The Oracle, 10/28/22

Katie Tsang Co-Editor-In-Chief

The nutrition of school-provided meals has long been a source of controversy among students, however, every meal provided meets nutritional standards and is required to by law, said Marti McGuirk, the vice principal in charge of food services.

Backlash against the cafeteria meals significantly increased after school administration announced on Sept. 12 that the Science Quad vending machine would be removed. Principal Dr. Kip Glazer said some snacks in the vending machine did not meet School Nutrition Guidelines set by the California Department of Education, which was one reason for its removal. The other reason, according to Glazer, was that the vending machine was run by a third party, meaning its presence on campus was illegal.

The vending machine’s removal was met with

overwhelming student disapproval. An Oracle Instagram post containing a summary of the article racked over 60 comments from upset students.

Many of these comments expressed frustration toward administrators and questioned the nutrition

of school lunches.

Senior Sina Sabet commented “the school does not care about nutrition bro if u dropped the school pizza in the ocean you’d kill the local wildlife with all the grease.” Senior William Siegel shared similar

frustrations, commenting “Guess school nutrition guidelines are pizza and chocolate milk every day.”

McGuirk said she understands why students are upset.

“Food is something that I look forward to and I

Alta Vista High School’s enrollment has been steadily decreasing for the past 10 years.

The number of students went from 120 in 2011 to between 40 and 60 in 2022, according to enrollment records.

for students who struggle with attendance or credit deficiency, Principal Suzanne Woolfolk said. It draws in students from Mountain View, Los Altos, Gunn, and Palo Alto high schools. However, this was not always the role Alta Vista has played in these districts, she said.

“The image of Alta Vista was that once you reached a certain number of tardies or cuts, it was an involuntary transfer,” Woolfolk recalled. Students would “go there when in trouble.”

Woolfolk said that administration is trying to pull back the image that going to Alta Vista is to

Gemma Gentin Web Features Editor

Pre-Covid parking constraints returned to Mountain View on Oct. 1, leaving many students without parking spots.

In preparation, the Mountain View Police Department sent a warning beforehand that they would be enforcing 24 minute, one hour, two hour, three hour and five hour parking zones on residential streets.

When school is in session, there is a no parking zone on portions of Andre Avenue, Bruckner Circle, Bryant Avenue, and Truman Avenue from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the

Mountain View Parking and Tow Code Ordinance.

Enforcement efforts are usually complaint based, MVPD Department Public Information Officer Katie Nelson said via email.

Mountain View Public Works Department is working with MVHS to evaluate removing parking restrictions, Nelson said. So far, the “no parking” signs during school hours on the southern segment of Bruckner Circle to Truman Avenue and to outer city limits have been removed.

“There have always been complaints about parking issues from the surrounding neighborhoods around MVHS,” said MVPD Officer Thomas Low via email.

The parking lot was originally built for a school population of 800 students, but has now

Alta Vista is a continuation high school

ALEX BENTLEY

Ciara Ross Staff Writer

MAGGIE

Naina Srivastava

Kaitlyn Knopf

Katie Tsang

Ella Persky

Derin Degerli

McKenna King

Krithi Sundar

Hayes Duenow

Siona Mohan

David

Phukan

Ella Persky

Max Teleki

Gemma

Derin Degerli

Kabir Chaudhry

Olivia Bocchieri

Aayan Saw

Lin

Antonio Peeples

Like a wildfre, rumors can spread through social media with a little spark and a gust of wind. Students are susceptible to reading the headline of an article and reacting harshly without reading the entire article. While it is human nature to form opinions quickly, The Oracle believes that we need to consider all relevant information and take the entire situation into consideration before coming to a conclusion and spreading false rumors.

According to a survey created by the Media Insight Project, roughly 41 percent of people read a full article before forming an opinion about the topic. This means around six in 10 people will stop reading an article after the headline.

A recent experience at the school demonstrates this habit. After students left numerous hate comments directed towards Principal Dr. Kip Glazer and MVHS admin on the Oracle’s Instagram post regarding the removal of the Science Quad vending machine, it became clear that the issue of jumping to conclusions is prevalent amongst MVHS’s student

Read before you react: rumours spread

body.

Students form rumours without understanding the whole truth

The post explained that the vending machine was not run by the school and therefore the admin was legally required to remove it. However, students refused to acknowledge the reason that it had been removed and instead harassed the decision makers leaving comments such as “get the old principal back.”

In the past, students have formed rumors without understanding the whole truth, further dividing the school community and leading to the spread of misinformation. For example, in an interview with the Oracle to discuss the reactions of the Instagram post, Glazer said she joked

about painting the doors of the school yellow, which soon turned into a rumor about a plan to paint the whole school yellow.

The Oracle believes that students need to read through and analyze all of the information before forming a public opinion on something or someone. With the rise of social media in past years, news has the capability of spreading faster than ever, causing more extensive consequences for false information.

rashly to change than adults because our brains are still developing, according to the National Library of Medicine. Being in uncomfortable situations can cause us to lash out.

adults are also susceptible to the same habits, and that we need to work together to change how we jump to conclusions.

Through social media, anyone could become a bully anonymously and not be accountable for the harm they may cause. While this is a habit that all humans are guilty of, teenagers are more susceptible to acting

While we are guilty of these habits, we can also become the victim. Many high school students haven’t yet built the confdence that adults have, meaning that many of us are more susceptible to mean and hateful comments.

Glazer said she believes that high school students are in a stage of detaching from parents and forming their own opinions which can be heavily infuenced by peers.

Glazer acknowledged that

Rumors don’t only harm student to student relationships, but also harm communications between students and admin. The Oracle along with Dr. Glazer believe that students and staf can communicate better in order to clear up uncertainties.

We know that changing our habits will be difcult, but we need to think about what our public opinion could do to others. Instead of feeding the fre, control it and keep others safe.

antes de difundir rumores

Policy

have been established as designated public

Oracle

journalists

inform, challenge, and entertain

information

impartially gathered

thoroughly veri ed. We strive

accuracy and fairness, to cover

total school population and to

high standards of journalistic

The

is a student publication whose content is chosen and whose production is facilitated entirely by students. The student editorial board makes nal decisions on all content of the newspaper and website. Visit www.mvhsoracle.com for the full text of our editorial policy.

The

Como un fuego en la naturaleza, los rumores pueden propagarse a través de las redes sociales con una pequeña chispa y un golpe de viento. Los estudiantes son susceptibles de leer el título de un artículo y reaccionar con dureza sin leer el artículo completo. Mientras que es parte de la naturaleza humana formar opiniones rápidamente, el Oráculo cree que debemos considerar toda la información relevante y tener en cuenta toda la situación antes de llegar a una conclusión y difundir rumores falsos.

Según una encuesta creada por Media Insight Project, aproximadamente el 41 por ciento de las personas lee un artículo completo antes de formarse una opinión sobre el tema. Esto significa que alrededor

de seis de cada 10 personas dejarán de leer un artículo después del título.

Una experiencia reciente en la escuela demuestra este hábito. Después de que los estudiantes dejaran numerosos comentarios de odio dirigidos al director, el Dr. Kip Glazer, y al administrador de MVHS en la publicación de Instagram de Oracle con respecto a la eliminación de la máquina expendedora Science Quad, quedó claro que el problema de sacar conclusiones prevalece entre el alumnado de MVHS.

La publicación explicaba que la máquina expendedora no estaba a cargo de la escuela y, por lo tanto, el administrador estaba legalmente obligado a eliminarla. Sin embargo, los estudiantes se negaron

a reconocer la razón por la que se había eliminado y, en cambio, hostigaron a los Los estudiantes crearon rumores sin comprender toda la verdad

A través de las redes sociales, cualquier persona puede convertirse en un acosador de forma anónima y no ser responsable del daño que pueda causar. Mientras este es un hábito del que todos los humanos somos culpables, los adolescentes son más susceptibles que los adultos a actuar precipitadamente para cambiar porque nuestros cerebros aún se están desarrollando, según la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina. Estar en situaciones incómodas puede hacer que nos arremetamos.

se separan de los padres y forman sus propias opiniones, que pueden verse fuertemente influenciadas por sus compañeros.

tomadores de decisiones dejando comentarios como “recuperen al antiguo director.”

En el pasado, los estudiantes crearon rumores sin comprender toda la verdad, lo que dividió aún más a la comunidad escolar y llevó a la difusión de información errónea. Por ejemplo, en una entrevista con Oracle para discutir las reacciones de la publicación de Instagram, Glazer dijo que bromeó sobre pintar las puertas de la escuela de amarillo, lo que pronto se convirtió en un rumor sobre un plan para pintar toda la escuela de amarillo.

Oracle cree que los estudiantes deben leer y analizar toda la información antes de formarse una opinión pública sobre algo o alguien. Con el auge de las redes sociales en los últimos años, las noticias tienen la capacidad de propagarse más rápido que nunca, causando consecuencias más amplias por información falsa.

Mientras somos culpables de estos hábitos, también podemos convertirnos en víctimas. Muchos estudiantes de secundaria aún no han desarrollado la confianza que tienen los adultos, lo que significa que muchos de nosotros somos más susceptibles a los comentarios crueles y de odio.

Necesitamos pensar en lo que nuestra opinión pública podría hacerle a los demás

Glazer dijo que cree que los estudiantes de secundaria se encuentran en una etapa en la que

Glazer reconoció que los adultos también son susceptibles a los mismos hábitos y que debemos trabajar juntos para cambiar la forma en que sacamos conclusiones precipitadas.

