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Articles by Rose Chane
Inside the Met Gala: Fashion’s Most Influential Night
The Met Gala, often referred to as fashion’s biggest night, took place this past Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Organized as a fundraising event in support of the museum’s Costume Institute, the event brings together the world’s most important celebrities, designers, and influential figures for a night that blends fashion, art, and philanthropy.
Four Months Later: Are They Still Detoxed?
Four months ago, the M-A Chronicle conducted a two-week social media detox with four students: Daniel Matloub, Atessa Gholamy, Jose Guzman, and Penelope Chapman. We did so in response to rising concerns about teens’ intense social media use and its detrimental effects on mental health, including excessive stress, comparison, and loneliness.
Three Takeaways from Wednesday's Board Meeting
The District Board of Trustees convened for its monthly meeting on Wednesday evening. The Board heard public comment, discussed a brief transition update on the recent closure of TIDE Academy, and received an annual presentation on District attendance. The meeting began with a special recognition of Sequoia High School's winter rally performer Dustin Lebus and the school's Baile Folklórico group and advisor Melissa Diaz, for their contributions to the school community.
Nicole Perlroth Talks Journalism, Cybersecurity, and Mission-Driven Work
This is the 122nd article in Bears Doing Big Things, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni. "I spent over a decade investigating and writing about cybersecurity, and now I'm focused on making concrete changes within it," Nicole Perlroth said. Perlroth was the longtime lead cybersecurity reporter for The New York Times, where she covered technology, digital espionage, and major cybersecurity attacks worldwide.
Four Bears. One Social Media Detox.
Across Youtube, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, 36% of teenagers report using at least one of these platforms "almost constantly," according to a recent Pew Research Center study of 1,458 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17. Among the teens surveyed, 61% say they use TikTok daily, and 55% report daily Instagram use. In a separate survey, 45% of teens involved confessed they spend "too much time on social media." There's no doubt that excessive use of social media can harm teens' mental health.
Taylor Swift Trades Heartache for Happiness in 'The Life of a Showgirl'
6/10 Taylor Swift's twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, arrived with the popstar's signature choreography and epic anticipation, featuring the album cover reveal on her fiancé Travis Kelce's New Heights podcast. The album features a subsequent marketing machine made up of easter-eggs, TikTok effects, and green and orange sparkles, culminating in the Official Release Party across 540 movie theater screens. Swifties everywhere were heralding a new era.
Kemi Ingram '91 on Entrepreneurship With a Mission
This is the 108th article in Bears Doing Big Things, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni. Kemi Ingram '91 has focused on entrepreneurship from the start. From launching successful ventures in high school to building an engaged following through her blog, she has consistently demonstrated creativity. Today, Ingram works in social entrepreneurship, supporting parents and children through online advocacy.
Nadia Moreno '18 Talks Communication-Driven Leadership
"I find a lot of joy in bringing people together and strategizing ways to improve our communication within the City of San Mateo," Nadia Moreno '18 said.
The Most Anticipated Albums of the Summer
Summer 2025 stood out for two defining moments: Lorde's long-awaited return and Addison Rae's rise to fame as a cultural powerhouse. Lorde's Coachella appearance with Charli XCX and her surprise Washington Square Park performance marked one of the season's biggest comebacks. Simultaneously, Addison Rae made the leap to pop icon with a debut that received comparisons to Britney Spears for her angelic and addictive sounds.
Caroline Pecore '23 on Creating Bears Doing Big Things
This is the 100th article in Bears Doing Big Things, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni. "I was naturally drawn to human interest pieces because I like learning about people's unique walks of life," Caroline Pecore '23 said. Pecore founded Bears Doing Big Things, the M-A Chronicle 'sweekly column featuring alumni, in 2022. For the 100th profile, the M-A Chronicle spoke with the founder about the origin of the column.
Michael Farzi '11 on Leadership in Public Health and Global Crisis
This is the 96th article in Bears Doing Big Things, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni. Michael Farzi '11 is an executive officer at the World Health Organization, supporting the Health Emergencies Program in response to global crises and humanitarian emergencies. "I love my job because it gives me the ability to indirectly help others across the world," he said.
