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
Emily McNally

Emily McNally, Senior Writer

All content by Emily McNally
MVLA is accepting applications for its Student Advisory Council, a group of students who represent the student body to the Board.

[Photo] Applications Open for MVLA Student Advisory Council

By Rebekah Park and Ashley Tumacder
February 8, 2023
Catherine Vonnegut, Thida Cornes and Esmeralda Ortiz came out ahead in the November MVLA Board Election.

[Photo] Vonnegut, Ortiz, Cornes win the MVLA Board Elections

By Rebekah Park and Dia Hemanth
December 13, 2022
The Mountain View–Los Altos District approves teacher's raise that will accumulate to a 15.7 percent increase by the 2023–2024 school year.

[Photo] MVLA District approves teacher’s raise

By Nayeon Kim and Aanya Mathias
April 7, 2022
Bike lane installation plans on El Camino Road were approved after discussion during the Los Altos City Council meeting last Tuesday.

[Photo] New bike lanes to be installed on El Camino Road next summer

By Rebekah Park, Journalism One
March 31, 2022
Alta Vista High School was named as a 2022 Model Continuation High School.

[Photo] District looks to implement an ethnic studies course next school year

By Mira Sundar
October 2, 2021
The MVLA Board approved AB–130 and AB–104 allowing students to pursue an independent study option and alter their grades from the last school year.

[Photo] MVLA approves grade change and independent study policies

By Rohan Vaswani
August 10, 2021
The Mountain View–Los Altos Board of Trustees voted to adopt the “Local Control and Accountability Plan” (LCAP), which centers around student equity and a safe learning environment amongst other goals. This plan will be implemented by the MVLA District for the upcoming school year.

[Photo] MVLA Board approves “Local Control and Accountability Plan” for the 2021–2022 academic year

By Mira Sundar
June 22, 2021
The Family Partnership Council has been formed this year to improve communications between the MVLA Board and the community.

[Photo] Students propose District mental health policy reforms at Board meeting

By Nina Crofts
June 14, 2021
With seniors committing to colleges today for National Decision Day, The Talon looked into a college season tradition expanded by a few MVLA seniors this year. In an effort to place a positive light on often painful rejection letters, a handful of students ran college rejection Instagram pages filled with dozens of entries from their peers.

MVLA seniors unite peers one college rejection at a time

By Emily McNally, Senior Writer
May 1, 2021
Senior Ethan Stirrup chases after the ball in a game against Mountain View High School on Tuesday, April 6. The boys soccer team was forced to cancel their last game of their season after a member of the Gunn team tested positive, as the LAHS team had been in close contact with the athlete while he was contagious.

[Photo] Boys soccer season cut short due to COVID-19 exposure

By Allison Bricca
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 varsity football team prepares to snap the ball near the end of their last game. It was a close finish, but the Eagles ultimately came out on top with a score of 21–14.

[Photo] The Eagles soar to a win to end the football season

By Mira Sundar
April 16, 2021
Abe Roof, Los Altos High School’s new girls golf coach, has been playing golf since elementary school. He also has a long held passion for studying history. Even though the two don’t seem to go hand in hand, Roof is able to see there are more similarities than what meets the eye.

History degrees and putting greens: New girls golf coach embraces both

By Emily McNally
April 3, 2021
Senior May Jiang waves to her teammates as she is recognized at the last swim and dive meet of the season. After a close virtual competition against Gunn High School and Homestead High School, the team was able to relax and enjoy their final moments together.

Seniors say goodbye to Season 1 sports

By Allan Feldman, Emily McNally, Barrett Wong, and Allison Bricca
April 2, 2021
The City of Los Altos announced on Monday, March 8 the release of the 2020–2021 Community and Emergency Preparedness Grants Program, which aims to strengthen neighborhood preparedness during disasters by providing residents with readiness packages including training on life-saving techniques, handheld radios and emergency medical kits.

[Photo] Los Altos announces program to improve emergency preparedness

By Kaley Kwan
March 29, 2021
Los Altos City Council Member Jonathan Weinberg proposed last month that the City Council draft a safe storage ordinance that would require all firearms — not just those in homes where children live — to either be stored in a Department of Justice–approved locked container or disabled with a trigger lock.

