The Squire
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1
ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
Crusader Forum scores new LED screens
By Sid McGrillen Grade 5
St.
Stephen’s School and The Squire Staff
Crusader Forum is a centerpiece of activity at Archbishop Riordan High School.
In the fall, the gym hosts volleyball games. In the winter, it’s the home of the basketball teams. Year round, students, faculty and staff assemble there for rallies and Masses. This summer, the installation of new LED video boards to replace the scoreboard is stirring up excitement across campus and beyond.
Athletic Director Jay’Sen Morris ’07 said, “We are getting a new scoreboard for multiple reasons. One of the main reasons is to upgrade and update the boards we currently have. In addition, the new boards will be able to be used for Masses, rallies, open houses, Crusader for a Day, etc.”
Many of the schools in the WCAL now have these scoreboards. According to Morris, “More than half of the schools in the WCAL have these boards as they are becoming increasingly popular at the high school level.”
The new devices, one on each side of the gym, are “LED video boards, similar to boards you see
at college or in pro games.”
Morris explained, “It will allow us to improve the game-day experience for fans and highlight and promote different things happening on campus. Since we now have Mass in the gym, the boards can also be used as a large projector.”
In addition, during games it can be used to show different graphics. It also allows for the display of in-game stats, replays, and highlights.
“Most importantly,” Morris added, “the boards are versatile and can be used for many different things outside of athletic contests.”
The planning and preparation took months of work to decide what was needed, how to install it, and how to pay for it.
“The boards were quite the investment,” Morris said. “The Advancement Department has raised money and identified potential sponsors to help pay for the scoreboards.”
The new boards should be ready by the time school starts next month and the first team to officially use it will be volleyball.
Varsity volleyball player Katelyn Leong ’25 said, “Getting a new scoreboard is really exciting! What I love about our home games is the unparalleled energy
JV basketball head coach Alfonso Miranda ’17 reviews the installation plans for the new scoreboard – in the boxes – which will be placed on the wall above the banners this summer.
and the Crusader pride, and I think this new scoreboard will just continue to add onto that.”
She added, “I’ve seen these types of scoreboards at away games in the past, so I’m so glad to finally see one at the R. And just in time for my senior season, too!”
Photo by The Squire staff
The Squire
Archbishop Riordan High School
The Squire
Staff Reporters
Andrea Alvarez
Ryan Anderson
Amariz Araujo
James Cassidy
Jeffrey Chong
Quinn Debrunner
Aidan De Juan
Alison Delgadillo
Dylan Hayes
Liliana Hernandez
Emerson Holcombe
Zachary Keenan
Mitzy Rosas Lee
Eva Leon-Marquez
Sid McGrillen
Keegan Owens
Colton Pho
Daniel Reyes Jr.
Alexa Rodriguez
Luke Sandiford
Hanna Widjaja
Editorial Assistants
Thomas Galvin ’24
Dani Lainez ’25
Joseph Zuloaga ’23
Adviser
Susan Sutton, MJE
Note: The name of the Camp Crusader newspaper was changed from The Crusader Junior to The Squire in 2018. A squire is “an attendant to a knight before becoming a knight.”
The Squire
Archbishop
Riordan High School
The Squire: Summer 2024
Staff members of The Squire consisted of fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students as reporters, and Riordan students and alumni as photographers and editorial assistants.
Scan the code on the left to read this issue of The Squire online, as well as previous issues.
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Archbishop Riordan High School
Main menu: Cafeteria renovations underway
By Aidan De Juan Grade 7 Hilldale School
This summer, the cafeteria, a place where many students at Riordan eat, is in the process of being renovated for the first time after 75 years.
Brandon Ramsey, Director of Plant and Facilities, explained in an interview, “We’re bringing a new catering company to improve the aesthetics of the cafeteria, adding final wraps and changing countertops.”
He added, “It hadn’t been renovated in a while.”
The last time it was renovated was in 1949, the year when the school was founded. Minor changes had happened in the past 75 years, only related to the equipment in the kitchen and other minor changes.
