The student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School

The Rubicon
[The 5] tensions rise globally and locally: deadly strikes in Gaza, tragedy in Minnesota, and chaos on U.S. roads
[The 5] tensions rise globally and locally: deadly strikes in Gaza, tragedy in Minnesota, and chaos on U.S. roads
October 19, 2025
CANDIDATES SPEAK. Candidates for mayor of St. Paul gather at the Wilder Foundation on Oct. 7 at a public forum. Incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter stands up to introduce himself and his goals if selected for a third term.
St. Paul’s 2025 mayoral race: who is on the ballot?
October 19, 2025
THROWBACK. Younger glozman and her family friends celebrate Sukkot. (Photo submitted by Naomi Glozman)
How people celebrate Sukkot
October 18, 2025
[The 5] eviction notice, budget cuts at the CDC, Sudanese missile bombing and more
[The 5] eviction notice, budget cuts at the CDC, Sudanese missile bombing and more
October 12, 2025
MARCH IN SOLIDARITY. Unified with the cause, protesters march in the streets outside the federal building in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis protest marks two years of the war in Gaza with calls for peace and U.S. accountability
October 12, 2025
SCHOOL SWIMMING. Amid immense pressure to thrive academically, it can be difficult to stay afloat. It’s time for the college prep school environment to be reconsidered. Students themselves are the key to promoting healthy competition.
[STAFF EDITORIAL] Recognize the problems with academic exceptionalism
October 21, 2025
ALWAYS HERE. Throughout the history of cheerleading, men have always been involved. Many famous actors and presidents have taken a role in this time-honored tradition.
Male cheerleaders are here to stay
October 20, 2025
SIEZE THE SNIFFLE. Taking time to care for mental health and making efforts to enjoy small delights can be a large contributor to physical health and wellbeing.
Coughing and caring: why students should embrace self-care and be open to taking sick days
October 19, 2025
FRIEND OR FOE. Does AI have a positive or negative impact on the environment? Well, it's complicated. (Made with Canva using images from thanhloc123, Nazar12, Accountanz and Leslie from leslie studios).
Approach with nuance: AI has positive and negative environmental impacts
October 14, 2025
“The Sift” is a weekly opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
OpenAI Sora’s 2: The Future of AI Video?
October 10, 2025
SCHOOL SWIMMING. Amid immense pressure to thrive academically, it can be difficult to stay afloat. It’s time for the college prep school environment to be reconsidered. Students themselves are the key to promoting healthy competition.
[STAFF EDITORIAL] Recognize the problems with academic exceptionalism
October 21, 2025
DON'T FORGET. Remember the feelings and emotions of this instance and use them to extend your solidarity and participation moving forward.
[STAFF EDITORIAL] Direct anger and mourning into action, not hate
September 19, 2025
HUNTING HONORS. Success plays a central role in learning. However, stepping away from the “success above all else” mindset can create new opportunities for development.
[STAFF EDITORIAL] Embrace failure and reject achievement culture to grow
May 24, 2025
ACTIVISM. The University of South Carolina’s Mental Illness Needs Discussion club (USC MIND) ignited the “#SpeakYourMIND” Ice Bucket Challenge.
[STAFF EDITORIAL] More than a trend: make change offline
May 13, 2025
PASSIONATE PROTESTING. A child participates in the “Hands Off” protest at the State Capitol Apr. 5. Protests allow one to move from talking about an issue to acting on it; protesting can also combat isolation and hopelessness.
[STAFF EDITORIAL] Take action: attend a protest, leave empowered
April 22, 2025
“The Sift” is a weekly opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
OpenAI Sora’s 2: The Future of AI Video?
October 10, 2025
“The Sift” is a weekly opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
Albania’s “Wizard of Oz” moment
October 3, 2025
OPEN OPINIONS. Editor in Chief Sonia Kharbanda informs readers about The Rubicon's Opinions section and why it matters.
Why the Opinions section matters: upholding free speech
October 2, 2025
“The Sift” is a weekly opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
Meta’s supervillain stage
September 18, 2025
“The Sift” is a weekly opinions column focused on the impacts and implications of new technologies.