Los rumores no solo dañan las relaciones entre estudiantes, sino que también dañan las comunicaciones entre los estudiantes y el administrador. Oracle junto con el Dr. Glazer creen que los estudiantes y el personal pueden comunicarse mejor para aclarar las incertidumbres.

Sabemos que cambiar nuestros hábitos será difícil, pero necesitamos pensar en lo que nuestra opinión pública podría hacerle a los demás. En lugar de alimentar el fuego, contrólelo y mantenga a los demás a salvo.

KABIR CHAUDHRY

News has the capability of spreading faster than ever

Seis de cada 10 personas dejarán de leer un artículo después del título

Small change begins here

Imagine aworld inhabitable.

No longer being able to run through the lush green felds or swim in the bright blue ocean water. This could soon become a reality if we don’t take action to stop our climate crisis.

Climate change effects have been worsening

Climate change efects have been worsening in the past couple decades. We have reached a point where if we don’t do something now, we may not be able to do anything at all.

If schools make little changes to their daily habits, that contribution can make large impacts, and avoid even larger implications than if we don’t.

Last year, the MVHS Greenteam, a club dedicated towards limiting the school’s contribution to global warming, placed two compost bins on campus, which

reduces the CO2 emissions from landflls, a formidable component of climate change.

Recycling is also vital in limiting the efects of climate change like change in global temperatures, drastic changes in weather, and habitat destruction. Recycling has a similar impact to composting in that it lowers the amount of waste we make which lowers our CO2 emissions.

Our school doesn’t have many recycling bins, and by implementing more, students and staf can properly dispose of their trash.

Limiting the school’s paper usage is also integral. Although MVHS uses hand dryers in the bathrooms instead of paper towels, the amount of paper used in class for anything

from worksheets to midterm projects must be reduced.

Another big contributor to MVHS’s CO2 emissions are fuorescent light bulbs, which are currently used schoolwide. LED light bulbs use less energy to function, and only 5% of that energy is recycled as heat, unlike fuorescent light bulbs.

LED light bulbs also have been proven to supply more lumens per watt, which creates a brighter bulb that operates for a longer period of time. Various studies also show that the LED bulbs, which emit less blue light and UV rays, create less of a strain on retinas.

Although the situation may seem bleak, as long as we start caring about our environment now, we can create change.

Lessons I learned in ASB

Last school year was my frst year in ASB. I was selected to be ELD Commissioner, a position within the Diversity Committee. This position was of great value to me because I wanted to help the ELD Community feel included on campus and make school events and information more accessible. Having moved to the US in 2018, knowing nothing about the language or culture, made me heavily rely on the ELD Community at Crittenden Middle School. Therefore, being ELD Commissioner was my way to give back to this community.

As ELD Commissioner I embodied values of inclusivity, accessibility, and diversity by translating fyers to Spanish, presenting to ELD classes monthly, starting the free spirit gear initiative, executing the frst ever MVHS Cultural Fashion Show, hosting ELD Socials, and improving student opportunities to provide feedback, amongst other things.

Being ELD Commissioner gave me the courage to run for ASB Vice-President this past spring, and thanks to

my experience, skills, and support from peers and teachers, I won the election. However, after the results of the election were released, I was accused of cheating by another candidate.

It crushed me to know that an accomplishment so important to me was being questioned and undermined by someone who didn’t understand how hard I worked to get where I am today. To say I cheated is a false statement, I never did. This was confrmed by the administration of the school and by the MVLA District, who investigated the accusations and determined that I won the election fairly. From this experience I learned that no matter how hard you work or what you do, there will always be people in your life who might try to block your way to success, and you just have to learn to ignore that and move past those challenges.

I also learned that hard

work and dedication pay of. During election week I worked tirelessly to advertise my campaign by attending the meet the candidates event, encouraging my peers to vote for me, posting fyers around school, etc. It may not sound like a lot, but I assure you it was, especially with the stress the week brought me. However, even though my workload was heavy during election week, it paid of in the end as it was the reason I won the election, which I’m more than grateful for. If it wasn’t for my dedication I would not be doing what I do now, and I honestly can’t imagine not doing what I love the most: helping others through my role in ASB.

Both of these lessons made me a better leader and taught me how to be strong and reasonable even in hard times, which shaped the person that I am today and have helped me in doing my job as ASB Vice-President this year.

From attending dance setups and cleanups to living at school during homecoming week, ASB has made my high school experience the best that it could possibly be, which is why I am proud and honored to be a member of the ASB Class of 2022-2023.

Dual opinion: Should rallies remain indoors or be optional?

have a 11 in 10,000 chance of contracting the virus, an exceptionally low statistic.

emcee’s, as the rallies were often in the middle of the feld.

Rallies should continue to be held indoors as it gives ASB a safer, more convenient way of managing them and creates a closer sense of a community.

While the rallies — which are normally sectioned into two cohorts, each containing roughly 1,000 students — are loud and may appear to be unsafe from a COVID-19 perspective, recent data shows that the overall trend of COVID-19 cases in Santa Clara County is decreasing. According to the Los Angeles Times COVID-19 tracker, Mountain View had an all time low of only 90 confrmed COVID-19 cases in the last month, as well as a report of 94.1% of all residents being vaccinated. Citizens of Mountain View

According to an MVHS junior on ASB’s Rally and Spirit Committee, ASB aligns their rally schedules with Los Altos High School’s, in order to maintain consistency within the school district.

ASB has also seen that a variety of issues arise during outdoor rallies, especially for the ASB members setting up the events. A student who volunteered to be Sparty the Spartan — the school’s mascot — said that the thick outft hindered the student’s ability to properly function due to the heat.

Outdoor rallies also made it difcult to set up microphones and speakers, and that it was even harder to manage the equipment throughout the rally. It was also hard to ensure that the students sitting on the end of the bleachers could hear the

Students would also refuse to sit in their respective sections during outdoor rallies. A lot of the students stood in undesignated areas, which caused more chaos and confusion.

Indoor rallies provide a sense of a community at MVHS, and allow the students and staf to connect with one other and support the school. Indoor rallies give us a better visual sense that we are part of the student body because in the gym, we are able to see the reactions of our fellow peers.

In the gym, the displays of the banners, students, and teams who have broken records adds to the ambience to the school. For freshmen, it helps them recognize and celebrate the success and history of our school and invokes a sense of pride.

Rallies should be optional in order to create an environment where all students feel comfortable with the risk level they entail.

While rallies can be very efective in helping build a sense of community and can strengthen school spirit, they also bring risk to students when held indoors. I believe the rally is not worth the health and safety risk to students and faculty.

According to the government website Tracking COVID-19 in California, an average of 2,580 people were infected with COVID-19 in California daily from Aug 17 to Oct 11.

At rallies, students were forced to sit in the crowded gymnasium next to students

who could opt out of wearing a mask. Given the large number of people in the room and the duration of the rally, many students can get infected, and end up spreading throughout the school.

The music and volume of the rally can also be uncomfortably loud for some students. Multiple students recorded the rally to be over 118 decibels at times which poses a signifcant risk to students. Most rock concerts are between 80 decibels and 120 decibels, and to mandate an event similar in volume to a rock concert poses a heavy risk to students’ hearing.

Another student, who described being close to the speakers, witnessed the volume peaking at higher levels.

An anonymous student said that the speakers put physical pressure on their ears and the people around them.

According to the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention, people may start becoming uncomfortable at 70 decibels, and hearing damage can occur within two minutes at high levels such as 110 decibels.

The average sound level of the rally was around 104 decibels which lasted about one hour which evidently could cause damage to students’ ears.

With this level of risk, students should decide the level of risk that they are comfortable with.

Dr. Glazer says that student safety is her number one priority so I ask admin to consider changing this protocol.

The practical solution is to make rallies optional, allowing students that are comfortable with the level of risk at a rally to attend, furthermore allowing students uncomfortable with such a level of risk to choose not to attend.

I am proud, and honored to be a member of ASB

MAGGIE ZHANG

Rowan Barcelona Sta Writer

Kabir Chaudhry Social Media Manager

Pedro Alcazar Guest Writer

David Henri Print Sports Editor

Teacher of the year: Camarillo influences and inspires

submitted an application for the county award on her behalf. Now, Camarillo is competing for the award for all of California.

When she was only 14, Lauren Camarillo knew she wanted to be a teacher.

Several years later, the Spanish and Ambassadors teacher is named one of five California teachers of the year. And for a good reason.

“She remembers these really tiny details about everyone’s days,” Ambassadors President and senior Barbod Vaezeafshar said. “and teachers are also busy, but she takes the time to remember all those things about everyone and make these really strong connections.”

Camarillo was nominated

her family’s Spanish roots were lost over time, and believedit was her job to bring it back into her family.

“Sadly in my dad’s generation, when he was growing up, Spanish was frowned upon,” Camarillo said. “ It wasn’t viewed as an asset as much like it is today.”

As Camarillo tried to incorporate the culture backnto her family, she learned a lot on her own and found opportunities such as jobs where she could speak Spanish. She took her knowledge, studied Spanish in college and even studied abroad.

Camarillo combined her love of helping people with her passion for the language

understand their own abilities, that I could teach them well, and that I could help inspire them and help them graduate,” Camarillo said.

Camarillo said she wants her students to feel loved and supported in her classroom. Every day as her students walk into class, Camarillo takes the time to see how her students are doing and feeling.

“I haven’t seen a teacher that cares as much as she does,” Vaezeafshar said. “Every day when we walk into Ambassadors class, she’ll take the time to actually talk with everyone and check in and see how they’re feeling at the door.”

Ariv Diggi, a freshman

everyone is gonna pass her class.” said Diggi, “And I think that’s like a really good commitment because it shows that she’s dedicated to her students.”

