The Student News Site of Saint Francis High School

The Lancer
TEDxSaintFrancisHS co-directors Anna Fazioli (’25), Riley Clarke (’25), and Aarav Sontakke (’25) opening the event.
Ideas change everything: behind the scenes of TEDxSaintFrancisHS 2025
Service club members show off their hard work.
Lancers for a clean cause: Service Club’s hygiene kit drive
Ms. Amy Sherrard poses in front of Andre House.
Teacher Feature: Ms. Amy Sherrard
Mr. Don Carroll smiles in front of the Andre House.
Teacher Feature: Mr. Don Carroll
A couple dancing at the La La Land-themed Junior Prom.
A Lancer’s night in La La Land
Ms. Amy Sherrard poses in front of Andre House.
Teacher Feature: Ms. Amy Sherrard
Mr. Don Carroll smiles in front of the Andre House.
Teacher Feature: Mr. Don Carroll
Mr. Meulman smiles for a photo in front of the Andre House.
Teacher Feature: Mr. Todd Meulman
Mr. Nethercott stands in front of the Andre House.
Teacher Feature: Mr. Cade Nethercott
Mr. David Cobb stands in front of the Andre House for a photo.
Teacher Feature: Mr. David Cobb
Photo courtesy of Holy Cross of San Antonio student Leena Garcia (’26). Holy Cross students and rivals playing in a volleyball game.
Writer Swap: a Catholic school’s journey of faith and community
An artistic depiction of San Juan Diego's newspaper, Saintly Headlines.
Writer Swap: on starting a newspaper and the dying passion for writing
Photo courtesy of Holy Cross of San Antonio student Leena Garcia (’26). Holy Cross students pose for a photo in their student section, Section Ñ, before a football game.
Writer Swap: building family through community and culture
The author, San Juan Diego junior Abi Donnelly, working at a floral shop.
Writer Swap: connecting education to industry
Courtesy of SFHS Photo Archive.
All About Alumni: Linda Kao
Photo courtesy of Lizzie Lonergan ('17).
All About Alumni: Lizzie Lonergan
Courtesy of Ms. Michelle Tjin
All About Alumni: Dr. K. Megan McArthur
Photo provided by Brooke Baker ('23).
All About Alumni: Brooke Baker
Photo provided by Ms. Sharon Purcell ('90).
All About Alumni: Ms. Sharon Purcell
The adolescent the “village” fails to raise.
“Adolescence” review
John Green discusses his newest book.
We’re here because we’re here: John Green’s “Everything is Tuberculosis” book tour
Goo Goo Dolls meets Nirvana in this mashup album cover.
Through the Decades: the peak of rock in the 1990s
Woman reveals her fake identity.
Sides of the Same Coin: “She’s the Man” and “Twelfth Night”
Same color, different eras.
Sides of the Same Coin: portrayals of naivety and ego in “Emma” and “Clueless”
Woman reveals her fake identity.
Sides of the Same Coin: “She’s the Man” and “Twelfth Night”
Same color, different eras.
Sides of the Same Coin: portrayals of naivety and ego in “Emma” and “Clueless”
Shakespeare's “Taming of the Shrew” and film, “10 Things I Hate About You.”
Sides of the Same Coin: “10 Things I Hate About You” and “The Taming of the Shrew”
Anya Nandiwada ('25) watches Easy A after classes.
Sides of the Same Coin: “Easy A” & “The Scarlet Letter”
Elizabeth Bennet on the left; Bridget Jones on the right.
Sides of the Same Coin: healthy relationships in “Pride and Prejudice” and “Bridget Jones’ Diary”
Goo Goo Dolls meets Nirvana in this mashup album cover.
Through the Decades: the peak of rock in the 1990s
The Beatles iconic album cover for "Abbey Road."
Through the Decades: the historic music of the 1960s
A compilation of album covers from the 2010s.
Through the Decades: influential pop in the 2010s
David Bowie's iconic lightning bolt makeup.
Through the Decades: exploring rock in the 1970s
Popular music shifted from instruments, such as the trumpet, to vocals.
Through the Decades: the 1940s shift from instruments to vocals
On the Same Page: feminism and dystopia in The Handmaid's Tale
On the Same Page: feminism and dystopia in The Handmaid’s Tale
On the Same Page: depth, detail, and emotion in “Before the Coffee Gets Cold”
On the Same Page: depth, detail, and emotion in “Before the Coffee Gets Cold”
On the Same Page: Did we "fall in love with hope"? Signs point to no.
On the Same Page: Did we “fall in love with hope”? Signs point to no.
On the Same Page: description and dread in "Bunny"
On the Same Page: description and dread in “Bunny”
On the Same Page: retellings and tragedy in "Song of Achilles"
On the Same Page: retellings and tragedy in “Song of Achilles”
Pieces on Pride: "The Ellen Show" and what it means to advocate for human rights
Pieces on Pride: “The Ellen Show” and what it means to advocate for human rights