Apple’s awe-dropping event better than last year
September 11, 2025
Equality and equity in sports for trans athletes
Equality and equity in sports for trans athletes
May 11, 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
MUSIC AND NO MELTDOWN. While studying can be a pain, music can definitely help work move by faster. Listening to loved music is certainly a way to improve mental health.
[GOOD FOR YOU] Utilizing music as a means of productivity
October 21, 2025
WAYS TO SHOW IT. Showing gratitude can come from a simple thank you card. Not only does writing things down give the recipient a good feeling, but writing gratitude notes is a way to be kind to yourself.
[GOOD FOR YOU] How to show gratitude and why it’s important
October 21, 2025
SENIORS SPEAK. Though senior speeches have shifted over time, they’ve always been a chance to connect and share voices within the school community.
[THEN AND NOW] The impact of senior speeches and how they’ve evolved
October 21, 2025
TWIN MASHUPS. Whether identical or fraternal, twins share facial features, a birthday and lifelong memories. “I do think we think of the same things sometimes because we grew up so close together,” junior Leo Johnson said. (Photo Illustration by Amanda Hsu)
Life in sync: students share twin stories
October 21, 2025
ONE YEAR LATER. At the beginning of the 2024 school year, the upper school introduced a new phone policy. Then came No-Phone November, which was a test month that led to the permanent policy.
A year into the phone ban, what’s changed and what hasn’t
October 20, 2025
MUSIC AND NO MELTDOWN. While studying can be a pain, music can definitely help work move by faster. Listening to loved music is certainly a way to improve mental health.
[GOOD FOR YOU] Utilizing music as a means of productivity
October 21, 2025
WAYS TO SHOW IT. Showing gratitude can come from a simple thank you card. Not only does writing things down give the recipient a good feeling, but writing gratitude notes is a way to be kind to yourself.
[GOOD FOR YOU] How to show gratitude and why it’s important
October 21, 2025
GUIDED GRATITUDE. Trying meditation is a useful practice.
Mindful reflection: the power of mediation
October 6, 2025
[GOOD FOR YOU] What's up with energy drinks?
[GOOD FOR YOU] What’s up with energy drinks?
September 11, 2025
JAZZY JOURNALING. Filled with vivid colors, Middlebrook finds creative ways to record her day.
[GOOD FOR YOU] Reflective journaling: does it really work?
September 3, 2025
ROOM LOVE. Schonwald loves their room for multiple reasons. Between doing homework and just hanging out, shay enjoys all the time shay spends there.
Humans of SPA: Oakley Schonwald
September 8, 2025
“Do what you want to do, not what people tell you to do,” Kovarik said.
Humans of SPA: Chloe Kovarik
September 3, 2025
Bilingual narratives
December 1, 2021
“With my daughter right now, I’m reading her Calvin and Hobbes — the whole series — so we’re having a good time with that, she likes that a lot… I take her at least twice a year to comic book conventions. And she’s bored, when she goes. My hopes is that in time, she’ll get exposed to it. She went through the rebellious phase where she didn’t like superheros, but when pressed, she will watch Justice League with me. I would like her to at least know a lot about comic books, if not enjoy them,” Dean of Students Max Delgado said.
Humans of SPA: Max Delgado
November 18, 2015
“When I was teaching in San Francisco, one of my students who was not passing my class - a kid named Miguel - came up to me one time, and he wanted to give me a letter. And the letter thanked me for not giving him a passing grade, because he for the first time took it seriously that he needed to work hard. So we’re talking about what he could do to improve, and we just had one of these sort of random conversations, and he said ‘what do you do when you’re not here?’ and I said ‘well I build boats, and I bind books, and occasionally I make beer.’ He goes, ‘oh, you make beer? My dad does that sometimes, cool.’ And he begins talking about his favorite beer. Now, this is a junior, and he’s not old enough to drink beer. So I’m in a classroom after school, having a conversation with an underage kid about his favorite beer, explaining why while he should not be drinking any beer, the beer he has chosen is probably not worth it," Upper School English teacher Randall Findlay said.
