National Paper Airplane Day
by Jordin Lim National Paper Airplane Day, celebrated each year on May 26th in the United States, is the unofficial observance of a simple, beloved aeronautical toy. This day is commonly celebrated through contests in two basic flight categories: distance and air-time. Most people are familiar with paper airplanes and enjoy making them frequently. I know that personally, I tend to...Read More
Robotics Champions
By Maleeya Mickelson and Milan Riley Science Academy is the proud home to a world-renowned Robotics Club! Our teams have received many awards over the years and have brought back multiple wins, not only from local VEX Robotics Competitions (VRC), but from State and even World competitions. This year has continued to showcase the many talents of our students with an especially successful...Read More
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
by Ryan Park During the month of May, the United States recognizes Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This celebration, spanning from May 1st to May 31st, honors the contributions and accomplishments of Asian Americans, Pacific Islander Americans, and Native Hawaiians. Why the month of May? In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a bill that was passed by Congress...Read More
Volunteering Opportunities
by Milan Riley While the state of California does not require high school students to complete a certain amount of volunteer hours to graduate, numerous schools either encourage it or make it mandatory for graduation. This applies to particular middle schools, as well. The reason for this is that volunteering helps communities, prepares students for their future jobs, and appeals to...Read More
Los Angeles School Police Programs
by Ryan Park Did you know that LAUSD schools have their very own police department? The mission of the Los Angeles School Police Department (LASPD) is to assist teachers, administrators, and other staff in providing a safe environment in which the educational process can take place for the 565,000 students of the district. In addition, they offer multiple programs for community engagement,...Read More
The Significance of the Month of Ramadan
by Tarisha Hasan The holy month of Ramadan takes place on the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is during this month that all Muslims observe a fast from before the Fajr, or early morning prayer, until after sunset and the Maghrib evening prayer. During a fast, it is forbidden to eat and drink, with increased emphasis placed on spiritual activities and self-restraint. At the end of...Read More
The Science Academy: Guinness World Record Contender?
by Desmond Devine Is Our School the Smartest? Believe it or not, our school has been nominated for a new Guinness World Record, which will be recorded for the 2024 Guinness World Records and released in September 2023! The record in question is the “Smartest School” designation, awarded for a number of factors such as GPA, test scores, and the relative difficulty of the curriculum. If our...Read More
Pi Day Fun!
by Jordin Lim Pi Day, celebrated March 14, is the celebration of mathematical constant 𝝅, due to its numerical date (3.14) representing the first three digits of pi. Fun fact: Pi Day also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday Physicist Larry Shaw, who found Pi Day in 1988, had the first Pi Day celebration at his place of work, the Exploratorium, a San Francisco-based interactive science...Read More
8th Grade Science Fair Interviews
by Ryan Park For Science Academy’s 2022-2023 Science Fair, I interviewed two 8th graders to learn more about their projects: Dani Tsao, 1st place winner, and Aspen Chung, 2nd place winner. * Dani Tsao’s Science Fair project built on her experiment from last year in creating a new type of solar panel. What inspired you to choose your Science Fair topic? My experiment this year is a...Read More
7th Grade Science Fair Interviews
by Liz Zarikyan This year’s Science Fair, which took place February 6-8th, was a showcase of projects from 7th and 8th grade students that uncovered mysteries, revealed solutions to some of our world problems, and even provided resources to use in case of emergency. I interviewed some of the 7th grade winners to find out more about their projects. Jordan R. – Honorable Mention...Read More
Science Olympiad
by Tarisha Hasan What is the Science Olympiad? Science Olympiad is the premier team STEM competition in the nation, providing standards-based challenges to 6,000 teams at 425 tournaments in all 50 states. Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets, consisting of a series of 23 team events in each division (Division B is middle school; Division C is high school). Each...Read More
Changes Coming to LAUSD Cafeterias
by Anaelle Tadros During lunchtime, there’s always a line in front of the cafeteria. Some people enjoy the food and others hate it, but we can all agree that the cafeteria is a good resource when you’re hungry and don’t have anything to eat. Although the cafeteria has its fair share of good and bad days when it comes to food, satisfaction really depends on the taste buds of those eating...Read More
Happy Valentine’s Day!
