The Squire
ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
Campers rejoice in Epicurean’s epic cafeteria
By Olivia Elsbernd Grade 8
St. Philip School
Riordan changed the cafeteria food provider last school year, and this time, they brought back Epicurean.
For the 2025 to 2026 school year, Epicurean Group replaced Culinart, the food provider for the 2024 to 2025 school year.
Epicurean had been the food provider for more than two decades up until the switch. The decision to switch from Epicurean to Culinart was due to multiple factors.
“We were looking for something fresh and a little bit new. I think we thought Epicurean was just comfortable but not necessarily as energetic about this job anymore. So we thought we would try this other group [Culinart] that Marin Catholic and Sacred Heart were also using,” explained Riordan President Tim Reardon.
He added, “I have been extremely pleased with Epicurean’s new energy with regard to their partnership with Riordan.”
Many Camp Crusader campers from 2025 remember the food from last summer.
Parker Jones, a returning camper from St. Brendan’s Parish School, was disappointed in the quality of the food last year, but has noticed the jump in quality
comeback
with the switch from Culinart back to Epicurean.
When asked about the difference in the quality of the food, she said, “It got a lot better and the food is fresher because it’s made every morning, instead of being a while ago and packaged…”
Jones added, “I think that when it’s prepared in the cafeteria kitchen, I feel like they put more care and they put more time into cooking, which makes the food so much better, which makes us all love the food.”
Epicurean’s food wasn’t just preferred by campers, but also Riordan students who serve as Camp Crusader counselors.
“I thought it was alright… to be honest, I think that the school lunch this past year was slightly better,” said Miles Witte ’27, who specifically enjoys Epicurean’s cookies.
The switch back to Epicurean was due to Culinart not being as on their game as Epicurean.
“Unfortunately, Culinart did not deliver the level of service we expected,” said President Reardon.
The switch back to Epicurean was announced in a Family Newsletter on Aug. 8, 2025, and has been seen as met with a positive response from both students and campers.
Photo by The Squire Staff
Camp Crusader campers enjoyed pasta and burritos for lunch
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Archbishop Riordan High School
The Squire: Summer 2026 Session 1
Staff Reporters
Marlowe Caires
Giuliana Deignan
Olivia Elsbernd
Aviana Gooseff
Zosia Gotlib
Kai Hadary
Ella Hickum
Liam Hwang
Parker Jones
Mary Keaveney
Ella Kingston
Alice Lundin-Mizel
Sophie Pisoni
Mabel Simon
Cayla Tam
Editorial Assistant Miles Witte ’27
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 name was created by Jabriel Andrade ’18 and the logo was designed by Donatella Cirelli ’28.
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Archbishop Riordan High School
The Squire: Summer 2026 Session 2
Staff members of The Squire consisted of fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students as reporters, and Riordan students and alumni as photographers and editorial assistants.
“In the time of great changes that we are experiencing, I wish [the] newspaper always to be an instrument of truth, a guardian of history and memory, a source of knowledge and a leaven of humanity.”
-Pope Leo XIV
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Archbishop Riordan High School
Getting to the bottom of the debate: Jeans or sweatpants?
By Giuliana Deignan and Mabel Simon Grade 6 Aptos Middle School
The battle between sweatpants and jeans and which is better is on, and we are here to end this battle one and for all.
After interviewing campers and counselors from Camp Crusader, we collected a lot of information in order to determine a winner.
After asking more than 20 people, we discovered that people like sweatpants better, but it was very close.
Nate Simon ’99, Vice Principal of Academics, said, “Sweatpants are better because you can sleep in them or go out in them or play sports in them and the waist is super stretchy.”
On the other side of the debate, Stephanie Lundin, Director of the Resource Specialist Program, said, “Jeans are better because there are so many different types of them to fit each personality each day.”
Patrick Greene, Director of Gameday Experiences, said, it “depends on the situation.”
Some of the best things about jeans are people wear them to go out to dinner, lunch, breakfast, and everything in between. Jeans are also good for sports games, fundraisers, school, and more!
