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
Tomoki Chien

Tomoki Chien, Senior Writer

All content by Tomoki Chien
Freshman Sam Stein runs through hurdles at a cross country practice while wearing a mask. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, sports practices are limited to cohorts of 14 athletes, and participants must abide by local social distancing guidelines at all times.

COVID-19 cohorts: The evolution of sports practices in a time of uncertainty

By Elana Eisenberg, Tomoki Chien, Marie Godderis, Rohan Vaswani, and Barrett Wong
November 22, 2020
The Mountain View–Los Altos School District is set to continue the HAERT program, despite negative student feedback.

[Photo] MVLA to continue HAERT program despite majority negative feedback

By Marie Godderis and Gil Rubinstein
November 15, 2020
The Palo Alto City Council voted to open Foothills Park to non-residents.

[Photo] Palo Alto to open Foothills Park to non-residents

By Olivia Hewang
November 3, 2020
A protester honors the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. At today's rally in San Mateo, many held picket signs denouncing Donald Trump and Amy Coney Barrett.

San Mateo crowd gathers for Women’s March sister rally

By Tomoki Chien
October 17, 2020
Varsity field hockey coach Mary Donahue demonstrates a stick skill to her practice cohort. With the transition to in-person practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, only 14 athletes per coach are allowed, masks must be worn when players are not engaging in strenuous activity and social distancing rules are required.

[Photo] Coaching through COVID-19

By Allison Bricca
October 13, 2020
From dissecting mathematical proofs as a group to immersing members in a mythical realm of adventure, Los Altos clubs are redefining Zoom class fatigue into an opportunity for all students to get invested in their interests and the school community.

Didn’t attend Club Day? Talon’s got you covered!

By Tomoki Chien, Kaavya Butaney, and Parisa Larson
October 13, 2020
The Mathematical Proofs Club, founded by an all-female leadership team, aims to erase the stigma around the subject of math. Through discussions and puzzle-solving, the club hopes to create an open environment for students to simply explore confusing mathematical concepts without grades tied into the process.

Proofing math can be fun

By Tomoki Chien, News Editor
October 13, 2020
These unusual die are just a tiny facet of the endlessly imaginative game Dungeons and Dragons Club founder sophomore Nick Sapalaran hopes to promote amongst the student body. Enthusiasts and newcomers alike are able to join the online servers set up by the club and just enjoy the never ending twists and turns of this magical experience.

D&D: Not just for nerds

By Tomoki Chien, News Editor
October 13, 2020
A sign at the entrance to the park clearly indicates the park’s restrictions. “Palo Alto residents and accompanied guests only,” it reads.

The farm, pilot and suit: A definitive guide to the Foothills Park controversy

By Tomoki Chien and Olivia Hewang
October 1, 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.

[Photo] Menlo Park protesters march in reaction to Breonna Taylor indictment

By Anika Sikka and Mira Sundar
September 25, 2020
Numerous recent fires have generated high-atmosphere smoke.

[Photo] California Fire Updates

By Garv Virginkar and Rose Liu
August 19, 2020
On Monday, June 1, a Los Altos graduate posted a Twitter thread allegedly showing current and former Los Altos students demonstrating what some have called a racist culture at school.

Twitter thread sparks controversy about racism at Los Altos

By Tomoki Chien, Cedric Chan, and Isabella Borkovic
June 13, 2020
Mountain View residents call for city council to cut police budget

Mountain View residents call for city council to cut police budget

By Cedric Chan and Tomoki Chien
June 9, 2020
Protesters march on El Camino Real towards the intersection at San Antonio. Yesterday, protesters took to the streets of Mountain View and expressed outrage over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

“Say his name”: Mountain View protesters march for justice

By Nathaniel Joffe, Cedric Chan, Navya Singhai, and Tomoki Chien
June 4, 2020
The University of California system has suspended its standardized testing requirement.

UC suspends SAT/ACT requirement through 2024

By Tomoki Chien and Cedric Chan
May 21, 2020
The Santa Clara County Health Department has issued a shelter-in-place order. Only "essential businesses" may operate.

Bay Area counties under “shelter in place” order

By Tomoki Chien, Cedric Chan, and Isabella Borkovic
March 16, 2020
Santa Clara County closed all public schools in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Classes will resume Monday, April 13 in the MVLA school district.

Santa Clara County closes all public schools

By Cedric Chan and Tomoki Chien
March 13, 2020
Courtesy CDC

No current plans to close Los Altos in light of coronavirus

By Tomoki Chien and Cedric Chan
March 2, 2020
District suffers ransomware attack

District suffers ransomware attack

By Cedric Chan and Tomoki Chien
February 14, 2020
Devices connect to the internet through the pathway shown above. The district's internet issues now stem from aging wireless access points.

IT Department to update district’s networking infrastructure

By Tomoki Chien
January 30, 2020
The WWIII memes are terribly disrespectful to the American men and women whose lives are now at stake.

WWIII memes aren’t so funny

By Tomoki Chien, Staff Writer
January 20, 2020
I’ve realized that my insensitivity, particularly the use of homophobic slurs, was in part because of my own grapples with my sexuality.

Dear teammates,

By Tomoki Chien
January 15, 2020
A view of the bay from the top of Vista Hill which sits near the park entrance. Spots like this set the park apart from other nature preserves in the area. It’s a shame that non-Palo Altans are barred from entering the park, with the threat of a misdemeanor.

Why I’m technically a criminal

By Tomoki Chien, Staff Writer
November 21, 2019

Walsh twins: going extreme on bike and board

By Ethan Ruyack and Tomoki Chien
November 4, 2019
600-wing building to have gender-neutral bathrooms

600-wing building to have gender-neutral bathrooms

By Kaavya Butaney and Tomoki Chien
November 4, 2019
Latin teacher Krista Greksouk helps sophomore Ceasar Palting as the students decipher texts together.

Krista Greksouk: bringing life to a ‘dead’ language

By Tomoki Chien, Staff Writer
October 22, 2019
Los Altos to delay school start times in accordance with new legislation

Los Altos to delay school start times in accordance with new legislation

By Tomoki Chien
October 21, 2019
English teacher Margaret Bennett has a book conference with freshman Genesis Santos. Two new English teachers have been added to the Survey of Composition and Literature pilot that emphasizes free reading in its curriculum.

Freshman Survey pilot class adds two new teachers

By Tomoki Chien
October 16, 2019
Happy National Coming Out Day!

Happy National Coming Out Day!

By Tomoki Chien and Kaavya Butaney
October 11, 2019
New policy allows students in portables to request extended passing period

New policy allows students in portables to request extended passing period

By Rachel Rudyak and Tomoki Chien
September 22, 2019
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