The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon
The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon
The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon
Anika Sikka

Anika Sikka, Editor-in-Chief

All content by Anika Sikka
Keeping up with the retirees: Principal Wynne Satterwhite

Keeping up with the retirees: Principal Wynne Satterwhite

By Anika Sikka, Editor-in-Chief
June 11, 2023

Senior columns: Reflecting on the past four years

By Anika Sikka and Audrey Zhu
June 9, 2023
MVHS journalism program to undergo major changes next school year

MVHS journalism program to undergo major changes next school year

By Mira Sundar and Anika Sikka
May 8, 2023
The Supreme Court recently revisited the Affirmative Action case, Harvard v. Students for Fair Admissions this past fall.

[Photo] Opinion: Affirmative action… and thus we affirm

By Rebekah Park and Nayeon Kim
February 26, 2023
A recently converted gender-neutral bathroom in the 700s wing has created a range of concerns about racism and cleanliness.

Racist vandalism in the gender-neutral bathrooms raises concerns

By Matthew Kim, Anika Sikka, and Audrey Tsai
September 7, 2022
Seniors and Discovery Shop volunteers Jen Corley and Chloe Park wearing items from the store to raise awareness.

The Discovery Shop: Redefining fashion and creating more birthdays

By Anika Sikka
August 11, 2022

Did you know? LAHS edition

By Anika Sikka and Kaley Kwan
April 4, 2022

Rumor has it: An investigation into the District’s parent group chats and online communities

By Anika Sikka, Kaavya Butaney, and Emilie Enser
April 4, 2022
Given the rise of COVID-19 cases in the MVLA District, The Talon compiled frequently asked questions along with responses as a resource for students and staff.

COVID-19 at MVLA: What you need to know

By Anika Sikka
January 12, 2022
On Friday, October 1, an anonymous bomb threat was called in to Los Altos High School. In order to ensure student safety, LAHS used many internal and external resources; the community also provided LAHS with resources to evaluate the threat.

LAHS bomb threat: The receipts

By Anika Sikka
December 10, 2021
Duped by the oh-so-brilliant strategy of questionably deriving any calculus problem I didn't know the solution to, I've realized my neglect of fully addressing my questions — and learning to ask those questions in the first place. It was hard to reveal that under my facade of “okayness,” things were actually not okay.

Derive or die… Or ask for help?

By Anika Sikka, News Editor
November 15, 2021
A ghost looking in through a window. Ghosts are real, and don't let scientists tell you otherwise.

Satire: Don’t be gaslit by science, ghosts are real

By Anika Sikka
November 5, 2021
Crossed-out homework assignments in News Editor Anika Sikka’s planner. Anika tried vlogging every single day for about two weeks to showcase her productivity, following a TikTok trend.

Do you really want to be ‘that girl’?

By Anika Sikka, News Editor
August 22, 2021
The new Los Altos cycle track does not allow students to be dropped off on Almond Avenue or through the main Los Altos parking lot.

Los Altos cycle track alters student drop-off and pick-up

By Anika Sikka
August 11, 2021
District follows state guidelines, mandating masks for the upcoming school year

District follows state guidelines, mandating masks for the upcoming school year

By Anika Sikka
July 31, 2021
Timothy Lam, Los Altos High School ’15, will be competing in the 2021 Olympic Games, representing the U.S. Olympic men’s badminton team.

Turning a dream into reality: Timothy Lam represents Los Altos in Tokyo

By Anika Sikka
July 26, 2021
A bus of students was hit while returning back to school from their senior picnic in Santa Cruz. No seniors were injured and the effect on others involved is unknown.

Senior bus encounters a collision while returning from senior picnic

By Anika Sikka
June 4, 2021
Yesterday, the United States Department of Education named Los Altos High School one of 27 nationwide Green Ribbon Schools for its “promising practices to improve achievement and equity.” The Green Team, a club dedicated to promoting healthy environmental practices, works to implement sustainable practices in LAHS and played a major role in Los Altos’ Green Ribbon School selection.

LAHS named one of 27 nationwide Green Ribbon Schools

By Anika Sikka and Natalie Wei
April 23, 2021
Senior Maura Kelleher chases after the ball alongside a Presentation player. The Eagles beat the Panthers in a 2–0 shutout at their last home game of the season, marking the team's 11 seniors' last game ever on LAHS turf.

Field hockey shuts out Presentation on senior night

By Emily McNally and Anika Sikka
April 21, 2021
The College Board announced that the SAT and PSAT will be going fully digital in 2024

College Board releases AP digital testing details for 2020–2021 school year

By Anika Sikka
April 15, 2021
The Talon compiled frequently asked questions about the hybrid return with responses, along with helpful resources and terminology.

