The Perennial | Senior Issue | May 2023

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Peruse a heartwarming article dedicated to graduating editors prepared by the Perennial’s non-senior staff.

Responding to Tragedy: Parents, Community Commemorate the Life of Former Pinewood Student Jonathan Zhao

Bill and Suzanna Zhao, Jonathan Zhao’s parents, appeared through a tiny Zoom screen as Bill told a short story about his late son. Speaking in a somber and melancholic tone, Jonathan’s parents talked about their son’s kindness and perseverance.

Bill said that Jonathan’s empathy really showed one day after an experience with a homeless person near the restaurant Chef Chu’s in Los Altos. When Bill stopped at a red light, Jonathan called out to a homeless person on the side of the road.

“He opened the window, and he had some food and drink prepared for that homeless guy,” Bill said. “... It’s the small things that showed his kindness.” Jonathan, a Pinewood junior, passed away March 31 after months in the hospital due complications from an illness.

“On [that day], Pinewood lost Jonathan Zhao, a precious part of our school community,” Pinewood School stated in a press release distributed to the community. “Our students, families, teachers, and staff continue to grieve the loss of this young man while also seeking ways to honor his memory.”

Bill and Suzanna now want Pinewood to remember Jonathan’s kindness. Suzanna said that Jonathan was kind to everyone he came across.

“His first reaction [was] to make others happy, or

to make everyone thrive in a peaceful and welcoming environment. He really [was] willing to take care of other people,” Suzanna said.

Bill and Suzanna said Jonathan never stopped being kind throughout his hospital treatment.

“He persevere[d] through everything, and [it was] not [always] apparent to others,” Suzanna said. “You can see it through the way he react[ed] to his treatments, and when he came to America in 2014 [as he only learned English after coming here]… Every competition, every practice, and… [his] time living in the hospital… really demonstrate[d] his perseverance, even as a young child.”

Jonathan’s parents commemorated his legacy through a Memorial Service at Skylawn Funeral Home on April 29. That’s where friends and family had the opportunity to celebrate the former football and soccer player. Attendees participated in a variety of events, such as a variety of quizstyle Q&As. People also listened to speeches from fellow students, friends, and faculty from Pinewood School and Challenger School, Jonathan’s elementary and middle school.

ARTICLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

French Teacher Madame Anna Daniel Retires After 26 Years At Pinewood

Samantha Hsiung Editor-in-Chief

Five years ago, I nervously walked into my first French 2 class in Room 6, greeted by a flurry of Marie Antoinette posters, French maps, miniature Eiffel Tower models, and a smile from French teacher Anna Daniel. “Bonjour! Call me Madame!” she said with a smile across her face. I knew, starting from that moment, that French would become one of my favorite classes at Pinewood.

Fast forward to now, and this year marks Daniel’s 26th and last year as part of Pinewood’s faculty. She will be retiring after the 2022-2023 school year.

Daniel’s journey as a teacher began long before she set foot on Pinewood soil. She had taught Spanish for 10 years in Paris before coming to the United States, enrolling both of her daughters at Pinewood. Two years after her eldest daughter had graduated from Pinewood, Daniel received a call from now retired French teacher Michael Tetzlaff, who asked if she was interested in working at Pinewood.

“It was unexpected,” Daniel said. “I was in Paris on vacation when I got… [the] call. When I [came] back, I did a demo lesson, and I was hired.”

Beginning her job at Pinewood in 1997, Daniel initially taught both Spanish and French for three years before becoming a full-time French teacher. She has worked with hundreds of students from both junior high and high school and experienced much change from when she first arrived. When I asked her about what changes she thought impacted her the most, she cited the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced her to transition to teaching online through Zoom. This heavily impeded her ability to integrate the most memorable, immersive parts of her classes, such as

field trips and in-person exhibitions, into her curriculum.

“I really loved the field trips; [from watching] French movies [and] meeting with the director, to going to the SF Moma, to going to French restaurants… [to going to] Stanford’s Cantor Museum,” Daniel said. “COVID-19 changed this a lot.”

Despite all of the change, one constant always re-

mained in Daniel’s life: her dedication to her students. Daniel prided herself on creating stimulating learning environments, aiming to generate a positive impact on her students’ lives that persists even after their high school years.

“[S]he has been the heart of the French program,” said Olivia Bradley, Pinewood’s Department Head of World Languages. “Alumni come to Pinewood to visit her and have fond memories of being in her class. Her shoes will be impossible to fill.”

Although Daniel is sad to leave the Pinewood community, she is excited to be spending her newfound free time on her hobbies, especially traveling. She has already booked trips to Oceania, Europe, and Africa, ready to fulfill her lifelong travel goals alongside her husband. Together, they will be cruising around the world in their Cirrus — a small, four-seat plane.

“[With our Cirrus,] [w]e flew to South America, Ecuador, and Alaska, and we fly very often to Mexico,” Daniel said. “One of the things that I want to do… is to fly around the United States, to the South.”

Alongside traveling, Daniel also hopes to find solace in being with her loved ones.

“I want to go… on adventures with my friends [and]... see my family,” Daniel said. “One of my daughters is in Los Angeles, and the other is in Miami, and I want to see them more often.”

Daniel will be missed by many at Pinewood. As a former student of Madame’s, I can attest to her kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness. More than a teacher, she has also served as a mentor and confidant, nurturing my growth not only as a student, but also as a person.

Madame: thank you for all you’ve done for the Pinewood community, and we all wish you the very best.

Oscar Barnes Managing Editor

Photo courtesy of PINEWOOD SCHOOL

PINEWOOD ATHLETICS Besides playing on the varsity soccer team, Jonathan Zhao also participated in Pinewood’s 8-man football team.

Photo by SAMANTHA HSIUNG

Seniors Shoutout Teachers Impactful Teachers

ESHA JOSHI Staff Writer

From patiently guiding us through phonics sets in kindergarten to explaining complicated formulas, and from mediating arguments between stubborn eight-year-olds to checking in with stressed-out high schoolers, teachers are a huge part of a student’s childhood.

At the end of the year, graduating seniors may look back on these memories with nostalgia, remembering the teachers who made a difference in their lives. Here are a few of the teachers that Pinewood’s class of 2023 wants to extend its thanks to.

Nate Martin: The teacher that I will miss at Pinewood is Ms. Linza. I’ve had her every year of high school, and every single time, I always looked forward to it. It was always one of my favorite parts of the day because of the bond we had and the bond she created with everyone else in the class. I really value those memories.

Photo by Avery Hall

great teacher, and she definitely prioritizes us over the work. She never hesitates to give us an extension. She won’t ease up on you, but she’ll do anything she can to help you get there...she is thinking about our mental health. Mr. Kim made the [physics] class a really positive environment to work in. He’d give us stuffed animals, and the worksheets we did were always super fun and engaging. He tried to make sure we were around friends.

Niki Taradash: I’d like to give a shout out to Profe Rubalcalba. I had her for Spanish in my sophomore year after transferring to Pinewood. Even though I haven’t had her as a teacher since, I really enjoy seeing her and saying hi to her in Spanish.

Daniel Blotter: Kyle Riches, because working with him and talking with him has been awesome and I have loved it.

Skylar Chui: While AP Chemistry was a difficult class, it was probably my favorite class I have taken in high school. Ms. Prestwood’s teaching and lovely personality was a huge part of my love for that class. Quick shout out to Mr. Jezak, Ms. Hemm, Doc, and Kiki. Thank you guys for always checking up on me and my Senioritis.

How

RACHEL FARHOUDI Staff Writer

Emmett Smith: I’m going to miss Ms. Prestwood. She was a very awesome teacher and her class was always really fun. I took honors chemistry with her sophomore year and AP Chemistry with her junior year. She is the best, and I’m also majoring in chemical engineering because of her. I loved Mr. Green’s class a lot. I had him for AP Calculus AB last year. It was probably my favorite class that year, and it was a lot of fun.

Alex Shieba: I’d say Ms. Vu and Ms. Blalock both have had a pretty significant impact on me as a person [and] me as an artist. [They] have both inspired me to keep going in art, even though I’m not majoring in it. Ms. Welze had a really big impact on me and my writing and reading.

Rachel Farhoudi: Ms. Hudson was just a really

Ashton Riches: You can tell Mrs. Eickmeier really cares about her students, and she puts a lot of effort into getting to know each person personally. It makes her a great teacher because we want to put effort into the class when we know she’s making an effort in our lives.