Humans of SPA: Randall Findlay
November 10, 2015
ONE YEAR LATER. At the beginning of the 2024 school year, the upper school introduced a new phone policy. Then came No-Phone November, which was a test month that led to the permanent policy.
A year into the phone ban, what’s changed and what hasn’t
October 20, 2025
CENSORSHIP CHALLENGES. From politics to school, censorship has entered almost every aspect of daily life, affecting students as well.
Censorship affects all of us
September 26, 2025
NEW HOMES. Over a million Southeast Asian refugees were resettled in the U.S., starting in 1975. After 50 years, the communities have grown. New generations look back in order to move forward.
Looking back and moving forward: celebrating 50 years of Southeast Asians in America
May 27, 2025
RELIGIOUS RELICS. The Taj Mahal (left) in India and St. Stephens Basilica (right) in Italy are two iconic religious buildings. (FAIR USE IMAGES: Wikimedia Commons)
Two truths, one world: rethinking the divide between religion and science
May 24, 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
1. LAUFEY LOVE. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Laufey’s popularity has risen exponentially in the past few years.
[CONCERT REVIEW] Laufey stuns in a sold out show at Target Center
October 21, 2025
QUEENSBRIDGE. Mobb Deep hails from the Queensbridge neighborhood of New York City, the home of countless legendary rappers (Fair use image from: "Against The World" Official Music Video by Mobb Deep on Youtube).
[ALBUM REVIEW] Mobb Deep proves their legacy is “Infinite”
October 20, 2025
INSANELY DELICOUS. Ipho by Saigon nestled into a small strip mall serves up some amazing food.
[AROUND TOWN] IPho by Saigon serves delicious traditional Vietnamese cuisine
October 16, 2025
FLUENT IN FILM. Video games, TV and movies are one of many methods that can ease the process of becoming fluent in another language.
The media method: how interactive media helps develop fluency
October 14, 2025
THE SMASHING MACHINE 2. The film can feel shallow in its exploration of fragile masculinity and the complexities of opposing personalities in love. It fails to crack the surface of any of its large number of interesting ideas (Free use image from A24).
[OFF-SCREEN WITH OSTREM] Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine” packs power but misses its emotional knockout
October 10, 2025
1. LAUFEY LOVE. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Laufey’s popularity has risen exponentially in the past few years.
[CONCERT REVIEW] Laufey stuns in a sold out show at Target Center
October 21, 2025
THE SMASHING MACHINE 2. The film can feel shallow in its exploration of fragile masculinity and the complexities of opposing personalities in love. It fails to crack the surface of any of its large number of interesting ideas (Free use image from A24).
[OFF-SCREEN WITH OSTREM] Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine” packs power but misses its emotional knockout
October 10, 2025
Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) is now a single parent of a 16-year-old daughter, living in a completely off-the-grid shack in the woods of the fictitious Northern California city of Baktan Cross; he spends his nights drinking with his buddies at the local bar and spends all day smoking his marijuana pen and watching movies on his couch.(Free use image from Warner Bros Pictures).
[OFF-SCREEN WITH OSTREM] “One Battle After Another” discusses underlying power dynamics through action-packed plotline
October 6, 2025
READY TO GO. Breathe Right nose strips are a perfect solution for any nose congestion, making them a perfect companion for sports, sleep, and daily life.
Set for success: Breathe Right nose strips offer a breath of fresh air
October 4, 2025
COMFY-COZY. Among many seating options, sofas with coffee tables lined the back wall, making a perfect spot to sit in the sun and relax.
Mystical magic: Backstory Coffee provides enchanting environment
October 1, 2025
DIG PINK. GVV hosts their Dig Pink fundraising game in the gym filled with students in pink. (Collage made on Canva)
GVV Sweeps Blake 3–0 at Annual Dig Pink Match
October 20, 2025
LAST SHOT. Senior Lucia Gonzalez scores the winning goal with a penalty kick, ending the game 5-0.
