FEATURES
Siddharth Yelisetty: Building a bright future for younger generations
Megan Beebe
MC junior Siddharth Yelisetty has made it his mission to foster students’ curiosity and enthrallment in the world of STEM. In 2023, Yelisetty founded a citywide STEM initiative alongside the San Diego Mayor’s Office and local libraries with the purpose of introducing children to robotics, coding, and technology fundamentals in an enjoyable way. Yelisetty’s program has impacted over 2,000 learners from ages six to sixteen. “I want to inspire students to recognize their potential and view STEM as a creative and problem-solving outlet. STEM drives innovation, and the more young minds pursue it, the better the world becomes,” Yelisetty said. Yelisetty’s passion for STEM and robotics developed at a young age due to an introduction to the subjects from his brother and other high school students. “My interest in robotics was sparked when high school students visited my middle school to showcase their robots. Watching these creations in action ignited a curiosity that has only grown since,” Yelisetty said. This passion has progressively presented more opportunities for him over the years, including AI research and internships. This program is his way of creating those same possibilities for younger students in his community. “I want to share [STEM’s] transformative power with others, especially kids who might not naturally see themselves in STEM. This program is my way of giving back and showing students that STEM can be a pathway to incredible opportunities,” Yelisetty said. During each of his program’s sessions, Yelisetty guides students through lessons on the fundamentals of robotics, mechanical design, and hands-on building. “Using presentations and LEGO kits, I guide students through challenges while allowing them to creatively solve problems. Each session ends with students driving a larger robot my team built,” Yelisetty said. Yelisetty is also an Eagle Scout, which has deeply impacted his values and helped him develop and expand his program. “Earning the rank of Eagle Scout has instilled in me the importance of service, leadership, and perseverance. These values influence how I approach challenges and emphasize the significance of giving back to the community, shaping the foundation of my projects and aspirations,” Yelisetty said. Over the course of his program, Yelisetty has experienced first-hand the impact that he has made on the younger generations. In one of his earlier workshops, Yelisetty helped a girl overcome a challenge that she was facing while building a pushing mechanism. “I worked with her step-by-step, and by the end of the session, she had built a functional mechanism and was beaming with pride. Seeing her transformation from frustration to excitement reaffirmed why I do what I do,” Yelisetty said. Yelisetty’s overall goal is to be able to spark curiosity in kids and help them gain confidence in the field of STEM. “My favorite part is witnessing the shift in students’ attitudes. Some arrive moody or uninterested, often dragged by their parents, but by the end, they’re excited, engaged, and eager to learn more,” Yelisetty said. Yelisetty’s hard work, dedication, and determination to make a lasting impact on people has resulted in him being recognized by the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, as one of San Diego’s 25 Most Remarkable Teens. “It was incredible to be acknowledged, but more importantly, it made me reflect on the support I’ve received from mentors, friends, and my team. This award is not just mine but a testament to the collective effort of everyone who has been part of my journey,” Yelisetty said. As of now, Yelisetty is working to expand his program to other cities and incorporate it into schools and Scout programs. He wishes to establish a sustainable foundation that guarantees continuous access to STEM education.
Dr. Churchill: An Important New Face in Poway Unified
Jude Del Mundo
On Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, the Poway Unified School District (PUSD) announced the appointment of Dr. Ben Churchill as the new superintendent. The Board of Education’s decision was approved after five months without a permanent superintendent, a consequence of Marian Kim Phelps’ removal from the position due to her alleged harassment of students. In November 2023, Phelps faced scrutiny surrounding her alleged misconduct; students from Del Norte High School’s softball team reported that Phelps had threatened their athletic participation and graduation privileges due to their alleged lackluster support for Phelps’ daughter at a banquet. In subsequent months, PUSD launched an investigation that uncovered 41 witness reports, culminating in her removal in a unanimous no-confidence vote in April. During the investigation, the Board of Education instated Greg Mizel as the interim superintendent until a new superintendent was appointed. In June, trustees from the Board received parent feedback and interviewed 46 candidates for the role. Finally, the Board selected Churchill, the current superintendent for the Carlsbad Unified School District. “In a field of exceptional candidates, Dr. Churchill’s extensive experience, his approachable demeanor, and innovative vision for moving this district forward really stood out,” PUSD Board President Michelle O’Connor-Ratcliff said. An educator for 28 years, Churchill’s early experiences in teaching were in China, where he taught English. In addition, he worked as a high school teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent for a school district in Illinois. He served as the chief academic officer for a continuation school in his final years in the Midwest before serving as superintendent for the Carlsbad Unified School District for eight years. In a press conference following his term’s announcement, Churchill details his plan to restore trust and communication between community members and the district administration. “Building relationships and trust will absolutely be job one. I think the best way for me to build that trust is to be present and visible,” Churchill said. “Trust takes time to build, and so my commitment is to put in the time to meet with folks, get to know them, get to know the great things about Poway and the challenges.” In particular, Churchill aims to promote funding for the various facilities in PUSD and to satisfy the needs of PUSD families—goals indicative of his progressive initiatives. During his term in the Carlsbad Unified School District, Churchill spearheaded efforts to implement environmentally friendly education in Carlsbad’s campuses. In 2023, he also voted to include an ethnic film course that involved critical race theory in the Carlsbad High School curriculum. Overall, Churchill’s emerging presence in PUSD signifies a promising future for the district as well as an opportunity for parents, students, and teachers to be adequately represented in the wake of turmoil and controversy. He is expected to assume the superintendent position on Dec. 2, 2024.
