Read sophomore Mailey Wang’s feature on Director of College Counseling Marvin Coote’s departure.
Explore senior Colin Ternus’ love for photography in an article by sophomore Ryan Chou.
Read the Class of 2024’s life predictions made by their classmates and friends.
See where Pinewood seniors will be matriculating and majoring in in the fall.
KAITLYN
MAIER Staff WriterAfter serving Upper Campus for four years, Assistant Head of Upper Campus Haley Hemm will leave Pinewood at the end of this school year. Hemm plans to join the nonprofit Scott Center for Social Entrepreneurship at the Hillbrook School. The responsibilities of Hemm and the current Director of Student Life Kyle Riches will be reassigned to the new Dean of Students position, held by History Department Head Jennifer Bates, while Riches will become the Associate Head of School.
Because Hemm’s initial role at Pinewood focused on managing online learning protocols and the transition back to in-person classes during the COVID-19 outbreaks, her duties have evolved as the pandemic receded to include many other aspects of student support. Her new roles line up with the work a typical Dean of Students would do at other schools, so President of School Scott Riches created the position to continue to efficiently shape a positive community.
ty connected.
“As soon as there were events, I was at every one and helping to organize,” Hemm said. “I was trying to find ways to have the community connected while six feet apart.”
Her efforts in promoting and embodying WISCR values helped Pinewood keep spirits up after the isolation quarantine. Partly due to her guidance, Upper Campus returned to in-person learning in October of 2020 and did not experience a COVID-19 case until March 2022.
“She played a really critical part in helping us navigate COVID so smoothly, as part of her responsibilities was to focus on the safety and wellbeing of the students,” Riches said. “So I’m especially grateful for that, and I don’t think we could have done it without her.”
“It was time now that we were out of COVID to reorganize and get into a pretty traditional role that other independent schools have,” Riches said. “It was an opportunity to realign Kyle Riches’ role and Hemm’s role together and make it primarily student centered.”
Hemm currently runs the advisory program, academic counseling, disciplinary action and external learning partnerships at Upper Campus. She also supervises the Ocean Ambassadors Club and Students for Sustainable Change, a team that improves campus culture by examining school policy with the administration to improve the culture on campus. Because SSC is a self-sufficient group, the members will continue to work together to
improve the school in Hemm’s absence using the skills she taught them.
“Ms. Hemm has taught me a lot about resilience,” sophomore SSC member Dhruv Gupta said. “She taught me how to keep trying different things even when it’s tricky”
Hemm’s passions have always been in this sort of social work, despite her beginning with COVID-19 guidance. While she was finishing her degree at Stanford Graduate School of Education, Hemm was a Digital Ambassador for her professors, helping them translate their curriculums into digital format, when her partner Sam Jezak was teaching his first year at Pinewood. He heard about the opening for the Assistant Head and informed Hemm about the position. She was hired and began working at Pinewood in May 2020, informing the teachers on how to run classes during hybrid learning and organizing social events to keep the communi-
Though her assistance during the pandemic was incredibly vital, Hemm is excited to focus on promoting equity through immersive learning at Hillbrook School. There, she will work as the community engagement and program lead to design experiential classes for their Reach Beyond initiative where students can travel both within their community and around the world. She will also cultivate partnerships with local and international organizations that the students can work with, a job which captures her interest in social justice.
“The real impact of a person in a community is how it’s felt by the community and how it lasts after that person leaves,” Hemm said. “My goal is always to leave a place better than I found it and to leave it with systems in place so that they continue to do the work that they think is valuable.”
With the start of the 2024-25 school year, Pinewood will welcome new Head of School Eve Kulbieda, who comes from nearby Castilleja School. Kulbieda will replace current Head of Upper Campus Gabriel Lemmon. At Castilleja, Kulbieda served as Dean of Students, handling student relationships and serving the Class of 2025 as an advisor. She also focused on implementing academic and social support systems for students in her
previous role.
“At Castilleja, I have refined much clearer support structures for kids in crisis — academic, social and emotional things,” Kulbieda said. “Now we have really clear and robust processes.”
Before teaching at Castilleja, Kulbieda worked as a dean of students and math teacher at Menlo School. Prior to this, she worked on the East Coast to build an athletics-focused school from the ground up.
“I was working on almost, you know, a startup on the East Coast,” Kulbieda said. “The owner of the Philadelphia Union, the professional soccer team in Philadelphia, contacted me to open a school for elite soccer athletes.”
In Philadelphia, Kulbieda curated the curriculum to fit typical academic standards as well as the NCAA recruiting standards required of an athletic school.
“I think that it was a challenge to quickly learn a new culture and at the same time, implement the educational systems that were aligned to the new culture,” Kulbieda said. “It was a quick learning curve.”
Before moving to Philadelphia, according to Kulbieda, she pursued teaching from a young age. She took her first teaching job as a physical education teacher at
a Title I school in Tasmania, Australia, where she grew up, and soon became a math teacher.
“I always knew I was going to be a teacher,” Kulbieda said. “I used to teach my teddy bears when I was a little girl, and I was one of those people that just always knew what they wanted to do.”
From Australia, Kulbieda moved to Germany for six years where she taught physical education at an international school in Frankfurt. She became Dean of Students and got her first taste of administrative work.
“It was so much fun,” Kulbieda said. “I loved that school so much. I had the best time. The students were phenomenal. The student leaders were just so incredibly mature. They had so much agency and a great work ethic.”
While she was in Germany, Kulbieda taught in an international school, but still made efforts to learn the language and culture. According to Kulbieda, this helped her understand the students and their values.
“Students in Germany were really resilient in their approach to adjusting to change,” Kulbieda said. “They have a lot of change, resilience is what I would say. And so in that way, they were pretty robust.”
As the raft began to capsize not five minutes into the trip, high school math teacher Scott Green began to panic. In his 37 years of teaching, Green had never experienced something like this before. He was on his first trip as a senior class advisor, a trip that would eventually be wrapped into his legacy at Pinewood, as he is retiring after 18 years at the school.
Over his long career, Green has covered many areas of the math world, from junior high geometry to precalculus to college algebra.
“I’ve pretty much done them all,” Green said, “and I just tried to do the best I can with whatever classes I’m teaching.”
Fellow math teacher Sara Dorset said she admires Green as a mentor for her own classes.
“He was an open book for me, and I really appreciated that,” Dorset said. “I’m going to miss his presence.”
I personally had Green as a teacher for eighth grade geometry, where he made understanding concepts like the Side-Angle-Side postulate significantly more manageable. He always had a hilarious, relaxed atmosphere in his class that made you comfortable to be his student. Even after somehow passing geometry, I made an effort to visit him after class to get a taste of his hilarious dry humor — something Pinewood will certainly miss.
“One of my favorite memories is when I went into his room and played a random game,” said sophomore Mailey Wang, who had Green in eighth grade. “He has always been a friendly face on campus to talk to.”
Green had been thinking about retiring for the past few years, hoping to go back to his hometown of Chicago.
“I feel like it’s the right time,” Green said. As a student of his, Green’s legacy is that he sets the bar very high for the teachers that follow. From recounting the last 49ers game to drawing caricatures on the board after we completed a problem, the class was never just a lecture. Green had the unique ability to balance this environment with substantive learning as well.
Green said that he appreciates the supportive community and the camaraderie between the faculty, students and staff at Pinewood.
“When students leave the class, they always say thank you no matter how the class goes, and that’s pretty rare,” Green said.
Green has been a pillar of the community for almost two decades. His quippy, witty humor coupled with his engaging, supportive lessons have helped countless students on their math journeys. The Pinewood community will miss him. I definitely know I will.
As Pinewood high school students navigate the world of college admissions, they often turn to one person on campus: Director of College Counseling Marvin Coote. However, students will soon no longer be able to see his familiar face around campus. Coote, who has been working at Pinewood for six years, will be drawing this chapter of his career to a close as moves into the role of Director of College Counseling at Lick Wilmerding High School in San Francisco.