Samantha Hsiung: Ms. Pojarska taught me a lot about being ‘nuanced’ in my literature essays. I think she really made me rethink how an essay is supposed to be written. I want to thank all the teachers I’ve ever had at Pinewood, but specifically Ms. Wetzel, Mr. Jezak, Ms. Welze, Mr. Wells, Ms. Pojarska, Ms. Prestwood, and Ms. Strand for making my time at Pinewood so much more fulfilling. They’ve not only taught me so much about their respective subject areas, but also have shaped me into the student I am today.

Feels About Graduating Pinewood

I’m not entirely sure if most people can shoot their hand up when asked if they have had a spiritual awakening before they even reach the age of 15, but if you were to direct this question to me, my arm would be outstretched with all five fingers spread apart in the air.

It was never part of my 14-year-old self’s plan to end up at Pinewood. My brother had attended Pinewood before me, so I applied to the school because my parents wanted me to switch to private school. When accepted to Pinewood, I returned the offer with a polite “no, thank you” and began making plans to attend Los Altos High School. Over the summer, I started training with the field hockey team there and I had every intent of rolling up to that campus come freshman year.

So what happened? Why did I show up on Pinewood’s campus in the fall of 2019?

As many may know (because I make this an absurdly large part of my personality), I go to sleepaway camp every summer for a month in middle-of-nowhere in Texas. While away at camp I received a letter from a middle school frenemy: pages and pages of an apology for something that seems so insignificant now it is almost funny. As I sat there looking at the thick Crayola marker that had been used to draft this letter, I had an epiphany. In between the stripey, colorful lettering, something was telling me to let go of who I was at that time. There was no way I could handle four more years of the same drama I had become well acquainted with

in middle school. Thus, I sent my mom a letter and asked her to email Pinewood and beg for my spot back. Mercifully, the school accepted and two weeks before the year started I scrambled to get ready to start at a new school.

Although I didn’t want to come to Pinewood initially, I could not be more grateful coming out the other side. I have learned so much here, both in and out of the classroom. Even still, I am so excited to graduate and start at a new

1. I am very ready to see more than the same 50 faces in all my classes. I love my classmates, but sometimes a fresh face would be really nice after cycling through the same eight discussion partners in literature class.

school for the second time. This is a brief list of all the things I’m feeling about graduating after four unexpected years as a Panther.

2. I cannot wait to skip a class every now and then without reporting my whereabouts to the school. Don’t worry, teachers: I swear I will go to my classes in college, but I also need to sleep in every now and then.

3. How on earth do you get it together for freshman year after a semester of debilitating senioritis?

4. I am ready to hone in on a specific interest of mine. I have appreciated the California Common Core curriculum, but I am ready to prioritize the subjects that excite me and learn more about what I want to do with myself in the future.

5. Fifth and finally, I am feeling a tinge of sadness at leaving behind the place I have made home for the past four years. I will miss every teacher and class, even the ones I struggled in. I will miss all the miscellaneous sports teams, clubs, and Pinewood Performing Arts activities I threw myself into. I will miss spirit days and snack shack lemon loaves. I will miss everyone I’ve met and all the people here that have influenced me.

These bittersweet feelings stirring inside me make me incredibly grateful for the spiritual being that touched me four years ago. Thank you for leading me to Pinewood, and thank you Pinewood for making it hard to say goodbye.

Rachel

Illustration by NIKI TARADASH

These teachers made a difference in seniors’ lives. NOT PICTURED: Ellie Pojarska

Spinner’s Pinewood Sports Journey

It was my first day at my new school — a warm afternoon after the dog days of summer. I was a little nervous meeting so many new people. I was attempt ing to get adjusted to the place I would call home for the next four years, but luckily all tension disappeared once I was able to join a conversation about a topic I knew extremely well: sports. Sports acted as a gateway for me to connect with new people, sprout interesting conversations, and, most importantly, begin to make friends. Continuing a lot of the conversations from the previous day, much of my freshman retreat re volved around conversations about sports.

I came home from that retreat with a new group of friends. A group of us gathered at one of my friends’ houses for a fantasy football draft, which we have done all four years of high school. The tradition of meeting at that specific house for both fantasy drafts and watch parties began that night.

Sports introduced me to a community at Pinewood. Filled with both friends and family, conversations over everything from the National Football League (NFL) to the Premier League have provided me with some of my favorite memories. From friendly banter to legally betting on sports, I have had many shared experiences

with so many different friends. Despite never winning, my favorite tradition has to be our yearly March Madnessbracket. If you want evidence of that, just look at our recent March Madness bracket that consisted of many seniors, juniors,

best times of the year.

Watching the games at lunch with so many people is something I will never forget, and these experiences helped me make friends with students in other grades who I otherwise may have not become close with. Sports at Pinewood go further than my time on the tennis teams and soccer team (what an experience that was.... I love you soccer coach Bob Kamangar). It allowed me to meet like-minded people who love cheering on our teams and “respectfully” trash talking opposing players that we hate.

(shoutout to junior Cole Chatterjee for his Connecticut pick). Our friendly banter through group chats and in-person conversations made each March one of the

I will miss these conversations so much. Although they will continue over text and social media, virtual conversations will never compare to sharing absolutely outrageous football and basketball hot takes on the Cue Quad and Murphy Patio. I will miss the opinions and ideas that had us laughing so hard that we found ourselves hunched over in disbelief. Specifically, some members of the senior class are prone to give the absolute worst NFL Draft opinions. I may be terrible at fantasy football, pick too many upsets in March Madness, or overestimate my teams chances in their respective upcoming seasons, but I will never forget these conversations and moments with my friends and members of the Pinewood community.

To My Basketball Seniors: Thank You

If you asked me what I envisioned at the beginning of the basketball season, my response would not have aligned with the results. Regardless, I can confidently say that I enjoyed every second of it.

I formed unbreakable bonds with my teammates, and I experienced what it feels like to be a part of a true sisterhood. With that said, none of this would’ve been possible without our five amazing seniors. You know who you are. Thank you for making this season worthwhile.

It’s difficult to put into words just how large of an impact you’ve had on me. From the first Sunday we shot at Fabian to the last time we stepped on the court together, our relationship grew tremendously, and I think that can be attributed to the amount of time we spent in the gym. Whether we were working out with Kiki, shooting on the machine, or doing dribble moves, we always stuck together. Even amidst the highest of highs and lowest of lows, our relationship was the one thing the both of us could lean on, so thank you for that. I wish you the best of luck with your recovery, and I know that you’ll do amazing things at San Marcos.

The first time I saw you play was way back in third grade, and I remember being mesmerized by the fluidity of your jump shot. Flash forward seven years, and we’re both attending the same school. One of my fondest memories from this season was our conversation on the Murphy Patio. We discussed matchups, game plans, and how we were going to beat Oakland Tech. Even though we fell short of our ultimate goal, that moment reminded me of your wisdom, tremendous understanding of the game, and calming presence. You always knew what to say and when to say it, and through it all, you were able to hold each and every one of us accountable on the court. Thank you for showing me how big of an impact someone can have even if they aren’t playing.

When I met you at the end of my third grade year, I had no idea we would be future high school teammates. Although we didn’t get to play together all that much, I’m super thankful for the time we did get together, even if that wasn’t on the court. You embodied what it meant to be a Pinewood player — you were coachable, gave your full effort at all times, and played with an undeniable sense of joy. Still, what I’ll remember most about you is your fun-loving, effervescent personality and your knee-slapping sense of humor (you’re welcome). Over these past two years, you’ve truly blossomed into an incredible individual who I know I can always count on. Best of luck in your future endeavors and know that I’ll always be here to support you.

You’re a Pinewood legend. Plain and simple. It’s so easy for me, and everyone else, to acknowledge this because in just one year, you’ve left such a huge imprint on our basketball program and everyone you’ve come in contact with. Your carefree, easy going personality off the court contrasts sharply with your ferocious, unrelenting attitude on the court, and that’s why you are who you are. Next year, I’ll miss your goofiness, our random laughing fits, and looking at each other and saying we’re gassed two minutes into the first quarter. Most of all, I’ll miss the conversations we would share after a challenging game and the optimism that we had even when adversity struck. Now, go kick some butt at Southern Utah next year. I’ll be tuning in.

Upon reflection, I feel immense gratitude for this entire season, and in all honesty, I couldn’t have imagined going through this journey with any other group of seniors. All I can say now is thank you. Thank you for your guidance, dedication, and positivity. I’m eager to see what you all accomplish in the coming years, and best believe, I’ll be cheering you on from afar. #1 #1

Ever since fourth grade or so, I’ve always admired how you carry yourself on and off the court. You’re just an awesome teammate and an even better person. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to help us this season. Although you might not be aware of the positivity you brought to our team, everyone within the locker room definitely recognized it. With that said, I wish you the best at Boston University!

