Tomoki Chien, Editor-in-Chief
Tomo is a junior at Los Altos High School, leading and managing the team as well as primarily running the hard news section. He also works as a staff photographer and serves as a beat reporter covering the coronavirus and Mountain View–Los Altos School District. Previously, he was the news editor on the Los Altos High School Talon, where he covered the coronavirus, I.T. department and breaking news as a staff writer. Tomo is a founding member of the Post.
Los Altos Library opens to 50% occupancy, continues expanded contactless pick up
STORY BY GIL RUBINSTEIN, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Following the county’s drop to the orange tier of coronavirus restrictions, the Los Altos Library will continue to expand its in-person services after first opening for lobby service in March. Effective April 19, all libraries in the Santa Clara County Library District — which includes the Los Altos Library…
Continue reading ➞ Los Altos Library opens to 50% occupancy, continues expanded contactless pick up
Roughly half of MVLA student body set to participate in April hybrid return
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN, PHOTO BY EMILY MCNALLY Just over half the students at Los Altos and Mountain View high schools have opted into the district’s mid-April hybrid return, indicating widespread interest for in-person learning over a year since the pandemic first forced campuses to close. On April 19, the 52.1% of district students set…
Continue reading ➞ Roughly half of MVLA student body set to participate in April hybrid return
VIDEO: A look into MVLA’s current in-person learning program
PRODUCED BY KAITLYN HUANG, MIA BASSETT AND CATHRYN KRAJEWSKI, MUSIC BY TOMOKI CHIEN High schoolers in the Mountain View–Los Altos High School District returned to campuses earlier this month for learning in “stable groups,” participating in remote classes in a study hall supervised by substitute staff. In April, students across the district are slated to make an…
Continue reading ➞ VIDEO: A look into MVLA’s current in-person learning program
Four days in-person, 3-foot social distancing and I.T. upgrades: Here’s what to expect from MVLA’s hybrid return
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Students in the Mountain View–Los Altos Union High School District can expect four full days a week of in-person instruction starting April 26, a significant expansion of the district’s previously announced proposal. The district’s latest schedule, presented at its March 22 board meeting, calls for students to step back…
PAUSD drafts plans to offer optional remote instruction in fall 2021
STORY BY MELODY XU, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN The Palo Alto Unified School District has plans in progress to offer remote instruction programs for its K–12 students in the 2021–2022 school year, as discussed at tonight’s board meeting. District documents clarify that though PAUSD remains “optimistic for a full return to school” in the fall,…
Continue reading ➞ PAUSD drafts plans to offer optional remote instruction in fall 2021
Across the board, local leaders unite in condemning anti-Asian violence
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN, PHOTO BY EMILY MCNALLY Local leaders have united in condemning hate crimes against Asian Americans, just days after the Atlanta-area spa shootings in which a Caucasian suspect killed eight victims, six of whom were Asian women. “I condemn all hate crimes and acts of racism against our [Asian American and Pacific…
Continue reading ➞ Across the board, local leaders unite in condemning anti-Asian violence
Los Altos Library opens for limited-capacity service, continues expanded online resources
STORY BY GIL RUBINSTEIN, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Last week, the Los Altos Library opened its lobby service in limited capacity, allowing residents to partake in restricted browsing and book pickup. The reopening follows Santa Clara County’s fall to the red tier of coronavirus restrictions, which allowed the library to begin operation at 25–50% lobby…
Recently promoted Teri Faught on her new role, learning loss, equity and teaching
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN, PHOTO BY EMILY MCNALLY A longtime teacher and administrator in the Mountain View–Los Altos School District, Teri Faught this week assumed the role of associate superintendent of educational services. Faught — who’s served as the district’s distance learning administrator since last summer — fills a vacancy left by Margarita Navarro in February,…
Continue reading ➞ Recently promoted Teri Faught on her new role, learning loss, equity and teaching
VIDEO: San Juan Dance brings joy and normalcy in the pandemic
PRODUCED BY KAITLYN HUANG AND MIA BASSETT, MUSIC BY TOMOKI CHIEN A mainstay of Downtown Los Altos, San Juan Dance continues to operate and bring joy to its dancers even in the pandemic.
