List of 20 news stories.

• 2026 Sideline Essay

  Liam Acton '26
        At the end of every week at soccer camp, our coach, Avery, hosted the “Lost and Found
  Scrimmage.” The idea was simple: every forgotten water bottle, worn-out shin guard, or mystery
  T-shirt went into a pile. Each camper could claim one item before the match—and whatever you
  picked, you had to wear or use for the game.
        The kids loved it. Shouts echoed across the field as players scrambled for mismatched
  socks and oversized jerseys. But one camper, Leo, stood out. While others hesitated, wrinkling
  their noses at stained pinnies or ripped shorts, Leo always raised his hand first. He’d grab the
  most battered gear without complaint, lace up, and sprint onto the field. By the time the whistle
  blew, he was laughing, sliding, and celebrating goals like his uniform was brand new.
  . . .

• A Little Bit of Everything

  Mr. Fitz
  I used to wake up
  To the smell of coffee every morning,
  Soft notes of french vanilla
  Drifting through the door,
  Sweet and steady as your voice
  Calling me to breakfast.
  
  I never needed to drink it
  To feel the warmth it carried.
  You’d offer me a cup anyway,
  And somehow, that was enough.
  . . .
• 

  AI Generated Comedy

  Michael Batsu '28

• An Ordinary Place

  Ashley Deng '27
       Where the modest Siheyuan used to be, a towering mall emerges. Its windows stretch
  from floor to ceiling, displaying lean mannequins of different poses covered in Chanel and
  Burberry. The soft sheep leather shines under the brightness of the dazzling lights, casting a still
  but faint shadow. From the outside, I can already imagine the scent within: light, floral perfume

  with a tint of expensive leather. From the flawless floors to the immaculate display shelves, ev-
  erything is clean. Too clean. A clean so sharp that it wipes away every drop of the rich olive oil

  used to fry juicy dumplings and crispy scallion pancakes. What was once alive is now polished,
  air-conditioned, and elegant; the air smells and feels different, a type of new I know I won’t ever
  get used to. Hidden speakers camouflaged into the high ceiling softly play Vivaldi’s Spring, the
  elegant and gentle melody fitting for a luxury store like this. The rhythmic violin notes drift past
  the heavy doors guarded by the doormen, mixing with the cool, quiet air conditioning that seeps
  out the mall as the doors open and close. Most mornings I pass by without stopping, Starbucks
  matcha latte in hand, airpods playing “deja vu” by Olivia Rodrigo. Occasionally, when the coarse
  wind bites my soft cheeks, I smell something else: something different yet familiar.
  . . .

• Bedtime Thoughts

  Ruby Meyers '26
  Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.
  Don’t stay up too late, you will need your rest.
  Sweet dreams, tomorrow morning will be bright
  
  and early, you will go to start the fight.
  It’s not your job to always be the best.
  Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite
  . . .
• 

  Changing With the Seasons

  Brock Bowen '27
• 

  Crocus Sativus: Wonderment with a Seemingly Ordinary Flower

  Sam Ridky '26
  My family’s Christmas tradition of making paella includes adding a few deep red strands of saf-
  fron, which I delicately pinch before letting them fall into the pan. I know how expensive these

  fine fibers are, and have always known how much flavor a mere gram could add, but I’d never
  (knowingly) stopped to appreciate the beauty of its origin. It wasn’t until a paella-making class in
  Barcelona where I learned where the world’s most expensive spice comes from.
  . . .
• 

  Cyrene

  Alan Xu '26
• 

  Funny Animal Expressions

  Fereol Faure '26

• Hot Chocolate and Whipped Cream

  Dayna Wong '27
        I’ve always experienced the happiest moments on Christmas morning. The faint Christ-
  mas music playing from our living room television would wake me from my slumber. Stretching

  in my soft sheets, my red, green, white and red plaid Christmas pajamas rub against my comfort-
  er. My fluffy reindeer socks muffle the cool, wooden floor as they travel to the bathroom.
  . . .
• 

  Hunting of the Wings

  Evan Sun '29
• 

  Life With Music

  Evan Sun '29

• Mosaic of the Times

  Helena Wang '27
  The beat echoes through your chest,
  banging against your ribcage until your
  bones crackle—each rupture steady,
  like your strides into your very first birthday party,
  just before somebody
  gags on your shirt.
  . . .

• Nine Lives

  Aiden Chan '26
  If I had nine lives
  
  I’d spend the first one
  learning how to breathe again.
  To quiet the panic,
  Let the fear loosen its grip,
  Instead of pulling me under.
  Maybe after I swim to the surface,
  I’ll finally find peace and
  Won’t be afraid of the ocean.
  . . .
• 

  Opulence

  Amber Zhang '28
• 

  Redline Archives

  Bowen Yang '29

• Reflections

  Theodore Covaci '28
        “It’s fascinating how light works,” I tell him. I go on and on about the mirror and its ability
  to reflect a clear, crystal image of me and the silhouette of my brother’s hunched body. Orange
  light from the sunrise follows his every movement. Turned away from the mirror, he eats stale
  croutons while listening to live television updates from the war in Afghanistan. I wonder if he
  still thinks about our life before his deployment: our family trips, our competitive chess games,
  our love for the outdoors. Lately, he startles at the smallest sounds, whether it be the click of the
  lock on the front door after returning from his rehab appointment or the light switch that turns
  our home dark.
  . . .
• 

  Samurai

  Makana Wallenta '29

• Sensory Sound

  Ruby Meyers '26
  The sound of soft wind howling through a space,
  Created by the absence of the leaves,
  Leaves echoes in my ears I’ve tried to trace
  To my serene heart as it softly grieves.
  . . .

• Strange Fellows

  Sarah Li '30
  Such strange fellows they are who set their feet in this world.
  That they’ll not show their teeth in way of smile,
  . . .