“She really holds us to these high standards, which in turn, allows us to plan better or be better role models on campus or just be more independent,” Vaezeafshar said.

Vaezeafshar said one of the reasons he ran for Ambassadors president was because of the impact Camarillo had on Ambassadors in addition to the sense of community that Camarillo facilitates.

“She’s just made me fall in love with the program even more,” Vaezeafshar said.

Camarillo is a role model on campus, setting an example for the Ambassadors Vaezeafshar said. Pushing the Ambassadors outside of their comfort zone to become better leaders is the standard that Camarillo sets and expects for her students.

In order to create “positive change,” Camarillo said she must address and overcome many obstacles: everything from board policies to school rules.

“Sometimes there are barriers to that change, whether it’s laws, board policy, or things that are getting in the way of making positive change,”Camarillo said. “I have been told no, a lot, and that never stops me.”

Daniel Tejada launches self-made barber business in Quad

If you walk into the Main Quad, you might just find

sophomore Daniel Tejada, a 15-year-old self-taught barber, snipping away at the hair of his newest client.

Tejada started his

business last summer with the support of his parents and friends, and now charges $15 per haircut. His dad is also a barber, which Tejada said inspired him to start his own barber business.

cutting hair because his dad and family members who are also barbers.

“I’m self taught because I just paid attention to how my dad inspired me,” he said.

Tejada said he was nervous about cutting hair at first because he’d never officially learned how to do it, and he was worried he didn’t have the technique.

“I had my first client in July,” he said.” “I went to a friend’s house and I just wanted to cut his hair there. He was a first time client, and I kind of messed them up but it was all good.”,

But after his first couple clients, he said he gained confidence. Tejada said one of his favorite parts about being a barber has been seeing his hard work in a final product.

more the texture of the hair,” Tejada said. “I feel like the most challenging is probably just straight hair and the second is coiled hair.”

favorite part of the whole experience was before they started, they were hanging out with another friend, listening to music and getting McDonalds. Slimani said he would 100 percent recommend Tejada to anyone who is looking for a haircut.

“Trust in Daniel 100%,” he said. “If you’re clear with what you want and you communicate that, then he’ll do it. He wants to please a customer so he got you.”

Growing up, Tejada watched his dad progress with his own barber career and business which inspired him to follow in his footsteps and start his own barber business.

Tejada said he got into

“You get to see your own work once you’re done,” Tejada said. “Your work is your own little billboard, they’re [the clients are] the ones showing your work.”

Still, there are challenges, like figuring out the actual hair type of the client.

“It’s not the guy, it’s

Tejada’s favorite haircut was on his friend sophomore Yannick Slimani. Tejada said “I kinda transformed him.”

“When I saw the before picture and then I looked at myself in the mirror I felt like he saved my life,” Slimani said. “The before picture was wild”.

Slimani said his

Donnell Burch Staff Writer

Sarah Stone Staff Writer

When I saw the before picture and then I looked at myself in the mirror I felt like he saved my life

I’m self taught because I just paid attention to how my dad inspired me

Yannick, of Tejada’s clients, poses, showing off his new haircut.

I think Ms. Camarillo is probably the only person I would want to teach me Spanish

I was surprised and very grateful that someone would nominate me

MAGGIE ZHANG

MCKENNA KING

Lauren Camarillo helps her students in her Spanish I class with their assignments about family members

“Gooooooooooooooooooooood moooorning Spartans!!!!!”

Seniors Brent Bennion and Tyler Norris: the voices behind your morning announcements

Max Teleki Web Sports Editor

If you’ve ever listened to the morning announcements, you know seniors Brent Bennion and Tyler Norris. Well, maybe you don’t know them yet, but you’ve definitely heard their booming voices say “Good morning Spartans” and an alliterative goodbye catchphrase.

It may be hard to imagine, but the duo wasn’t always on the intercom. Bennion and Norris said they were inspired by previous school year’s announcers, and decided to step up to the plate after the previous announcers graduated.

“We had told our adviser that we wanted to do [the announcements],” Bennion said. “We followed in the

footsteps of our elders.”

goodbye.

“We do alliterations every single day. And [say] good morning because it always is a good morning,” Bennion said.

The two try to switch it up as much as possible, with new alliterations and catchphrases each day, to keep people on their toes.

As their voices carry through the loudspeakers, they aim to better the days of their listeners.

“We just want to make it the most fun so that people actually listen to the announcements,” Bennion said. “That’s our goal.”

To do this, Bennion and Norris have to get creative. Bennion said his favorite part of the announcements is saying good morning and

“There was a big One Republic concert that a lot of people went to and it was on a Wednesday. So I said [have a] One Republic Wednesday and I thought it was like the coolest thing ever,” Bennion said.

Though the announcements are almost second nature now, when they first started off, Bennion and Norris said they often felt nervous before going live.

KAITLYN KNOPF

“In the beginning, you’d sort of get pressure in your chest, and you wouldn’t be able to breathe all the way, but I don’t feel that anymore unless I’m speaking Spanish,” Bennion said.

Every day, the two have

a list of topics to cover. People can share their suggestions or things to be covered on a google form.

Once their ideas get approved, they get added to their paper, and read aloud on the announcements. Even though the two have an idea of what to say, errors still occur sometimes, such as typos or mispronunciations.

“Whenever I mispronounce something,

people always tell me ‘Hey, you mispronounced this’

Have a fantastic Friday Spartans

and I’m like, ‘I’m aware,” Norris said. “When you do

it a lot, you kind of just get used to it and you just gotta keep going. You can’t let it throw a wrench in it at all.”

Although it’s their first year doing announcements, the two have made it clear how passionate they are about brightening peoples’ day.

“Have a fantastic Friday, Spartans!” Bennion said in a recent broadcast.

Drummer boys of marching band keep the tempo strong

Carter Nishi Staff Writer

The sound of drumming fills the air as students unlock their bikes and ride home from a long day of school. But for four drummers, the day is only beginning.

But even after marching season — from December to April — is over, the four continue playing as part of Winter Percussion.

“It’s something that we do after Marching Band has ended to basically, keep our skills going,” Stickeler said. “Also, it’s just another opportunity to have more performance.”

International.

“It’s a pretty intimidating process,” said Tshimanga.

senior, this will be his first year in Marching Band, but his third season in Winter Percussion.

For two years, sophomore Kavi Ratnakar, junior Nate Stickeler, sophomore Kasey Dissanayake, and senior Matthew Tshimanga have been playing snares and tenors nearly every day outside Packard Hall.

The group first met in Marching Band, an elective that performs field shows and competes against other schools. Though it’s an elective, practice happens outside of school hours.

“This activity… requires you to put in a lot of time outside of official practice hours, which is why we’re here every day,” Ratnakar said.

They said their goal is to eventually join a drum corps, a “professional marching band.” Drum corps are extremely advanced, specialized versions of the high school marching band that the group are in now, performing all around the country and world. Very few are able to join, especially considering most drum corps have an age limit at around 21 to 22. The four say that there’s a lot of practice and time that players need to put in if they want to be selected.

To make the process easier for younger players, many drum corps also have B-Corps, which are meant to get younger players involved in the programs. Ratnakar and Tshimanga are interested in joining this first, as it would give them more of an opportunity to get involved and build their skills. However, the end goal for all four is a spot in the advanced drum corps.

“It’ll be a road to get there because they [drum corps members] are way more advanced than I am now,” Stickeler said.

Though they all share a common goal, the four have fairly different backgrounds.

Stickeler has been a part of Marching Band and Winter Percussion for two years, and first started drumming at Blach, as part of Band. At first, he said he wasn’t sure which instrument he wanted to play, but ultimately “wound up on drums” because percussion did not require prior experience.

“If I had to choose again I would still choose percussion,” Stickeler said, citing his great experiences so far.

Ratnakar has been drumming since second grade, and has since made the transition to tenor drums, or “quads,” five drums arranged in an arc around the drummer, contrary to its name. Ratnakar joined the marching band last year, and is now in his second

year.

The four drummers said they hope to continue pursuing their passion for drumming far into the future, by playing in a drum corps and drumming in their free time. The musicians also said they are interested in getting more people involved in drumming.

“We want as many people to enjoy and participate in as we can,” Stickeler said.

“So if anyone is interested, come talk to us.”

The auditioning process is long and very difficult, and only around 65% of people who apply get in on their first attempt, according to Drum Corps

Tshimanga joined Winter Percussion last year, after doing it as a freshman. However, he didn’t play in his sophomore year because of Covid. Now a

CARTER NISHI

If I had to choose again I would still choose percussion

We always try to keep people on their toes

We followed in the footsteps of our elders

Kavi, Nate, Kasey, and Mathew practice drumming outside of Packard Hall after the school bell rings.

It’s a pretty intimidating process

COURTESY OF BRENT BENNION

Brent and Tyler broadcast morning announcements through the loud speaker in the school’s office.

We want as many people to enjoy and participate in as we can

SeniorEvanMarkelzdominatesthecompetition

With a lead of over 35 seconds, senior Evan Markelzcrossedthefinish lineandplacedfirstatthe Crystal Springs meet on Oct. 4. With a personal record of 15:04 on the course,whichisjustshort of 5K, Markelz is among the fastest long distance runners the school has seen.

“I was pretty nervous going into the race just becauseIknewthiswould be the course I would be qualifyingforStateonifI madeitthatfar,”Markelz said.

Markelz took the lead halfwaythroughtherace.

“Obviously, you don’t win until you cross the finish line, so nothing [is]certain,butIgotvery confident at that point,” Markelzsaid.

Although Markelz said racing is fun, after he finished, he said he was happyitwasoverbecause the last mile can be very hardandhewasexcitedto seehisteammatesfinish.

