SCL Promotes Crisis Text Line

Alex Luna, Staff Writer

November 7, 2016

In the past few weeks, students at Los Altos may have noticed a poster placed in school restrooms promoting a crisis text line. The Student Community Leaders (SCL) class posted this text line to aid teenagers dealing with any type of crisis. The idea originated from Principal Wynne Satterwhite when she at...

City Council Enacts Minimum Wage Increase

Cameron Avery and Ross Avery

October 20, 2016

Filed under Issue-2, News, Showcase

Starting next year, minimum wage workers in Los Altos will have a little more to bring home each day. On September 27, the Los Altos City Council voted 4-1 to pass an ordinance that will result in a substantial, city-wide increase on the minimum wage from the current $11.00 per hour. Starting on...

Revamped Multivariable Calculus Offers College Experience

Javin Pombra, Staff Wrter

October 20, 2016

Filed under Issue-2, News, Showcase

Since its inception three years ago, Los Altos has offered Multivariable Calculus in fluctuating circumstances. When last year’s teacher Daniel Borklund left Los Altos, it seemed to many prospective students that Multivariable would not be offered this year. “As far as I was concerned, I didn’t ...

Trigonometry Honors Curriculum Accelerates

Rachel Lu and Madison Woo

October 20, 2016

Filed under Issue-2, News

As a stepping stone between Algebra II and Calculus classes, Trigonometry/Math Analysis Honors has been revamped to better prepare students for calculus. Math teachers Eunice Lee and Stephen Stefanini worked over the summer to craft a new curriculum that aims to emphasize students’ problem-solving and precalcul...

Mastering Mindfulness: Teachers Learn to Destress

Danny Vesurai, Staff Writer

October 20, 2016

Filed under Issue-2, News, Showcase

The smell of popcorn fills the air in room 406 as the lights dim and “Casablanca” loads on the projector. Before starting the classic, Film Analysis teacher Susana Herrera instructs her class to close their eyes. The students go quiet, already accustomed to this routine after two months of school. As...

District Assesses Decline in SBAC Performance

Yolanda Spura and Justin Yu

October 20, 2016

Filed under Issue-2, News

Much to the district’s surprise, Los Altos’ overall performance declined on last year’s Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC) test: the proportion of students who met or passed state standards dropped from 81 to 70 percent and 76 to 67 percent in English Language Arts (ELA) and math, respectiv...

Aerospace Engineering Takes Flight

Teddy Chmyz, Haley Ecker, and Avery Luke

October 20, 2016

Filed under Issue-2, News

It’s not rocket science — except it is. New this year, Los Altos’ Aerospace Engineering class is the third course in the three-year engineering program and focuses on the physics behind the flight of rockets, planes and more. At the end of second semester last school year, engineering students ...

Recent Fire Alarm Highlights Evacuation Questions

Alex Luna, Staff Writer

October 20, 2016

Filed under News, Web Exclusive

On Tuesday, September 27, the school was taken by surprise when the fire alarm suddenly went off during lunch. What made it more concerning was that it was not a drill because the alarm went off due to smoke in a classroom. While the incident did not create major consequences, situations like this provoke th...

Construction Nears Finish Line

Emma Van Geuns, Staff Writer

October 18, 2016

Filed under Issue-2, News

For more than two months now, P.E. students and athletes have used portables behind the large gym as locker rooms, awaiting the completion of the updated rooms currently under construction. Due to unforeseen delays, students are now set to have access to their updated locker rooms between October 24 an...

Haiti Emergency Drive Exceeds Expectations

Yolanda Spura, Staff Writer

October 14, 2016

Filed under News, Web Exclusive

Responding to the mass destruction caused in Haiti by the arrival of Hurricane Matthew, Los Altos’ Haiti Solidarity Club held a drive from Tuesday, October 11, through Friday, October 14. The drive exceeded expectations and raised $5000 for the Haiti Relief Fund, which provides humanitarian relief fo...

SCL Publishes “The Bathroom Break”

Haley Ecker and Avery Luke

October 7, 2016

Filed under News, Web Exclusive

Over the past month, students have found a newsletter known as “The Bathroom Break” taped to the mirrors and the doors of bathroom stalls around Los Altos. These biweekly newsletters were created by the new Student Community Leaders (SCL) class as a way to increase awareness of events on campus a...

Growth Creates New Role for AVID Council

Justin Yu, Staff Writer

September 27, 2016

Filed under News, Showcase, Web Exclusive

As AVID expands from six to eight sections, the student-run club AVID council now plays a larger role in managing the AVID program. Although it did not have much of a campus presence last year, AVID council president junior Mary Mendoza plans to revitalize the club by meeting on a regular basis and ...