At last, PAUSD, MVLA high schoolers return to campus
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN, JONAS PAO AND MELODY XU, PHOTO COURTESY WYNNE SATTERWHITE Almost exactly a year since campuses first shuttered to stem the tide of a raging pandemic, high schoolers in the Mountain View–Los Altos and Palo Alto Unified school districts returned to classrooms this week. We spoke to students in both school districts…
Continue reading ➞ At last, PAUSD, MVLA high schoolers return to campus
Union president retracts: MVLA April hybrid return not contingent on orange tier
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN The Mountain View–Los Altos School District’s April 19 full hybrid return is not contingent on the county being in the orange tier of coronavirus restrictions, as District Teachers’ Association President David Campbell previously told the Post. Campbell, as first reported by the Town Crier, said he was mistaken when…
Continue reading ➞ Union president retracts: MVLA April hybrid return not contingent on orange tier
State gives indoor sports the green light
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Indoor sports across the state of California may now return to competition following a settlement reached with the “Let Them Play CA” movement on March 4, with subsequent guidance issued by the state health department effective March 5. By permitting indoor sports competition, the state has further continued its…
Continue reading ➞ State gives indoor sports the green light
Anticipating vaccinations, MVLA teachers’ union agrees to April full hybrid return if in orange tier
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN AND CARLY HELTZEL, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Update (Monday, March 8): DTA President David Campbell clarified to the Post that he was mistaken, and the district’s hybrid return is not in fact contingent upon the county being in the orange tier by April 19. Click here for the latest information. The…
Foothills Park renamed Foothills Nature Preserve, city to implement annual passes
STORY BY OLIVIA HEWANG, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN The Palo Alto City Council tonight voted unanimously to rename Foothills Park to Foothills Nature Preserve, implement annual passes and set the attendance cap to 300 visitors at a time, although the city manager may increase the cap up to a maximum of 650 visitors. The council…
Continue reading ➞ Foothills Park renamed Foothills Nature Preserve, city to implement annual passes
County allows all outdoor sports competition, among other activities, starting Friday
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Santa Clara County will allow a broader range of outdoor activities — including all outdoor sports competition — starting Feb. 26, in a move that follows relaxed state guidance issued just days ago. The state health department’s Feb. 19 guidance permits all outdoor sports competition, even in sports deemed…
State guidance permits all outdoor sports competition starting next Friday, but Santa Clara County could hold off
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN The California Department of Public Health today loosened its youth sports restrictions, permitting all outdoor sports — including football, water polo, field hockey and soccer, among others — to resume inter-team competitions on Feb. 26 in counties with fewer than 14 cases per 100,000 in the population. Santa Clara County…
MVLA board approves in-person return in red tier
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN, CARLY HELTZEL AND OLIVIA HEWANG, PHOTO BY ALLISON HUANG The Mountain View–Los Altos School District board tonight unanimously approved the plans and budget for an optional in-person return in the red tier of coronavirus restrictions, but did leave room for further amendment later this month. Tonight’s development serves as an addendum…
Continue reading ➞ MVLA board approves in-person return in red tier
MVLA preparing for optional in-person return in red tier
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN The Mountain View–Los Altos School District is preparing to bring more students on campus once in the red tier of coronavirus transmission, subject to approval from the school board as well as the state and county. This latest development follows the board’s previous approval of a plan that would’ve…
Continue reading ➞ MVLA preparing for optional in-person return in red tier
Artist of the Month: Dasha Korepanova delights with her whimsical creatures
STORY BY OLIVIA HEWANG AND DANA HUCH, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Dasha Korepanova used to sell her character designs in exchange for virtual currency in a video game. Now, the Los Altos junior is inundated with so many requests for commissions — paid in real money, not in-game “spuds” — that it’s become difficult for…
Continue reading ➞ Artist of the Month: Dasha Korepanova delights with her whimsical creatures
Current plans bare, but MVLA set to implement ethnic studies course in 2022
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN, PHOTO BY ALLISON HUANG The Mountain View–Los Altos School District has plans to implement an ethnic studies course in the fall of 2022. Ethnic studies — loosely defined as the study of race, ethnicity and inequality from the perspective of people of color in the United States — has faced criticism since…
Continue reading ➞ Current plans bare, but MVLA set to implement ethnic studies course in 2022