Nothing else had changed with the appearance of the kitchen and cafeteria. This is the first time the cafeteria has gotten any big changes.
CulinArt Group will be the new food service vendor for Archbishop Riordan in the fall. The cafeteria renovations are being made to accommodate the new food provider and give the area a makeover.
Chaminade Hall, Riordan’s cafeteria, is undergoing major renovations this summer in anticipation of the new school year.
After 75 years, the administration wanted to improve the appearance of the cafeteria, as well as the functionality. They will also be changing the marketing system.
“We want to give the cafeteria some new life, along with accommodating the students,” Ramsey said.
Daniella Lainez ’26, a student at Riordan, commented on the
renovations.
“Some changes I am looking forward to regarding the cafeteria redesign is having more seating and a more thought out layout to accommodate for our large student body at Riordan.”
The new redesign may be fitting for the amount of students who learn at Riordan and the staff as well.
“We want to give the cafeteria some new life, along with accommodating the students.”
-Brandon
Ramsey, Director of Plant and Facilities
Photo by Thomas Galvin ’24
The Squire
Archbishop Riordan High School
What’s brewing in summer biology class?
By Hanna Widjaja Grade 8
Our
Lady of Mercy School
Archbishop Riordan High School biology teacher Jack Reardon chose to use his “big wonders” about science and life to inspire students’ young minds.
As a kid, Reardon always had big questions about life and science just like the famous biologist and naturalist himself, Charles Darwin.
In 2019, Reardon graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in teaching. After getting lots and lots of answers to many scientific questions, it finally brought him peace, but he wanted to share this information with others somehow.
He became a biology teacher at Riordan in 2022. This summer is his first time teaching students during the Riordan Summer Camp.
Alexa Rodriguez, an eighth grader at St. Stephen School, said, “His teaching style is great! It is super fun, interactive, and mindblowing.” She continued, “My favorite lab our class participated in so far, had to be learning about pH levels!”
She added, “I really enjoyed mixing the different acids and bases and seeing all of the different chemical reactions.”
One of Reardon’s favorite topics to teach his students about is evolution. He preaches that evolution tells our life story. From
Students examine how chemical reactions absorb and release energy by recording ongoing temperature, in order to better understand photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
humans to plants, and animals. You name it.
“I think biology is cool because everything living around us IS biology and I think it is super important to learn about and understand that we are connected to other living things in a way,”
Emerson Holcombe, an eighth grader at A.P. Giannini Middle School explained.
Reardon believes that it is important for students to learn
about biology because it is essential to know where we came from and knowing how we work helps us find our purpose.
He said that if anyone wants to become a biologist, it is a very attainable and possible goal.
“Just focus on your studies, keep your eyes on the prize and keep an open mind because you’ll never know what you will want when you’re older, but that’s super great and I support you!”
“I think biology is cool because everything living around us IS biology and I think it is super important to learn about and understand that we are connected to other living things in a way.”
-Emerson Holcombe, A.P. Giannini Middle School
Photo by The Squire staff
6 Campus News
The Squire Archbishop Riordan High School
Students add Precalculus class to summer equation
By Colton Pho Grade 5 Hilldale School
For the 2024 summer, a few Riordan students decided to join the Precalculus Program.
Some wanted to be productive, some wanted access to physics, and some wanted to take Calculus AB (covers the first semester of calculus) and calculus BC (covers the first two semesters of the school year or one whole school year).
The Precalculus program is being taught by Robert Weatherly, who teaches math at Archbishop Riordan during the school year.
He said, “Earning a bit more money is always nice since I have three kids.”
Students are not taking the class just for fun, as many found that their math skills improved because of this course. By the end of the camp, they will have many benefits to carry with them once school starts in the fall, and hope to get A’s in their future math classes.
“I took this class because I heard that Mr. Weatherly is absolutely the coolest teacher. And, I needed the class,” said Amer De Juan ’26.
Weatherly also sees a few benefits for himself. One benefit is that he has not been at Riordan for long, so he can get to know the students more with this summer course.
He said, “Teaching accelerated classes is always fun because the
Students work on an assignment for the summer Precalculus class.
students are more involved, which causes the environment to be more productive and fun.”