MC's Annual
Multicultural Fair
Sarah Strauss
The Poway Unified School District (PUSD) consists of various different people with distinct interests and varying talents, who come from different backgrounds. MC prides itself on having the most diverse campus in the district, showcasing it through several clubs and within the student sections of various events. The multicultural fair started three years ago to further display and celebrate people’s differences at MC. Sheila Hatfield, the head of student services, has been organizing this fair since it was first implemented in 2022. “We started it through the No Place for Hate committee because we recognized that we have over 45 languages spoken by our student body, and we wanted to find a way for people to share more about their own stories,” Hatfield said. The multicultural fair consists of tables displaying information about different cultures. Various clubs and students bring food to share, and there are performances on the stage in the quad. “I learned things that I probably wouldn’t have known before, and it’s just cool to see how other cultures are and how we can be so different but also look the same,” senior and former MC student Maryam Aboalsbah said. Aboalsbah has run the Iraq table in the past where she has been able to dress up in and display Iraqi clothing. “There's a history with how clothes look from every culture. [...] There are meanings to patterns. A Keffiyeh resembles a fish net because fishing is really important in [Iraq] because we have the Euphrates and Tigris rivers,” Aboalsbah said. Students may be unaware of certain aspects of cultures represented in the student body. The multicultural fair provides people the opportunity to learn. Senior Salma Khwaja presented a booth about Afghanistan. “A lot of people have different perspectives of our country. They have only seen the bad side of it. But there’s honestly a really beautiful side to it. [...] It's filled with traditions, different languages, different provinces, and different ethnic groups, which people don’t know anything about. So, I’m here to show people that we’re more than just all of those wars,” Khwaja said. People have felt secluded from their peers due to their culture in the past. Junior Maryam Elhusseini has been able to feel less secluded by running a booth about Lebanon, allowing for people to connect to her and her country. “There’s not a lot of Lebanese people. Freshman year, I was the only Lebanese person. So, I think it’s good to learn about the different cultures we have and be educated about their history and how that may connect to what’s going on now,” Elhusseini said. Providing a multicultural fair also exposes people to the various clubs MC offers, some of which people may not know exist. JP Seabolt is a part of the GSA club, which is centered around the LGBTQ+ community. "Maybe people didn’t know that we had a GSA,” Sealbolt said. “But if they are allies [or] a part of the community and they need a space to learn about that stuff and just be themselves, I think we’re a really good place for that. This [fair] is a nice way to get the word out.” One of the multicultural fair’s goals is to give students the opportunity to understand each other and where everyone comes from. “When people know more about each other’s story, they’re more accepting of one another, they will show empathy toward one another, and want to show kindness. I think a lot of conflict that comes up is because people just don’t take time to know where the other person’s coming from,” Hatfield said. The multicultural fair has gained a lot of popularity over its three years of being put into effect. Moving forward, many students and faculty hope to see a fair in the spring as well as the fall. Hatfield and the members of No Place for Hate plan to continue with this event in the future, keeping in mind their main goal to showcase MC’s diversity with as many cultures as possible.
