WHAT’S
INSIDE
THE Februrary 7, 2022
2 News
5 Features
8 Sports
12 Student Life
URLINGAME B Issue 4 Vol. 132
Burlingame High School, 1 Mangini Way, Burlingame, CA 94010
PHOTO BY SAM JOHNSTONE
Superintendent Kevin Skelly jumps into the newly renovated Burlingame Aquatic Center pool alongside students and faculty on Jan. 8, 2020.
Superintendent Kevin Skelly announces retirement BY SAM JOHNSTONE Managing Editor On Jan. 12, San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) Superintendent Kevin Skelly announced his retirement after seven years in the district. His career in education started 40 years ago, most no-
tably working as the superintendent for Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) for seven years. “As superintendent, whether it’s business issues, personal stuff, curricular issues, time with kids, extracurriculars or watching kids in action — I just love it all,” Skelly said. “I
just really enjoy so many parts of it, and I think that with the parents, families, kids, teachers and support staff, there’s just a great culture here.” Skelly hopes his time in the SMUHSD left people feeling supported in their respective roles. English teacher Sophie Abitbol has worked in the
PHOTO BY LEXI GOLDSTEIN
First-Generation Club: HELPING STUDENTS ACHIEVE FUTURE GOALS BY LEXI GOLDSTEIN Editor-in-chief College deadlines, essays and finances are notorious stressors for upperclassmen, and the Counseling Department works year-round to be of help in the college application process for all students. Specifically, for first-generation applicants, academic counselor Earvin Buckner and college advisor Jonathan Dhyne have taken extra measures to demystify applications through the First-Generation Club, which they co-run. Starting as former counselor Tammy Esrailian’s project, the club is in its fourth year at Burlingame. Along with advertising through word of
mouth, English Learners Advisory Committee (ELAC) and Latino Parent Group meetings, counselors identify students who may be a good fit for the club via Aeries, which can filter for socioeconomic demographics and parent education. Then, invitations are sent to historically underrepresented students to join. As of last year, juniors are now invited to join during their second semester to offer a head-start in the application process. Despite its name, the club emphasizes its open invitation to all students, including those who may not be first generation but still need the additional help.
See FIRST GENERATION CLUB page 3
that I’ve spoken to or that I’ve seen walking around the halls,” Abitbol said. During lockdown in 2020, Abitbol began to explore the idea of getting a Spanish credential, and it was Skelly who motivated her to do so.
See KEVIN SKELLY page 5
Omicron brings new challenges to Burlingame campus BY ALEX KELLY Webmaster
Earvin Buckner (left) and Jonathan Dhyne (right) spend time in the College and Career Center, located in the A Building, where First-Generation Club meetings are held.
SMUHSD for 19 years, and found Skelly to be exactly that — supportive and genuinely caring. “He’s very approachable, I’ve been here long enough to have experienced the leadership of maybe three of four superintendents, and he’s the only one who ever knew my name, or
When students stepped back in their classrooms at the start of the spring semester, they were facing the highest COVID-19 case rates that the country and the San Mateo Union High School District had seen. In the first week after coming back from winter break, there were 35 positive cases reported at Burlingame and 28 positive cases in the week following. It has been a stressful time to be on campus, according to teacher Alexandria Kirkpatrick, who has had to deal with multiple possible close contacts with students. “It’s very uncomfortable knowing that there are likely positives that I’m around every day, so I make myself feel more comfortable by wearing a good mask,” Kirkpatrick said. To protect themselves, many like Kirkpatrick adopted district-recommended N95 masks, which have proven to be significantly safer than cloth masks. N95s and KN95s
are designed to block 95% of harmful particles, compared to cloth masks with a 20 to 50% level of filtration, depending on the quality, according to a study done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“It’s very uncomfortable knowing that there are likely positives that I’m around every day, so I make myself feel more comfortable by wearing a good mask.” - Alexandria Kirkpatrick
The version of N95 masks that the district provides are often called ‘can’ or ‘duck’ masks by students, but despite the lack of fashion appeal, teachers are trying to get students to wear them. Science teacher Michael Dunn informed students by showing them a graphic from the CDC about the clear efficacy
of N95s, and multiple other teachers have also shown it to their students. Seeing as almost all students follow masking guidelines indoors, some students do not share the staff ’s stress regarding COVID-19. “I have felt pretty safe at school,” junior Samantha Storey said. “With about half the kids wearing good masks and everyone wearing them in class — it feels pretty good.” Some students have been taking COVID-19 concerns much more seriously than others. Walking down the halls, you can see students double masked with N95s and others with a mask perched just below their nose. “My concern is about, you know, we have faculty and staff who have young children at home that cannot get vaccinated. We have faculty and staff who are currently pregnant,” Kirkpatrick said. As the school moves past the first month of the semester, COVID-19 and the stress it causes will subside if students stay vigilant in following protocols.
News
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February 7, 2022
BHS Musicians head to the All-State band PHOTOS BY FARAH CABAN
Left: Junior, oboist and All-State band musician Audrey Limb practices in class on Jan. 24. Right: Senior, trumpeter, and AllState lead trumpet Johnny Willy rehearses in class on Jan. 25. BY FARAH CABAN
Business Manager
Two Burlingame students, junior Audrey Limb and senior Johnny Willey were selected for the second year in a row to play in California’s All-State Band. Each August, the California All-State Band releases musical pieces for middle and high school students across the state
to practice and record. Students who choose to apply for the elite band have their music teachers send their audio recordings to the judges, who blindly select only the best — no names, grades, genders or races are considered. High school students across the state audition for a spot on one of seven bands: Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Con-
cert Band, Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, Jazz Band or Jazz Choir. Once selected, accepted students receive an invitation to play at the All-State concert in Fresno, Calif. over President’s Day weekend. This acceptance and invitation letter also includes music that students are expected to practice from the time of the acceptance in early January to the time of the performance. Willey, lead trumpet player in the All-State Jazz Band tries to practice for an hour to an hour and a half every weeknight either for the school band, homework from his private teacher, or All-State. “So like right now, All-State is such a priority and I have such little time to practice, so that’s going to be taking up most of my practice time,” Willey said. After practicing on their own, musicians get to practice with their band before the performance. At the actual convention, bands are given time to rehearse as a whole and then perform in front of parents, music teachers, other students
and other music enthusiasts. According to Limb, All-State is considered a huge achievement as a young musician, so people from all around California attend. Oboe player Limb was selected to play in the Wind Symphony — the highest wind ensemble — for her second year as a part of All-State. Limb applied for the program all throughout middle school and was accepted her sophomore year at Burlingame. As ecstatic as she was to have been accepted for the first time, she did not know if it would happen again. “Whether you got in before or not has no impact. They have no idea who you are. Even though I got in last year, I wasn’t sure that I would this year,” Limb said. But, against all odds, she received her second acceptance and was just as excited as the previous year. “It is kind of a sign that all these hours that you spend practicing and working is recognized and appreciated,” Limb said.
New dual enrollment course prepares students for their lives beyond high school GRAPHIC BY LEILANI DOUGHERTY
BY LEILANI DOUGHERTY
Staff Reporter
The new CRER 100 Career Planning and Life Exploration dual enrollment course has started this semester, focusing on preparing students for their years following high school graduation.
The course was introduced to Burlingame at the beginning of the spring semester, and it is in collaboration with the College of San Mateo (CSM). According to CSM’s website, this Career Technical Education (CTE) course helps students understand and appreciate the impact and significance of their career choices.
CORRECTION FROM THE DECEMBER 2021 ISSUE
In the “Shortage of substitutes forces teachers to scramble” article, the wrong caption was printed. The correct caption should have read: Lauren Rosaia, the secretary at Burlingame, gives Charles Douglas, a veteran substitute teacher at the school, his rosters and classroom key for the day.
