The Student News Site of Menlo School

The Coat of Arms
The Student News Site of Menlo School

The Coat of Arms
The Student News Site of Menlo School

The Coat of Arms
Sonia Dholakia

Sonia Dholakia, Assistant A&L Editor

 

Number of years in The Coat of Arms: 2

Favorite aspect of journalism: learning about interesting things happening in our community and sharing them with our audience

Interests outside of school: mock trial, traveling and listening to Taylor Swift

Class of 2025

All content by Sonia Dholakia
Freshman Ethan Zhao defends a Sacred Heart Cathedral player. Photo courtesy of Pam McKenney

Expectations and Opportunities: Select Freshmen Compete on Varsity Teams

Sonia Dholakia, Assistant A&L Editor
March 27, 2023

While Menlo freshmen usually play on the freshmen or JV level of their sport, a select group of them play for Menlo’s varsity teams. Many of these freshmen...

The Menlo Drama program also performed “The Learned Ladies” this past summer in Scotland, during the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Staff photo: Sonia Dholakia

In Photos: Behind the Curtain of ‘The Learned Ladies’

Sonia Dholakia, Assistant A&L Editor
January 27, 2023

The Upper School winter play, “The Learned Ladies,” opens Friday, Jan. 27 in Menlo’s Spieker Center for the Arts, performing on Friday, Jan. 27,...

Junior Katie King works at Baskin Robbins in Los Altos, where she has been employed for two months. Photo courtesy of Katie King

Working Overtime: Students Balance Activities and Jobs

Sonia Dholakia, Assistant A&L Editor
December 6, 2022

While Menlo students are certainly kept busy with schoolwork and various extracurriculars, a portion still find the time to commit to an outside-of-school...

Minning and choreographer Angela Curroto-Pierson speak to the cast and crew at the start of their first tech rehearsal on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Staff photo: Sonia Dholakia

Behind the Curtain of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Sonia Dholakia, Assistant A&L Editor
October 26, 2022

The Upper School fall musical, “Little Shop of Horrors,” opens Friday, Oct. 28 in Menlo’s Spieker Center for the Arts. The musical follows the story...

Justin Pretre (center) runs at the Lowell Invitational, with Landon Pretre (left) shortly behind. At the end of the 5k, Justin and Landon Pretre placed first and second, respectively, out of 300 runners. Photo courtesy of Steve Pretre

Menlo Cross Country Looks to Carry Momentum Into Postseason

Sonia Dholakia, Assistant A&L Editor
October 19, 2022

The Menlo cross country team opened their season with an impressive performance at the Lowell Invitational, a cross country event with over 80 schools...

Wilson poses in her office. According to Wilson, Menlo has really made her feel like part of the community. “Everybody has been so welcoming,” Wilson said. Staff Photo: Sonia Dholakia

Brooke Wilson Introduced as New Director of Admissions

Sonia Dholakia, Assistant A&L Editor
September 18, 2022

Menlo’s new Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Brooke Wilson replaces former director Beth Bishop who moved back to Massachusetts following eight...

Menlo Upper School students celebrate the first day of school with spirit activities and new classes. Photo Courtesy of Kevin Chan.

Video: Menlo Celebrates the First Day of School

Jacob Reich, Sonia Dholakia, and Geoffrey Franc
August 28, 2022



Menlos dining team team plans lunch options. Photo courtesy of Pete Zivkov.

Dining Team Adapts the Lunch Menu to Student Feedback

Sonia Dholakia, Assistant A&L Editor
May 9, 2022

Earlier in the 2021-2022 school year, the Menlo Student Life team sent out a survey to Menlo students allowing them to share feedback on the lunch options...

U.S. History Team Lead Katina Ballantyne assists a student during class. According to Ballantyne, the move away from AP U.S. History reflects a broader, nationwide trend. “We see that AP U.S. History is a course that’s been critiqued on the grounds of ‘What does this curriculum include and not include? Is it encouraging cramming over deep understanding?’” Ballantyne said. Photo Courtesy of Roya Rezaee.

Menlo Discontinues AP U.S. History Course

Sonia Dholakia, Staff Writer
April 3, 2022

Beginning this fall, Menlo will no longer offer Advanced Placement U.S. History as a class, and it will instead transition to an honors and non-honors...

In Menlo’s Choreo Club, students bond over a shared interest in dance and K-pop music. A typical club meeting involves learning a dance from the internet and then choreographing original formations. Choreo Club is an opportunity for students to select the dances they will learn, in contrast to Menlo’s dance classes where teachers choose the dances. Staff photo: Sonia Dholakia.

Video: Choreo Club Learns Unique K-pop Dances

Sonia Dholakia, Staff Writer
March 5, 2022



Senior Uma Misha performed in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” in November 2021. Misha will also perform in “Senior Spotlight” this winter. “I’m sad that [“Senior Spotlight” is] not a traditional production because I think a lot of people would have enjoyed to do that, but I completely understand [Minning’s] reasoning,” Misha said. Photo Courtesy of Kai Yara.

Drama Department Cancels Winter Play to Produce a “Senior Spotlight”

Sonia Dholakia, Staff Writer
February 5, 2022

The Menlo Drama Department planned to perform the play "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand this winter, but COVID-19 once again hindered their plans....

Caption: In Jack Bowen’s Ethics class, freshmen debate numerous issues, including the ethics of eating meat and animal products. “I think freshmen in high school are at the ideal moment to start considering, ‘What does it mean to live a good life and be a good person?’” Bowen said. Staff Photo: Sonia Dholakia.

Freshmen Learn About Menlo’s Values Through Freshman Rotation

January 25, 2022

Caption: In Jack Bowen’s Ethics class, freshmen debate numerous issues, including the ethics of eating meat and animal products. “I think freshmen...

Sammie Dostart-Meers volunteered for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016, knocking on doors to encourage those she spoke with to vote for Clinton in the election. People of all ages can volunteer to support political candidates by knocking on doors and speaking with people in their communities. Photo courtesy of Sammie Dostart-Meers.

Teenagers Should Be More Politically Involved

Sonia Dholakia, Staff Writer
January 18, 2022

According to a report from the United Nations, if the current rate of greenhouse emissions continues, Earth has less than eight years before the worst...

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