The Departing eDucators M a De enDuring iMpact on school
By Grace Ma
Three teachers will embark on new journeys in June after giving countless hours of instruction, advice and support to the Sage Hill community.
AP Economics teacher Teryn Bentley will depart for a new teaching role overseas, while Health and Wellness Coordinator Merja Connolly and English teacher Arlie Parker plan to retire in June.
After joining Sage Hill in its inaugural year, Connolly became one of 12 original educators contributing to the formation of the school’s mission and core values. Throughout her 26year tenure at Sage Hill, Connolly has been a crucial part of the Athletics and Health and Wellness program, serving as a volleyball coach, yoga instructor, and Health and Wellness Coordinator.
Connolly has dedicated her time at Sage Hill to bettering the well-being of
each individual she meets. After retiring, Connolly plans to devote her time to creative projects focused on spreading peace and bettering the world.
“Always keep a positive attitude and know that a healthy routine is key in life,” Connolly said.
Bentley joined Sage Hill in 2017 after moving to Orange County. As the teacher of AP Economics and the Principles of Business class, as well as the advisor for DECA, Bentley has fostered entrepreneurship within the Sage community. In class, Bentley likes to simplify the high-level concepts of economics so that they are easier to learn and understand. After departing Sage Hill, Bentley plans to teach Economics at an international school in Morocco.
“I hope that during my time at Sage, I have inspired more students to pursue economics and finance in college,” Bentley said.
Parker joined the Sage community in 2002 after moving from Louisiana.
Parker has taught both English 4: Music and Memory and English III. He has also served as a trip chaperone for the popular Spring at Sage trip “Poetic Surfing.”
Parker especially enjoys teaching haiku writing and has worked to instill confidence in students through their writing and self expression. He hopes that students continue to write as a tool for self-expression and navigating life. In his 24 years at Sage Hill, Parker’s dedication and passion for writing and teaching has inspired many students, evident in the creation of the Arlie Parker Haiku Nook, a space in the humanities building where students hang haikus about their lives.
“Always have faith and confidence in yourself. And as always, go get ‘em Tigers!” Parker said.
April 2026
Volume 24, Issue 5
lightningboltonline.com
Sage Hill School
20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657
stuDents Battle in Brawl stars tourna Ment
By Melissa Yu
A Brawl Stars video game tournament sponsored by StuCo brought boisterous lunchtime competition earlier this month.
Twenty-four competitors participated in a single-elimination bracket-style tournament that started April 7.
“It’s a good way to meet some upperclassmen,” freshman Jasper Kim said. “Brawl Stars is fun because I can play it with my friends.”
Set in a cursed theme park, Brawl Stars is a free, mobile shooter game where competitors play a one-on-one match of Brawl Ball, a soccer-like game mode in which the objective is to dribble the ball into the opponent’s goal. Players can attack each other and eliminated players spawn after a short delay. The winner is the first to score two goals.
Brawl Stars achieved immediate success after its launch in 2018. Following a gradual decline in popularity the game experienced renewed growth from 2023 to 2024. With new characters released frequently, the game remains highly popular with approximately 49.8 million monthly active players in March.
The Sage Hill student body underscored the game’s popularity by selecting it from a Student Council poll for the school’s latest gaming tournament
However, some students raised concerns that these rules disadvantage those who are unlucky, even if they played honestly.
“I’m a little worried about the disconnect rules,” said freshman Andy Yuan, who finished in the top four. “My phone’s connection isn’t always the best, so I hope I don’t get eliminated because of it.”
Results must also be submitted within 10 minutes of the match ending to further ensure integrity.
Organizers established safeguards against cheating because match results are self-reported. For example, students cannot disconnect their devices when they are about to lose, since players are disqualified if they disconnect more than once.
Grace Ma | The Bolt
(Left to right) Merja Connolly retires from Sage Hill after 26 years of teaching. Arlie Parker retires after 24 years of teaching. Teryn Bentley departs from Sage Hill after a nine-year tenure.
2
The Bolt April 2026
Sage Hill School
News
Middle School on Track for auguST opening, new faculT y hired
By Meredith Carroll and Vianna Kashani
Sage Hill School will welcome approximately 140 seventh and eighth grade students on Aug. 17 for the middle school program’s inaugural academic year and enjoy the school’s newest building.
Convocation 2026 will cap a multi-year effort to fundraise, design and construct the new building. Additionally, school administrators have spearheaded hiring 12 middle school faculty members while simultaneously accepting students into grades 7, 8 and 9 for the first time in school history.
“The 7–12 campus allows middle school students to see what the next stage of their education looks like,” Director of Middle School Dr. Joseph Moody said.
Dr. Moody added that students will enjoy a unique and personalized experience.
The incoming class will follow a daily schedule built around five core subjects, together with electives and mandatory team sports. Newly accepted middle school students have either tested or will soon test into Math and World Languages classes and selected their electives for the 2026–27 school year.
Middle schoolers will have access to Journalism, Debate & Leadership, Robotics, Model United Nations, Theatre and Junior Classical League. Eighth graders will have the opportunity to campaign for student council leadership and apply for shadow day host positions.
