Features

The Wellness Center staff, Melissa Virrueta, Rachel Krow-Boniske, Stacy Shoals, YolandaClark-Brown, and Doreen Bracamontes show off the new BHS motto.

After a year of planning, the BHS Wellness Center finally opens 

After returning to in-person learning in 2021, Berkeley High School saw a spike in conflicts, as students returned from isolation and re-learned how to interact with peers and balance their personal and academic lives.

Enthusiasm is key: Incoming club leaders foster community 

By first period on September 7, dozens of tables with posters and free candy were set out on Berkeley High School’s campus green as students began pouring out of the buildings.

Fall weather brings comfort to replace students' summer fun

The start of the 2023 to 2024 school year comes with an adjustment period; not just for new classes, classmates, and teachers, but also a seasonal change from summer to fall.

Difficult classes: A decision students  must make for themselves

There are many AP, IB, and other advanced courses available at Berkeley High School, but how many students really want to be taking these classes? With increasingly competitive college admissions and pressure from peers, it’s hard to say.  “If everyone else is signing up for a club, then maybe they feel the pressure to do

Angie Soto in her classroom.

New teachers adjust, seeking community

“It’s a lot of things to adjust to it’s such a huge campus compared to my old school … I’m trying to get the lay of the land, you know, what are the norms?” said Justin Valencia, a new Berkeley International High School Global History and IB History of the Americas teacher.

How did you find your closest friends at BHS?

“We’ve been hanging out as family friends and then at school,” said Rubèn Murillo, a senior. Despite an incident where he destroyed his friend’s favorite toy, a fire truck, Murillo still sees him regularly to this day.

Back to school stress can manifest itself as a shopping spree.

New year, new you: Fresh start at school

Summer provides a natural break between school years that can give students an opportunity to reinvent themselves; to bring a new self to a new grade.

Berkeley High School averages 50 fire alarm triggers each year.

50 fire alarms a year: What do the Berkeley firefighters think?

Fire alarms are a notorious part of Berkeley High School, bringing fire trucks blaring to the scene each time. According to Interim Deputy Fire Chief Keith May, BHS averages 50 fire alarm calls to the Berkeley Fire Department each year.

Seniors have a fun experience in the game of assassin, sneaking through the halls.

Students prioritize fun over feuds in yearly game of assassin

From thrilling stakeouts to well-planned time bombs, this year’s game of assassin at Berkeley High School was filled with many exciting moments, according to the game’s administrator, who chose to remain anonymous.

Trails like the Indian Trail shown above are maintained by the BPWA.

Volunteer association keeps Berkeley's trails well-maintained

The Berkeley Path Wanderers Association was founded in 1998 by Ruth Armstrong, Patricia DeVito, Jacque Ensign and Eleanor Hall Gibson, according to John Ford, BPWA’s walk coordinator.

Ms. Shorty now helps students struggling with their attendance.

‘Dance is life’: Ms. Shorty moves to new job

Since the age of 23, Ms. Shorty has been working in the African Diaspora dance program. When the previous leader, Naomi Washington, retired in 2019, Ms.

An array of artworks are shown at BAMPFA.

Best places to see art throughout the Bay

Art close to home is a valuable tool to enrich the lives of many residents.  However, it can be daunting to know where to start looking.  Exploring the multitude of art choices Berkeley offers is key to being able to enjoy them in our day to day lives.

Uji Time Dessert is located on Telegraph St. and Parker St.

Uji Time: Serving Asian fusion dessert with side of community

Uji Time Dessert, located on Telegraph and Parker, was founded in 2016 as a pop up store by three first generation immigrants from Hong Kong. Since then, it has expanded to multiple locations and has products in 27 different markets, all throughout the Bay Area.

Teachers personalize content, adapt to changing AP guidelines

As education science evolves and curricula shift, even Advanced Placement classes and their exams change. Redesigns of AP classes happen on a scale imperceptible to students, but for teachers who have to teach the same thing every year, a development in the College Board’s philosophy can shake up their classroom.

Berkeley’s array of hills and paths offer several hiking routes.

Best places: Worthwhile Berkeley hikes

Gemma Shabel, a Berkeley High School senior, has been hiking at Tilden since she was little and has always loved it. “There are so many different options for types of hikes and scenery and wherever you choose, it is inevitably going to be beautiful!

Micaela Gabaly Fernandez, Yiru Kim, and Sunshine MacCarthy gather at student panel.

BHS considers a Korean language class

Berkeley High School student Yiru Kim first became aware of a possible Korean language class in early February, when the School Director at Oakland Korean School was informing her of a need to implement Korean language classes in schools across the Bay Area.

In BHS

BHS students feel the impact of declining UC acceptance rates

The 2022 acceptance rate for University of California, Los Angeles was 8.6 percent. In 2021 it was 10.8 percent, and in 2020 was 14.4 percent. This downward trend is similar for most UC acceptance rates throughout the last couple of years.

Plane going to Taiwan

Taiwan trip provides Mandarin students cultural engagement

At 1 a.m., a plane took off from San Francisco International Airport. It was a direct flight to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, and carried over 50 Mandarin students at Berkeley High School along with parent chaperones and BHS Mandarin teacher Xin Chen.