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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

Since 2013, MVHS has declined over 1000 students, at a current school population of 1573 students total Graphic | Gilijoon

MVHS reaches a record low student population of 1,573 — 42 below prediction

MVHS’ increasingly small student population and its potential effects on our campus
Lucas Liu and Giljoon Lee
September 25, 2025
Students will no longer be able to freely access cell phones in class as part of California’s Assembly Bill 3216. Graphics courtesy of Canva | Photo illustration by Kate Yang

FUHSD instates new “off and away” policy

The policy is built to encourage student focus and learning
“Lilo & Stitch” is a decent standalone movie with entertaining characters, visually pleasing sets and a fast-paced plot, but it falls short of the original animated movie and makes unnecessary, downgrading modifications. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

‘Lilo & Stitch’ is enjoyable, but has a few sloppy stitches

The fun live action adaptation is enjoyable yet unfaithful to the original
Giljoon Lee and Ellie Wang
June 2, 2025
Jin reminisces about a past lover in the music video for “Don't Say You Love Me.” Photo courtesy of Big Hit Music

Jin is lost and incohesive on ‘Echo’

The BTS member’s solo EP is an uneven collection of songs with standout moments, but are mostly mediocre and sometimes bad
Giljoon Lee
May 28, 2025
Graphic | Vaishnavi Katukam

In Review: Volume 7, 2025

El Estoque’s staff review recently released media, ranging from Ken Carson's surprise release to Maroon 5’s latest single
ATU Local 265 members, who are employed by VTA, went on strike for 17 days, disrupting community members’ commutes. Source images courtesy of Pexels. Photo illustration | Giljoon Lee

ATU Local 265 strike halts VTA services amid contract dispute

A court ruling ends the strike before the Amalgamated Transit Union and VTA come to an agreement, ruling is upheld against April 11 appeal
Giljoon Lee and Varun Singh
April 21, 2025

From pixels to prose

Contemporary Literature teacher Jessica Kaufman experiments with implementing video games into her classroom
Sophia D’Sa and Giljoon Lee
April 11, 2025
McRae’s third album, “So Close to What,” is incoherent and bloated despite the strength of select individual songs. Photo courtesy of RCA Records | Used with permission

Tate McRae’s ‘So Close to What’ is so close to incoherence

The rising star’s album is overstuffed with hopeful pop hits that pay no regard to its tracklist
Giljoon Lee
February 28, 2025
Alum Tyler Rose co-founded the AI startup Bindwell, which has been accepted into Y Combinator’s Winter 2025 cohort. Photo | Giljoon Lee

Company founded by MVHS alum Tyler Rose ’25 is accepted into Y Combinator

Tyler Rose and Navvye Anand are co-founders of Bindwell, a company that develops AI models to help engineer pesticides, and are working to grow their buisness.
Vaishnavi Katukam and Giljoon Lee
January 13, 2025
Giljoon Lee and Kate Yang discuss the negative impact of AI on this year's Spotify Wrapped. Graphic | Kate Yang

Wrapping music with AI

Reliance on AI has sucked the soul out of “niche” remnants of the long-awaited Spotify Wrapped
Giljoon Lee and Kate Yang
December 22, 2024
PTSA grants enabled MV teachers and clubs to pursue projects and purchase needed resources. Photo illustration | Katrina Lin

MV PTSA awards classes and clubs mini grants to supplement curriculum

Science Olympiad, World Literature and La Pluma receive money to fund books, print magazines and essential prototype building materials
Giljoon Lee and Katrina Lin
November 24, 2024
Lead Ravi Kumar and volunteer Gretchen Schwartz pose for a photo in front of the Cupertino Library vote center. Photo | Vaishnavi Katukam

Poll workers at the Cupertino Vote Center work to ensure an efficient voting process

Leads, Aides and Volunteers serve their community at the Cupertino Library 11-Day Vote Center, by assisting voters through the voting process, leading up to the election
Vaishnavi Katukam, Giljoon Lee, and Kate Yang
November 11, 2024
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