“Iwasjustkindoftrying to process the fact that I won.”Markelzsaid.

Markelz first started running cross country in 6th grade at Crittenden Middle School with the encouragement of his parents, who both ran in college.

“As I started running varsity, I got closer and closer to winning races, and that just became a little addicting,” Markelz said.

Teammate and senior Natalie Mark said that Markelz is truly the story ofan underdog. Oncethe “quiet kid” and “not very fast” during his freshman and sophomore years, Markelz is now the top maleathleteamongateam ofaround50runners.He hasplacedtoptwoatevery meet this season and is

Markelz has remained truetohischaracter.

“He’s so humble … so unsuspecting. That’s one ofmyfavoritethingsabout him is that he could be super arrogant and stuff becausehehasthetimeto be, but he’s very humble, hardworking,andhe’sso funny,”Marksaid.

currentlythethirdfastest of all time for Mountain View at Crystal Springs and going for the school record.

But through it all,

Mark said Markelz usuallyhidesfromselfies, and shares weird but funny comments. The twosharedaninsidejoke about a summer trip to Alaska; Mark brought a durian — an exotic fruit —alongwithpastatothe team’spastaparty,justfor fun.

CoachJonathanHubbs, new to Mountain View High School, coaching Cross Country and Track, was already familiar with Markelz before joining MVHS.Hecoached Gunn highschoollastyear,sohe hadseenMarkelzrace.

“My first impression of himwhenImethimwasI wasreallyimpressedwith his dedication to running over the summer … and how smooth his form is,” Hubbs said. “We did a twomiletimetrialtoward the beginning of the year and he just looked so consistent and his stride wassopowerful.”

Both Hubbs and Mark said many of Markelz’s teammates, especially underclassmen, consider himarolemodel.

“Just seeing someone very quiet [and] very modest do the hard work without complaining, talking to the coach, and just being … a very good athlete and then seeing his success … exemplifies whatastudentathleteis,” Marksaid.

Markelz’s success ultimately comes down to hard work, Hubbs and Marksaid.

“Ithinkoneofthebest qualitiesthathehasishe’s very dedicated,” Hubbs said.

Markelz consistently runs with the team six days a week, in the

morningsand afternoons, totaling around 60 miles per week. In addition to running during practice, herunsonhisown,simply to refresh and energize himself.

theseason.

“He has no problem gettingupinthemorning and doing a run before school and then coming backintheafternoon,and doing another workout. That’s the kind of dedication that you need to compete at his level,” Hubbssaid.

There are two main parts of cross country that Markelz enjoys the most: watching his times decrease and creating connections with his teammates.

“We’vegotsuchagreat community in Cross Country that I’m really grateful for,” Markelz said.

season was in Truckee, California, near Lake Tahoe.Markelzfoundthe invitational fun because they were running on a new course, with a new group of people, but also becausetheteamswamin LakeTahoetogether.

Markelz said he hopes other runners find their joys in running. It might notnecessarilyberunning itself; it could be the feeling afterward, or the viewatthetopofahill.

“It’sallthoselittlethings thatkindofmakerunning somuchfun,eventhough it can be very hard and physically demanding,” saidMarkelz.

get both the varsity girls and boys teams to State Championships.

“I’m really looking forwardtoourleagueand CCS finals. They’re both onacoursethatMountain Viewhashistoricallydone pretty well on, Crystal Springs. And I love the course,”Markelzsaid.

Markelz often runs at Rancho San Antonio, which he said has “amazing” views. On top of in-season training, Markelz also trains over the summer, which according to Hubbs is essentialtosuccessduring

Every night before a race,theteamgathersfor a pasta party, which are essentially potlucks for a carb overload – but also serveasabondingevent.

Another chance for the team to bond are invitationals. The team’s last invitational for the

Markelz said he wants to run in college but is unsure of which National Collegiate Athletic Association division he wantstorunin.

His goal for the season is to break 15:30 in the 5K, which he hopes will happen atthestatemeet. He also wants to help

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COURTESY OF MALCOLM SLANEY

Consequences for athletes missing 7th period

orschoolsfortournaments orgames.

On the day of a cross country meet, dozens of runners leaveschoolearly, missing instructional time withtheirteacherstomake ittotheirrace.

“Every two weeks, we haveacrosscountrymeet, so I have to skip most of my fifth period and all of my seventh,” sophomore NaomiLandesaid.

Althoughabsencesdueto athleticeventsareexcused, itcanbedifficultforstudents to learn as effectively compared to being present intheclassroom.

“Once I missed an important lecture on optimization in Calc BC,” senior Jack Pereira said. “Itwasdefinitelyastruggle to learn because it was a complicatedtopicandIhad missedtheentirelecture.”

Pereira had to take the time afterschooltoreview the lessons he missed, on topofadditionalhomework andassignments.

missed to prevent them fromfallingbehind.

a teacher or additional support.

“[Myunderstanding]was not as much compared to thepeoplethatwereactually there for the lesson,” Kim said.“Ittakesmeaboutan hour to teach myself the day’swork.”

Althoughadditionalclass materialandinformationis providedtostudentathletes whentheymissclass,taking the time after school to learnthecontentaddsmore stress.Accordingtoastudy conductedbyNortheastern University, recent statistics indicate that 95% of male and85%offemaleathletes report higher stress compared to 52% of nonathletestudents.

The clash between academics and athletics isn’t confined to cross country, but includes all school sports that require travelingtootherlocations

“For some classes, especially if I miss a huge lesson, there has been moreworkthatIhavehad tomakeupoutsideofclass [that takes] a couple of hours,”Pereirasaid.

Student athletes must be able to catch up with workandfindoutwhatwas

“I can understand concepts pretty quickly,” Landesaid.“Normally,Iask myfriendsfortheirnotesto seewhat they did in class. For [AP Comp], I use the slidesfromtheteacher.”

However, sophomore IsaacKimhasaconsiderably harder time grasping concepts without without

“I

KATIE TSANG theteacherandfindawayto makethemup,”sophomore Jason Vook said. “I don’t enjoy missing [English] class becauseitaddsmore timetomyschedule.”

Vook said that redoing English homework assignmentsisthebestway forhimtolearneverything thathemissedinthemost effectivewaypossible.

Despite all of the complications, student

athletesareoftensupported bytheschool.Absencesfor sports and other activities areexcusedbyallteachers and are marked with a “V”, which translates to “activity”forattendanceon Aeries.Additionally,Lande, Pereira, Kim and Vook stated that their teachers are very understanding of their circumstances and arewillingtoaccommodate theirneeds.

OPINIONThekeytoperformaceinathletics: Stretching

Stretching is a crucial component of every athlete’s regimen. It strengthens and feeds their frequently used muscles, reducing an athlete’schanceofgetting injuredduringpracticeor games.

Daily stretching has several advantages: It improves balance, flexibility, strength, and performance as a whole. Generally, there are two main types of stretching: dynamic stretching and staticstretching.

Dynamic stretching

is an active technique that broadens the body’s rangeofmotion.Dynamic stretches should be used as part of your warmup routine before any athletic event, whether competitive or not. A complete athletic warmup should incorporate aboutfiveto10minutesof low-to moderate intensity swimming, jogging or cycling, followed by dynamic stretching such as torso twists, walking lungesorlegswings.

Static stretching involvesholdingamuscle in a single posture while in a stationary position

and requires youto move amuscleasfarasitcango without feeling any pain. Afterholdingthatposition for20to 45seconds,you should repeat the static stretchtwoorthreetimes. Thisisaveryeffectiveway toincreaseflexibility,and the stretches should also be performed while the muscles are still warm in order to help prevent injuries.

According to Mayo Clinic, stretching should be done gently, and can be done by holding each stretch for around 30 seconds and breathing normally,withoutholding

your breath. The athlete should avoid holding an uncomfortable stretch or moving around. While you’re in the stretch, be prepared to experience strain; pain indicates you’vegonetoofar. Varsitybasketballplayer Toki Morimoto attributes her knowledge of stretchingtoherfreshman year P.E. class. She said that there was a unit dedicated to stretching, and the P.E teachers emphasized that effective stretchingallowsfluidsto get in your joints, which allows for more cushion when landing jumps or

largemovements. Morimoto, who experiencedanACLinjury in eighth grade, said that she underestimated the importance of warming up your body, and alongside her freshman P.E. class, her physical therapist showed her the importanceofstretching.

that lack of stretching canleadto tightmuscles, pulled muscles, and even long-termmuscledamage. Tight, unstretched muscles can lead to improper exercise form, whichcanleadtoinjuries orpain.

Morimoto also said how stretching together unifiestheteamandhelps settleeveryonedown.The girls varsity basketball team will typically first jog across the basketball court, and then dynamic stretchestowarmup.The athletesthendostationary stretches in a circle, with one or two people in the middleleadingthegroup.

Afterenduringphysical rehabilitation, she learned there’s a whole scientific purpose

move. Since

and hasn’t

The most important thing MVHS coaches andteacherscandoisto educate students on the importanceofstretching, withthegoalofreducing the number of injuries ourathletesface.

SocialMediaCoordinator

Photo Editor

ALEX BENTLEY

ofunder-

asmuch comparedto thepeople thatwere actuallythere forthelesson

schoolcan

aboutan

myselfthe day’swork

SistersAdeline and Audrey playvarsitytennis

Sisters Audrey and Adeline Shenhave abond unlike most: the two are best friends, sisters, and tennispartners.

Audrey, a senior, and Adeline, a freshman, both said that having someone that they can count on makes a big differenceonthecourt.

freshmanyear.Sheisteam captainandhasbeenhaving agreatcareerasaspartan, said MVHS Tennis Coach Stenger. Audrey’s former tennis partner graduated, so the two sisters decided toteamup.

