An introduction to Thacher's gun range Thacher, founded on a distinctly western ranching culture, is known for its many unique outdoor programs, one of which is its on-campus shooting range. Located between the barns and perimeter road up by facilities, the range is not noticeable at first glance, but is close enough for the Sunday-afternoon … Continue reading Exploring Thacher’s Gun Range: Why a Systematic Approach is Needed
Thacher’s website deems the school’s advising system as “the bedrock” of its educational methodology. It continues by acknowledging the important role that an academic advisor plays in a Thacher student’s life. What it fails to express is the impact that advisory groups have on students throughout their time at Thacher. According to Thacher students via … Continue reading OPINION: Bathrooms Aren’t Enough: Why All-Gender Advisories Are A Step In The Right Direction
Thacher, and boarding schools in general, attract a certain type of student– ones who love to challenge themselves, try new things, and take advantage of all opportunities available. Thacher itself acknowledges its rigorous curriculum and programming. The School’s website highlights the “challenging academic program with profound lessons learned from the care of a horse, regular … Continue reading OPINION: Can Students Do It All?
Matthew Balano, May 2022 Matthew Balano, Thacher’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Director, recently announced his departure after five years at Thacher. In addition to serving as the school’s first DEI Director, Balano has also served as the Assistant Dean of Students and as an English teacher. Through his work, Balano has inspired students to … Continue reading The Legacy He Leaves Behind: A Farewell to Mr. Balano
Imagine if 21 new students suddenly appeared on Thacher’s campus, arriving in various states of distress. They have just lost everything they own, including their houses, and perhaps witnessed the deaths of loved ones in acts of terrible violence. The Thacher community would take them in, but, of course this would require a lot of … Continue reading Putting the Ukraine Refugee Crisis Into Perspective
Some reflections on friendship, and just a reminder to hold those you love close 🙂 - Keira ❤
At a time when many parents and GOP legislators, including families at prestigious independent schools like New York City’s Dalton School, are clamping down on efforts to educate students about racism, Thacher is doubling down on its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. Matt Balano, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has encouraged many transformations to … Continue reading 2021-2022: Doubling Down on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Ever-changing and nuanced, languages live, evolve, and die as society reshapes. Though easily overlooked, one such death is currently taking place at Thacher. The Latin program is slowly but surely fading away. Since the 2020-2021 school year, Thacher no longer allows incoming students to choose Latin I as a course option. Last year, Latin I … Continue reading OPINION: Resquiescat In Pace—With the Latin Program, Inclusive Opportunities and Safe-Spaces Die
If you walk into the new GATES building bathroom, you may notice a big gray box attached to the wall containing rows of red and white packaging. Those boxes are Aunt Flow menstrual product dispensers. During the 2021-2022 winter break, they were installed in Casa, Middle School, and The Hill/Sespe dorms. These dispensers were first … Continue reading Free Menstrual Product Dispensers in the GATES Highlight Period Equity
Since the initial COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in March 2020, being at school has changed. There are mask mandates in place and testing is occurring regularly to check for the virus. However, this is not the first time Thacher has dealt with a global pandemic. One hundred years earlier, Thacher faced the 1918 Great Influenza pandemic. … Continue reading Tale of Two Pandemics
Eliza Goodyear '22 is a student in Mr. Carney’s Honors Contemporary Ethical Issues class. She shares her class' experience on what they’ve been doing in and outside the classroom. To kick off the final month of the winter term, the Honors Contemporary Ethical Issues class ventured beyond campus to the Ojai Farmers Market on Sunday, … Continue reading Voices from the Classroom: Thacher Ethics Talks COVID-19
Hey, you! Stop thinking that you are not enough or that you are not perfect so you do not deserve to be loved. To be honest, imperfections are what makes someone whole, and what makes someone interesting. If everyone's "perfect," there wouldn't be growth and bonding and fun! You're flawed, but you are also beautiful. - Keira ❤
Thacher’s security and surveillance systems are not likely to be common topics of discussion, but they are also not veiled in secrecy. At the gate, welcoming everyone to campus is a sign notifying of cameras in use. At select hours, a security guard, equipped with a Thacher suburban, sits parked within view of the same … Continue reading Smile, You’re On Camera: Security on Campus
Dino is back!! This episode is a reflection to the vibes I've been feeling since school started again. I guess I am feeling a lot of fear in terms of the future; I constantly feel like I'm not enough or I am making the wrong decisions. Sometimes, these feelings trap me in a sadness sinkhole and stop me from appreciating the present. This comic is a reminder for myself that it's time to reset, maybe with the help of Ojai mountains and an orange-blossom flavored breeze~ - Keira
A quick, humorous glimpse into how campus attitudes surrounding Covid-19 have evolved since 2020.