Pacing was a very big challenge for him, as the course was only for two weeks, but he and the students persevered and managed to complete the lessons.
Charlottie Yip ’26 said, “I definitely saw improvement because since this is an accelerated course, you have to be really quick because you don’t have much time to really process things, so I found that my study habits and general logic skills improved.”
The Pre Calc class is small, so it would be easier for the students’
questions to be answered. There are only 10 students in the class, compared to 30 during the regular school year. Weatherly also said that he gets to relearn math he has not practiced in a while, so he is learning with the students.
“Math is extremely important, especially in the Bay Area. Everything around us is driven by money and numbers,” said Weatherly.
He also said, “Most strangers aren’t interested in helping us, so making sure we understand all of our financial choices is paramount to being able to maintain to improve our standard of living.”
“Math is extremely important, especially in the Bay Area. Everything around us is driven by money and numbers.”
-Robert Weatherly, math teacher
Photo by Ethan Ly ’26
The Squire
Archbishop Riordan High School
Students draw on talent to create works of art
By Emerson Holcombe Grade 8
A.P. Giannini Middle School
Mark Alvarez, a Riordan alumnus and former art student, is back for another summer of teaching and inspiring kids on the same path he was once walking. He said he will be back for more in the coming years.
Alvarez graduated in 2016 and went on to teach at San Jose Downtown College Prep. He enjoyed his high school experience and even took art class.
“I loved my experience at Riordan. I graduated in ’16 so it was still an all male Catholic high school so it was big on brotherhood and I really did feel that between the guys in my class.”
During his time at Riordan, he discovered and uncovered his affinity for art. Later on he discovered another love, a love for teaching.
Over the years he uncovered a way to honor both passions and pursue what he loved. He became an art teacher and began working at Downtown College Prep in San Jose.
However, he often revisits Riordan to pass down the knowledge he has gathered on his way.
This year he is teaching his
Art students explore a box of magazine scraps in search of material for a project as teacher Mark Alvarez ’16 prepares the day’s lesson.
students clay, painting, collage, and glaze. Many of his students enjoy his class.
Liliana Hernandez said, “I like art because it helps me express my feelings. You can’t always tell if I’m sad or not, so if I don’t want to talk to someone I can just express myself through painting.”
No matter what point in life someone is at, it’s always hard to express oneself. It’s especially hard during teenage years.
Alvarez’s art class gives youth an outlet for them to voice their opinions, emotions, and whatever else they can’t say out
loud, and have a beautiful creation to keep later on.
Alvarez said, “Seeing what kids can come up with made me realize that everyone has different perspectives. You can assign a million people one thing to draw and they all draw it slightly differently and I love that.”
He added, “One thing I like about art specifically (is that) I’ve always had an affinity for just kind of creating and visual art just speaks to something deep in my consciousness. It’s tied to something spiritual for me. I don’t understand it, but I do know I love it.”
“(Art) is tied to something spiritual for me. I don’t understand it, but I do know I love it.”
-Art teacher Mark Alvarez ’16
Photo by Thomas Galvin ’24
The Squire
Archbishop Riordan High School
Martinez savors sweet success in business administration
By Alexa Rodriguez Grade 8, St. Stephen School
In 1949, Archbishop Riordan High School came into existence, and this year the school is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
The school is planning events to celebrate the occasion, as thousands of graduates look back fondly on their time at Riordan.
Daniel Martinez ’99, attended Riordan before it became coed. Martinez wanted to apply to Riordan because it was a Catholic all boys school, which had an amazing band program. When he became a freshman (1995), he joined the marching band.
Martinez didn’t join any sports when he was in high school because he wanted to focus on his two main priorities: school and band. Martinez thinks that Riordan would have been different back then if there were girls, and believes there would have been “more school programs.”
When Martinez was looking for a high school to apply to, the only one he wanted was Riordan.
Angie Martinez, his little sister, said, “I was excited to have my older brother in a good high school. I was happy that the family was happy because that was his number one choice.”
Amalia Martinez, his mother, said, “I felt peace, because it was a safe place, and a great school.”