“[Adeline] is a great teammate,” Audrey said. “She’s always one of the loudest on the sidelines andislivinguptobethat supersupportiveteammate onthecourtnexttome.”

Sophomore Hannah Rutherford, one of their teammates, said that the supportive nature of the sisters creates a positive environment.

“They are always shouting and encouraging each otherandthe team,” Rutherford said. “I find it cute how they have nicknames for each other.

Audrey calls Adeline ‘Hun Bun’ and Adeline calles Audrey ‘Oogey,’ Whenever theycalleachotherbytheir regularname,it’satotally differentfeel.”

patient and consistent, Rutherfordsaid.

Rutherfordsaidthatthe sisters’ dedication inspires therestoftheteam.Adeline is able to push away the age gap between her and her opponent no matter the situation and Audrey alwaysstayscalmandgoes withtheflowevenifsheis downinamatch.

Stenger said Audrey and Adeline are in the second and third ranks

onthe varsity tennis team and have incredible tennis careers ahead of them. “Theyplayatanextremely high level…that is only attainablebytheamountof practiceandworktheyput in.”

Weare bestieboos

competitive and has risen up and won some of the mostimportantmatchesin MountainViewhistory.

“She is often the last person on the court since her matches go the longest and are the most competitive,” Stenger said.“ForAdeline,toseea freshmansteponthecourt like they own it is very admirable. I’ve coached football players who are 6’5’’ and 270 pounds, and

herheartisasbigasallof thoseguys.IknowtheBay Areaandtheseschoolsand AdelineandAudreyaretwo of the best players in the country.”

Stenger and Rutherford agree that the Shen sisters are the “ultimate competitors” who inspire those around them. But before they are tennis players, both Adeline and Audrey agree: “We are bestieboos.”

“It’s nice to have someone to talk to,” Adeline said. “My team is reallysupportive,butIhave knownmysistermyentire life.”

Audrey has been playing varsity since her

The sisters have been playing at the Mountain View Clinic since a young age, however they have developedslightlydifferent stylesandpersonalitieson thecourt.

“Adeline is locked in and all business, whereas Audrey is laughing and smiling,”saidStenger.

Audreyismoreofahard hitterwhileAdelineisable to win points by staying

Howcross country athletes preparesfor meets

Staff Writer

Thenightbeforearace, the cross country team always holds a “pasta party,” a tradition where the team gathers to eat foodbeforethebigday.

“Every night before a meet, we have a pasta party, so we all go to

someone’s house and people bring different thingsandweputtogether a big meal for everyone,” said captain and senior KateStone.

But pasta parties are more than just eating a meal:They’reachancefor theteamtobondandbuild community, according to Stone. “It’s a chance for

alltheteamsto interact,” seniorEvanMarkelzsaid.

“It’s just a great way to bondasateam.”

Senior Toby Nyguen said that pasta parties give underclassmen the opportunity to connect and learn from upperclassmen.

“Everyone just meets to share a meal and talk

about our race plans,” Markelzsaid.

As the name suggests, pasta partiesalwayshave a large serving of, well, pasta, along with other dishesandtreats.

“It’s just to get your carbs in, and be healthy before the meet,” Stone said. “But at the same time,there’sjunkfoodtoo

likecookiesandjuice.”

Stonetalkedabouthow the parties are led by the team, which makes it all themorefun.

“The pasta party has beengoingonforsolong thatIhonestlydon’tknow who originally set it up, but it’s always runbythe captains and the coaches are never there,” Stone said.

No matter the origin, it is always a source of fun for cross country members.

“Now all of the team does it and I think that’s really a cool way to do it because it feels like everyone is more willing to participate and really wants to do it because it’s just something that the team is coming up with together,” Stone said.“ Most of [thepasta parties] are team led and team come-up-with and everyonejustwantstodo itbecauseitisafunthing todowiththegroup.”

The varsity cross countryathletesalsohave another tradition: the boysusesharpiestodraw asmileyface on the back oftheirlegs,andthegirls draw a lightning bolt on their shoulders, Markelz said.

Stone said that to get

in the racing mindset, the team always does the samewarmuprightbefore meets.

“[Those]momentsbring all of our team energy together right before we areabouttostartracing,” Stonesaid.

MCKENNA KING

DAVID HENRI

DAVID HENRI

Stenger said Audrey is

Opening up about alcohol: Students

teenage curiosity, peer influence, and media.

*Indicates that the student’s name has been changed to maintain their anoymity due to the sensitive nature of the subject

Administrators held yellow breathalyzer sticks, randomly selecting students to be tested for alcohol consumption before entering the Homecoming Dance.

“I’m seeing more alcohol related offenses as an administrator than prepandemic,” said wellness coordinator William Blair.

“Is it social pressure? Is it addiction? Is it numbing? Is it experimentation?”

Blair said that the stricter breathalyzing policy aims to deter students from drinking before school events like dances and football games, which is an educational code violation for MVHS, and a student safety issue.

“You have the right to come to a dance and not put up with drunk people,” Blair said. “They don’t have the right to come to the dance drunk.”

Students at MVHS who drink remain in the minority: According to the 2021 California Healthy Kids survey, 22% of MVLA juniors have had more than four full drinks in their lifetime, and only 5% of freshmen have had more than four drinks in their lifetime.

Junior Claire* said she started to notice her peers consuming alcohol during her sophomore year. She said the drinking was most apparent among upperclassmen; several students were kicked out of prom after failing breathalyzer tests.

“There are definitely times when alcohol can elevate the experience, especially if you and your friends are drinking,” senior Chris* said. “But that’s in moderation.”

“Some people see their parents do it,” Claire said. “Some people do it because their parents don’t let them, or they’re going through something at home that they think drinking will solve.”

“I feel like it should be reserved for more social environments,” Chris said. “It was just experimenting. Sometimes I’ll just be bored at home, and in the mood to feel something.”

Alcohol is often referred to as a social lubricant that makes people feel more social, talkative, and confident. For teenagers this effect can be highly appealing, especially in social situations like parties, dances, and sporting events, Chris said.

“There’s a level of fun that you could reach [with alcohol] that some students value, some students enjoy, and some don’t understand,” Chris said.

pressured by others to drink alcohol, Claire said that she did, although it was subliminal. As a sophomore, she looked up to upperclassmen who would tell her how much fun they had drinking.

“It’s not promoting school culture, responsibility, and ethics,” Blair said. “If someone has to have a drink to sit down at a football game, then I want to sit down and have a conversation with them about why.”

Blair said that not only is it an education code violation to be drunk at a sporting event on campus, it is also a bad decision for students.

checks, many at the door before entering the event.

“There were so many ways to get around it,” Chris said. “And half the time it didn’t even work.”

Breathalyzer tests are not one hundred percent accurate, and are prone to inaccurate readings of blood alcohol concentration, according to a New York Times study.

Chris said using alcohol feels “rebellious,” which he’s seen makes it more appealing to teens.

“People want to experiment. People want to break the rules,” he said.

Some teens first try alcohol in the comfort of their own home, under parental supervision. “My mom let me try a taste of it when I was little, around ten,” Claire said. “I didn’t like it, it tasted like rubbing alcohol.”

Claire said she doesn’t drink regularly, and when she does, it’s only to get tipsy. “My friends and I aren’t really alcohol people,” she said.

Others drink for the first time in a social setting with other “experienced” drinkers, Chris said. His first time drinking was at a movie theater with friends, but he wishes he had been in a more “enclosed environment,” such as a friend’s house.

Chris was 15 years old when he first drank, and since then has consumed alcohol on and off, sometimes two or three times over the weekend.

“Once you do it, it’s like you can’t go back,” Chris said. “It kind of opens up a completely new world to you.”

Chris said he mostly drinks with others but has tried drinking alone, mainly while he is on a call playing video games with his friends.

Junior Alex* said he doesn’t think partying and drinking at MVHS is excessive.

“The people that I hang out with, we occasionally drink alcohol and party and stuff, and it’s a normal high school thing to do,” he said. “There are definitely schools in other areas that I know party much harder.”

“They don’t even have to say it…you’ll just feel it,” Claire said. “You’ll feel like, ‘Everyone else is doing it, so why don’t I just do it?’”

Blair believes that many students face an internal dilemma rather than outright pressure from other students to drink.

“As humans, we’re all social beings. We want connections. We want to fit in. We want belonging,” Blair said.

Claire and Chris both said that alcohol use is often “glorified” by other students, partially because of how drinking is portrayed on social media. Chris said that drinking is talked about very casually on platforms like Tiktok and Instagram, and portrayed as a “high life type of living.”

“If you don’t drink, if you don’t involve yourself in that life, it’s almost looked down upon,” Chris said.

on

According to Chris, because most high schoolers consume alcohol with the intent to get drunk, hard alcohol is often their drink of choice.

“It’s strong, and it’s easy to get. If you’re drinking beer, you have to drink a lot in order to get drunk,” Chris said. “So shots are more appealing in that sense.”

Substances like alcohol, marajuana, and nicotine go hand-in-hand in a party space, Chris said, because they are “weirdly accessible” to teens.

Different forms of media like movies and TV shows frequently depict parties as fostering peer pressure to drink or use drugs.

“I don’t think [MVHS students drink] to fit in,” Alex said. “For me, it’s always just been to try something new and experience the feeling. And once I did, I liked the feeling.”

Alex was one of the first in his friend group to try alcohol and said he never felt pressured to drink. He said he has never pressured any of his friends to drink, but lets them know that he is there if they want to try alcohol in a safe space.