[Photo] It’s time for Council Member Lynette Lee Eng to resign

By Kaley Kwan
March 18, 2021
Sophomore Grace Cai lines up her swing as she prepares to take her first shot of the match. The girls golf team played a close game against Mountain View on Thursday, March 11, but pulled through with another win.

Girls golf takes home tee-riffic win against Mountain View

By Emily McNally
March 14, 2021
After meeting for the annual review of data, the Mountain View–Los Altos Board of Education clarified its general intervention plan to pursue equity in the District. This included addressing the uneven number of Latino students in special education.

[Photo] District planning hybrid on-campus return next month

By Natalie Wei
March 12, 2021
Since 1985, local writers from all professional backgrounds have presented their life's work to the LAHS student body. Writers Week 2021 will feature authors, journalists and screenwriters from around the world who'll share their craft via Zoom throughout the coming week.

Zoom into the writing process with Writers Week 2021

By Kaavya Butaney, Emily McNally, Emilie Enser, Nathaniel Joffe, and Naomi Schulze
February 28, 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 introduces new classes for 2021-22 school year

By Allan Feldman and Emily McNally
February 17, 2021

Exploring Music

By Emily McNally
February 17, 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.

[Photo] MVLA District approves proposed potential hybrid schedule

By Anika Sikka and Natalie Wei
February 9, 2021
Soul searching with one of Pixar’s newest movies

Soul searching with one of Pixar’s newest movies

By Emily McNally
February 8, 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.

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

By Anika Sikka and Mira Sundar
February 8, 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
After completing her senior year last Friday, December 18, Sarah Bettinger, ’20, poses for her graduation pictures. Most high school seniors may opt to graduate alongside their peers at the brink of summer, but Bettinger graduated a semester early, eager to start the next chapter of her life at Brigham Young University in the spring.

Sarah Bettinger graduates just in time for the holidays

By Emily McNally, Senior Writer
December 20, 2020
The Los Altos City Council voted to remove school resource officers from Los Altos High School.

[Photo] City Council votes to remove SROs from Los Altos High

By Mira Sundar and Anika Sikka
November 25, 2020
Police escort one of the Seven to the courthouse, surrounded by protesters. The movie 'The Trial of the Chicago Seven' highlights parallels between the 1960s and the present.

Past meets present in ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’

By Emily McNally
November 8, 2020
The Talon interviewed several Los Altos High School graduates to give you a look into college life, distance learning edition. While some students are learning virtually, others have chosen to defer their first year. Continue reading to learn about how the pandemic has affected these graduates’ decisions.

Post-grad plans during a pandemic

By Natalie Wei, Emily McNally, and Allan Feldman
November 7, 2020
In yesterday's meeting, the police task force met to discuss SROs.

[Photo] Police task force discusses SROs and student input

By Gil Rubinstein
October 21, 2020
Sean Li, '20, is posing with his Freestyle Academy of Communication Arts & Technology banner upon high school graduation. Li starts at the University of California, Santa Cruz as a freshman this fall and is excited to begin his path into engineering off-campus.

Sean Li

By Emily McNally, Senior Writer
October 13, 2020
Alyssa Hamamoto, '20, donned in her graduation gear, is holding her University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) themed cap. Hamamoto, an incoming freshman at UCLA, is taking her courses from home to be close to her family and hopes to major in political science due to her passion for history and political theory.

Alyssa Hamamoto

By Emily McNally, Senior Writer
October 13, 2020
Nine candidates are competing for four spots in this year's Mountain View City Council elections

[Photo] Breaking down the Mountain View City Council race

By Nathaniel Joffe and Gil Rubinstein
October 6, 2020
The District clarified its plans for continued distance learning this year.

[Photo] District to begin in-person return for select groups of students

By Olivia Hewang and Natalie Wei
October 5, 2020
The District is set to construct a new school to accommodate projected growth.

[Photo] MVLA to construct new high school to accommodate anticipated growth

By Olivia Hewang
October 5, 2020
All seven Los Altos City Council candidates answered questions in last night's forum.

[Photo] City Council candidates speak about priorities at forum

By Gil Rubinstein
October 1, 2020
New restrictions are challenging the relationship between MVLA and the Mountain View Public Library.

[Photo] MVLA–MV Public Library program faces new challenges

By Allan Feldman
September 15, 2020
Seven candidates are competing for three spots in this year's Los Altos City Council elections.

[Photo] City Council elections: Who’s running and what do they stand for?

