The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

Kalyani Puthenpurayil

Kalyani Puthenpurayil, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Kalyani is currently a senior and a co-editor-in-chief for El Estoque. She previously served as a sports editor and is a midfielder on the field hockey team at MVHS. In her free time, she likes to read, listen to music and spend time with her little brothers and friends.

All content by Kalyani Puthenpurayil
Dismantling the history behind De Anza’s name

Dismantling the history behind De Anza’s name

Examining opinions on renaming De Anza College due to controversy behind namesake
Liz Liu, Kalyani Puthenpurayil, and Lindsey Tang
December 2, 2023
Junior Davina Huang swims in freestyle during a meet.

Junior Juggernaut: Davina Huang

Diving into Huang’s competitive swim journey and commitment to Harvard
Kalyani Puthenpurayil and Arushi Singh
November 9, 2023
Transgender student athletes participate in a variety of sports at MVHS.

Transgender student athletes

Looking into the experiences of athletes who identify as transgender at MVHS
Dripped out

Dripped out

Looking into what athletes wear during games and practices
Kalyani Puthenpurayil
November 3, 2023

Beyond the numbers

Schools should not be ranked solely by their academic achievements
Athletic trainer Myesha Taylor treats a player after they received an injury during a game.

On the move

Exploring how the athletic trainer is growing into her role at MVHS
Kalyani Puthenpurayil
October 18, 2023
Hi Barbie!

Hi Barbie!

Exploring social media’s impact on women empowerment themes in the summer hit “Barbie”
Senior Celine He performs in Varsity Winter Guards 2023 show, The Moment We Never Met.

Time out! Ep.7: Celine He

Examining senior Celine He’s return to Color Guard during her senior year
Committed!

Committed!

Exploring the journeys of three college recruits for their respective sports
Senior Chetnaa Prasad is batting in a cricket game. She is a member of the USA Women’s National and Womens National Under 19 Training groups.

Carrying the bat

Exploring how the MVHS community is involved in the world’s second largest sport — cricket
Kalyani Puthenpurayil
April 26, 2023
The PORTALS album cover features Melanie Martinez portrayed as a pink character, the newest role she has taken on in Cry Babys evolution.

Melanie Martinez enters a new era in ‘PORTALS’

The alt-pop singer unleashes artistry via lyrics and themes in her third studio album
Junior Siena Banks pitches the ball during the fifth and final inning.

Softball beats Lynbrook High School 24-3 in a blowout

The Matadors maintain a strong lead for the entirety of the game to secure a win
Kalyani Puthenpurayil
March 24, 2023
Hair holds varying significance for these six students, from being an extension of their personality to a characteristic that others like to point out.

Hair down

Exploring the stories behind students' hair
Junior Rahul Pothineni passes the ball to a teammate.

Boys Volleyball loses to The Harker School in its first home game of the season

Matadors tried to hold out to a fifth set but lost after ending the fourth set 25-23
Lauren Chuu and Kalyani Puthenpurayil
March 19, 2023
Out of line

Out of line

Exploring how anger, sadness and loss can cause the lines of respect to disappear in the heat of the game
Clumps of snow were spotted at Saratoga Quarry Park.

Freeze warning in effect amid snow and rain

San Francisco Bay Area sees significant snowfall for the first time in several decades
Different athletes and coaches have different philosophies surrounding swearing, but when it becomes disrespectful or unnecessary, athletes tend to face consequences.

Crossing the line

Exploring the effects of swearing in sports
Kalyani Puthenpurayil and Mira Wagner
February 17, 2023

Man on the street: Arm Wrestling

Challenging students to arm wrestling matches throughout the campus
Junior and center forward Sophia Lu maneuvers past the opposition in an attempt to shoot the ball.

Girls Basketball defeats Leland High School 69-42

Matadors maintain their lead throughout the game
Sportswashing covers up and erases the problems faced by the country.

More than just a game

How sportswashing came into play at the World Cup
The 2022 World Cup, hosted in Qatar, has attracted a large number of soccer fans from around the world and is considered one of the most widely viewed sporting events globally this year.

Now is all

Looking into students reactions to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Kalyani Puthenpurayil and Lillian Wang
December 21, 2022
Senior Diya Balakrishnan dribbles the ball around a BHS defender during the second half to advance up the field. Photo by Kalyani Puthenpurayil

Girls Soccer loses to Branham High School 1-0 in its first home game

Matadors attribute defeat to communication and incomplete passes
Lauren Chuu and Kalyani Puthenpurayil
November 25, 2022
An illustrative graphic of a tampon kicking a soccer ball.

Playing the period game

Athletes explain the impact of menstruation on their sports
Jami Lim and Kalyani Puthenpurayil
November 12, 2022
Junior Hamza Moharram goes in for a tackle in the beginning of the first quarter.

