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Articles by Amari Witt
Julieta Oropeza-Gamez on School With Family and Being Shy
Before teaching AP Spanish and Spanish 4 at M-A, Julieta Oropeza-Gamez was a shy student balancing her education and caring for her siblings. Gamez immigrated to the United States from Mexico when she was in first grade. “I hated it, and I cried like every day because I didn’t understand, but by second grade, my English was pretty decent,” she said. “My teacher in second grade was bilingual. He was super nice.
Indivisible San Mateo Gathers to Honor ICE Related Deaths
"We're at a point where staying quiet is equivalent to being complicit in the system," community member Jason Hagler said. Dozens gathered outside the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo on Saturday, Feb. 7, to honor the 41 individuals who have died while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. These individuals have passed due to a variety of causes, including medical neglect, untreatable conditions, and gunshot wounds.
How Eric Wilmurt's Athletic Journey Led Him to M-A's Track
Before becoming M-A's cross country coach and a P.E. teacher, Eric Wilmurt was a timid high school student who juggled friends, jobs, school, and sports. From first through eighth grade, Wilmurt attended a private Catholic school in Hayward, California, which required a lengthy commute from his home in Dublin. When high school started, he opted to end the commute and attend Dublin High School instead. "It was great.
Students and staff gathered in the PAC Cafe to celebrate the seventh birthday of M-A's beloved service dog, Ginger, on Friday. Since joining the campus last fall, Ginger has become a cherished member of the M-A community by providing comfort, emotional support, and smiles to students and staff. "We threw this party to celebrate the District's canine program and animal-assisted interventions," Dr. Edith Bennet, Ginger's caretaker, said.
Bear Bites: Dive into Spanish Culture With Palo Alto's Macarena Restaurant
Located in downtown Palo Alto, Macarena offers a vibrant entry to Spanish cuisine. With ambient lighting that sets the mood for a relaxed and laid-back dining experience, the atmosphere is elevated with even better food. Although some dishes fail to satisfy expectations, there is no doubt that Macarena lives up to its traditional and cultural front. Croquetas de Jamón ($10): 7/10 The Croquetas de Jamón appetizer is irresistible.
Students Navigate the Twists and Turns of Curly Hair
Almost every morning before school, junior Gabi Jansen wakes up early to straighten her hair. She's one of many M-A students-and women across the globe-who choose to put heat to their curls. Those with naturally curly hair face a crucial question: should they embrace their curls or submit to beauty standards? "Straight hair doesn't feel as chaotic," junior Nadia Sharif said. "It's a lot easier to maintain because when my hair is curly it gets really frizzy.
M-A’s Most Significant Demonstrations Through Time
Protests and demonstrations have long served as powerful tools for change, amplifying the voices of communities that might otherwise go unheard. With it’s rich history and diverse student body, M-A has often found itself in the midst of confronting conflict, stemming from both within the District and nationally. M-A’s students have consistently utilized their resources to stand up for what they believe in.
Community Responds to Las Lomitas District Teachers Strike
Teachers in the Las Lomitas Elementary School District have been on strike since Wednesday, Oct. 23, after the district refused to negotiate a 10% pay increase for educators part of the Las Lomitas Education Association. While the district’s two schools—Las Lomitas Elementary School and La Entrada Middle School—have remained open even without most teachers, many students and parents have stayed home.
Snacks, Inclusion, and Family at Bob’s Country Corner
“If you take the time to come into my store, you are family to me,” Issa Wehab, one of the owners of Bob’s Country Corner, said. Every day, customers of all ages flow into the store on Alameda Ave., from young children buying candy bars to grandparents picking up the morning paper. Country Corner has a history unlike any other store in Menlo Park. The store was founded in the late 1890s, and later purchased by a French couple, Paul and Sharon.
Style Watch: First Day Fits
With the new school year comes a new wave of fashion trends and popular styles. To see what these trends might look like and what new styles appeared over the summer, we walked around campus and spotted students with unique outfits. We found a lot of casual, chill attire with lots of Birkenstocks and thrifted denim. See for yourself below: Junior Casey St. Clair rocks his “relaxing but comfortable” outfit on the Green.
Three Camps for an Outdoorsy California Summer
With summer just 5 weeks away, many M-A students await their return to their summer camp programs. However, if you’re still struggling to find the right fit for you, there are various local summer camps and away camps for students to attend. From day camps to sleepaway camps, we interviewed M-A students to help them decide how to spend your summer. If you’re looking for a sleepaway camp that includes all the fun activities you can imagine, then Skylake Yosemite Camp is the right fit for you.
AP Literature Students Parody Queen, Ice Spice, and Chris Issack at Yam Slam - M-A Chronicle
Sixteen years ago, AP Literature teacher Lisa Otsuka came up with the Yam Slam, an activity where her students write lyrics for and perform a song from the perspective of the narrator of Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man.
Community Members Celebrate at Love Our Earth Festival
On Saturday, a community center in East Palo Alto called the Bloomhouse, hosted the annual Love Our Earth festival. Parents attended with their children along with teens looking for ways to help their environment. White tents surrounded the area with fun activities for children, food, music, and environmentally friendly products. Children huddled around tables creating beautiful arts and crafts that volunteers set up.
The Music Moment: Older by Lizzy McAlpine
Grade: A+ This Friday, Lizzy McAlpine released her third album Older, which she started writing during lockdown in 2021 at the same time as writing her sophomore project five seconds flat In a recent interview for the Zach Sang Show, McAlpine said, “This album is not going to sound like five seconds flat.
Parents Hesitant to Enroll Their Children in New T-K Programs
Just over two years ago, Belle Haven Elementary established a free T-K program in East Palo Alto which prepares young children for kindergarten by improving their motor skills and providing them with fundamental education basics like learning the alphabet. Though all California public school districts are required to offer T-K per SB 1381, families can decide whether or not to have their children attend these programs and it appears many families are not taking advantage of the new program.
Drama students frustrated that shows don't offer art credit
The ten-week-long fall play totals 96 hours of outside-of-school rehearsals and performances. The Drama class only totals about 80 to 90 hours of class time for the school year. Yet, while the drama class fulfills M-A’s mandatory art credit, the after-school show does not. Students in the fall play expressed their frustration because, while school sports are counted as PE credits, after-school shows are not recognized.
Students' favorite concert venues
Just like music tastes, favorite concert venues vary drastically from student to student. From small artists in intimate theaters to mainstream artists in vast stadiums, M-A students shared their favorite venues in the Bay to see live music. Junior Ryan Dyer saw Joji at The Warfield in San Francisco and loved the venue. “The venue was medium-sized and the view from my seat was great.
New Testing Room Helps Decrease Student Stress Levels
A new testing room was created in D-24 for students with accommodations. Previously, students with accommodations for a small test setting or extended time took tests in the Zen Den. “The space was a bit cramped, especially because the testing took place in a small area,” said Nicole Ho, M-A’s small setting test coordinator.
Students Pop on Depop
Depop is a platform that connects fashion enthusiasts—and people who just want to clean their closets—from all over the world. Sellers on the site offer a wide range of unique items, letting users express their individual styles. It is also an eco-friendly way to revive or get rid of old items that one doesn’t use anymore. This week, I asked a few M-A students who sell on Depop what they like about the platform.
Starbucks' Best Fall Drinks
Autumn is finally upon us, meaning that Starbucks has officially re-added its selection of fall-themed drinks to the menu. The yearly wave of drink reviews has been making its way across social media, and these drinks have received great praise, but do all of them really live up to the hype?
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