Players of Pride Hall: Becca Dorst '10
This is the 10th article in Players of Pride Hall, a subsection of Bears Doing Big Things, celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni in the Hall of Fame. “Water polo has taught me immense discipline and perseverance, which especially applies to my work as a nurse today,” Becca Dorst ’10 said. Dorst was a four-year varsity water polo star at M-A, later coached the sport at Princeton University, and now works as an ER nurse. Growing up, Dorst was always surrounded by water polo and athletics.
Betsy Dickie '60 Talks Teaching, Travel, and Making an Impact
This is the 95th article in Bears Doing Big Things, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni. Betsy Dickie '60 is a former teacher and volunteer and now lives in the Bay Area, where she stays active in the community. "It feels like a full-circle moment-one of my granddaughters graduated from M-A last year, and the other is a sophomore," she said. "It's really wonderful to still be a part of this town." At M-A, Dickie loved to take art classes and spend time with her friends.
Sweet Success: Natalie Hug '15 Talks Owning a Bakery
This is the 93rd article in Bears Doing Big Things, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni. "I just have always wanted to do something with baking. It was really my lifelong goal, I didn't want to do anything else," Natalie Hug '15 said. Hug has spent years working in different bakeries and now owns Hearth & Hug Bakery in Boston. At M-A, Hug was a part of the AVID program. "AVID was a really great program that helped me a lot," she said.
Remembering History Teacher Sam Harris
Social studies teacher Sam Harris died by suicide on Tuesday evening. Harris, who was 40, was in his ninth year of teaching at M-A. Since arriving in 2015, Harris taught a variety of subjects, including Government, AP U.S. History, U.S. History, World Studies, and Life Skills. This school year, he had been teaching APUSH and just started a new semester of Government. “Mr. Harris brought so much passion into the classroom every day.
Megan Steen '04 on Brand Strategy and Podcast Marketing
Megan Steen ’04 is the director of brand strategy at ThirtyFiveSixtyFour, a podcast aimed at celebrating middle age as a time of growth and reinvention. Previously, Steen was the director of marketing at Quest Software and a behavioral therapist for children with autism. During her freshman year, Steen was M-A’s mascot. “I had a lot of friends from middle school who were cheerleaders, and they convinced me to be the mascot because we were in desperate need of one,” she said.
Sally Zarnowitz ‘76 on Shaping Communities Through Architecture and Historical Preservation
This is the 84th article in Bears Doing Big Things, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni. Sally Zarnowitz ‘76 is a former architect and city planner who focused on projects within the public sector. “Throughout my career, I felt like I was always giving back to various communities in different ways, improving living spaces—whether large or small—one step at a time,” she said.
Players of Pride Hall: Tinka Blackmond ‘84
This is the 9th article in Players of Pride Hall, a subsection of Bears Doing Big Things, celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni in the Hall of Fame. Tinka Blackmond ‘84 has dedicated much of her life to basketball, even playing during her 10-year military service. Today, she manages an after-school program and works part-time for iHeartMedia. Blackmond discovered her love for basketball while playing with her neighbors as a child.
Giants manager Bob Melvin started his baseball career at Menlo-Atherton High School
by Rose Chane on November 20, 2024 “Baseball is my whole world. It’s everything to me, and it defines who I am every day,” Bob Melvin Menlo-Atherton class of ‘79 said. Melvin is a former Major League Baseball catcher, longtime coach, and the current general manager of the San Francisco Giants. Melvin is “as Menlo Park as you get.” At M-A, Melvin was consistently involved in athletics, playing basketball, golf, and baseball.
Presidential Candidates Are Using Podcasts to Reach Our Untouchable Generation
Presidential candidates are finding new ways to reach politically disengaged Generation Z voters, and it’s not on CNN or Fox News. Gen Z has a historically low voter turnout, with around 31% of those eligible voting since 2016 compared to 49% of Gen Xers and 39% of Millennials when they were young adults. Because of this, both sides of the aisle see Gen Z as untapped voter potential.