The middle school and second gym building are in their final phases of construction. The building will include classrooms, faculty offices, a café and a gymnasium with seating for up to 1,000 people.
“Construction on the new middle school and second gym building continues to make strong progress, with noticeable advancements across both exterior and interior spaces,” said Dan Livingston, Director of Operations for Sage Hill.
Middle school and second gym construction underway in
The new spaces are designed to give younger students their own identity on campus while being connected to the larger Sage Hill community. A dedicated middle school Town Square and café will be paired with supervised shared access to the athletic fields and the Art Studio at Sage Hill.
Joint programs for upper school and middle school students are designed for connection, leadership development and mentorship.
“There will definitely be opportunities for interaction, but they will be
intentional and age-appropriate,” Dr. Moody said.
As an example, the new Lightning Links program will match every seventh grader with and 11th grade student mentor for two years; likewise, students entering eighth grade will be paired with a 12th grader.
The addition of a middle school was a critical part of the Sage Hill founders’ long-term plan and aligns with its core mission and vision, Head of School Patricia Merz said.
Families showed strong interest in starting earlier within the Sage Hill
community, school leaders said.
Beyond the classroom, experiential learning will play a central role in the life of a Sage Hill middle schooler. Planned trips include a seventh-grade visit to Camp Stevens in Julian, Calif. and an eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C.
“In five years, Sage Hill will feel like a fully connected 7–12 community, where students grow up together and build strong relationships across grade levels,” Merz said.
Correction: Due to an editing error, the news story titled “Students Elect New StuCo President, VP” on page 1 of the March 2026 edition misidentified Student Council presidential candidate Katie Chang. The Bolt regrets the error.
THE BOLT
Editors-in-Chief
The Bolt is a student newspaper and serves the public forum at Sage Hill School. Its content - news, editorial, opinion, and feature - is protected by Education Code 48907, the state student rights law and the California Constitution which guarantees all citizens the right of freedom of speech and of the press. Opinions expressed do not represent the views or beliefs of Sage Hill School and its administration. The Bolt accepts signed letters to the editors from members of the Sage Hill community which may be posted as comments at lightningboltonline.com, or addressed to Editors-in-Chief Arya Rawal, Katelyn Yeh and Maya Desai and put in their mailboxes on campus. These letters may not exceed 150 words or they will be edited for inclusion.
Arya Rawal (Bolt), Katelyn Yeh (Bolt) & Maya Desai (Online)
Editorial Board
Amy Choi, Taite Nicholson, Kenzie Chang, Maria Neemuchwala, Isabella Huang, Doyoung Lee, Ella Wang, Jenny Li, Linda Liu, Tina Tahbaz & Johnathan Yan
Writers Suri Li, Elisa Xu, Nate Yoo, Mika He, Grace Ma, Jennifer Lee, Chaaya Springer, Leo Lin, Milan Desai, Nicole Bo, Jessimi Lyu, Nathan Tang, Nikki Petrie, Colette Moshayedi, Maria Wang and Melissa Yu
Photographers and Artists
Nathan Tang, Leo Lin, Giselle Barron, Tina Tahbaz, Penelope Pan, Chaaya Springer and Jessimi Lyu
Adviser Daniel Langhorne
Courtesy of Sage Hill School
preparation for August opening.
ClaviCular, ‘BlaCk Pill’ and dangers of the emerging m anosPhere
By Elisa Xu
The arrest of influencer
Braden Peters, aka “Clavicular,” sent shockwaves through his largely male fanbase on March 26. Peters initially rose to fame through Tiktoks where he rated people’s looks and pioneered the art of “looksmaxxing,” a system that conflates physical looks with a number on an objective scale. This number is then used by subscribers of this belief to determine one’s worth and therefore achievement in life. Not only has looksmaxxing been increasingly associated with men, it has fostered and perpetuated a false sense of toxic masculinity and identity: a driving force and characteristic of the manosphere.
Recently released Netflix documentary “Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere” has generated discourse on not only the rise of conservatism but the dangers of toxic masculinity, especially toward youth online. The emergence of internet subcultures like the “black pill”
community raise an important question: how does the internet facilitate harmful social and political atmospheres among younger generations?
“Black pill,” a term often associated with the manosphere, parallels the notion of looksmaxxing and encompasses an ideology that promotes nihilism and the idea that biological traits are inherently linked to economic and romantic success. Essentially, black pill encourages people to simply give up on success in life if they fail to possess the physical features deemed attractive, thus promoting a nihilistic worldview to those who do not fulfill an objective and oppressive beauty standard.
Many people who participate in the black pill engage in online content catered to this community. Typically, said content focuses on judging certain physical traits, labeling them as either good or bad, and giving unprofessional advice on how to optimize appearance. Men often
see looksmaxxing as a means of self-improvement. However, this ideology is inherently flawed. Not only does the black pill community emphasize predetermined failure for those who do not naturally possess the traits deemed attractive, but the notion also perpetuates the idea that one’s looks are fundamentally tied to their value. This conflation fosters not only a toxic masculinity but also collective insecurity and self-hatred on a mass scale.
