silent.

I asked another student the same questions. Genevieve Pasamonet (10) shared, “I felt like a lot was left out during my history classes because they didn’t want it to be documented or it looked bad. But no, I don’t remember learning about the Middle East. I think my 8th grade teacher brought it up but nothing was really said or taught.”

When I asked if she could tell me something about the Middle East, she answered “I can’t think of anything.”

world is ignorant of Middle

The Middle East’s strategic position and resources make it a critical area with global ramifcations. So, we ask, where is our chapter?

Middle Eastern History will beneft students of Middle Eastern backgrounds as well as non-Middle Eastern backgrounds by countering ignorance and misinformation.

It is important to hear your own culture being taught because it helps you understand your roots, traditions, and heritage. Learning about your culture promotes a sense of identity and belonging. Students learning about different cultures also stand to foster appreciation and respect for diversity, as they gain insight into other cultures and perspectives. By deciphering your own culture and your peers’, you can better connect with others by contributing to a more inclusive society.

Ameena Stringer Staff Writer

The

Club members smile for a group photo.

Noor Abdullah: MHS Thunderbolt

MILLS MODERN WORLD HISTORY CLASS: Students in Ms. Ogechi’s class are seated before an array of motivational posters.

Ameena Stringer: MHS Thunderbolt

BAY AREA PALESTINE DAY FESTIVAL:Palestinian fags and peace signs raised.

New Girl’s Flag Football Team Returns to Mills High

Amelia Grace Naughten NewS editor

OnSeptember 14, 2023, Mills’ frst ever girls fag football team triumphed over San Mateo High in their frst match of the season, setting a bright outlook on the team’s competitive potential.

In the Spring of 2023, Girls Flag Football was introduced to Mills following the offcialization of the sport early February in California. The objective of girls fag football is similar to Tackle football in the way that the plays are based off of the same guidelines. However, instead of tackling players to win a ball from the opponent, fags are pulled off of bands worn around the waist to signify the end of a play.

As soon as the sport was announced, popularity among female athletes began to rise. As a result, this fall season, many athletes and Mills students interested in learning the new sport joined the varsity team. The demographics of the team range from sophomore to senior, and across a varied amount of backgrounds in sports.

One of four captains of the

holds up “W’s” signifying their first victory of the anticipated season. team, Ithzel Ramirez Macias (11), commented on this subject: “Some experience I had prior to the Mills team on football was playing it as a PE unit growing up. But it made me interested in playing football because it was a big impact to the community having a new girl sport for female athletes who also enjoy football.”

In preparation for the game, athletes underwent intense training, drills, and practice games. Being that the sport was new to most of the members of the team, learning about strategy and positioning was also a main focus. A week prior to the team’s frst game, Captain Ithzel remarked, “Practice has been going really well these past weeks, especially with the team having such improvement on plays and receiving the ball. Most importantly, our coordination with offense on the many plays and our quarterback’s improved throws will be main contributors to our success in a game.”

At the same time, navigating the leadership ins and outs of running a new sport with little prior experience was a challenge starting out. Unlike other sports at Mills, there were no former experienced athletes to learn from, so the team’s leadership had to balance quickly understanding plays while also always being prepared to help as a mentor to underclassmen. Ithzel elaborated, “I had some experience on leading people with other sports growing up but for fag football, it’s new, which is why there are four captains including me. Some challenges that are unique to being captain in the frst Mills fag football team are getting familiar with rules

and having to see all the other roles that come with it.”

When the fateful Wednesday of the frst game arrived, nervous yet excited energy was buzzing around the team. Focus on team chemistry and community was key in fostering positive reinforcement for the frst game. Sophomore fag football athlete Maizie Deguzman (10) added, “Our team has really good chemistry and we’re able to teach and help each other out. I really appreciate how much support and encouragement we have on the team.”

Left-right and middle feld player Brooke Phimsoutham (10) also raised some concerns before the frst game, refecting, “ I really like the team, [but] it can be a bit of a challenge when it comes to players. I wish more people had joined...We’re a really small team compared to all the other schools.”

Regardless, when the team entered the feld, their strong spirit and perseverance pushed them to excel at the game. The discipline and effort that the athletes had poured into the match pulled through to carry the team to the top. And even despite being a smaller and less experienced team, the Mills athletes technical skill and coordination made up for any disparities.