In conclusion, jeans are great for or a lot of fun things, but sweatpants are also good.
The final tally came down to 12 people who voted for jeans and 17
votes for sweatpants.
There are a few possible reasons why sweatpants received more votes. One reason is they are big and cozy, and the second reason is they come in so many colors, but jeans only come in like three. The last reason is they keep people
warm and are also cheaper than jeans.
Although sweats won, some people voted for both, which shows that both types of pants are great, but it all depends on what people are feeling like on a particular day.
“Jeans are better because there are so many different types of them to fit each personality each day.”
Stephanie Lundin Director of the Resource Specialist Program
Photo by Giuliana Deignan
Mabel Simon and Alice Lundin-Mizel model the competitors: jeans vs. sweatpants.
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Squishing stress away one squeeze at a time
By Mary Keaveney Grade 7
Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School
When you ask someone what they want for their birthday, it is typical of some people to say squishies. Squishies are widely considered a great fidget for kids of all ages.
There are numerous types of squishies. Some of the most popular ones are the butter, dream drop, gumdrop, ice cube, dumpling and loads more. Third grader Wyatt Wylie said, “My favorite squishy is the butter.”
The most popular brand of squishy is NeeDoh, which makes gumdrops, dream drops, ice cubes, fuzzballs, dumplings, and much more.
NeeDohs first started in 2017 but gained popularity in 2025. They are made by Schylling Incorporation, and many people worldwide invest in NeeDohs.
Places that sell squishies include Amazon, Magic Toy Box, Temu, Target and many other toy stores. You can easily order them online and find them at local toy stores, although some places frequently sell out of them.
Many people disagree whether squishies should be allowed in class. Fifth grader Caydi Lee said, “Squishies should be allowed in class because they help get stress relief and you can squish them when you’re bored.”
While some think that squishies are good to have in class, others think differently. According to eighth grader Daniel Joseph Keaveney, “Squishies should not
Squishies have become a popular way for students to relieve stress during class or at home, and popular brands include NeeDoh.
be allowed in class because they are distracting.”
Michelle Wylie, a teacher at Archbishop Riordan High School, said, “As a mom, I’ve had a lot of fun looking for squishies all over San Francisco. We’ve been on the NeeDoh hunt and have been to some really cool stores in the Noe Valley and West Portal to find them.”
In regards to elementary and middle school, she said, “I would not want them to bring them to school because they play with them and it would create a distracting environment,” but for high school, “I have had multiple people in my class with a squishy and they seem to have the maturity to use them when needed.”
Kids who have ADHD or OCD find that squishies decrease stress,
can help them excel in school, and feel less nervous. When caring for squishies, avoid sharp objects that can potentially pop them. Too much pressure can also make them burst. Most squishies last a decently long time if you are careful with them.
When squishies get dirty, you can wash them with soap and let them air dry. Once you do this, they will feel as good as new.
The cost of squishies vary based on their size, brand, and how rare they are. Prices usually range from $1 to $20.
In conclusion, squishies are a simple, good toy for kids and can help relieve stress.
Wylie said, “If the squishy helps someone and is used as a tool, then I see no problem having it in the classroom.”
Photos by Mary Keaveney
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Knicks fans celebrate first championship in five decades
By Aviana Gooseff Grade 8
Parkside
Intermediate School and Zosia Gotlib Grade 7
All Souls Catholic School
On June 13, the New York Knicks took home the national NBA championship against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks won four out of the five games in the NBA Finals,winning the last game by a score of 94-90, putting an end to the 53-year drought since the previous championship win.
“I think it’s a monumental moment for the city of New York,” said Ryan Michael Jones, Archbishop Riordan High School’s Strength and Conditioning coach.
When interviewing students and staff at Riordan, the results on which team they rooted for were mixed.
“The game was very intense!” said Zachary Luongo. Many, many students mentioned the phrase “Knicks in Five!” which is a common saying that refers to them winning the finals in five games instead of seven.
