On March 17, California Avenue’s and Ramona Street’s car-free construction project went into full swing after a delay in a shipment of bollards, or short steel poles, and contracting issues for equipment in February. Currently, the city is repaving and excavating streets to prepare for the installation...
In recent months, political and social tensions have heightened in Palo Alto, following PAUSD school board controversy, protests against popular electric vehicle manufacturing company Tesla and fractures within parent networks.
With around 73% voter turnout in the 2024 general presidential election,...
At the Superintendent Student Advisory Group meeting on March 17, students met with Superintendent Dr. Don Austin to discuss the most pressing topics regarding PAUSD’s high schools. These included mental health, course delaning, artificial intelligence use and recent federal legislation. The forum...
From handing out flowers to wearing wigs and glasses during the days of Jan 27-Feb 28, 700 students eagerly participated in the annual Elimination game, hosted by SEC with senior Nithila Subramanian winning. Elimination challenges players to tag their assigned targets using stuffed plushies, all while...
The second phase of Gunn’s ongoing three-year modernization project has begun with a reprogram of the K-building, which will include the addition of two new science labs set to open by December of the 2025-26 school year, according to Senior Construction Project Manager Mohammed Sedqi. In addition,...
Bay Area support — ranging from donations, awareness efforts, and Palo Alto firefighters battling the flames — is helping families displaced by the wildfires that engulfed Los Angeles in January and February. According to KQED, there were 90 Bay Area fire departments helping to fight the crisis.
At...
Throughout February, the Student Executive Council, social studies classes, and History Club hosted events and engaged in discussions to celebrate Black History Month.
This annual observance month honors the achievements and contributions of Black Americans in United States history. Before BHM was officially...
Vanisha Vig, Features & Online Editor
• March 11, 2025
On Monday, Feb. 10, the Department of Government Efficiency—established by President Donald Trump with one of its goals focused on reducing federal spending and the national debt—announced that it had cut 89 Department of Education contracts, worth a total of $881 million. On the same day, the department...
“It was very nerve-wracking having (family members) who are undocumented and having to come to school,” an anonymous student said. “I didn’t know if I was going to be safe or if I was going to be able to keep my own family safe.”
This is one of the many voices of those who feel threatened...
On Jan. 6, the Palo Alto City Council elected former Vice Mayor Ed Lauing and Council member Vicki Veenker as Mayor and Vice Mayor of Palo Alto, respectively. Both candidates will serve their term from 2025-26.
Mayor Ed Lauing
Lauing’s leadership started when he became chair of two commissions,...
Ya-An Xue, Features & Online Editor
• February 9, 2025
During the Jan. 21 meeting, the PAUSD Board of Education approved merging the Biology and Honors Biology courses for next school year and unanimously supported a Gunn and Paly staff-led initiative to offer multivariable calculus on campus beginning in the 2026-27 school year, which will be formally proposed...
In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a flurry of proposed legislation into law, ushering in changes to California’s public education curriculum that will take effect during the 2025-26 school year. These changes include Assembly Bills 2865 and 1821, bills that are aimed at enhancing California’s...