PEYTON SPINNER Staff Writer

Illustration by SKYLAR CHUI

Photo by SAM JEZAK

Senior Stars Jade Ramirez (1), Ava Uhrich (44), Skylar Chui (25), Chlea Facelo (2), and Niki Taradash (24) will never be forgotten by the girl’s basketball for their time together on and off the court.

JOLYN DING Copy Editor

Photo by SAM JEZAK

A Strong Bond Uhrich (44) hi-fives her teammates including fellow seniors Ramirez and Chui during Senior Night.

Senior Snapshots

By VIOLET NEGRETTE Staff Writer

As the Class of 2023 slowly approaches the end of the year, the seniors’ memories of the year are becoming more surreal and cherished. We asked six seniors for their favorite moments of the year to give them an opportunity to share their love and passion for the school and their peers. The question was: What was your favorite moment from your senior year so far and why?

Adam Fallick: Doing our lip sync this year felt like such a redemption and a triumph it was so fun.

Rathi Kolappa: I’d definitely say the day before school started when we all came together to practice and plan out our senior entrance and then got to play around on the water slide at school. [I] also enjoyed the senior retreat when we all went swimming and rafting in the Rapids and then played hide and seek and sardines at night.

Rachel Farhoudi: A moment I definitely won’t forget is literally almost dying on the senior retreat. We all decided to get in the river near our camp site even though it was moving extremely fast and there were rocks everywhere. I started wading out, and a current just grabbed me and pulled me so far downstream. I was freaking out, getting scratched up on rocks, and screaming my head off— definitely being a little bit of a drama queen. Anyway, then Daniel, very heroically, swam downstream to come rescue me. Everyone was shouting out where I should try and climb towards and Daniel gripped my hand and pulled me with him back up the river. I lost my ring, and I definitely had a couple bruises, but knowing I had such great people around me made me that much more excited for senior year.

Jade Ramirez: My favorite moment is probably the senior trip going river rafting. Although it is not a singular moment, it is a memorable experience with many unique moments. I could talk about how it took almost half an hour to set up our tent in the hot sun or how I fell in the river after hitting a rock. I even recall just simply waking up the next morning to eat breakfast and laughing about the day before with some of my closest friends. It was a great way to kick off the year after not seeing each other for so long after summer. It helped me build on my current friendships and form new ones. It was also the perfect cap to end off summer and just enjoy each other’s company before the stresses and responsibilities of senior year came along.

Daniel Blotter: My favorite memory is probably the lip sync. For me personally, I was really stressed about it because I was the one who was in charge of it. I obviously wanted it to do really well because this was our last chance for our grade to not get last, which we’ve done like every year. I really wanted us to have a super fun experience because, in the past, people have not had that much fun. People would dread going to lip sync practices, and my role this year was to make sure that people had fun. I put in a lot of time and effort… I am really happy with how it turned out. The performance was awesome and it was super fun to do it in front of the whole school with the costumes and the face paint and everything.

Teau Tongi: It was definitely that one time me and Daniel went to McKellar’s house and started dabbing in the middle of his culde-sac with all of his neighbors. We were so stupid, and that was probably the hardest I’ve ever laughed.

Prisha’s Tribute to SLC Seniors

By PRISHA MOHAPATRA Staff Writer

People always told me not to get too close to the seniors. As the only non-senior on the Student Leadership Committee (SLC) this year, it was inevitable that I would get to know them extremely well. Here are some things I loved about them and ways they left a mark on me.

Daniel Blotter: My first interaction with Daniel was when I walked into my interview while applying to be the SLC Secretary. He was this intimidating, recently-elected SLC President. Weeks later, during our SLC retreat, I realized that Daniel was more than that, and I began to see him as an older (sometimes younger) brother. From there on out, I knew I could trust him and that he could bring light to any situation.

Sally King: When Sally graduates, I cannot fathom what I will do. We met while working at a summer camp at Lower Campus the summer before my freshman year. Two years later, I can call her my friend, mentor, and somewhat of a bonus parent whom I can confide in. As a part of SLC, I knew her as an organized and compassionate leader, and as a friend, I saw how caring and motivating Sally was. There were times throughout the year where I would hit a bump in the road, but I knew I could count on Sally to uplift me. No matter where we both end up, I know our friendship will never change.

Nate Martin: Whether it is wailing while marching down the hall at 9 p.m. the night before Jamboree in a baby mask or scaring me out of my mind while dressed in the panther suit, there is never a dull moment when Nate is around. He brings an irreplaceable energy to Pinewood. This semester, I got to experience his extremely funny (although sometimes distract-

ing) commentary during anatomy class. With his spirit, commitment, and positive attitude, Nate was always the heart of every group.

Adam Fallick: To the entire Pinewood community, Adam is known as an exceptional actor. As a part of SLC, however, I feel as though this part of Adam slightly disappears, and he brings his genuine self to everything we do. From walking into a Jack in the Box at the beginning of the year, asking for 50 boxes for an SLC activity, to making his own Jack in the Box head for the first day of school, Adam’s personality and dedication are unmatched.

Niki Taradash: The first time I spoke to Niki was outside the interview room for SLC. My interview was right after hers, and both of us were pacing back and forth in front of Room 12. As this year progressed, I got even closer to her. During the freshman retreat, I got to bond with her even more. We were put in a group together with a couple freshmen, and I remember talking so much about our lives and all the funny drama going on in each of our grades. Niki never failed to publicize an event, and her calmness was always a beacon of hope during stressful times in SLC. Her presence will be greatly missed.

Ashton Riches: When I first saw Ashton, I was honestly quite blown away by how friendly, pretty, and confident she was. I loved her energy throughout the year and she came to every event and meeting with so much spirit and so much to say. Even though I only knew Ashton for a year, I got to know her pretty well and I know that she, too, can never be replaced at Upper Campus.

The Importance of Long Walks on the Beach

By JAMIE BURTON Staff Writer

With finals on the horizon, widespread panic has ensued. Students are frantic. Snack-shack spending has reached a record high. Most importantly, questions of how to de-stress during such difficult times are ever-present. The solution: we must bring back a forgotten therapeutic gem of the past. We must bring back the long walk on the beach.

The long walk on the beach has been well-documented as a natural relaxant ever since its mysterious origins in the 1970’s. Back then, early adopters stumbled upon the activity by accident, in an attempt to escape the ups and downs of their everyday lives. What followed this discovery was a vicious civil war within the relaxation community in which long walk pioneers argued for the

value of purely natural relaxation. However, since then, as the pace of life grew faster, the movement failed to modernize, and the long walk on the beach was mostly forgotten.

One would think because of these rigorous standards for relaxation, us humans would have figured out a fool-proof calming process by now. Yet I am here to report firsthand that we still struggle to find tranquility on a daily basis. The pace of life has become too rushed, rendering even the most modern of relaxation methods ineffective. Living at one’s own pace has gone out of style; instead we choose to raise our pace of life to an unsustainable rate. All the while, we continue to suffer. To combat this, we must slow ourselves down. The long walk on the beach presents this opportunity: a chance to slow life’s beat to the internal rhythm of

peace.

by

The early pioneers knew this. That is why they took a leap of faith to start the long walk on the beach movement; they knew that it could change the world.

So here I sit today, talking to you through a Logitech keyboard some 50 years later, but asking again for that same leap of faith. Let us bring a relaxation gem back into this stressed-out world. Let us slow down the tempo of life, and find that internal rhythm of peace. Most of all, let us take a long walk on the beach.

Photo

RIYA KOLAPPA

Illustration by ELIZABETH LIANG

Sam’s Thanks to Ma!

SAM HSIUNG Editor-in-Chief

Tomymother

I am 11. You’ve just picked me up from school in our white Lexus after track and field practice. We drive down Bubb Road, rustling through familiar routes — past wandering children, creviced sidewalks, fluorescent skies. You gaze at me in the rearview mirror, and I look back, seeing your eyes so full of light, your cheeks flushed red. I wonder why you seem so happy. Nearing home, you tell me that I’ve been accepted to Pinewood — the school I interviewed with two months ago. As you pull into the garage, I run out the car, slamming the door shut on my way into my room.