Coote was born in Jamaica to parents who never went to college. Early on, he had to work hard to get a good education. Once he graduated, he began working with high school dropouts and incarcerated youth.
“It was Goldilocks-ish,” Coote said. “The first five to eight years of my career were finding the right age group that I wanted to work with.”
Since landing on college counseling and coming to Pinewood, Coote has made a considerable impact on the lives of students here.
With the philosophy of prioritizing fit over name, Coote has helped many students find their way to their dream school.
“I think our students have outperformed themselves,” he said. “The coolest question I get is, ‘How did that kid get into that school?’”
“I hope I am able to communicate with kids and kids feel that they can communicate with me to help them find their definition of what success is,” he said.
To Coote, success is not name-driven. When one student turned down a more renowned college to go to a lesser-known one, some people were shocked at that decision. However, Coote had a different perspective.
“It was the right place for that student, and they’ve had immense success,” Coote said.
To Coote, this question is a reflection of all the hard work he and the student put in for the end reward. Receiving this question means he and the student broke through whatever expectations were previously placed upon them.
Associate Director of College Counseling Carolyn Siegel was recruited to college counseling by Coote four years ago.
“Mr. Coote is very honest with students and cares deeply about positioning students as best he can for finding a well-rounded list of schools that are a good fit for them,” she said.
After Coote leaves, Siegel and newcomer Alyson Tom will be in charge of the college counseling department. Tom, who will be joining Pinewood in July, has more than twenty years of experience in education and has served as Associate Director of College Counseling at Castilleja School and Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Rice University.
Coote said that he hopes to continue helping students achieve their goals as he continues his college counseling career.
“The fantastic part of this career is looking back on where students have come and seeing how they’ve gone from some version of adolescence to joining the grownup world,” Coote said.
Have you ever walked down the halls at Upper Campus and seen a senior who you thought looked so cool? Seniors Zefan Feng, Autumn Porter-Schulz and Makena Matula’s distinct sense of style specifically have all stood out. Although their three styles vary greatly, each individual is confident in their own sense of style.
Feng describes his style as niche but casual, often wearing oversized clothing. Many of Feng’s classmates, including senior Sophia Yao and junior Kathleen Xie agree he has good style because of his statement hoodies and sneakers. Feng also enjoys watching anime, so he often wears anime prints on his shirts.
son. She thinks her personality is reflected in her style, which may be seen as basic at first but shows her fun side in small accessories like her jewelry and shoes.
“My favorite thing to do is bring out certain colors by having my shoes color coordinate with my earrings and little pops of color like that,” Porter-Schulz said.
“I want to show people who I am as a person just from what I wear,” Feng said.
Feng thinks his low-key but fun style reflects who he is as a person.
“If someone looked at me they’ll either be like that person’s cool or I will never talk to that person,” Feng said. “And that’s valid.”
Senior Porter-Schulz’s style has come a long way since the beginning of high school, when she would only wear leggings. Now, she dresses in a way that makes her feel most like herself.
“Clothes are definitely a really important way of how I want people to perceive me,” Porter-Schulz said. When she first meets someone, Porter-Schulz describes herself as very shy but truly a bubbly and outgoing per-
Senior Makena Matula’s style is much different from both Feng and Porter-Schulz, but they are just as confident. Matula is known for wearing all black with silver jewelry. They enjoy how their metal-inspired style connects them to a community of people with similar interests. However, Matula has not always had this same specific style growing up. In middle school, they dressed like a skater and tried to mimic Billie Eilish’s oversized clothing. Matula appreciates what their style has grown into, but does not believe their style emulates who they are as a person.
“When people see me, they’re a bit intimidated,” Matula said. “Like, oh, that person is all death. But as a person I’m very happy, ... so in some ways, my style does not represent my personality.”
Although Matula’s style might not show who they are on the surface level, their style does bring out a side of them that is more hidden.
“I think I sometimes like to break molds,” Matula said. “And I like to go against the grain. I think that is reflected in my style.”
KAYDEN GE Staff Writer
It was over. Superstar golfer Scottie Scheffler had just tapped in the putt to win the Masters Tournament for his second time by a dominant four strokes. Just days before Scheffler secured his victory, Pinewood girls basketball Head Coach Doc Scheppler found himself in one of the most iconic venues in all of sports: the one and only Butler Cabin, where winners of the Masters are crowned their green jackets. As he set foot inside the tan brick cabin, he was overwhelmed with nostalgia as he saw the classic fireplace lined with green shrubbery. His face immediately beamed with pride, as he now stood in the same room that the most legendary golfers of all time once set foot in.
and since then, he has led the girls basketball program to six California Interscholastic Federation, 14 Central Coast Section and 10 Northern California titles.
Considering Scheppler’s long, illustrious coaching career, it’s no surprise that he’s also fostered lifelong relationships with the players he’s coached and the people he’s worked with. Because of all his unique connections and honorable reputation, Scheppler is rewarded with opportunities like attending the Masters from time to time.
From April 11-14, Scheppler had the privilege of watching the Masters live in Augusta, Georgia. Scheppler had always watched the Masters growing up as a kid, but he only ever experienced it on television.
A ticket to the Masters is one of the hardest things to get your hands on. Augusta National is a very exclusive golf course for which only a select group of people have the ability to buy tickets. Scheppler was only able to attend the event after months of planning with his high school friends, most of whom he met through basketball.
Scheppler has been on the coaching scene since 1977, and his experience as a coach has varied a lot. He spent the first 17 years of his career coaching boys basketball at Burlingame High School and Capuchino High School. During that time, Scheppler also coached a variety of other sports, including badminton, volleyball and baseball at the elementary and high school levels. Scheppler arrived at Pinewood in 1995,
“I know a lot of people because I’ve been coaching for a long time,” Scheppler said. “There’s just so many relationships you have and that’s the beauty of playing sports.”
From the thrilling atmosphere of a jam-packed basketball gym to the classy setting in Augusta, Scheppler was stunned by the beauty of the golf course after seeing it in person for the first time.
“There was not a weed on the course, not a speck of garbage on the course,” Scheppler said. “It was immaculate. It’s unbelievable.”
Similar to the maintenance crew at Augusta, Scheppler’s meticulous and detail-oriented coaching style is a large reason for his success on the basketball court. Yet another reason for Scheppler’s success is the support system he has around him. Even 50 years after graduating from high school, he still speaks to his high school friends and basketball teammates almost daily. Those same individuals he talks to on the phone everyday are the very people who accompanied him at the Masters. Although the seven-hour flight to Georgia wasn’t something Scheppler was accustomed to, he wouldn’t trade his experience in Augusta for the world.
“It was an unforgettable experience,” Scheppler said. “My favorite moment was seeing the joy on all of my teammates’ faces when we were in Butler Cabin.”
The silence before the pitch, the whirl of the ball and the crack of the bat: the sounds of spring echo across the baseball diamond as the season wraps up. For the Pinewood baseball team, this season has been particularly unique given the influx of new players, including seniors Jakob Kleiman and Ethan Roh. Kleiman, who has only played football and basketball at Pinewood, joined the baseball team to close out his high school athletic career on a high.
son, some players, such as senior Cole Chatterjee, have been with the team since freshman year.
“All my friends were playing, and there’s no place I’d rather be than with them on the field,” Kleiman said.“I feel happy that I get to have one final sports season with some of my closest friends, and I’m going to be real sad when it’s all over come May.”
Although the team has a variety of new faces this sea-
“I’m sad that it’s ending, but I’m just glad I get to finish the season playing well and with all of my friends,” Chatterjee said.
As a longtime player and leader of the team, Chatterjee has tried to make it clear to the new players that making mistakes is normal, and that communication is key.
“I always know mistakes are going to happen, but it’s more important to learn from your mistakes and prevent them from happening again,” Chatterjee said.
Even with the added bumps that come with new players joining the team, Chatterjee is more than happy to share his senior season with all of his friends.