Amani Channel ‘91 on Broadcast Journalism, Video Production, and Teaching
Amani Channel ‘91 is a broadcaster, professor, and Emmy-nominated producer. “It’s always a grind, but I love the whole creative process from being in front of the camera to behind the scenes. It’s all just so cool to me,” he said. Channel was raised in East Palo Alto in a Jehovah’s Witness family. “I was a part of the ministry and didn’t celebrate any holidays,” he said.
Alex Tinajero ‘04 on Sports Medicine and Athletic Training
Alex Tinajero ‘04 is an Army veteran and high school athletic trainer dedicated to helping students perform at their best and heal from injuries through on-site training. Growing up in Redwood City, Tinajero attended Garfield Community School. He later moved to East Palo Alto where he was a part of the 49ers Academy program before attending M-A. “Growing up in the Bay during the ‘90s was very different than it is today. It was a lot smaller and felt more like a close-knit community,” he said.
Katy Perry Reaches New Low on ‘143’
Whether she roared, kissed a girl, belted out the perfect 4th of July anthem, or lured us into her California candy land, Katy Perry was undeniably one of the biggest pop stars of the 2010s. But after releasing chart-topping albums Teenage Dream and Prism, her popularity majorly waned, and her recent LPs have failed to connect with listeners. Perry released her seventh studio album, 143, in an effort to reclaim her throne as pop-star royalty last Friday.
Players of Pride Hall: Chi Johnson ‘91
This is the 8th article in Players of Pride Hall, a subsection of Bears Doing Big Things, celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni in the Hall of Fame. Chi Johnson ‘91 has always been passionate about sports, a love she has carried with her throughout her career and even passed down to her two sons. Growing up in Palo Alto, Johnson’s dad was director of the Onetta Harris Community Center in East Menlo Park, which was how she started sports.
How Theater Led to Graphic Design for Gigi Rutsky ‘18
This is the 74th article in Bears Doing Big Things, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni. “I credit a lot of my work in design today to my background in theater. It’s where I fell in love with storytelling,” said graphic designer Gigi Rutsky ‘18. Growing up, Rutsky was reserved in her everyday life, but “always loved performing.” At Hillview, Rutsky’s friends introduced her to theater when she played Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet.
From 12th Man to Army Intelligence, Justin Verbo ‘16 Has Always Risen to the Occasion
Justin Verbo ‘16 moved to Menlo Park when he was eight years old after growing up in the Philippines. “I didn’t know any English and had to learn it in one summer. It was a major transition,” he said. Verbo’s life in the States only continued to be a series of transitions. From attending Nativity Catholic School—a small private school—all the way through eighth grade, Verbo always felt like the “new foreign kid.” “People were very welcoming to me but it was also challenging,” he said.
Laura Parisi ‘18 on Biomedical Engineering and Research at Stanford
Laura Parisi ‘18 has never doubted her path in STEM and looks back fondly at her formative time at M-A. Parisi recently finished her residency at Stanford’s School of Medicine studying neurology, and is set to complete her master’s degree in bioengineering this fall at UC San Diego (UCSD). Born and raised in Menlo Park, Parisi attended Oak Knoll for elementary school and Hillview for middle school.
Dissenting Opinion: PRA Requests Support Teacher Accountability - M-A Chronicle
On March 6, 2024, the M-A Chronicle published an opinion piece titled, “Opinion: Ethnic Studies Records Requests Do More Harm Than Good.” The article referenced two Public Records Act (PRA) requests issued by third-party organizations that followed a controversial lesson that was given to three Ethnic Studies classes.
Meet District Nurse Kristin Coronado
“I love working in a high school setting with teenagers. It’s really cool to be able to work at different sites every day and constantly see new faces,” said District nurse Kristin Coronado. Born and raised in Redwood City, Coronado attended Woodside High School and enjoyed school from a young age. Though she never expected to be a high school nurse, Coronado’s roots in the Bay Area ended up leading her back to her own high school district.
Fresh Sounds, Tecno-Dance Hits
On Friday, May 3rd, Dua Lipa released her third studio album Radical Optimism, featuring ‘90s-Britpop-inspired songs about positivity and hope in relationships. Following her success with single “Dance The Night” from Barbie the Album, many anticipated this album to continue with the same dance-pop vibe. Her last album, Future Nostalgia, which won Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammys,gave Lipa big pressure to follow up on the groundbreaking techno-dance niche she carved for herself.