One of his favorite memories would be when he was a junior, in 1998, because he traveled to Hawaii to march in a parade, playing the clarinet and the oboe.
Martinez enjoyed band practices, traveling with the band, going to the games, the amazing teachers that helped him get to where he is now, and the clubs (like chess and Spanish).
Then, the year came, the year to graduate. In May of 1999, Martinez graduated from Riordan with honors, and was also a Lancer, where he was able to recommend Riordan as a great school to others.
Once he graduated from Riordan, he attended DeVry University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Then, he was offered a job at the iconic See’s Candies in the Hillsdale Mall.
Martinez said, “I love my job because I am able to not only meet different people every day, but the friendships that come from it are what I cherish the most.”
“I love my job because I am able to not only meet different people every day, but the friendships that come from it are what I cherish the most.”
-Daniel Martinez ’99
Photos provide by Daniel Martinez ’99
Daniel Martinez graduated from Riordan in 1999 and used his degree in Business Administration to manage a See’s Candies store.
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Archbishop Riordan High School
Alvarez serves community with pride, purpose
By Andrea Alvarez Grade 9
Archbishop
Riordan High School
Archbishop Riordan High School and its positive community influences people to want to help others in need. One case of this would be Jose Alvarez, who graduated in 2018.
Riordan encouraged Alvarez to help others in need, which led to him deciding which path to take for his future career.
Once he was accepted into Riordan, he knew he wanted to become something, and the school itself showed him what a good community was like.
When the time came to decide what he wanted to be in life, he decided to learn about criminal justice. He wanted to become a police officer and help people.
When studying to make his dream come true, Alvarez was determined to work in the police force. Even though people tried to bash his dreams and he had to wait a while for a response back from police departments, he continued to follow his dreams.
One example of this was, as he said, “Our family would talk about me and not in the way you expect. It was stressful just to think about it sometimes. All I wanted was to have a job that could provide for me well financially.”
One of the reasons why he wanted to work as a police officer was to help out the Hispanic community.
Photo by Lance yearbook
Jose Alvarez Jr. graduated from Riordan in 2018 and is now a police officer with Redwood City.
He wanted to make sure that they weren’t misunderstood, and that they could also explain their side of the story, especially because the Hispanic community has been misunderstood many times due to the language barrier. Although he struggled for a while, he said, “It’s a job that is both fun and stressful, and in the end, I’m glad that I chose it as my job.”
He recommends it to everyone who is interested in the police force.
One lesson that he wants to share with others is that ultimately, for those who do end up deciding to follow that path, they must be very determined to work in that profession.
“It’s worth the struggle, and you should always follow your dreams, no matter how hard it is.”
Photo provided by Jose Alvarez Jr. ’18
& Entertainment
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Archbishop Riordan High School
‘Queen of Tejano’ still reigns supreme
By Liliana Hernandez Grade 6
St.
Veronica School
“Selena” the movie is a must watch.
The movie is about a singer named Selena Quintanilla. She was a Mexican-American singer who had a lot ahead of her before her life was cut short.
At the age of 23, Selena died from a gunshot wound at the hands of her fan club president.
Although the movie is not new, the 30th anniversary of her death is approaching, and Selena is still an icon to many who admired her talent and spirited work ethic.
The movie “Selena” stars Jennifer Lopez, and retells the story of her life and how hard she had to work to get where she was.
The movie details her childhood, love life, work, her fashion career and more.
Lopez played Selena’s role pretty good and in one part, Lopez and Edward James Olmos, the man who played Selena’s father, had a scene where they argued about her choices, and they both played their parts so well! This is one of the best played scenes in the movie.
Another amazing scene is when Selena burst into her future husband’s (Chris Perez) room saying they should get married.
I’d give this movie a 9 out of 10. Overall, the movie was amazing and it’s a must watch!
“Selena”
tells the story of singer and icon Selena Quintanilla-Perez.
“Selena is still an icon to many who admired her talent and spirited work ethic.”