Pieces on Pride: lackluster detail in “Heartstopper, Volume 5”
Pieces on Pride: lackluster detail in “Heartstopper, Volume 5”
Pieces on Pride: allyship in "You Need to Calm Down"
Pieces on Pride: allyship in “You Need to Calm Down”
Pieces on Pride: coming out in “Happiest Season”
Pieces on Pride: coming out in “Happiest Season”
Pieces on Pride: representation in "Imogen, Obviously"
Pieces on Pride: representation in “Imogen, Obviously”
Rom-Com Reflections: difficult versus obedient women in "10 Things I Hate About You"
Rom-Com Reflections: difficult versus obedient women in “10 Things I Hate About You”
Rom-Com Reflections: college admissions stress in "Prom Pact"
Rom-Com Reflections: college admissions stress in “Prom Pact”
Rom-Com Reflections: casual objectification and toxic relationships in "The Kissing Booth"
Rom-Com Reflections: casual objectification and toxic relationships in “The Kissing Booth”
Rom-Com Reflections: the desperate seek for normality in "First Daughter"
Rom-Com Reflections: the desperate seek for normality in “First Daughter”
Rom-Com Reflections: materialism and shopaholism in "Confessions of a Shopaholic"
Rom-Com Reflections: materialism and shopaholism in “Confessions of a Shopaholic”
A final review with the hosts exchanging snacks.
The Joe Show: the finale
Vegetable fried noodles.
A Walk Down Castro Street: Ox 9 Lanzhou Hand Pulled Noodles
Hi-Chews arranged in a colorful heart.
Taste the rainbow: Hi-Chew edition
Mr. Cannon indulging in margherita pizza.
At the Teacher’s Table: margherita pizza with Mr. Cannon
Brioche French toast.
Darla Cafe: breakfast food served with a side of small-town charm
Mr. Cannon indulging in margherita pizza.
At the Teacher’s Table: margherita pizza with Mr. Cannon
Mr. Foy poses with (literally) roasted ducks.
At the Teacher’s Table: crispy duck with Mr. Foy
Mrs. Vollucci poses with her pork belly carbonara udon.
At the Teacher’s Table: pork belly carbonara udon with Mrs. Joanna Vollucci
Mr. Ikezi poses with his Rice Krispies treat.
At the Teacher’s Table: Rice Krispies treats with Mr. Chihiro Ikezi
Ms. Zhang surrounded by cute pineapple buns.
At the Teacher’s Table: pineapple buns with Ms. Zhang
Vegetable fried noodles.
A Walk Down Castro Street: Ox 9 Lanzhou Hand Pulled Noodles
Margherita Pizza.
A Walk Down Castro Street: Ristorante Don Giovanni
Chips and Salsa.
A Walk Down Castro Street: Taqueria La Espuela
House Potatoes
A Walk Down Castro Street: Crepevine
Empanada sampler
A Walk Down Castro Street: Limón
A final review with the hosts exchanging snacks.
The Joe Show: the finale
Several delicious dips and a bowl of chips on a cozy picnic blanket.
The Joe Show: dip day!
Bowls (and one plate) of candy. Sweet, delectable treats from that market down the street.
The Joe Show: crazy candy edition
Several scrumptious deserts laid out on nice plaid cloth. With totally normal bread. Nothing bad about that bread!
The Joe Show: may the best baking mix win!
A spread of fall foods on a picnic blanket.
The Joe Show: Trader Joe’s fall flavors
Corset tops, platform shoes, and low-rise bootcut jeans—all current-day fashion trends which have been recycled from older decades—are surrounded by a nostalgic haze.
Fashion designers: masters of reinvention or just recycling?
A consumer clutches the Earth amidst a capitalist catastrophe.
Capitalist Critique: evil “eco” enterprises
A student collapses under the pressure of College Board.
Business Buzz: College Board
Little girl using products for “anti-aging.”
Why are younger generations aging faster?
The illustrious, media-fied glamor of “being rich" pushes luxury into the spotlight.
What makes designer and luxury goods so appealing?
A student collapses under the pressure of College Board.
Business Buzz: College Board
Fireworks at Disneyland.
Business Buzz: Disneyland
An appealing box of Crumbl cookies.
Business Buzz: Crumbl
Owala water bottles are known for their the Freesip spout, leak-proof design, and the infamous “Bowala” drop.
Business Buzz: Owala
Hailey Bieber's signature smoothie alongside Erewhon's other renowned offerings.
Business Buzz: Erewhon
A consumer clutches the Earth amidst a capitalist catastrophe.
Capitalist Critique: evil “eco” enterprises
Third places are fading into a background of loud commercialization.
Capitalist Critique: third turf troubles
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon being voiced by a white man.
Capitalist Critique: media’s moneymaking machine
A political cartoon-esque representation regarding the issue of college tuition.