Actor Marcus Chait ‘91 Talks Business and Broadway
Marcus Chait ‘91 has tackled a multitude of careers as an actor, producer, and family business owner since graduating from M-A Growing up in the Bay Area, Chait shared, “I don’t think I knew how good we had it growing up here. As I grew up and spent time living all over the world, I realized what a great place Menlo Park is.
Local Libraries Offer Events For Teens this Spring
East Palo Alto Library: The East Palo Alto Library is as dynamic as the multicultural community it serves. Its quiet spaces and array of seating make it a great place to study after school and on the weekends. It also has a steady calendar of events for teens. Weekdays, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Power Up Afternoons focused on Arts & Crafts activities for teens.
Opinion: It's About Time For Female Representation in Politics
How valuable is considering gender in the presidential election? This topic feels particularly timely after from the Republican primary following Super Tuesday. Haley failed to garner enough support against Donald Trump, a candidate who is a defendant in multiple court cases, faced impeachment, and lost the popular vote twice.
Boys Volleyball Comfortably Sweep Serra
Photo credits to Bob Dahlberg On Monday, the boys’ volleyball team beat the Serra Padres in three sets. This dominant victory added to the Bears’ excellent 17-4 record this season. The Bears started off strong, winning their first set 25-16. Senior libero Aden Swartzberg set the team up for success with his point-winning digs and consistent passes, shown in his 200 receptions this season. In the second set, M-A took an early 12-4 lead before the Bears’ coach Michael Manalo called a second timeout.
Eight Months Into Retirement Wimberly is Thriving
After 55 years of working at M-A, Physical Education teacher Pamala Wimberly retired last year as one of the most recognized, accomplished, and beloved teachers in the school’s history. For the past eight months, Wimberly has been enjoying her retirement and adjusting to her new free time. When asked how her life has changed since M-A, Wimberly said, “In retirement, I have more time for necessary things, like working on my health.
Players of Pride Hall: Grady Burnett ‘91
Grady Burnett ‘91 is a co-founder and co-CEO of Stealth Startup company. He was also a tennis player at M-A and played professionally for three years after college. Burnett lived in Oakland from the age of two to fourteen and moved to Atherton halfway through his eighth-grade year. He attended Hillview Middle School for one semester and then went on to M-A.
Students Share Their Favorite Holiday Traditions
While it may be hard to see past finals, the holidays might just be the light at the end of the tunnel. Whether you and your friends compete for the ugliest sweater or you commit to watching every Hallmark holiday flick, holiday traditions are something to look forward to. M-A students love to celebrate and the holidays are no exception. Sophomore Elise Miller and her family go big on Christmas. After presents and a pancake breakfast, Miller and her family all pile onto the couch.
Data Science: A New Math Pathway?
In 2021, California educators released an updated draft of the California Mathematics Framework (CMF) approving Data Science as a substitute for the Algebra II graduation requirement. Data Science offers students a new math pathway that is more project-based than Algebra II and Calculus classes—with students using computer models for calculations so they can spend more time on analysis and application.
Bear Bites: Palmetto Superfoods
Nestled in the corner of Town and Country Village, Palmetto Superfoods takes custom açaí bowls and smoothies to the next level! CEO of Palmetto and San Francisco native, Charles Lee created Palmetto after being inspired by his favorite açaí dish at a SF Brazilian restaurant, “Cafe de Casa.” He and Cafe de Casa’s owners, Thaís Moreira and Amanda Moreira, created a vision centered around Brazilian açaí and other superfoods and expanded it down the Peninsula, starting with Inner Richmond San...
M-A Jewish Community Shares Personal Impacts of Hamas Attacks
This is the first in a series of articles on the conflict in Israel and Gaza. On October 7, Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise air and land attack on Israel. The brutality of the massacre “brings to mind the worst of ISIS,” including rape, abduction, beheading, burning, and torturing of Israelis. The psychological impact on the Jewish community has been astronomical as Jews experienced the most life loss in a single day since the Holocaust.
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