Middle College Journal

May 2024

This year, the MC Journal surveyed Middle College Seniors about their plans after graduation. Whether that be college, work, or the military, we illustrated their responses on the map below. Enjoy, and Congratulations Class of 2024!

Please note that the entirety of the Middle College Class of 2024 is not represented on this map, and plans are subject to change.

What's in this issue →

Recap of the last Junior and Senior Field Trips of the year, Memorable Moments for Seniors, a Media Review of Magnus Protocol, and more!

Junior's Field Trip to USF and MoMa

By: Kiana Gowdy, Writer/Editor

This semester’s Junior Field Trip visited the University of San Francisco, a private Jesuit university located in the center of San Francisco, and The Museum of Modern Art, designed to test our thinking. The junior class split up into two groups, one group headed to USF and the other to MoMA before switching after lunch.  

At MoMA, the first group of juniors had the place to themselves as the museum was yet to open. The MoMA staff created a guided tour for groups of ten, each tour differing slightly from the others. The upside to this was getting to delve into the different artwork, interpreting it in our own ways and getting to discuss it with a group. The downside, our perspectives were limited by which paintings the tour guides felt were interesting, meaning we didn’t get to see all the paintings in the room. If you want to go to MoMA and you are 18 years or younger, congratulations, it’s free! If you are over the age of 18, or want to take your parents, the first Thursday of each month has free admissions. Take a look at a few of the paintings and sculptures:

Up next on the itinerary came USF, where we split into two groups for, yet another, guided tour. The sun had begun to disappear and the wind was picking up, but we persevered following the tour guide around campus. We ventured through a couple of hallways and visited the gift shop, coffee shop, dining hall, and St. Ignatius Church which is located on USF campus, but is not part of USF. Even so, many USF events, like freshman orientation and graduation, are held in St. Ignatius Church. We ended the tour at the library, unfortunately not getting to see the upper half of the campus, and headed back to CSM. Although the day turned cold, it was a successful Community Day for the Middle College juniors.

A big THANK YOU to our MC Community Fund Donors!

Your contributions help to make events like this happen; we are so grateful!

Please consider donating to our community fund! The funds help offset the costs of field trips, guest speakers, events, and supplies for our spring and fall Community Days - events that bring all Middle College students together. We accept Square donations or checks made out to San Mateo Middle College. Any staff member can accept these donations, or you can mail a check to 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd., Building 12, Office 213, San Mateo, 94402

Our seniors had an unforgettable day under the sun during their recent activity day in Santa Cruz. The excitement began on the lively boardwalk, where they indulged in classic games, thrilling rides, and mouth-watering food. The seniors embraced the warm sand and picturesque views of the beach, creating the perfect backdrop for a day filled with laughter and joy. The highlight of the day was the freedom to explore and enjoy various activities at their own pace. Some opted for friendly games of volleyball, showing off their competitive spirit. Others couldn't resist the allure of the famous garlic fries, savoring every bite. And for the adrenaline junkies, the roller coasters provided the perfect rush, with plenty of screams and smiles to go around. The weather was nothing short of spectacular, with clear skies and a gentle breeze that added to the day's perfection. It was a senior activity day to remember, filled with fun, sun, and unforgettable moments. Our seniors returned home with sun-kissed faces and hearts full of happy memories, eagerly anticipating the next adventure.

"MC Dance!"

-Alyssa Sanchez

"MC Dance!"

-Alyssa Sanchez

"Painting the walls during Junior orientation" -Marilena O'Meany

"Bleaching Lucas's hair in the parking lot" -Gigi Bottarini

“Fall Orientation Senior Year Lip Sync Battle” -Aaron Roytman

"My most memorable moment from Middle College was the senior trip to Santa Cruz! It was such a fun bonding moment with other seniors as a big group of us played beach volleyball, dipped our feet in the water, and rode so many rides on the boardwalk." -Sydney Lotti

"Going to Aragon senior night to support Yasmina" -Lily Grey

"My favorite memory was my friends spring trip. We all went up to Arnold and had a great time in the mountains!" -Ryan Luftman

"Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk field trip!"

-Evelyn Fenol

“Going to a drag show during Lance's English class last year”

-Isabelle Ly

"2023 Fall Orientation!"

-Kaya Albano

The Magnus Protocol: A Horror-Inspiring Listening Experience

By: Corvidae Luz Dulcey (She/They), Writer

Dripping with terror, The Magnus Protocol is a British horror fiction podcast created by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J. Newall of Rusty Quill that, if allowed to, will sink its fangs deep into your flesh and never let go. Weaving together an intricate plot through seemingly unrelated accounts of supernatural events while also exploring the interpersonal relationships of its many charming characters, it is perhaps one of the best examples of audio drama ever made. The quality of this series is no surprise given that it is the sequel to The Magnus Archives, another Rusty Quill horror fiction podcast. While listening to the original series is not a requirement to understand The Magnus Protocol, which takes place in a different universe with brand new characters and monsters, doing so will only enhance your enjoyment and reveal smaller details you might not have caught otherwise.

As for the premise, The Magnus Protocol follows the employees of the Office of Incident Assessment and Response (O.I.A.R.), recording their conversations without their knowledge through any device with a microphone that happens to be nearby. These O.I.A.R. employees are tasked with reading supernatural cases and filing them according to which types of horrors appear. Occasionally, however, a computer will spontaneously read a case out loud, rendering it useless until it has finished reading. Samama “Sam” Khalid is a new hire recommended by his friend, Alice Dyer. Sam’s curiosity causes him to try and piece together some sort of hidden meaning from the cases. What he doesn’t know is that each supernatural event is horrifyingly real, as are the monsters involved.

Whether you’re a longtime horror fan or you just like workplace dramas, The Magnus Protocol will have something you like waiting to lure you in. Episodes air every Thursday on Rusty Quill’s website, Spotify, YouTube, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Some platforms include it as part of The Magnus Archives. Transcripts are available on Rusty Quill’s website.

Thanks to our 2023-2024

MC Journal Staff!