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Student Council Opens Its Doors
At student council meetings, attendees are given the opportunity to voice their thoughts on school issues and propose initiatives for change. Before this year, attendance was limited to selected representatives, chosen by teachers or from extracurricular classes like Speech and Debate. Now, any student can participate by...
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Cracks in the Walls
In an effort to bring students closer together, the school planned day-long workshops designed to strengthen the community from Sept. 3 to through 5 called Breaking Down...
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Batman of San José
By Liliana Chai April. 5, 2026 Juliana Shin Art With a bat emblem sewn across his chest and a billowing black cape trailing behind him, a masked superhero emerges out of the shadows onto the streets of San Jose, fighting injustice. Known as the Batman of San Jose, the activist has spent nearly eight years supporting the unhoused population and speaking out on civic issues affecting vulnerable communities. With just under a million residents, San Jose faces a per
Apr 55 min read
Students Protest ICE in Widespread Walkouts
By Dylan Xie April. 5, 2026 On Jan. 30, hundreds of students across the Bay Area walked out of classrooms in a coordinated protest against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in response to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Prettiby ICE officials in Minnesota on Jan. 7 and Jan. 24, respectively. What began as social media posts turned into a full-scale movement that mobilized students across the nation, including around 300 students from L
Apr 53 min read
Branham's Swastika Investigation
By Ariel Lee Feb 15, 2026 On Dec. 3, 2025, an Instagram photo of eight Branham High School students forming a Nazi swastika with their bodies on the school’s football field circulated the internet, prompting reports of a possible hate crime and an investigation by their school and district. This image, taken on the same day it was posted, included a caption quoting Nazi leader Adof Hitler’s Reichstag speech in German, which supported the extermination of Jews. A
Feb 153 min read
Valley Fair to Valley Fear
By Mahika Khosla Feb 14, 2026 Isabella Zhu Art On Nov. 28, 2025 at around 5p.m., a 17-year-old pulled out a firearm in Westfield Valley Fair shopping mall and shot at the chest of a man wearing a hat with the letter “m”—a symbol of the Sureno criminal street gang, and a rival to the teenager’s gang. As the shooting ensued, two women were injured and the entirety of the mall’s Black Friday crowd desperately evacuated. The charges for the suspect and his three acc
Feb 153 min read
Mid-Cycle and Money Measures
By Ayush Deshpande Dec. 11, 2025 Dilara Varoglu Art On Nov. 4, several elections were held across the state of California, leading to measures such as Proposition 50, Santa Clara County Measure A, Delano Measure B and McFarland Measure C being passed. Proposition 50 authorizes California State legislature to begin a mid-cycle redistricting of the state’s congressional maps. Measure A will raise the county sales tax to 9.75% for the next five years, and Delano M
Dec 12, 20253 min read
Mathematic Baller: Mr. Clarke
By Melvin Najarian April. 5, 2026 Jane Hong Art After 17 years of teaching at the school, and more than a decade leading Algebra I, Algebra II and geometry classes, Gary Clarke, Mathematics Department, is stepping away from the classroom. Throughout his time at the school, Clarke focused on building the fundamental math skills that students would carry with them into Advanced Placement classes and college. Beyond academics, over his tenure, focused with a start
Apr 54 min read
Love in the Dark
By Liliana Chai Feb 14, 2026 When lights dim, neon takes over. Glowsticks flicker across the room while music echoes through the cafeteria, weaving together crowds of students in bright fluorescent tops and jeans from Leland and Pioneer High School. The Leland and Pioneer Mixer, a glow-in-the-dark themed dance bringing together students from both schools, will take place on Feb. 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Leland’s campus. Similar to Homecoming, foo —including
Feb 153 min read
License to WASC
By Srihita Madiraju Feb 14, 2026 Dilara Varoglu Art Every few years, students and staff undergo an event that can shape the school’s future: WASC accreditation. For students, these visits may sound like just another administrative process, but these checks—from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)—are vital in maintaining the quality of education received. WASC is a regional accreditation organization that evaluates schools across the West Coast
Feb 153 min read
A Holly Jolly Musical Sleigh Ride
By Brandon Koo Dec. 11, 2025 Ryan Park Art As the doors swing open to the band room of Rian Rodriguez , Visual Performing Arts Department, the vivid soundscape is impossible to ignore—the brass warmups blaring and the vocal scales filling the room. The collage of notes is a kind of organized chaos that only happens when three major music groups work together—a collaboration between Band, Choir and Orchestra. “I feel more connected because I am working with peop
Dec 11, 20253 min read
Chicago School Musical