I’d told you that I didn’t want to apply to Pinewood, and that I didn’t want to switch schools. But, like a mother, you bribed me with Costco trips and Target runs until I begrudgingly agreed. On the day of my shadow visit, I sat in the Spanish classroom, cold and unmoving. When asked to recite the conjugations for “estar,” the words cut like switchblades against my tongue. In my interview, I forced on my best smile, pretending to love everything I hated about Pinewood — the small class sizes, rigid literature curricula, artificial turf.

Ma, I cannot imagine how hard that must’ve been for you, to see me so disgruntled about something you were so proud of me for — to see me crying, stomping the hardwood floors with so much anger when I told you

Check out the fifth & final Dumpling column!

I didn’t want to go, and you said “no,” told me that I’d end up enjoying Pinewood, that it’d open new doors, routes, and opportunities, when, in that moment, it only opened more wounds. By the end of April, I was already preparing my final goodbyes, burrowing holes for every memory, every moment I’d ever spent with my sixth grade friends to bury into. In the side-view mirror, I watched the blue roofs of my old school fade into a thin line, like a scar, as we drove away for the last time.

I am 12. You’re waving goodbye to me as I walk into Pinewood, your eyes bright from the glint of your tears. I see Mr. Lemmon greeting new students near the main office. I’ve just finished crying in the car. I’m thinking that everyone around me seems happy — and that I should be happy, too. I’m thinking that there is nothing I can do now to change this moment, to run back to my old school friends, to reverse this hurt. I’m thinking that this is probably a moment I want to remember — so I flutter my eyes like the quick shutter of a camera, framing this point in time into a crystallized memory.

The first two years at Pinewood are difficult. By the end of eighth grade, I’m asking you if I can transfer to boarding schools in the East Coast so I can experience dorm living, weekend parties, fields illuminated with snow. You agree, begrudgingly. On nights when the air is heavy, and the sun is thin, you cry, telling me that you hope I don’t get into any of the schools so I don’t leave you.

I get waitlisted or rejected from all of them.

When I tell you that I want to go to the same public high school that my brother goes

Oscar Barnes After studying journalism and learning the dictionary from front to back, Oscar can finally speak in a dialect that is unknown to mortal humans, causing him to embark on the first manned mission to Mars to meet similar intellectual beings.

Daniel Blotter Having seen the lethality of writting utensils firsthand (or firstwrist), Daniel eliminates corrupt College Board officials with #2 pencils as the Academic Assassin.

Will Bull At Artcenter College of Design, Will gets dress-coded while sporting a fashionable croptop. In protest, he streaks through campus, to the delight of some.

to, you disagree, forcing me back into Pinewood. I cry again.

I am 14, 15, 16. I enter high school, make new friends, stop crying. It does get better — did get better, Ma. I grew used to the turf pebbles; joined clubs; framed more menories; piano-ed until my fingers swelled into watermelons; experienced virtual dorm living over the summers; flew for fencing competitions; fell in love with reading. Of course, I occasionally fell apart — swamped with three tests in a single day, sleeping four hours a night. But still, I fell in love with this school, Pinewood, and became thankful for every single second I’d spend here.

Ma. I was 11, 12, 13, a high schooler. Now, I am 17, graduating high school in less than a month. You were right, Ma, when you said I’d love this place — I don’t want to leave. So thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone and enduring every fight, every argument to provide me with the best future possible.

You are in the kitchen right now, molding dough, your warm hands sifting through beads of rice. Your eyes still so full of light. Two nights ago, you cried and told me how much you’ll miss me when I’m gone at college. I never understood how you felt back then, when I was in eighth grade, applying for boarding schools — but I do now.

Soon, you’ll watch me walk the stage, fling my green cap into the air. Soon, Ma, you’ll be watching me through the rearview mirror of, perhaps, a taxi, sending me off to college in a great, foreign city — and I will be looking back, my eyes glinting in the light, waiting to catch your gaze from afar.

Nate’s Senior Wrap

NATE MARTIN Sports Editor

My time at Pinewood wouldn’t be what it was without the soundtrack that surrounded it. Music unlocks memories, taking me back to a specific place or reminding me of a specific person. Because of this, certain tracks are able to unlock my fondest memories of this school. So, join me as I go from the beginning of my time at Pinewood in seventh grade to the very end of it in senior year, as I recall my favorite moments from this school and the music I associate with it.

The first song that comes to mind would be “Everlong” by Foo Fighters. When I arrived at Pinewood as a seventh grader, everyone in my grade came to know me as the kid who’d headbang on bus rides to loud and obnoxious rock music. Did I look stupid? Yeah. Did I care? Not really. Foo Fighters being my favorite band only added to the fire, as all their famous songs came out before I was alive and people would make fun of me for liking music their dad liked. However, when I performed “Everlong” for the talent show in front of the whole school that same year, I became the person I was meant to be at Pinewood. Without it, I don’t know if I would have become as involved on campus as I am now. It was the first time I really put myself out there in front of the entire school and it gave me the confidence to continue to do so throughout the rest of my years at Pinewood.

own version of “Country Roads” with lyrics about Pinewood and our grade’s trip to DC — a true “trip of a lifetime.”

The next song that reminds me of my time at Pinewood would be “Freaks” by Timmy Trumpet. A lot of my favorite memories at Pinewood have come from the dances, and it’s a signature song at these events. It was the final song at my junior prom. It was the song that soundtracked one of my first mosh pits. It was and still is a certified banger.

The second song I want to mention is John Denver’s classic, “Country Roads.” On the first day of eighth grade, my friend Diego wouldn’t stop singing this song. After that day, it became an anthem for our grade. So much so that former Pinewood teacher Phil Ribaudo recorded his

Senior Predictions

Vincent Chen Vincent finally meets his celebrity crush, Ana de Armas. It’s too late, though, since Pete Davidson is already dating her, apparently.

Skylar Chui Skylar has become known as the Steph Curry of the retirement homes, beating everyone in the national granny 3 pointers championship. She averaged 4 3-pointers per minute, 5 more than everyone else.

Kate Cornyn Kate utilizes her fantastic song-writing abilities and becomes the next Phoebe Bridgers, giving her the opportunity to meet Taylor Swift and firsthand discover who the Him was in All Too Well.

Robert Cui In the wilderness of Canada, Robert passes out while eating a poisonous mushroom he thought would make him swole. When he awakens, he is in a mysterious cave beneath Gotham City.

Chlea Facelo Chlea starts her own cable channel where she hunts Bigfoot in the Portland woods.

Adam Fallick After studying musical theater and mastering the art of switching characters, his self-identity deteriorates and he slowly morphs into Cathy from “ “Wuthering Heights.”

Rachel Farhoudi After playing on the Pinewood Girls’ Soccer team for four years, Rachel acci-

dentally runs into Messi on Tulane campus and wins against him in an one-on-one, spiraling her in a wave of fame and the opportunity to replace Messi in the next World Cup, where Kate will open with her new hit song “It’s all a Mess[i]”.

Myles Fox Myles spends years studying his ancestry, and finds out that he is Meghan Fox’s third cousin.

Anna Grillo While driving along the California coast, Anna runs over Pedro Pascal and sends him into a coma. When he wakes up, she successfully convinces him that she’s his wife.

Sam Hsiung After years of formal

The final song I want to talk about is “Shoota” by Playboi Carti. Rap music has been the main soundtrack for my high school experience. Whether it was my friend Max bumping 24kGoldn on his JBL speaker during lunch freshman year or a late night drive blasting Kid Cudi, rap music is a massive part of my high school years. “Shoota,” in particular, takes me back to one of my favorite concerts I went to with my friends — Playboi Carti at the Bill Graham the night before an AP English Language and Composition quiz. It was an hour-long wait to get into the venue and it reeked of B.O. and marijuana, but I had an amazing time and will never forget that night. Obviously, there are way more memories I have at Pinewood and way more songs that I wanted to include, so check out the Spotify playlist with the rest of the songs. I’ve had an amazing time at this school and am forever grateful for the memories, the people, and the music that accompanied it.

writing and poetry, Sam decides to take to a career of writing fanfiction in the Pennsylvania woods.

Christian Hwang Christian finally becomes the Flash after continuing his speedrunning through the Dartmouth’s halls.

Ayana Jassal Whilst trying to develop a vaccine for AIDS, Ayana stumbles upon a pill that turns her into the next Avatar.

Devon Kaskade Devon goes surfing too far one day, and accidentally reaches the Hawaiian coast, where he lives his days drinking martinis on the beach.

Read more on page 8

Illustration by RACHEL ARONSON

To Our Senior Editors: Thank You!