MC’s Counseling Staff During Course Requests
Rajan Tavathia
The MC counseling and administrative departments implement an efficient, annual procedure in order to accommodate the desired course selections for 2,000 students on campus. Many are unaware of what occurs behind the scenes during the period of course requests. The online course request process enables all Sundevils to choose which classes they wish to be enrolled in the following year. Given the immense course catalog and flexibility extended to students at MC, this intricate process grows arduous for counselors at times. Preparations for the course request process begin in November at the Sun Center. “The frustration for us is that we do not always have the funding necessary to offer the amount of seats in classes as we would love to,” MC counselor Kimberly Bronson said. “Problems arise when sections become full or if a class is only scheduled for one period of the day.” Sun Center staff are not the only figures tasked with ensuring students are placed in the courses they request. “Mr. Tubbs and Ms. Dargitz are both our schedulers. They work all summer long to create sections,” MC counselor Charmaine Ferrer said. Tubbs and Dargitz create a conflict matrix in order to establish the class schedule. “They run a conflict matrix, so when they build the master schedule, classes are formed so that the greatest amount of schedule requests can be met,” Bronson said. The counseling staff emphasize that students following the instructions provided when inputting course requests can minimize extra work for counselors. “There cannot always be a number of sections created to allow everyone who signed up to take a class to be enrolled in it, which is why entering in three alternates is extremely important,” MC counselor Husani Whitlock said. The lack of inputting alternate elective choices on course requests is a common occurrence amongst MC students. Though many are unaware, failing to input alternate electives can lead to significant consequences. “Entering alternates is really important because otherwise, we are left to guess what a student may want as their backup choice, as it is not uncommon for a student to not be able to get their first choice elective,” Bronson said. The counselors also point out that filling out course requests on time is extremely crucial. “Students often wait until the last minute and forget to enter their course requests or fill them out completely, which can lead to huge problems,” Ferrer said. Students will be able to request classes through Synergy on February 7, and have until April 1 to do so. Bronson, Ferrer, and Whitlock encourage all students who need support to visit the counseling course on Canvas, which holds videos and FAQ pages on course requests and AP classes.
La Jolla: A Runaway City
Sam Johnson
Since the 1950’s, select residents of La Jolla have sought for their community to be separated from the larger city of San Diego. In the past two years, efforts have only increased, with actions currently underway in order to evaluate the possible effects the split would have on government spending and tax revenue. President Trace Wilson of the Association for City of La Jolla and his team have been working on this process for two years, and are still undergoing evaluation. Wilson and his team argue that La Jolla is one of the few areas with the financial and governmental means to govern itself, especially if it means lifting pressure off of the rest of San Diego. “We know that when we become our own city, we will self-govern. That will release the city of San Diego from a tremendous amount […] that La Jolla costs today […] We can actually help not only our own community but, more importantly, the entire San Diego community,” Wilson said. Encompassing over 52 community planning areas, San Diego is considered to be the second largest city in all of California. This means the city must work to divide their resources across many different cities, which can result in some areas not receiving the necessary funding and resources that allows them to maintain their environments. Many La Jollans in support of the change have cited their dissatisfaction with the support they receive from the city of San Diego, citing dissatisfaction with the deteriorating side walks, roads, and many potholes. Alongside this, many of the 45,000 La Jolla residents have found that being governed under the city of San Diego’s laws have prevented them from making critical quality of life decisions. “This is a world-class tourist spot but doesn’t look like that anymore. People come here expecting something amazing… but the city can’t give us the maintenance we need,” Melinda Merrywether, a longtime supporter of La Jollas movement for cityhood, said. “We could make La Jolla much more beautiful and give money back to San Diego. It’s a win-win for everyone.” As one of the most popular tourist towns in the county, keeping La Jolla’s infrastructure up to date and caring for its environment is a monumental task. Whether the city of San Diego is up to this task or if La Jolla becomes its own city is yet to be seen, however it is clear that many La Jollan’s are prepared to tackle the difficult transition into their own city. If the separation were to go through, La Jolla would be the first city in California to secede from another city in over 60 years. In the meantime, it is necessary that the city works with LAFCO to determine whether the separation would be beneficial for both La Jolla and San Diego.