UN Women defines the manosphere as “a loose network of communities that claim to address men’s struggles—dating, fitness or fatherhood, for example—but often promote harmful advice and attitudes.” In a world where connection and communication is overwhelmingly reliant on digital technologies, online spaces will only grow, adding fuel to the growth of harmful communities such as the manosphere. With younger generations addicted to phones and declining media literacy rates,
youth will only become more vulnerable to environments that foster misogynistic ideas.
Moreover, this mass mindset permeates into our everyday lives as high school students and teenagers outside of school. Men convinced into taking the black pill advocate its “benefits” to other men, whether consciously or subconsciously. As many men become more and more obsessed with personal identity and vanity, their focus shifts from practicing empathy and kindness to maximizing ego and self-confidence. While the growing manosphere might seem harmless, distant, or even beyond our individual agency to stop, its parasitic nature will continue exploiting male morale across societies.
Clearly an ideology that exploits insecurities, black pill poses a dangerous threat to younger virtual audiences, a risk only magnified by the emotional turbulence of coming-of-age.
Many men fail to recognize that
black pill is dangerous, dismissing these communities as merely a collective attempt to improve oneself.
Perhaps this might even be the scariest facet of the black pill—the way it magnetizes, absorbs and brainwashes young men into its doomed nihilism. We are headed into a perilous era, where collective consciences and absence of critical thinking might very well shape our future society. While all this might seem a bit pessimistic, it is imperative that we resist this rapidly spreading disease.
Through truthful conversation, meaningful connection and a radical openmindedness, we can rebuild modern masculinity and restore hope, love and care to our society. This is a crisis, and we must be destined to save ourselves.
turn uP the foCus: musiC in the Classroom
By Jennifer Lee
Many students struggle to stay focused during long assignments. For some, silence makes it even harder to concentrate. Eyes start to wander everywhere in the classroom and hands fidget random things to help concentrate. This is why students should be allowed to listen to music while working.
Some students see improved focus with background music. It can act like an auditory buffer, helping to block out sudden noises and create a consistent and engaging environment. Sometimes, silence can be the biggest distraction to our focus. Our brain is wired to seek sensory simulation, and without them, our brain can start filling the void with chatter and have anxious thoughts.
As school can be stressful to students with the amount of assignments that are due and the upcoming exams, students start to experience higher levels of stress. Music allows us to lower our cortisol level, helping people slow their heart from racing. Additionally, melodies help release dopamine, the “pleasure chemical” that enhances motivation, and serotonin, the chemical messenger that provides mood stability. With music enhancing these two chemicals in our body, our body reacts with positivity,
helping us focus with the task.
Music can make repetitive or boring assignments feel more enjoyable as music stimulates the brain’s reward system, improving mood, making monotonous work feel less taxing. With music providing focus to the students, students will be able to remain focused for longer periods of time, while reducing distractions and keeping their minds engaged. Music can also increase motivation, as students may feel more willing complete assignments wheile listening to something they enjoy.
Some people argue that students should not be allowed to listen to music while working because it can be distracting, especially when music has lyrics. They believe that music may take student’s attention away from their assignments and lower their performance. However, many students choose music that they believe would best help with their focus, which can actually improve concentration instead of harming it. In addition, not all students learn the same way, and some students are able to focus better with background noise rather than complete silence. Instead of banning music entirely, schools should allow it with reasonable guidelines so students can use it as a tool for
“Instead of banning music entirely, schools should allow it with reasonable guidelines so students can use it as a tool for learning and enhancing focus.”
learning and enhancing focus. Overall, students should be allowed to listen to music while working because it can improve focus, reduce stress and increase productivity. Giving
students this option could lead to a more positive and productive learning environment. Students would feel more relaxed and open to sharing their ideas. The classroom would become
a place where everyone feels included instead of stressed or pressured. This can help students stay focused and actually enjoy learning.
Photo Courtesy of Pexels
Girls’ l acrosse Wins First leaGue title
By Grace Ma
Girls’ Lacrosse has won its first league championship in school history, finishing the regular season with a 12-1 record.
Sage Hill girls’ lacrosse has won 12 consecutive games after dropping its opener to Orange Lutheran.
The Lightning found its rhythm early in the season with non-league wins over Segerstrom, Tustin, and El Toro. In a dominant performance on March 18, the Lightning won 14-8 against Aliso Niguel, a team that they had lost to the previous season.
After a breakout season last year, the Lightning have continued to build on its success. Led by captains sophomore Gabby Park and senior Ava Khan, the team has developed stronger coordination and teamwork.
“We have prioritized strategizing formations and developing new plays. Maintaining high energy has also been a key contributing factor to the team’s success,” sophomore captain Gabby Park said.
Girls’ Lacrosse currently stands first in league after wins over Rosary, Irvine and Portola. In a close game against Portola on April 8, the Lightning secured a 10-9 win as Gabby scored the final goal two minutes into overtime. finish the game. Gabby
surpassed 100 career goals early in the season, a major milestone in her high school career.
The Lightning have improved their communication and collaborative scoring this season.