“Having my closest friends on the baseball team just makes everything about the season so much better,” Chatterjee said.
Farewell to You
Oh, Pinewood. How do I even start?
For seven years, I’ve had to drag myself out of bed at 7:30 in the morning to put up with the wonky block schedule and way-too-short passing periods. For seven years, I’ve indulged myself a little bit too much in the overly sweet Snack Shack gummy bears. For seven years, I’ve called you my home away from home.
I still remember walking into Middle Campus for the first time, and upon looking around at the tiny classroom wondered, “Where’s the rest of my class?” What a moment that was for the 10-year-old boy coming from public school when he realized that the 15 people around him WAS his class. I went home that day thinking, “By the end of this year, I’m going to be so sick of these people.” Boy, was I wrong. Those same people are the ones I spent every lunch playing basketball with. Those same people are the ones I’ve shared some of my favorite memories with. Those same people are the ones that, over time, have become a second family that I can’t live without.
Pinewood, these past seven years have been filled with challenges and obstacles that have molded me into the person I am today. Challenging coursework, ranging from impossible calculus equations to mind-boggling essay prompts, have pushed me to become the best student I can be. I’ve spent countless late nights cramming for the three tests I had the following day, and, through that, I’ve shown myself what I am truly capable of.
Through all of this, Pinewood, you’ve provided me with one thing that I can never forget: opportunity. You helped a little kid find new hobbies, develop burning passions and find a sense of direction. Dozens of electives to choose from, countless clubs to join and plenty of new experiences filled me with a sense of curiosity I haven’t felt anywhere else. And so, I took advantage. I joined journalism, signed up for new classes that I’ve never heard of before and fell in love with all of them. Did my mom force me into some of those things? Yes. Do I regret it? Absolutely not.
Yet, there’s no opportunity I’m more thankful for than being able to compete in a Pinewood uniform. From my seven years on the basketball team to playing football for the first time this year, not a day went by where I wasn’t proud of the name across my chest. Sporting the classic green and gold Pinewood colors brings out the pure sense of joy I only felt as a little kid, and I can never thank you enough for that. Because of you, I’ve lived out my childhood dreams of playing under the bright lights and in front of big crowds. Because of you, I’ve developed friendships with my teammates that will last me a lifetime. I am the athlete I am today because of you, and I hope I made you proud.
So as I sign off for the very last time, I just want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me one last time. Thank you for pushing me outside of my comfort zone and teaching me how to be my best self. Thank you for trusting me to represent you in the classroom, on the field and on the court. Thank you for the friendships I’ve forged and memories I’ve made. Thank you for letting me be a Panther.
Summer’s imminent arrival fills me with dread. Why?
Research reveals that students lose a staggering 30 per cent of their academic skills over summer breaks. That’s right — a third of the school year’s worth of hardearned knowledge vanished into the hazy summer air.
Two-month summer breaks lead to significant learn ing loss — teachers devote an entire month at the be ginning of each school year just to review old material. According to Forbes, learning loss disproportionately affects low-income families who cannot afford summer learning experiences. This widens the achievement gap as these underprivileged students fall farther behind their peers.
While those in middle- and upper-class homes describe summer break as a fun-filled respite from the daily grind of classes, the end of the school year brings uncertainty for low-in come students who rely on school lunches. Ac cording to a survey from 2011, only 7 percent of children from low-income families attend summer camp, than 40 percent of affluent children attend summer opportunities. Longer summer breaks only exacerbate income inequality even further.
To address these issues, we should shorten summer breaks and distribute them more evenly throughout
the school year.
“If students have shorter breaks, they can still enand rushed projects. Spreading academic instruction
across 10 to 11 months could alleviate some of this pressure. With a more gradual pace, students would have more time to comprehend the material without facing the same level of stress.
The rivet smashes into the aluminum rod, and my fingers clamp down quickly and tightly. The noise is deafening. Again. And again. People say robotics is not a sport, but I challenge you to rivet a robot arm together in less than 20 minutes. Good luck!
PWRUP has been the foremost part of my life here at Pinewood over the last three years. I have fought emotionally and physically to design and execute a robot for the FIRST robotics competition. Seeing the project you have spent weeks on compete in the field is beautiful, and it takes immense effort to smash together a functional robot. We stay up until 3 a.m. coding the heart of the robot so it comes alive. From placing cubes and shooting rings, FIRST never fails to hit teams with a new way of thinking. We must ideate outside the box and carefully build and design a beautiful robot. Our team has improved from placing in nearly last place to finishing in seventh place across the competition. What changed? Everything. First, we used computer-aided design. What is CAD? It’s a fancy computer drawing that helps us think of what we want - a blueprint to turn into reality. Using CAD, we created a robot before building it instead of smashing together parts with hope and a dream. Then, we did it again. We did every-
thing again, from cutting pieces to designing code. This process allowed us to improve our design, learning from our mistakes to put it together better the next time. We did this nearly three times for the entire robot.
Finally, we planned our robot. Everything was thought up beforehand to fit every tightly interlocking piece together. No minute could go wasted because we only had three months to build a fully functioning robot, from brainchild to aluminum beast. My part was particularly unique, as I managed the money for the team. Our robot cost around $5,000, but the team spent much more on new computers and equipment to improve our design process. Built up by five hardworking volunteers, Pinewood theoretically owes them a ghastly sum, although I hope they don’t try to cash in that check. There is a beautiful power in taking your mind and making metal out of it. Using a careful process of thinking and execution, you can even create anything you desire with the proper knowledge and a hefty dose of cash. Still, I promise you that iteration is the key to success. Not only did we iterate this year, we iterated from last year to this year, experimenting with our design process until we hit gold. Next year, we will strike aluminum, an infinitely more useful resource in robotics.
Despite these benefits, many believe that a shortened summer break would have ramifica-
“An extended school year would tax students and teachers emotionally, physically and mentally,” physics teacher Yong Kim said. “And, longer school years make school seem like a never-ending cycle.”
Without a two-month summer break, students would lack an extended period to completely decompress and recharge from the stresses of the school year. Moreover, many students take advantage of two-month summer breaks as learning experiences.
“The two-month summers are a great chance for kids to do outside-of-school opportunities like internships, research and sports,” Kim said. “This also allows for families to go on longer vacations.”
While there are valid arguments for both sides, having shorter and more evenly distributed breaks would promote a healthier academic experience for students. Not only would this optimize learning retention, but it would also prevent burnout and allow for better-paced instruction.
Pinewood soccer is a boisterous cacophony of emotions. Every practice and game, whether home or away, exudes passion and difficulty. As a club soccer player, I began every game with a vision of what I wanted to achieve, but I always left the field with a new perspective on my abilities; Pinewood soccer is a truly unique experience. I have undoubtedly grown in my strength and skills since freshman year, and I am so excited to see what I can achieve during my final season.
I can easily recall some momentous occasions that define my role as a player on Pinewood soccer. I remember last minute goals and tumultuous celebrations. I reminisce about unexpected moments of luck against talented teams, bringing our own group closer together. Most importantly, I can remember the faces of my teammates when they achieved personal victories, small and large, while playing the sport that defines so much of who I am. While I will undoubtedly continue my reign of terror on the field for my senior year, there is one aspect of Pinewood soccer that I will never get to experience again. And, undoubtedly, this is something only Pinewood soccer could bring.
What I am referring to is the easy-going friendship and inspiring leadership of senior Charlotte van Gent. No matter the outcome of a game, I could always rely on her steadfast presence and continued motivation. Charlotte became my twin for three wonderful years. She saw me as an eager freshman, an overly opinionated sophomore and a zealous junior. Each year, we walked side-byside onto the field and hobbled together off the field. She was my warm-up conversationalist, a mentor for referee argu-
ments and eternal practice competitor. Who knows how this next season might unfold without her there to help leash my frustration towards antagonistic Crystal Springs players.
