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Articles by Brianna Ruiz
Girls Volleyball Suffers Loss to Carlmont
The girls volleyball team fell to the Carlmont Scots in three sets—12-25, 20-25, and 23-25—on Thursday evening. The match began with a few mistakes leading to dropped balls on the Bears’ side, allowing Carlmont to secure an early 4-0 start. “We were trying to run some more plays, like freeball plays, and then just overall run a faster offense. I think that was our most fun goal,” senior middle blocker Addy Moeller said.
Outside Lands Unites Students With Music on the Green
Leadership hosted its second annual school Outside Lands, where student bands performed on the Green from Tuesday through Friday. Over the four lunch periods, one band took the stage for a remarkable performance each day. Tuesday: Coastal Problems To commence the first day of Outside Lands, Coastal Problems, made up of sophomore lead singer Justice Toilolo, sophomore guitarist Joseph Sanft, and junior ukulele player Sione Tahaafe, performed.
Girls Volleyball Sweeps Half Moon Bay
The girls volleyball team defeated the Half Moon Bay Cougars in three sets—25-15, 25-13, and 25-12—on Tuesday evening The Bears kicked off the game with high energy, but the Cougars took the first point. This wasn’t an issue for M-A, as tough serves by senior outside hitter Sophie Marks allowed the Bears to bounce back, raising the score to 14-3 in M-A’s favor.
Puppet Show Takes the Stage at Belle Haven Library
Families gathered together at the Belle Haven Library for “Save the Day for Snail,” the final show of Menlo Park’s ninth annual summer puppetry festival on Sunday. The summer puppetry festival has been going on throughout the summer, starting on June 15. Led by Lisa Lenore, the artistic director of Possibly Puppets, the show provided many memorable, interactive experiences for the young audience.
Benches at Hillview Track Memorialize Coach Dylan Taylor
New benches adjacent to the track at Hillview Middle School were finished on April 19 and are dedicated to former football coach and Hillview paraeducator Dylan Taylor, who passed away in 2025 in a bike accident. The project to add the benches was led by Design Tech High School junior Jacob Atkins, who organized the installation as part of a mandatory service project for the Scouting America Program. Atkins’ project required significant planning.
An Inside Look at M-A’s Hidden Garden
At the front of the D-wing near the Oak Grove Parking lot stands M-A’s garden, which many students don’t know exists. There, the Gardening Club, led by junior Sam Rousseau, maintains the garden, planting and watering to preserve the greenery. “We’re a club right now that’s mostly dedicated to revitalizing the space, because it’s been abandoned for close to 10 to 12 years,” Rousseau said.
Caterpillars Crawl Into M-A Campus and Surrounding Neighborhoods
Since March, caterpillars have been spotted everywhere around campus by students and staff. Mostly concentrated in the F-wing, these bugs can cause rashes and have sparked unease among students. “I have seen the caterpillars. I’ve seen them on the trees, they just fall down and land on your clothes. It’s really unsettling,” junior Luna Gutierrez said.
Caterpillars Crawl Into M-A Campus and Surrounding Neighborhoods
Since March, caterpillars have been spotted everywhere around campus by students and staff. Mostly concentrated in the F-wing, these bugs can cause rashes and have sparked unease among students. “I have seen the caterpillars. I’ve seen them on the trees, they just fall down and land on your clothes. It’s really unsettling,” junior Luna Gutierrez said.
EPA Approves Affordable Housing Plans and Expansion of Martin Luther King, Jr. Park.
The East Palo Alto (EPA) City Council approved a partnership with the County of San Mateo (SMC) and housing nonprofit East Palo Alto Community Alliance and Neighborhood Development Organization (EPACANDO) in February 2026. The plan, which comes after years of discussion, will add approximately 60 affordable housing units on 2277 University Ave., and approximately 1.6 acres of land to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park.
Trans Day of Visibility Brings Awareness and Celebration to M-A's Campus
M-A's Genders and Sexualities Alliance club (GSA) hosted its Transgender Day of Visibility event during lunch on Tuesday. Celebrated annually on March 31, this day has been recognized since 2009 as a time to honor the contributions of transgender and nonbinary individuals and learn more about their history.
Harry Styles Drops the Disco Ball on 'Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.'
It's been nearly four years since Harry Styles's Album of the Year winner, Harry's House, was released. Now, he's finally returns with Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally., a 12-track album that sells itself as a bold pivot into electronic dance music. Inspired by nights at European techno clubs, Styles promises to embrace bolder, less-mainstream genres.
Boys Volleyball Cruises to Victory Against Gunn
The boys volleyball team dominated the Gunn Titans in three sets, 25-13, 25-23, and 25-17, on Wednesday evening. The Bears started the game off with high energy and great performance. Although Gunn took the lead with the first point, errors at the net allowed M-A to catch up quickly and gain three points, putting them in the lead. "We suffered a bad loss yesterday. So I think it was really about rebounding and getting our confidence back up," sophomore libero Nicolas Sandoval said.
Removal of Memorial for Dylan Taylor Strikes Confusion Among Community
Following M-A football coach Dylan Taylor's death in 2025, a bicycle, flowers, and pictures were left on the corner of Middlefield Road and Prior Lane in remembrance of him. Last Thursday, the City of Atherton took down all items, leaving a sign posted that acknowledged the memorial's purpose. The city cited its " right of way, " which gives it the right to remove objects deemed hazardous to the public, city manager George Rodericks explained.
How Bears Spent Their Winter Break
During M-A's nearly three-week winter break, students spent their free time in a variety of ways. While many relaxed at home, others embarked on eventful trips, caught up with friends, or spent time with family. Freshman Rylan Hayes, who is on M-A's varsity basketball team, enjoyed playing over break and hanging out with friends. "We played against Menlo, and we won, and I went for East Bay. So, yeah, it was really nice," he said.
Meet Four of M-A's Coaches
M-A's sports teams are known across the Bay Area for their talent and success, but they couldn't reach those heights without the hardworking coaches who lead them. Get to know four of M-A's coaches and their distinct coaching styles. Chris Saunders: Football Ethnic Studies teacher and varsity football coach Chris Saunders first came to M-A in 2020.
What's in Students' Notes App
The Notes app is used for many different purposes that vary per student: some use it a lot, and others don't even touch the Notes app on their phone, thinking of it as just a decoration on their screen. Whether for small reminders and homework, or something totally different and unexpected like rap battles and dreams, students constantly find ways to use their Notes app creatively. "I use it occasionally," freshman Hayden James said.
Girls Volleyball Dominates Woodside
The girls' volleyball team beat the Woodside Wildcats in three sets: 25-18, 25-14, and 25-16 on Thursday evening. The Bears kicked off the first set with high hopes and great energy. Woodside took the lead with the first point; however, that didn't stop the Bears from bouncing back with assistance from senior middle blocker Kayla Greenbaum's powerful spikes. As the set carried on, the Bears' offense stayed strong with help from freshman setter Calista Chou paired with Greenbaum's hits.
Girls Volleyball Surrenders to Sacred Heart
The girls volleyball team lost to the Sacred Heart Gators in three sets: 22-25, 21-25, and 18-25 on Tuesday afternoon. The Bears entered the game with intensity and fervor, but the first set began in favor of the Gators, who got their first points on the board with multiple kills. This initial loss galvanized the Bears into action, leading them to win two points of their own. After a block from senior middle blocker Kayla Greenbaum, the Bears managed to even the score at 3-3.
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