In the future, some goals that the team looks to achieve are to always be continually improving, or as Phimsoutham puts it, “become undefeated!” The new team looks forward to many more wins to come in the near future, and we wish them luck, especially as they face up against Mills’ rivals Aragon and Capuchino High School in the following weeks!

TEAM PICTURE: The girls flag football team poses for a selfie on the track for a picture after their win.

Girls Flag Football, Mills High School

GIRLS’ FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM: The team

Girls Flag Football, Mills High School

CELEBRATION: Mills Girls Flag Football hold up a “W” for their win at San Mateo High School.

Girls Flag Football, Mills High School

FROM LEFT-RIGHT: Kalyssa Chu, Reece Roach, Luna Mengal-Yoshimura

Girls Flag Football, Mills High School

Cross Country Climbs on Cloud 9

On September 9, 2023, the Mills cross country team attended the annual Lowell Invitational, a 50 year San Francisco cross country meet held in Golden Gate Park. Roughly 80+ schools all across Northern California came to bring the speed and competition. The Mills team had a commendable performance, with several runners across divisions placing within or close to the top 10. Time leading up to this day was a whirlwind of emotions for both the runners and coaches. The team is larger than it has been in previous years, causing lots of anticipation for the start to the season. Especially amongst the girls team due to this year being able to have both a varsity and junior varsity team. There were a number of accomplishments within the meet. Late morning, Kaden Ren (10), placed second in his heat with fellow sophomore boys, running 2.03 miles in only 11:17.90. When asked to describe the thoughts and strategies

hovering his mind while racing, Ren recounted that his goal was to “just try to stick within the top ten group of runners through the entirety of the race, from beginning, middle, to end.” Later on, Jackie Pan (12), medalled, placing 7th overall in the varsity girls division clocking in at 17:01.80 for a 2.78 mile trail. Similarly asked as she runs, her strategy is to “focus on the race, the amount of distance I’ve completed, and fnally the opponents around me.” She has dedicated herself to the team for the past three years of her high school journey. The jitters before a race are no joke however from experience, Pan explains, “I still get nervous stepping onto the line however because I’ve done this so many times, it’s gotten more manageable. Once the gun goes off, you just have to keep going.” Another success of the day was the varsity girls placing 8th as an overall team from a total of 25 schools.

This course is primarily a dirt path with accents of grass and asphalt, a slightly easier run in comparison to the additional trails the team will run throughout the fall season. They generally have dirt-flled

terrain with grueling hills. Mileage this past race was 2.03 miles for the freshman and sophomore teams and 2.78 miles for all of varsity. The runs began at 9:00 A.M for the freshman boys, 10:00 A.M for the frosh/soph girls, 11:00 A.M for sophomore boys, 11:30-12:30 for the open boys and girls races, 1:00 P.M for variety girls, and fnally 2:00 P.M varsity boys. The Lowell Invitational was a long yet rewarding day for not only Mills but for various schools across California.

Overall, the entirety of the team did exceptionally well. While rather nervous for the upcoming meet held in Crystal Springs Belmont on Saturday, September 16, 2023, the team hopes to bring even better energy there compared to Lowell. It’s only the start to a long season and the cross country team is excited to see where the next few months lead.

Coach Lawrence Cappel’s goal is to bring his teams to the 2023 CIF State Cross Country Championships held in Fresno, California. With the drive, determination, and hard work applied from his athletes, this is absolutely possible. Go Vikings!

Janelle Pantilon Staff writer

Cross Country / Mills Highschool

CROSS COUNTRY TEAM: The Mills cross country team poses for a photo.

Sarah Gayer Mills Athletics

OPENING SEASON: Girls Varsity members celebrating success after the Lowell Invitational.

Sarah Gayer Mills Athletics

MILLS XC: Members celebrate after their frst race at the Lowell Invitational this month.

Felix Mapa

SMILES: Mills Cross Country athlete posing in action during race.

Malcom Slaney

2023 XC: Mills High School Runners are preparing for a day at the Lowell Invitational.

Malcom Slaney

IN ACTION: Runner Jackie Pan is focused on making it to the fnish line.