By Isabell Zhu Dec. 11, 2025 Ryan Park Art The stage lights dim, the orchestra hums a quiet melody and a hush falls over the audience. A single spotlight makes its way on stage—just in time for the school’s long-awaited production of “Chicago” to begin with a jazzy, scandalous and ritzy adaptation of Velma Kelly’s “All That Jazz.” The school’s rendition of “Chicago” premiered on Nov. 12 at 4:30 p.m., followed by evening performances on Nov. 13, Nov. 14, Nov. 20
Dec 11, 20253 min read
Behind the Eyes of a Student Athlete
By Dylan Xie Mar 31, 2026 Yunseo Kim Art Eight hours, six class periods and a handful of worksheets into the school day, the reality of being a student athlete kicks in; the day has just begun, and hours of physically and mentally demanding work are to come. Commitment to school sports means not only the obvious long practice hours, but also significant and unexpected money and time commitment. According to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the lim
Mar 314 min read
SJUSD Outside Food Policy
By Melvin Najarian Feb. 11, 2026 For years, potlucks and shared food have been a familiar part of student life at school. From club meetings to cultural celebrations, bringing food from home has allowed students to connect with one another and build a sense of community. However, San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) recently enforced restrictions on outside food brought onto campus during the school day, limiting potlucks and other edibles brought as treats
Feb 153 min read
AI in Education
By Teresa Sun December 10, 2025 The academic environment is rapidly shifting as Artificial Intelligence (AI) moves from a theoretical concept to a powerful tool accessible to every student. While AI-driven systems have been evolving for decades, the current generation of Large Language Models has made personalized, on-demand academic assistance instantly accessible, enabling students to study smarter and more effectively, or perhaps for misuse. However, this rap
Dec 12, 20254 min read
Campus Goes Phone-Free
The Phone-Free School Act, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Sept. 23, 2024 required all school districts, charters and county offices of education to implement some policy that limits or prohibits smartphone usage during the school day by July 1, 2026. SJUSD decided to enact a complete prohibition in and out of the classroom for the 2025-2026 school year; phones must be kept off and...
Nov 12, 20255 min read
TAs in the Classroom
By Sarah Perez Sept. 24, 2025 In a quiet corner of the classroom, a diligent student performs a series of tasks,...
Sep 25, 20253 min read
Student Action for Social Change
By Sarah Perez Apr 1, 2026 For many high schoolers, changemaking may seem daunting even the most passionate of activists can struggle against the legal barriers of being a minor and a lack of platform. Yet, Senior Anna Kochanska and Freshman Elise Fondeur have found meaning in their small efforts, viewing student activism as
Apr 43 min read
Student Mindsets
By James Yu Apr 3, 2026 With the skyrocketing competitiveness of college admissions, students are increasingly feeling the pressure to achieve academic success. Indeed, a 2024 nationwide survey by the Princeton Review found that 73% of over 10,800 college applicants were highly stressed regarding applications, a significant increase from 56% in 2003. At the epicenter of these worries is finals season, as students cram for their final exams and AP tests. The Pew
Apr 33 min read
Creative Writing Club
By Srihita Madiraju Feb. 11, 2026 With academic-quality writing being just a few clicks away for students due to the rise in artificial intelligence usage and expressing oneself in words being reduced to internet slang through technology, there has been a noticeable decline in writing skills and literacy. A study conducted in the International Journal of Information and Education Technology portrays how independent writing abilities and creativity of students i
Feb 153 min read
Chargers Roll For Initiative
By Dylan Xie December 10, 2025 On Wednesday afternoons, when many students are tired and eager to head home after a long day, a new adventure is just beginning around the corner of campus in Room F-4—the clatter of dice on the table top, the murmur of voices around the table, the players plotting their next move. This is a typical afternoon at Leland’s Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) Club, a growing community of students eager to explore the limitless realms of make
Dec 12, 20253 min read
Student Council Opens Its Doors
At student council meetings, attendees are given the opportunity to voice their thoughts on school issues and propose initiatives for change. Before this year, attendance was limited to selected representatives, chosen by teachers or from extracurricular organizations such as Speech and Debate. Now...
Nov 12, 20253 min read
Culture is not Controversial
By Srihita Madiraju Apr. 5, 2026 Eleanor Wang Art Bad Bunny, or Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, stands as one of the biggest artists in the world, generating billions of streams globally. In a historic moment, he proudly represented Latino culture at the Super Bowl Halftime show, acknowledging America as a continent consisting of many countries instead of simply the United States. His performance was a powerful act of courage as he used the halftime stage to speak
Apr 53 min read
Taking a Stand or Taking a Break?
