The student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School

The Rubicon
FIRST ON SITE. LAFD firefighters respond to a burning building. In January various fires ripped across southern California, particularly Los Angeles
Wildfires bring destruction to Los Angeles area
March 2, 2025
EMPTY SHELVES. Grocery stores across Minnesota are devoid of eggs and low on supplier resources.
Bird flu raises egg prices across Minnesota
February 28, 2025
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) speaks during a press conference with fellow Democratic senators calling on the Trump administration to continue Medicare drug price negotiations on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 22, 2025. REUTERS/Jon Cherry
Medicaid’s future uncertain under new administration
February 27, 2025
SWIFT SIGNINGS. President Donald Trump signs one of over 20 executive orders during his first day in office. These signings set a record for the most by any president on their inaugural day. A Junior, Echo Dayton said, "I do not know if this is common, just to start passing all these rules … I think it is an abuse of power." Cite: @White House on X, Public Domain, January 20, 2025
A nation in transition: Trump’s executive orders influencing major change
February 26, 2025
Too many days off school?
Too many days off school?
February 25, 2025
TIME FOR COMMUNITY. Community building happens in clubs. Yet, clubs have met only once in two months. Clubs have been tossed aside due to constant schedule changes when clubs should be prioritized more.
[STAFF EDITORIAL] Prioritizing clubs will build community
February 28, 2025
“The Sift” is a weekly opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
The World’s Latest Cybersecurity Supervillain: The United Kingdom?
February 28, 2025
B.L. VS MAHONEY. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Brandi Levy, who was suspended by the school and removed from the JV squad for using the F-bomb in a Snapchat post. The highest court ruled that it was overreach on the school's part, and upheld her right to free speech, even if the speech included swear words. (Screen capture from Jun 23, 2021 broadcast about the ruling - CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell)
Cheerleading + Profanity = Free Speech
February 27, 2025
I SAY THIS WITH LOVE. While it may seem harsh, tough love disciplines with kindness and understanding.
Embrace tough love for a brighter future
February 25, 2025
“The Sift” is a weekly opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
Recap: The last two weeks of tech
February 21, 2025
TIME FOR COMMUNITY. Community building happens in clubs. Yet, clubs have met only once in two months. Clubs have been tossed aside due to constant schedule changes when clubs should be prioritized more.
[STAFF EDITORIAL] Prioritizing clubs will build community
February 28, 2025
PERSONAL POLITICS. Current events are on the minds of many in the community, making it important that students have space to share their thoughts. Implementing these conversations into class time would provide a natural and comfortable outlet for discussion.
Current events discussions belong in the classroom
February 15, 2025
UNTOLD STORIES. Realities of the LA fires are buried under misinformation and celebrity stories. Let's shift more attention to those heavily impacted.
[STAFF EDITORIAL] Substance over sensation: point the camera where it matters
January 27, 2025
INCOME IGNORANCE. Socioeconomic status is overlooked in conversations about diversity. Avoiding these discussions can lead to assumptions about opportunities and access that are unhelpful at best, and damaging at times.
[STAFF EDITORIAL] Ignored identity: socioeconomic diversity is worth a conversation
January 22, 2025
GOTCHA. Rage bait content spreads hate and profits off of angry reactions. Understand rage bait so one can recognize and avoid it.
[STAFF EDITORIAL] Don’t let rage bait poison your mindset
December 14, 2024
“The Sift” is a weekly opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
The World’s Latest Cybersecurity Supervillain: The United Kingdom?