If you bring up elections, college admissions or your New Year's resolutions, chances are, people will slowly back away from the conversation, citing the need to "walk their fish" or some other equally valid excuse. I'm only going to attempt to tackle one of these issues here; election systems at Thacher are flawed, and unless … Continue reading OPINION: No Surface-Level Fixes Here: The Case for a Total Overhaul of Thacher’s Election Systems
Here's a short comic to conclude 2021 and celebrate the new years!!! I hope everyone'll have a great new years eve and wonderful start to 2022 <33 Much love! - Keira
Since moving into their new home next to the Los Padres dorm last school year, Thacher’s current flock of 22 chickens has avoided routine loss due to predation. However, with their unprecedented longevity, a new, pressing question arises—what do we do with the chickens once they stop laying eggs? “[The chicken] is a food animal. … Continue reading A Safer Coop Brings New Concern for Chickens
Curious about my family’s roots, I visited a remote region of China where minority Uighurs celebrated and laughed despite repression and a pandemic. Originally published on News Decoder November 29, 2021. Uighur Women in Procession at Sunrise, Kashgar, July 2021 (All photos by Li Keira Yin) I took these photos on a visit earlier this … Continue reading I saw Uighurs sharing music & laughing — amid much pain
The Los Padres National Forest has been victim to many destructive fires. The national forest spans 1.75 million acres in central and southern California and is at risk yet again of being the center of another massive wildfire. According to Fire in Our Region, “over 56 percent of the Los Padres National Forest has burned … Continue reading A Reminder of the Looming Threat of Fire in Our Backyard
With Thacher’s Environmental Action Committee striving to help create a sustainable and environmentally conscious campus, an addition of a water conservation branch will only benefit the cause. Currently run by senior Cyrus Leung, along with juniors, Ali Bennett, and myself, Petra Stoilkovich, this subcommittee of the EAC, officially named Project 1.5, plans to help make … Continue reading OPINION: Conservation at Thacher: Project 1.5
While the pig program is not a facet of most Thacher students’ everyday lives, almost every Thacher student has passed by the pig pens on their way to the Gymkhana field or voted on their names. Many have also enjoyed eating pulled pork from the pigs at the annual end of year BBQ. However, few … Continue reading Feature: The Pig Program
Jake Conway, Thacher’s newest member of the History Department, has followed an unusual career path. From his first post-college job working in a call center at Google, to doing business development for one of the largest digital payment companies in the U.S., Conway's life motto and John Evelyn quote ‘explore everything; keep the best’ has … Continue reading New Faculty Interview: Mr. Conway
Even when I feel sadness welling up my throat, I am so used to suppressing my tears, especially if I'm surrounded by others. Hiding behind screens and fake smiles, I so often fear being vulnerable with myself and around others. At times, I find it easier to numb my feelings, because dealing with them through a proper crying sesh or a five mile run takes way too much time. After all, at Thacher, the luxury of time to destress is something none of us really have. This is a daily dilemma that I'm sure many of you confront, too. I guess this week, I'm hoping to use this space for the purpose of reminding you (and myself simultaneously) that crying and letting that gush of emotion out WILL make you happier and healthier sometimes! Vulnerability is not shameful. - Keira Yin
Following Fall Family Weekend and a massive win from the football team, Thacher’s annual Club Fair on October 28th brought students of all grades down to the Dining Hall patio to learn about potential involvement with student-led groups. The event, organized by Associate Director of Student Life, Raul Soto, was a great success, with many … Continue reading New School Year Kicks Off With Annual Club Fair
This fall, a new dorm head stepped into running one of the 9th grade dorms. After working as Director of Health Services for a year, Mr. Robinson took on the additional position of Lower School Dorm Head this September. “There was something so beautiful with being able to help a whole class of new individuals,” … Continue reading Shift in Ninth Grade Dorm Culture Under New Leadership
For a while, I couldn't stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in my appearance. These were often details that were minor and couldn't be seen by others. I would open my camera or stand in front of the mirror, but I wouldn't like what I saw. Living in an age rife with peer-comparison on social media and diet culture, I think these feelings are shared by many around me. This comic, as a dose of positivity, hopes to help you (the reader) fight these negative perceptions you may have about yourself. Remember, whoever you are and however you look, you are beautiful and enough!! - Keira Yin
Governor Gavin Newsom took office in a landslide victory in the 2018 California gubernatorial election. While the Newsom team expected to prepare for reelection in four years, they quickly had to adjust their focus to combat a recall referendum last September. The recall effort gained momentum last year over allegations that Newsom mishandled the state … Continue reading Is Ten Percent Democracy?