Charlotte is also an incredibly loyal and passionate friend, and I am forever thankful for the hours we spent together on and off the field, growing in friendship and laughing at the fleeting nature of our problems.
With the final season looming ahead, part of me mourns the fact that my close friend will not be there to see it. Either way, I cannot wait to take up the mantle Charlotte left behind and help lead the team to a successful season with plenty of memorable moments. Still, part of me hopes she’ll miraculously fail high school and be forced to stay another year because I really don’t feel like looking for a new warm-up partner or best friend.
3… 2…1… and the digits on the clock flattened out to the dreaded 0.0, signifying the end of the basketball season and more importantly, the final time I got to play alongside some of the best friends and teammates I could’ve ever asked for. This past season has undoubtedly had its fair share of ups and downs, but what made it all worth it were the people I got to spend it with.
To my seniors, you made getting up early for practices and games easy. You made showing up not a duty or a chore, but a privilege. You were, and still are, individuals that I’ll look up to and fight for every single day. Thank you for the example you set for not only me, but the Pinewood community as a whole. You will all be missed.
Alex, let’s go for a quick trip down memory lane. Six years ago, I remember being a tiny, clueless fifth grader who was terrified of you. Now, you’re much more than that: my OG shooting partner, someone I can always count on and one of my biggest supporters. I’m going to miss watching your greatness on display every practice, I’m going to miss pointing to you after an assist; heck, I’m even going to miss us arguing and teasing each other over the most trivial things. Most importantly though, I’m going to miss having you around. Seeing your evolution as not only a basketball player but also an individual has made me so proud. Any school and team would be lucky to have you. Go be great!
Stop crying, Sachi. I know you are. My first ever impression of you was that you were lightning fast. Your split was a thing of beauty, and I always admired your play style from afar. I was thrilled to hear you were transferring to Pinewood. Although your first year wasn’t exactly what you expected, I’m so glad you were here, celebrating from the sidelines. May the magical Menlo row boat live on forever. But what’s most admirable about you is how people are always happy to see you. That’s a testament to your unwavering character, easy-going personality and lovely sense of humor. Thank you for always being my rock. Chapman is so lucky to have not only Sachi the player but Sachi the person too.
Betti, what a ride. I still remember seeing your highlight tape and being ecstatic to play with a post like you. I admire your courage; it isn’t easy traveling to a country 6,000 miles away and leaving everything behind. For that, I truly want to thank you for taking a blind leap of faith and picking us. Even when you were homesick, you showed up to practice with a beaming smile on your face. Not to mention, whenever I doubted myself during season, you were always there to pick me right back up with words of encouragement and motivation. That meant more to me than you’d ever know. Thank you, and I wish you all the best with whatever you decide to do wherever it’ll be, even if it’s 6,000 miles away.
Anika, thank you for everything. I still remember walking into Pinewood’s gym for the first time and being terrified to practice with Fever’s high school team. As an awkward freshman, I was so lost and had no idea what I was doing. Without asking, you immediately stepped in and helped me get the hang of everything. That will forever be a defining moment of our relationship, because that’s when I realized I was in good hands. Not only would you guide me through whatever it was that I needed, but you would do so in a kind, nurturing way as well. Thank you for being a great teammate and constantly pouring confidence into me these past few years. Best of luck in your future endeavors!
I’m in a loud, brightly lit In-N-Out, sitting uncomfortably in the very corner of the booth. I can feel a dull pain in the front of my head from having worn undersized goggles for the past three hours. I’m surrounded by a group of fellow seniors similarly clad in swimming gear, and we’re noisily debating the best plan of attack for our Senior Assassin target. I’ve never hung out with all of these people in a group; we aren’t in the same classes, we’re not in the same clubs or sports teams and we have virtually nothing in common. Yet, we’ve just spent our entire Saturday night driving together all across town, toting around our water guns and laughing about our ridiculous, failed attempts to assassinate our classmates. It’s moments like these, where I stepped outside of my comfort zone and went out spontaneously rather than studying for my calculus exam, that I will remember about my high school years. I am a person who usually likes to plan things ahead of time, often because of how anxious I become when things get out of control. My high school experience was, to say the least, not anything I had imagined for myself. I started freshman year on Zoom, got sick with
mono my sophomore year and went to school with 37 other kids in my grade for my last two years. There were countless times I stayed in to study rather than go out to experience life. There were countless times I felt like I was utterly failing and utterly alone. But the one lesson that I have continually been reminded of is this: it is okay to stumble, to fall, to lose control. I say that with the presumption that you will do so, because you will. Take it from someone who spent most of her life denying it: failure is inevitable. Things will get out of your control, and guess what? You will be okay. You will move onto the next class. You will play the next game. You will find another friend. The world will keep spinning, and you will be okay.
I suppose this, then, is the advice I’d give to my younger self: you can’t spend your whole life staying at home, thinking about theory and meaning. You have to surrender control. You have to go out into the world and see for yourself. A few days ago, I was set on not playing Senior Assassin, but I’m so glad I paid the $10 entrance fee an hour before the deadline. Even though we didn’t get anyone after three hours’ worth of work, the memories were worth it.
I never joined journalism to write. I joined for the sweatshirt. In eighth grade when I was small, painfully anxious about interviewing upperclassmen and an overzealous comma user (still am today), I followed my friends to the initial meeting intent on obtaining a sleekly designed Perennial sweatshirt. My five years on The Perennial have given me the space to grow, mature and push the boundaries of my comfort zone.
Because my freshman year was spent cooped up inside my bedroom, interviews became my tether to the Pinewood community. As I leaned into the discomfort and anxiety that comes with interviews, I found the sense of community I had been missing. These personal conversations replaced hallway passing-period smiles and “hellos” in lunch lines. In small ways, The Perennial brought back the Pinewood I knew and loved.
In sophomore year, despite the grueling nights where I would stare at a computer until my eyes began to blur, layouts quickly became my favorite part of journalism. Too many late nights were spent eating greasy pizza that made my stomach gurgle, debating whether kicking the printer would make it actually work and laughing on the couch until my sides hurt at a deeply unfunny joke one of my friends had made. Initially, I was scared to talk to the seniors who would lounge in the corner, exchanging wisecracks at a rapid-fire pace. As I grew more comfortable around the upperclassmen editors, they became the people I went to for advice (and who I still go to for advice). I didn’t realize I would miss them until they had left.
Delirious layouts pushed me closer to many of my friends and people I’d never talked to. Junior year layouts led to messy dumpling-filled adventures, hours long intimate conversations on the floor of various Books Inc. locations and late-night fast food runs where we piled into a booth too small for six people.
Above all, The Perennial taught me that a simple conversation can kickstart a vivid friendship. In freshman year, I believed that I could stick to my core group of friends. The Perennial forced me to talk to people I had known of but had never known personally.
Even in the past few months, I’ve found myself gossiping and cheering and screaming at basketball games, driving around Los Altos Hills blasting Taylor Swift and judging houses and giggling in the back of stats class, all with people I would’ve never known personally if journalism hadn’t taught me the importance of talking to everyone and anyone.
My only regret for the entirety of high school is that I didn’t talk to more people sooner. I often imagine what could have happened if I had known my close friends years before we graduated.
Although I joined because of the sweatshirt, I stuck around because of the people. The Perennial gave me the community I didn’t know I needed but will miss dearly when I’m gone.
In a small town in the middle of the Netherlands, a young girl’s fascination with coding jumpstarted a journey in computer science which would follow her throughout her life. From Utrecht, Netherlands to Los Altos, California, senior Cate Wessels’ passion for computer science reflects a profound commitment to innovation and community impact.
Inspired by her father’s background in computer science, Wessels began experimenting with coding when she was six years old in Utrecht, exploring Scratch. Later, she advanced to Python.
“Coding has always been a zen for me,” Wessels said. “When looking at someone else’s code, it is like looking into someone’s brain, and that is super personal.”