David Lin ’99, Director of Boarding at Riordan, also commented how the Knicks fans reacted to the win. “I am happy that the Knicks won and it has been so long since they last did, but also what they did to Spurs fans was kind of messed up.”
The incident Lin referred to is
Sonny Sullivan, basketball player and Knicks fan, celebrated the Knicks’ championship win by wearing his jersey to Camp Crusader.
bullying and harassment towards Spurs fans and players, such as cursing at them, physical harassment, and even going so far as to try and hit Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs forwardcenter, with a flying egg.
The Knicks were founded on June 6, 1946. They soon became a team with a near cult following. Many people interviewed mentioned their favorite players. A very popular duo is Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, the hilarious point
guard and shooting guard who never fail to bring a smile to fans’ faces.
The upcoming season of the Knicks is still undetermined, but the core five players, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart will stay with them for the 2026-2027 NBA season.
Several players are still undecided, but the future for the New York Knicks looks as bright as the championship trophy.
Photo by Miles Witte ’27
The Squire Archbishop Riordan High School
Valkyries: From myth to mighty
By Alice Lundin-Mizel Grade 5
Lakeshore Elementary School
Most people in the Bay Area have heard of the Golden State Valkyries, but for those who haven’t, here’s a quick lesson.
The top players on the team are Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton, Kaitlin Chen, Kayla Thornton, and Janelle Salaun.
And let’s not forget about the head coach of the Valkyries, Natalie Nakase! Nakase has been with the Valkyries since Oct. 5, 2023 when the Valkyries were established and won Coach of the Year in her first year!
Greg Callaghan, the Riordan Drama Director, said, “Years ago I heard on a podcast that one of the best ways to support equal pay for women (in any industry) is to buy season tickets to the WNBA. I remembered that for a long time and wanted to put my money towards equality. My favorite player is Veronica Burton. She is a beast on the court and a real leader of the team.”
Cara Garcia, the Riordan Operations Manager, said, “The Valkyries have the best fans and if you haven’t been to Ballhalla you’re missing out.”
Three cheers that fans will always hear at Valkyries games are, “Let’s go Valkyries” (clap x5), “G-S-V!,” and “Go Valks!” (clap x4).
The Valkyries’ mascot is Violet, a purple raven who has glasses, and wears a Valkyries dress.
Stephanie Lundin, the RSP
Director, said, “I love their logo because it looks like a dagger, which is a strong symbol. Their merch is also fantastic. I love my purple and gold sparkle jacket.”
A fun fact about the Valkyries that people probably don’t know is that their logo is designed so that the Bay Bridge tower doubles as a sword.
Many fans believe the Golden State Valkyries are the best team in the WNBA. With a current record of 10-5, looking back to last year, they set records as an inaugural team, including the WNBA record for the most wins by an expansion team in a single
season (23 wins) and were the first WNBA expansion team ever to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season.
They also lead the league in home attendance, being the only team to average more than 18,000 fans per game, according to Across the Timeline.
Around the league, Ballhalla is known to be one of the loudest arenas because of all the fans.
The team is valued at $1 billion, making them the most valuable franchise in the WNBA and the first women’s team in any professional sport to ever reach this milestone.
Photo by Melissa Mizel
The Lundin-Mizel Family attend a Valkyries game decked out in the team’s iconic colors of violet, black, white, and gold.
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Fútbol fans converge on Bay Area for FIFA World Cup
By Kai Hadary and Liam Hwang Grade 8
Herbert Hoover Middle School
The World Cup has been off to a great start and the Bay is going crazy. Records are being broken by fan favorite players and people are loving it.
The World Cup has had lots of ups and downs so far. People are loving Messi’s and Argentina’s performances–whether it’s Messi scoring a hat-trick in his first game or breaking the all time World Cup scoring record in his second game with two goals.
The favorites to win the World cup are Spain and France. Members of the Riordan community are rooting for many teams, but especially Argentina.
Coach Levander Brown said, “I think Argentina will win since they play together, have dominated in the group stages so far, and are the World Cup champs.”
Over the past few years soccer has gotten bigger in the US, and the World Cup being here encourages people to watch and root for their team.
