After three decades of school spirit and dedication, on Oct. 29th, 2026, security guard Ms. Virginia has retired from Mayfair High School. To learn more about her, I sat down and interviewed her to reflect on her time here. Q: Can you tell us about your journey here at Mayfair and the different roles you’ve held over the years? A: Sure! So I started in 1988; I was an Instructional assistant. I did that for 5 years with the special ed kids. Then, I moved into the girls' locke

I had the opportunity to interview Carlos Dominguez, the Vice President of Mayfair CSF. Working alongside Carlos are President Alan Rodriguez, Secretary Rylee Aihara, and Publicist Kyleigh Tan. I asked Carlos a series of questions about CSF and what they do on our campus. Q. What exactly is CSF, and what is its main purpose at our school? A. CSF stands for “California Scholarship Federation.” We are a state academic organization dedicated to providing scholarships and educat

Volleyball is more than just hitting a ball over the net. For high school students, it’s a chance to make friends, learn new skills, and be a part of a team. But being on the volleyball team takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication. Between school, homework, and practices, being a student-athlete can get stressful. Players have to keep up with their grades while also working to improve their game. Sometimes, they make mistakes or don’t get as much playing time as they hope

On Sunday, September 6th, I had the chance to go to the last concert in Los Angeles, for the boy group, BTS, at SoFi Stadium. BTS is a Korean boy group under the entertainment company, HYBE, it includes the seven members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. They first debuted on June 13, 2013 with the song "No More Dream." At around 8:00, BTS came out onto the stage starting their setlist with the song, “Hooligan”, from their new album, Arirang, which was released

On Monday, October 12, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., there was an accident on the Goliath roller coaster where a 42-year-old man by the name of Hassan Jihad In Karim fell off. As a result of this incident, the Cobb County Police Department's Major Crimes Unit launched an investigation to further research this matter. Then, as a precaution, the Six Flags Park temporarily closed nine similar coasters across its parks in the United States and Canada. When this incident occurred, investiga

The “Losercore” Spotify playlist has been trending on TikTok recently. Multiple TikTok accounts have used AI to turn the faces of “underground” music artists, album covers, and video game characters into low-quality ‘90s retro-style animated ads for a Spotify playlist. These videos recently gained popularity because people realized how ridiculously cringe it is. The playlist uses the term “Losercore” in every video, whilst nobody can even explain what “Losercore” even is. The

Awarded with the Saturn Award for best fantasy film and best music, alongside the Annie Award for best Individual Achievement for Artistic Excellence in the Field of Animation and best Individual Achievement for Creative Supervision in the Field of Animation, this movie won a total of five awards. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a film made through stop-motion. Using a variety of set builders, puppet makers, prop makers, animators, and over 100 camera operators, they made T

Across the sea all the way to Hainan Island, China, lives a very lively and adorable sea lion, Reggie. Reggie was born in June 2009 at the Blackpool Zoo in England. Later on, he would be transferred to Knowsley Safari Park, which was also located in England. Ultimately, Reggie landed in his new area soon after. Meantime Communications reported “Kerry Logistics Network Limited (‘Kerry Logistics’; Stock Code 0636.HK) has transported two sealions from the United Kingdom to their

On September 16, 2026, it was reported that an Olive Ridley sea turtle dug a nest and laid eggs near Seal Beach and Huntington Beach in Orange County, California. This is the first time ever recorded for any sea turtle species to have a nest discovered on the U.S. West Coast. The nesting sea turtle was discovered at approximately 3 p.m. by a beachgoer who alerted the Huntington Beach life guards. These eggs will now be under the care of the aquarium staff during their incubat

On Oct. 10, 2026, the Mayfair Monsoon Marching Corps hosted its annual “Mayfair Monsoon Classic,” welcoming 21 other schools from across Los Angeles and Orange counties. Mayfair’s color guard secured first place in its caption with a score of 71.40, earning the “high auxiliary” award. Their performances topped other regional competitors including Leuzinger High School (0), Pioneer High School (58.40), and Paramount High School (70.40). With the California State Band Champio

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time where we can celebrate the contributions of people with Hispanic and Latino roots. This celebration starts in September, as it is the anniversary of independence in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This month celebrates everyone with Hispanic origins, including Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uru

As the month of October closes in on us, Halloween Day comes closer. A question I have every Halloween is, “What are the most popular costumes this season?” With new trends and more pop culture icons coming into the media, we can see a rise in very interesting costumes for the year. Films such as Obsession, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Buddy, The Odyssey, and many others have become big in the media. Taking a look at social media, we can see the rise of the hottest costumes thi

