By Fiona Pan '27 It has been 105 years since the El Batidor  newspaper came to life at Cate School, formerly known as the “Santa Barbara School.” In the first edition of El Bat,  released in the 1919–1920 school year, the editors wrote that the term El Batidor , translated to “Outrider.” “Batidor” means scout, or outrider, which is someone who paves the way for others to follow. The past editors wrote that the name for the newspaper was indicating, “a harbinger, or bearer of

By Paloma Rudnicki '27 David Philipps, a 2-time Pulitzer Prize-winning military reporter for the  New York Times , has spent his career discovering untold stories that help bring issues to light that make a change in the lives of people serving our country. In this interview, he explains what drives him to write, how he experimented to find his path, and how passions can become careers. Q: How did you come into journalism as a career, and into writing about the military? A:

By Michelle Wu '27 The salted breeze, the damp sand, and the low, rhythmic rumble of waves hitting the shore altogether make the Carpinteria City Beach a popular weekend destination for students. Indeed, the beach offers much joy to the steady pace of Cate life, whether through providing a recreational space oa r location for class events. However, there is more that Cate can offer in return to the greater Carpinteria community and the land that nurtures it – inquiry-driven

By Karina Strofs '27 This year   marked the 24th anniversary of the attack on September 11, 2001 . On that day, two planes hit the World Trade Center, another plane struck the Pentagon, and a fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.  Annually, on September 11th, people in the U.S. remember the nearly 3,000 people killed during the attacks, as well as acknowledge how the attacks continue to impact the United States. It is also a time to listen to stories of how that d

By Henry Chen '27 and Oliver Zheng '27 On September 10th, at 12:23 PM, American right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, and media personality Charlie Kirk was fatally shot by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. The shooting occurred at Utah Valley University, on the first stop of the American Comeback Tour. Kirk hosted the tour as the co-founder of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campus

By Devon Liang '27 As a water polo coach, dorm parent, and newly-appointed Assistant Director of Athletics, Jesse Morrison wears many hats. Joining Cate in 2021 as a water polo coach, becoming a Long House dorm parent in 2023, and becoming Assistant Director of Athletics in 2025, Jesse has brought his expertise to the Cate community in a multitude of different ways. As a relatively new addition to the community, an in-depth look into Jesse’s involvement offers valuable insig

By Violet Monda '27 In January of 2025, a series of wildfires erupted throughout Southern California. Over 55 wildfires affected people's lives in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, San Diego County, and the Palisades area. These fires separated into the larger groups called the Palisades, Eaton Canyon, Kenneth, Hughes, Hurst, Border 2, Gap, and Green Fires. Over 48,268 acres of inhabited land across Southern California were burned. While this burn area is not unprecedented,

By Harper Halbardier '26 and Fallon Erickson '26 The start of the fall trimester on the Mesa has been nothing short of magical. From seniors bleeding blue on move-in day to peaceful moments captured in the backcountry, there’s nothing quite like the first few weeks of September at Cate. As the Cate community has made their way back home to Carpinteria, there’s been quite the buzz about the newest addition to Carpinteria - the infamous “Linden Square.”  Linden Square has bec

By Jade Wang '28 Any student at Cate can tell you that at any football or volleyball game, you’ll feel the energy before you see it. Blaring megaphones, school chants echoing across the bleachers, and a crowd of students decked out in colors matching the theme of the night create a lively, electric atmosphere at Cate home games. In front of the bleachers, leading the charge, is Blue Crew, Cate School’s student-run spirit squad—our loudest, most recognizable symbols of school

By Josie Goldhirsh '28 and Serena Zhang '28 Each summer, Cate students bring the spirit of Servons beyond the Mesa with the Mark Metherell ‘87 Memorial Service Challenge. Established in honor of Mark Metherell ‘87, who embodied the values of compassion, service, and vision, the grant enables students to design and implement projects that strengthen communities both near and far. This year’s projects ranged from building solar-powered light libraries in Kenya to constructing