Creative Commons
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Archbishop Riordan High School
‘Inside Out 2’ sends audiences on emotional roller coaster Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui arrive as Riley turns 13
By Alison Delgadillo and Quinn Debrunner
Grade 8
St. Gabriel School
“Inside Out 2” is a fascinating animated film that digs deep into the complexities of daily human emotions.
The movie shows the emotions as fun, colorful characters in the mind of a 13-year-old girl named Riley. Disgust, Joy, Fear, Sadness and Anger navigate Riley’s emotions and how she reacts to things.
Joy is happy-go-lucky and is always trying to help the other emotions get their mood up.
Disgust is an emotion that makes sure Riley doesn’t get poisoned mentally and physically. Sadness helps Riley cope with her life problems.
Anger helps Riley in hockey to get motivated. Finally, Fear keeps Riley safe and sound.
As Riley turns 13, new emtions arrive: Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui.
This movie portrays the complications of human emotions. It also shows how important it is to express emotions to others.
“Inside out 2” is a must see family friendly film that educates and entertains people of all ages. This film has a mix of heartfelt and humorous moments, making it enjoyable for everyone.
So far, “Inside Out 2” has made about $858.6 million internationally, and is still showing in theaters in the Bay Area.
New emotions show up in Riley’s life in “Inside Out 2.”
“This movie shows how important it is to express emotions to others.”
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Archbishop Riordan High School
Bay City team sets goal for U.S. Futsal Championship
By Keegan Owens Grade 8
Presidio Hill School
The Futsal tournament in Las Vegas unites teams from across the nation to vie for the national championship.
Many individuals may not be aware of the U.S. Futsal Championship taking place this weekend, or even that there is a national tournament for futsal, or that futsal is a recognized sport.
While futsal may not be widely known in the United States, it is a significant sport in other parts of the world.
In countries like Brazil, futsal is a major part of the soccer culture, with children playing it before transitioning to 11v11 soccer.
A team from San Francisco is set to participate in the tournament and they are optimistic about their chances of winning.
In an interview, Bay City player Colby Owens expressed his excitement for the tournament, stating that it should be enjoyable and that they have a shot at winning.
He said, “I hope we can go as far as possible and I believe that we have the potential to win if we
Photo provided by the Owens Family
Colby Owens will compete in the futsal championships in Las Vegas this summer, representing the Bay City team.
“I hope we can go as far as possible and I believe that we have the potential to win if we work together and perform well as a team.”
-Colby Owens
Bay
City futsal player
work together and perform well as a team.”
He proceeded to outline the structure of the tournament and the dynamics at play.
“Internally, it resembles a convention center with multiple courts hosting four teams in a bracket format. To advance to the quarterfinals and beyond, you must emerge victorious from your bracket,” he explained.
They seemed to be short on players, as he mentioned, “I believe some of our key players are absent this time around. We have unfortunately lost some of our top performers, but we shouldn’t solely depend on them. Hopefully, we can still perform well as a team.”
The team is confident in their readiness for the tournament and is determined to give their best performance. The players are optimistic that their teamwork will give them a strong chance at winning.
The first games of the tournament will begin on Saturday, and their fans extend their best wishes to the SF team as they enter the championship to compete for the title of the best team in the USA.
The Squire Archbishop Riordan High School
Baseball players swing into summer
By Daniel Reyes Jr. Grade 7
St.
Catherine of Sienna School
This summer, Riordan baseball coach Craig Sargent gave young players the opportunity to get the high school coaching experience.
Coach Sargent was inspired to coach by his father. Coach Sargent said that his father “mentored all my friends growing up, helping them become better men and achieving success both on and off the field.”
As a coach, Coach Sargent looks for talented players. But, something he values more than talent is a strong work ethic.
“While talent is valuable, it’s the dedication to continuous improvement, the willingness to put in the effort, and the ability to stay focused and resilient in the face of
challenges that truly make a great player,” he said.
Coach Sargent wants players that work hard and want to learn from their mistakes.
He said, “In a game where you fail more than you succeed, mental strength is required.”
Sargent emphasized that players have to understand that baseball is a game of failure and like everything, participants have to keep working hard when faced with challenges.