Anthony Chacon, a 4th grader at Epiphany, said, “I’m going to the USA game round of 32 so I’m very excited because I want USA to win the World Cup.”
The World Cup has been going on for 96 years and it’s the biggest world wide sport. About 5 billion people watch games throughout
World Cup Soccer in the Bay Area kicked off with a match between Qatar and Switzerland at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, which is called the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium during World Cup games.
the tournament and an estimated 2 billion for the final. That’s one fourth of the world’s population. This World Cup, multiple records have been broken, making it a generational event. A few of these records include Messi scoring 18 World Cup goals, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s record of 16.
Another broken record is Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo scoring in six different World Cups.
This World Cup has brought joy to billions of people throughout the tournament but some people are disappointed due to their country not qualifying. “Ireland is my favorite team so I was mad that they didn’t qualify,” said 8th grader Daniel Keaven.
The World Cup has united the world through the love of soccer, bringing billions of people together.
Coach Brown said, “World Cup soccer is beautiful.”
Photo by Kai Hadary
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Archbishop Riordan High School
Marina District’s Milos Meze magnifies Mediterranean meals
Restaurant specializes in Greek food on small, shareable plates
By Sophie Pisoni Grade 8
St.
Vincent de Paul School
The restaurant Milos Meze on Steiner and Chestnut streets is a nice little Greek spot. It’s good for date nights, dinner nights with friends, or dinner with family. It has menu options from chicken to skirt steaks, mashed potatoes and asparagus.
When my mom, aunt and I first walked in we saw the paintings of Athens and the Greek Islands. We saw signs showing where the beverage wall was, where the bathroom was, and where the emergency exit was.
This restaurant was extremely inviting to everyone–it’s a pop of Greek that the Marina needed. We have Japanese, Italian, American, and now we have Greek! The outside of this restaurant has evil eyes on the outside, which are a common charm known to ward off evil spirits. There were also some Greek gods hidden in the paintings on the wall.
My family and I love this spot because even if some of us want chicken and someone else wants steak, we can get what we want. It was a chilly Wednesday night when my mom, aunt and I went to the restaurant.
My aunt, mom, and I got the pita and along with the spanakopita. Both the pita and spanakopita were amazing as normal, but the dip was a little spicier than normal, which made us pick at it.
My mom and aunt split the chicken souvlaki, which is marinated chicken tenderloin skewered with peppers and onion served with roasted baked potatoes and tzatziki. My mom (Tiffany Pisoni) said, “I think the food was fantastic as always. The place was packed, which made service a bit slower than normal.”
She added, “I always love the tzatziki and the spanakopita is
flaky, just the way you’d want it to be, and filled with greatness!”
I had the beef souvlaki, which is marinated beef filet mignon skewered with peppers and onion and served with roasted baked potatoes and tzatziki. The meat is always one of my favorite items to order at this restaurant. It’s always cooked amazingly with amazing flavor and is classically amazing with the dip.
“I think the food was fantastic as always.”
-Tiffany Pisoni
Photo by Sophie Pisoni
Milos Meze on Steiner Street in San Francisco serves many popular Greek specialties like spanakopita with tzatziki sauce.
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From sushi to mochi: Exploring the world of Japanese cuisine
By Ella Kingston and Ella Wickum Grade 5
St.
Cecilia School
Japanese food is a famous cuisine known all over the world, including at Archbishop Riordan High School. Here are some quotes from some of the Riordan Summer Camp teachers.
Camp Crusader art teacher Mark Alvarez ’16, who teaches at ICA Cristo Rey, said, “I love it (Japanese food), but it is a limited experience for me. Sushi is okay, but I think I like ramen the best.”
Japanese food includes a lot of foods that are also in other cuisines. For example: rice, seafood, meat, etc. Japanese places also put their own twists on other cuisines.
Some popular savory Japanese dishes include sushi, udon, ramen, donburi, okonomiyaki, and yakitori. Sushi is fish placed in rice and allowed to ferment, which keeps the fish edible for some time. The fish and rice are then eaten together for a fabulous blend of tastes.
