Verde Magazine

03/09/2022

Chronicling the adventures of a young wizard, the “Harry Potter” book and movie franchise has become an integral part of Generation Z and millennial childhoods since the first book was published in 1997, having sold 500 million copies worldwide and being translated into 80 different languages. The cinematic adaptations of the books have been just as popular, bringing in over $8.5 billion at the box office worldwide. After 20 years, many die-hard Harry Potter fanatics have retained their obsession with the series and its characters. However, recent controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling has led others to reflect more critically on the series and its creation. Art: Katie Wu
https://verdemagazine.com/harry-potter-and-the-return-to-hogwarts-transphobic-comments-shroud-rowlings-legacy
#harrypotter #returntohogwarts #returntohogwarts

03/08/2022

I’ve never lived in one place for long. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been moving from country to country and house to house. Belarus was the only place that felt permanent throughout my life. It was a place that kept me grounded. But no longer. Art: Palina Kuzmina
https://verdemagazine.com/losing-home-the-complicated-relationship-between-my-home-country-and-my-identity
#identity #home #moving

03/08/2022

I’ve never lived in one place for long. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been moving from country to country and house to house. Belarus was the only place that felt permanent throughout my life. It was a place that kept me grounded. But no longer. Art: Palina Kuzmina
Click the link in bio to read the full perspective I’ve never lived in one place for long. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been moving from country to country and house to house. Belarus was the only place that felt permanent throughout my life. It was a place that kept me grounded. But no longer. Art: Palina Kuzmina
Click the link in bio to read the full perspective
#identity #home #moving

03/07/2022

Sometimes, I wonder if I even have the right to say that I celebrate Lunar New Year — I only follow a fraction of the Korean traditions I would follow if I were in Korea. My relatives and the hum of excitement in the house are missing. Yet, I don’t think I even have to determine how appropriately I am celebrating. I’m not in Korea, so I cannot perfectly follow the traditions, but I can still celebrate in my own way. Art: Reese Ford
https://verdemagazine.com/opinion-%ec%84%a4-seol-finding-my-soul-in-the-korean-lunar-new-year-away-from-seoul
#seol #lunarnewyear #korea

03/07/2022

In the past decades, fast fashion trends have stimulated unethical practices in the fashion industry, contributing to climate change, according to The Atlantic. Thanks to its benefits, thrifting has recently gained popularity among students who wish to express themselves creatively through personal fashion choices. As the peninsula’s newest vintage thrift store, Blue Bin Vintage, which opened on Sept. 4 on Bryant Street downtown, aims to better the environment by connecting customers to sustainable, recycled clothing. Photos: Ajin Jeong
https://verdemagazine.com/blue-bin-vintage-promoting-sustainability-through-secondhand-shopping

03/06/2022

Once an activity popular among the older generations and avid linguists, word games — in particular, their digital manifestations — have recently become a popular hobby teens do with their friends. Fifty-seven percent of Palo Alto High School students said they regularly play daily word games such as the NYT Daily Mini Crossword and Wordle, according to a late January opt-in online Verde survey of 237 students. Art: Alexis Chiu
https://verdemagazine.com/crossword-craze-digital-twist-to-two-classic-word-games
#crossword #wordle #wordgames

03/04/2022

Following multiple restrictions on popular teen activities, nationwide teen drug use has fallen significantly — the largest decrease observed in five decades, according to the Monitoring the Future study by the University of Michigan, an ongoing research project that has studied American youth since 1975. While national trends reveal a decrease, teen drug use continues to be a prevalent problem, including at Palo Alto High School. Art: Palina Kuzmina
https://verdemagazine.com/teen-substance-use-drops-pandemic-restricts-drug-access
#drug #addiction #teen

03/01/2022

The question of “what it means to be a Palo Altan” is a difficult one to answer. Although its meaning has shifted slightly over the years, there’s one thing both long-time residents and local youth can agree on: the forward-thinking community formed by Palo Alto’s residents has remained integral to the heart of the city, no matter how much time has passed. Photos: Anushe Irani
https://verdemagazine.com/centered-around-community-what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-palo-altan
#paloalto #residents #community

02/28/2022

The Class of 2030 will be the first to take an Ethnic Studies course as a graduation requirement due to the recent ratification of Assembly Bill No. 101. What will this mean for Paly’s social studies department? What do students and teachers think of the new requisite? Art: Polina Van Hulsen.
https://verdemagazine.com/providing-perspective-ethnic-studies-course-to-be-a-requirement
#ethic #socialstudies #history

02/27/2022

Within Palo Alto High School’s freshman English classrooms, there are four co-taught periods and nine non-co-taught periods. Out of all historically underrepresented students in the freshman class — students of Black, Latino and Pacific Islander heritage — over half are on co-taught rosters. Out of 36 students with Individualized Education Programs, 28 are on co-taught rosters. Photo: Miya Whiteley
https://verdemagazine.com/de-facto-laning-concerns-about-co-taught-classrooms
#laning #classes #coteaching

02/26/2022

Sexually transmitted infections among high schoolers are on the rise, while condom usage among these students is declining, according to a recent study published by the United States Library of Medicine. To combat this problem, we urge Palo Alto High School’s Wellness Center to offer condoms and related safe sex products to students free of charge. Art: Blair Migdal
https://verdemagazine.com/editorial-paly-should-offer-safe-sex-products
#safesex #CAP #health #sexed #editorial

02/25/2022

After being bombarded day after day with the same pandemic-related headlines and recommendations, have we become tired and desensitized to COVID-19? How has our mindset surrounding the pandemic changed as schools and other facilities reopen and return to some degree of normalcy? Art by: Esther Xu
https://verdemagazine.com/infectious-indifference-an-increasing-desensitization-to-covid-19
#covid_19 #paloalto #school

02/25/2022

Journalism Portfolio | Akhil Joondeph

So proud of Akhil! What an impressive and valued member of the Verde team!

