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From disappointed to shocked, students from all po

From disappointed to shocked, students from all political spectrums were nearly unanimous in their objection to last week’s insurrection in Washington, D.C.

Sophomore Gabriel Soud, who supports President Donald Trump, was appalled by his supporters’ actions, and was disappointed by how the president responded to the crisis that left five dead, including a police officer, and dozens injured. (Trump, one week later, released a video condemning violence among his supporters).

“President Trump needed to go up to D.C and shut it down as soon as it got out of hand, especially since it was his supporters,” he said. “As my dad put it, he needed to say ‘I don’t condone these actions, and any of you who riot like this are no followers of mine.’ “

Students also noted the contrasts in the police response to the Capitol riot compared to their treatment of Black Lives Matter protesters during the summer, some of which devolved into riots.

Senior Patsy Fonkwo, the Black Student Union co-president, said that race clearly made a difference in the outcome of the attacks, which resulted in more than 61 arrests. By contrast, police arrested 326 BLM protesters in D.C. during one protest the week after George Floyd’s death.

“I’m disappointed in law enforcement, to say the very least,” she said. “I just hope everyone now understands how untouchable a terrorist group can be if they are the right skin color.”

Fonkwo also noted the hypocrisy in people who supported law enforcement during the BLM protests who then turned on police officers at the Capitol. One video showed a rioter beating an officer with an American flag.

“The same people saying Blue Lives Matter a couple of months ago (are) now punching cops in the face,” she said. “This confirms that the major purpose of the Blue Lives Matter slogan was to take importance and power away from BLM.”

Reported by Nolan Zils

#bhsbearwitness #capitolriot

Like millions of others, sophomore Jacob Gipstein

Like millions of others, sophomore Jacob Gipstein watched in horror at the unprecedented violent takeover of the Capitol last Wednesday that left at least five dead.

“It felt so surreal that this was happening to our nation,” he said, “and it wasn’t some other country that I was watching.”

He couldn’t take his mind off of the incident, and neither could his teachers.

Gipstein logged on to his first period chemistry Zoom class, which spent much of the period having students engage in open-ended questions through a PearDeck slide created by science teacher Torie Raineri, one of which had them compare a photo from last summer’s Black Live Matter protests in Washington, D.C. with a rioter sitting in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk with his feet up.

Around Branham, teachers brought up Wednesday’s incident through open-ended discussions and lessons that they hope would help students process the historic moment.

AP Psychology teacher Jen Ozdinski sought to introduce the topic of social psychology, usually taught later in the semester. Students were tasked with defining words such as “cognitive dissonance” and “group think” and applied them to the violent events. She knew that other teachers had planned to discuss the events and wanted to take a different approach.

“Not talking about an event that would go down in history would be a disservice to students,” she said.

Social science teacher Brett Johanson said that he mainly let students steer the conversation during his class discussion, but pointed out the gravity of the event and the racism inherent that allowed the mob of hundreds to take over the Capitol so swiftly.
 “I wanted to help them come away understanding the magnitude of what just happened,” he said. “This was an attack on the institutions of democracy.”

Though the discussions were over by the next day, Gipstein praised his teachers for providing the space for discussion and thought.

“It was necessary for them to use school time, because school is all about educating,” he said. “This is huge part of American society that we don’t learn about.”

Reporting by Tae Yun (Erica) Kang, Lily Middleton and Jazzy Nguyen

#bhsbearwitness #capitolriots

With 2021 finally here, it’s a good time as any

With 2021 finally here, it’s a good time as any to take a look back at our top social media stories and moments of the last year, the good the bad, and the COVID. Stories were selected based on student engagement and the number of impressions. From the shutdowns, to the wildfires to the presidential election, it was a whirlwind year, and one for the record books. Happy New Year, and thank you, as always, for following us.

Correction: Patsy Fonkwo is pictured in the second to last slide, not Sofia Nonga.

#bhsbearwitness #2020 #topnine2020

With 2021 in sight, we asked students a few weeks

With 2021 in sight, we asked students a few weeks ago to describe this historic year. Long, crazy and exhausting were some ways students said they’d remember 2020. Here were our favorite responses. How would you describe it?

Correction: Trevor Gonzalez’s submission was “I would like to sleep now,” not “I would like to stop now.”

Reporting by Shantala Muruganujan and Carly Waldorph.

#bhsbearwitness #2020 #sixwordstory

Branham’s twice-monthly pop-up pantry has been p

Branham’s twice-monthly pop-up pantry has been providing grocery staples such as frozen chicken and milk for those in need in the community, a mission dear to social worker Kevin Nguyen, who oversees the project.

From its start in January, the pantry, which partners with the Second Harvest Food Bank, has fed thousands of families at Branham and beyond, regardless of their status. Nguyen said that many families come from neighboring districts, in addition to those at school.

The rules for the pantry are simple: Everyone is welcome, and the volunteers do not ask for ID, proof of income or other documentation for them to receive services.

Every other Wednesday evening, the pantry provides 1,250 sets of groceries for families who drive through the parking lot. Nguyen takes down how much food is needed per family, and a group of volunteers, from teachers to parent volunteers, help load the car with seasonal produce, poultry and dried goods. 
With the one-year anniversary of the pantry coming up, the need to feed families is still ever-present. The disparities are great in the Bay Area, where top earners earn 12.2 times more than those at the bottom of the ladder, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. In Santa Clara, the unemployment rate is at 5.9% in October, lower than at the start of the pandemic, but still more than twice the rate than compared to the same time last year.

These factors weigh on Nguyen, who has worked to ensure the consistent distribution of food at the pantry.