Samantha Hsiung

If you’ve ever spent even five minutes with Sam, you know that her humor and passion are infectious. From her instance of calling everyone, including Ms. Wetzel and Mr. Jezak, “dawg” to her (quite loud) declarations of love for the cats of satirical Purrrennial issue, Sam brightens every layout, brainstorming session, and staff meeting. I’m also continuously awed by Sam’s dedication to The Perennial. Although she has a ton of work in layout, Sam is always willing to pick up slack, often going out of her way to help design entire pages when staff members are missing or answer InDesign questions. She has consistently stayed up half the night to create hot pink presentations, to handle paper-related panicking situations flawlessly, and to write stories about high speed winds in one night. Above all, Sam is incredibly thoughtful. With both editors and staff writers, Sam is always looking to help others whether it is through Google Doc comments during editing week or giving absolutely fabulous advice. Between her commitment to the paper and glowing humor, Sam has been the glue of The Perennial. In layout, for example, she perfectly balances adding to the chaos with mentoring editors and chatting with Ms. Wetzel about upcoming issues. There will be a Sam-shaped hole left in the heart of the paper when she graduates. Sam, I’m so glad I’ve had the privilege of making hot pink presentations at 1 a.m., arguing about the incredibly stupid articles we send each other, and leading The Perennial with you. Thank you for being an amazing editor-in-chief, and we will miss you greatly next year. - Karina Aronson

When I first saw you on Zoom, I was a little ... frightened, to be honest. this really smart sophomore nerding out about AP style, his H period teaching this freshman who had minimal ence using it. But, like everything you do, you ensured I fortable with the content and was willing to answer any questions. You are filled with infinite kindness. This is exemplified during layout. You are always asking if I need any assistance formatting my page and giving me tips. When I had difficulty laying out my page for the March issue, you sat by me and walked me through the process step by step. You are also an amazing person to co-lead the News section with. You always fill me in on anything I need to know, and when times have been tough, you are always by my side, going through everything with me. In general, you make things run more smoothly.

You are also one of the brightest, funniest people I have ever met. You are always laughing and smiling in the hallways, during journalism meetings, or when we are just chatting. I enjoy spending some of my H periods with you and will greatly miss you next year. Please keep in touch! I hope you do not freeze to death in Chicago next year! The Perennial will not be the same without you. - Raghav Ramgopal

It would be impossible to picture journalism this year without our precious Editorial Director and Web Editor: Sally King. Sally is one of the most hard-working, dedicat ed, and passionate people on staff. From staying until 7 p.m. on two school nights in order to lay out an extra page to looking over every article of every issue in order to approve them for the web, Sally’s diligence and work ethic truly knows no bounds. Sally is also the best team player you will ever meet; she always steps up when there is something that needs to be done, she brings incredible ideas to the table, and she always graciously shines

the spotlight on her writers of the month. On top of all of that, she does everything cheerfully and without complaint; even in the most despondent hours of layout, Sally is a ray of light, cracking jokes with her signature sharp sense of humor and helping others with their InDesign struggles even while she is at a breaking point herself (although she does let loose the occasional feral growl). What will The Perennial be like without Sally King? A few words come to mind: Devoid of color and personality, heartless, cold, dank, boggy. . . but we move forward, albeit without one of the paper’s strongest staff members. To our wise, witty, and lovely Sally, thank you for everything you’ve contributed to The Perennial and we will miss you infinitely! - Sophia Yao

There is never a dull moment when Nate is around. Throughout the past few years, I have had the opportunity to get to know Nate in multiple ways, from ism to student council. From when I met him during the during my freshman year to working closely with him Student Leadership Committee and journalism staff this te’s funny personality and genuinity have made him the backbone of every team he’s been a part of. Outside of The Perennial staff, Nate has never failed to make me laugh and always brings so much energy to everything he does. As an editor, I remember him being on aux all night at layout and shedding light on the hard work all the editors were putting into getting the paper ready by cracking jokes and keeping everyone excited and engaged. Nate has taught me to try and have a positive attitude regardless of the situation and to persevere through hardships. After his PDA article during the April Fools issue last year, we all saw how talented and creative Nate is as a writer. His exceptional work during that issue inspired me to find my voice and style for my own satirical articles. As an editor, I saw Nate be an amazing mentor to a group of almost all new writers this year, and as the copy editor of his Sports section, I saw firsthand how much his writers improved. This could have been possible without Nate’s guidance and leadership. I think I speak for the entire journalism staff when I say that we will all miss Nate and his unmatched energy when he graduates later this month. - Prisha Mohapatra

When I imagine the ideal person for the role of Creative Director, mediately turns to the one-and-only Skylar Chui, otherwise as the girl who made star pimple patches cool again. I’ve Skylar since third grade, and she has never failed to im me with her artistic talent and eye for design. Whether displays her skill through quick-and-dirty sketches or well-thought-out portfolio pieces, she always produces work that is well beyond anything I could ever dream of creating. This year, Skylar’s contributions to The Perennial have been paramount to the im provement of our newspaper. Her clever ideas, ambitious layout plans, and amazing comic strips brought life to every issue we published. Despite this, I admire Skylar’s selflessness, ded ication, and passion more than anything else. While the editors were scrambling to finish their layouts one night, she sat on the couch in the back of room 17 and drew countless cats and art features to fill up the emp space in our April Fools Issue. Not once did she bat an eye at an absurd request or deny an editor of what they desired. More importantly, I appreciated how closely she connected with each and every one of her illustrators. Everytime she presented the Illustrator of the Month, she would go beyond just what they produced and acknowledge their perseverance, timely communication, or blissful creativity. Skylar, you will truly be missed by everybody on The Perennial staff, and I have no doubt that you’ll go on to do bigger and better things at Williams.

- Jolyn Ding

Senior Predictions

Rye Kianpour After studying medicine in England and dissecting many cadavers, Rye collects so many body parts that they start their own museum and spin-off of “Night at the Museum.”

Sally King After taking a leap of faith and deciding to study chemistry, Sally learned the art of making illegal substances, becoming more famous than El Chapo.

Rathi Kolappa will grow one

more inch, making her a whopping 5-foot-1.

Akash Kumar All of AKa$hmoney’s money goes to his head, setting him off into a never-ending spiral of craving more. He creates the next Pyramid scheme, eventually causing a stock market collapse and global recession worse than the one caused by Sam BankmanFried.

Elijah Kurian Elijah, exploiting the social influence of George Kurian, bribes Congress to pass a

law mandating that everyone gets a government-assigned goth girlfriend.

Aeron Lo After Aeron’s unhealthy obsession with both Heartstopper and Young Royals, they become a Hollywood director, collaborating with Omar Rudberg to create a queer romcom empire.

Syon Mallempati Syon grows up to be a delegate who accidentally starts a war between America and Canada over prices of eggs.

Nate Martin After a tough first year at Syracuse, Nate returns to the motherland and is found living with a pack of kangaroos.

Peyton Meinhardt Peyton’s horse cookie business blows up unexpectedly during Peyton’s senior year of college, causing her to buy her own ranch and start a horse empire. The only catch – her cookies did not become famous with the horses, but rather as a new nutritious breakfast item for body-

builders (which Robert endorses).

Natasha Moretti After 25 years of frantic searching, Natasha was finally found frozen under an ice rink.

Audrey Nelson Audrey’s obsession with books continues and she becomes Sam’s #1 fanfiction reader. She is so obsessed with it, that she writes fanfiction about Sam’s fanfiction, causing her AO3 account to become more famous than Sam’s.

Oscar Barnes

Sally King

Skylar Chui

Nate Martin

Photos by GABBY YANG

Honoring Jonathan

Pinewood junior Jonathan Zhao passed away on March 31. Here’s what some friends and faculty had to say about him.

Jamie Burton, friend: “His infectious smile was a bad day’s worst fear. Still, he continues to be here for me, after a bad game or flunked test, with that same forgiving smile that makes it all okay.”

Brandon Ge, friend: “Someone to laugh with. Someone to have fun with. Someone to make memories with. Someone to love.”

Gabriel Lemmon: “I will always remember Jonathan’s courage and selflessness throughout his hospitalization. Through loneliness, uncertainty, and near-constant pain, Jonathan continued to focus on the well-being of others. When I would visit, I would ask him what I could do for him. He would tell me that he was worried about his family and that I should make sure that they are cared for and comforted. Amazing!“

Matt Stimson, coach: “He was trustworthy, dedicated, worked to his potential, and wanted to be coached. I also admired that he would go out of his way to say ‘hi’ to me. I always looked forward to running into him on campus.”