Girls soccer books ticket to state with a 5-0 section final victory
October 19, 2025
SUPER SPARKS. Members of Sparks Swim and Dive circle up in the pool to cheer each other on. Captain Devyani Nelson first started competitive swimming in eighth grade and has swam alongside this team since. Her favorite part of this meet was the energy both teams brought, especially considering their rivalry against one another. "Since Central is our big rival, we always do a Central chant where we get in the water and splash and get loud at the start of the meet, it's a blast," Nelson said.
Sparks Swim and Dive balances competition and fun at St. Paul City Conference Championship
October 15, 2025
SUCCESS. BVS poses after winning vs. Hiawatha.
BVS wins 1-0 in first round of section tournament
October 14, 2025
PASS AND RECEIVE. After watching film inside, girls soccer takes their practice outdoors and works on different types of passing and shooting drills together. Sophomore Lucy Lowman is ready to receive the ball from freshman Ellie Whitcomb during this passing drill. As the season is wrapping up, girls soccer is training extra hard to prepare for their last few games and upcoming section games.
[PHOTO STORY] Practice makes perfect: different sports in practice mode
October 14, 2025
DIG PINK. GVV hosts their Dig Pink fundraising game in the gym filled with students in pink. (Collage made on Canva)
GVV Sweeps Blake 3–0 at Annual Dig Pink Match
October 20, 2025
LAST SHOT. Senior Lucia Gonzalez scores the winning goal with a penalty kick, ending the game 5-0.
Girls soccer books ticket to state with a 5-0 section final victory
October 19, 2025
SUPER SPARKS. Members of Sparks Swim and Dive circle up in the pool to cheer each other on. Captain Devyani Nelson first started competitive swimming in eighth grade and has swam alongside this team since. Her favorite part of this meet was the energy both teams brought, especially considering their rivalry against one another. "Since Central is our big rival, we always do a Central chant where we get in the water and splash and get loud at the start of the meet, it's a blast," Nelson said.
Sparks Swim and Dive balances competition and fun at St. Paul City Conference Championship
October 15, 2025
SUCCESS. BVS poses after winning vs. Hiawatha.
BVS wins 1-0 in first round of section tournament
October 14, 2025
PASS AND RECEIVE. After watching film inside, girls soccer takes their practice outdoors and works on different types of passing and shooting drills together. Sophomore Lucy Lowman is ready to receive the ball from freshman Ellie Whitcomb during this passing drill. As the season is wrapping up, girls soccer is training extra hard to prepare for their last few games and upcoming section games.
[PHOTO STORY] Practice makes perfect: different sports in practice mode
October 14, 2025
TIP-IN. Sophomore Miles Vogenthaler tips the ball while jumping up.
Boys basketball emerges victorious over Nova in evenly-matched section quarterfinal
March 9, 2025
CONGRATS. Senior Inga Wing and Junior Maren Overgaard are congratulated after they finish their race. (Photo submitted by Maren Overgaard)
Champions. Overgaard and Wing win Nordic relay at state meet
March 4, 2025
GLIDE. Townley tucks to gain speed on a downhill portion of the course. Photo submitted by Helen Townley.
Dartmouth commit Helen Townley reflects on a childhood shaped by Nordic skiing
March 3, 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
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
Trap Shooters, practicing at the Minneapolis Gun Club.
Trap shooting team expands, adds fall season
September 10, 2025
SENIOR JACOB COLTON LAUNCHES INTO A SERVE DURING DOUBLES PLAY. Colton, partnering with Ben Macedo , brought focus and finesse to the court as they captured the Section 4A doubles title.
Spartans sweep Section 4A: titles for Arvidson, Wang/Seneratna, Colton/Macedo, Schumacher
May 27, 2025
ALMOST THERE. Sophomore Langston Thompson drives his arm as he aims for the finish line. He finished first in his 200 meter heat.