CSM offered the course during the fourth period on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Burlingame’s campus. There are currently 21 students in the class and it is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. CRER 100 is dual enrollment, meaning enrolled students get three college credits for the University of California and California State University schools, as well as a GPA boost on the five-point grading scale. This is the second dual enrollment course available at Burlingame, the first being Architectural Design II. Unlike Architectural Design II, a designated CSM teacher teaches CRER 100. Other dual enrollment courses, like Business 161 Creativity and Innovation in Entrepreneurship and HSCI 180 Gateway to Health Careers, are being offered virtually this semester through the San Mateo Union High School District in collaboration with Skyline College, in an effort to give more students access to and aware-
ness of post-secondary school options. According to the California Community Colleges’ website, an average community college class costs about $138, so dual enrollment is a useful and easily accessible way for students to get a ‘leg up’ on their college credits without the costly fees. CRER 100 prepares students for their future in ways that other core classes tend to lack. The course is focused on career and life planning as well as analyzing the relationship between their self development and their life choices. “I was interested in creating a 10-year plan for my life and learning how to structure my future,” senior and enrollee Christine Caulfield said. One of the main assignments of the CRER 100 class is coming up with a 10-year plan. Students research colleges or trade schools they are interested in, what vocation or job they want to go into, necessary training, entry level positions and job interviewing skills. Their 10-year plan can also include more personal goals, like getting married and starting a family. “I really think that it’s a way to step back from all the frenzy and just say, ‘what are the steps that I need to take that aren’t what I’ve been doing so far;’ which is college applications, essays, transcripts, more college applications and more essays,” assistant principal Joshua Knudson said. Burlingame’s administration is currently exploring options with CSM to see what other courses they might want to offer next year along with CRER 100, seeing as the class only lasts one semester.
B
THE
BURLINGAME B STAFF
Editor-in-Chief Lexi Goldstein Managing Editor Sam Johnstone Sports Editor Isaac Bostonmaer Business Manager Farah Caban Webmaster Alex Kelly Head Photographer Michelle Moshkovoy Copy Editors Elise Spenner Mattingly Germack Senior Reporters Kristie Kim Safiya Loomba Julianna Oliver Jackson Spenner Lizzy Wan Staff Reporters Sophia Bella Daria Burnosova Arshia Chakravartti Wali Chaudry Leilani Dougherty Arda Inegol Isabel Liu Amanda Nolan Jake Rothstein Teacher Adviser Melissa Murphy Policy Statement: The Burlingame B is a student-run newspaper with the sole purpose of providing an open forum for student expression. Anything printed represents the opinion of the writer, but not necessarily that of the Burlingame B staff, the administration, or the faculty of Burlingame High School or anyone affiliated with the San Mateo Union High School District. The Burlingame B does not discriminate against race, political oritentation, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability. Although The Burlingame B will never refuse to publish guest submission based on the aforementioned factors, we reserve the right to edit or not publish them. Letters to the Editor Disagree with the writers? Bring your letters to the room A120 or email them to <theburlingameb@ gmail.com>. Letters may be considered for publication. The Burlingame B reserves the right to edit for clarity, length, and accuracy. We welcome all comments.
Website: www.theburlingameb.org Phone: (650) 558-2899 Email: theburlingameb@gmail.com Address: 1 Mangini Way Burlingame, CA 94010
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February 7, 2022
First-Generation Club FROM PAGE 1
BY LEXI GOLDSTEIN
Editor-in-Chief
Meeting on Tuesdays in the College and Career Center, the club attracted around 30 students this past fall semester, with attendance wavering in correlation with application deadlines. Most sessions consisted of presentations where Dhyne and Buckner broke down the University of California and California State University systems’ applications, community college, trade school and private university options. “We meet them where they’re at, and then we start helping them,” Buckner said. “So there’s a lot of initially, during the spring, us presenting to them, but then it becomes like a workshop.” The club’s members range from students who know exactly what they want and need information about how to afford it, to others who are starting from first base, according to
Buckner. For senior Becca Jeremias, she knew from the start that she wanted to study environmental science in New York. From there, Dhyne guided her in the financial aid process.
I was never afraid to apply, like I never thought I had less potential than, you know, someone whose parents were born here.” “
- Becca Jeremias “I was never afraid to apply, like I never thought that I had any less potential than, you know, someone whose parents were born here,” Jeremias said. Dhyne, who Buckner referred to as the “guru of financial aid,” works closely with students to explain financial aid
and guide them through collecting and filling out forms. “I’m not going to be like, ‘Hey, do your FAFSA, see you later.’ It’s important, right,” Dhyne said. “Let’s do this together and really like, when you break it down step by step, it’s not super [difficult]. But if you’re looking at the big picture, it can be a little frightening.” Most college application windows have closed; however, during the spring semester, scholarship applications take the main stage. “Being more independent in a privileged environment means that the application process is still not over. Even though I’ve applied to all my schools, I have all these applications and letters of recommendations that I need for scholarships,” senior Kimberlly Baldwin said. The club, resuming meetings in February, will balance scholarship help for seniors and introducing the college application to juniors.
As college decisions roll out over the next few months, the counselors are excited to see their students’ dreams become their realities. “We will work with a student and they’ll come back and say: ‘Hey, I got into my dream school,’” Buckner said. “Like that’s what you’re working for, to hear that from a student, or like, ‘Look, I got a full ride.’” For the students in the First-Generation Club, opening decisions and hearing back from scholarships are equally surreal experiences. Baldwin recalls the pride she felt opening her first acceptance letter. Growing up with immigrant parents, Baldwin said that having achieved something on her own with minimal help showed her how hard work pays off. Jeremias shares a similar sense of pride. “I want to say it’s making my parents proud because they never got the chance to, but like the real answer is, it’ll make me
proud,” Jeremias said. The road to success for first-generation students alike is often more difficult than for students whose parents went to college and can help their children through applications or hire paid college counselors. “It was very difficult,” Baldwin said. “Sometimes, I would stop and think: ‘It’s like no wonder so many first-gen high school students just don’t go to college.’” But with pro-activeness and perseverance, along with free, quality resources available, Burlingame students will be prepared for their futures. “I really do think that something Burlingame High School excels at is making sure that students go to college,” Baldwin said. “I can say firsthand, there are more than a handful of kids in the senior class, I think yearly, who end up going [to college] because of specific faculty, like Mr. Dhyne and Mr. Buckner, who reach out and help them.”
Mock trial employs a hybrid approach to the season Senior Reporter
Gavels up — mock trial is back in session and Burlingame’s team has begun competitions. Burlingame’s first varsity competition took place on Tuesday, Jan. 25, when the prosecution team argued against San Mateo High School, and the defense faced South San Francisco High School. Teams are scored by grading individual roles and events, such as the pretrial and first direct. Each is awarded a number of points from one to 20. Two scorers for each competition grade both schools and average the scores. Overall, Burlingame’s prosecution lost by 0.5%, their average being 99.75%, whereas South San Francisco was 100.25%. However, Burlingame’s defense took home a win, their average being 106%, whereas San Mateo was 94%.