February 28, 2025
“The Sift” is a weekly opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
Recap: The last two weeks of tech
February 21, 2025
“The Sift” is a weekly opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
Grammarly: The bane of my existence
February 6, 2025
The Sift is a weekly The Rubicon opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
DeepSeek R1: The real ChatGPT competitor
January 30, 2025
The Sift is a weekly The Rubicon opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
No, the Hollywood Sign was NOT on fire
January 23, 2025
New phone policy ignores student perspectives
New phone policy ignores student perspectives
October 3, 2024
There are healthier ways to find value in life than thinking about death
There are healthier ways to find value in life than thinking about death
December 5, 2023
No longer a bystander
No longer a bystander
November 29, 2023
Bring more awareness to seasonal depression
Bring more awareness to seasonal depression
November 4, 2023
Community time worth more than passing time
Community time worth more than passing time
October 5, 2023
SCHOOL CANCELED. SPA has canceled school two times this year because of the cold. (Scott Streble reprinted with permission).
What goes into planning a snow day or a cold day?
February 28, 2025
SKATING TOGETHER. Lutgen and Quinn-Zimmerman take on fun adventures in elementary school. Submitted by Sydney Zimmerman
15 years of friendship: Eva Lutgen and Sydney Zimmerman
February 27, 2025
FLIGHTS WITH FAMILY. Sophomore Yasmin Khan poses with her mother, sister and brother at Mohenjo Daro in Sindh, Pakistan during the family's visit over winter break. (Photo submitted by Yasmin Khan).
Travel invites students to expand worldview
February 26, 2025
WILD WONDERINGS. Junior Evan Morris sees conspiracy theories and psychological phenomena appearing in many forms of media and pop culture. For example, Morris knows of the New World Order and frozen Walt Disney head theories from videos on YouTube. However he is heavily skeptical of the accuracy and truthfulness of them. “To be clear, I don’t back any of them, but I think they are interesting.” Morris said.
The psychology behind common mental phenomena
February 25, 2025
FINISHED PRODUCT. Huelster shows her newest set. She did black french tips with a starry design on the ring finger. The set is elegant and will match with her outfits. Photo submitted by Zoe Huelster
Zoe Huelster takes home manicures to the next level
February 19, 2025
MAGICAL MOVEMENT. "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" follows four young lovers in Athens who are flung into a neverending love triangle, or perhaps a love trapezoid would be more fitting, by two disjointed but well-meaning fairies. (Fair Use: Dan Norman, Guthrie Theater)
[THEATER REVIEW] Guthrie’s take on “A Midsummer Nights Dream” warms a winter heart
February 27, 2025
GAME TABLE. Sophomore William O'Brien cracks a joke to his friends while playing Chess and everyone laughs.
Winter formal provides a space to decompress with friends
February 26, 2025
Hadestown cast announced
Hadestown cast announced
February 17, 2025
JUST DROPPED. The Lumineers release 11 songs on their album "Automatic". The album featured varying themes and tempos, with two songs being purely instrumental. (Source: @thelumineers on Instagram)
Automatically enthralled: The Lumineers drop fifth studio album
February 15, 2025
WINTER VIBE. The exterior entrance of Luci Ancora on a cold afternoon.
[AROUND TOWN] Luci Ancora serves authentic Italian
February 13, 2025
MAGICAL MOVEMENT. "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" follows four young lovers in Athens who are flung into a neverending love triangle, or perhaps a love trapezoid would be more fitting, by two disjointed but well-meaning fairies. (Fair Use: Dan Norman, Guthrie Theater)
[THEATER REVIEW] Guthrie’s take on “A Midsummer Nights Dream” warms a winter heart
February 27, 2025
JUST DROPPED. The Lumineers release 11 songs on their album "Automatic". The album featured varying themes and tempos, with two songs being purely instrumental. (Source: @thelumineers on Instagram)
Automatically enthralled: The Lumineers drop fifth studio album
February 15, 2025
The opening shot of an upside-down Statue of Liberty is a metaphor for the film's anti-patriotic themes. (Fair Use: A24 Films)
[OFF-SCREEN WITH OSTREM] “The Brutalist”: a brutally honest American commentary
February 7, 2025
CAUGHT IN THE MIDST. While voting for whether or not to keep playing the deadly games, player 456, Seong Gi-hun, finds himself standing in the midst of his fellow players fighting and arguing for their own decisions. Everyone is trying to convince each other of their own opinions, but Seong, who knows the lethal nature of the game, is lost in his mind thinking of ways to stop the chaos. (Screen capture from “The Red Light Green Light Game Returns | Squid Game: Season 2 | Netflix” by Still Watching Netflix on YouTube.)