In 2017, 10-year-old Wessels immigrated to America. While the language barrier initially deterred her from finding her place in America, her passion for discovering new languages helped her learn English very quickly.
“I love learning new languages and have a good grip with multiple,” Wessels said. “I was able to pick up English so quickly because I find accents very interesting.”
When Wessels moved, her passion followed her. In eighth grade, she taught herself iOS app development and co-founded ByteCamps, a program designed to provide tutoring services for coding, with her sister, Rosalie Wessels. It offers camps and private lessons in Scratch, Python, iOS app development and web development.
Cate followed in Rosalie’s footsteps by taking on the role of president of Pinewood’s Technology Club. The club focuses on projects that have practical applications and solutions to real-world problems.
“As Cate’s older sister, I have seen her leadership skills improve during her time as president of the club,” Rosalie said. “I am amazed by how well she took over the club, and how well she manages to motivate the rest of the members and lead projects.”
In 2023, the younger Wessels led the initiative for Pinewood to host its inaugural hackathon on Dec. 2, also known as Pantherhacks.
“It was a huge success,” Wessels said. “We gave out amazing prizes such as iPads and AirPods and participants produced some really cool projects.”
Currently, Wessels is leading the development of a website for Pinewood college counseling, providing students with opportunities over the summer.
Even though computer science has been her lifelong passion, Cate plans to merge her passion for computer science with her passion for biology by majoring in biotechnology in college.
“Biotechnology is completely different from computer science,” Cate said. “But, in order to help the world solve climate change, looking at it from an engineering perspective instead of a policy perspective could make a huge difference in the world.”
Watching her sister change career paths to make a positive impact on the world fills Rosalie with excitement for her sister’s future.
“I am super proud of Cate, and look forward to seeing her grow even more during the upcoming years in college.” Rosalie said.
Senior Colin Ternus will be graduating this month, marking an end to his high school journey. Joining Pinewood freshman year, Ternus explored many interests including photography, robotics, cars and music. In particular, his interests in photography and robotics allowed him to contribute meaningfully to the school community.
Ternus’ passion for photography began `when his father introduced it to him when he was ten. He also learned from his cousin, who was a professional photographer.
“Photography is a great way to capture an image or create something that’s super pretty or tell a story through images and pictures rather than just telling it through a traditional medium,” Ternus said.
Ternus is a photo editor for The Perennial, and often takes pictures of school events. In addition to photography, Colin has always loved building and engineering, which inspired his interest in robotics.
“What really got me into robotics was LEGO Mindstorms,” Ternus said. “Coding those, building those, it was always super interesting and fun, and I carried that over into different programs.”
Ternus is a co-captain of the Pinewood robotics team along with senior Joey Makower, organizing the team meetings.
“What’s really fun and special about Pinewood as a robotics team is that it’s so small that it has to be student-run, or it wouldn’t work,” he said.
This year, the team won 7th place in the FIRST Robotics Competition,which is the best Pinewood has ever done.
Ternus also enjoys track driving and has customized his car by adding modifications such as new brakes and tires. He is also enjoys music and plays the guitar. Ternus recently found a way to combine his love for guitar and 3D printing, and is currently working on designing his own guitar.
After graduation, Ternus will attend Purdue University for Motorsports Engineering.
“I would get to have my focus in mechanical engineering, but also in motorsports engineering, which would allow me to work on cars and Indy teams,” Ternus said.
Ternus is certain he will continue pursuing his lifelong interests in college.
“I’ve always loved building things and engineering,” he said. “That’s been a big part of my life, and it’s going to be a big part of my college experience.”
LARA PARIKH Staff Writer
California prides itself on being home to the heart of innovation and technology: Silicon Valley. Growing up in this STEM-centric environment inspired many Pinewood seniors to pursue majors and explore diverse interests within the field.
UC Berkeley-bound Arjun Kelkar will be majoring in data science, combining his love for math, statistics and computer science. In addition to having an excellent data science program, Berkeley is also known for their computer science, artificial intelligence and math courses, the primary components of data-driven sciences.
“The thing I like about data science is that it’s so versatile because it can be applied to any field, whether it’s sports analytics, the healthcare industry or really anything,” Kelkar said.
A member of the Math Honors Society, Kelkar helps students gain confidence in math lab, which ultimately guided him towards his major choice.
Meghana Simhadri will also be attending UC Berkeley, as a biology major.
“I was inspired to major in [biology] by great role models like my mom, who is a doctor,” Simhadri said. “I’ve always been interested in it, but as I’ve gotten older and learned more about the field, my interest has grown.”
For students interested in the sciences, Simhadri
advises immersing oneself in the topic at hand and truly understanding the nuances behind it.
“Try to really understand what’s happening rather than trying to just memorize steps or formulas,” Simhadri said. “And of course, practice! Some advice I have in general is to get involved in STEM outside of school in whatever way seems fitting.”
An aspiring marine biologist, Makena Matula will be double majoring in environmental sciences and biology with a focus in marine biology at the University of Southern California.
“Biology, especially marine biology, has been the love of my life ever since I was really young,” Matula said. “It’s always been something that I knew I wanted to do, and that love has just grown.”
Their leadership in the Ocean Ambassadors Club and participation in a multitude of marine-biology related extracurricular activities has allowed Matula to further their passion for the subject. They’ve volunteered at the California Academy of Sciences and Monterey Bay Aquarium and also have their own nonprofit to promote biological diversity. In the future, Matula hopes to acquire a PhD in marine biology and conduct research surrounding biodiversity.
As they journey through the next chapter of their lives, Kelkar, Simhadri and Matula hope to be role models for the next generation of students interested in STEM.
While senior graduation is usually a time of celebration, seeing the class of 2024 leave Upper Campus will be bittersweet for some.
After graduating, several seniors will no longer have the opportunity to say hi to – or ignore – their younger siblings in the hallways. Senior Alex Facelo is saying goodbye to her brother, eighth grader Tristan, while Colin Ternus is saying goodbye to his eighth-grade brother Davin. Kaelyn and her ninth grade sister Devyn Smith will separate, and Brandon and Kayden Ge will no longer play on the same varsity basketball team.
In addition, Senior Bridget Rees is leaving sophomore Max Rees behind, while Makena and their ninth-grade brother Ellis Matula won’t see each other on campus anymore. Autumn and her seventh grade brother Julian Porter-Schulz, who both starred in the spring musical “Matilda,” won’t have any opportunities to perform together anytime soon, and Alex Randall will be at college next year while his sister Mia finishes high school at Upper Campus.
The Smith sisters share a close bond with each other, spending time together whenever possible.
“We’re both pretty busy, but…[still] try to hang out and watch movies when we can,” Devyn said.
Kaelyn will be attending Brigham Young University in Utah, which is two hours away from California by plane. Although the nearly 800-mile distance may pose a large barrier in the relationship between the two, it is clear that significant efforts will be made to keep the sisterhood bond intact and glowing.
“Things will be really different, because she has been such a big part of my life,” Devyn said. “We do plan on visiting and calling each other often.”
Although Devyn will be unable to see her sister as often as before, each memorable conversation and moment they share will live on in her heart. In particular, Kaelyn’s advice s has had a great impact on Devyn’s character.
“She told me to ‘enjoy every moment’ because it’s not
going to last; high school is going to go by very quickly,” Devyn said. “She also told me to give things time, and that everything will work out.”
Colin will attend Purdue University, leaving his brother Davin at Pinewood. Davin said his brother has had a big impact on him.
“I will certainly miss my brother when he leaves... driving with him to school introduced me to so much great music that inspired me to get better and better at drumming,” Davin said.
In addition to developing his music taste, Davin credits Colin with opening his eyes to the opportunities at Pinewood waiting for him as he enters high school.
“My brother has taught me to do the most I can with my time at Pinewood, signing up for clubs and going to events. I am certainly going to be joining the robotics team next year mostly because of his love for the program,” Davin said.