I had the incredible opportunity to interview the new Speech-and-Language Therapy teacher, Ms. Joseph. It was an honor to speak to her! She was welcoming, kind, and seemed to be very passionate about what she does. Q: What is the hardest part about your job? A: “I feel like it can be difficult to finish evaluations, especially if there are a lot of them at one time. Some months are busier than others, but it's not very difficult.” Q: What is one goal you hope to accomplish

On October 7, 2026, a multitude of posts about one video circulated on social media. The video depicted the Mayor of France holding back a group of protesting teenagers from policemen and repeatedly telling them to stop. France is experiencing their largest student protests in decades–all stemming from education budget cuts. €54 million were cut from public spending which caused about 40% of primary school teachers to stop working. Students began to lack in school due to sho

Mr. Nordstrom is our school's high school athletics director, as well as teaching a couple of middle school success classes. He is new to our school as of August 2026. Q. What does a typical day look like for you? A. “Honestly, there aren’t any typical days, there's always something fun. What I'm trying to do at Mayfair is just get used to the processes, routines, and procedures.” Q. How do you like your 7th grade success classes? A. “I’ve worked at middle school before b

October is the month to raise awareness for the people who have down syndrome. We raise awareness for those who have down syndrome so that we can promote inclusivity and increase our understanding of those who are impacted by it. People in the city of Lakewood actually recognize the month of October as Disability Awareness Month instead of just for Down Syndrome to give an outreach of awareness. Regardless, there are many communities that have community events, educational c

"When I grow up I want to have kids but the problem is I don’t love kids as a whole and I do not want to deal with their temper tantrums. How should I prepare myself and make myself learn to love kids before I eventually have one?" Dear Reader, many people dream of growing up, having kids, and starting a family. Being a parent can be an exciting experience but it also comes with a lot of responsibilities. Some people want to have children someday but aren’t always comfortabl

On October 18th, 2026, The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was hosted in Culver City, Los Angeles. Within this one show they've released a new Victoria's Secret Angel, four artist performances, and new lines for their collections. There was controversy from last year about the majority of the models wearing slicked-back hairstyles, but now this year there were only a few models wearing slick-backed hair while the rest had the blowout-styled hair that everyone loves and adores.

The Great ShakeOut is the world's largest earthquake preparation drill, with millions of participants practicing across the United States. Because California has a long history of seismic activity, residents are constantly preparing for the next major earthquake. The first Great ShakeOut took place on Nov. 13, 2008, in preparation for the ‘Big One.’ An article by the LA Times highlights this, underlining that the drill was based on a scientific magnitude 7.8 earthquake scen

Mayfair High School’s 2026 homecoming game against Cerritos High School was definitely a night to remember. Students, friends, and families came together to support our Monsoons and enjoy one of the most exciting events of the school year. The stands were filled with students cheering for our team; it was a great night for everyone who went. Homecoming is one of the biggest events of the school year, and many students look forward to it. Throughout the week, students got to c

On Sept. 28, 2026, Slipknot shocked the Nu-Metal scene by announcing a worldwide stadium tour. With stops at stadiums like SoFi Stadium, Fenway Park, Citi Field, Soldier Field, and the historic Wembley Stadium in the UK, the tour will feature a permanent opener, Bring Me The Horizon, and multiple other openers that will change depending on the venue. For example, the UK tour will feature openers like Marilyn Manson, Lorna Shore, and Hatebreed. North American stops will featur

On October 8th, during middle and high school lunch at the Wellness Center, some adorable therapy dogs were brought over to allow students to unwind. It was generously sponsored by Mayfair's PTSA in partnership with the Mayfair Wellness Center. Students were advised to come in and take a nice break with the sweet therapy dogs. Going over to the wellness center, there was a line out the door leading to a room that was filled to the brim with kids eager to go and see the cute

If you’ve ever used Character.AI to talk to fictional characters, pass time, or even have an online husband or wife, you might have seen the news about the popular platform filing for bankruptcy. The news has left many users wondering what will happen to their chats moving forward and whether the app will disappear completely. On October 12, it had been announced that the owners had started a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. In summary, this allows a company to go through a c

It is currently fall, so why is it so hot? This constant question has become a problem. In 2026, the world has been hit by a phenomenon meteorologists like to call, “El Niño.” El Niño is a natural climate pattern that occurs when sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean become warmer than average. These warmer waters influence atmosphere circulation around the globe, altering rainfall, storm tracks, and temperatures beyond the Pacific basin.