Sarah Schorn, Thacher’s new Director of Student Life, spent her summer redesigning Thacher’s policies surrounding sexual misconduct following the release of the Munger, Tolles & Olson (MTO) report on June 16. After dozens of stories detailing sexual misconduct at Thacher were shared publicly via social media, the Board of Trustees commissioned MTO to investigate the … Continue reading Thacher Introduces a New System for Reporting Sexual Misconduct Anonymously
When buying new sheets, tissues, shirts, or chairs, buy bamboo products instead! They are great for the environment and support sustainable businesses. Thanks for reading! - Robinson Tong
If you've been in the Gates Building recently, you may have noticed an uptick in loose trash-- perhaps an abandoned CLIF bar wrapper strewn about the sofa booths, or a forgotten Yerba Mate can beside the glossy sliding whiteboards. “There are no communal trash cans around inside buildings, which is a problem,” 12th grader Ethan … Continue reading Fewer Trash Cans Are Part of Facilities’ School-Wide Effort to Increase Efficiency
Amikaeyla Gaston serves as a Cultural Arts Ambassador for the State Department, traveling worldwide using her musical gift for restorative healing with political refugees, war survivors, and jeopardized populations. Founder and Executive Director for The International Cultural Arts and Healing Sciences Institute (ICAHSI) and President of the Board of Directors for World Trust Educational Services, … Continue reading Q&A with Anacapa Scholar Amikaeyla Gaston
Before we dive into The Notes’ regular publishing schedule and usual topics of coverage, we want to address what may be the most important news to come out of our community in a number of years. We are referring to the Thacher Special Committee Report, which thrust our school into the limelight and our community … Continue reading Letter From The Editors: Statement On MTO Report
In light of the murder of the Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s Turkey consulate, questions regarding the journalist’s death and its impacts on US-Saudi relations have captured the headlines of nearly every major news source. What has grabbed my attention the most, however, has been a question that I find profoundly relevant … Continue reading Journalism with Consequences
Toads Talk is a new series focused on allowing students to anonymously express themselves without a name attached to the weight of their stories. If you relate to any of the stories we publish, please know that you have people to reach out to on campus.
By Imani Butts '26 Jackson Howard CdeP ‘12, is an accomplished writer and editor, publishing his work across a wide range of media outlets including The New York Times Magazine, and Rolling Stone. He has also accumulated an impressive list of accolades, including a recent feature in New York Magazine’s Power Issue, and being named … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight Interview: Jackson Howard
By Catherine Galvez '25 2023 has been a year of many new discoveries that have helped with our technological advancements and given insight into what has happened in our past. Highlighted here are the top discoveries from each month, and how they have helped in advancing our planet and society. JANUARY In January of this … Continue reading Biggest Science Discoveries from Each Month
By Brian "Marty" Valdez '24 At a recent assembly, the Turtle Club officially introduced Manci Rasmussen to the Thacher community. Rasmussen, however, is no stranger to Thacher. As the Head of Education for the Turtle Conservancy [TC], Rasmussen has collaborated with Thacher’s field biology classes for the past 5 years. Sharing her profound experience in … Continue reading Our Bridge Between the Turtle Conservancy and Thacher -Manci Rasmussen
By Jay Jiang On October 6th, 2023, Jeff Hooper was officially appointed as Thacher’s new Head of School. Hooper first came to Thacher in 2002 and has since become an integral part of the school community for 21 years, taking on roles as both a football coach and a full-time classroom teacher in Spanish, History, … Continue reading A Glimpse into Leadership: An Interview with our New Head of School
By Carol Yue Ami Robinson is a notable addition to the Thacher community this academic year, where she instructs field biology and IS2 classes. In addition to teaching, she is also a sophomore advisor, a passionate rock climbing coach, and a firm believer in having dessert every night. Robinson first heard of Thacher from her … Continue reading New Faculty Spotlight: Ami Robinson
By Leigh Harned and Catherine Feira A recent addition to Thacher’s faculty team, Cam Spaulding has already become involved with many aspects of the community in the short time that he has been here. As a teacher, Spaulding is teaching two senior English electives: “Magic in Service of Truth” and “Perspectives on Nature.” He is … Continue reading New Faculty Spotlight: Cam Spaulding!
By Jake Lim Edgar Arceo is a new faculty member who returned to Thacher this year after teaching at other boarding schools and various graduate programs. His expertise in education is shown in his past educational career, both as a student and a teacher. In an interview with The Notes, he talks about his life … Continue reading Edgar Arceo Recounts his Journey Back to Thacher
By Imani Butts Todd Meyer is a new faculty member in Thacher’s Mathematics Department, teaching Robotics and Computer Science. Although Meyer is new to teaching at Thacher, he is certainly not new to the Thacher community. Both his parents, Kurt and Alice Meyer, were long-time Thacher teachers and highly involved in various aspects of Thacher’s … Continue reading New Faculty Spotlight Interview: Todd Meyer
By Catherine Galvez Ms. Gregory, coming to us from Austin, Texas is one of our new history teachers, teaching 11th Grade U.S. Honors History. While she is a newer member of our community, she has had connections to Thacher since 2011 when her sister, Anne Gregory (Associate Director of Admissions), first started as a student … Continue reading Ms. Gregory – New Faculty Spotlight
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