Capitalist Critique: climbing college costs
Capitalist motives of news companies force consumers to pay for information.
Capitalist Critique: access denied
The People Problem: how ableist language perpetuates discrimination
The People Problem: how ableist language perpetuates discrimination
The People Problem: crude comments about curly hair
The People Problem: crude comments about curly hair
The People Problem: the "rustic" charm of farmers' markets
The People Problem: the “rustic” charm of farmers’ markets
The People Problem: the harms of collateral damage in war
The People Problem: the harms of collateral damage in war
The People Problem: social impacts of antihomeless infrastructure
The People Problem: social impacts of antihomeless infrastructure
Trend Z: modern celebrity culture
Trend Z: modern celebrity culture
Trend Z: perception vs. peace
Trend Z: perception vs. peace
Trend Z: the evolution of self-care
Trend Z: the evolution of self-care
Trend Z: authenticity on social media
Trend Z: authenticity on social media
Trend Z: the dark sides of dark academia
Trend Z: the dark sides of dark academia
Book about Pi.
My irrational love: all about Pi Day
Grim reaper moves the hour hand one hour back—how daylight saving increases death rates.
Daylight saving time: spring back, fall back, stay back
Astronauts wave to the Earth.
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore return to Earth
Humans are “eating” the Earth.
Food for Thought: sustaining ourselves, unsustaining the planet
An Aldabra admiring the sunset.
The ultimate comeback: an extinct bird species evolves again on Aldabra Atoll
Humans are “eating” the Earth.
Food for Thought: sustaining ourselves, unsustaining the planet
Processed foods > healthy foods.
Food for Thought: the science behind flavor
McDonald’s, one of the most prominent fast food chains, poses as fast and convenient, yet symbolizes the world’s addiction to unhealthy processed food.
Food for Thought: are processed foods actually good for you?
A silhouette of a woman eats a piece of bread, enraptured by the surrounding screens.
Food for Thought: social media’s role in shaping our food choices
Dominic So ('27) shopping in a grocery store aisle.
Food For Thought: how grocery stores are the battleground for economics and nutrition
Mackenzie Janosky ('25) runs with the lacrosse ball.
A spotlight on the Girls’ Lacrosse Team’s season
NCAA March Madness bracket.
March Madness 2025
Softball being played.
Diving Deeper: Girls’ Softball
Timothy Cho ('25) and Carson Sias ('25) with a double block.
Photo Diaries: Boys’ Volleyball versus Archbishop Mitty
Boys' volleyball celebrates during a match.
Blocking the haters: Boys’ Volleyball
Softball being played.
Diving Deeper: Girls’ Softball
Rugby player throwing a ball.
Diving Deeper: Boys’ Rugby
Varsity cheer team shows off their skills at competition.
Diving Deeper: Competition Cheer
Sloane Swenson (’27) bounces the ball before serving it to the opposing player.
Diving Deeper: Girls’ Tennis
Goalkeeper Maria-Clara (MC) Sliesoraitis ('26) with a huge block against an opposing player.
Diving Deeper: Girls’ Water Polo
Timothy Cho ('25) and Carson Sias ('25) with a double block.
Photo Diaries: Boys’ Volleyball versus Archbishop Mitty
Rage Cage cheers after Robinson shoots a three-pointer.
Photo Diaries: Boys’ basketball versus Willow Glen
Lancers huddle up.
Photo Diaries: Boys’ Soccer versus Riordan
Natalie Chan ('25) fights for possession of the ball.
Photo Diaries: Girls’ Varsity Soccer tryouts
Kingston Keanaaina ('25) runs the ball down the field.
Photo Diaries: SFHS versus Bellarmine
Issue 61.2 Game
Issue 61.2 Game
Issue 61.1 Game
Issue 61.1 Game
Promotional art for the new treadmills.
School replaces desks with treadmills to promote focus
Lancelot promoting Saint Francis’s Teachers’ Got Talent!
Saint Francis’s Teachers’ Got Talent 2025!
A rough eyewitness sketch of the monster, from yours truly.
Trash monster “Gomi” terrorizes Saint Francis campus
Winston wins over the MasterChefs’ hearts!!!
Winston wins Masterchef?!
The pull of gravity from Mr. Ikezi's head makes many moons orbit around it.
The Great Ikezi Joke Mine
The Student News Site of Saint Francis High School

The Lancer
The Student News Site of Saint Francis High School

The Lancer

Mental Mettle and Musings

by Arhana Aatresh (’23)

Mental Mettle and Musings is a column addressing current news about the brain, in the context of problems applicable to or prevalent in high schoolers, such as cognition and mental health.