[TV REVIEW] New season, new commentary: “Squid Game” continues to impress
January 17, 2025
NEW CINEMA. A wave of movies this fall-winter season hopes to compensate for the disappointing cinema earlier this year. (Press release images from various studios, credited later in each individual chapter)
[OFF-SCREEN WITH OSTREM] The good and not-so-good of recent cinema
December 17, 2024
High school and college participation data from the 2022-23 academic year (NCAA Recruiting Fact Sheet)
Sports recruitment seeks out commitment, talent
February 25, 2025
DUAL ATHLETE. In his first year of high school sports, ninth-grader Max George earned spots on the varsity hockey and soccer teams. (Photos: SPA SmugMug)
First-year phenom: Max George excels on varsity soccer and hockey teams
February 25, 2025
DANGLES. Freshman Max George takes the puck down the ice around a Johnson player.
Spartan hockey and St. Paul Johnson Governors collaborate to support leukemia patient
February 19, 2025
TURBO TAKEOFF. Nordic skier Elisabeth Hilton starts her race in a powerful pursuit. Photo taken from SPA SmugMug
Etiquette in action is an integral part of sports
February 16, 2025
STEADY START. Sophomore Yasmin Khan throws a rugby ball to ninth-grader Eva Burns at the first girls rugby prac tice Feb. 1.
From idea to reality: girls rugby team set in motion
February 15, 2025
WINGS OUT. Gjerde flies through the water, completing the first 25 yards out of 100 in her event.
Adele Gjerde shines at state for her final high school swim meet
November 17, 2024
ITS OFFICIAL. Sawyer Bollinger Danielson signs her National Letter of Intent to play Division One soccer at the University of Minnesota.
Signing Day: Sawyer Bollinger Danielson commits to the University of Minnesota
November 15, 2024
STATE BOUND. Avi Coleman dives into the water and secures her place on and the state competition.
Sparks athletes swim to state in the 6AA section meet
November 10, 2024
KEEP ON GOING. Spark Swimmers compete to beat their competitors.
Sparks swim and dive dominates at final regular season meet
November 7, 2024
SYNC. All of the swimmers dive in sync into the water.
Sparks boast PR bonanza at conference
November 4, 2024
DANGLES. Freshman Max George takes the puck down the ice around a Johnson player.
Spartan hockey and St. Paul Johnson Governors collaborate to support leukemia patient
February 19, 2025
WALK. Spectators walking through the park trying to find the perfect spot to watch the racers.
Nordic slides from sections to state
February 13, 2025
BATTLE. Liam Huddleston battles a Highland Player for the puck.
Spartan hockey defeats chief rival Scots yet again
February 6, 2025
IT'S ABOUT DRIVE. Junior Clare Ryan-Bradley drives the ball around Avail Academy and down the court to the net.
Girls basketball secures victory with grit and defense
February 6, 2025
HEAD DOWN, ARMS OUT. Trojans swimmer competes in a fast 100-yard butterfly.
Boys swim and dive win St. Paul Conference title in exhilarating rivalry matchup with Central
February 3, 2025
TOGETHER. The girls lacrosse team meets in the middle of practice to discuss drills.
Girls lacrosse hosts pre-season practices to foster team culture
February 10, 2025
GAME TIME. The game's first faceoff, with sophomore Dia Chaney, after gaining possession for the Spartans.
Girls lacrosse falls 17-4 to Breck, aims to turn season around
May 20, 2024
Freshman Adem Rivers, practicing his short game at University of Minnesota Driving Range.
Golf Captain Peltier brings leadership, pride to growing team
May 14, 2024
IN PURSUIT. A Roseville player chases after a Blackhawks player trying to get the ball.