Burlingame remains No. 1 in the circuit, a strong start to the season ahead. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the San Mateo Union High School District has decided to conduct all mock trial competitions over Zoom, but allows the teams to continue practicing in person. The team has already completed the audition process and picked both the varsity and junior varsity’s defense and prosecution. Senior Elisenne Yun has been a part of the mock trial student council since her junior year. “It was easier to see participants’ true character outside of their auditions. That was something we struggled with a little bit last year,” Yun said. The student leaders taught cross-examinations and asked each auditioner to perform one. They then scored students on how well they followed instruc-
tion and acted. However, senior and mock trial cabinet member, Madeleine Gillette, feels that having online competitions for another year could be a setback regarding experience. “A major part of [mock trial] is to be in person. A big part of it is objections and interrupting people and a lot of arguments, which is really fun,” Gillette said. Though Gillette is weary, she hopes that in-person practice will allow members to get a similar “courtroom feel.” There are a lot of freshmen and returning sophomores on the team who have yet to take part in mock trial competitions, either in-person or at all. Freshman Happy Lee is ecstatic to begin their mock trial career This year, the case is about a man charged with murder for purand is looking forward to being posely putting a rattlesnake in the victim’s mailbox. mentored by upperclassmen are hopeful that this is the first and also getting the chance to I’m older,” Lee said. This year, they are the clerk step to them becoming a prosecollaborate with them. for the varsity prosecution and cuting attorney. “I want to be a lawyer when GRAPHIC BY JULIANNA OLIVER
BY JULIANNA OLIVER
BookTok makes reading more desirable for teens BY ISABEL LIU
Staff Reporter
GRAPHIC BY ISABEL LIU
With the arrival of a new year comes the flood of New Year’s resolutions — and “to read more” is a popular one, scoring as one of the most common resolutions in a Washington Post survey. Even so, a busy work schedule, a lack of habit or the pull from other entertainment sources hinders many from spending time with books. For teenagers, the last one may strike a chord, especially with an abundance of easy-access media platforms. However, a particularly popular social media app has not been pulling teens away from their books, but rather bringing books to them. This platform is TikTok, or more s p e c i f i c a l l y, BookTok. BookTok is a community on TikTok with a focus on books and reader experiences. Creators share book recommendations,
favorite tropes or genres, relatable scenarios and more, all packaged into aesthetic videos. BookTok’s strategy has proven to be quite effective; according to Simon and Schuster, a publishing company, the sale of young adult books has
gone up 50% since the expansion of BookTok. For example, “They Both Die at the End,” has experienced a huge surge in sales, selling over 30,000 copies since its title was made popular on TikTok. “I got into BookTok just by accidentally stumbling upon it. I happened to see one video, and when I looked into it more, I realized that I actually really enjoyed watching BookTok,” junior Grace-Ann Pardilla said. “I found myself really wanting to read more.” How is BookTok so effective? A part of it is TikTok’s algorithm and presentation, which easily conforms to a person’s interests. For Pardilla, it even helped her solidify her tastes. “What primarily attracted me to BookTok was the fact the books recommended to me were written in a more mature way, which I personally like,” Pardilla said.
“Compared to the more playful or ‘child-like’ way as other books of the same genre that I tend to find in other places.” Junior Natalie Ordoñez, who has also been using BookTok for book recommendations, agrees. “I learned to maneuver through BookTok to match my interests much quicker than it did for me to get used to BookTube and BookTwitter,” Ordoñez said. Furthermore, BookTok enables creators to showcase books and reading experiences in a way that is very human, emotional and direct. For many teens, a video of someone’s passionate argument or a reader sobbing after a heartbreaking book can be more compelling than a quoted review on a cover. “You’d be surprised how riled up or argumentative people can get over books they really enjoy, regardless of the genre,” Ordoñez said. “I read dramatic books for the fun of it, so this is really in-line with the type of
content I tend to consume.” Curating to interests, however, doesn’t mean total conformity. With the millions of people and videos on BookTok, viewers can expose themselves to different cultures, opinions and genres. BookTok is also unique for embodying the tastes of the new generation. LGBTQIA+ books shine in BookTok, as well as drama and romance genres. “Diverse BookTok creators have helped me find more books that I can identify more with and see my experiences in, including books that celebrate different LGBTQ+ and POC identities,” Ordoñez said. “I started reading ‘How the García Girls Lost Their Accents’… and I see my family in it more than I remember relating to a book in a long time.” To evaluate BookTok for yourself, check out some BookTok-famous books: “Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller, “Ugly Love” by Colleen Hoover or “The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Barnes.
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February 7, 2022
Asian Americans feel the pressure of high expectations Senior Reporter Living in the Bay Area, the pressure to do well in school is as high as ever, and Burlingame is no exception. A recent documentary, “Try Harder!” follows San Francisco’s Lowell High School seniors as they face the pressures of parents, peers and their own expectations while navigating the college admissions process. Of the five students they follow, three are Asian, and they highlight the high educational expectations in an immigrant household and immense pressure to get into a ‘top’ college. Donald Benjamin, a tutor for C2 Education, a franchise tutoring company, prepares students for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT and edits college essays. He mostly works with high school juniors and seniors, particularly those who are Chinese and Indian. Through his readings of college essays, he has grasped the immense pressure that his students face in terms of education. “For example, one student talked to me about how from the time he was seven or eight years old, he was being told, even before he knew what the word college meant, he’d be going there,” Benjamin said.
“He was sort of shaped for or groomed for college from that point forward.” This isn’t a unique story. Senior Athena Yeung, who was recently accepted into Duke University, said her family has greatly influenced her educational experience and values. “I think that it really runs throughout the generations of my family because our family found that education was one of the greatest equalizers within society,” Yeung said. “So [education has] really helped us to move up social mobility-wise.” It’s not just family that students face pressure from. In the New York Times article, “Confronting Asian-American Stereotypes,” author Adeel Hassan notes how generalizing Asian Americans as a model minority has impacted students’ educational experiences. “They are also almost twice as likely to have a college degree than the average American. The hyper-selectivity has resulted in the stereotype that Chinese-Americans (and Asian-Americans more broadly) are smart, competent and hard-working,” Hassan wrote. While the stereotype may seem harmless on the surface, it ultimately hurts the Asian American community. Soph-
omore Purvi Jain discussed her experience with microaggressions due to stereotypes of Asian Americans. “Way before teachers know the type of student I am, they see my race and they associate it with other students who might also be Asian or look like me, so they automatically assume that I’m like these other people,” Jain said. “So they kind of already set a higher expectation, even if it’s unconsciously and expect me to do better. Then if I don’t meet those expectations, it kind of makes me seem like a bad student, even if I’m not.” Junior Esther Kim has also felt a similar pressure to excel. She said this doesn’t come from teachers, but from society, where many other Asian Americans are successful. “I feel like as a minority, because you’re Asian, you have to make it look like you’re doing better, like exceeding because there’s a stereotype or a need to be smarter,” Kim said. “So sometimes when I feel like I’m not excelling, or whatever, it just doesn’t feel great because my fellow Asians are doing better. It’s like, ‘Oh, I should be part of that.’” The societal pressure for Asians to be smart has translated into the college process.
PHOTO BY LIZZY WAN
BY LIZZY WAN
Sophomore Purvi Jain highlights the pressure she faces living in an immigrant household: “I feel a lot of pressure from them because they don’t understand how competitive and difficult the American school system actually is.” A Princeton University study revealed that an Asian applicant must get an SAT score that is at least 120 points or higher than a white applicant to be considered equal to them. Oftentimes, this can be because of factors such as affirmative action. Affirmative Action is a procedure that admits certain groups based on their background, such as race or gender in order to promote equity and combat discrimination. While affirmative action has helped diversify schools,
it can also make it more difficult for certain ethnic groups when it comes to college admissions. Junior Ethan Wan, a second-generation Chinese immigrant, has felt pressure to get into a higher education institution like his parents did. “I think being an Asian American, I guess maybe it raises the standard a little bit,” Wan said. “It also forces college administrators to just sit down and look at different groups of people, and I think a lot of that’s a good thing.”
Teachers use technology to help quarantined students BY ARDA INEGOL
Staff Reporter
Many students have had to quarantine at home for days because of contracting the omicron variant; despite not being in the classroom, teachers can accommodate students virtually in a variety of different ways, ranging from webinars to Canvas modules and even live Zoom sessions. Jeffrey Spoering, an Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics teacher at Burlingame, was one teacher who adopted some of these methods early-on to help his quarantined students. He believes it is crucial to keep students engaged, even if they are learning asynchronously. “It’s a tough balancing act because we want to maintain high
expectations for students so they can still achieve the academic standards that they want,” Spoering said. Spoering feels it is also important to give sick students more time to complete their work and allow them to study at their own pace. “And to do that, it’s really important to provide extra resources on Canvas in the form of videos or other supporting ideas or notes that can help,” Spoering said. “Yeah, and to also be very flexible with time deadlines and allow students flexibility when making things up at a pace that fits so that the focus can be on learning and not just checking off assignments.” Spoering attempted to hold a live Zoom meeting while teaching on campus, but stopped after
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his first attempt because of the incompatibility of Zoom and in-person teaching. Ultimately, he decided on providing short videos that replicated his in-person lectures paired with the materials posted on Canvas. “[The live Zoom meeting] reminded me of everything I hated about last year, and it was hard for the students,” Spoering said. During the beginning of the semester, Burlingame reported a 75% average attendance rate. As of Feb. 2, the rate is up to 98%. Leo Beringer, a sophomore at Burlingame, contracted COVID-19 and had to miss the first two weeks of school. Though he could not be on campus, Beringer still completed his work on time. He noted he did not struggle and was happy with
the way his teachers adapted to hybrid learning. “I think they handled it well because they put daily slides on Canvas for people to know what they were doing that day,” Beringer said. “So, even though we [weren’t] getting the full experience, we could still learn about what we’re doing.” Matthew McDermott, an AP U.S. Government and Politics and AP Macroeconomics teacher, adapted to the surge by posting screencasts and regularly updating the live agenda. In addition, he has held evening Zoom meetings before test days to make sure his students were prepared. “I’ve had a few review sessions before tests at like seven o’clock at night, and the attendance has been pretty good,”
McDermott said. He also realizes that being flexible about deadlines is very important to help students who had to stay at home because of an infection. He started giving students more time to complete assignments during the omicron surge and incorporated the revise-and-redeem policy into his classes, allowing students to get full credit, even if they turn in their work after the due date. “Having the flexibility to make students feel like I respect and understand where they are coming from, and being flexible, creates an understanding from both of us that we have the same goal, which is you know, academic success, well being and general happiness,” McDermott said.