“We’ve built great team chemistry, and our communication on the field has improved a lot, which has helped us create more scoring opportunities,” assistant coach and Sage Hill alumna Ava Herin said.
The team has also developed a more structured style of play, with contributions from every player.
“We run plays involving three or four players, and we place an emphasis on smooth transitions,”
The team includes many newer players who have stepped up to contribute both offensively and defensively.
“The freshmen have really shown up and shown out this season,” Turchi said.
After securing the league title, the Lightning now looks to build on its first CIF appearance last season and return to the playoffs.
“Every player has been focused since the start of the season, and we are all working towards a common goal,” Turchi said.
Boys’ tennis sets siGhts on ciF
By Nate Yoo
The Sage Hill varsity tennis team is ready for a CIF victory. Sitting at a record of 11-4 overall and 2-0 in league play, the Lightning have combined dominant home performances with a pair of league wins. These wins have positioned them for a solid postseason run despite fielding one of the youngest teams in the CIF southern section.
The Lightning have, outscored opponents by wide margins in several non-league matchups. Sage Hill shut out Capistrano Valley and Orange by a combined 36-0, and defeated Dana Hills, El Dorado, Aliso Niguel, and Cerritos by a combined margin of 65-7.
The four losses in non-league play came against Newport Harbor, Woodbridge, University High School, and Northwood - all nationally prominent programs.
In league play, Sage Hill opened with a 15-3 win over St. Margaret’s before securing another 15-3 win over Laguna Beach, Junior captain Sam Jindal said the team is focused on closing the regular season strong.
“Our goal is to win out throughout the Pacific Hills League,” Sam said. “We currently have four more matchups, all against league opponents. And Sage Hill will be hosting the league tournament this year for the first time in 10-plus years, getting wins there and having Sage at the top of the league is a big goal.”
He also pointed to recent CIF shortcomings as a source of motivation for success this year.
“These past two years, we’ve come short in CIF the first or second round,” he said. “Our goal is to really go past those roadblocks and hopefully bring home the CIF championship.”
10th-year head coach Whit Kenerson echoed this sentiment and acknowledged the team’s untapped potential.
“Unfortunately, this year, we have not had our whole roster together except for one match. So I feel like when our whole team’s together, we have a lot of attention. We can do really well,” Kenerson said.
This year, the team lost two nationally ranked players: Alex Park and Alex Croitoru. Sophomore Vayu Mansukhani credited the team’s ability to rebound after losing two of its best players.
“Considering that we lost a lot of good players last year, our team has bounced back really well,” Vayu said. “We’ve come out on top in a lot of games, and hopefully we can replicate that in the playoffs.”
Boys’ Volley Ball Finds stride in PlayoFF Push
By Mika He
Following last year’s run to the state CIF title, Boys’ Volleyball has transformed an uncertain season into a playoff push with their post-spring break eight-game winning streak.
The team’s resilience, steady improvement, and long-term chemistry -- especially among the four senior starters -- have earned 21-9 overall record and 9-5 league record, placing them second in the Pacific Coast League. They are also strong contenders for the playoffs in the CIF Southern Section Division 5.
The season began with challenging games against San Juan Hills and Trabuco Hills.
“I think this season, it was a bit of a rough start playing against some good teams,” freshman William Priddy said. “But as the season went on, we kind of found our groove.”
This season, the team also lost the transformative outside hitter Jackson Cryst, who now plays at Cal State University, Long Beach. First-year head coach Ethan Cinco said the team responded well to change, even with some injuries.
“Being new to the school and new to the program... I think
we did a good job at finding an identity early,” he said.
Cinco added that the team’s biggest strength is its “brotherhood.”
“What makes this group truly unique is their commitment to each other,” Cinco said. “It’s cool how many of them are genuinely friends off the court and stay after practices just to talk.
In Cinco’s last eight years coaching in public schools, he has never seen this level of camaraderie.
Senior Dylan Han also echoed the team’s close-knit relationship.
“We have a lot of team chemistry this year since half of our starting roster right now is seniors, and we’ve been playing with each other for 3-4 years,” Dylan said.
That chemistry mattered as the team adjusted to a new coaching staff and new systems. Han said it took time for the team to learn different blocking schemes and other tactical changes, but the players grew comfortable as the season went on.
William said the team’s success depends upon their serve receives, ball control and
on-court communication.
“We’re most definitely a smaller team,” Priddy said. “We have to have ball control and keep rallies alive long enough to eventually get a kill.”
Cinco credits several players for helping lead the team’s growth. He praises Dylan for his consistency and positivity, highlights senior Jonathan Ye for
stepping up at the Coyote Classic tournament, and commends captains Connor Gapp and Ryan Manesh for showing why they were chosen to lead. As one of the few underclassmen on the team, Priddy said Connor and Ryan have been key in welcoming younger players and helping them adjust to the varsity level.
With the regular season
winding down, the team’s focus is clear: finish strong and reach the CIF playoffs.
Cinco believes the group is capable of more than just qualifying.
“I want them to prove that we are good enough, we don’t need anything else, anybody else,” Cinco said. “We’re great just as we are.”