Though Chris and Alex said they have never felt

Claire, Chris, and Alex all said that they know students who drink before or during football games.

“People get in more verbal fights, more physical fights, and all that when they’re under the influence of alcohol,” he said. “Someone going to a football game has the right not to be around that.”

At prom, Claire said she watched one girl tamper with the breathalyzer, allowing other drunk students to enter.

“She was blowing in a way so [the breathalyzer] would break and malfunction,” Claire said. She said she believes it is “inappropriate” to drink before going to a football game, but more understandable to drink prior to attending a school dance.

Chris said he did not anticipate that breathalyzing at homecoming this year would stop students from drinking.

“I know people are gonna be able to sneak drinks into their clothing,” Chris said.

“If anything, it’s just gonna invite more people to figure out ways around it.”

Alex shares the opinion that breathalyzing is not fully effective.

Last year’s prom shone a light on the presence of alcohol at school events, after some students were denied entrance or kicked out for being intoxicated.

“A lot of my friends got breathalyzed,” Alex said. “They spent 100 dollars on tickets, were not let into the dance, and then got sent to Saturday school for being drunk.”

Admin subjected students to random breathalyzer

“I guess the breathalyzing helps some people to not drink,” Alex said. “But my friends and I snuck in shooters [shots of liquor] and stuff like that to the dance.”

According to the 2021 Healthy Kids Survey, 10% of MVLA juniors have been drunk or high on school campus at least once. Alcohol use during a normal school day is uncommon but presents a more deeprooted issue for students who may be dependent on

Siona Moha, Hanna Olson, Naina Srivastava, Krithi Sundar

hannao@mvhsoracle.com

The right to come to school, free from physical, emotional, social harm, is paramount

else is doing it, so why don’t I just do it?

in-depth

and admin reflect on drinking culture

alcohol.

Claire said she thinks people who drink alcohol during the school day tend to take academics less seriously.

“She didn’t really care about school,” Claire said about her friend who was frequently under the influence on campus. “She thought of it just as a place to hang out with her friends.”

Health Consequences

According to Alex, most students avoid drinking on Sundays so they are not hungover at school. He said that students who drink on a Saturday night would only feel the effects of a hangover Sunday morning.

“After a coffee and a cold shower you’re reset,” Alex said.

Some, like Chris and Claire, say they have enough self-control to stay physically safe while drinking.

“I’m light, so I throw up easily,” Claire said. “I know that, so I don’t drink too much because it hurts my stomach.”

Chris said he has used alcohol enough to know how much he needs to drink in order to “stay under a level of control.”

Chris is a soccer player and attributes a noticeable change in his performance as an athlete to alcohol. He said he corresponds how much he drinks to the time of year and that he limits his alcohol consumption during soccer season.

“As an athlete, you have to take care of yourself a little more,” Chris said. “You have more responsibility over your own body.”

Excessive alcohol use or binge drinking has potentially life-threatening or deadly consequences for students.

Claire said a student she knew took a twenty-foot fall from a rooftop after he became too drunk to stand.

“He could have died,” Claire said. “The ambulance said that he might not make it. When you’re fourteen, fifteen, you don’t want to be hearing that.”

The student was able to recover from the injury.

“He walks around campus perfectly fine to this day,

but I still have nightmares,” Claire said. “That’s what I mean by your actions can affect other people.”

controls higher thinking and decision making, is not fully developed. Frequent drinkers can easily get hooked on the feeling of the dopamine release when they are drunk, and also suffer from a low mood when the release stops.

Claire said she is no stranger to scary situations involving alcohol and described having been in the car with another drunk student at the wheel.

According to the CDC’s website, young drivers between the age of 16 and 20 are 17 times more likely to die in a crash when they have a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit.

“He was about to crash into a roundabout and I had to tell him ‘Go that way,’” Claire said.

According to the California Healthy Kids Survey given to MVLA students in 2021, 16% of juniors surveyed said they had driven a car after using alcohol, or been in a car driven by a friend who had been using alcohol at least once.

“Alcohol impairs decision making,” Blair said. “When you get behind the wheel of a car, you could fundamentally change not only your future, but the future of some random person.”

Self Control

Chris said that he often feels guilty and even depressed after he drinks, highlighting the emotional and mental effects of alcohol consumption.

Alcohol is a depressant and an indirect stimulant, which makes users feel exhilarated while they are under the influence. It affects the brain’s dopamine pathways, releasing more of the “happy chemical,” while simultaneously impairing cognitive function and physical coordination, according to a Forbes article.

Frequent alcohol use is especially dangerous for teens because the frontal lobe of their brains, which

“Based on the way that you feel good when you drink, it’s kind of inviting to come back,” Chris said. “You kind of feel worse about yourself in the aftermath, from the highs of being drunk and then the lows of being sober. Sometimes that difference makes you feel more depressed.”

As an athlete with strict parents, Chris said he feels especially wrong for drinking alcohol on a more personal level. He said he used to look down on drinking, but something shifted when he entered high school.

The student who fell from the rooftop had deeper issues with alcohol, Claire said.

“It felt like I was a babysitter because he was always drunk,” she said.

Claire said being friends with the student was difficult and emotionally draining.

“He just didn’t know how to deal with his problems,” Claire said. “He blamed his getting hurt on me even though he was the one who fell.”

Disciplinary Action

Blair said that MVHS’s stricter approach to drinking is not intended to be punitive.

are protecting somebody’s right not to be negatively affected.”

Breathalyzers are a tool that administration has used to ensure students have a blood alcohol concentration below the legal limit for adolescents, 0.02%.

“I think [breathalyzing] prevents a lot of people from drinking,” Alex said. “Still, people are gonna find ways around it, but it does make consumption more challenging. If they didn’t breathalyze, then we would just be going at it.”

Students like Chris and Alex can understand why administration chose to enact the breathalyzing policy, even though it feels “annoying.”

“Through my four years here, I see that it’s the responsibility of the administration to take care of substance abuse in any form in an educational environment,” Chris said. “At the end of the day, it’s their responsibility to keep their students safe.”

Repercussions for getting caught with alcohol extend into the home for most students.

“One time I got way too drunk, and he [my dad] had to come pick me up,” Claire said. Her friends had to help her get into her dad’s car, she said, because she couldn’t herself. “He wasn’t happy, like any other parent, but he understood that it’s high school.”

Claire said she appreciates her dad’s candid approach to alcohol: He has had open conversations with her about his own experiences with drinking.

“Parents should tell their kids about their experiences, so their kids learn from their mistakes instead of getting seriously traumatized or hurt,” Claire said.

Alex said that he has also had honest conversations with his parents about drinking.

“I talked to my parents, and my parents allowed me to do the stuff that I do,” he said. “People know that a lot of high schoolers do drink alcohol and do some drugs, so just openly talking about it is, I feel, a better solution.”

“At some point, it kind of just becomes a lifestyle.”

While Chris’s parents strictly prohibit alcohol use, he said that students whose parents enable or allow them to drink probably won’t have much feeling of guilt.

“They wouldn’t really have a sense of, ‘I’m doing something wrong,’” Chris said. “Because there are no repercussions for them at home.”

Chris said that although he has never been caught drinking, he had a close call at a party when the police were called to the house. He got away, but other students didn’t.

“They drank too much and were uncoordinated,” Chris said. “It isn’t too hard to get away, but there are always people that are caught.”

It is difficult to say what approach to teen drinking will help kids make the safest and healthiest choices, but Chris said he thinks a

Alex believes that parents should initiate conversations about alcohol with their teens and work with their children to ensure safe alcohol use, rather than using punishment.

“I feel like if I were to get caught [by his parents], it would be pretty much the end of the world,” Chris said. He said that he has a lot at stake, but that still won’t stop him from drinking.

I have seen more alcoholrelated offenses than I saw as a site administrator prepandemic

ELLA PERSKY

“The right to come to school free from physical, emotional, and social harm is paramount,” Blair said. “All the rules that we have

He walks around campus perfectly fine to this day, but I still have nightmares

The ambulance said that he might not make it

arts & culture

12 Years Ago Today: Ko carries out her childhood popstar dreams

Phukan

At age five, senior Shelby Ko knew she wanted to be a pop star. When her sister didn’t want to go to her guitar lessons, Ko volunteered to go in her place. Now, she’s one step closer to her dream, releasing a song earlier this month.

Ko had been collaborating with 52prime producer duo, Archish Arun and Gaurav Chakravarty, both 2021 graduates of MVHS, as well as Dyna$ty, to create and produce a song called “A Year Ago Today,” which was released on Oct 21st.

“The song itself is about reminiscing on the past,” Ko said. “It’s about growth and moving forward.”

She started working on the song over the summer after she was contacted by Arun and Chakravarty. They were home from college for the summer and were working on their first new song in months, which needed a vocalist.

“We knew that we wanted to work with [Ko], who both shares our background but also has a unique style of songwriting,” the pair said in an email interview with the Oracle. “We are continually

Ko said the part of the process she was involved in took around three months, meeting with Arun and Chakravarty four to five times to complete different parts of the process.

“We would usually meet at night,” she said, “and we’d write and record until 12 [am].”

During their first producing session over FaceTime, due to logistical reasons, Chakravarty and Arun gave Ko an instrumental demo, along with a retelling of the story.

“Within 30 minutes, she had come up with lyrics for both the first and second verses of the song,” the pair shared.

When Ko sent them her first version of the lyrics, Arun and Chakravarty were impressed and inspired by them.

“We knew we’d found the right person,” they said.

Ko said that ever since she was young, music has been an outlet for her and something she could express herself with. She’s been in choir since the second grade and is currently a section leader for the altos, the second-highest register in four-part music, in Madrigals.