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Features
February 7, 2022
Burlingame students find the benefits of working PHOTO BY JAKE ROTHSTEIN
Sophomore Sylvie Marie Olson manning the cash register at Tuna Kahuna on Jan. 29. BY JAKE ROTHSTEIN
In high school, the chance to work a minimum wage job offers financial freedom and valuable working experience to students as they begin their introduction into the workforce. In Burlingame, the minimum wage rose from $15 to $15.60 on Jan. 1 in response to the re-calculated Consumer Price Index, which is the average variation over time in the prices paid by consumers for a variety of consumer goods and services. “I think for certain jobs, [minimum wage] definitely tax-
Kevin Skelly FROM PAGE 1
PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN SKELLY
Skelly is notorious for being seen biking around town, particularly on his way to and from work. BY SAM JOHNSTONE
Managing Editor
“He actually encouraged me to do so at the start last year, when I was sitting outside at the lunch tables,” Abitbol said. Despite his best efforts, Skelly has not come out of nearly 15 years as a superintendent unscathed. He notes the hardest part of his career as the suicide clusters that rocked the PAUSD in 2009 and 2015. “Being a high school student is not easy, it’s full of emotions and pieces like that, and whenever a student passes, that’s the hardest part of work, for sure,” Skelly said. His decision to then leave the PAUSD in 2014 came off of parents and community members who were critical towards his lack of transparency regarding a middle school bullying case that violated a disabled student’s civil rights. Despite the controversy, 90% of PAUSD parents and 93% of students said they were “somewhat satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the district, in
a 2013 survey under Skelly’s leadership. “My last child was graduating, so they were 18-yearsold, and we were finishing up at Gunn. I had worked a long time... I sort of needed a sabbatical,” Skelly said. After working as an interim-superintendent in the Mountain View Whisman School District for less than a year, he was hired as the superintendent of SMUHSD in July 2015. Before his work in the superintendent field, Skelly was a math teacher, a Spanish teacher, an assistant principal and a principal. He hopes to return to these roots during retirement, finding other ways to contribute to the district without the hefty commitment of a full-time job. “I plan to substitute teach or contribute in other ways… I think it’ll be healthy for me to serve in math classes or English learner classes,” Skelly said. “And I plan to stay living in San Mateo,” Skelly said.
ing to have three other things to commit to.” Working offers more than a paycheck to Marie Olson, as it provided a new perspective on the value of money — a valuable lesson for high school students such as herself. “Meals for my family of three costs from around 40 to 60 dollars when we eat downtown, and I would say I make that much in a little less than three hours,” Marie Olson said. “It makes me question more whether we need to eat out. So yeah, it did change my perspective. And now I’m like ‘Oh, that many shifts would buy me this shirt,’ and so I do spend less.” For students who are looking for a job for themselves, Carrie Hermann, the Burlingame career coordinator, noted there are many job positions open in Burlingame, though some may still have trouble finding jobs due to uncontrollable factors such as age. “Generally, it’s easier if you’re 16. But there are smaller businesses, like maybe a yogurt shop or a small food business, that might hire younger students,” Hermann said. Sophomore Finn Lorian is facing this exact issue, and they have yet to find a place of employment. “I’ve kind of been looking on
and off to find a job since the summer, but it’s been a bit difficult because I just turned 15 in August, and many places aren’t really looking for people under 16,” Lorian said. “I think I’ve applied to about eight [jobs].” Lorian has only received two replies back as of now, though they noted that they had not ever contacted the career center. At the Burlingame College and Career Center, Hermann is constantly receiving information about open jobs and internship opportunities. “If they don’t have work experience, I do have recommendations on how they can either apply to give themselves a better chance of being noticed and be-
ing offered a position,” Hermann said. “So I definitely encourage students to come in and see me so I can talk with them about some of those tips.” With many job and internship positions open, working is such a valuable opportunity that students can take advantage of, according to both Hermann and Marie Olson. “I think if you can handle getting a job and are responsible enough to manage that and school, it’s a great way to broaden your perspective of the world and get some experience for whatever career you choose to have down the line,” Marie Olson said. GRAPHIC BY KRISTIE KIM
Staff Reporter
es [on the workers], and I think it should be higher for certain jobs because there are some jobs that you need more [money], especially if you’re doing it for financial reasons,” said senior Brynn Lowe. “But I think for me, I don’t need the money in terms of this job, and I’m doing it for experience, so it doesn’t really affect me.” Lowe works at a pediatric dental office as a receptionist and aspires to be a dentist herself. On the other hand, some students choose to not work due to the stress of school and additional external factors. “I’m mainly just focusing on schoolwork and keeping my grades high,” junior Richard Hunsaker said. “I think I probably could get a job, and I will soon, but focusing on schoolwork is probably the number-one priority for me right now.” Sophomore Sylvie Marie Olson agreed, noting that working is very time-consuming and takes up a considerable portion of her free time. “One time I realized I hadn’t hung out with my friends for over a month before break. And I was like, ‘Oh, wow, I’ve made some money, but it would be good to see them,’” Marie Olson said. “You just have to really find time for yourself if you are go-
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Winter Olympics Preview
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HOW TO WATCH: DATES: FEB. 2 - FEB. 20
WHO’S COMPETING: PHOTOS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
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BY JACKSON SPENNER
BY JACKSON SPENNER
Senior Reporter
BY WALI CHAUDRY
Staff Reporter
BY ARSHIA CHAKRAVARTTI
Staff Reporter
Senior Reporter
SHAUN WHITE SNOWBOARDING
MIKAELA SHIFFRIN ALPINE SKIING
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Sports
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February 7, 2022
Head Photographer
The Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) Bay Division is as fiery as ever in recent memory chock-full of college commits and talented players — and currently sitting near its helm are Burlingame in third place (11-31, 4-2-1 Bay Division) and Woodside High School in first (13-0-0, 6-0 Bay Division). All eyes were on the catfight between the Panthers and Wildcats on Jan. 20, an added Stanford University commit showdown between Burlingame senior Amalie Pianim and Woodside senior Elise Evans. Burlingame lost the much-anticipated match 2-0. Woodside’s Kaitlyn Ryan scored after just seven minutes of play, and in the 61st minute, Sofia Bellver Enymann sent a cross to Burlingame’s goal from near the end line. “It was a very, very well played game on both [sides],” Burlingame head coach Philip De Rosa said. “The game of soccer is very fluky. You can play hard for 80 minutes, and boom something fluky happens, and you lose the game.” For De Rosa, that “something” was Woodside’s first goal, causing Burlingame to seek an equalizer and move
its defensive press up. The risk of seeking an equalizer, however, is that it can leave the defense vulnerable to an opposing goal. “It was not a strong goal in the first half… it was really a lob, it wasn’t a shot or anything,” De Rosa said. But with a season that was still “young,” according to De Rosa, the Panthers turned the page to their rescheduled Jan. 22 matchup against Aragon High School (4-6-2, 1-4-1 Bay Division). The original game was postponed due to COVID-19 cases within the Dons’ program. In the first half, the Panthers struggled to advance the ball. Aragon’s defense kept a high line and forced Burlingame into their own half. The Panthers broke that offensive dry spell at the end of the half, in the 38th minute. Sophomore right forward Kailee Ng hit a beautiful cross to sophomore center forward Elise Spenner for a header. The ball knocked off the right goal post and was tipped in by Pianim. Pianim carried that aggression into the second half. In the 52nd minute, she received a pass from Spenner at the 15-yard line, beat a trio of Aragon defenders to the penalty area and found the back of the net. In the middle of the second half, the Panthers
added to the scoreboard once more, with Pianim assisting sophomore left forward Cora Haggarty, who swiftly beat Aragon’s goalie to the left corner of the penalty area. “My teammates are giving me so many chances like playing the ball through, so I’ve had a lot of opportunities to score, and they’re also covering me if I go up,” Pianim said. “Cora did really well on the other wing out there — she was taking people on.” It was the third game that week for both teams, so players on the two sides were exhausted. But ultimately finding their footing offensively, and paired with unrelenting defense, the Panthers triumphed the Dons 3-0. “I think today, we just wanted to come out, get a win, especially after [Woodside], and I think we did what we needed to do,” John Hopkins University commit and senior Ella Macko said. Propelled by a forward-thinking mindset, the team has their eyes set on the postseason. “In the PAL Bay [Division] there is no game that you can go to and say, ‘Ok, we’re going to win this,”’ De Rosa said. “You have to push through… but I still believe that the end-run is to win CCS. That’s our primary focus.”