Hybrid return FAQs

By Anika Sikka
April 2, 2021
This morning, the Mountain View–Los Altos School District and the District Teachers’ Association released the terms and conditions for the District’s planned return to in-person instruction. The return will operate under safety regulations provided by the State Health Department and CDPH, including face coverings, stable groups, physical distancing, adequate ventilation, hand hygiene, surveillance or screening testing and reporting symptoms and close-contact exposure.

MVLA District releases finalized hybrid return agreement

By Anika Sikka and Natalie Wei
March 26, 2021
This morning, Los Altos High School released its Advanced Placement (AP) testing schedule for the 2020–2021 school year. The schedule was created with input from District faculty, students, families and the College Board.

LAHS releases AP testing schedule for the 2020–2021 school year

By Anika Sikka and Natalie Wei
March 19, 2021
After years of student complaints regarding the sexism implied in the Los Altos High School dress code, the Associated Student Body (ASB) has started brainstorming a dress code revision plan. ASB’s goal is to revise the dress code to be more reasonable, inclusive and generally appropriate.

District releases possible graduation plans along with modified senior spring activities

By Anika Sikka
March 18, 2021
Because of the inundating deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic, John Jones and his group of 10 friends took a well deserving trip to a resort in Lake Tahoe as the tantalizing fragrance of muddy snow and the appealing vibe of Tahoe came before the pandemic for John and his friends.

Skiing down the slopes and throwing the school year down the drain

By Marie Godderis and Anika Sikka
February 22, 2021
The College Board announced that the SAT and PSAT will be going fully digital in 2024

College Board releases 2020–21 AP exam schedule

By Anika Sikka and Natalie Wei
February 10, 2021
Empty fields and courts are now a common sight due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents of Los Altos, it's the responsibility of our entire community to follow safety guidelines for a number of reasons — one being so that athletes can practice and play their sports after almost a year without competitions.

An open letter to Los Altos residents (from a frustrated athlete)

By Anika Sikka
February 9, 2021
The Mountain View–Los Altos (MVLA) School District approved plans for a potential hybrid schedule during yesterday’s “study session,” marking the next phase of the District’s return to campus.

MVLA District approves proposed potential hybrid schedule

By Anika Sikka and Natalie Wei
February 9, 2021
This morning, the Mountain View–Los Altos School District and the District Teachers’ Association released the terms and conditions for the District’s planned return to in-person instruction. The return will operate under safety regulations provided by the State Health Department and CDPH, including face coverings, stable groups, physical distancing, adequate ventilation, hand hygiene, surveillance or screening testing and reporting symptoms and close-contact exposure.

Mountain View-Los Altos school district to implement a new hybrid plan

By Anika Sikka and Mira Sundar
February 8, 2021
While Lifetime reality TV show Dance Moms seems like a stereotypical reality TV show in which moms fight unnecessarily over their children’s jazz dances, it has racist undertones that need to be addressed by Lifetime.

Racism: Living on the dance floor

By Anika Sikka
January 25, 2021
Washington D.C. updates: What's going on at Capitol Hill?

Washington D.C. updates: What’s going on at Capitol Hill?

By Vaishu Sirkay, Mira Sundar, Naomi Schulze, Navya Singhai, Emily McNally, Lauren Morimoto, and Anika Sikka
January 6, 2021
We watched all of Harry Styles’s music videos so you don’t have to

We watched all of Harry Styles’s music videos so you don’t have to

By Anika Sikka and Elyssa Kennedy
December 19, 2020
While many American schools teach that Thanksgiving is a positive, wholesome holiday, it actually has a much darker history that involves indigenous genocide by the American colonizers.

The dark history behind Thanksgiving

By Anika Sikka
December 13, 2020
Normally nested in the 700s (left) and 500s (right) wings on campus, Technology, Engineering and Design (TED) courses have acclimated to this school year’s virtual environment with innovative solutions stemming from teachers in the department. These typically hands-on and collaborative classes have been able to transition to a more limited at-home format with curricula focused on developing fundamental skills.

Reinventing TED classes during distance learning

By Anika Sikka, Staff Writer
December 7, 2020

Senior Margaret Capetz’s cookbook makes sustainability delicious

By Anika Sikka, Vaishu Sirkay, and Navya Singhai
December 6, 2020
The Los Altos City Council voted to remove school resource officers from Los Altos High School.