“I’ve been singing and performing for as long as I can remember,” Ko said. “It was just very natural to me.”

Ko said she began songwriting around sixth grade, drawing influence and inspiration from artists such as Taylor Swift.

“Sometimes when I write it’s a little reflection of what I’ve been listening to,” Ko said. “I like to steal the chord progressions or just the vibes.”

Ko said that writing “A Year Ago Today” was extremely different from the songs she usually writes.

“I find that when I collaborate with people, I kind of step out of the space that I like to hold when I’m alone, writing,” she said. Unlike her music, the song isn’t specific to a personal experience or emotion.

“Parts of it are real, and parts of it are exaggerated,” Ko said.

In terms of coming up with lyrics, Ko said she tries to be honest with herself.

“I think that’s what keeps me sane,” Ko said. “I don’t like to admit a lot of things and writing forces me to be honest with myself and my experiences.”

For Ko’s entire music career, she’s usually worked alone, from writing her first

Local Asian restaurants share culture with community

PHO CABIN:

Located on 200 State Street in Los Altos, Pho Cabin’s rustic, yet familiar atmosphere is a must-stop for customers from all backgrounds and cultures. The Vietnamese restaurant, owned by Doan Tran, was bought in 2019.

Currently, the restaurant is a staple, with customers loving its pho and spring roll dishes. Each order of pho is accompanied by toppings such as bean sprouts, cilantro, jalapeños, limes, and basil, creating a warmth in one’s mouth that only the Vietnamese soup can emanate.

Located on 73 Grape Avenue in Sunnyvale, Epic Dumplings lives up to its name. The restaurant has a wide array of foods to choose from, including dishes such as orange chicken, popcorn chicken, and of course, dumplings.

Though small, catching glimpses of the chefs rolling dumpling dough make the restaurant’s atmosphere all the more personal. Epic Dumplings is its own community, with the staff and owner having personal relationships, that make the food even more special.

-

I think really being honest with myself and my lyrics makes a huge difference

simple idea.”

“JUST COME ENJOY THE FOOD, TASTE, AND CULTURE”

- DOAN TRAN, OWNER

“OUR

Katie Tsang Co-Editor-in-Chief

Seniors Precious Nyarko and Gabriel Selaya were announced Homecoming royalty at the football game Friday

For Nyarko, winning homecoming court was important representation. Nyarko said she hopes that by winning homecoming royalty, she’ll serve as a model for students like her, especially her “AVID family.”

“I don’t represent a huge majority of the school,” Nyarko said. “So for the people I represent, … they feel like someone they know is on the court. I hope people feel inspired.”

Nyarko has been in AVID, a college preparation class, since her freshman year. But AVID is more than a class to her: All of her closest friends are in AVID, and she said her AVID teacher, Lee Casem, is like her school mom.

“That’s my family and that’s my crew,” Nyarko said. “If I need people for something, I know I can depend on my other family.”

Nyarko’s other family at school is her cheer team. She’s been on the team for four years, and now serves as a team captain. As soon as her name was announced, her team swarmed her with cheering applause.

“They were hugging me from all different angles and

there was a time when my legs weren’t on the ground anymore,” Nyarko said.

By winning, Nyarko said she was able to “keep the torch running” of cheerleaders becoming homecoming royalty. Last year, fellow cheerleader and AVID student Hannia Gomez Diaz was also crowned royalty.

Gomez Diaz and her homecoming royalty counterpart Archer Date crowned this year’s winners. As soon as Nyarko learned this, she said she knew she had to win. She said Gomez Diaz is a friend and a role model, which made the moment all the more special.

“I imagined it in my head as soon as I found out she was crowning,” Nyarko said.

“It was just like I imagined it. This was everything I’ve ever wanted. It felt really meant to be.”

Special education teacher Seamus Quillian emailed the Oracle Selaya’s comments.

“I was shocked that I won,” Selaya said. “I was emotional and excited. I wanted to pump up the crowd.”

In the email, Quillian said he has watched Selaya grow into a wonderful young man who loves his school and his classmates.

“I was quite emotional when Gabe won Homecoming royalty,” Quillian said. “Gabe is a model Spartan and I am so excited he was honored with Homecoming royalty.”

Gabriel Selaya

Tizita Schumacher said. She and another student recently had a minor car accident in the BPL.

reached over 2,000.

“There is no way for us to ensure there is enough space for all students and staff,” Principal Dr. Kip Glazer said.

However, construction in the staff and back parking lots has decreased the number of available spaces. Sections of the staff lot are fenced off, causing many teachers to park in the BPL or in street spaces. When construction workers park on the street, it further fills up most street spaces, said former MVHS parent Sam Katwan, a resident on Brower street.

“The [back] parking lot is so busy having teachers and students,” senior

It was ironic that Katwan was ticketed on Oct. 1, because he and his wife originally petitioned for the no parking zone, he said. “They [MVPD] don’t discriminate,” Katwan

said. In the past, when he’s gotten ticketed, he’s contested to appeal them.

He said the main benefit to no-parking signs is cleaner streets, but acknowledged that, unfortunately, it creates less space for students and also tickets residents. One way to improve the signs is to petition for a change in bylaws of the signs to allow only for resident permit parking, Katwan said.

“We urge all motorists, including student drivers, to pay attention to and abide by any parking restrictions on public streets including around Mountain View High School,” Chief Communications Officer Lenka Wright said via email.

correct behavioral issues, as it can make many students feel discarded by the larger campuses. More interventions surrounding behavior are happening on main campuses, rather than immediately transferring students to Alta Vista.

“That took a big chunk out of kids being referred here,” Program Support Specialist Debbie Rudd said.

Another reason for Alta Vista’s decreasing enrollment numbers is the expansion of alternative programs such as Middle College and College Now, which offer students both high school and college credit in a more

independent setting.

“There’s never really more than five students from Palo Alto Unified.”

For Alta Vista, a new adaptation of the past 10 years is the loss of a freshman class, another reason why there are fewer students than before.

“There’s no reason to come to a school for credit deficiency, when they haven’t even started high school yet,” Rudd said.

But for Woolfolk, the decreasing enrollment is not a red flag. Woolfolk said that classes are full and students are doing well.

These programs especially grew in the Palo Alto Unified district, reducing the number of students being sent from Palo Alto. Previously, up to 20 students would come from PAUSD.

“It’s only for a handful now,” Woolfolk said.

It is not the end goal of Alta Vista High School to get a large number of students to graduate or enroll, Woolfolk said. “Our real goal is that students get the intervention when they need it.”

New fire alarm protocol put in place to conserve time

Skylar Kattenhorn Staff Writer

Instead of evacuating when a fire alarm goes off, students and teachers are now advised to stay inside and wait for further verification of a true fire hazard.

Last year, the main cause of the constant fire alarms and evacuations was students vaping in the bathrooms, disrupting class time.

Previously, when the fire alarms went off during class time, everything from work time to exams were either cut short or delayed.

“I had an English speech due and I had to work on it during class,” sophomore Ori Arel said. “The fire alarms went off and I wasn’t able to

do it at all because the whole class was spent on the field.”

“The full scale evacuation had some impact on our students with certain types of illnesses or disabilities,” Glazer said. “We’re trying to figure out how we can minimize the impact on the student body.”

The chaos that ensues after a fire alarm goes off poses a greater risk and could potentially increase the number of injured students, Glazer said.

There is a main panel in the office that connects to the triggers on fire alarms, said Principal Dr. Kip Glazer. If an alarm rings, an administrator is dispatched to check the validity of the alarm, and assess the situation, which can take anywhere from one to 10 minutes.

“When there’s construction going on, students can get injured based on the flow of evacuation,” Glazer said. “Bottom line, we’re trying to be safe at all costs and also very protective of instructional time as best as we can.”

ALEX BENTLEY

The back parking

originally built

students,

over 2,000 students.

Our real goal is that students get the intervention when they need it

There have always been complaints about parking issues

Mentors guide AVID students through college process

Ella Persky Web News Editor

The MVHS AVID program implemented the AVID Mentor Program as part of its curriculum in 2011. AVID is an international program dedicated to helping underrepresented high school students enroll in four-year colleges.

The program, which is first introduced during students’ junior year, specifically aims to provide guidance during the college preparation and application process.

MVHS parent and AVID mentor Vaibhavi Gala has seen that the program’s focus largely depends on the grade of the student: Generally, juniors receive help in deciding a major, and seniors obtain advice with regard to writing college and scholarship applications.

“When they [mentors] say ‘everything will work it out,’ it really sounds reassuring,” said senior AVID student Eileen Hsueh. “Even if they’re traveling or on a trip… they’re just so willing to help us in any way they can.”

The entire second semester of students’ senior year is dedicated to seeking out scholarships. Candace Lublin, the

program’s coordinator, created a spreadsheet containing a list of roughly 100 private scholarships, due dates, criteria and website links. Mentors, having a close connection with their students and a better grasp on the organizations they most align with, provide more specialized advice and assistance throughout the process of choosing and applying to scholarships.

Lublin said. “It is strictly their sweat equity that gets them the money that helps them pay for college.”

MVLA Scholars, a non-profit based in Los Altos, annually provides roughly 25 scholarships to MVLA AVID seniors, ranging from $2,000 to $6,000 per year, prior MVHS principal Steve Hope said. The nonprofit also helped found the Mentor Program in 2011, after observing that a considerable percentage of their scholarship’s applicants came from local AVID programs.

“They [MVLA Scholars] use a variety of criteria, and it depends on the application and letters of recommendation that are required,” Hope said. “There’s also GPA’s and financial need [that are considered].”