“The pandemic has definitely exacerbated the inequities and challenges that families face … and has drastically impacted many families' ability to work and sustain themselves food-wise,” he said. “We want to make sure everyone is able to get the support they need.”

Reporting by Marta Wick
Photos by Jazzy Nguyen

#bhsbearwitness #popuppantry

As coronavirus vaccines are being rolled out to mi

As coronavirus vaccines are being rolled out to millions of adults worldwide, two Branham students are participating in a coronavirus vaccine trial aimed at minors. Freshman Matthew Eisenman and his sister Allyson, a junior, are among 2,000 teens 12-16 who are testing out the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Santa Clara County.

The teens are part of the pharmaceutical company’s effort in tracking the effectiveness of the vaccine at teens. In total, nearly 44,000 around the world will be taking part in the randomized study among healthy individuals, according to the National Institutes of Health. Subjects are split into two groups, with one group receiving the real vaccine, and the other receiving a placebo. Subjects are not told what they have been given.

The Eisenman siblings were introduced to the study through their mom, who is a nurse at Kaiser. They received their initial dose, either the vaccine or a placebo, more than two weeks ago, and will in the coming days go back for another shot. Until then, they have to record any symptoms he may experience in a diary every evening.

Matthew said he was eager to help find a solution to the pandemic in his own way.

“It feels pretty good, you know?” he said. “Not necessarily leading the way, but making sure it’s fine for other people to use it.”

Common side effects only consist of symptoms such as soreness in the arm, fever, or chills after receiving the vaccine. Matthew says that he has not had any side effects or symptoms so far.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, and it works differently than traditional vaccines. Instead of putting an inactive germ into our bodies, it teaches cells how to create a protein. The protein then causes an immune response that will produce antibodies and prevent us from getting sick

With school shut down since March, he hopes that the vaccine trials will be successful for teens.

“Everyone wants to go back to school, and everyone is struggling,” he said. “So everyone getting the vaccine gets life back to normal sooner.”

Reporting by Alan Schaeffer

#bhsbearwitness #covid19vacccine

From its opening chords, Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit

From its opening chords, Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit “All I Want for Christmas is You” has dominated the Christmas music charts unlike any modern holiday song since. In the 26 years since its debut, it has smashed records, even last year hitting the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with an updated rerelease.

The song's fast beat and romantic spirit make it almost impossible to not sing along when the song comes on.

Similar to Carey’s holiday tune is "Last Christmas” by Wham! Both songs are about being hopelessly in love with someone during the holidays and wanting to be with them.

The appeal of these songs can be found in their messages, these songs are about people being the most important thing during the holidays and not material objects such as gifts. The songs both have catchy choruses that play on repeat in your mind hours after listening to them.

The songs have become part of Christmas itself. While decorating gifts or wrapping presents, you can still have "All I Want for Christmas is You” playing in the background. It captures the meaning of the holidays, which is being with your loved ones.

The real question is whether another song can top Carey’s Christmas staple, or if it will remain a permanent fixture on holiday playlists for years to come.

We share some facts on the top five most-streamed Christmas songs.

Reporting by Andelina Miller

#bhsbearwitness #christmastunes #alliwantforchristmasisyou

Senior Jackie Monroy’s mom, Martha Castillo, mak

Senior Jackie Monroy’s mom, Martha Castillo, makes beautiful cakes and baked goods — from the playful and colorful for kids’ birthdays to the elegant and refined.

Castillo does not have an online storefront yet (Monroy says she will set up a Facebook page for Martha’s Cakes and Blossoms soon), but her reputation is spreading through word-of-mouth. She currently takes orders from her cell phone, which the Bear Witness is sharing with permission: (650) 274-3347.

Though business usually picks up during the holiday season, Castillo’s cookware hasn’t been able to keep up. Monroy wished for an commercial-grade KitchenAid mixer for her mom, who she says works tirelessly for her family. At last week’s small gathering outside the ASB offices, she got her wish granted, along with flowers and baking supplies.

There was another surprise, as Monroy’s friend, senior Esmerelda Villatoro, also wished for Monroy to be recognized for their close friendship.

“She doesn’t get the appreciation that she deserves because she’s someone I find really inspiring -- even on her worst days she will put on the biggest smiles and bring joy to others.”

Monroy said she is grateful for the support from the Branham community, especially for her mom, who has brought baked goods to Monroy’s teachers in the past.

“I never expected anything like this to happen to me,” she said. “I was caught by surprise.”

Reporting and photos by Jazzy Nguyen

Additional photos courtesy of Jackie Monroy.

#bhsbearwitness #winterwishes

Finals are important, but taking care of your ment

Finals are important, but taking care of your mental health is even more so. Not doing so can lead to several negative effects such as a burnout or breakdown.

Branham social worker Kevin Nguyen has been helping students and staff manage stress this semester, and said that, especially during a pandemic and with the school shutdown, we all need to give themselves a little bit of grace if things don’t go as planned.

“Do what you need to do to take care of yourself,” he said, “so you can be resilient and roll with whatever comes at you and be able to deal with it more healthfully … and not break down.”

We look at some of the science behind the factors of stress as well as provide some tips. Good luck on your finals!

Reporting by Jocelyn Shepherd

#bhsbearwitness #finals

Think before you post! In today’s installment wi

Think before you post! In today’s installment with College and Career Specialist Patricia Perez, we share some ways that colleges and employers are utilizing social media to help them decide whether they want you to join their team. Plus, CSU and some UC deadlines are today! Good luck on your finals! You’ve got this.

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