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 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 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

By Paloma Rudnicki '27 The Katharine Thayer Cate and Curtis Wolsey Cate Chapel, built in 1961, was dedicated by Mr. Cate to his wife, who passed away in 1953. Despite popular belief, she is not buried there. The Chapel also won national awards when it was built—the architect George Russell won the AIA award for Church Architecture, Class III for his design. Its unique arches and large stained-glass windows have set it apart as what some consider the most beautiful and iconic

By Jin Sun '28 Every September, Cate students shoulder more than just backpacks; they carry a lesson of responsibility, through the meadows of Yosemite, across the rivers of Kern, and upon the peaks of San Jacinto. Outings Week, the traditional start to a school year, is a lesson in what it means to carry weight both literally and figuratively.  For freshmen, there are no physical packs during their 5-day journey at Pyles, a camp in Sequoia National Forest. The real load, h

By: Lucy Guilbert-Neal '25 Last Thursday, Alison Wang presented her year-long independent study where she explored both research in...

By: Karina Strofs '27 Each spring, the Case Studies program offers Cate juniors a rare opportunity: to step into the shoes of a college...

By: Serena Zhang ‘28 This May, Cate School celebrated Mental Health Awareness Month. With the upcoming departure of seniors and the...

By: Claire Ziebart '26 If you’ve ever heard someone say, “I’m doing SCVA VJCA and then ACDA SATB,” and thought they were speaking in...

By: Violet Monda '27 As the Cate community transitions from Spring Family Weekend to the end of the year, the incredible gallery...

By: Michelle Wu '27 As the end of the school year draws to an end, let’s take some time to reflect on the work of Cate’s performers in ...

By: Ethan Rehnborg '25 After years of dwindling enrollment in its Japanese program, Cate’s Language Department is experiencing a renewed...

By: Serena Zhang ‘28 and Devon Liang ‘27 May marks the end of an era for the Class of 2025, who are preparing for their next chapter....

By: Max DeVore '25 The American Wilderness class spent the past weekend white-water kayaking on the Kern River, near Kernville,...

By: Stella Rogers '25 On Friday of this weekend in the Bruno Art Gallery, the Cate visual artists held a showcase for families and the...

By: Eli Meisel '25 After the closest presidential election in Cate's history, Barron Crayton and Jenevive Won will be next year's...

By: V alerie Madriz Montero '25 Cate School’s wastewater treatment plant, designed to process 7000 gallons daily, is collapsing under...

By: Kate McCoy '25 As the school year draws to a close, most seniors are preparing for the hallmark moments that define their final...

By: Stephanie Akinfolarin '25 To honor senior growth, the Library staff have continued the beloved Cate tradition of displaying first...

By: Fiona Pan '27 On any given day on the Mesa, laughter and barking blend into a familiar chorus that reminds people that home isn't...

By: Serena Zhang ‘28 and Maria Salyards ‘28 With the Cate School 2025-2026 presidential election coming to an end, we’ve seen great...

By: Tania Molina '26, Mike Barrera '25, Valerie Madriz Montero '25, Uriel Beltran Campuzano '25 On April 4, 2025, the Hispanic/Latinx...

By: Paloma Rudnicki '27 Behind the rich red curtains, violet platforms rise from the dark stage. Twisting wrought-iron railings, bar...

By: Rosita Power '26 On March 26th, Cate’s Animal Behaviors class visited numerous faculty houses to experiment on campus cats. With the...

By: Jenevive Won '26 The rich West African drum beats echoed through the theater as students and faculty started shuffling into their...

By: Michelle Wu '27 On Saturday, March 22nd, just days after school had resumed following Spring Break, Cate celebrated Holi, the Hindu...

By: Devon Liang '27 Each spring, the 11th-grade class takes a two-day, one-night retreat away from the Mesa that focuses on class...

By: Jasper Shelmerdine '26 and Carmen Lack '26 On Saturday, April 12, 2025, the campus buzzed with excitement as Cate School hosted the...

By:  Josie Song '28 and Devon Liang '27 Cate School experienced its highest-attended Revisit Day thus far on March 15, 2025, with more...

By: Andrew Sheshunoff '27 Our society today is centered around communication. So, as a result, we are “gifted” with slang. Now, what is...

By: Amelia Riepe '27 Cate’s art program sometimes receives less attention compared to academic classes and sports. However, with options...

By: Ashley Chan '28 & Kaitlyn Dai '28 Although Women’s History Month kicked off on March 1st, Cate’s celebration began after spring...

By: Avery Polynice '25 Whether it’s to clean up a clunky sentence or bounce off ideas for an upcoming paper, AI tools are increasingly...

By: Max Devore '25 The annual Cate School Musical, Hadestown , is nearing its opening night on April 24th. Both faculty and students are...

By: Tori Kim '27 Countless shifts washing dishes with the kitchen crew, leading lessons during freshman or sophomore seminar, and all of...

By: Karina Strofs '27 Cate School has around 150 employees , but only 46 are full-time teachers. Beyond teachers, Cate has a large...

By: Rose Schreier '27 Every evening, day students drive down Heartbreak Hill. As the muscle memory of their routine sets in, they prepare...

By: Amelia Riepe '27 and Analise Gomez '27 Cate’s Los Niños trip is a cherished tradition that both faculty and students look forward to...

By: Tori Kim '27 Amidst the transition into a new year, in an era fraught with unprecedented change, time is an entity that many members...

By: Jasper Shelmerdine '26 and Elise Tsai '26 On February 15, 2025, just days after California’s first rainstorms that washed over...

By: Jenevive Won '26 Monday, January 20, Cate School’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day started in the theatre with Oyin Opawumi’s ‘26...

By: Harper Halbardier '26 Happy New Year, Rams! As another year full of opportunity unfolds on the Mesa, academic lives only continue to...

By: Michelle Wu '27 On Friday, January 17th, Cate hosted grandparents from all across the country and around the world to celebrate the...

By: Andrew Sheshunoff '27 The wide-eyed, nervous, yet excited class of 2029 are handed their name tags. On the front states their name,...

By: Fiona Pan '27 In Curtis Cate’s autobiography, School Days In California , a chapter was omitted from his manuscript. This chapter...

By: Devon Liang '27 At Cate School, adolescent development is a top priority, and Head of School, Ms. Alex Lockett, is committed to...

By: Amelia Riepe '27 On Friday, October 4th, the student body gathered under the misty Mesa night sky for the club fair, an event...

By: Alison Wang '25 Did you know that Cate School had a Chinatown? As early as the 1910s, 8 or 9 Chinese men worked as the earliest...