Malcom Slaney

AHEAD: Lone Mills athlete is ahead of the crowd if rival schools.

A Not So Cruel Summer: How The Eras Tour Took Over North America’s Summer

Abigail Chai Entertainment Editor

It’s been a long time coming since global pop-phenomenon Taylor Swift made her long awaited return to stage in March of 2023- fve years after her iconic Reputation stadium tour.

In those fve years alone, Taylor completely redefned herself. She released four new albums, two of which were produced amidst the 2020 quarantine, and actively began her pursuit towards the ownership of her frst six albums. Her fanbase has grown rapidly over the years, meaning millions anticipated her long-awaited return to the stage. On November 1 2022, millions of fans’ wishes came true, as Taylor offcially announced her

recent album Midnights (2022), wrapping up the over three hour show on a dazzling high note. While a 3 hour runtime may seem beyond exhausting, Taylor consistently graces the stage with

media that night. This instance is just one of many where the Eras tour created waves amongst the internet.

Despite playing to over 70,000 people per show, the shows felt oddly intimate with a fair share of

their best Taylor-inspired outfts. Fans either used fashion as a way to honor their favorite era of Swift’s discography, or to make niche references of her career. However, the most crucial accessory at the eras

people per show. With such high attendance, the Eras tour is projected to gross over $1 billion dollars, meaning Swift would hold the record for the highest earning tour in history. And the Eras tour earnings go beyond just net profts. As fans waited years for the pop star’s return to stage, there was a great enthusiasm towards her concert dates which countless fans were ready to spend thousands of dollars for. Considering travel fees, hotel accommodations, and elaborate costumes, there was a huge spike in consumer spending during the summer, simply because fans were ready to go all out for Swift. Several cities she visited this summer experienced a boost in local economies, especially in the hotel industry. During her visits, the average revenue per hotel room increased more than 4 percent over the national average, CNBC reported. Many credit Swift, along with the release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Beyonce’s Renaissance tour, to have greatly boosted the U.S. economy this summer.

high energy, giving her 100% to every show. With 16 outft changes, which each pay homage to her past albums, and constant singing and dancing, she delivers a night of nonstop fun to her biggest fans. With the North American leg of the tour kicking off late-March in Glendale, Arizona, it quickly became the event of the year. The tour took over the internet, as fans constantly raved over the singer’s performances and the occasional surprises every weekend. While not everyone could be in attendance, numerous fans would livestream her shows on TikTok, giving those who didn’t get tickets a glimpse into the Eras tour. Swift especially sent millions into a frenzy after instantaneously announcing the rerecording of her third album, Speak Now (2010) at her hometown show in Nashville, which essentially took over social

heartfelt and high spirited moments. Several fans cited feeling a sense of security at shows, with a sense of collective excitement within the stadiums. Fans weren’t afraid to proudly display their love for the singer, whether it was through shouting lyrics in unison with one another or holding their heart-shaped-hands in the air. Besides being a space where fans could be themselves for a night without fear of judgment, it was also an opportunity for Swift to convey her gratitude towards her fans. “I’ve never been this happy in my life in all aspects of my life ever,” she told the crowd at her Foxborough show. “And I just want to thank you for being a part of that”.

Following past Swiftconcert tradition, fans were dressed to the nines at the Eras tour. From sparkly cowboy hats to bejeweled dresses, fans donned

LIGHTS, CAMERA, DELAY

The SAG-AFTRA and WGA Strikes

Phoebe Piserchio Editor-in-Chief

On May 2nd of 2023, whatseemed to be a promising blockbuster season like no other, quickly turned into a season of industry upheaval as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike, with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) quickly following just two months later on July 14th. Striking over unfair compensation and poor working conditions, writers and actors remain in a stalemate with major studios and streaming services, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. With no end in sight, the labor dispute has caused a cascade of delayed flm productions raising vital questions about the future of cinema and television.