City Council votes to remove SROs from Los Altos High

By Mira Sundar and Anika Sikka
November 25, 2020

COVID-19 around the world

By Anika Sikka, Marie Godderis, Allan Feldman, and Elli Lahdesmaki
November 16, 2020
Floating in a world of uncertainty and insecurity can feel like being the imposter in Among Us for the very first time. My experience with impostor syndrome in water polo almost made me quit the sport, but I realized that the fun bus rides home and the banter between teammates, not just winning or losing, were at the heart of my athletic career.

You’re the impostor — water polo edition

By Anika Sikka
November 8, 2020
Draco Malfoy leans over a sign welcoming you to Hogwarts as you shift realities. Recently, people all over the internet have been claiming to shift realities, sharing their stories with the world.

You’re a muggle, Harry!

By Anika Sikka
November 8, 2020
Staff writer Anika Sikka gives her thoughts on how female politicians have been portrayed in the media and what should be done moving forward.

The media needs to do better in portraying female politicians

By Anika Sikka
October 25, 2020
The Los Altos Police Task Force is charged with finding a solution to the presence of SROs at LAHS.

A look into the Los Altos Police Task Force

By Mira Sundar, Anika Sikka, and Gil Rubinstein
October 24, 2020
Tonight, Joe Biden and Donald Trump face off in the final presidential debate.

An overview of the final presidential debate

By Kaavya Butaney, Natalie Wei, Olivia Hewang, Gil Rubinstein, Anika Sikka, Mira Sundar, and Nathaniel Joffe
October 22, 2020
Joe Biden and Donald Trump attended separate town halls in which they answered questions tonight, replacing the originally scheduled second presidential debate.

An overview of tonight’s presidential town halls

By Anika Sikka, Olivia Hewang, Gil Rubinstein, and Nathaniel Joffe
October 15, 2020
Compassion Week, an organization that aims to engage the Los Altos community in a week’s worth of volunteer opportunities, hosted a myriad of life changing events last week ranging from playhouse construction to community forums. Due to the pandemic, its opportunities have also expanded to include remote service projects that are tailored to volunteers of all ages and interests.

Spreading love and glitter during Compassion Week

By Anika Sikka, Staff Writer
October 12, 2020
"Cuties" protagonist Amy breaks down after realizing the dangers she put herself through due to social media's negative influence. As much as the movie may seem like it was written by a middle-aged pedophile, it was actually created by a woman who endured the same struggles as Amy.

‘Cuties’: Not so cute after all

By Anika Sikka and Naomi Ichiriu
September 28, 2020
STEM stress at LAHS

STEM stress at LAHS

By Anika Sikka, Staff Writer
September 28, 2020
JT Faraji calls to the crowd through his bullhorn. On Friday, September 25, protesters gathered in Menlo Park, reacting to the grand jury indictment in Breonna Taylor's case.

Menlo Park protesters march in reaction to Breonna Taylor indictment

By Anika Sikka and Mira Sundar
September 26, 2020
The Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs linked arms in a moment of silence for those killed by police brutality before their game on Thursday, September 10. The LAHS football team aims to show a similar act of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Texans and Chiefs — linking arms and sparking controversy

By Anika Sikka and Mira Sundar
September 20, 2020
Five females robbed the Standard Liquor store in Downtown Los Altos.

Five rob Standard Liquor in Downtown Los Altos

By Mira Sundar and Anika Sikka
September 18, 2020
CCMVHS held an open discussion to address the presence of SROs on MVLA campuses.

CCMVHS meeting: Community discusses SROs and their role on campus

By Mira Sundar and Anika Sikka
September 17, 2020
Los Altos High School’s annual Diversity Week will take place Monday, April 26, to Friday, April 30, with daily activities modified to allow for both in-person and virtual student participation.

SROs and ethnic studies — a closer look

By Mira Sundar, Anika Sikka, and Cedric Chan
September 13, 2020
Downtown Los Altos appears deserted in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus has been treated as one of the biggest trends of 2020, and people not taking it seriously has led to a surge of COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19 isn’t over just because you’re over it

By Anika Sikka
August 17, 2020

Golf: PGA

By Anika Sikka
August 17, 2020
Today at 6 p.m., Los Altos leadership held a town hall to address concerns about the Los Altos Police Department.

Los Altos residents speak out against police in town hall meeting

By Mira Sundar and Anika Sikka
July 28, 2020
Actors Serena Gaylord, Arya Nasikkar and Justin Reed act in Check Please!, Broken Box's last show of the year. Though the actors couldn't meet physically, the show was presented via Youtube.

Check Please!–a showstopper, almost stopped by COVID-19

By Anika Sikka, Staff Writer
June 17, 2020
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