Mayfair High School’s Fall Choir Concert showcased the amazing talent of the student singers through the variety of songs they performed. They all sounded heavenly and it was amazing to hear. The concert featured Polyphonix, Mariners, and Showtime, giving each group an opportunity to showcase their amazing voices and talent through lovely songs. After Mrs. Campbell introduced the first group, Polyphonix, they took the stage to open the show. Some of the songs they performed

Being a student at Mayfair High School can come with a lot of overwhelming questions and decisions that are really unexpected. Having a supportive counselor like Mrs. Mcintosh can make such a difference in your life, just as she has made in mine. Mrs. Mcintosh is one of the kindest counselors at this school. She is always willing to help students with all their issues and tries her hardest to care for each student she has. She has the ability to make shy kids feel comfortable

The VMA’s, (Video music awards), is an annual award show to honor the best music videos in the industry. The VMA’s took place Sunday, September 27, 2026, and the people were moved. Fans are shocked watching British singer-song-writer and record producer, PinkPantheress' reaction to “Pop Queen” winning “Artist of the Year.” Fans online speculated that the two may resent each other, while others laughed it off and clipped PinkPantheres, using her as a meme reaction photo. Both

The 2026 WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) playoffs got underway on Tuesday and just completed the best-of-three first-round series. The postseason features the league’s top eight teams competing for the championship. Teams are ranked by their regular-season records, with the No. 1 as the top seed and the No. 8 as the lowest seed. The playoffs are moving into the semifinals following an eventful first round highlighted by a historic upset, two series “sweeps” (w

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a fast-food chain known for its burritos, bowls, and tacos. Recently, however, a company advertisement has drawn significant attention. The fast-food chain released a Halloween ad featuring a Ouija board-style design with a tortilla chip being used as a pointer to spell out “margarita.” While some people found the ad funny and creative, others have criticized it. According to a Chipotle company announcement, the campaign is called “Summon the Spiri

Ayanna Greenidge is a Mayfair High School senior balancing academics, varsity volleyball, and personal goals, staying motivated through every challenge. Her favorite subject is chemistry, which she plans to major in at Howard University, one of the U.S.’s top-ranked historically Black colleges and universities. One of Ayanna’s main goals this academic year is to earn a 4.0 GPA. She is determined to stay focused on her academics while continuing to grow as a student-athlete.

On Oct. 1, 2026, 34-year-old Ken Urker was found dead inside a Louisiana house. He was the former fiancé of Gypsy Rose Blanchard; the couple shared a daughter, who was born in December 2024. According to People.com, “a source close to the family confirmed to PEOPLE. He was found ‘dead upon arrival,’ per the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.” Urker was discovered by Blanchard’s brother, Dylan. An autopsy has since been conducted, but the official results are currently being

After 16 years in the 200 wing, well-known English teacher Mrs. Berryman has announced she will relocate to the 400 wing to join AVID, a new elective program. I interviewed her to discuss the transition and her thoughts on the program. Q: What is AVID, and is it the reason for your relocation? A: Yes, AVID is the reason, and it is an acronym for Advancement Via Individual Determination. It is an elective for those who want to be college-bound. I was asked if I wanted to be

Boo! The Writing Center is hosting the 2nd Annual Spooky Story contest! This is a challenge where Mayfair students from middle and high school are able to show off their creative writing skills through a spooky story! Students have until October 23rd to submit their work. For those interested in signing up, each participant must follow the rules: Participants must attend Mayfair Middle/High School, write 500 to 1200 words, organize their work in MLA format, avoid using AI,

Artificial intelligence has taken over the world. There may be no getting rid of it; society must learn to live with it regardless of personal beliefs. For educators and students, however, this trend raises a critical question: When does AI stop being a tool and become a crutch? Multiple studies suggest that regularly using AI can diminish critical thinking skills. AI was created to help humans, though its rollout brought mixed results. Many people mocked early AI tools, fi

Ever wonder why you might have a ton of swollen bumps recently? Here could be a reason as to why. In Southern California, the warm weather gives mosquitoes plenty of time to stay active. This year, Los Angeles County has had a much bigger West Nile virus season than usual. There has been a report of 1,172 confirmed West Nile disease cases in 2026, including 130 hospitalizations and a few deaths. The number is much higher than the 22 infections reported in the entirety of 2025

I took the chance to shine a light on Mrs. Aguirre because she is extremely kind-hearted and helped me grow as a person. Not only is she caring, she is also an excellent teacher. I wanted to take the opportunity to learn more about her experiences working here at Mayfair and about her life outside of work. Q: What made you want to become a teacher? A: “My love for history. I feel like the teachers I had were not good, and I want to do something better to inspire my students

Hurricane Lowell is a category 2 hurricane that is currently impacting the western islands of Hawaii, which has brought upon the state's first ever tornado watch. It occurred on September 7th and 8th of 2026 and the island is still dealing with the destruction of it. Hurricane Lowell has caused 21 inches of rainfall that led to flash floods across Hawaii’s islands Niihau and Kahui. The local government has sent crews to the whole island to assess the situation. During the ass

