DECEMBER 17, 2025
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3
The future of Hillsdale Mall San Mateo residents and officials weigh in on a new development project that would replace sections of the mall.
Nueva rocks the Guild
How the tables have turned
On Dec. 7, Middle and Upper School students performed at The Guild Theatre in Menlo Park.
An exploration into the impact of classroom layouts on student learning and class culture.
Culture // Page 5
Features // Page 13
Student Standoff: Should Nueva have final exams?
Math teacher makes waves
Timothy C. ’27 and Alexis C. ’27 debate the value, benefits, and drawbacks of final exams.
A look into the double life of calculus and linear algebra teacher Jana Comstock as a competitive rower.
Opinion // Page 15
Sports // Page 19
News // Page 2
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Anwen C. / The Nueva Current
I. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE Three nights a week, TJ L. ’28 works in a grassy lot in Redwood City, greeting as many as 100 unhoused people. There, under a tent, TJ directs 12 adult and high school volunteers to serve fresh, warm meals like fried chicken and steamed vegetables. On Halloween, the volunteers pass out candy; on Thanksgiving, they offer turkey and mashed potatoes. If someone needs clothes or toiletries, TJ sorts through a large closet of items, including jackets. TJ has been volunteering with Street Life Ministries, a Bay Area organization addressing housing instability, for over a year. Through this experience, he has gotten to know many locals struggling with housing instability, substance abuse, and family issues. “[They] want a place where it's welcoming, safe, and where they have a lot of people they know on a consistent basis,” TJ said. Volunteering has also reshaped his perspective on his own life. Through spending time with people experiencing housing insecurity, he has developed a deeper sense of gratitude for the stability he has. He’s also learned how to volunteer THE NUEVA SCHOOL
in his own time, how to lead other high schoolers, and most importantly, how to build genuine connections with people of diverse backgrounds. “I've learned a lot about not judging people by their appearance or how they act, [but by] if they have a good heart on the inside,” TJ said. Stories like TJ’s illustrate what many educators describe as the promise of community service learning, or CSL: giving students opportunities to learn through sustained engagement with the communities around them and to grapple with complex social issues in real-world settings. Luke Terra, a parent of Nueva alumni and current Deputy Director of Stanford’s Haas Center for Public Service, believes that CSL can also strengthen students’ academic pursuits. “Engaging in service learning is going to make you a better writer, a better communicator, a better thinker, a better scientist, a better historian,” Terra said. “All of that is improved by grounding your disciplinary learning in the real and messy complex context of social community life.” In a recent survey, 94.6% of 184 Upper School students said that CSL is a worthwhile use of school time. Many commu-
nity members also pointed to how CSL is rife with opportunities for better understanding social inequalities; preparing for post-high school life; and engaging with the school’s motto of learn by doing, learn by caring, a belief in hands-on experiences and care for others. And yet, many community members have expressed disappointment with the lack of institutionalized CSL programming and a desire for more. Though not coordinated at a formal level, community engagement work at Nueva still takes on many forms. Student-led clubs partner with local organizations; a number of Nueva trips integrate service components into their itineraries; and internships place students directly inside nonprofits working on issues from immigration law to environmental justice. And yet, for many Upper School students, the most visible—and memorable—instance of CSL consists of a single event: CSL Day. Once or twice a year, students fan out across the Bay to volunteer at local organizations—from serving breakfast at GLIDE Church in San Francisco’s Tenderloin to clearing brush at San Mateo County Park. Ultimately, the activities are designed to introduce students to community organizations and
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social issues beyond campus. On Nov. 19, Nueva held its first, and only, CSL day of the year. While the format remained familiar, several changes set this year apart. Students volunteered in advisory groups rather than signing up individually, which markedly improved attendance rates. In the days leading up to and following CSL day, advisors also facilitated “pre-briefing” and debriefing conversations to allow students to reflect on their volunteer experiences. Many of these changes were introduced with the support of Extended Learning Coordinator Kamryn Marks. In addition to running the Internship Program and supporting Intersession, Marks now oversees CSL initiatives in the Upper School, including this most recent CSL day. In thinking about how to deliver CSL programming for the Upper School, she draws from years of experience coordinating volunteers at nonprofits, such as the Ronald McDonald House and Samaritan House. Here at Nueva, Marks recognizes the unique opportunities for philanthropy and community engagement open to members of this community. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
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