Since the strikes began, picket lines have formed in various cities, such as Los Angeles and New York. Writers and actors alike have revealed shockingly low residuals (the industry term for royalties earned for artistic work) they receive, ranging from a few dollars to as little as a few cents; some actors and writers can’t even afford health insurance. Actress Mandy Moore, a main character in the show This is Us for over six seasons, told the Hollywood Reporter that she has collected 81-cent residual checks from Hulu for her work on the show. Actor Sean Gunn, who appeared on over 140 episodes of famed show Gilmore Girls, also told the Hollywood Reporter that he sees almost no revenue that goes into the end-

less streams the series receives on Netfix. Other Hollywood stars that have walked the picket lines include Amy Adams, Paul Dano, Florence Pugh, Bob Odenkirk, Margot Robbie, Jack Black, and countless oth-

announced a rescheduled date for January 2024 (as opposed to its original September 2023 date) in response to the ongoing industry challenges.

According to the New York Times, the writers and actors’ position is that “the streaming era

tour were the friendship bracelets. Inspired by Swift’s song “You’re On Your Own Kid”, where she sings, “so make the friendship bracelets//take the moment and taste it”, fans took it amongst themselves to create a new tradition for the Eras tour. Bracelet trading between fans grew popular, not just serving as a fun activity, but also as a way for thousands of fans to connect to one another. Phoebe Piserchio (11), who attended the fourth Los Angeles show, expressed the joy she felt when trading bracelets with other fans that night. “It was so special to trade with other fans and get to see all the different bracelets,” she stated. “It was the cutest experience.” Costume culture at the Eras tour was more than just looking your best; it was part of the experience.

With Taylor playing exclusively in stadiums in the U.S., she performed to an average of 72,459

The tour’s success goes beyond the stage as Swift is bringing her concert to the big screen. Partnering with AMC, the popstar is offcially releasing her concert flm, which fans can begin watching on October 13. The flm shattered AMC’s record for most presale tickets bought on the frst day, surpassing Spider-Man: No Way Home. The flm is expected to earn $100 million, a rare achievement for theatrically released concert-flms.

The Eras tour is far from over, meaning its cultural and economical impact is still evolving. While Swift is at the pinnacle of the music industry, her growth is nowhere near fnished. What some might fnd impossible to ascend even further, she continues to prove wrong, fnding new ways to infuence the charts and now, the economy; Taylor Swift is truly a mastermind.

The Thunderbolt's Album of The Month GUTS by

Olivia Rodrigo

STRIKE: Protestors have been prtesting outside of major movie studios.

ers. Entire casts of shows have also reunited in support; some include Parks and Recreation, Breaking Bad, Family Guy, Succession and Glee. With the entertainment industry on pause, numerous movies and shows have been delayed. Highly anticipated flms including The Batman Part 2, Challengers, Thunderbolts, and Dune Part 2 have been pushed back several months. In turn, this has taken huge economic tolls on production companies, with estimated losses soaring as high as three billion dollars. Award shows and flm festivals have been drastically affected by the strikes as well. The 2023 Venice Film Festival witnessed a notable absence of stars on the red carpet in solidarity, even as major flms were making their premieres. Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain attended in honor of her new flm Memory, where she dressed in a SAG-AFTRA t-shirt. Meanwhile, the Emmy Awards ceremony has also

has deteriorated their working conditions as well as their compensation levels.” They are seeking more transparency from streaming services about viewership, which might justify higher compensation.

Bloomberg reports another concern is securing protections against artifcial intelligence, which studios have been trying to incorporate more of due to it being a cheaper source of labor than humans. Such concerns include requiring an actors’ consent to use their image, giving them control over how their image is used, and just compensation for that use.

These disputes have exposed the harsh realities faced by writers and actors in the entertainment industry; as the strikes persist with no resolution in sight, the future of cinema and television remains uncertain. The battle for fair treatment and just compensation remains a vital cause, ensuring those who bring our beloved stories to life on screen receive what they rightfully deserve.

Tracklist:

1. All-American B*tch

2. Bad Idea Right?

3. Vampire

4. Lacy

5. Ballad of a Homeschool

Girl

6. Making the Bed

7. Logical

8. Get Him Back!

9. Love is Embarassing

10. The Grudge

ERAS: Taylor Swift performing “Enchanted.”

ERAS TOUR: Taylor Swift during the Lover era of the show.

ETHAN MILLER/TAS23/GETTY IMAGES

MARIO TAMA / GETTY IMAGES