Head Coach Kelsey Turchi said.
Grace Ma | The Bolt
Girls’ Lacrosse lines up for the postgame handshake on April 8.
Sophie Zhou | The Bolt
Senior Dylan Han beats a double block against Irvine High School on April 16.
By Suri Li and Ella Wang
StudentS M ake WaveS through Multicultural SyMpoSiuM
Sage Hill students gathered in the gym on the morning of April 15 for opening remarks of the 10th annual Multicultural Symposium, dedicating a school day for inspiring students to become changemakers in their communities and globally.
The Sage Advocates for Multicultural Education (SAME) co-chairs and seniors Aisha Mushin, Shaurya Mittal, and Isaac Alegria. They shared personal stories related to SAME’s main goals: to help the student body be seen, heard, and valued.
Sophomore Eviana Branch substantiated these themes by presenting her spoken word poem, “Monachopsis,” on ways she connects with her adoptive family through music.
This year’s theme, “Making Waves,” aimed to illustrate how a single idea or action can grow into ripples of change and inspiration
Junior Sienna Burnette, a SAME event committee member, shared how the group brainstormed theme ideas during a Saturday morning meeting in January.
“The other SAME members and I came together one Saturday morning in January for a few hours, and
[considered themes in] kaleidoscope and books,” Sienna said. “Ultimately, [SAME] decided on Making Waves both for the calming visuals of the ocean and the concept of making waves of change in our communities,” said Burnette.
The symposium hosted a total of 28 different seminars ranging from Anime to Artificial Intelligence, with some led by faculty and others by students.
Junior Aanya Pillai presented a seminar titled “Lights, Camera, Culture: Bollywood’s Ripple Effect.”
“I came up with this idea because Bollywood has such a big impact on Indian culture and encompasses so many [artistic mediums] such as music and dance,” Aanya said. “Outside of India, Bollywood also has an impact on Western culture, which matches with the theme of making waves.”
On the other hand, most students spent the entire day going to three seminar sessions. Freshman Tiffany Hon attended the “Making Waves Through Anime: Exploring Unanswered Questions” seminar.
“I learned about the meaning behind different anime and how they are linked to real world problems,” Tiffany said.
SAME (Sage Advocates for Multicultural Education) in the Peter V. Ueberroth gym for the Multicultural Symposium opening.
college Bound athleteS celeBrate Signing day
Seniors Cameron Liu, Ethan Hicks, and Alyssa Cuff at their college signing day on April 14.
By Milan Desai
Sage Hill honored several student-athletes as they signed their national letters of intent to compete at the collegiate level on April 14.
Family, friends, and coaches of Seniors Cameron Liu, Ethan Hicks, and Alyssa Cuff gathered in Wilkins Town Square to recognize the dedication and hard work that have led to this moment.
Cameron Liu committed to Amherst College for hockey after years of dedication. As a young goalie in Taiwan, where opportunities to play hockey were limited, especially for girls, Cameron said, “It was not easy in the beginning.”
Cameron poured “blood, sweat, and tears” to get to the collegiate level. Cameron performed at a high level on her hockey team, motivating the team with her competitiveness. After Cameron officially committed, she said, “I step into
this new chapter of my career confidently knowing I have the tools equipped to confront any challenges I may face in life.”
Ethan committed to Cornell University to row, after years of balancing athletic performance with rigorous academics. Applause erupted throughout the crowd as he signed his letter, marking the beginning of his collegiate career. Hicks plans to major in Biological Science in Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).
Alyssa committed to Michigan State University to row and plans to major in business administration. A multi-sport athlete, Cuff led Girls’ Basketball team to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Southern California Regional Open Division final. Her signature marked a new transition to collegiate rowing while she majors in business administration.
StudentS With a llergieS navigating unique School life
By Chaaya Springer
Teenagers are four times more likely to have a fatal outcome to an allergic reaction than children under 13, according to a study in the National Library of Medicine. Throughout age groups, the percentage of people with allergies is comparable but the higher rate of fatal outcomes for teenagers has families and schools on alert.
“I’ve only ever had two allergic reactions throughout my life,” said sophomore Jacob Montgomery, who is allergic to peanuts. “The second time was actually on a Sage service learning day. We were at OC Rescue Mission, doing community service, and I had unknowingly eaten a peanut butter cookie.”
After vomiting and developing hives,
both signs of anaphylaxis, Montgomery used his EpiPen. Having an EpiPen on hand likely saved Montgomery’s life. For this reason, Sage Hill recommends students with allergies carry an EpiPen on all field trips.
Outside of emergencies, everyday activities still pose risks, and students continue to experience allergic reactions on campus.
“I’m allergic to onions,” sophomore Eviana Branch said. “At FLIK they say stuff that’s gluten free, dairy free, but they don’t mention if something has onions or not. I think it was one of the pastas or something, [and] in the sauce they had onions.”
Common allergens such as wheat, sesame, soy, egg, and milk are listed on
the allergy board outside of FLIK,
“The students are notified that this item we produce has certain allergens in there, and it’s posted and visible,” FLIK Executive Chef Joseph Stilson said.