Shelby Schlaht Waves Goodbye to MC
Prisha Puntambekar
After nearly a year of working on MC’s campus, English teacher Shelby Schlaht plans to take a new leap in her career plans. Before teaching High School English 1-2 and 3-4 at MC, Schlaht spent her time as a teacher in both Las Vegas and Grossmont High School. On all campuses, however, she preferred to work with a younger demographic of adolescents. “As a high school teacher, I’ve worked with ninth and 10th graders primarily. I do like the younger grades because I am on the younger side myself,” Schlaht said. With time, a career in teaching presented Schlaht with a variety of unique and complex factors. “What’s hard is a lot of us become teachers because we’re passionate about working with youth,” Schlaht said. “I don’t want to come across as hating on teaching – but there’s just a lot of challenges and a lot of pressures that come with being a teacher […] Ultimately, I just decided that being a high school teacher is not what I want to do right now.” Despite her change in career taste, Schlaht found a generally comfortable environment within MC. “My leaving is not unique to or is not as a result of the school – and I think that’s what really helped me make the decision,” she said. “If I’m going to be a teacher, this is the best place to be.” Schlaht maintains an open-mind towards the future, as she considers exploring various job opportunities. “Right now I have a part time job working for a small business that makes sustainable earrings. It’s called Wild cloud,” she said. “I’m really into fitness so maybe [I’ll] do a little personal training.” For Schlaht, trusting oneself is crucial in the process of selecting a career. As a result, she recommends that young people in the workforce follow their own passions. “Take everything that others say with a grain of salt, because everybody comes from their own perspective and experience,” she said. “Take in the wisdom that others have to give you, but at the end of the day, you have to listen to yourself.” At the end of trimester two, Schlaht will conclude her years of teaching. She looks towards an exciting future with an attitude of optimism, eager to explore new means of work experience.
Mackenzie Cunningham: CIF Athlete of the Year
Roxy Hudson
Mackenzie Cunningham, an MC senior, tri-sport varsity athlete, and the MC’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2021, added to her impressive athletic record last week when she became the San Diego Section CIF Mission Federal North County Conference Female Winter Student Athlete of the Year. The long award title is indicative of the extensive list of accomplishments that Cunningham has achieved over the last four years; from award winning athletic expertise to academic excellence, Cunningham is truly a star student athlete. Her passion for sports stemmed from a young age. Cunningham stepped onto the soccer field at age two, picked up the softball bat at four years old, and made her way around the track when she entered elementary school. Constant activity and a growing love for athletics, allowed Cunningham to end her freshman year of high school as a tri-sport varsity athlete. That winter, she became one of two freshman varsity girls soccer players. There, she met MC English teacher and Girls’ Soccer Coach Danie Schelhorse who immediately saw the potential within her star ninth grader. As she coached Cunningham during her four high school soccer seasons, Schelhorse continually saw greatness within the young athlete, ultimately encouraging her to nominate Cunningham for this prestigious CIF award.
Aiden Geary: The New Eagle Scout
Julia Yates
In the beginning of October 2021, Senior Aiden Geary began work on a kiosk that would be installed in the front of MC. The building project would be part of his journey to become an Eagle Scout. The Eagle Scouts are a high-ranked, performance based group that both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts have the opportunity to enter. “Originally I wasn’t going to do the kiosk that I built. I was originally thinking of building a bench,” Geary said. “After a lot of Scouts doing benches and how easy it was the council just forbid benches from being built […] unless it was beneficial for a non-profit organization.” Geary began the project in October with planning and finding the materials like red wood, clear slack, and plexiglass.
“Our Town” at MC
Lorelle Mauricio
The drama program at MC, also known as “Theatre at the Mount,” has been performing for the MC community for many years. Ranging from vivid musicals such as “West Side Story” and “Les Miserables,” to meaningful plays like “Humbletown.” Currently, “Theatre at the Mount” is performing the play “Our Town.” Written in 1938 by Thornton Wilder, the play focuses on the life of two teenagers that fall in love, get married, and (spoiler alert) die in the end. The many actors, set designers, technicians, and other drama participants have been working tirelessly to put on the MC theatre’s first show in two years. While only the cast members are seen on the big stage, getting those individuals to that point takes immense effort from numerous other participants. Although actors seem to be the main part of what viewers see, there is an entire crew on the inside to make everything run smoothly.
Peer Counselors; Representatives of the Sundevil Way
Rafaela Alvizuri
MC has pride for its community’s diligence in following the Sundevil way, an idea that each and every member of the campus is to be treated with kindness and respect. MC’s Peer Counseling club works towards facilitating such an environment. The club is made up of students who excel in demonstrating the Sundevil Way throughout all aspects of their lives. To assist in their knowledge of how to properly help others, these students undergo training organized by Mrs. Bronson and Mrs. Hatfield, as well as Ms. Tran. All three women work in counseling; Mrs. Bronson and Ms. Tran are counselors, while Mrs. Hatfield works in student services at MC. “Peer counselors commit to training in things like conflict resolution, communication skills, healthy relationships, healthy boundaries, and confidentiality scenarios,” Bronson said.