Haley Hemm, Assistant Head of Upper Campus: “May we imbue every day with humor. May we be devoted to the things that matter. May we be more gentle with ourselves and with others. May we act from a place of selfless generosity. May we honor Jonathan for the rest of our lives.”

Scott Riches, President: “To me, Jonathan represented someone with an incredible amount of courage knowing all the pain he was dealing with over several months, yet he always had a positive and optimistic attitude. He was also selfless. Every time I visited him in the hospital he was more concerned about how his family was handling the situation and was more concerned about their well-being than his own.”

Daniel Blotter, teammate: “I remember there would be times after practice where he would need to leave in a wheel chair and would be back out on the field again as soon he could, doing everything he could for the team. I admire him and everything he did for the school, for the team, and for me, despite everything he had going on in his life.”

Vishesh Ranganathan, friend: “Jonathan was just someone I could be myself around. Whether it be falling asleep together in literature class, or going to the field and playing soccer for hours on end, we understood each other so well which is what I loved about our friendship. It hurts to see him go and he will be forever missed.”

Jonathan Zhao

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“He persevere[d] through everything, and [it was] not [always] apparent to others,” Suzanna said. “You can see it through the way he react[ed] to his treatments, and when he came to America in 2014 [as he only learned English after coming here]… Every competition, every practice, and… [his] time living in the hospital… really demonstrate[d] his perseverance, even as a young child.”

Jonathan’s parents held a Memorial Service at Skylawn Funeral Home on April 29. That’s where friends and family had the opportunity to celebrate the former football and soccer player. Attendees participated in a variety of events, such as a variety of quiz-style Q&As. People also listened to speeches from fellow students, friends, and faculty from Pinewood School and Challenger School, Jonathan’s elementary and middle school.

The intention for the celebration was for attendees to be “… more [like] Jonathan with a smile, with laughter, with humor, with energy… If we [had] too many tears, I don’t think he [would] be happy,” Bill said.

Friends and family had the opportunity near the end of the Memorial Service to place flowers on top of Jonathan’s burial site as well as take home miniature succulent plants to remember Jonathan. Moments like these occurred throughout the ceremony and were somber, if not tearful.

Head of Upper Campus Gabriel Lemmon, who gave a speech during the Memorial Service, said that Jonathan’s death was difficult for him and the rest of the Pinewood community.

“The thoughts that were going through my head

were the ones around just the grieving process... the thoughts of losing a student and just how tragic that is,” Lemmon said. “We’re going to have to [go] through the process of figuring out how to go on without one of our fellow Pinewoodians.”

In the fall, Pinewood will hang an engraved wind chime by the Upper Campus field in honor of Jonathan.

“The thought of putting it next to the field [was] so that people could remember [Jonathan] because he was into both soccer and football.”

In addition, Pinewood will retire Jonathan’s #13 Pinewood soccer jersey as well as his #28 football jersey.

There will be one more celebration of Jonathan’s life. On May 6, the Zhao family arranged for Pinewood students and family to watch a soccer match between the San Jose Earthquakes and the LA Galaxy at Levi’s Stadium. Pinewood students and family can purchase tickets to the soccer match through a FEVO special offer link distributed through Pinewood email communications. Jonathan played on Pinewood’s varsity soccer team, continuing his passion for the sport outside of school through his playing time as a part of the Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club and the Palo Alto Soccer Club.

Jonathan’s parents said he met with numerous Earthquakes players during his time in the hospital, including goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski, captain Jackson Yueill, and former Earthquakes player Joe Cannon.

“[The soccer players] regarded him as a hero… [for his] perseverance [and] bravery [in fighting] with his disease,” Bill said.

Jonathan’s parents said their son had a variety of other passions, including aspirations to work in the

medical profession.

“Recently, his passion [had] been his want to be... a doctor or a nurse,” Suzanna said. “He used to [be] passionate [about being] a businessman… He also [had] a strong interest [in investing].”

While Jonathan’s passions had evolved over the years, his parents said that soccer played a consistent role in their son’s life. Jonathan’s experience as a part of the Pinewood varsity soccer team always held a special place in his heart.

“[His club team] would rank top 8 in California,” Bill said, noting that Jonathan also loved playing on Pinewood’s soccer team. “... He [was] proud just to play for the school, for the community.”

Jonathan’s parents are starting a new nonprofit called the “Teaching Nirvana Foundation” in order to support teenagers like their late son. The foundation will support young people impacted by the possible side effects of vaccines, protect the rights of parents with young hospitalized patients, and empower parents to get second opinions.

“This is our special arrangement for Jonathan to memorialize him and to really carry on his virtues and his kindness,” Bill said. “... This will be a lifelong project for me and even for my wife, and maybe for [Jonathan’s] little sister in the future.”

Biology teacher Monica Ventrice said that Jonathan’s determination is what she’ll remember most.

“Jonathan’s drive to keep going is what I will remember most,” Ventrice said. “During the first semester, when he wasn’t feeling well, he would still come to class everyday, ready to work. And even from home and the hospital, Jonathan was checking in with me about work so that he could keep pace with his class. He was determined to continue on with life.”

Photos courtesy of BILL ZHAO and PINEWOOD SCHOOL

Solar Panels Could Come to Upper Campus

ROHAN PARASNIS Staff Writer

To go to battle against a monster of its own creation, mankind has spent the last 50 years desperately searching for a sustainable energy source that can begin to combat the horrible effects of climate change.

In a sea of solutions that have fizzled out, failing to gain traction in the energy industry, solar panels have surged in popularity for both commercial and personal use.

Their ability to harness the power of the sun and to produce clean energy have been driving factors in their push to the top of the sustainable energy pyramid.

The idea of solar panels dates back to the 19th century when French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect. The first commercial solar panel was produced by Bell Labs in 1954, and since then, solar technology has advanced significantly.

Solar panels are beneficial to our society as they are a source of clean, renewable energy. Because the panels solely rely on the sun for energy, they do not require any fossil fuels that would release harmful emissions.

On the economic side, solar panels significantly reduce electricity bills for homeowners who install them, and in some states, there are even monetary

incentives offered for home and business owners to switch to solar.

At Pinewood, both Lower Campus and Middle Campus are equipped with solar panels. The panels were put on Lower Campus when the campus was constructed, and were added to Middle Campus during an extensive renovation.

“Our main benefit of solar panels is that they are sustainable,” Pinewood President and Head of School Scott Riches said.“The reason we didn’t put solar panels at Upper is that we don’t own the facility.”

Riches said a newly-signed lease on Upper Campus gives them more flexibility to make renovations. One of these upcoming improvements could very well be solar panels at Upper Campus.

Although there are many positives to solar energy, there are some sizable drawbacks as well. For example, solar panels cannot provide power at night. Additionally, the initial installation cost of solar panels can be high, although this cost can be offset over time by the energy savings they provide.

The technology’s benefits show that solar energy has made, it looks as though solar energy has made its presence known, and it has got its foot in the door. But only time will tell how the technology will develop to overcome its issues and to pave a cleaner, greener path, for the energy industry as a whole.

Pinewood Seniors Pick STEM Majors in College

son said.

Several seniors will be majoring in STEM in college, among them being Rosalie Wessels, Emmett Smith, Akash Kumar, Vincent Chen, Logan Thompson, Seika Oelschig, Sally King, Ayana Jassal, Andrew Wang, and Seika Oelschig.

Jassal will be attending University of California Berkeley as a pre-med student majoring in molecular cell biology.

“When I was researching Berkeley majors, I knew this was the one I really wanted to do, as it encapsulated all the topics I’m interested in like biochemistry and cellular biology,” Jassal said.

Jassal took AP Chemistry and Honors Biology 2, which inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. As a pre-med student, Jassal hopes to dive into the world of biochem and genetic-based research in addition to medicine.

“Watching [Jassal’s] excitement as she discovered some new ideas or connection in biology has fed my teacher’s soul for the past two years. Her joy is why I love my job,” Honors Biology 2 teacher Kimberly Hud-

An aspiring doctor, Wang plans on doing a double major in biology and social sciences at the liberal arts school in Maine, Colby College. Hudson played a significant role in Wang’s passion, as she taught and explained subjects with enthusiasm.

“Andrew’s focus and drive to learn inspires me to always step up my own game as a teacher,” Hudson said. “One day I hope to tag along to the pediatrician’s office with my future grandkid, and I hope it’s Andrew who we find there. He’s going to make a wonderful doctor.”