By Winston Chu Apr. 5, 2026 Catherine Nguyen Art From the east to west coast, thousands of students across the nation walked out of classrooms on Jan. 30 and marched on the streets to protest the actions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following the death of civilians Renée Good and Alex Pretti, who were fatally shot by ICE agents, citizens organized a national protest to demand accountability for ICE. Yet, many students who supposedly walk
Apr 53 min read
Welcome First Amendment
By Dylan Xie Feb 15, 2026 Kira Yoshioka-Gutierrez Art When the European Union (EU) recently switched from adoption to enforcement of their new Digital Services Act (DSA) on Dec. 5, 2025, it marked one of the largest escalations over control, truth and speech on the internet. This is yet another intrusion from the EU on American social media, censoring what they consider disinformation and encroaching on First Amendment rights in the process. The new DSA act gran
Feb 152 min read
A Matter of Mindsets
By Brandon Koo ` Dec. 12, 2025 Emma Wang Art “Stay positive!” The screen flashes as the teacher monotonously reads off the Seven Mindsets slides. A student scrolls through TikTok under the table, and another races through his math homework. The Social and Emotional Learning Program, founded by author Daniel Goleman, created the Seven Mindsets curriculum and new Monday mental health activities to improve mental health and community, yet, for many students, it coll
Dec 12, 20254 min read
College Lottery?
By Melvin Najarian Dec. 12, 2025 Senior folklore claims that the final step of the admissions process involves a dramatic drumroll and an admissions officer sitting back in a large brown leather chair, flipping a two-sided coin: “Accept” on one side, “You are Not Welcome” on the other. Of course, no established university operates this way, but to many students, it sometimes feels like they might. The truth is, admission outcomes reflect less randomness; what feel
Dec 12, 20253 min read
"Goat"
By Mahika Khosla Apr. 5, 2026 When discussing the greatest of all time (GOAT) in the NBA, names such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James often surface. However, as a lifelong fan of the Golden State Warriors, I would argue that star point guard Stephen Curry deserves to be mentioned too. Growing up watching him dominate the court, I knew I had to take a look at “Goat,” a movie produced by the GOAT himself. The main character, a goat named Will, receiv
Apr 52 min read
A Sticky Situation at the BAFTAs
By Andrew Xie Apr. 5, 2026 Leona Hung Art Under the bright lights of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, world-famous actors and filmmakers sit in silence, breaking it only to release applause as their colleagues are recognized for their work. Onstage, presenters Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo prepare to announce the winner for Best Visual Effects when they are suddenly interrupted. John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome advocate, sho
Apr 53 min read
MISSING: Nancy Guthrie
By Ariel Lee Apr. 5, 2026 The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has entered its fifth week without resolution. Law enforcement believe she was abducted from her home in Catalina Foothills, Ariz, and her family has offered a $1 million reward for information that leads to her safe return—one of the largest and most publicized incentives in a missing-person case in recent times. Nancy Ellen Lon
Apr 53 min read
Ws in the Chat
The school alarm blares at the University of Akron in Ohio, signaling the start of the day. Hundreds of students rise from their slumber to prepare for class, but they do not pack their backpacks with traditional supplies such as pencils or textbooks; instead, they fill their backpacks with...
Nov 12, 20253 min read
"Happy Gilmore 2”
As an avid fan of Adam Sandler and an occasional golf player, on the day “Happy Gilmore 2” came out on Netflix, I sat down before my TV with legs kicked back...
Sep 29, 20252 min read
El Mencho's Death Triggers More Violence
By Chelsea Lu Apr 1, 2026 On July 17, 1966, a boy is born into poverty in the Mexican state of Michoacán. By the age of 14, he starts guarding marijuana plantations; at 19, he immigrates illegally to California, where he is arrested and deported for heroin trafficking charges; and, by the early 2010s, he emerges as the kingpin of the infamous
Apr 44 min read
Resurrecting the Floreana Giant Tortoise
By Teresa Sun Apr 1, 2026 Once silent and stripped of their most iconic residents, the volcanic slopes of Floreana Island in the Galápagos are alive once again with a slow, heavy rhythm. For nearly two centuries, the Floreana giant tortoise was a species existing only in sketches and bleached shells. That changed on Feb. 20, when a cohort
Apr 44 min read
French Bans on PFAS
By Ayush Deshpande Feb. 11, 2026 Leona hung Art Every day, millions of people around the world use Teflon pans, waterproof clothing and makeup. Most of these items share a common ingredient: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—synthetic compounds that can remain inside living organisms’ bodies and the environment for years. Due to the harmful effects of PFAS, on Feb. 27, 2025, France passed a bill which, starting Jan. 1, would ban the sale, import and man
Feb 153 min read
Iran at a Breaking Point