However, less common allergens, such as onions, are not listed. Incomplete ingredient labels are undoubtedly a concern for students with allergies. Teenagers often attempt to conceal their allergies because of social stigma, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This leaves teenagers in high-risk situations where others are unaware of their allergies.
Some students pursue allergy desensitization, a yearlong process of gradually consuming increasing amounts of their allergen. The fact that teenagers choose
to go through this process highlights the mental and social weight of living with allergies. The AAP urges schools and food services to educate staff on the severity of food allergies.
All Sage Hill employees are required to annually complete first aid training, which includes recognizing anaphylaxis symptoms and how to use an EpiPen.
Although Branch said she did not need to use an EpiPen following her encounter with FLIK pasta, she did have a painful stomachache.
“I think what FLIK needs to do is [list] actually every ingredient they have, like if they use onion powder. There’s a lot of things that people are allergic to that they should keep in mind,” Branch said.
Courtesy of Sage Hill School
Courtesy of Sage Hill School
M ath Field day hosts Middle schoolers
By Nathan Tang
Sage Hill hosted bright mathematical minds in sixth through eighth grades for its Math Invitational on Feb. 28. Students from eight Southern California schools demonstrated their mathematical knowledge. The Math Field Day Service Learning group designs this competition to challenge both the mathematical knowledge of those students and their ability to collaborate and work together.
Throughout the day, the students competed in seven different events that ranged from mental math and algebra to geometry, brain teasers and engineering. Each section targets and pushes the students’ ability and allows them to demonstrate their mathematical brilliancy.
“It was a great experience to watch the kids having fun and enjoying the day,” Math Invitational Team member Alex Kong said. “The engineering project was especially memorable for their cheering and encouragement of each other.”
Within the engineering event, students competed to build a catapult using only a spoon, cup, tape and rubber bands. Despite feeling the time pressure, they used their communication and team work to further their team’s creation.
The sense of collaboration support carried over to the Countdown Round, where one student from each
team competed in a one-on-one battle on stage.
“The highlight for me was definitely the Countdown Round,” Junior Natalie Song said. “It was really fun seeing everyone in the audience cheer for the contestants onstage and our Countdown students displayed great sportsmanship and courage being up there.”
For the organizers, one of the challenges they faced was balancing questions challenging and making sure middle schoolers had fun.
“We had to make the tests challenging but not discouraging,” Senior Vera Yang said.
Despite these setbacks, the overall response from the students was overwhelmingly positive.
“My highlight was seeing how much everyone was enjoying Countdown and cheering for their representatives,” Senior Kayla Chan said.
As the event’s lead planner, Kayla also walked away with the lesson that events like this will strengthen the bonds of participating middle schoolers, but also the Math Field Day committee members.
“It takes a lot of meticulous preparation and strong teamwork to create a successful event,” Kayla said. “As a leader, you have to make sure every detail is accounted for while also being flexible when things go wrong.”
spring dance show Fuses MoveMent and a rt
By Suri Yaghmai
Sage Hill’s Dance Program, led by dance teachers Sydney Smith and Taleen Shrikian, presented their spring showcase, “Out of Frame,” on April 2.
Intricate, visually striking choreography highlighted artists and paintings throughout history. Incredible performances covering artists like Banksy, Salvador Dalí and Rembrandt elevated the crowd’s amazement and heightened the atmosphere. The expression of each dance illustrated the creativity behind choreography.
The show began with “A Palé,” a routine inspired by Frida Kahlo and her colorful and unique style. Performed by the Honors Synergy Dance Ensemble, the piece created a unique sense of imagery.
“The Frida Kahlo dance was different from anything we have ever done before. It emphasized storytelling through movement, which made it very exciting to interpret to a dance,” senior London Green said.
Many dances were also choreo-
graphed by the performers themselves. Junior Mika Ramezani and senior Cordelia Cieplucha choreographed and performed “It’s Already Gorgeous,” inspired by Jason Toth’s work.
“Creating choreography for Synergy allowed me to understand a new side of dance,” junior Mika Ramezani said. “I viewed dance from a different lens, making intentional decisions that challenged me to analyze and trust my own creative voice.”
The show spotlighted a routine with all seniors, dancing together on stage for the last time.
Inspired by Pablo Picasso, the final dance included the entire dance program. The piece illustrated the immense amount of effort encapsulated throughout the show.
“I loved being able to dance with everyone for the last dance,” sophomore Ella Nami said. “It showed all of our hard work on stage through us coming together for one big dance.”
Junior classical league tea M victorious at state convention
By Linda Liu and Isabella Huang
Sage Hill’s Junior Classical League (JCL) chapter attended the California Junior Classical League State Convention (CAJCL) at St. Francis High School in Sacramento from March 27 to 28.
Under the theme Concordia parvae res crescunt— in harmony, small things grow— students competed in academic tests, sports, and Greco-Roman themed events. Donning togas in a sea of 415 students, JCL students shouted Roman chants during the spirit contest of the convention. A series of student victories in these events gave way to a third-place overall finish for Sage Hill among 30 participating schools.