Brandon Ge will be attending the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. His brother Kayden has been a fan of Pinewood since childhood, he was glad that he had gotten into his target school.
“We watched their basketball growing up,” Kayden said, “It’s a nice full-circle moment.”
Kayden and Brandon were like any other sibling duo in the past, as they’ve had their highs and lows.
“I’d say we used to have a love-hate relationship before…we’ve gotten a lot closer this year because of [Brandon’s] free time opening up,” Kayden said. “We have this unconditional love…we’ve become pretty good friends.”
This strengthened bond is a result of everyday morning drives to school, as well as more time spent together on both the football field and basketball court. The brothers’ combined love for sports has pushed them, specifically Kayden, to become more driven individuals.
“I am [inspired by Brandon’s] presence,” Kayden said. “I would like to follow in his footsteps, as his success [in sports] is a big motivation for me. I have big shoes to fill as he passes down the torch.”
Many people at Pinewood may have never heard senior Simon Braun sing, but he has been doing just that for nearly 10 years. Known for his brash demeanor and unique sense of humor, one of his hidden talents is his dynamic vocal range and enchanting voice.
The Ragazzi Boys Chorus, a choir of 250 Bay Area boys that’s based in Redwood City, has a unique approach to teaching singing. By putting students through a rigorous 10-year singing process, children are transformed into singers. Those who cannot make the commitment have no choice but to drop out, leaving those who are genuinely passionate and devoted to the advancement of their singing abilities.
“We are a choir group that is so good because we get students from a young age,” Braun said.
What distinguishes Ragazzi, however, is the presence of a treble boys choir. At ages 14-15, boys’ voices change, leaving very few of them with the range to sing treble.
Ragazzi specially trains students from ages 7-8 with the intent of preserving their high ranges. This results in a very exclusive and advanced group, with opportunities to headline
concerts throughout the world, such as in Italy, New York, Vienna and this summer, in the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Braun’s journey in Ragazzi started simple.
“According to my mom, from a very young age, I always liked to sing,” Braun said.
Braun’s budding passion was put to the test over the years as he worked his way through the tough yet undoubtedly rewarding Ragazzi Boys Chorus. After nearly 10 years of work, having learned 20 to 30 new choir songs per season, Braun considers himself fortunate to participate in Ragazzi.
“I find that whenever I go to the choir, all my fears and worries melt away,” Braun said.
He said he has found within himself a new appreciation for music that he will bring throughout life.
“It is one of the least scientific ideas that I can subscribe to: there is some sort of wizardry in music,” Braun said. This is best shown through the deep connection formed between Braun and his choir.
“My choir mates and I, we have an odd dynamic,” Braun said. “Though we don’t necessarily know each other that well, we know each other better than anyone else in the world.”
As the end of Braun’s time at Pinewood nears, he grows increasingly sure of the fact that his exposure to music and Ragazzi during his developmental years will make a lasting impression on his life.
Though he will not study music in college much like most Ragazzi graduates, he plans to join an ensemble.
It is difficult for most to keep music at the center of their entire lives, but Ragazzi gives the skills, as well as the group work ethic to empower its graduates to do so.
Braun says that loves music and finds it the most rewarding thing he has ever done.
“There is nothing more satisfying than singing a good choir song,” Braun said.
Karina Aronson - UCLA
Arjun Kelkar - UC Berkeley
Alex Facelo - University of Redlands
Anna Beltyukova - Northeastern University
Simon Braun - Northeastern University
Cole Chatterjee - Lehigh University
Zefan Feng - Northeastern University
Elena Magliaro - Santa Clara University
Makena Matula - University of Southern California
Anika Nambisan - University of Southern California
Caden Ng - University of Washington
Autumn Porter-Schulz - Arizona State University
Vishesh Ranganathan - Foothill College, Cornell
Bridget Rees - Chapman University
Meghana Simhadri - UC Berkeley
Kaelyn Smith - Brigham Young University
Sachi Urushima - Chapman University
Charlotte van Gent - University of Oregon
Cate Wessels - Santa Clara University
Emma Hwang - Dartmouth College
Jakob Kleiman - Jewish Theological Seminary x Columbia University
Jake Lee - American University
Joey Makower - Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Rohan Parasnis - Carnegie Mellon University
Raghav Ramgopal - Brown University
Alex Randall - Lehigh University
Ethan Roh - Boston College
George Textor - Bucknell University
Sophia Yao - Dartmouth College
Sophia Cheng - Northwestern University
Arnav Gupta - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Alex McCormick - Purdue University
Colin Ternus - Purdue University
SOUTH
Brandon Ge - University of North Carolina
Edward Xia - Emory University
INTERNATIONAL
Oliver Quinn - University of British Columbia
UNDECIDED
Sean Su
Betti Hamori
Karina Aronson lends her leadership skills from journalism to Edward’s family company as CFO. Sometimes they still argue over parking.
Anna Beltyukova whips her neon green truck around Greece and establishes a nationwide cult-following for her iconic vehicle.
Simon Braun slowly builds an arsenal of political powers and allies, overtaking the country with a dictatorship. Autumn plans his inauguration.
Cole Chatterjee joins the Savannah Bananas and becomes the world’s leading baseball entertainer.
Sophia Cheng writes her own AP Stylebook and becomes the Oxford comma advocate for journalism programs around the country.
Alex Facelo is jealous that Drake called George his “Day One” and not her, and uses her TikTok following to debunk George’s political platform.
Zefan Feng continues being late to everything. Everything. Everything.
Brandon Ge becomes so powerful with his middle part that even the ocean would part for him to walk through.
Arnav Gupta grows a whopping two inches and starts calling everybody short to get revenge for all the short jokes he’s heard over the years.
Betti Hamori is revealed to have never been from Hungary after all. She is actually Basketball Barbie and had accidentally fell out of Barbieland.
Emma Hwang legally changes her name to Emma Seuss after four years of illustrating for the Dartmouth newspaper.
Arjun Kelkar spirals into madness when the Green Bay Packers finally lose to the Chicacgo Bears and he realizes that his team is, in fact, trash.
Jake Kleiman challenges Meghana to a fencing duel and gets demolished. As a result, he swears himself to a life of peace and celibacy as a monk.
Jake Lee accidentally spreads his car rat infestation to all of Pinewood, which overtakes the entire country. The rats do, in fact, run this country.
Elena Magliaro is so inspired by her own love for Patagonia fleeces that she invents a company that sews mini-fleeces for honeybees.
Joey Makower uses his college degree to found a start-up that builds robot girlfriends. Raghav becomes his most loyal customer.
Makena Matula spends so much time in the ocean that, on full moons, they morph into a merperson when they touch water.
Alexander McCormick adds 30 more modifications to his Scion FRS and accidentally finds the secret to building flying cars.
Anika Nambisan continues to be addicted to Chobani and eventually eats it so much she is able to steal their recipe from taste alone.
Caden Ng instincitvely trys to walk home from UW after the first day of school and ends up lost in the Canadian wilderness with Sean.
Rohan Parasnis continues his lunchtime basketball dominance at CMU and develops the most unstoppable midrange jumper of all time.
Autumn Porter-Schulz opens a hugely successful event planning organization. In the far future, a dictator asks her to plan his inauguration.
Oliver Quinn continues bodybuilding and growing out his hair, and eventually wins both Mr. Olympia and “World’s Best Hair” in the same year.
Raghav Ramgopal becomes the Kit Kat monster after wiping out the global supply in two days. He also buys 15 robot girlfriends from Joey.
Alex Danger Boissicat Randall practices singing and becomes the second coming of his fellow redhead Ed Sheeran.
Vishesh Ranganathan becomes Arsenal’s manager when he realizes that they simply cannot win anything of substance.
Bridget Rees animates a Pixar hit, an adaptation of the musical “Something Rotten.” All characters look similar to Pinewood’s cast of the production.
Ethan Roh becomes so obsessed with the Celtics while in Boston that he deflates the other team’s ball when they reach the NBA championships.