Coach Sargent was excited about working with younger players, many who might be future Crusaders.
He said, “I chose to coach a summer baseball camp because I believe it’s important to lay the foundation of a new program through the youth. By getting kids excited and giving them a sneak peek of what Riordan baseball will look like, we can build momentum and set expectations from an early age. I’ve seen this approach work effectively in youth soccer organizations, preparing and inspiring the kids to strive for success.”
Coach Sargent hopes to inspire kids to work hard and show them what to expect if they want to play baseball at a high level like high school.
Players in the Crusader summer baseball camp pose for a photo.
Photo by The Squire Staff
A player takes a swing during batting practice.
Photo by The Squire Staff
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Archbishop Riordan High School
Maverick Jack’s satisfies
By James Cassidy and Luke Sandiford Grade 7
St. Cecilia’s School
Are you craving a delicious burger, fries and shake? We have the place for you.
Maverick Jack’s is a small family restaurant that is very pleasant and convenient to get to as it is next to the Broadway, Burlingame CalTrain station. This station has stops on weekends only.
The restaurant offers inside or outside dining. We sat outside since the weather was nice and warm.
The menu has a wide variety of food, such as burgers, fries, salads, milkshakes and even sundaes if you want a tasty dessert. If you do not want a sundae, you can have a soda float. They have a special menu monthly. July’s menu specials included: The All American Burger with bacon and cheese, Red, White and Blue Salad and an Apple Pie Milkshake.
We ordered the San Fransokyo salad, a vanilla milkshake, cheddar cheese burger, fries, and garlic fries.
“The French fries smelled good and were crispy and crunchy.”
Maverick Jack’s burger comes with melted cheddar cheese, pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes on a toasted bun and a side of crispy fries.
Photo by James Cassidy
The Squire Archbishop Riordan
customers on every level
The milkshake was creamy, thick and it melted in my mouth. The French fries smelled good and were crispy and crunchy.
The salad was their twist on an Asian Chicken Salad, made with teriyaki glazed chicken fillet, crispy wontons, rice noodles, avocado, pickled ginger, green onions and sesame seeds.
The cheeseburger was cooked expertly and the cheddar was melted to perfection. The food came out warm and fast.
“The cheddar was melted to perfection.”
We would recommend this restaurant because it is not that crowded and has delicious food. The servers were kind and happy to take our orders. Overall, we would go back and recommend that you go to this restaurant, too. Maybe we will even see you there!
At left is a plate of Maverick Jack’s garlic fries. Maverick Jack’s is located at 1190 California Drive in Burlingame.
Website: maverickjacks.com
Photo by James Cassidy
Photo by James Cassidy
Above is Maverick Jack’s famous Asian Chicken Salad, called San Fransokyo Salad.
The Squire Archbishop Riordan High School
Hi-Way Burger serves it the right way
By Zachary Keenan Grade 7, St. Philip School
Hi-Way Burger restaurant is a scrumptious option for a debrief after a long day at school or work. When you walk into the place, you feel a rush of culture and you know the food is going to be good by the smell.
My order was a chicken sandwich, a cheeseburger, shihshito peppers, and fries. The chicken sandwich was my favorite of everything I got and it was very juicy and flavorful; and the bun complemented it very well. The only downside was it fell apart very easily. The overall rating is 10/10.
The burger was not very good. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good. They loaded the burger with lettuce, but the patty was pretty thick and was seasoned very well. The overall rating is 5/10.
Keenan
Hi-Way Burger in Noe Valley serves burgers, chicken sanwiches, fries, shakes, and grilled shishito peppers.
The fries were pretty good and were seasoned very well. But they were overcooked slightly and the texture was not complimenting the fries’ taste well. Overall rating was 7/10.
The shishito peppers were seasoned amazingly and were
very salty but I think that’s what made them so good. The overall rating is 8/10.
In conclusion, the restaurant was very good and the vibes were immaculate. I also didn’t have to wait that long for the food. The overall rating is 8.5/10.
“The chicken sandwich was my favorite . . . it was just very juicy and flavorful.”
Photo by Zachary