The Octagon

A Sacramento Country Day School Newspaper

Latest post

EDITORIAL: The endless chains of college admissions

There are over 25,000 public and private high schools in the United States — each year, there are at least 25,000 valedictorians, student body presidents and club leaders vying for admission to top colleges. Yet there are around 2000 freshman…

Students, teachers share experiences with code switching

Students alter behavior and language to adapt to different social contexts, a phenomenon known as code-switching. At Country Day, code-switching manifests itself both socially and academically, impacting relationships and mental health. English teacher Jason Hinojosa defines code-switching as altering one’s…

Affinity groups provide a safe space for students to share experiences

The new affinity and alliance groups, which are piloting during the 2023-24 school year, work to maintain Country Day’s values as a school of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Coordinated by history teacher Christopher Arns, these groups hold meetings for…

Underground Mini Golf in Old Sacramento provides immersive experience

Underground Mini Golf is a new wild-west-themed mini golf course in Old Sacramento. I am moderately versed in mini golf, having visited a few places before, but Underground was a completely different experience from all of them. Upon entering Underground,…

CLASS OF 24: Senior William Holz stands en garde to take on international competition

Three hours a day, four days a week, Saturday mornings or weekdays after school, senior William Holz pokes, slashes and blocks.  William is a professional fencer, and every hour spent training in the gym is dedicated to improving his game…

Supreme Court removes affirmative action in college applications

On June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the challenge against the constitutionality of affirmative action, eliminating a practice ingrained in college admissions for over a half a century. The 6-3 decision in favor of Students…

Sacramento County considers carbon neutrality target delay

Amidst the modern climate crisis, Sacramento lawmakers are seeking effective solutions to alleviate its impacts in safeguarding the planet’s future. However, Sacramento’s recent proposal seems to diverge against this global trend.  On July 11, 2023, the Sacramento County Board of…

EDITORIAL: Violence against journalists is censorship

Last month, Joan Meyer, owner of the Marion County Record newspaper, collapsed and died one day after law enforcement raided her office. The raid responded to allegations that the paper’s journalists violated a local restaurant owner’s privacy by discovering information…

MY ANGLE: Recycling isn’t as effective as you may think

Imagine you are a plastic bottle thrown into a blue bin. In the dark, cramped space, you think about what comes next. The bin will be emptied and you will be transported to the recycling plant, where you will probably…

Junior fencer Irene Jung takes on international stage

To Junior Irene Jung, fencing is more than a sport; it’s a thrilling pursuit where the unpredictability of each match mirrors the heart-pounding excitement of the fencing arena. In every strategic move and lightning-quick parry, the thrill of fencing comes…