Javier Whitaker-Castañeda, The Rubicon, Editor-in-Chief
Javier Whitaker-Castañeda is the Editor-in-Chief of The Rubicon and a senior at St. Paul Academy and Summit School. Outside of The Rubicon, he is very active, playing on the Boys Varsity Soccer team and acting as co-president of the student group PLAY. Comparing PLAY, a student group that promotes lasting activeness through gym games, to The Rubicon, Whitaker-Castañeda notes that dedicated members of both are up for anything. He is no exception; as a dedicated Rubicon staff member since his freshman year, he has experience in reporting, editing, and design. Nonetheless, if he could only do one thing on staff, Whitaker-Castañeda would choose to copy edit because he values attention to detail and finishing tasks as strong as they are started. He can be reached at [email protected].
![ECLIPSE. A solar eclipse is a rare event in which the moon is between Earth and the Sun, blocking the view of the sun. In other parts of the United States, the view of the Sun will be totally blocked, constituting whats called a total eclipse. A total eclipse is a completely different event that is another level of coolness. So if they [the students] have that chance, they should absolutely take the chance to see a total eclipse if they ever can. The next one in Minnesota will be the year 2099, Astronomy and Planetary Science teacher Joseph Martin said.](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Drawing-8.sketchpad.png)
![[COFFEE WITH CLARA] Ep. 5 Sydney Zimmerman recalls freshman year at boarding school](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/coffee-with-clara-cover-art-1200x686.png)
![[HYPE REEL] Spartans host fencing invitational (Q and A)](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/thumvnaillln-1200x800.jpg)
![[PODCAST] Exploring our digital footprint](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/digital-footprint-graphic-1200x800.png)
![[SPARTANS MIC’D UP] Swim with Trojans captain Rishi Bhargava](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/rishi.png)
![The Boys’ Basketball program is very focused on making everyone feel included whether they are on or off the court. This year, most of the players in the program are ninth graders and sophomores who haven’t gotten to know the older players. The captains are very interested in making a change in the way new players are introduced to the team. “We have team socials throughout the year which mix all three teams, and we have mandatory team meals [before games], so that the boys will have time to socialize and mix,” said captain senior Emerson Egly. While they want to win, the Boys’ Basketball program at St. Paul Academy believes that socializing as team will help the energy flow better on the court. The program has lost many key players since last year, and is faced with a challenge on how to fill in those lost positions. Egly believes that they’re capable of reaching their goal by using team dinners as a way to get to know each other better and excel on the court. “We have a lot of young talent that we hope to bring together this year, and this year we will be learning how to play together as a team,” Egly said. Senior Tommy Dicke, also a varsity captain, knows what it is like to see the team change every year and bring up younger players. Dicke’s first year on Varsity was his sophomore year, and he understands the level of competitiveness that goes on to play at this level. “I’m older now, and I have some real experience. Last year was my first year playing big minutes [in games] so I know what to expect. I understand the intimidation that comes with playing juniors and seniors from other schools,” he said.](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/BVB-900x600.jpg)
![US Biology teacher Andrea Bailey talks with students in preparation for the Tanzania trip. [We will be] doing things we do in class in a much more exotic locale, she said.](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Bailey.jpg)
![Battle of the Bands was cancelled this year but looks for student support for next year. ¨I kinda wish we could restore [Battle of the Bands] to its former glory,¨junior Lutalo Jones said.](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/BoB-design.jpg)
![Andrea Sachs receives her doctorate in American Studies. “[My studies] helped me polish my craft as a historian and also helped me polish my craft as a teacher,” Sachs said.](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sachs-photo.png)
![Since Netflix was blocked on the school servers teachers can no longer use it in class. “Teachers that were showing [Netflix videos] in class were inadvertently not following the user agreement,” Upper School Technology Coordinator Chris White said.](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/NETFLIX-900x643.jpg)
![Sophomore Sarah Wheaton enjoys a fall picnic for the Carlson School of Management with her mom, a career coach at the University of Minnesota. [Having parents that are professors] is both a blessing and a curse, she said.](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/unnamed-11-900x600.jpg)