By Tori Kim '27 Last spring, members of the Class of 2026 battled it out on the Cate stage to determine who would become President and Vice President for the upcoming 2025-26 school year, positions previously held by Joba Samson ‘25 and Riley Valente ‘25. After a close and hard-fought campaign, Barron Crayton ‘26 and Jen Won ‘26, with their slogan of “Branching Beyond Boundaries,” emerged as the victors of the presidential ballot in what was described by Joba as “the closest

By Devon Liang '27 Every year, Cate welcomes fantastic new faculty who bring energy, expertise, and fresh perspectives to our community. This year is no exception! Our new teachers are ready to inspire, challenge, and engage students both inside and outside the classroom, helping make the 2025–2026 school year an exciting one for everyone. Teacher Post, our latest hire in the Humanities department, joins us after a two-year teaching fellowship at Phillips Academy Andover, a

By Ayla Sichi '28 As an English teacher, dance teacher, advisor, and CHE dorm parent, Mr. Szanyi is extremely involved in Cate. As a long-time teacher, Mr. Szanyi chose to pursue the Fulbright Scholar Program, a cultural exchange program, for professional enrichment this past summer. According to the program, they “offer passionate and accomplished students and scholars … the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to mutual understandin

By Maree Hawkins '28 MTV’s Video Music Awards occur annually; this year, they took place on September 7, 2025. The VMAs recognize the year’s biggest artists and music videos with performances, trophies, and more. The inaugural ceremony honored the best music videos in 1984 at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall and featured a performance by Madonna that set the show’s bold tone.  Like its counterpart, the Grammys, the VMAs have produced countless youth culture trends and

By Betsy Peters '27 The trek to Carpinteria seems infinitely worth it when the golden allure of food is promised on the other side. Especially at a school where the on-campus dining options are limited, the importance of alternative food spots becomes all the more valuable. This new school year has brought a plethora of new dining options with the opening of the long-awaited Linden Square in Carpinteria! Now, while these new restaurants are certainly exciting, so many new pl

By Naomi Avalos '27 Art can bring people together to uplift each other. It can be studied to reveal things that we may have never noticed before. An appreciation for art can lead to numerous career paths and interesting stories to tell. Biba Duffy-Boscagli '19 embodies this sentiment perfectly, being an experienced artist, historian, and museum curator. During her time at Cate, Biba examined art through the lens of both a curator and an artist. She explored the ceramics and

By Rose Schreier '27 10,000 feet above Palm Springs, a cluster of teenage girls huddle atop a rock—their faces are red, their heart rates are high, their foreheads are sweaty, and they have a 360 view of the Mojave Desert. If you were to ask them how they ended up there, they would tell you it started with a Homestyle Scramble. At approximately 9 am, the San Jacinto art pod awoke to the sound of boiling water. They crept out of their mildewed sleeping bags and huddled around

By Maria Salyards '28 Let me set the scene for you. Golden hues splattering the gentle waves at the beach, rays peaking through the dusty clouds, and under the gaze of the Carpenteria mountains, stood Cate students on the senior lawn, dressed up in Homecoming attire. It was a time right before the tree leaves turn orange and crimson, and right after a much-deserved summer break. Light blues, pastel pinks, sunset orange dresses, and black and grey suits, but no one in neon di

By Serena Zhang '28 The Cate dining hall has undergone a series of changes since students last stepped on campus. From two lunch lines to staff-served portions and a brand new schedule, these shifts have sparked plenty of conversation across campus as students discuss the benefits of efficiency and reduced waste against the challenges of limited food availability and more crowded lunch blocks. When asked about thoughts on the changes in the dining hall, Rosita Power ‘26 bri

By Max van Someren '27 and Elsie Chamberlain '26 Gurnoop, Max, and Elsie represented Cate at the 2025 Round Square International Service Project in South Africa. Alongside a team of around 45 other students, they spent 2 weeks living at the Tiger Kloof school in Vryburg, South Africa. They stayed in this prestigious boarding school's dorm rooms and engaged with local students and faculty.  One cultural aspect of the trip included dance and music classes with local residents