In Project Runway, with only 30 minutes to create a Greco-Roman-inspired fashion piece, the team of freshman Lauren Levine, sophomores Aniline Umstaetter, Serena Rong and Chloe Muller and junior Aseel Al-Ali emerged victorious with a Greek goddess-inspired outfit.
“We chose Circe, because she’s an example of a powerful woman from Greek mythology,” said Lauren. The team handcrafted flowers and a wand from scratch to secure a win from the judges, she said.
Months of practice paid off for the Latin I team, who made school history with a first place finish in Competitive Certamen, a quiz-bowl style competition which tests students on questions ranging from the Latin language, Roman daily life and mythology.
“I actually couldn’t cheer at the moment because I was in another room grading essays, and so I had to very
silently have a lovely little celebration, but I was very happy,” Latin teacher and JCL sponsor Dr. Jeffrey Feland said.
The freshman team of Max Diaz, Jasper Kim, Madelynn Lee, Arthur Sparks and Alex Zuo held their buzzers tight as they raced to answer questions in the beginner division of the Certamen finals— emerging victorious in a major upset over rival University High School.
“I think we were all just really relieved after the round— and that all our cram studying and stress didn’t just go to nothing,” Madelynn joked.
“It was a great experience for ev-
eryone, especially it being the first state convention we’ve gone to,” Jasper said.
Junior Alex Kong also swept the Ancient Geography, Mottoes and Mythology exams, earning the highest marks of the convention on each test.
“I have loved Greco-Roman mythology for years, starting with Percy Jackson in second grade. And I have loved looking at maps forever. State tests were simply a vessel for me to express that passion,” Alex said.
In the last General Assembly of the convention, juniors Aanya Pillai and Chelsea Chen raised their right hands in oath
alongside the 2026-2027 CAJCL Executive Board, newly-elected by participating chapters as parliamentarian and secretary.
“Sage JCL really gave me such an amazing environment with all the different people,” Aanya said. “It’s such a positive experience, and it’s so much fun, and I really hope to bring that to other people through being on the state board.”
Senior Julia Ball, First Vice President of the current CAJCL Board, joined the stage to receive the Lura A. Wallace and Paul E. Shickle CAJCL Scholarship, which contributed $2,000 toward her continued study of the Classics in college.
As one of four seniors to win the scholarship, Julia credits Dr. Feland’s mentorship, the Sage Hill JCL chapter and the CAJCL in her decision to continue her study of Latin and the Classics into college.
“I am so grateful to them for teaching me so much and allowing me to grow and develop into a more mature and educated person!” Julia said.
“These sort of events show just how much impact Latin and the classics have had on our world over the last couple thousand years, and their relevance shows how much students enjoy this sort of competition,” Dr. Feland said. “I just love to see students perform their best, enjoy what they’re doing, and show off all that they’ve learned. Because whether they win or lose, it’s really more about making sure that they get the most out of the experience.”
Courtesy of Sage Hill School
Dance III performs We Don’t Trust You,” inspired by the work of Jan Matejko.
Courtesy of Dr. Jeffrey Feland
Sage Hill’s Junior Classical League (JCL) chapter attended the General Assembly at the California Junior Classical League State Convention on March 28.
Arts & Entertainment
ink A nd inspir Ation
By Maya Desai
Welcome to our poetry corner, where we will discuss odes today. Odes are a type of lyrical poetry that highlight a certain object, person, or place. Authors often employ a laudable and admirable style while writing these poems in order
to celebrate the item in focus. This type of poetry powerfully uses imagery and metaphors in order to emphasize a commonly ordinary object. Odes combine a reflective style with personal emotions to create a powerful, intense poem.
Excerpt from “Our Town”
We never noticed
The wooden pipe
Coffee brown and bacon grazed ripe
The smoke and the scent in Rich, fledged comfort
We never noticed
The too big, too wide Crinkles in a smile inside The twinkle in eyes of Sparkling innocence
We never noticed
The golden sunsets behind Our families’ open blinds
The speckled flashes through Painted skies of clouds
We never noticed
The familiarity and felicity
Of simple simplicity
The rhythm Of our town
r eview: ‘projeC t H A il M A ry ’ is A n UnforgettA
spACe A dventUre
By Maria Wang
“Project Hail Mary,” adapted from Andy Weir’s best-selling sci-fi novel, is a uniquely entertaining science fiction movie that presents a lone astronaut as humanity’s last hope. Packed with action, emotional depth and occasional goofy comedy, “Project Hail Mary” is worth the watch.
Set in the not-too-distant future, humans discover that the sun is dying because a mysterious substance called astrophage is eating the sun’s energy. Facing the threat of a global ice age, Eva Stratt is appointed the leader of an interna-
tional task force working to save the sun. Stratt recruits Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, a science teacher with a doctorate in molecular biology, to analyze samples of astrophage. Eventually enlisted as an astronaut in a last-chance mission to save Earth, Grace is put into an induced coma to journey through space to the sole star unaffected by astrophage, in the hope of finding the secret to the sun’s survival.