Lublin and Hope have been instrumental in the success and growth of the program, Gala said. The two, alongside a dedicated team of mentors and leaders, were able to expand the previously senior-only program to juniors in 2015. This way, mentors can better prepare their students for the bombardment of college material they’ll face the following year.

“They’re not exactly aware of what that whole process is, what it feels like to be in college,” Gala said. “Many of these kids are first generation, the

first in their families to go to college,”

Last semester, Hsueh’s AVID class began writing application essays for the Burwen Education Foundation, a locallybased organization that provides financial assistance to MVHS students who are economically disadvantaged.

“Our students don’t get money from sources other than private scholarships and government grants,”

The scholarship application also contains an essay prompt, which “carries a lot of weight,” Lublin said.

“We know that these students have much more to say about themselves than just GPA or extracurriculars,” Lublin said. “Their whole story is a vital component of their candidacy for this scholarship.”

Lublin has led the program since 2012, after its pilot year.

anything that is expired, but of course if there ever is an issue, please report it to someone who works in the cafeteria or to an administrator so we can figure out why and how that happened,” Barnhardt said.

McGuirk added that administration is grateful to students for bringing their attention to that issue so they can course correct.

chicken sandwiches meet multiple requirements in one item, containing two ounces of grain and two ounces of protein. McGuirk added that although there are some people who throw their fruit away or leave it on the ground, students must take each component with their meal.

The AVID class size doubled in each grade in 2020, resulting in a sudden need for double the amount of volunteer mentors in junior and senior classes. But the slots were quickly filled,

as being a mentor doesn’t only positively impact the students, Hope said. Many mentors have a “strong sense of community service,” and return as volunteers year after year. This opportunity opens up the conversation of expanding the program in the future, and the program’s leaders have “definitely” begun talking about including underclassmen, Lublin said.

“The more we can help people to navigate the [college application] process, the better we will do as a society,” Gala said.

think that’s true of many people so we get fired up about food, because it matters to us,” McGuirk said. “I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

Despite student speculations, the school prepares and serves a variety of 12 to 13 meals every day that are compliant with the food requirements, Mountain View-Los Altos School District Food Services Director Bryan Barnhardt said.

In the Instagram post’s comments, many students complained of receiving

spoiled or expired milk. Sabet, who eats schoolprovided lunch almost every day, said they never takes the milk provided with his meal. After seeing his friends receive spoiled milk, Sabet said they find the idea of school milk a “little scary.” Siegel said that he has received sour or spoiled milk several times from school provided lunch.

Barnhardt said that milk is refrigerated during storage, over ice when outside, and checked and organized daily.

“There shouldn’t be

According to the California Department of Education website, the school must provide a different amount of each type of food to meet nutritional guidelines. For students in grades nine through 12, schools must provide five cups of fruit, five cups of vegetables, and five cups of milk each week.

“I can’t compel people to eat all of those amazing components that we provide, but they are indeed provided,” McGuirk said.

Other regulations include that 80 percent of grains must be “whole grain-rich,” half of the vegetable or fruit offerings may be in juice form, and that two milk choices must be provided. More information can be found on the California Department of Education website.

McGuirk said the school is open to student feedback regarding meals and is currently trying to find ways to diversify food options to include more vegetarian and vegan meals. Rice bowls with flavors from Asia, Latin America, and Italy are also coming to the menu in the first week of November, Barnhardt said.

in the 2022-2023 school year, Barnhardt said the MVLA food services have been in “growth mode.”

The program ensures that all schools provide nutritious breakfast and lunch to all children every school day.

could be the only meals that they’re eating every day. So the fact that we’re able to provide that for everyone, for free, is an incredible resource,” McGuirk said.

Barnhardt said the program is only scheduled to continue to the end of the 2022-2023 school year, but that he hopes it will be extended.

“Even though our new system definitely comes with its challenges, I think the benefits far outweigh the challenges that we have to address,” McGuirk said.

These amounts can overlap. Barnhardt said

Since California became the first state to create a Universal Meals Program

In September, 7,241 breakfasts and 16,721 lunches were provided to students. Barnhardt said that the number of students fed per day has increased by over three fold in comparison to the number of meals served before the COVID-19 pandemic. The California state legislature allocates funds to reimburse the cost of the program.

McGuirk said that this program has helped students facing food insecurity.

“In some cases, this

KATIE TSANG

Barnhardt said that the milk is refrigerated during storage.

ALEX BENTLEY

Students’ mentors help with deciding a major in junior year, then help with applications senior year.

Video: Students reflect on cafeteria

Science Quad vending machine removal reveals illegality

We know that these students have much more to say about themselves

They’re just so willing to help us in any way they can

can’t compel people to eat all of those amazing components

is something that I look forward to and I think that’s true of many people

the MVLA School District Board Candidates

freshman at Los Altos High School.

“I feel that I’m uniquely positioned to take on this role to represent the students and parents of MVLA,” Tanner said.

“I’m both a mother of a freshman at Los Altos High School and I’m new to public office.”

She said this gives her a “fresh independent perspective” on the district’s issues. Tanner is in support of talking about controversial current events in class because she said it gives them multiple perspectives and not all parents are able to have these conversations with their children. Tanner is against AP caps.

published an article in which she questioned the science of wearing masks and claimed that teachers were being paid without working during the pandemic.

Titus-Zambre said her goal is to help MVLA students graduate with the 21st century skills they need to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

“I know we have several third party providers that are doing a lot,” TitusZambre said. “It would be great to actually have the teachers do all these [mental health] checks.”

Naina Srivastava Co-Editor-in-Chief

Six candidates are running for the Mountain View-Los Altos School District board, which ensures that school districts are responsive to the values, beliefs and priorities of their communities. Individuals over 18 can vote for their preferred candidates in the midterm elections. Here’s everything you need to know about the candidates.

THIDA CORNES

Cornes has served on multiple Mountain View and Mountain View Whisman School District committees. She has two children who attended MVLA schools before transferring.

Cornes said her top priorities are improving student health and wellness, promoting academic achievement for all students, and ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency. She cited how 50% of MVLA students have mental health issues, according to the district’s projection.

Cornes said this issue is personal to her because she has family members who have dealt with severe mental health issues.

“This is something we need to get right,” Cornes said.

She said she wants MVLA to work with Santa Clara County and deepen partnerships with other mental health providers.

Cornes also said she wants to use State Career Pathways and increase enrollment in alternative programs like AVID, Middle College, and Alta Vista High School. She also wants the district to work more closely with local K-8 districts for a smoother transition.

ERIC MARK

Mark is a retired computer sales systems specialist and has been an active volunteer in local school districts, serving as a coach for his kids’ sports teams and an AVID tutor.

He has three children who are all attending or have graduated MVHS.

Mark said his top priorities include addressing mental health, educational diversity and

physical governance. He proposed implementing an AP class cap and eliminating weighted GPAs, to reduce grade fixation.

“I would put our AP classes and whatnot against any schools, but I think students also need to have a broader education in regards to learning how to live in our multicultural society,” Mark said.

He is also a strong supporter of the ethnic studies curriculum which is being piloted this year.

“I’d like to also provide an education where students can be more environmentally, socially, fiscally-responsible global citizens,” Mark said.

ESMERALDA ORTIZ

Ortiz is vice president of high school and postsecondary programs at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. Her husband is a tenured English teacher at MVHS. As a first generation immigrant, Ortiz said she knows how important education is in determining a student’s success.

NAINA SRIVASTAVA

“I don’t have children yet,” Ortiz said, in a recording projected at the Teacher’s Association’s candidate forum. “However, I do have hundreds of students every year that allow me to keep a close pulse on their needs and inform the possibilities for tomorrow.”

Ortiz is an advocate for dual enrollment classes and said that many of her students in dual enrollment are less stressed than those taking AP courses.

“There’s a lot more courses that the community colleges have that are not available on a high school campus,” Ortiz said, in an interview with the Midpeninsula Post. “So students have more agency to choose courses that are more culturally relevant or cater more to their specific interests.”

JACQUIE TANNER

Tanner recently retired from her job as a senior production materials planner at Tesla and said she is now ready to put her skills toward the school district. Her daughter is a

“I think it’s up to the student … and parents should know what their kids can handle,” she said.

“The last thing would be the school themselves.

Counselors should know what the child can handle.

So it’s a group connection.”

CARROL TITUSZAMBRE

Titus-Zambre is the founder of Golden Poppy Inc., which encouraged STEM-based learning through augmented reality games. She’s served as a sports coach for LAHS and the National Youth Volleyball Association, and as a Girl Scout troop leader. She has three children who are all attending or have graduated from LAHS.

Titus-Zambre falsely claimed that she was endorsed by Superintendent Nellie Meyer, according to a Los Altos Town Crier report. She later said she misunderstood what an endorsement meant because of her “limited knowledge” in a Mountain View Voice report.

She also allegedly threatened a Los Altos High School Talon reporter last year, after the newspaper

When asked whether she believed controversial cultural and current events should be talked about in the classroom, Titus-Zambre said she was “Switzerland” until she received more data.

CATHERINE VONNEGUT

Vonnegut is the only incumbent running. She was elected to the board in 2018 and currently serves as president and as a member of the finance committee. Vonnegut is a graduate of Mountain View’s leadership, CERT, and Citizen Police Academy programs.

Before retiring, Vonnnegut worked as a software engineer and an EMR for Santa Clara County. Her son graduated from MVHS.

Vonnegut said her top priorities are to deliver the best education, support financial stability and have more inclusive and equitable staff training and student interaction.

“You can innovate in any of these areas,” Vonnegut said. “And we can have communication with everybody about these

Endorsed by the Oracle Editorial Board