Similar to Wang, Oelschig will be going to Colby College for their renowned computer science program. Oelschig intends on majoring in computer science with a possibility of double majoring in science and technology. Oelschig’s curiosity for technology and the Pinewood Tech Club made her fall in love with software.

“Learning and growing with each iteration of products sparked my interest … how do these devices work? How are they getting smart-

er/ How are they getting smarter than us?’” Oelschig said.

She would like to pursue a career as a website developer, eventually becoming a project manager while programming and creating websites.

Tech Club Seniors Leave Mark on Pinewood

ANDREW WANG Staff Writer

With the end of the school year on the horizon, seniors involved in Pinewood’s Tech Club are preparing to hand over the reins to the next generation of coders. As

Ayana, Carolyn, Seika, Sally, Andrew, Akash, and Rosalie competed in a Hackathon together. These students also intend to major in STEM in college.

However, Oelschig’s enthusiasm for computer science is dampened by pragmatism.

“One of the concerns I have is [that] technology revolves around the future…it’s really hard to tell what direction the world is going to go in,” Oelschig said.

one of Pinewood’s mostprominent STEM-oriented student organizations, the club aims to involve its members in a variety of activities that will strengthen their computational skills.

Seniors Rosalie Wessels, Sally King, Ayana Jassal, Carolyn Steeg, Seika Oelschig, and Akash

Kumar participated in a 24-hour Hackathon in March, their last major competition of the year. It took place at Juniper Network’s Aspiration Dome, hosting over 425 attendees. In a bittersweet fashion, the experience served as a reminder of how far they have grown in their interests for coding.

Tech Club President Rosalie Wessels said that Tech Club has become a huge part of her life.

“I started going to tech club meetings from the first day of school,” Wessels said. “About halfway through my freshman year, I took on more of a leadership role, which involved coordinating more projects.”

The Tech Club has been central to the development of Wessels’ interests in computer science and engineering.

“I think the club has definitely reinforced my passion for tech. I was already interested in the field, but I loved the collaborative nature of our projects. I want [the younger members] to keep it going strong,” Wessels said. “They’re definitely going to become more involved in coding, which was my

goal from the start.” King, the vice president, said the skills she has picked up throughout her time coding in high school will serve her there in the future.

“For me, participating in the hackathons a few times each year has really taught me to work efficiently,” King said. “I also learned how to collaboratively code and present a project in front of a panel of judges, which strengthened my public speaking skills.”

As King leaves for the University of California Berkeley, she hopes that the Tech Club will remain an open space for students to explore and develop lasting relationships with a diverse group of coders.

Senior Akash Kumar explains how the club motivated him to delve deeper into his interest in coding.

“Personally, having that little jump when an algorithm works is deeply fulfilling,” Kumar said. “I wanted to use my time towards longer lasting projects, like the spirit point tracker for Pinewood that we’ve been working on throughout the year.”

Photo by BILLY LLOYD

LARA PARIKH Staff Writer

Photo by COLIN TERNUS

Pinewood Seniors Leave Artistic Legacies Behind As They Head Off to College

DERRICK HARRIS Staff Writer

Pinewood has many talented graduating artists. Some specialize in traditional art, and graphic design. These are three particular seniors’ artistic histories and their future plans.

Skylar Chui

Skylar Chui’s interest in the arts was sparked by her cousins, who also attended Pinewood. Chui considers herself a self-taught artist, learning art through Pinterest and YouTube instead of formal classes.

Chui credits Pinewood art classes and their smaller, more personal structure for giving her more guidance in her artistic development. While not majoring in art, Chui intends to take further art classes at Williams College.

Niki Taradash

Niki Taradash developed her passion for arts at a young age.

“I’ve been working with acrylics since first grade, [which] has really grown my interest,” Taradash said.

Taradash transferred to Pinewood during her sophomore year, but was un-

able to take art classes due to schedule conflicts. Regardless, her previous experience allowed her to take AP Art her senior year.

Taradash will double major in graphic design and marketing at Boston University.

“I want to use my interest in art to get into the business world,” Taradash said. “Even though I’m not doing traditional art, I will be using my creative side of myself and using technology to guide that.”

Aeron Lo

Aeron Lo began pursuing art at three years old. Similar to Chui, Lo uses Pinterest and Tiktok for artistic inspiration. Lo credits Pinewood’s AP program for improving their artistic skills.

“Pinewood’s AP Art classes help me produce a lot of pieces in a relatively short amount of time,” Lo said. “It’s good practice.”

While not the focus of their studies, Lo will continue their passion for the arts at UC Irvine.

Kate Cornyn

As a singer-songwriter, Kate Cornyn

Musical Review: “Something Rotten!” Is Certified Fresh

MICHAEL SHTROM Staff Writer

The Pinewood Performing Arts department has done it again. With seemingly endless dedication, the PPA has performed one of the greatest spectacles I have seen in a long time: “Something Rotten!” — the spring musical.

After a cheerful introduction to the Renaissance, the narrator (sophomore Mia Gustavson) introduces the audience to Nick Bottom (senior Emmett Smith), a playwright and actor who is placed in the unfortunate position of having to compete with William Shakespeare (senior Adam Fallick). In a desperate attempt to turn the tables on Shakespeare, Nick hires soothsayer Nostradamus (senior Nate Martin) to see into the future so Nick can steal the idea for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In a humorous twist, Nostradamus misinterprets the idea as a musical named “Omelette,” which Nick puts on with his acting troupe. Meanwhile, when his brother and playwright

Nigel Bottom (Teau Tongi) falls in love with Portia (Kaelyn Smith), he learns to write from his heart rather than writing the tacky, soulless “Omelette,” creating more issues for Nick.

Among stellar performances and unforgettable choreography, the show’s main achievement lies in an unexpected fact: the show managed to feel grand and massive albeit a smaller cast and one of the PPA’s more minimal sets in recent productions. I would attribute this to the infectious enthusiasm of every actor involved, as each and every one clearly contributes a great deal of their energy to the production. As the show neared the middle of the second act, everybody on stage was producing waterfalls of sweat, which proved to me how much energy and effort the actors were putting into their performances.

From the stellar performances to the heartwarming story, I believe this show was the kind that reminds you there’s “nothing more amazing than a musical.”

has loved music since she can remember due to its ability to foster connections.

At Pinewood, she sings on the a cappella group, Take Note, and has been a part of several musicals and plays.

“Pinewood has allowed me to see so many different parts of music and explore things I never would’ve before,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn will be pursuing her passion at Sarah Lawrence College as a music major.

Adam Fallick

For Adam Fallick, who has been starring in plays since elementary school, theater has always come naturally. At Pinewood, he sings on Take Note and has been in several plays and musicals. Fallick will be pursuing his passion for performing at New York University Tisch School Of The Arts.

“I’m going into musical theater because I can’t see myself pursuing anything else,” he said. “It’s my one true passion and I feel the most myself when I’m doing it.”

Author Hannah Jones Talks Book “Hero Green” at Pinewood

ADDISON PARENTI Staff Writer

Writing isn’t an easy journey. It takes years, even decades, to learn and perfect the craft. No one knows this better than former Pinewood English teacher Hannah Jones, who is now the author of children’s book “Hero Green.”

On Apr. 24, Jones visited Pinewood to share her experience writing “Hero Green.” Additionally, several students were given the opportunity to be beta readers for the book.

“Hero Green” is about a young witch named Hero from a remote grove in Maine. When a developer from Manhattan threatens to destroy the grove, Hero moves to Manhattan to save it and experiences a new high school in the process.

Jones was inspired to become a writer because of the sensation she experiences when writing.

“One of my favorite feelings is to craft a sentence that combines the perfect cadence and melody and imagery to express a complicated, deep feeling or idea,” Jones said.

Because Jones often moved houses when she was younger, she spent a lot of time alone and found books as her escape from loneliness. Additionally, she grew up in a household of readers, writers, and storytellers, who supported and nurtured her love for words.

Jones said her biggest inspiration is her mom, who was her first educator. When her mother passed away, she lost motivation, but she recently regained it through a community of equally passionate readers and writers when she started a Substack newsletter, Letters from the Questhouse.

When writing “Hero Green,” Jones

took inspiration from her childhood.

“I am more of a ‘gardener’ than an ‘architect,’ meaning that I let this book take shape organically, rather than plotting it out from the beginning,” Jones said.

The inspiration for “Hero Green” was drawn from her teenage years when rumors spread through her junior high school claiming that she was a witch. While Jones originally felt hurt by this, it led her to wonder what a witch is. Jones’ newfound interest in witchcraft inspired her to incorporate it into her book in order to create the character of Hero.