JV Blackhawks Lacrosse loses close game to Roseville
May 13, 2024
THE PRESSURE IS ON. Mckinley Garner guards Kieran Monahan, forcing one direction as he counts down the seconds Monahan has left to throw.
Spartan Ultimate glides through season with exceptional spirit
May 7, 2024
one of my ideas was to make it My Little Pony themed [because] in beats we have four groups and they all produce work different weeks, so we split them into groups. And last year it was Minion-themed, so in my presentation, I wanted to have a little fun thing, so I was just like, ‘Oh, we should do a My Little Pony theme.’ And then, you know, we turned it into the theme of the year. And now we have four groups. We have team Twilight Sparkle. We have team Princess Cadence– is she a princess? Guys, I need to know my My Little Pony better. And then we have team Princess Celestia and team Princess Luna.
[STORY BEHIND THE STORY] Pony groups. Monthly deadlines. Beat magic with Thomas Chen
February 27, 2025
Join the 25-26 Rubicon family
Join the 25-26 Rubicon family
February 26, 2025
Prequels and the modern villain backstory
Prequels and the modern villain backstory
February 24, 2025
LOVE IS IN THE AIR. February 14 is Valentine's Day. Read about the different first dates students have been on. (Graphic by Zimo Xie)
First dates: entering into the world of dating
February 14, 2025
[MIC'D UP] Shoot some hoops with Clare Ryan Bradley
[MIC’D UP] Shoot some hoops with Clare Ryan Bradley
February 14, 2025
one of my ideas was to make it My Little Pony themed [because] in beats we have four groups and they all produce work different weeks, so we split them into groups. And last year it was Minion-themed, so in my presentation, I wanted to have a little fun thing, so I was just like, ‘Oh, we should do a My Little Pony theme.’ And then, you know, we turned it into the theme of the year. And now we have four groups. We have team Twilight Sparkle. We have team Princess Cadence– is she a princess? Guys, I need to know my My Little Pony better. And then we have team Princess Celestia and team Princess Luna.
[STORY BEHIND THE STORY] Pony groups. Monthly deadlines. Beat magic with Thomas Chen
February 27, 2025
LEADER. Annie Zhang focuses her leadership on mentoring and developing the next generation of Rubicon journalists. As Zhang wraps up her final months with the print staff, she hopes to leave a lasting impact.
[STORY BEHIND THE STORY] Editor-in-chief Annie Zhang explains the EIC experience
February 6, 2025
Want to learn more about video games? Tune in to The Game On Podcast.
[GAME ON] Ep. 4 The rise of Brawl Stars
January 24, 2025
[UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHIPS] Ep. 4 Postsecondary pals
[UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHIPS] Ep. 4 Postsecondary pals
January 23, 2025
[RUNNING ON EMPTY] Ep. 4 The nighttime dilemma
[RUNNING ON EMPTY] Ep. 4 The nighttime dilemma
January 21, 2025
Join the 25-26 Rubicon family
Join the 25-26 Rubicon family
February 26, 2025
Prequels and the modern villain backstory
Prequels and the modern villain backstory
February 24, 2025
[MIC'D UP] Shoot some hoops with Clare Ryan Bradley
[MIC’D UP] Shoot some hoops with Clare Ryan Bradley
February 14, 2025
Spread love with these Valentine's Day cookies
Spread love with these Valentine’s Day cookies
February 12, 2025
[MIC'D UP] Adem Rivers laces up to beat negativity and find camaraderie
[MIC’D UP] Adem Rivers laces up to beat negativity and find camaraderie
January 13, 2025
February 2025 Issue
February 11, 2025
January 2025 Issue
January 16, 2025
November 2024 Issue
November 21, 2024
October 2024 Issue
October 29, 2024
September 2024 Issue
September 24, 2024
The student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School

The Rubicon
The student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School

The Rubicon