By Melvin Najarian Feb. 11, 2026 Leona Hung Art For over four decades, Iran’s government has ruled through oppression and human rights abuses. Since December 2025, economic collapse and collective anger have spurred nationwide demonstrations, pushing Iranians to exercise open resistance. What began as protests over inflation in Tehran’s bazaars quickly turned into one of the most direct challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 2022 Women Life Freedom moveme
Feb 154 min read
Surviving Typhoon Kalmaegi
By Liliana Chai December 10, 2025 The morning of Nov. 6, Typhoon Kalmaegi unleashed a torrent of destruction on the central Philippines, killing at least 188 people in the country. Heavy rains brought by the typhoon triggered landslides, obliterating residential areas and public buildings. Underlying the storm’s physical damage is the nation’s long-standing issue of corruption-plagued flood control infrastructure projects. This failure in disaster preparedness ha
Dec 12, 20254 min read
Anthropic-Pentagon AI Battle
By Mahika Khosla Mar 31, 2026 The boom of missiles breaking the sound barrier ripples throughout the smoke-streaked sky, fighter jets perform somersaults across the clouds and the motors of deadly kamikaze drones screech over the heads of ducking soldiers as the army slowly advances. With an ever-increasing pace, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computing are being integrated into weapon systems across the world. Now, the future of such integra
Mar 313 min read
Professional Sleep-Multitaskers
By Brandon Koo Feb. 11, 2026 Mingyue Xiao Art The frigatebird serenely glides across the open ocean, wings locked in place and eyes half-closed over waves that stretch for miles. A brief lapse of attention could result in a fatal plummet, yet the bird continues in a state of half-sleep and half-awareness. It rests yet remains just alert enough—for animals like the frigatebird, sleeping fully can be more dangerous than staying awake. Sleep is essential for near
Feb 153 min read
Mushrooms Insulating Rooms
By Lauren Law December 10, 2025 In Alaska, where homes battle the brutal cold with layers of imported Styrofoam, scientists are turning to mycelium, the living root network of mushrooms, to create a biodegradable and locally sourced insulation alternative that has been in development for nearly a decade. In Alaska, where homes battle brutal cold with layers of imported Styrofoam, scientists are turning to mycelium, a living root network of mushrooms, to create
Dec 12, 20254 min read
AI CRISPRfication of Genes
The era of lengthy, trial-and-error laboratory work in gene editing is ending. Researchers are forging a transformative partnership between artificial intelligence (AI) and CRISPR-Cas9, accelerating the speed and precision with which scientists can modify DNA. This alliance promises to...
Nov 12, 20254 min read
Dangers…out-of-this-world
By James Tong Sept. 24, 2025 The stars glimmer in the night sky above a crackling campfire in the forest. Above...
Sep 25, 20253 min read
Bay Area Olympic Stars
By Lauren Law Apr. 5. 2026 Catherine Nguyen Art For Bay Area athletes Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu, winter weekends in Tahoe were training grounds that helped shape their paths to the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina from Feb. 6 to Feb. 22. Born on Aug. 8, 2005 in Clovis, California, Liu spent most of her childhood in and around Oakland and Richmond,. Liu’s father, who immigrated to the United States from China and later built a law practice in the Bay Area, struc
Apr 54 min read
Bay Area Olympic Stars
By Lauren Law Apr 1, 2026 Catherine Nguyen Art For Bay Area athletes Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu, winter weekends in Tahoe were training grounds that helped shape their paths to the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina from Feb. 6 to Feb. 22. Born on Aug. 8, 2005 in Clovis, California, Liu spent most of her childhood in and around Oakland and Richmond,. Liu’s father, who immigrated to the United States from China and later built a law practice in the Bay Area, struc
Apr 34 min read
Chargers Shine in CCS
By Brandon Koo Apr 1, 2026 As winter blurs into spring, the school’s winter sports teams have concluded their regular seasons and begun postseason competition. Months of practices, conditioning and late-night games have led to the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs. This year, co-ed wrestling, girls soccer, boys basketball, and girls basketball and girls cheer qualified for CCS. Together, these teams reflect a season fueled by grit, growth and Charger pride. T
Apr 14 min read
The Rise of Pickleball
By Lauren Law Feb. 11, 2026 Jane Hong Art Once a paddle-sport for retirees chasing low-impact fun on community courts, pickleball has stormed into the mainstream, captivating Gen Z and millennials with its fast-paced rallies and social buzz. The name “pickleball” is widely attributed to Pickles, the Pritchard family dog, known for chasing stray balls during early games. The sport originated in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, when Joel Pritchard, Bill
Feb 153 min read
Game, Set, Rematch
By Winston Chu Feb. 11, 2026 Jane Hong Art Under the glaring lights of the Houston Astrodome, 30,000 spectators in the crowd and over 90 million fans tuning in from their televisions eagerly watched female player Billie Jean King compete against male player Bobby Riggs in the first ever Battle of the Sexes. Nearly 50 years after the iconic moment when King threw her racket in the air after defeating Riggs in straight sets, the Battle of the Sexes has finally re
Feb 153 min read
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