Football dominates Lynbrook High School 42-0 in its Homecoming game

Matadors start off strong and maintain their winning streak throughout the game
A drone shot of Orange Avenue pictures the newly constructed sidewalk. Photo by Alexander Chu

A new path to school

Sidewalk installations aim to promote student safety and walking to school
Megha Mummaneni and Kalyani Puthenpurayil
October 14, 2022
Senior Aashna Patel adds a star to the wall of field hockey‘s space-themed team room. Photo by

[Photo] All decked out

October 13, 2022
Senior Krupa Shanware serves the ball to start a rally.

Girls Volleyball loses to Mountain View High School 3-2

Matadors experience a loss of momentum after winning first two sets
Lauren Chuu and Kalyani Puthenpurayil
September 24, 2022
Senior Andrew Cole runs down the track during a track meet.

Powering through practice

Looking at how different athletes train for their sports
Facing phobias

Facing phobias

Exploring irrational fears that students have
The players celebrate after winning their first home game in straight sets against Homestead High School, not knowing that they would be facing HHS again for the Division I CCS Championship.

Fight like hell

Exploring Boys Volleyball’s journey to the Division II NorCal Playoffs
Kalyani Puthenpurayil
May 25, 2022
Trashing Our School

Trashing Our School

Exploring the different ways trash affects the MVHS community
The Local Road Safety Plan targets to reduce fatalities and severe injuries for all types of commuters, including bikers, drivers and pedestrians.

Paving the way for safer roads

Exploring how Cupertino is working towards creating a Local Road Safety Plan
Kalyani Puthenpurayil
May 22, 2022
Calling to communicate

Calling to communicate

Exploring how the MVHS community stays connected through voice
Like Sophomore Esther Suh, many individuals utilize messaging platforms to connect with others for reasons ranging from talking to friends and family to work related purposes.

Connected through texting

Exploring the benefits and drawbacks of digital communication
Seniors Arthur Chan, Lance Tong, Neil Weaver, Rishi Dasari and Sudhit Rao pose together with their family members and their gifts.

Boys Volleyball dominates Saratoga High School on senior night

Seniors share their fun moments on the court during their last home game
Kalyani Puthenpurayil
May 2, 2022
Students leave their bikes at the bike racks.

Combating air pollution

Exploring steps students and administrators are taking to reduce MVHS’s carbon footprint
Kalyani Puthenpurayil
April 19, 2022
The price of living in Cupertino

The price of living in Cupertino

Examining how residents interact with the different aspects of housing in Cupertino
The Westport Cupertino construction site shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony.

Implementing affordable housing in Cupertino

Exploring Westport Cupertino and the changes it brings
Junior and captain Lance Fuchia gets ready to smash the birdie over the net. Photo by Anna Jerolimov

Badminton narrowly defeats Cupertino High School 16-14

A tiebreaking match allows MVHS to take the victory
Recapping the mask mandate throughout the pandemic

Recapping the mask mandate throughout the pandemic

The evolution of face coverings as Governor Gavin Newsom announces masks will not be required indoors at schools starting March 12
Sophia Ma and Kalyani Puthenpurayil
March 16, 2022
Senior Lance Tong leaps into the air to tip the ball over the net. Photo by Michelle Zheng

Boys Volleyball beats Homestead High School 3-0 in its first home game

Matadors hope to fulfill their season’s expectations after securing a win for their first league game
French teacher Janissa Zahns pen pals would send photos of themselves and their life in France.

Exchanging Letters

Sharing the handwritten letters that MVHS students, staff and community members have sent and received
As methods of communication such as emailing and calling became more popular in the 1990s, English teacher Shozo Shimazaki remembers thinking that the post office would go out of business, but the letters that people sent across the world remain in our history.

The forgotten art of writing letters

Exploring the impacts of written forms of communication from loved ones
In 2020, Eileen Gu changed the country she was representing from the U.S. to China  when she was 15.

Eileen Gu skis over national and political boundaries

Investigating Olympian Eileen Gu’s decision to represent China
Sarah Liu and Kalyani Puthenpurayil
March 2, 2022
Senior and captain Jasmita Yechuri outruns a CHS opponent in pursuit of the ball.

Girls Soccer defeats Cupertino High School 2-0 on its senior night

Matadors win their final home game of the 2021-22 season
Anna Jerolimov and Kalyani Puthenpurayil
February 13, 2022
Screen-Shot-2022-02-05-at-12.53.10-PM

Laughing Along

February 4, 2022
Juniors Julianna Kimm and Varshini Peddinti guard an opponent from passing the ball to a teammate.

Girls Basketball beats Fremont High School 45-34

Matadors remain undefeated in league with 6-0 record
The team raises senior Remy Haghighi in a celebratory cheer after winning the game against Cupertino High School 4-1.

Boys Soccer defeats Cupertino High School 4-1

Matadors’ intensity allows them to dominate CHS
Anna Jerolimov and Kalyani Puthenpurayil
January 23, 2022
Load More Stories