County walks back 25-foot rule for youth sports, but adds new restrictions
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN, PHOTO BY GIL RUBINSTEIN The Santa Clara County Health Department appears to have walked back its previous mandate that athletics cohorts maintain a 25-foot distance from one another, a restriction that sparked outrage among the high school sports community. The new guidance notes that participants in youth athletic activity must maintain…
Continue reading ➞ County walks back 25-foot rule for youth sports, but adds new restrictions
County guidelines could spell disaster for high school sports competition
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN, PHOTO BY GIL RUBINSTEIN Note: Santa Clara County has walked back its guidance mandating a 25-foot distance between athletics cohorts. Click here for the most recent updates. Santa Clara County safety restrictions could thwart high school sports competitions set to begin in just over two weeks. County guidelines allow practice and…
Continue reading ➞ County guidelines could spell disaster for high school sports competition
CIF bars athletes from playing same-season club and school sports
STORY BY GARV VIRGINKAR, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Student athletes will no longer be able to participate in both school and club sports over the same season, following a decision from the California Interscholastic Federation to re-enact restrictions on participating on both school and club teams. The reversal is effective immediately, and comes in light…
Continue reading ➞ CIF bars athletes from playing same-season club and school sports
SCVAL approves truncated calendar, may have little immediate effect
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN AND GARV VIRGINKAR, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN The Santa Clara Valley Athletic League today approved a modified calendar for the 2020–2021 season that tiers sports returns by risk and level of coronavirus transmission. The schedule slates cross country, girls golf, girls tennis, swimming and diving to start practices on Feb. 1,…
Continue reading ➞ SCVAL approves truncated calendar, may have little immediate effect
Palo Alto moves to implement $6 vehicle entry fee at Foothills Park
STORY BY OLIVIA HEWANG, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN In a 6–1 vote on Jan. 19, the Palo Alto City Council moved to implement a $6 vehicle entry fee at Foothills Park and lower the attendance cap to 400 visitors. The council will review the changes to the city’s municipal code at a second reading on…
Continue reading ➞ Palo Alto moves to implement $6 vehicle entry fee at Foothills Park
With COVID on the rise, Los Altos High athletes allege lax safety protocol in sports cohorts
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Amid a rising county coronavirus death toll, a handful of Los Altos High School athletes have alleged lax enforcement of safety protocol on the part of their coaches, and at times, flagrant violations of restrictions by their teammates. The claims of lax conduct come from four athletes on two…
In a reversal, new guidance forces LASD to postpone middle school return
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN This story will be updated with additional information at a later date. Following state guidance released today, Los Altos School District intermediate schools are postponing in-person returns until the county sits in the red tier of coronavirus restrictions for two consecutive weeks. Middle schoolers at Egan and Blach were…
Continue reading ➞ In a reversal, new guidance forces LASD to postpone middle school return
Teachers speak out against LASD return at board meeting
STORY BY GIL RUBINSTEIN, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN While for many, school commutes now consist solely of the distance between bed and laptop, the Los Altos School District Board’s decision on Jan. 11 to continue as planned with in-person learning means that many LASD teachers are now forced to return to campus. For fourth grade…
Continue reading ➞ Teachers speak out against LASD return at board meeting
As attendance soars, Palo Alto closes entrance to Foothills Park during peak hours
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN AND OLIVIA HEWANG, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN In an effort to stave off a high number of park goers, the City of Palo Alto announced today that the front gate to Foothills Park will be temporarily closed on weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting this Saturday, Jan.…
Fashion in the pandemic
STORY, PHOTOS AND MUSIC BY TOMOKI CHIEN, VIDEO PRODUCED BY CATHRYN KRAJEWSKI We might all be stuck at home with only our parents, siblings and pets to judge us, but fashion is arguably just as important as ever. It’s a chance at self expression and confidence in a time of dull routine; it’s a chance…
Artist of the month: Los Altos junior writes, records and releases his own four-track EP
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN, ILLUSTRATION BY ALLISON HUANG While the rest of his teenage peers have been lying on the couch watching TikToks, Dominic (Christiansen) Crosby’s been writing his own EP. Dom’s EP — “Sophomore Year Singles” — features four songs, two of which he’s written during the pandemic; they’re dreamy, high-reverb tracks,…
VIDEO: Foothills Park opens to non-residents
PRODUCED BY CATHRYN KRAJEWSKI, MUSIC BY TOMOKI CHIEN For the first time in 51 years, Palo Alto’s Foothills Park is open to non-residents.