Left: John Hopkins University commit Ella Macko jumps up in an attempt to gain ball possession for Burlingame in their Jan. 22 game against San Mateo. Middle: The girls’ varsity soccer team gathered contently during half-time against San Mateo — their fifth shut-out of the season. Right: Stanford University commit Amalie Pianim wrests for ball possession against a San Mateo defender.
Despite delays, varsity basketball Spirit squad cheers off to hot start in league through virus surge PHOTO BY MATTINGLY GERMACK
BY MATTINGLY GERMACK
Copy Editor
The boys’ basketball team is off to a hot start in league, going 5-1 in their first five league games. They dropped their opener to Aragon High School by a score of 62-54, and have since stacked wins against Capuchino High School (55-44), Menlo-Atherton High School (63-52), Woodside High School (66-40) and two against Mills High School (47-37 and 74-34). They had to wait a little longer to get underway; following an impressive 8-3 record in preseason tournaments, their first two league games were canceled due to the spread of the omicron variant in the community. The Panthers deploy a starting lineup of five seniors who have had meaningful roles on varsity for their entire high school careers. The chemistry they possess allows them to confidently implement an aggressive style of defense, consistently trying to force turnovers. “I personally think we’re the best defending team in the [Peninsula Athletic League],” senior Will Uhrich said. They’ve added a new wrinkle to their game plan, utilizing a
Junior Zaden Martin looks to make a pass during Burlingame’s league opener against Aragon. full-court press — in which Burlingame defends opposing players down the entire court rather than just half of it — with relative frequency. “The main idea is to speed up the game at our pace,” Uhrich said. “This causes a lot of stress on the other team, which causes turnovers, which causes us to run up the score.” The strategy has paid its dividends, as five league games in, the Panthers average over 10 steals a game. The Panthers have also benefited from the early return of senior and co-caption Sean Richardson, who suffered an an-
kle injury during a game against Stuart Hall High School last December. He was expected to miss at least six weeks, but managed to resume play in just over four. Following a Division III Central Coast Section championship last season, the Panthers’ expectations for themselves were high coming into the season, and with a combined 13-4 record in tournaments and league play as of publishing, their end goal is clear. “To repeat and go get another championship,” Richardson said.
BY KRISTIE KIM
Senior Reporter
Burlingame’s spirit squad could not perform during the first two weeks of the spring semester because of the postponement of basketball games due to COVID-19, which extended their season beyond the previous schedule. Sophomore Caitlin Kall is part of the junior varsity cheer team and has plans for other activities after the cheer season that may overlap, but she recognizes the benefits of extra practice. “It is a little bit on the frustrating side, but I feel like the pressure is kind of being lifted because we will have more time to perfect ourselves with the cheer team before we go back into basketball season,” Kall said. The team and coaches made adjustments coming into the season for COVID-19 safety purposes. Wearing masks is mandatory, and the team can step outside after stunts to drink water and catch their breath. “I think the spike in Covid cases is a bit worrying,” freshman Anna Durfee, a member of the junior varsity cheer team, said. “But I think the way our coaches and all the other cheerleaders are handling it is pretty
good, because we’re pretty good about keeping our masks on and distancing [ourselves] from each other when we have to go outside and take a break.” While cheer practiced on the softball field, the outdoor basketball courts and the gym during the football season, they now use the cafeteria space and the adjacent outdoor space to rehearse. Varsity and junior varsity split up and take turns practicing inside and outside. The teams also modified their routines for COVID-19-related absences. “It is constantly changing because we do have set stunt groups,” junior and varsity team member Liv Cotton said. “When we have people missing, it kind of causes a little bit of chaos because we keep changing people in and out, but overall, it’s for the safety of the team.” Like other winter sports, weekly testing has been mandatory for the cheer squad since Jan. 8. Because basketball is an indoor sport, the cheerleaders recognize the extra precautions they have to take. “We are all wearing masks throughout the whole thing… and everyone gets six people they can invite to each game,” junior Chiara La Mark said. “It’s different for sure, but I know that they’re taking that step.”
PHOTOS BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY
BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY
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Girls’ soccer pushes through stacked Bay Division
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Sports
February 7, 2022
Boys’ soccer undefeated as end of season approaches Sports Editor
The boys’ varsity soccer team remains undefeated after playing 15 games as of Feb. 2. The team currently holds a 11-0-4 (4-0-3 in league) record and looks to continue their dominant play this season. The boys’ varsity soccer team is the only Burlingame sports team that has not lost a match yet. Nearing the end of league play and the regular season, the team already has a tournament win under their belts. On Dec. 18, 2021, the Panthers won the Homestead Christmas Tournament, defeating Salinas High School in the championship. Tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, Burlingame won 5-4 in penalty kicks. To reach the championship game, Burlingame beat North Salinas High School 2-1, Gilroy High School 9-0 and tied against Valley Christian High School 1-1. “So far winning that tournament has been the highlight of the season,” team captain Ian
Jackson said. “But I think everyone’s goal right now is to win the league and then move to CCS and see how far we can go.” Currently unbeaten, boys’ varsity soccer head coach Anthony Dimech has high expectations about the season. He has been the team’s head coach for five years and has led the team to noteworthy postseasons, hoping for the same this year. “In the past, we’ve won the league twice, went to open division finals and went to NorCal, so there’s some high expectations,” Dimech said. “There’s been a lot of good teams at Burlingame High School over the years, and this team is right up there.” Burlingame is currently ranked at the top of the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) Bay Division, neck-and-neck with Aragon High School (8-4-3, 3-1-1 in PAL) and Woodside High School (9-5-1, 3-3-1 in PAL). The team is also ranked as the fifth best team in the Central Coast Section and appears to be a strong contender in Division I
PHOTO BY ISAAC BOSTONMAER
BY ISAAC BOSTONMAER
Ian Jackson (17) passes the ball to Calvin Potter (4) during an offensive possession. playoffs. Although the team has played more than impressively and no games have been postponed or canceled, they have still faced some interference from COVID-19.
“We’ve definitely been hit by Covid. I think seven or eight of us have had it, so it’s been a little bit of a nuisance, but it is what it is — we just have to deal with it,” Dimech said. Despite these setbacks, the PHOTO BY WALI CHAUDRY
Panthers demolish rival Bearcats in basketball matchup BY DARIA BURNOSOVA
Staff Reporter
Senior Sohail Erekat starts his match against another wrestler from El Camino on Jan. 25.