The movie begins with Grace awakening alone in a spaceship, with no memory of who he is or why he is there. Through a series of flashbacks,
Grace realizes he is the sole survivor of his crew and humanity’s only hope. During his journey, Grace meets a spider-like rock alien he calls Rocky, whose sun is also dying because of astrophage. Recognizing their common goal of saving their respective planets, the two work together, communicating through body language and computer-assisted translations. Grace’s “odd couple” relationship with Rocky is unique, funny and touching. As Grace and Rocky grow closer over the course of the mission, their friendship emerges as a key theme of the movie, casting
a hopeful outlook on a grim situation. Through this bond, Grace’s character also evolves. Gosling brings this character to life, perfectly capturing Grace’s major character transformations, fears and vulnerabilities.
The movie also excels in cinematography and action. The film’s visuals are breathtaking. The imagery of Grace drifting alone in space evokes awe and solitude, highlighting the vastness of space. Enhanced by the ethereal music score, the film makes the audience feel as though they were drifting through space alongside Grace. Rocky and the film’s spacecraft
A pril Crossword
By Leo Lin and Nathan Tang
Across
are also highly realistic, further immersing viewers into the story.
A gripping science fiction adventure, “Project Hail Mary” is packed with a wide range of action sequences, from a pulse-pounding space mission to the fast-paced movements and ingenuity of Grace, who uses scientific reasoning and help from Rocky to survive.
4. The founder never visited the campus
5. First research institute in the US
8. The college next to o’block
10. The first public university in the United States
11. The college features a campus lagoon with a private beach
14. It houses the world’s largest sanctuary for rare lemurs.
15. This university hosts the nation’s largest studentrun musical 17. Landmark Supreme Court case, one of the most important in US history
19. The oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher education in the U.S.
20. The most applied to university in the US
21. The college without a traditional campus
23. Community college in Irvine
Down
1. The place where Terence Tao earned his PhD
2. Third oldest institution in the US higher education system
3. Invented a “smoot,” a unit of measurement
6. Campus has a “statue of three lies” with 3 lies on the inscription
7. Manages NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL)
8. Famously rejected Steven Spielberg
9. Home to over over 220,000 Eucalyptus trees
10. Often referred to as “Cal”
11. The only Ivy League school to qualify for the 2026 March Madness
12. Famously called the “Ivy League of the West”
13. Roger Federer gave a commencement speech
16. Has the Beer Bike tradition, where students alternate between chugging beer and riding a bike
18. Originally called King’s College, later used as a British military hospital
22. 2026 March Madness Winner
Sage Hill School
Student Life
Senior Prank BringS L aughS to town Square
By Maya Desai
Temporary tattoos of teachers decorated students’ arms as they threw brightly colored water balloons at each other. Leis tossed over shoulders and cotton candy sticks in hand, soaked students brought a festive energy to the school day, marking another successful year of Sage Hill’s “senior prank.”
On April 10, Sage Hill seniors transformed Town Square into a spring carnival complete with a slip-and-slide, dunk tank, cotton candy machine, a D.J. and even temporary tattoos of the teachers. Seniors organize this beloved tradition with Dean of Student Life Dominic Campeau every year, and past “senior pranks” have included a Balloon Animal Farm and a Beach Day.
Seniors from the 2025-2026 school year wanted to bring an interactive, community-building celebration to commemorate the end of their high school journey. For them, they found the answer: a Spring Carnival.
“It was really great because we were able to bounce ideas off of a lot of different people. We had a good turnout for people in the morning to help set up,” Student Body President Ella Wong said.
Throughout the day, faculty and staff crowded Town Square, overlooking the dual style slip-and-slide races or the group of seniors controlling the D.J. table. More than a prank, the festivities offered seniors a chance to leave their mark with lightheartedness and fun.
“It gave us some inspiration for stuff to do next year,” said junior Max Konovalov.
As the days until graduation count down, the carnival serves as a reminder of the importance of community across Sage Hill. The culmination of “senior prank” day reminds seniors—most with college plans determined— that another milestone on a list of lasts: prom, senior awards assembly and senior breakfast has concluded.
“It was really sad to see my kids off. It was fun spending time with them in casual environments,” said Sanan Shirinian, Sage Center Director and senior class advisor.
But the day remains a time of laughter and excitement for Sage Hill students, faculty and staff alike. If a student’s only drawback from their hours at school was a balloon soaked shirt, the day resembles a successful senior send-off.
SeniorS: what iS on Your Bucket LiSt Before graduation?
By Carson Ellis & Jonathan Yan
Photo courtesy of Sage Hill School
Assistant Head of School for Academics Dr. Matt Balossi gets soaked from a dunk tank during the senior prank in Town Square on April 10.
“Gain some work experience, spend more time with my friends, knit more and go on more hikes.”
- Senior Abigail Wang
“To eat at as many different local restaurants as I can. My goal is to try them all.” - Ali Ghreiwati
“Continue to capture the memories of the senior class through the senior countdown Instagram page.” - Senior King Oung
“Plan a trip to a national park with my friends and go to Stagecoach.” - Senior Finley Maynard
Photo courtesy of Sage Hill School
Sophomore Sam Gabriel slides during the senior prank on April 10.