Hi! My name is Akhil Joondeph, and I am Verde Magazine's Hybrid Editor-in-Chief. Welcome to my journalism portfolio!

02/23/2022

Write a caption... On the cover of Volume 23 Issue 3, a sea of unmasked faces surrounds a single masked figure, a stark visual representation of the crowded settings and caution-free activities that have become increasingly common recently. As we, journalists, have navigated this seemingly endless pandemic, we have aimed to uncover stories beyond the “unprecedented situation” storylines so prevalent in today’s media. In this issue, we attempt to tackle the virus’ more long-term impacts — now including mass desensitization, changes to workplace-absence culture and teen drug use. Art: Blair Migdal
Full editor letter: https://verdemagazine.com/from-the-editors-two-years-of-the-virus
Full PDF: https://issuu.com/verdemagazine/docs/v23.3_for_issu

02/20/2022

In response to “Title IX possibilities” of unwanted attention, the Associated Student Body canceled this year’s Valentine’s Day Matchomatics, which had been facilitated annually by ASB in recent years. In this activity, students are asked to fill out online questionnaires about their characteristics and hobbies to receive an analysis of their designated “matches” or “friends” across genders and grade levels. Photo: Ines Legrand
Click the link in bio for the full story
#valentines #matchomatics #loveweek #titleix #news

02/11/2022

Congressional candidate Ajwang Rading spoke to Palo Alto High School students — and the Verde Magazine staff — Wednesday, as a part of his effort to engage teens in politics and his campaign. “It’s young people who need to be addressing the issues of today,” Rading said. “ I’m just a messenger. I’m trying to run [for Congress] to really represent the voice that you [teens] have … to say ‘Hey, I’ve got an idea.’” Photo: Emily Yao
Click the link in bio for the full story
#ajwang #rading #paloalto

02/07/2022

Dozens of avid birdwatchers are gathering near Greer park to see an Oriental turtle dove — a bird that has only been seen three times in California, according to eBird. Many flocked to the area after news of its presence came out, with some even traveling from out of Palo Alto. Photo: Yash Shetty
Click the link in bio for the full story
#orientalturtledove #birdwatching

02/05/2022

Local non-profit WizChinese will host a Lunar New Year Fundraiser for Asian health research today at 2 p.m. at the Lowell and Bryant intersection in Palo Alto. WizChinese is a local non-profit whose mission is to serve Chinese families in the greater Palo Alto community. Photo: Alexis Chiu
https://verdemagazine.com/local-group-holds-asian-health-fundraiser

01/30/2022

Local Tongan communities across the Bay Area are supporting their families through donations, food drives and prayers following the eruption of an undersea volcano of the Tongan archipelago on Jan. 14. Many organizations such as Capuchino High School’s Poly Club, located in San Bruno have been collecting food, water and medical supplies from families around the Bay Area over the past week to be shipped to Tonga. Photo: Jonas Pao
Click the link in bio for the full story
#tonga #volcano #donation

01/27/2022

Verde Magazine is looking to collect statistics for upcoming stories on a variety of topics and would appreciate Palo Alto High School students taking our quick, anonymous survey. Click the link in our bio to access the survey

01/24/2022

The Palo Alto Unified School District partnered with Safeway to host a COVID vaccination clinic Sunday at the Gunn High School library. “I couldn’t be more thrilled and excited,” Palo Alto High School Health Technician Jennifer Kleckner said. “The participation rate is looking good, and it’s great that the district is doing this.” Photo: Ajin Jeong
Click the link in our bio to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and PAUSD’s vaccination advice
#covid_19 #vaccine #booster

01/19/2022

Following the recent surge of Omicron cases, Palo Alto Unified School District Deputy Superintendent Trent Bahadursingh proposed what would be known as “1 Palo Alto,” a massive mobilization of volunteer parents that seems to have helped turn the tide for the district. Since then, over 770 parents have jumped to the aid of PAUSD, volunteering to fill jobs across the district to keep schools open. Photo: Ajin Jeong
Click the link in bio for the full story
#covid #1pa #pausd

01/17/2022

In response to surging coronavirus cases, the Palo Alto City Library has temporarily closed the Children’s, College Terrace and Downtown libraries and reduced hours of operation at Rinconada Library. Photo: Melody Xu
https://verdemagazine.com/city-libraries-temporarily-close-branches-reduce-hours-amid-covid-surge

01/16/2022

After the Palo Alto Unified School District COVID testing clinics closed to the public as of Jan. 10, wait times at the clinic and overcrowding have significantly reduced while the number of tests administered has remained high. Photo: Meena Narayanaswami
https://verdemagazine.com/wait-decreases-at-covid-clinic-with-district-only-testing

01/09/2022

Middle school students in Palo Alto and across the country are now eligible for the COVID-19 booster shot, following a Jan. 5 expansion of booster eligibility by the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention to include 12-to 15-year-olds. The CDC’s press release stated that the booster shot will offer greater protection against the new Omicron coronavirus variant. Photo: Jonas Pao
https://verdemagazine.com/local-middle-schoolers-now-receiving-covid-19-booster-shots