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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

Stella Petzova

Stella Petzova, Editor-in-Chief

Stella is a senior and co-Editor-in-Chief for El Estoque. She loves doing pull-ups and making salads with unconventional ingredients.

All content by Stella Petzova
Once a matador, always a matador

Once a matador, always a matador

MVHS alumni take on the Olympics, NBA, NFL and more
Junior Suhani Sharma sings the final solo in the concert’s closing song, “Dance in the Graveyards” by Delta Rae. This song exemplifies the concert’s underlying themes of grief and resilience through its lyrics, “When I die, I don't wanna rest in peace / I wanna dance in joy / I wanna dance in the graveyards.” Photo | Stella Petzova

Choir shines in its debut concert

Unique lightning, formations and themes of resilience create a stunning first show of the year
Sophia D’Sa and Stella Petzova
October 15, 2025
There are many techniques and exercises within yoga, rock climbing and calisthenics. Illustration | Stella Petzova

Yoga, rock climbing and calisthenics keep people active

Working out how the community builds strength without weights
Stella Petzova, Editor-in-Chief
October 1, 2025
Fall Sports Kickoff: Part 2

Fall Sports Kickoff: Part 2

Looking into how MVHS teams feel coming into the fall sports season
Fall Sports Kickoff: Part 1

Fall Sports Kickoff: Part 1

Looking into how MVHS teams feel coming into the fall sport season
"Pride Puppy," "Love, Violet" and "Prince & Knight" are three of the books that caused parents to withdraw their children from lessons in Maryland schools, leading to the Supreme Court ruling. Illustration | Stella Petzova

Supreme Court rules for LGBTQ+ book opt-outs

The ruling contradicts FUHSD’s opt-out policy
Emma Ma, Stella Petzova, and Divina Raina-Pandita
September 3, 2025
Junior Gillie Ross prepares to throw shot put. Photo courtesy of Gillie Ross | Used with permission

Time Out! Ep. 36: Gillie Ross

Gillie Ross discusses her discus and shot put career
Jonah Chang and Stella Petzova
June 6, 2025
Students affiliated with MVHS Model U.N. accessed unsecured classrooms and stole test materials during the South Bay MUN conference, prompting concerns over academic integrity and school security. Graphic | Yixuan (Joyce) Li, Zaid Naqvi and Canva

Testing theft

Students photograph and take copies of science tests at Model U.N. conference
Columbia students and faculty protest for academic free speech in the main quad. John Angelillo | Used with permission

Deportation and defunding threats silence student activists’ voices

Addressing the ongoing threat towards the First Amendment rights stripped from non-citizen student activists
Meghna Dixit and Stella Petzova
April 10, 2025
Members of El Estoque and El Valedor pose in front of Columbia University's Low Library. Photo courtesy of Rod Satterthwaite | Used with permission

El Estoque wins top national journalism accolade

Columbia Scholastic Press Association awards El Estoque with highest honor
Stella Petzova, News Editor
April 1, 2025
Take our February News Quiz

Take our February News Quiz

Test your knowledge of key events last month
Zaid Naqvi and Stella Petzova
March 9, 2025
The Department of Education announced that Title IX would be reverted back to a 2020 version on Jan. 31. Illustration | Stella Petzova

Department of Education reverses Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students

The MVHS community reflects on LGBTQ+ safety following the reversal of Title IX protections
Meghna Dixit and Stella Petzova
March 9, 2025
El Estoque adviser and MVHS journalism teacher Julia Satterthwaite addresses her journalism students. Photo by Aric Crabb | Used with permission

Journalism teacher Julia Satterthwaite wins the 2025 National High School Journalism Adviser of the Year

Columbia Scholastic Press Association awards El Estoque adviser with the national honor
Meghna Dixit and Stella Petzova
February 25, 2025
Choir teacher Lofn Young does vocal warm-ups with their students. Photo | Stella Petzova

Course selection threatens the existence of low-demand electives

During course selection season, low-demand arts electives face difficulties with incoming Proposition 28 funding
Jonah Chang, Stella Petzova, and Eric Zhou
February 1, 2025
Take our January News Quiz

Take our January News Quiz

Test your knowledge of key events last month
Stella Petzova and Kate Yang
February 1, 2025
Puberty blockers are banned on ideological and medical grounds. Illustration | Stella Petzova

Gender-affirming care is restricted in America

Bans on puberty blockers raise medical, political and moral dilemmas
Stella Petzova, News Editor
January 25, 2025
Gymnasts face toxicity in the pursuit of mastery

Gymnasts face toxicity in the pursuit of mastery

MVHS artistic gymnasts discuss the demanding nature of their sport
Stella Petzova, News Editor
December 25, 2024
Take our November news quiz

Take our November news quiz

Test your knowledge of key events last month
Stella Petzova, News Editor
December 6, 2024
More Native Americans are on the ballot than ever before. Photo illustration | Stella Petzova

Uptick in Native American representation in election campaigns paves an inclusive path forward

Native Americans share the importance of increased representation in politics
Kathryn Foo and Stella Petzova
November 27, 2024
Photo illustration | Stella Petzova

Election 2024

Examining the impact of local, statewide and national elections on the MVHS community
NBC investigative reporter Bigad Shaban and San Francisco State University Journalism Professor Laura Moorhead address high school journalism students from across the Bay Area.