Meghana Simhadri defeats Jake K. in a fencing duel and wins a fortune. With the money, she reboots “Suits” and casts herself as Donna.
Kaelyn Smith falls into a deep slumber in class at BYU and sleeps for a hundred years, only to be awaken by a true love’s kiss.
Sean Su goes swimming in the ocean and accidentally swims upstream into the Canadian forests, where he begins a nomadic lifestyle with Caden.
Colin Ternus singlehandedly contributes so much to global warming by revving his car engine that the world burns down as a result.
George Textor remains obsessed with the fact that Drake called him his “Day One” and uses it to fuel his political campaign for presidency.
Sachi Urushima cries so much at graduation that she singlehandedly refills the creek behind Pinewood.
Charlotte van Gent cracks her back on her first day at Oregon, sending a sonic boom through the campus and decimating thousands of eardrums.
Cate Wessels codes a robot to take Mr. Huey on walks instead of her, but the robot becomes emotionally attached and runs away with the dog.
Edward Xia eventually overtakes his mom’s company and hires all his classmates to work in various departments under him.
Sophia Yao gossips so loudly that aliens from Mars hear her voice and finally decide it’s time to invade Earth.
Karina Aronson
I knew you when I was five years old. Though our conversations were likely lacking in those first few years, you have since become a role model for me in every way. Calm and collected, you led journalism with an obvious passion and unending kindness. I would be lucky to be half the writer you are. You constantly have a smile on your face, and I can always count on you for timely advice or quick chats in the hallway. Your contagious laugh and easygoing nature made every meeting and interaction memorable and fun. As for our shared journey in AP Art History, I will forever be grateful for your guidance and amazing study advice. Not only this, but your passion for journalism has inspired my own plans in this field. I am permanently indebted to you because of your invaluable help with summer programs. You had no reason to take the time to support me and check in with applications, but you did so anyway. Karina, I am so lucky to have gotten to work with you and become closer friends with you these past two years. I will miss your powerfully selfless presence next year, but I wish you nothing but the best at UCLA. I know you will achieve fantastic things.
-
Violet Negrette Sophia Cheng Sophia, nothing is going to change my mind — you are the single most real person I have ever met. When I first joined journalism, I could tell that you truly cared about writing. Journalism is an extension of you, and so you make it worth it. Your passion and perseverance is something that speaks for itself. I remember speaking to you about journalism as a sophomore — you loved journalism and everything that it stands for but wanted newer students to see this for themselves. As editor-in-chief this year, you have shown up to every meeting with an excitement to teach, showing newer writers the fulfillment that writing can bring. Outside of journalism, I will never forget each time you have given me advice — advice that I definitely needed to hear. You are amazingly perceptive. Earlier this year, you saw me in the hallway talking about college and offered to tell me about your personal college admissions journey in hopes that it would help me on my own. You are passionate and interesting, and I can always count on you for an honest thought. I hope that you leave Pinewood knowing that you have single handedly made journalism what it is, and that it is better for it. Sophia, I will be forever grateful to have you as my role model and my friend. You are a force that will truly be missed next year, but we all know that you will achieve great things. - Annabelle Eaton
Sophia Yao
Sophia, Sophia, Sophia, it’s hard to express how much your presence has meant to me over the past several years. From looking up to you as a seventh grader in junior high PE to our collaboration in ASB and on The Perennial staff, I’ve had the opportunity to experience your contagious energy and humor in many capacities. You have been a force to be reckoned with no matter the setting. Last year, as my Opinion Editor, you were a constant source of support, helping me brainstorm unique ideas and pushing me to explore my voice as a writer. Your leadership style, the perfect combination of encouragement and constructive criticism, became a skill I later carried with me when I stepped into an editor role myself. As Editorial Director, you faced the challenge of having enough pieces for each issue, but your perseverance never wavered. While your contributions to the Perennial have been invaluable over the years, this dedication wasn’t limited to journalism. I still remember when you took an Uber straight from the airport after a long sixhour flight, ready to optimistically participate in an ASB meeting. Most importantly, through all these ex-
periences, I gained a friend. From bonding over our shared love of Zach Bryan to making it through layout fueled by canned Starbucks cold brew, you had a knack for making even the most serious situations fun. We will miss you, your creativity and your spirit next year, but I know that you will kill it at Dartmouth! They’re lucky to have you, Sophia. Go Big Green! - Prisha Mohapatra
Raghav Ramgopal
Raghav, I have known you for almost five years now, and I have had the pleasure of being your News co-editor this past year. I remember, being in seventh grade, seeing this mysterious eighth-grader on Zoom for the first time and thinking to myself: “why can I only see this guy’s forehead?” You received writer of the month and accepted it with an awkward “thank you.” Out of curiosity, I read your article that earned you the monthly award and instantly knew that you were going to serve as my role model for the rest of my journalistic career — as a writer, as a leader and as a friend. Seeing you go from a shy and crafty writer to silent, but diligent copy editor to my news editor and, finally, to my co-editor has been incredible. As one of your past writers, I am so lucky to have received your honesty, insight and constructive criticism. As your co-editor, it is with great pride that I can claim I had the opportunity to work with you. I admire the way you are able to connect with our writers, communicate your thoughts clearly and with care and constantly encourage others to be the best versions of themselves at The Perennial. You truly bring me and those around you joy, and you will be sincerely missed at The Perennial. Thank you for always being someone I can rely on and being that person for others, especially our writers. As you turn the page on senior year, I hope your next chapter allows you to be the compassionate, kind, witty, Raghav that I know. Brown University is extremely lucky to have you. Good luck next year and remember to visit! :)
- Christina Tanase Colin Ternus
Colin, at the beginning of the year, I was missing a photograph during layout, and you immediately jumped up to help me. That was when I knew that this year’s creative department of The Perennial was going to be amazing. Your ability to create in a stressful, fast paced environment really shined, and I’m so grateful for all that you’ve done to help the Opinion section of the paper. Your article on cars was incredibly humorous and really gave me a glimpse of your personality and your love for mechanical engineering. You have no idea how impressed I am that you were able to write articles while also managing your role as a photo editor. Beyond your work at the Perennial, I had the privilege of running into you and watching your band perform at School of Rock, and I was absolutely starstruck at your group’s musical talent and stage presence. It’s clear that you’re a really well rounded individual - with interests stemming from the mathematical subjects like mechanical engineering to the most creative mediums of all time: photography, writing and music. Thank you so much for all that you’ve done for us editors, and I hope you have a wonderful time at Purdue! - Abigail Kamenetsky Brandon Ge
Brandon, in the few years that I’ve known you, I’ve been lucky enough to not only witness but also play a role in your evolution as a journalistic writer. From your first three years as a staff writer to your role as copy editor this year, you’ve taken tremendous strides with your storytelling ability and have developed a knack for expressing yourself through word. Your contributions to The Perennial, not only this year but in years past as well, have been paramount to the continual im-
provement of our paper. Without you, the Pinewood community never would have learned about the talents of Mia Su, your eye-opening experience playing on the football team or your childhood connection to basketball. With every article, you opened your heart a little more and allowed yourself to be vulnerable, making your pieces that much better. You’ve taught me that it’s not always the most elaborate writing that grabs people’s attention; instead, it’s the writing that makes you feel something. Given the excellence of your writing, you’ve also challenged me to be a better section editor, always asking keen questions and making profound suggestions. Thank you for pushing journalism forward and continually raising the standard at The Perennial. Last but not least, thank you for your work as a copy editor this year. You consistently showed your dedication to copy editing by always showing up to layout, finishing your edits on time and making a concerted effort to do your best with AP Style. Everything you’ve done for us will not be forgotten, and you will be missed on staff!
