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MBEST Workshop Series for Girls in STEM Adapts To

MBEST Workshop Series for Girls in STEM Adapts To Virtual Learning

Despite the hybrid learning model, many events and workshops like Menlo’s Bridge to Engineering, Science and Technology have remained fully online this year. During a typical year, MBEST is in person and on campus, allowing students to have more personal interactions and hands-on experiences. However, the MBEST leadership team has implemented several changes this year to make the workshop remain a positive learning environment for girls in STEM at Menlo.

Read the full story by Staff Writer Andrea Li on the Coat of Arms website

Image: Students pick up their lab kits for MBEST at school while socially distancing. Photo courtesy of Nina Arnberg.

What Is Figure Skating Like During COVID-19? “I

What Is Figure Skating Like During COVID-19?

“I used to wake up at 5:30 a.m. six to seven days a week to figure skate. I travelled between four rinks (located in Redwood City, San Mateo, San Francisco and San Jose) to work with different coaches in the area… and then the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Because they lost so much revenue over the course of the pandemic, the rink in Redwood City closed down, so I now only skate at three rinks, and ice time can be difficult to come by. Because ice rinks are seen as equal to indoor gyms, every time a county enters the purple COVID-19 tier, the rink in that county has to close. Once rinks reopen, it is always a race to secure sessions of ice time through the rink website, as the rink does not notify skaters when new times have been posted. We learn of new sessions through friends who have checked the website and relayed information to us.
Despite these challenges, I have continued to keep my practice the same to the best of my ability.”

Read the full story by Staff Writer Charlotte Palmer on the Coat of Arms website

Image: San Francisco Ice Theatre. Photo courtesy of Ken Chan.

Sophomore’s First Ever Job at Chick-fil-A Impact

Sophomore’s First Ever Job at Chick-fil-A Impacted by COVID-19

When shelter-in-place began in March 2020, sophomore Chloe Appel found herself bored and struggling to stay productive. As a result, when the first shelter-in-place order was lifted, she began researching different ways to keep busy. Appel had no idea that this search would end with her working at a local Chick-fil-A.
According to Appel, it was her mom who first encouraged her to find a job. “I spent my days not having anything to do, and my mom said I should check if any places are hiring,” Appel said. At this time, a new Chick-fil-A in Redwood City was under construction. When Appel discovered this, she immediately wanted to apply for a job there.

Read the full story by Staff Writer Kaylie Wu on the Coat of Arms website

Staff illustration: Sophie Fang

The girls varsity tennis team lost their first lea

The girls varsity tennis team lost their first league match in 26 years on March 11. After a two-decade-long streak in league matches, the Menlo program fell to Harker. The game, composed of four singles matches and three doubles, ended in a tight loss — Harker four, Menlo three. Harker won four of the matches: three singles and one doubles match whereas Menlo only won one singles match and two doubles. While the Menlo team hasn’t lost a league match in 26 years, the team has suffered occasional losses in other areas: the Central Coast Section (CCS) competition, Northern California tournaments (NorCals) and the national Newport tournament. However, the last league match that the girls varsity team suffered was against Pinewood in 1995.

Head coach Bill Shine has coached the team throughout the entirety of the streak. Instead of being disappointed with the loss, he is amazed that the streak lasted for 266 league games. “The streak [was] pretty amazing: 26 years without losing a league match is unbelievable,” Shine said in an email to The Coat of Arms. “[Now] we just move on and start a new streak which is already 2-0.” Senior and varsity girls tennis co-captain Addie Ahlstrom shares Shine’s proud sentiment, and while frustrated, she remains optimistic about the rest of the season. “The Harker loss was definitely difficult due to how close we were to securing one of the clinching matches,” Ahlstrom said. “That being said, I was happy with how our team competed […] and feel very confident in where we stand going into the rest of the league play and eventually CCS and Norcals.”

Story by Staff Writer Erica Fenyo

Image: Senior and girls varsity tennis co-captain Addie Ahlstrom practices with the team.
Photo courtesy of Pam Tso McKenney

In Photos: Applied Science Classes Adapt to Hybrid

In Photos: Applied Science Classes Adapt to Hybrid Learning

Many Menlo science teachers pride themselves on their hands-on approach to applied science classes. “The predominant mode of learning is by doing. The courses are hands-on and designed to tap into the student’s passions,” according to the Applied Science and Engineering page on Menlo School’s website. However, during online and hybrid learning, these classes have had to adapt because students do not have access to the Whitaker Lab on campus, which is where they normally create their projects. Several teachers have changed their curriculum to better suit at-home learning.

Full story by Staff Writer Alea Marks is live on the COA website

Image: In the Biotechnology Research class, senior Camille Porteous performs a COVID-19 test on synthetic control RNA samples. Staff photo: Alea Marks.

BREAKING: County approves Menlo 100% Back to Campu

BREAKING: County approves Menlo 100% Back to Campus Plan, New Schedule in Use after Spring Break

On Tuesday March 31st, Head of the Upper School John Schafer released a video to the upper school confirming that the whole school would be in person upon return to campus a week after spring break. In his video, Schafer also shared new information concerning new lunch spot locations from each grade, sitting outside for classes in order to maintain distancing and the new schedule. With the new schedule, students will return to the longer school day ending at 3:00, but with longer breaks throughout the day. The schedule is pictured above.

Story by Social Media Director Lexi Friesel

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The Student News Site of Menlo School

The Student News Site of Menlo School