Fat Bear Week is an annual competition between the brown bears at the Katmai National Park & Reserve in Alaska. The Fat Bear Week competition has been happening anually since 2014. The competition was made to celebrate the bear’s success in preparation for their winter hibernation. It is a single elimination tournament, and for each match-up, you can use their website to pick the bear that you think is the best example of fatness and success in brown bears. You can also predi

The Major League Baseball postseason began with twelve teams competing for a title, including the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Guardians, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, and Atlanta Braves. The bracket has narrowed down to the final five teams competing, with the Dodgers and the Brewers playing for the National League Pennant. In the American Leag

Video games are a common way for students to spend their free time. Whether playing with friends, trying to win a match, or looking to just relax, most students have a favorite. To find out which games students at Mayfair High have been playing the most this September, I made an Instagram poll asking students to share what video game they had been playing this month. The poll received 23 responses and included a plethora of choices. The most popular game by a landslide was R

On April 26, 2019, one of the most groundbreaking movies of the decade, “Avengers: Endgame,” was released as the sequel to “Avengers: Infinity War.” “Endgame” concluded Phase Three of the Infinity saga, a collection of movies and series published by Marvel over several years. The movie featured an emotional story for fans who follow the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to The Numbers, “Avengers: Endgame” grossed $2,937,673,434 at the worldwide box office. Nearly seven

On September 20, 2026, President Donald Trump made a post on his Truth social media platform that involved his plans to add a Triumphal Arch to the Washington D.C area. The proposed arch will be located on the Potomac and will be approximately 250-feet tall. President Donald Trump has said that he wants to build this triumphal arch specifically to store a large number of drones, snipers, a large quantity of sniper ammunition. Many veterans and historians don’t approve of this

On Aug. 30, 2026, around 1:26 pm, the Los Angeles Rams announced that they would be signing formerly retired Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald to a one-year 20 million dollar contract. The league has had a multitude of reactions, featured by the New York Post, like one from former Indianapolis Colts Pat McAfee, who posted,“‘BREAKING: Myles Garret and Aaron Donald are officially on the same DLINE.'" Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III added, “The LA Rams defence will be a

Due to the El Niños weather this year, there have been rare whale shark sightings off of the coast of southern California. Recently, a pilot flying between Malibu and Santa Barbra recorded a singular whale shark swimming through the waters. As Carl Sbarounis stated to KTLA, “A friend of mine found this whale shark while he was out scouting, and I was nearby, so I went over and grabbed my camera and, with my airplane, flew circles around the shark." Now, as of September 14, a

Mrs. McKay is a teacher I look at very fondly, the way that she teaches has made me even more interested in history as a subject. She brings light and enjoyment to a classroom like no other teacher. She builds amazing relationships with her students and helps make connections from past ideas in history to what is happening in the world today. I decided today that I will be interviewing her to know more about the brilliant teacher she is and to hopefully get to know her beyond

I chose Mrs. Ellis for my spotlight because she seems like a very outgoing person and I wanted to learn more about her. Since this is my first year having her as my English teacher, I thought this was the perfect opportunity. Q: What did you do before teaching here at Mayfair High? A: "That was so long ago, I've been teaching for 27 years. Before I taught at Mayfair, I taught group exercise classes at several gyms. I taught cardio, kickboxing, spin classes, and step aerobics

Mayfair introduces our middle school students to a new teacher named Ms. Vitale! For those who don't know, Ms. Vitale is a new middle school teacher in the 100 wing in room 112. Q: What subjects do you teach, and to what grade? A: “I teach 7th grade English and one 8th grade class of Success 2." Q: What were you before becoming a teacher? A: “I was a manager in retail stores at Knotts Berry Farm and the Los Angeles International Airport.” Q: What are your hobbies outside

On August 26, 2026, Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the original Harry Potter movies, announced that he’ll be returning to his role in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway at the New York Lyric Theater via an Instagram reel with the Playbill of the ongoing play, stating “Dusting off the old robes. New York-see you all in February.” He’ll be returning to Ron Weasley's role for a 17 week run from February 2nd, 2027 to May 30th, 2027. The play is based on the

Earthquake drills are an important way for students and staff to prepare for one. Since earthquakes are unpredictable, knowing what to do will help keep everyone safe. During an earthquake drill, students practice steps everyone should follow if a real earthquake occurs. The most common steps are drop, cover, and hold on. Students should drop to the ground, take cover under a desk, table, or door frame, and hold on until the shaking stops. Earthquake drills also help students

Today, I would like to introduce my friend Maximo, who is a very active student here at Mayfair. He has a great role as vice president for SkillsUSA and he still manages to balance all of his rigorous classwork in the meanwhile. I decided to ask him some questions on his involvement in the school so he could be better recognized here at Mayfair. Q: How do you stay involved in the school? A: “I like staying involved in school through the program, SkillsUSA, which I have been