Wrestling wins despite player cuts and walkouts Copy Editor
BY ARSHIA CHAKRAVARTTI
Staff Reporter
BY WALI CHAUDRY
Staff Reporter
Over the last month, following the dismissal of junior Erika Jiang due to scheduling conflicts, her partner Emmi Cate then decided to take a break from the sport. Several members of the boy’s team subsequently chose to walk out as well. “Initially, we had close to 30 kids,” senior and co-captain Calvin Pineda said. “We would all be running into each other, so we kind of had to split up the practices back then. Now, though, it’s more empty with roughly 15 kids on the team.” Although losing some members may not have a tremendous impact on Burlingame’s chances to compete in the Central Coast Section championships, it still affected the team’s morale. “I think that [people walk-
ing out] will have an impact on everybody’s personal abilities because of the loss of their quality training partners,” senior and co-captain Xavier Bruening said. The loss of her teammate, Jiang, primarily affected Cate. “This year, having Erika on the team was a huge motivation. I was looking forward to practice like every day,” Cate said. Cate is currently taking a break from the team. She stated that the team atmosphere and overall rigor of the practices took away from the enjoyable experience of wrestling. “I think the environment was just not that suitable,” Cate said. Senior Diego Ruiz, who was one of the boys who walked out on the team, agreed. “It’s a very hard sport. You’re in a 90 degree room going out for two hours. It’s tough, you know, you’re mentally drained,” Ruiz said. “It’s just the coach didn’t make it very enjoyable.” According to Bruening, wres-
tling is not a sport made for everyone. “It’s a tough sport. It’s a big commitment,” Bruening said. “There are different ideas and philosophies on how practices can be run.” Even with the decrease in numbers, the team has more than enough wrestlers to compete with anyone in the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL). “We’re still in almost every weight class,” head coach Eric Botelho said. “We actually still have more numbers than most PAL teams.” On Tuesday, Jan. 25, the team competed against El Camino High School in their first PAL match of the season, winning by a lopsided score of 51-6. The victory showcased the talent the team holds, even with the loss of numbers. “The kids who are dedicated to the sport stuck it out. Wrestling is not an easy sport to stick with,” Botelho said.
On Jan. 21, the varsity girls’ basketball team won in a home game against San Mateo High School by a dominating score of 61-20. Players’ families and friends, who were on the sixspectator list, crowded the gym as the Panthers warmed up by shooting three-point shots and practicing their defense. On the other side of the court, the Bearcats warmed up with passing and shooting drills. The game started with sophomore Elana Weisman making the first basket of the game within the first minute. She noted she could feel the adrenaline as the crowd went wild. “In the moment I was excited because I heard my teammates on the court and off cheering for me,” Weisman noted. PHOTO BY ISAAC BOSTONMAER
BY MATTINGLY GERMACK
team has still played with grit and shows promise for an impressive playoff run. As of Feb. 2, the Panthers have three games remaining in their regular season and look to finish as league champions.
Burlingame’s starting lineup includes junior Ava Uhrich, sophomore Elana Weisman, junior Michelle Moshkovoy, senior Rylie Coleman and sophomore Sachi Urushima. Together, they used quick and fast passes to get past their opponents. From there, Weisman and Uhrich teamed up to get easy shots. The Panthers were off to a good start in the first quarter leading 28-4. By halftime, the score stood at 40-8. The Bearcats asked for a timeout in the third quarter and put their tallest players in for the remainder. This strategy helped them score a few points, but the Panthers remained far ahead in the lead. In the second half, the Panthers began cycling through their bench players and seemed to have relaxed, as they were leading by a large margin. Senior Kylie Cochran took this opportunity to practice throwing three pointers against the Bearcats’ towering defense. When the final buzzer rang, the crowd went wild with cheers of joy. “The crowd was electric, going crazy after every threepointer and yelling to throw off the other team’s free-throws,” sophomore spectator Irene Chen said. As of Feb. 2, the Panthers have a 15-4 overall record and are 6-1 league play. Their most recent game was a 76-51 loss to Hillsdale High School at home. They look to continue their success into another CCS playoff run.
Upcoming Games Junior guard Michelle Moshkovoy drives left to the basket, in Burlingame’s 61-20 win against Woodside High School on Jan. 26.
2/7 @ Aragon 2/9 vs Sequoia 2/11 @ San Mateo
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Opinion I was sexually assaulted multiple times both on and off campus by the same guy. He’s in my grade, and he still walks free, no judgement at all from his friends even though most of his friends knew what he did. I was forced to sit next to him in class as well, which didn’t help at all. I would overhear him talking to his friends, almost “bragging” about gross shit, like how many other women he’s slept with, d*ck size, whatever. He even talked about the girls (including me) that he r*ped. I’ve never brought it up, I’m not really one to talk about these things. I’m trying to get professional help, but my road to recovery is long, while he’s basically gonna get off scot-free. It’s exhausting. (Excerpt from Feb.1 post by a Burlingame student on the SMUHSD Awareness Instagram page)
Sexual assault:
February 7, 2022
The plant based debate
What are we doing about it? BY THE BURLINGAME B EDITORIAL BOARD
Managing Editor
The Problem The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data from 2019 disclosed that 10.8% of students — 16.6% of girls — reported sexual violence victimization perpetrated by anyone during the 12 months before the survey. Statistics like this are actual stories. Those stories have actual faces, and they are your peers’. Though most incidents occur off campus, the perpetrators and victims are a part of our school community. You won’t get the message from administrators. You might hear about it in the hallways. But most likely, you’ll read about such incidents on SMUHSD Awareness, an Instagram account that sheds light on injustice in the community through anonymous stories submitted by students in the district.
Since 2020, SMUHSD Awareness has publicized 30 accounts of sexual assault or harassment from Burlingame students. But relying on social media for any semblance of information is a last resort; we need and deserve more transparency. When victims of malicious sexual encounters come forward to the school, most often, the main action plan is a change of schedules for the victim(s) and for the perpertrator to avoid contact on campus. A few years ago, an administrator handed a student a map littered with arrows providing options for paths to classes in order to keep them distanced from their abuser. That being said, one victim cited Burlingame’s mental health counseling, via the Wellness and Academic counselors, to be extremely supportive. The coun-
selors comforted the victim as they went through legal processes and began to re-integrate into school. Actions such as these are recognized and appreciated. The reality of high school is unavoidable conversations and small-group discussions in class. So if teachers are not alerted of a situation, students could be put in a group or seated next to a sexual abuser. Though, of course, students are unlikely to be aware of such a fact. As the result of living in a wealthy, privileged area, nearly all cases of sexual assault are quietly dealt with by the school. With maps and switched schedules it feels like a perpetuated state of denial. But hiding the problem does not make it go away.
The Effort That is not to say we have not tried to address the growing issue, but thus far, efforts have proven relatively unsuccessful. In October of 2018, the SMUHSD organized the “Pawsitive Campus Culture Day,” that featured an assembly targeted at creating a culture of consent and a workshop on improving student relationships and mitigating harassment on campus. The same was offered to parents a month later. However, seeing that there were no scheduled classes, students took the opportunity to skip out on program-
ming, and parents nonchalantly called them out sick. Of the 1,497 students, 589 were marked absent the day of the assembly — an alarmingly high number that reflects Burlingame’s displayed attitude towards sexual assault. That poorly-attended assembly was four years ago. Now, the only class remaining who has had the opportunity to attend a consent assembly is the senior class of 2022. The three lower classes have spent the majority of their high school careers thus far in distance learning, and have had no education surrounding con-
sent and sexual violence beyond a brief state-mandated lesson in the semester-long health course. Students are still learning and growing academically, socially and emotionally; undeniably, high school is the primary environment in which that development takes place. With this responsibility, our school must bring together students and administrators in a conversation about sexual assault. But talking is just the start because annual, if not semesterly, consent assemblies and workshops are a must.