Cold weather, hot performances: track and field shines at conference championships
May 19, 2025
Coach Pope and junior Josh Melchert discuss how excited they are for the new season
Hole in one: boys golf use competition with some fun as they head into first matches
May 9, 2025
JUMP FOR IT! Captain Jesse Wussler launches into the air, battling gravity for a high-flying disc midair. “Winning the Rookie of the Year Award, freshman year, that's pretty cool,” he said, reflecting on his favorite ultimate frisbee memory.
Catch this: how Spartan Ultimate Frisbee keeps redefining school sports
May 8, 2025
MASTERING MUSIC. RubicOnline A&E editor Yassin Mokbel has been writing music related stories for his beat since his sophomore year. In this episode, he explains the thought process and effort it takes to master his music writing craft.
[STORY BEHIND THE STORY] Exploring music and morality with Yassin Mokbel
October 21, 2025
GO GVS. To hype each other up before a regular-season game, the members of the girls varsity soccer team cheer when the starting line up is introduced.
[CAPTAIN’S CORNER] Meet the fall sports captains
October 14, 2025
HAPPY HOBBIES. What hobbies should you try in the future?
[QUIZ] What hobbies should you try next?
October 12, 2025
FINDING A BALANCE. Senior Zain Kizilbash and freshman Eugene Gardiner talk about the things that take up their time after school. (Photos submitted by Eugene Gardiner and Zain Kizilbash. Background image reprinted from the Ibid Flickr.)
Learning, leisure, life lessons: students discuss their after-school routines
October 4, 2025
Homecoming game recreated by GVS after a rainy cancellation
Homecoming game recreated by GVS after a rainy cancellation
October 2, 2025
MASTERING MUSIC. RubicOnline A&E editor Yassin Mokbel has been writing music related stories for his beat since his sophomore year. In this episode, he explains the thought process and effort it takes to master his music writing craft.
[STORY BEHIND THE STORY] Exploring music and morality with Yassin Mokbel
October 21, 2025
FINDING A BALANCE. Senior Zain Kizilbash and freshman Eugene Gardiner talk about the things that take up their time after school. (Photos submitted by Eugene Gardiner and Zain Kizilbash. Background image reprinted from the Ibid Flickr.)
Learning, leisure, life lessons: students discuss their after-school routines
October 4, 2025
[NEVER AGAIN WITH NABEEHA] Ep. 1: Murray Goff's wilderness trip gone wrong
[NEVER AGAIN WITH NABEEHA] Ep. 1: Murray Goff’s wilderness trip gone wrong
September 25, 2025
[STORY BEHIND THE STORY] Tuttle power: Beats Manager Elizabeth Tuttle explains the Beat process
[STORY BEHIND THE STORY] Tuttle power: Beats Manager Elizabeth Tuttle explains the Beat process
September 24, 2025
ROSE REFLECTION. Freshmen Andreas Bauer, Lucas Messier and Ellie Whitcomb discuss their hopes and fears for the new school year (Image created using Canva elements Red Roses icon by DRogatnev, Marsala rose bud by kate.galunga.art, Wilted rose by deemakdaksina and pastel pink square by Brace Art Avenue).
New year in bloom: freshmen discuss their roses and thorns
September 7, 2025
Homecoming game recreated by GVS after a rainy cancellation
Homecoming game recreated by GVS after a rainy cancellation
October 2, 2025
[HWDYK] Art wing inspires and ties community together
[HWDYK] Art wing inspires and ties community together
October 1, 2025
[MIC'D UP] Annalise Atkinson keeps spirits high while playing doubles in tennis
[MIC’D UP] Annalise Atkinson keeps spirits high while playing doubles in tennis
September 25, 2025
[SPARTAN TAKES] Beverages and Biology
[SPARTAN TAKES] Beverages and Biology
September 23, 2025
Pregame Rituals with Louise Mahoney
Pregame Rituals with Louise Mahoney
September 14, 2025
October 2025 Issue
October 21, 2025
September 2025 Issue
September 23, 2025
May 2025 Issue
May 28, 2025
April 2025 Issue
April 22, 2025
March 2025 Issue
March 11, 2025
The student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School

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

The Rubicon

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