Udon is a thick, chewy Japanese noodle made from wheat flour, commonly served hot in a mild broth or cold with a dipping sauce, and can also be stir fried. Popular toppings include scallions, tempura and fried tofu, while the broth is typically dashibased soup seasoned with soy sauce and mirin.
Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake made from a flour-based batter mixed with ingredients like: shredded
Photos by The Squire Staff
Sakesan on Ocean Avenue serves sushi dishes such as (left to right) the Spicy Tuna Roll, the Phoenix Roll, and Salmon Roll.
Chicken Katsu Ramen features chicken cutlet, ramen with miso broth, bamboo shoots, corn, soft boiled eggs and green onions.
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The udon at Sakesan arrived steaming hot, with rich broth and endless chewy noodles.
cabbage, meat, seafood, and cooked on a griddle (teppan). Its name means “how you like it grilled,” reflecting its customizable nature, with common toppings including okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, bonito flakes (katsuobushi), and seaweed flakes (aonori).
Coach Alfonso Miranda ’17 said, “I like Japanese food. I think it’s a food that not many people know about.” He added, “It’s a food a lot of people should try.”
Some popular Japanese desserts include, mochi, momiji manju, honey toast, melon pan, and kakigōri. Kakigōri is a shaved ice that’s
One traditional Japanese dessert is mochi (strawberry and green tea), which is rice cake made from mochigome, a short-grain sticky rice, and molded over ice cream.
flavored with sweetener, often condensed or evaporated milk. It’s similar to a snow cone , but kakigōri is a lot softer.
Melon pan is a type of sweet bun that originated in Japan, but its popularity has spread to other countries in Asia, as well as Latin America. Its name comes from its appearance resembling that of a cantaloupe.
Honey toast is made out of the end of a Japanese milk bread and the soft part is removed. Then, the soft part is cut into cubes and either fried or toasted in an oven. These are many of the fascinating, tasty, and great Japanese cultured foods. In all, we rate it 9.5/10.
Photos by The Squire Staff
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Getting the scoop on Açaí R’s rainbow of flavors
By Marlowe Caires St. Finn Barr School
Olivia Elsbernd St. Philip School
and
Parker Jones St. Brendan School Grade 8
When strolling down the bustling streets of Ocean Avenue, a bright and vibrant logo may catch your eye.
This logo is home to a beautiful and modern shop known as Açaí R. Açaí R has been very popular among students attending school in the area, such as Archbishop Riordan, Lick-Wilmerding, St. Finn Barr, Stratford, and more.
Our bowl consisted of 100 percent organic açaí, blue agave, almond butter, dried coconut, honey almond granola, sliced apples, sliced bananas, sliced strawberries, and Himalayan salt, which turned out to be $10.96.
The açaí was an intense imperial purple while the granola was crispy and crunchy. The richness of the blue agave balanced out the sweet and flaky flavor of the coconut. The fruit was sliced perfectly; the apples were crisp, the strawberries were a perfect ruby red, and the bananas were plump and golden.
As soon as the spoon hit my mouth my taste buds were dancing. The açaí was so sweet and perfectly chilled. The flavors of the fruits mixed together really well, and already being very sweet, they did not need the extra
The açaí bowl included organic açaí, granola, fruit, and coconut flakes.
sweetener, and the granola added the perfect amount of crunch to the bowl.
Açaí R’s overall atmosphere was lacking, mostly due to there not being more than 10 people in there, but that could be due to the popularity of delivery and take out. Speakers in the shop were playing fast-tempoed K-Pop, and the aesthetic was very plain, with the walls a milky color, and the
countertops were pearly white and koala gray colored marble. Their rainbow logo in the center tied the whole place together. Overall, we’d recommend going to Açaí R, especially if you’re in the area or you take public transit near there.
Our açaí bowl was good, but the aesthetic and atmosphere was plain and lacked feeling. We would rate Açaí R 8/10.
“As soon as the spoon hit my mouth my taste buds were dancing.”
Photo by Marlowe Caires