Moving Forward A community functions best with open communication. How many incidents of sexual violence have been reported to the school this past year? What action has the school taken? Some students have taken initiative — speaking to the urgency of this topic. Two students started the BHS Against Sexual Violence club in the spring 2022 club cycle and aim to provide education on sexual violence prevention and awareness, according to their Instagram page. In order for victims of sexual violence to be believed, “evidence” — including rape kits and
video evidence that could retraumatize them — is necessary, which silences many in fear that their testimonies will not be sufficient. For cases that are reported, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network estimates that for every 1,000 perpertrators, approximately 97.5% walk free. Two Burlingame students that recently reported their cases became a part of that statistic — the district attorney informed them in January that charges had been dropped due to insufficient evidence. The criminal justice system fails the majority of victims, and
our school needs to be different. We need to support and believe victims first, and create an aware community that actively wants to do better. We can accomplish this through the consent assemblies and increased time in health classes dedicated to sexual violence and consent education. More transparency from administration is also crucial to improvement. If students do not know the problem exists, it will go unaddressed and quietly continue to worsen.
If you are experiencing or have experienced sexual assault or violence, please visit rainn.org or call 800-656-HOPE
GRAPHIC BY SAFIYA LOOMBA
PHOTO BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY
BY SAM JOHNSTONE
BY MATTINGLY GERMACK
Copy Editor
I grew up in a carnivorous Humans are natural omnihousehold, but at the age of sev- vores. We have canine teeth en I declared that I was adopting and complex digestive systems a vegetarian lifestyle. Three years in order to process meat. ago, I furthered my commitWe rely on numerous esment through veganism — a way sential vitamins and minerals to protect animals, the environ- found mainly in animal prodment and my health, all at the ucts to stay healthy. Vitamin same time. Yet I have been told, B12, creatine and carnosine repeatedly, that my individual are among them; they promote actions do not make a difference maximum brain and muscle to the world. efficiency, and studies have But according to vegancalcu- shown that vegans average lowlator.com and vegetariancalcula- er levels of all three. Additiontor.com, I have saved 2,510 ani- ally, vegans face a 30% higher mals from slaughter, 1,205,299 risk of bone fractures, due to an gallons of water and prevented There are ways to fight the the release of meat industry that don’t 33,572 pounds require the personal health of carbon dioxide in my and financial sacrifices that lifetime. That veganism does. seems like a hell of an impact to me. on-average smaller bone denThe U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta- sity from a lack of calcium. tistics reported that consumers It’s certainly possible to be spent approximately $5,000 on vegan without any deficiencies. food in 2020. $1,075 was spent Some of these minerals and vion meats, poultry, fish and eggs tamins can be found naturally, and $474 on dairy products — but to fully replenish what they attributing a shocking 31.34% miss from meat, vegans must to animal products and by- take supplements for what can’t products. Therefore, the elimi- be replaced. Doing so properly nation non-vegan foods would can be much more costly than cut down on nearly one-third of simply eating meat; it’s unfair food costs annually. to assume everyone can afford However, a multitude of that. supplements is necessary to re- It’s undeniable that the meat place the vitamins that vegan industry is a massive roadblock food lacks. Personally, I take a in the fight against climate women’s multivitamin, an ome- change. But even with astroga-3 pill (derived from algae), a nomical rises in the amount of calcium citrate pill and an iron people choosing to abide by a supplement. This adds up to just plant-based diet — 600% since 2014 — meat “A vegan diet is probably the p r o d u c t i o n single biggest way to reduce has more than in the your impact on planet Earth.” doubled U.S. since 2001. under $350 a year on supple- If meat will continue to be proments, a price not everyone can duced regardless of veganism, afford — but it counteracted by reducing carbon emissions in the $1,549 I am saving by not the industry starts at the baleating meat, dairy or eggs. lot box — outlawing inhumane Besides saving money, eat- farming techniques like factory ing a plant-based diet also helps farming would go a long way. the environment. Joseph Poore, If you feel inclined to do from the University of Oxford, something right now, I would stated in a research paper that “a suggest replacing beef with bivegan diet is probably the single son in your diet. Studies show biggest way to reduce your im- that beef is the worst culprit of pact on planet Earth, not just emissions in the meat industry greenhouse gases, but global by far, producing four to eight acidification, eutrophication, times more greenhouse gases land use and water use.” than pork and chicken. Bison Reducing these harmful im- and beef have similar levels of pacts is as important than ever many minerals, and bison cultiin the wake of a global climate vation entails substantially less crisis. Adopting a plant-based greenhouse gas production. diet or incorporating more veg- There are ways to fight the meat an meals is one of the most ac- industry that don’t require the cessible and effective ways to do personal health and financial so. Even the smallest changes sacrifices that veganism does. can have a big impact if we make them together.
Community
February 7, 2022
Sale of Crestmoor to fund future affordable housing PHOTO BY ELISE SPENNER
The Crestmoor property was abandoned when Peninsula High School moved to a new building in Burlingame. The sale agreement with SummerHill Homes will generate $85 million. BY ELISE SPENNER
Copy Editor
Matthew McDermott, a social science teacher at Burlingame, bought his first house in the Shoreview neighborhood of San Mateo in 2009 for $500,000. At the time, he was teaching at Peninsula High School. Because CalSTRS, the state teacher retirement program negotiated a deal with a credit union: McDermott only had to pay a 3% down payment on the house, and he received a federal home buyers tax credit of $8,000. The house was in shambles and required extensive renovation. McDermott recalls when the police shot someone down the street just a week after he and his family moved in. But
for McDermott, the upside of owning a home in the Bay Area—a foot in the booming housing market and a manageable commute—was worth the less-than-ideal conditions. Six years later, he sold his Shoreview home for $800,000 and used the profit to purchase another house on the Peninsula. “If I had never gotten the first loan, where I only had to put 3% down, how would I have ever gotten into the market?” McDermott said, reflecting 13 years later. Today, replicating McDermott’s experience would be almost impossible. Exorbitant housing prices make the Bay Area — particularly Burlingame and its surrounding communities — an extremely chal-
lenging market sectorplace to buy into. In an attempt to help teachers stay in town and attract new staff, the San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) hopes to construct affordable housing for faculty in the coming years. In December 2021, the district entered an agreement to sell the obsolete 40-acre Crestmoor property to SummerHill Homes. The sale was a long time coming; four years ago, the SMUHSD Board of Trustees approved plans to move Peninsula High School from the Crestmoor property, and almost three years ago, the Board declared that Crestmoor was “surplus land” — no longer needed. The sale of Crestmoor is set
to generate $85 million, and that money will go directly towards funding the affordable housing project. “I think we see that as a tremendous opportunity for everyone involved. It gives the city of San Bruno the opportunity to provide housing; the property is zoned for single-family homes,” Board President Peter Hanley said. “And then the proceeds will provide the potential for us to come up with the ability to provide some housing for teachers and staff, which we think is badly needed on the Peninsula.” Eric Vences, a first-year teacher at Burlingame, is fortunate enough to live with his boyfriend in the nearby community. But he recognizes that the dismal income of a first-year teacher (as low as $75,000) barely covers a nofrills, one-bedroom apartment — which typically has a minimum of $2,000 in monthly rent — in the surrounding area of SMUHSD schools. “If you’re making, what, $3,500 to $4,000 every month, and your rent is 50% or more, and you don’t have the bandwidth to take on another job, ” Vences said, “[and] you’re trying to balance mental health and self-care and things like that, it’s just not doable.” Although the District’s goal
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is that affordable housing will be temporary while faculty save enough money to rent or buy, the support might not be enough, said Craig Childress, the President of the SMUHSD Teacher’s Association. “Even with that opportunity, the math — something doesn’t work out. That may not even be enough of an opportunity for someone to save enough money,” Childress said. “But it might be a step that could help out some folks, and I think that’s where we’re at right now.” Childress offered a few ideas that could complement a property-based affordable housing program: debt forgiveness to offset student loans, increasing salaries for first-year teachers, or, as McDermott benefited from, low-rate mortgages. “It may be within the district with affordable housing or loan assistance, debt relief, but I think it’s going to take government institutions, getting involved and having some creative ideas and creative thought,” Childress said. The exact timeline of affordable housing construction is unclear as the district continues to navigate the early stages of the project; however, Griffin said that the administration will seek input from faculty throughout the process.