by Desmond Devine, NewsFlash Resident Curmudgeon Valentine’s Day has come once again to entice and torment us all, so it’s time to unravel the tangled history of the holiday. But before that, we must acknowledge the first ASB event of the year: the Love and Kindness Fest. Taking place during an extended lunch (yay!), activities included games such as cornhole and sack races,...Read More
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah
by Jordin Lim and Ava-Ray Pributsky History of Christmas by Jordin Lim Christmas, celebrated on December 25th of each year, is a religious holiday that people around the world have been observing through both religious and nonreligious traditions for over two millennia. Christians celebrate Christmas to commemorate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings formed...Read More
Middle School Fall Art Contest
By Maleeya Mickelson The winner of the 2022 Science Academy Middle School Fall Art Contest is Sasha Vitryanyuk for her art submission titled The Beginning of a Cozy, Magical, and Pokemon Fall Season. Sasha won a $25 Amazon gift card after receiving the most votes from the student body. Additional winners in the art contest include second place winner Dasha Vitryanyuk for her artwork...Read More
Evolution of Thanksgiving
by Maleeya Mickelson Modern day Thanksgiving has evolved significantly since the First Thanksgiving in 1621. From the history of the first feast to Thanksgiving football games and the restaurants families now celebrate in, Americans have put their own stamp on this beloved holiday. The Story of Thanksgiving What Americans have come to know as the “First Thanksgiving” is...Read More
Educational Inequalities
by Jacob Yu When I ran as an LAUSD student board member, I became more fully aware of the issues that deeply affect our district. When I attended the Student Superintendent Council Board meeting, many student representatives voiced their dissent and noted the racial and economic inequality within LAUSD. Listening to their complaints and concerns, I was inspired to research and continue...Read More
Filipino-American Heritage Month
By Jordin Lim Filipino Heritage Month, spanning from October 1 to October 31, celebrates the heritage and achievements of Filipino Americans. As the second-largest Asian American population in the United States, Filipino Americans have played a significant role in the history, culture, and progression of the United States. History of Filipino-Americans October represents...Read More
Formula 1
by Adrianna Montes What is Formula 1? In just the past few years, Formula 1 racing has quickly built its audience in the United States to match its popularity around the world, especially thanks to increased exposure on television. In our country, most racing fans have gravitated towards NASCAR, but now Formula 1 is really giving NASCAR a run for its money! Formula 1 is the fastest...Read More
Hispanic Heritage Month
By Adrianna Montes and Milan Riley The annual National Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States began this year on Thursday, September 15, and ended on Saturday, October 15. It celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of American citizens descended from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This observance originated in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage...Read More
ASB Officer Statements
by Ryan Park Congratulations To Our New ASB Officers! Congratulations to ASB’s 2022-2023 Officers! We look forward to all the events the Associated Student Body of the Science Academy has in store for our school community! High School ASB President: Zahra R. Vice-President: Jasper M. Secretary: Esther C. Treasurer: Seoyoon L. Historian: Jenna L. Middle School ASB President:...Read More
Homecoming Game
by Elodia Honigstein Pre-Game The homecoming game is a chance for a school to unify, rally, and boost school spirit while rooting for a common goal in a fun game. Before East Valley and Science Academy’s homecoming game on September 23rd against Esteban Torres High School, many preparations were made to make this game an event to remember. Cars were decorated and cheers were practiced to...Read More
Club Rush
by Muaz Reza Science Academy’s first annual Club Rush occurred from Wednesday, September 14th – Friday, September 16th. Students could browse and sign-up from over 40 different clubs featured in the three days the event took place. Joining a club is a good way for middle and high schoolers to expand upon their extracurricular pursuits or even simply explore a craft or topic that...Read More
Fall Movie Night
by Jordin Lim Movie Night, which occurred Friday, September 30th, was a great event for the entire school to enjoy. ASB sold snacks and sodas, including chips and candies. Students could bring blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, etc. to make sure they were comfy for this fun event. Before the movie, Ratatouille, started, music videos of popular songs were displayed on the inflatable...Read More
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
by Milan Riley Introduction A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a popular play written by William Shakespeare, a playwright during the age of the English Renaissance. Historians estimate that this particular play was first written between 1594 and 1596. It was originally published in 1600 and once more in 1619, despite being primarily meant to be performed in a theater rather than read. The play...Read More
Egyptian Short Stories
At the conclusion of our unit on Ancient Egypt unit, the 6th grade students submitted short stories that reflected what they learned about Egyptian society, government, and religious beliefs. Here is a sampling, along with students’ original artwork. The Creation of Life by Charis K. For many people, the coming of summer is a blessing as it brings warm weather for crops to...Read More