MVLA to begin hybrid return once county hits orange tier
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN The Mountain View–Los Altos School District will take its first steps to a hybrid return once the county hits the orange tier of coronavirus transmission; that decision comes following the Board’s vote last night to approve Superintendent Dr. Nellie Meyer’s coronavirus “matrix,” or process for approving a return. The…
Continue reading ➞ MVLA to begin hybrid return once county hits orange tier
LASD puts in-person learning on pause
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Following an increase in staff absences, the Los Altos School District is canceling all in-person classes up to its holiday break, which starts next Saturday, December 19. Previously, as part of its phased return plan, LASD grades transitional kindergarten through five had had the option to enroll in blended…
Persistence, charity and faith: A Mountain View junior builds her own clothing company
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN AND ALLISON HUANG, PHOTO COURTESY JESSICA GAO Two years ago, Jessica Gao was a budding entrepreneur selling stickers — stickers of Asian slippers. Now, the Mountain View High School junior runs her own clothing brand, Upward Design, donating 100 percent of her profits to Second Harvest Food Bank. Jessica’s previous exploits…
PAUSD students suggest changes to District Title IX processes
STORY BY OLIVIA HEWANG, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN A panel of Palo Alto high schoolers urged the Palo Alto Unified School District to amend its Title IX processes to better protect victims of sexual assault and harassment at the Board’s study session last night. Title IX is the federal civil rights law that bans sex…
Continue reading ➞ PAUSD students suggest changes to District Title IX processes
Los Altos City Council votes to remove SROs from LAHS
STORY BY GIL RUBINSTEIN, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN In a unanimous vote, the Los Altos City Council moved to eliminate school resource officers from the Los Altos High School campus and implement a variety of reforms to the police complaint process. These decisions come following over 19 hours of police task force meetings, culminating in…
Continue reading ➞ Los Altos City Council votes to remove SROs from LAHS
Los Altos task force to recommend elimination of SRO program
STORY BY GIL RUBINSTEIN, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN The Los Altos Citizens’ Police Task Force is set to advise the City Council to permanently eliminate the school resource officer (SRO) program from Los Altos High School. The task force chose to leave the creation of a replacement up to the Council, hopefully before students return…
Continue reading ➞ Los Altos task force to recommend elimination of SRO program
Los Altos City Manager resigns
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN, PHOTO BY ALLISON HUANG Los Altos City Manager Chris Jordan has resigned from his post, effective Saturday, December 5. While the City searches for his replacement, Deputy City Manager Jon Maginot will serve in his place. “Throughout [my tenure], the City staff has taken on numerous challenges with a positive, can-do…
Paly, Gunn scrap in-person return plans
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Palo Alto Unified School District secondary schools will not make an in-person return this school year, as announced by Palo Alto High School Principal Brent Kline in a letter to the community today. Last week, the PAUSD Board voted to move forward with a hybrid learning plan that would’ve…
COVID-19 Updates: ‘Light at the end of this tunnel’: Gov. Newsom unveils plan to fully reopen state in mid-June
Wednesday, April 7: ‘Light at the end of this tunnel’: Gov. Newsom unveils plan to fully reopen state in mid-June Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday unveiled a plan to fully reopen the state on June 15, given that the vaccine supply is sufficient to accommodate the 16-and-up age bracket and hospitalization rates are “stable and low.”…
A conversation about Los Altos police reform with Council Member Neysa Fligor
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN AND GIL RUBINSTEIN, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Formed in August in reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement and increased conversation around police reform, the Los Altos Citizen’s Police Task Force is charged with presenting the City Council recommendations for changes to the school resource officer (SRO) program at Los Altos…
Continue reading ➞ A conversation about Los Altos police reform with Council Member Neysa Fligor
Gunn, PALY to return in person along with PAUSD middle schools in January
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN AND OLIVIA HEWANG, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Palo Alto middle and high schools will reopen next semester under a hybrid model, following the Palo Alto Unified School District Board’s unanimous vote last night to approve the plan; that plan is set to be tweaked before reopening day, with further input from…
Continue reading ➞ Gunn, PALY to return in person along with PAUSD middle schools in January
‘We’ll be hosting our own superspreader’: MVLA administrators present possible plans for in-person return
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN AND NATALIE WEI, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Mountain View–Los Altos District administrators presented three potential models for in-person return, including “rotation,” “week-on/week-off” and “AM/PM,” at tonight’s Board meeting. Superintendent Dr. Nellie Meyer noted that there is no set timeline for an in-person return, although the District had previously decided that any…
MVLA Superintendent Meyer expresses interest in hiring full-time SRO
STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN AND NATALIE WEI, PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Mountain View–Los Altos School District Superintendent Dr. Nellie Meyer expressed interest in hiring a full-time school resource officer (SRO) for the Los Altos High School campus in yesterday’s Los Altos Citizen’s Police Task Force meeting. Meyer, along with LAHS Principal Wynne Satterwhite, cited relationship-building…
Continue reading ➞ MVLA Superintendent Meyer expresses interest in hiring full-time SRO
Demonstrators gather for a ‘count all votes’ rally in Mountain View
STORY BY GIL RUBINSTEIN, PHOTOS BY TOMOKI CHIEN Amid brewing uncertainty surrounding the presidential election, a group of roughly 60 demonstrators gathered in Mountain View to express support for a fair, democratic election process, with the pervading theme of the night being to “count all the votes.” The group of demonstrators — largely older long-time…
Continue reading ➞ Demonstrators gather for a ‘count all votes’ rally in Mountain View
Palo Alto City Council votes to open Foothills Park to all
STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMOKI CHIEN Heralding a new chapter in the decades-long Foothills Park controversy, the Palo Alto City Council voted yesterday at 10 p.m. to remove its contentious non-resident restriction, opening the park to the general public. The decision, which comes in light of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union…
Continue reading ➞ Palo Alto City Council votes to open Foothills Park to all