History of Peter Umland stadium PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER UMLAND
PHOTO BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY
Peter and Dolores Umland made the SMUHSD a residual beneficiary under the Umland Charitable Trust. BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY
Head Photographer
Burlingame’s previously unnamed stadium is filled with memories of runners going the distance, graduations and eight Little Big Game victories, all overlooked by a scoreboard reading “Peter Umland Stadium” since 2014. Part of Burlingame’s class of 1954, Peter Umland passed away suddenly from a heart attack on Sept. 18, 2001 at age 66, shortly after winning Alumni of the Year. Born July 30, 1935, Umland attended Burlingame but ended up dropping out. “When Pete was barely making passing grades as a junior at BHS, he decided he wanted to join the U.S. Navy, so he quit BHS,” his sister Diana Umland Bos wrote. “He went to the Recruiting Office in SF and was turned down because they had so many draft-age boys, they couldn’t take him.” Umland began to work as a lumber clerk, when he realized without a diploma that might be the “height of his professional career.” “He enrolled in a correspondence high school class and earned his diploma after studying very hard at night at home,” Bos wrote. “I don’t know how genuine that diploma was, but
at least he had one.” Once draft-eligible, Umland served in the U.S. Navy as an aerial photographer from 1953 to 1956. After his military tenure, the Burlingame Police Department hired him as a patrolman until 1958, with him continuing on to the California Highway Patrol until 1980. After his retirement, Umland grew interested in distance running and marathons. Current assistant and previous head track and cross-country coach of 29 years, Steve O’Brien (Obbie) met Umland at a running store and spoke at his memorial service. “He always kind of had a feel that he wanted to work with young people, but he never knew how to really get in,” O’Brien said. Umland found that calling as a volunteer track and cross-country assistant at Burlingame for around eight years before his death. “Peter and I coached together, and we were friends together,” O’Brien said. “He used to help with other kids that didn’t have shoes, bags or sweats. He did that not only at Burlingame High School, but through the Peninsula Athletic League.” Under the Umland Charitable Trust, Umland and his wife Dolores made the San Mateo
Union High School District (SMUHSD) a residual beneficiary for use in Burlingame’s athletic endeavors. In 1997, he funded the installment of a new all-weather track totaling almost $250,000. “That just spoke to the man he was. He would have given you anything,” O’Brien said. “The district benefited not just financially, but more by his coaching, his relationship with young people.” After renovations of the stadium’s bleachers in the fall of 2014, the SMUHSD Board of Trustees approved the title. As for the diploma that Umland never got from Burlingame, that would change in 2001 when he won Alumni of the Year. “The night of the award, [then]-Principal Arrigoni and others bestowed upon Pete a genuine Burlingame High School diploma. He couldn’t have been more pleased,” Bos wrote. Formally recognized as a Panther graduate at 66, Umland often dedicated his philanthropy to the high school student. “It was always about someone else and not Peter,” O’Brien said. “His spirit and the soul he gave out of just total love and respect… it was magic.”
Student Life
12
February 7, 2022
Does Burlingame have the next Charli D’Amelio? BY AMANDA NOLAN
Staff Reporter
What even is an influencer? In this day and age, almost everyone is on social media, even grandparents. This online participation rises to the concept of the influencer — an individual who has the power to affect their audience in areas from health to fashion to sports or even come-
dy. Influencers spread their content through platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and, in particular, TikTok. TikTok became the influencer hub, as reaching fame quickly is relatively manageable through its inclusive “For You” page. The follower counts of these promoters can range
anywhere from 10,000 to 134,000,000 followers. At Burlingame, students have created their own accounts, taking on this influencer role and affecting the lives of thousands. Anthony Saccuman, Stephanie Holcomb and Danny Conway have made a name for themselves with NFL
news and media platforms, self-love podcasts and comedic skits, respectively. While their followings vary, these students wouldn’t consider themselves influencers, but rather as individuals sharing their passions with a mini-to-substantial audience.
that are believable enough for a person not to realize that it’s a joke right away,” Conway said. Luke Sterling and Sammy B’s platforms generate over 2,100 followers combined across Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. This is only the beginning of Danny Conway’s comedic career as he hopes to continue this for the rest of his life. “I mean that’s the goal. I would love to create an environment where people aren’t afraid to do something uncomfortable and feel free to pursue whatever creative endeavors.” Conway said.
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creating my own.” In early 2019, Conway created Sammy B, a character based on students from a privileged area. Sammy B convinces his audience that he overcame adversity, but really lives a prosperous life. An entirely unique character, health and fitness influencer Luke Sterling, came about in late 2019. Conway is constantly searching for inspiration — while in school, getting a haircut or spending time with friends, he keeps a list of ideas that come to mind. “I want to create uncomfortable, comfortable situations
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Danny Conway is all smiles next to his alter-egos, Luke Sterling (left) and Sammy B (right).
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Anthony Saccuman points to YNO’s instagram feed that generates 14,400 followers.
Founder of sports media outlet YNO Sports, Anthony Saccuman built a platform not only to voice his football predictions and athletic opinions, but to also create a community that shares his love of American football. As a football and baseball fan, Saccuman had attempted to make multiple sports accounts over the years, and ultimately found success in YNO, which he started in 2017 and rose to prominence in 2020. “It took time. I kept posting. It failed a lot. There’s a point where you’re like, okay, I’m just gonna keep posting,” Saccuman said. With daily posts, the YNO’s feed fills with hot takes, player rankings, power rankings and
game takeaways, generating thousands of likes. In the past five years, YNO has accumulated over 17,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok and Twitter combined. After Saccuman tore his ACL in 2019, YNO’s direct message box overflowed with support and sympathy. He has created friendships with others across the country and world, emphasizing the importance of a community. “Sports is a lot more than a ball and a stick. It’s a big family. A big community, and I try to be in the middle of that,” Saccuman said. With this platform, Saccuman feels a responsibility to ensure his followers prioritize mental health and provides
check-in posts. “I’ve had people DM me after these posts and be like, ‘Hey, I need someone to talk to,’ and I’ll always reply to them,” Saccuman said. Saccuman sees YNO Sports as a stepping stone for a future career in sports broadcasting and analysis. “I want to see if I can make this into something like ESPN, one day,” Saccuman said. “Or, I could go on to working for the NFL or MLB. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.” Though Saccuman wouldn’t call himself an influencer, YNO posts initiate conversations as fans worldwide dispute his viewpoints and champion their teams.
STEPHANIE HOLCOMB Host of the podcast, “Your Daily Reminder,” Stephanie Holcomb believes a true influencer spreads awareness for their community, rather than gaining followers or popularity. Holcomb inspires high school students and a broader audience to prioritize their mental health through her podcast, where she shares advice on healthy relationships, managing personal struggles, balancing school and overcoming insecurities. She started “Your Daily Reminder” over the 2021 winter recess, creating short listens under 20 minutes accessible to everyone through Spotify.
“I feel like we get so caught up in school and our daily lifestyle. We don’t really make time for self-care,” Holcomb said. Holcomb started this podcast as a source of relief for herself, but also wanted to develop a space where students could feel safe and relate to her struggles. Her unfiltered podcasts give the audience a safe sanctuary where they find truthful advice and answers to finding themselves. Starting in December 2021, Holcomb has generated over 126 total streams. Holcomb spreads the word about “Your Daily Reminder” through In-
stagram and Snapchat stories, telling friends and family and advertising it on BTV. Holcomb describes an influencer as someone who spreads awareness about mental health and isn’t afraid to share raw and real emotions. She hopes to open the conversation on mental health, instead of hiding from it, through her podcast. “I want to get to my higher self and get to my element,” Holcomb said. “I learn the most by helping others. I hope to evolve through helping others.”
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PHOTO BY SOPHIA BELLA
You may know him as Luke Sterling, Sammy B or the junior class president, but underneath it all is Danny Conway: a student at Burlingame who never fails to make the community laugh with his comedic skits. Conway, influenced by his comedic idols Sacha Baron Cohen, Larry David, David Sedaris and Tina Fey, decided to start his journey in comedy by creating two archetypal characters. “I grew up in a household where comedy was always present. As a way to cope, as a way to celebrate,” Conway said. “It really inspired me to pursue
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Stephanie Holcomb poses next to the thumbnail of her podcast, “Your Daily Reminder.”