Aviation Club
by Ryan Park The Aviation Club is a new club formed this year that helps to educate members around aspects of the field of aviation and to teach its members the mechanics and engineering behind aviation. It was founded by Aviation Club president, Solomon Sharp, who answered a few questions recently in order to encourage students to join. The club meets every Wednesday after school in Mr....Read More
Mother’s Day
by Milan Riley and Jordin Lim Mother’s Day is a celebration in honor of mothers, motherly figures, or those with whom we have maternal bonds, in addition to honoring the influence of mothers on society. It is celebrated on different days in over 40 countries, but most commonly in March or May. For the United States, it is scheduled on the second Sunday in May, which this year is Sunday,...Read More
Easter & Passover
by Milan Riley and Ava-Ray Pributsky Easter Easter is a Christian festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, the religion’s prophet. Easter is considered a “movable feast,” meaning it doesn’t occur on the same day every year. However, it is always observed between March 22 and April 25. In 2022, Easter occurred on Sunday, April 17. Origin Jesus Christ was a Jewish...Read More
Earth Day
Friday – April 22, 2022 By Jordin Lim Earth Day is a yearly celebration during which support for environmental protection is displayed through a wide range of events that are coordinated globally. Earth Day also marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. During Earth Day, awareness is raised about pollution and environmental issues as well...Read More
Grit STEM Talk
by Ryan Park The SciFi Parents sponsored our first in-person STEM Talk of the school year in December with Joshua Spitzen, a man familiar with the concept of success. Having graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Pomona College with a focus in Mathematical Economics, Josh was always on a path of betterment. After graduating from Pomona, he became an investment banker with Patricof and Co. in New...Read More
Science Bowl Success
by Daniel Svediani This February, our very own Middle School Science Bowl Team successfully qualified for the National Science Bowl competition in Washington, D.C. by winning the Southern California regional Science Bowl competition! We are overjoyed by our students’ performance and would like to congratulate each and every team member. Our star five-person team consists of Naira...Read More
A doorman for the Science Academy?!?!
BREAKING NEWS by Desmond Devine Our school is relatively new, and it is well known that starting a site of education is an endeavor that requires land, motivated people, and above all else, cold hard cash. Now our school has been lucky enough to be able to receive the support needed to launch a new campus, and we have an amazing faculty, but we still need a ton of money to pay the teachers,...Read More
Saint Patrick’s Day
by Jordin Lim Saint Patrick’s Day, well known for clever leprechaun-catching and for pinching those not wearing green, has an interesting history and fascinating traditions. Saint Patrick’s Day traditionally takes place on March 17th, but how did this day come to be? The Origins of Saint Patrick’s Day Saint Patrick is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures. Born...Read More
8th Grade Science Fair Winners
by Julia Shin Congratulations to all of the Science Fair winners and good luck to all of the winners for County! 8th Grade 1st Place – Tanishga Thankaraj Vijay & Harshini Manikandan Project Title: Determining Factors that Affect a Fan’s Performance This fusion of an experiment and an engineering project was focused on determining which type of blade shape...Read More
Lunar New Year
by Desmond Devine Origin Lunar New Year is celebrated by many cultures, including the Chinese New Year, and it begins with the first new moon of the year and ends with the full moon that occurs about fifteen days after the new moon. Every Lunar New Year is represented with one of twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, each representing different personality traits. The signs repeat in a...Read More
Black History Month
by Milan Riley Black History Month is a national occasion celebrated during the month of February. This is a time to appreciate authors, inventors, political figures, scientists, and cultural leaders of African descent for their important contributions. The observance first began in the United States on January 2, 1970 and has been annually observed ever since. In addition, it is...Read More
The Scripps National Spelling Bee
UPDATE: Congratulations to our winners! 1st place: Daniel T., 6th grade 2nd place: Jillian C., 7th grade 3rd place: Jordan R., 6th grade by Milan Riley It’s that time of year again: Spelling Bee Season! Spelling bees were designed to help students improve their spelling skills and broaden their vocabulary. Every year, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is held, giving students from across...Read More
Special New Year’s Eve Traditions Around the World
by Julia Shin As Edith Lovejoy Pierce, a 20th century poet, once said, “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” Many people look forward to the new year and are excited for New Year’s Eve, a famous celebration, on December 31st. Many people attend New Year’s Eve...Read More
The History Of Thanksgiving
by Milan Riley Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated in multiple countries around the world as it marks the end of the autumn season and shows gratitude for the fall harvest. Different countries have traditions and dates that vary for this occasion, but most are very similar. The majority of individuals that participate in Thanksgiving spend this time with their families and have...Read More
Congratulations our new ASB Officers!