By Gil Rubinstein
September 3, 2020
Three candidates are running for two spots on the MVLA Board of Trustees in this year's upcoming election.

[Photo] Laying the field: Three candidates run for two MVLA board seats

By Olivia Hewang and Natalie Wei
August 30, 2020
Early morning on Sunday, August 16, lightning strikes rampaged the Bay Area. It begs the question: Is this a normal occurrence, or does man-made climate change play a part? And what can we do to help?

The Golden State is set ablaze, not for the first time, but hopefully the last

By Emily McNally, Senior Writer
August 30, 2020

Basketball: NBA and WNBA

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

[Photo] Los Altos residents speak out against police in town hall meeting

By Mira Sundar and Anika Sikka
July 28, 2020
In Los Altos High School’s Advanced Student Investigations (ASI) class, students step into the role of professional researchers as they investigate in-depth topics of their choice and present their year-long research for their culminating projects. Prior to COVID-19, the ASI class traveled to London to present their research to students abroad.

ASI students: investigating their way through senior year

By Emily McNally, Senior Writer
July 10, 2020
Sophomore Megan Sage has been making bracelets ever since fourth grade, and just a year ago, she tied the knot with her pastime by founding her own company Blooming Threads Co.

[Photo] Linking the community, one knot at a time

By Cameron Cox, Staff Writer
March 19, 2020
Senior Anna Zaeske running the 400m her junior year. At Johns Hopkins, Anna looks to take track from the high school to college level, while still putting an emphasis on academics.

Anna Zaeske: Track-ing her way to Johns Hopkins

By Emily McNally
March 18, 2020
Riff with the Nasifs

Riff with the Nasifs

By Emily McNally, Staff Writer
February 25, 2020
Dogs of Los Altos

Dogs of Los Altos

By Isabella Borkovic, Ethan Ruyack, Kylie Akiyama, Katrina Arsky, Marie Godderis, and Emily McNally
February 11, 2020
Screen Shot 2020-02-11 at 7.50.34 PM

[Photo] History teacher Kelly Coble & Australian Shepherd Rugby

February 16, 2020
From working in retail to excelling in the pro gaming industry, math teacher Hector Arias is a man of many talents. After graduating high school, he never imagined that he would return to Los Altos and become a teacher.

[Photo] From pro gaming to pro teaching, this man’s talents add up

January 22, 2020
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[Photo] Elana Eisenberg’s field hockey journey to a Cal Bear

By Allison Bricca
December 19, 2019
Physics teacher Stephen Hine returns to Los Altos five years after graduating. Contrary to what some may believe, Hine struggled with physics as a sophomore and never expected that he would become a physics teacher.

[Photo] Hine has his ion returning

December 17, 2019
At graduating high school in 1996, Michael Smith has always thought about returning to Los Altos. With no prior teaching experience, Smith was hired and is now one of the most popular teachers at Los Altos.

Senior Nicole Player joins the game to show her spirit and bring together the community as she competes against junior Jocelyn Lee for a critical shot. FCA aims to create a safe space where students can explore ways to bring their faith and life as an athlete together.

[Photo] FCA hosts annual knockout game and shares a student testimony

By Nina Crofts and Allison Bricca
December 10, 2019
EqOpTech club member sophomore Sofia Mujica gives a student a refurbished laptop at Castro Elementary. EqOpTech, a club at Los Altos, provides free laptops to students who can't afford them.

[Photo] EqOpTech distributes refurbished laptops to students in need

By Parisa Larson
December 4, 2019
Diez1

[Photo] Choir Director Lauren Diez makes her debut at Los Altos

By Julie Vargas, Senior Writer
November 7, 2019
Photo Essay: Varsity boys water polo celebrates spectacular win on senior night

Photo Essay: Varsity boys water polo celebrates spectacular win on senior night

By Emily McNally, Staff Writer, Photographer
October 24, 2019
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[Photo] Halden twins: No yield on the field

By Allison Bricca, Staff Writer
October 17, 2019
Fall-owing Eagle Sports

Fall-owing Eagle Sports

By Cameron Cox, Ethank Ruyak, Allison Bricca, Elana Eisenberg, Emily McNally, Amid Najmi, Barrett Wong, Marie Godderis, Mayu Alten, and Parisa Larson
October 12, 2019
Girls water polo swims for the win

Girls water polo swims for the win

By Mayu Alten and Emily McNally
October 4, 2019
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