- Jolyn Ding
Emma Hwang
Emma, you truly never cease to amaze. Just as you always liven up conversation in layout, your illustrations have livened up our paper and elevated it to new levels I have never seen before. For the Arts & Culture section, which naturally demands more color and creativity than the more formal sections of the paper, your work really tied all of my pages together so incredibly well. I struggle to pick a favorite among your many Louvre-worthy pieces, but my personal bias compels me to shout out your illustration for my Adele hate article. I could extol your illustrations forever, but I’ll stop myself here to mention your positivity and humor. I am hardly alone in recognizing how you light up Room 17 with your wit and enthusiastic spirit, which I appreciated very much as we worked into the evening. In this past year, you may have observed that I am not the most visually-inclined person, so I was incredibly thankful for every time you checked my page and kindly guided me to make it at least visually palatable if not aesthetically pleasing. Above all, I hope you leave Pinewood well aware of the impact you have made on me and all of my fellow section editors. I also hope that Dartmouth is well aware that they are about to receive perhaps the most intelligent, creative and hardworking student that Pinewood has to offer. I understand that you will be far, far away on the East Coast by this time next year, but I desperately urge you to consider honoring us with a visit or two before then. I suppose there’s just one way I’d like to conclude this blurb: Emma, goodbye for now, but hopefully not for long!
- Michael Shtrom
When we sat down at lunch to discuss the role of Web Editor nearly a year ago, I instantly knew that The Perennial website would be in good hands. Time and time again you demonstrated your enthusiasm, perceptiveness and innovative self. After learning how to work the website and taking on the publishing responsibilities effortlessly, you proceeded to elevate the site to new heights. Thanks to you, viewers can now see a sports score bar and a countdown to the next break. Anyone who browses the site (which might be a significant amount of people judging by the slightly unhinged comment section) will see the effort you put into cultivating a well-functioning and visually-appealing platform. Not only have you contributed continuously to the digital Perennial, but you’ve also been dedicated to the physical paper, enhancing the News section by reporting on various aspects of The Pinewood community, whether that be a teacher spotlight or a Diwali celebration. Thank you for all you’ve done for the Perennial. Berkeley will be lucky to have a driven and creative student like you, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
- Kathleen Xie
As Pinewood approaches the end of the school year, students, teachers and administrators look forward to a three-month reprieve from the classroom. For history teacher Jennifer Bates, however, the end of this year marks a significant milestone in her career. After 19 years at Pinewood, she is moving into a new role as Dean of Students.
Bates’ love of teaching began in high school. When she resolved a tense moment with another student, she knew teaching was right for her.
“I had the almost overwhelming urge to help,” Bates said. “I turned around and gave my alternate explanation while the rest of the class and my teacher silently
looked on, and it was at that moment that I realized that teaching seemed to be something I was good at and felt rewarding to me.”
Since first arriving at Pinewood in 1992, Bates has served in a number of leadership roles, including Social Studies Department Head and Junior High Activities Director. However, this will be the first time she’s left the classroom.
The new role includes overseeing both student activities and implementing student conduct standards.
“Many students have had me as a teacher and know that I like to joke around and have a good time, but I also have high expectations and always follow through with consequences,” Bates said. “As Dean of Students, I plan to stay true to this same philosophy, which I believe will make balancing my two roles successful.”
Upon beginning her role next year, Bates hopes to incorporate feedback from the Pinewood community in order to set goals and create strategies that truly reflect needs.
“I will start my tenure as Dean of Students with a listening tour, wanting to hear from the community what is going well and in what areas we could improve,” Bates said. “I don’t believe in introducing new programs until we set this baseline and hear from our constituency.”
More than anything, Bates said she plans to instill a sense of belonging and empowerment within students, faculty and staff at Pinewood, creating a positive, inclusive and spirited community.
Bates said she is excited for the future and hopes that she will be able to contribute to Pinewood’s mission to inspire joyful learning.
“I look forward to feeling like I am truly a difference,” Bates said. “I hope to see happy students who feel valued, supported, and enjoy their days at Pinewood.”
The Perennial has finalized its editor staff for the 2024-2025 school year. Juniors Prisha Mohapatra and Jolyn Ding will be the new editors-in-chief, with junior Abigail Kamenetsky as managing editor and editorial director.
Mohapatra and Ding, who are taking on the role of current Editors-in-Chief Sophia Cheng and Karina Aronson, have been on The Perennial for their entire high school career, progressing together from writers to copy editors to section editors.
“I’ve been in every single role leading up to editor-in-chief,” Mohapatra said. “So I really have an idea of what each person on the writing staff is looking for and the sort of guidance that they need.”
Mohapatra said she strives to supply new ideas; her ideas range from expanding the readership of the paper to partnering photographers and illustrators per section.
Ding, this year’s sports editor, also believes her experience as a copy editor and section editor will help facilitate the transition to editor-in-chief.
“I got to get a feel for what being a part of journalism truly feels like and what it feels like to be in a leadership role,” Ding said.
On the news team, freshman Katie Maier is replacing senior Raghav Ramgopal as the second news section editor, along with returning junior Christina Tanase. Additionally, junior Annabelle Eaton will serve as editor of the new Breaking News section, with the intent of providing a news outlet for events that need immediate attention.
Junior Violet Negrette, who currently serves as copy editor, will be taking over the position of opinion editor, formerly occupied by Kamenetsky.
Sophomore Lara Parikh has been selected as the Pe-
rennial’s new Science & Tech Editor after being on the team as a writer for two years.
Sophomore Mailey Wang’s passion for sports has driven her to the position of Sports Editor.
Freshman Alisha Ramani and sophomore Dhruv Gupta will transition from writers to copy editors, positions previously occupied by senior Brandon Ge, Eaton and Negrette.
Next year, The Perennial’s online website will be managed by sophomore Jake Reynders, the new Web Editor.
As for the visual side, freshman Elizabeth Liang is taking the role of Illustration Editor.
On the photography team, junior Rose Xu is joing Gabby Yang as co-photo editor.
Pinewood administrators have selected the eighth grade and high school speakers for this year’s graduation.
Pinewood alum, Founder and CEO of Drop Water Scott Edwards, will be speaking at the graduation ceremony for high school, while alum Ashley Ocampo, founder of HALEYS Beauty, will be speaking at the eighth grade graduation.
Drop Water is a company that provides an alternate solution to plastic waste made by offering vending machines, water refill, and compostable cartons. Edwards is excited to share his journey of Drop Water with the Pinewood seniors. He also hopes to leave the seniors with hope and excitement for their own journeys beyond high school.
“I want students to follow that hint of excitement you get when you’re doing something you love and don’t get hung up on the things you’re not great at,” Edwards said.
Edwards believes that it does not matter if a student is particularly gifted in their academics, but rather if they are passionate towards the subject, which is much more valuable.
“I am a dyslexic learner, and I had bad grades at Pinewood,” Edwards said. “I was very unsure of my future, but I found my way and I believe every student at Pinewood will, regardless of how unsure they may be of their future.”
Pinewood President Scott Riches agrees with Edwards in that passion is important, and that’s the reason Riches chose Edward to speak at high school graduation.
“I remember him as a student, but it’s been a number of years,” Riches said. “But I just remember he was very personable, very passionate about engineering and actually the sciences in general . . I liked his interest in the sciences and how curious he was and just how passionate he was about his company that he started.”
Similarly, Ocampo also started her own business. HALEYS Beauty is a personal care product company that emphasizes the importance of cruelty-free and safe makeup products. Ocampo, like Edwards, has a passion, particularly in chemistry, and continues to exemplify WISCR even after leaving Pinewood. Riches said she is a great choice for the eighth grade graduation speaker and remembers her fondly.
“[She was] very personable, very energetic, very involved, kind of like the Pinewood WISCR, really involved in being a well rounded student.” Riches said. “We were also really impressed with her entrepreneurship. . . especially finding her passion and just going for it.”
The junior high graduation ceremony for the eighth graders will be held at Pinewood Upper Campus on May 29 starting at 6 p.m. As for the seniors, their graduation is on May 30 starting at 9:30 a.m. at Pinewood Upper Campus.