Commonwealth Club hosts journalism conference

MVHS journalism department staff travel to San Francisco to attend an educational reporting program
Isabelle Kok and Stella Petzova
November 3, 2024
Sam Liccardo (left) and Evan Low (right) are running to represent California's 16th District.

Democrats run for Congress in California’s 16th District

Sam Liccardo and Evan Low are running to represent Silicon Valley
Stella Petzova and Aprameya Rupanagunta
October 26, 2024
Algorithms play a role in steering radical-leaning people towards extremes. Photo Illustration | Stella Petzova

Steered to extremes

The MVHS community and experts discuss the drawbacks and solutions to online radicalization
Ethan Kellogg and Stella Petzova
October 25, 2024
A fire truck parks outside the main entrance following a false fire alarm.

False fire alarm leads to evacuation

A fire alarm was triggered during Tutorial on Monday
Stella Petzova, News Editor
October 21, 2024
Seniors Michelle Dong and Katie Wang watch the sunrise together. Participants of Senior Sunrise often attended and watched the sunrise with their group of friends

The sun rises on the class of 2025

Seniors celebrate the beginning of their last year of high school
Giljoon Lee and Stella Petzova
August 24, 2024

MVHS’ best friend

MVHS students share the roles that their pets have played in their lives
MVHS math teacher Josh Kuo is awarded his high school diploma | Photo courtesy of Josh Kuo | Used with permission

Language barriers

ESL community members explain the academic difficulties that come with immigration
Jami Lim and Stella Petzova
June 2, 2024
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[Photo] Baseball

May 25, 2024
A life-saving spray

A life-saving spray

Taking a look into essential information on Narcan and its role in combating opioid overdoses
Giljoon Lee and Stella Petzova
May 23, 2024
Sophomore Avyan Mahajan dives for the ball at a baseball game. Photo courtesy of Avyan Mahajan

Time Out! Ep. 21: Avyan Mahajan

Avyan Mahajan talks about his journey in baseball
Law enforcement leaves campus after giving the all-clear at 8:24 a.m. for school to resume. Photo | Stella Petzova

Shelter-in-place held following shooting threat phone call

MVHS students and staff shelter-in-place before school
Stella Petzova and Aashi Venkat
April 24, 2024
Syzygy refers to the opposition between two objects, such as the sun and moon | Sonia Verma

La Pluma: Syzygy

Members share their works in La Pluma’s fall issue “Syzygy”
Stella Petzova and Benjamin Zhang
April 13, 2024
The phrase "women ☕" is often used to bash women on the internet. Photo illustration | Stella Petzova

Women detected, opinion rejected

Deconstructing misogyny on the internet and in the media
Stella Petzova
April 4, 2024
A potential eight-period schedule will not be put into effect in the 2024-25 school year.

New year, same schedule

FUHSD decides not to implement an alternative schedule in the 24-25 school year
Isabelle Kok and Stella Petzova
March 7, 2024
Students often use food and small purchases to motivate themselves to work, such as snacks and drinks. Illustration | Stella Petzova

Treat yourself

Buying small treats for self-motivation can have large impacts
Jillian Ju and Stella Petzova
March 7, 2024
Senior Samhita Kashyap transferred to MVHS her sophomore year after deliberating between multiple bay area high schools, convinced by its reputation of strong academics.

New kid syndrome

Transfer students address obstacles posed by a rigid culture at MVHS
Jami Lim and Stella Petzova
February 2, 2024
Cases of real-life tragedy are turned into true crime content.

Tragedy to television

Students and staff share their controversies with the true crime fascination
Ananya Chaudhary and Stella Petzova
January 26, 2024
2023 Year in-review

2023 Year in-review

El Estoque's Art & Entertainment section reviews popular media from 2023
Ananya Chaudhary and Stella Petzova
January 24, 2024
Many MVHS students use Pinterest to find inspiration for their aesthetic styles.

Picture perfect

Exploring how media influences MVHS students’ aesthetics
Sarah Liu and Stella Petzova
December 9, 2023
Junior and outside back Erin Handlesman arches her leg back to take a powerful shot at the soccer ball downfield.

Girls Soccer ties The King’s Academy 0-0

The Matadors draw with TKA despite multiple injuries
Daphne Huang, Liz Liu, and Stella Petzova
December 2, 2023
The FUHSD Board of Trustees holds a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Balanced voices

Examining the effects of FUHSD election system changes on MVHS
Jason Chu, Lauren Chuu, and Stella Petzova
September 28, 2023
MVHS facilities staff are taking steps to address the ant infestations MVHS has dealt with for years.

Getting antsy

Examining how ant infestations affect MVHS students and faculty
Stella Petzova and Alyssa Yang
September 24, 2023
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