We are very proud to present the 2021-22 ASB officers! Thank you to everyone who participated, either by being a candidate or by voting. Looking forward to all the wonderful events and programs that ASB has in store for our school community! High School ASB: President: Melissa Mouchamel (12th) Vice President: Scott Oberholtzer (12th) Secretary: Rachel Lee (12th) Treasurer: Gautam Gupta...Read More
Spooky Supernovas
Halloween was a blast this year! It was so fun to be able to “scare up” some costumes and gather in person to horrify and delight our school community – thank you to everyone who participated! Congratulations to our Costume Contest winners: Most Creative: Middle school – Tank: Jedrek V. High school – Mushroom: Leah R. Scariest: Middle school – Scary...Read More
Día de Los Muertos/Day of The Dead
The LatinX Student Union Día de Los Muertos Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead is celebrated yearly on November 1st and 2nd. The purpose of the holiday is to remember loved ones who have passed away. On Día de Los Muertos, families visit graves, make food that their departed loved ones once enjoyed, and create altars called ofrendas. Traditional components of the ofrenda are photographs, food...Read More
Homecoming Week
Our Homecoming Experience by Daniel Svediani and Rachel Nave Believed to have originated sometime in the 19th century, Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back students to the new school year. Usually, it celebrates the first home football game of the season and traditionally, a dance is held afterwards. On Saturday, October 23rd, we celebrated our own joint Homecoming with East Valley...Read More
Great Opportunities to Learn About Culture at the Science Academy
by Emily Corona The Science Academy has some excellent clubs focused on culture to offer the student body, all aiming to create a welcoming and educational environment. The clubs themselves are open to everyone from all backgrounds and are all outstanding learning opportunities. The clubs serve to provide a space to empower students of different cultures, all the while unifying the rest...Read More
ASB Members on Changes They Would Like To See In 2021-2022
By Scott Oberholtzer, Sarah Lane, and Emily Corona As the year comes to a close once more, we look again to the future to see what is next. The 2020-2021 Science Academy Associated Student Body, though it has made great changes to the school environment, including club sign-ups and adding new events, still has wishes they hope can be addressed by next year’s ASB members. School...Read More
Science Academy High School Debate Team Closes Out a Successful 1st Year
by Sarah Lane & Scott Oberholtzer The Science Academy High School speech and debate team has just closed out a very successful first year of competition. The team as a whole prospered in every competition, consistently placing at or near the top, with one student making it all the way to the state competition. The team engaged in its first novice competition on Halloween, with...Read More
Composting STEM Talk
By Ava-Ray P. The Science Academy hosted guest speaker Kenny D. from Tree People to talk about composting at home for our February 19th STEM Talk. There was great interest in the subject amongst the student body because of the ways composting can not only help create rich soil, but can be used to recycle food scraps and yard waste, thereby reducing landfill usage and the creation of...Read More
Club Spotlight: STEM Clubs
STEM Clubs at the Science Academy STEM Magnet by Milan R. and Muaz R. At Science Academy, we have a wide range of clubs, all focusing on a variety of subjects, skills, and potential occupations. In this article, we take a look at three of our STEM-focused clubs: StellarXplorers, the Applied STEAM Club, and Math Counts. Stellar Xplorers and Math Counts are sponsored by our wonderful...Read More