“My current life couldn’t be much different from Hero’s,” Jones said. “Her senses are stronger than ours because she has spent her life trained to listen deeply, to pay deep attention, to nature, and that makes her magical. I aspire to be like her in that respect.”

Photo by ALEXANDER MCCORMICK

ARTISTIC SENIORS From left to right, Pinewood seniors Aeron Lo, Niki Taradash, Kate Cornyn, and Adam Fallick.

Photo by ABIGAIL WESSEL

Photo courtesy of HANNAH JONES HERO GREEN The book cover of Jones’ children’s book, “Hero Green.”

ARJUN KELKAR Staff Writer

Class of 2023 Celebrates Graduation with Banquet and Disney Fun

As the school year draws to a close, graduating seniors have two exciting events to look forward to: the Senior Class Banquet on May 16, their graduation ceremony on May 24, and the Disney Grad Nite from May 25 to 27. These events offer students the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and create lasting memories with their peers before embarking on the next phase of their lives.

Director of Community and Alumni Engagement Anne Wong said planning for these events began months in advance.

GRADUATION The Class of 2023 poses for their goofy class photo at the beginning of the year. Soon they will be celebrating their graduation from Pinewood with a banquet and Disneyland trip.

“We reserve the venue and coordinate catering, and parents are involved in decorating, check-ins, and making a slideshow,” Wong said. “It’s a significant event for graduating seniors as it marks the end of their high school experience and provides an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments and say goodbye to peers and teachers.”

Hosted at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, senior students and parents will enjoy speeches from the class advisors and a slideshow of memories from the students’ time at Pinewood.

“The speeches from the class advisors can be mem-

Alumni-in-Residence

CHRISTINA TANASE Staff Writer

The “What We Can Do Series for Alumni-In-Residence” is a two-part series hosted by Pinewood’s Alumni Office providing the knowledge and resources graduating seniors need to move seamlessly into the next stage of their time with Pinewood.

Director of Community and Alumni Engagement Anne Wong recently collaborated with Associate Director of College Counseling Carolyn Siegel to create this series.

“It’s really just having students see that the Pinewood community is enriched by its alumni, and the more that graduating students see that value and get excited about it, the better off the future of Pinewood will be,” Siegel said.

Part one of the series, “What You Can Do for Pinewood | Becoming an Alumni,” held on April 11, highlighted how students can make use of their alumni networks, the advantages of being a Pinewood alum, and how to stay engaged in the Pinewood community post-graduation.

Part two, “What Pinewood Can Do for You | Getting Hired,” held on May 2, was a Q&A session which hosted a panel of business professionals. The panel included Cindy Ho, Director of Human Resources at Pinewood, Renata Dionello, Chief People Officer at ZipRecruiter and mother of Grant Hinshaw (Class of 2026), and Art Wong, Managing Partner at Atherton Linden Capital and father of Andrew Wong (Class of 2022).

“The idea is to see that your network is not just people in your grade. Everyone who has ever come to Pinewood before and who follows, is part of your professional network,” Siegel said.

Regardless if graduating seniors keep close ties to the community or branch off into the world, events like the “What We Can Do Series” go far to keep the Pinewood community deeply connected. These events ensure that Pinewoodians can find each other no matter the time or place, and that they can advocate for themselves in any situation.

orable as they may share anecdotes, words of wisdom, or heartfelt messages with the graduating class,” Wong said. “The slideshow can also be a touching moment as it often features photos and memories from their time at Pinewood, highlighting the accomplishments and milestones of the graduating class.”

Soon after the Senior Class Banquet, seniors will have their graduation ceremony with keynote speaker Sterling Anderson, a leader in the high-technology industry, witha focus on self-driving. Anderson has assisted in the launches of products like Tesla’s autopilot feature. Currently, he serves as the Chief Product Officer of Au-

rora, a company he co-founded. Grad Nite is another yearly exciting event seniors can look forward to: students will fly to Los Angeles to celebrate their time at Pinewood and have fun with their peers at Disneyland. On May 25, students will be treated to a private party at Disney California Adventure with dance floors, DJs, and a fireworks display. On May 26, seniors will find themselves spending the day exploring Disneyland and going bowling.

“By immersing themselves in the fun and exciting atmosphere of Disney Grad Nite, students can temporarily escape their worries and concerns about the future,” Wong said. “They can focus on enjoying the rides and attractions, socializing with their peers, and participating in the special entertainment this event offers.”

Graduating senior Vincent Chen said he’s excited for the upcoming events.

“I’m definitely looking forward to the Senior Banquet and Disneyland trip since it’ll be a nice send-off for people that I’ve spent almost a quarter of my life with,” Chen said.

As the graduating seniors prepare to leave, Chen has some words of wisdom for future Pinewood students. “You’ll become as cool as us eventually, maybe,” Chen said.

Senior Predictions

Seika Oelschig Seika and Andrew get married happily ever after, using their success love story to launch a new Netflix dating show similar to “Too Hot To Handle.”

Jade Ramirez After growing it for so long, Jade Ramirez’s hair manages to wrap around the world and throughout the galaxy, ultimately replacing the milky way.

Felix Redman Felix plays so many video games that his thumbs fall off.

McKellar Reed McKellar discovers that his Bronco was originally OJ Simpson’s escape vehicle, allowing him to sell it for a fortune. He then uses this fortune to kickstart his career in drag, something that he never really let go after the production of “Something Rotten” at Pinewood.

Devan Reynard As a big baseball enthusiast, Devan becomes the next owner of the Giants and builds a breathtaking new stadium made entirely out of glass. He didn’t consider, however, that glass is breakable, and the entire stadium collapses during the World Series mid game after somebody hits a foul ball.

Ashton Riches After realizing that studying at BYU was not really her calling, Ashton decides that her last name is her calling, takes to the high seas in search of “riches,” and becomes the next star in “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Max Roesch Wandering off at Disneyland during Grad Nite, Max finds Walt Disney’s ashes at the top of the Matterhorn ride. Drawn to the urn, he

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

takes on the mantle of the next Walt as he consumes the ashes.

Sophia Rosen As Sophia explores the gorges at Cornell, she discovers Ashton’s pirate shipwreck, full of riches but unfortunately no Riches.

Jason Rowe After a successful tennis career at Puget Sound, Jason begins searching for a “buff shawty” to have a superhuman baby with.

Josiah Saberi Infamous for being in the background of photos, Josiah travels back in time and stands in the background of The Last Supper, becoming the ultimate photobomber.

Garrett Sablich Garrett’s diving career at Davidson quickly takes a dive south after getting caught bombing down 280 at 180 mph.

Alex Sheiba Alex finally discovers that JFK is alive and has actually been the president this whole time.

Emmett Smith During his sophomore year in college, Emmett’s hair grows to an unmanageable length and is trapped in a tower by Mother Gothel.

Peyton Spinner Peyton finally takes upon his last name once he moves to Miami, spinning around in circles until he causes the greatest hurricane ever known: Hurricane Peyton.

Carolyn Steeg Despite Senior Assassin’s end, Carolyn believes the game is still going. She never takes off her goggles and camps out on an abandoned Pacific island, waiting for the war to be

over so she can finally collect her $120 cash prize.

Niki Taradash While studying design at Boston University, Niki becomes obsessed with the Mona Lisa. She flies to Paris to steal it from the Louvre, and lives the rest of her days with the world famous painting in her bathroom.

Logan Thompson Successfully growing out his middle part, Logan joins the Hype House and marries TikTok astronomer Dinklebob D’amelio.

Justin Ting commits identity theft with his Pinewood School ID since his face is obscured by the green bodysuit.

Teau Tongi The Master of Rizz, Taufaeteau Po’uli Kae ‘Eva ‘I Manamo’ui Piutau Tongi, realizes it’s not the size of the name that matters but the personality.

Ava Uhrich After six years, Ava finally submits her first assignment to the English department

Mitali Vasudevan Harnessing her love for Taylor Swift, Mitali embraces her inner musician and becomes Taylor Fast.

Andrew Wang Finally taking off his mask, Andrew reveals that he’s been hiding the Krabby Patty Formula in his mouth this whole time.

Rosalie Wessels After OpenAI takes over her Instagram account (@ rosacodes), Rosalie hides from the machine overlords in a bunker with her storages of krentenweggen, poffert, suikerbrood, and kerststol bread.

Photo courtesy of MUGSYCLICKS