On January 12, 2026, PHS finance teacher Jason Pikul passed away at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania at the age of 51. Born in Avenel, New Jersey, Pikul taught Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship at PHS since 2005. He also coached baseball on the middle school and high school levels. 

Pikul had a heart attack after involvement in a car accident. He stayed in St. Mary’s Hospital for two days before being transferred to the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he passed away surrounded by his family. 

Before coming to PHS, Pikul was a financial planner and used the knowledge he acquired to help design a financial planning course to help students prepare for their futures. He always tried to stay at the forefront of current trends to ensure his teaching never felt abstract to his students. 

Business teacher Ashley Nussbaum spoke about Pikul’s captivating teaching skills.

“He was a tremendous storyteller…because he [knew] as a teacher you want to engage with humor and with your storytelling to make it tangible,” said Nussbaum. 

Pikul was also willing to work with students beyond just the classroom.

“I would meet with [Pikul] during lunchtime to ask him stuff like … ‘What do you think about some of these people in the United States, people in business’ ... [and] he would break it down for me,” said Tyler Lau ’27, a former student of Pikul.

Business teacher Allen Taskin, who was mentored by Pikul during the New Jersey New Teacher Certification Program, reflected on Pikul’s role within the school.

“He was incredibly helpful and considerate, always willing to share his extensive experience from 21 years in the classroom, offering practical advice, resources, or just a kind word to guide me as a new teacher,” wrote Taskin in a statement to the Tower. “His genuine willingness to pass on his knowledge and support will be treasured by me and our entire department. He will be greatly missed by our school community.” 

Photo: Prince Yearbook

Jason Pikul taught at PHS for 21 years.

Remembering Jason Pikul

Making resolutions has become an advent for the new year. After all, the blank pages of our new journals and calendars need to be filled with something new. In need of inspiration, many students turn to social media for guidance on what they should achieve in the upcoming year. 

Unfortunately, social media is fake — and characteristically so. In order to succeed on the algorithm, creators often need to present the most perfectly aesthetic side of their lives and deliver the most shocking statements. Most of what we see online are carefully curated and artificial, with no reliable way to confirm which lifestyles are truly authentic. If our resolutions are built off of these unrealistic online influences, they can at best lead to disappointing outcomes and at worst cause lasting damage to bodily and mental health. 

One popular new year’s resolution for students is to pursue new academic goals. Aesthetic “Study-tok” and “That Girl” videos, for example, that show unrealistically perfect routines, pressuring students to believe overachieving goals are practical. For example, many videos may include ideas equating achieving a 4.0 GPA or learning a new language in an absurdly short period of time to being a “perfect” or “ideal” student.
 
Fanciful academic resolutions are not the only unrealistic expectations pushed by social media; there are also athletic or appearance-based goals. For instance, the pressure to “glow up” can cause teens to question their body image and develop negative self-esteem, often leading to eating disorders. The constant stream of “what I ate in a day” videos or cleansing challenges can lead impressionable audiences to make nutritional decisions without professional nutrition knowledge.
 
In the end, each person knows themselves best. When setting goals, it is important to consider what one knows they are actually capable of and what their situation allows for. For example, trying to squeeze in more hours of studying into an already packed schedule could cause burn out and negatively impact future performance. Aiming for a complete physique change in a short period of time can lead to the development of unhealthy exercise habits and cause injury. 

Rather than aiming for lofty, unrealistic goals motivated by social media’s expectations, it could be better to break these goals down into smaller, more specific objectives, such as exercising three times a week or cutting down on fried foods. These kinds of resolutions are not only specific to each person, but also more simple and reachable, making them more likely to be achieved. 

Look away from online resolutions

On December 8th, the Ridgeview Turtles hosted a session to teach K-5 teachers throughout the Princeton Public Schools district about how to incorporate lessons on conservation and climate change into their curriculum. The Turtles are a PHS community service group that meets every weekend to restore Princeton’s forests and remove invasive species.

“The main goal is to get students to understand their local environment — so often we talk about far off places when we could be talking about here. And also just to get students to see that they can use science to solve problems in their own lives,” said Jaccqueline Katz, Supervisor of Science Education at PHS.

Though the Turtles have been teaching leading environmental and conservation activities at Johnson Park for years, they hope to expand the current after-school program and incorporate it into the regular school curriculum. 

“We [are] creating the next generation of young environmental stewards. We are trying to show that it’s important to have environmental education within our education system because [the system is currently] really outdated,” said Andrew Kim ’26, one of the leaders of the Turtles. 

In addition to talking about preservation, the Turtles also showcased potential lesson plans.
“We have [an activity] where we have preserved leaves and nuts from trees and kids [use them for] a matching game. The [goal] is to give teachers ideas [about] how you can teach climate change in a more attractive way,” said Elif Cam ’26, another leader of the Turtles.

The environmental teaching will be split into two parts, one in the classroom and one outside, according to Dr. Patricia Shanley, a scientist and longtime mentor for the Turtles.

“[The students] will learn which species they have on their property, what are those used for, which ones make maple syrup or pancakes…what the Turtles can do is to open the eyes of both the teachers and the students as to the miracle of what’s outside their classroom. [Then] they would get some of the conceptual overview in the classroom…the link of local [environmental issues] to global [problems],” said Shanley.

photo: Elif Cam

Elif Cam ’26, Maiya Qiu ’27, and Melvin Qiu ’27 present images of local endangered species to a room of K-5 teachers.

Ridgeview Turtles lead presentation for elementary school teachers

It is well documented that many teenagers experience a myriad of social pressures just from simply going through their day. A report from the National Institute of Mental Health reported that an estimated 31.9% of adolescents have had some anxiety disorder. Unfortunately for them, our world currently prioritizes extroverts. Especially among the social lives of young people, there’s much to gain from being unafraid to wave in the halls, initiate conversations, work through awkwardness, and deal with the complications of social cues. It is easy to assume that being outgoing equates to being happy, or even being successful, but this is not the case. Introverted people are capable of being fulfilled as well, but they simply prefer utilizing quiet reflection and close connections. Introverted students, already hindered in the social scene, find themselves further disadvantaged in their academics.

   Consider a student in their math class, raising their hand to answer a question they think they know well. If they get the question right, there is not much of a reward; the class progresses as usual. If they get it wrong, however, there are many perceivable social risks: their teacher and fellow students now know that they have a gap in their knowledge, which possibly builds a bad impression. Running through these scenarios, many students find that there is little incentive to participate. This is especially true for an introverted student, who may not enjoy participating in class even when they know the answers. Although small group discussions or one-on-one discussions with the teacher may work for them, they often get penalized all the same for not participating during full-class discussions. Currently, class participation is often ultimately a system that doesn’t account for differences in learning styles.

  While research on active learning shows that engaging with the material can help retention, it does not say that students must constantly speak in class discussion to learn. It is reasonable that there is a correlation between participation and understanding, but that is more likely because students who already know the material feel comfortable speaking and therefore get more chances to answer questions. The problem is not participation itself, but the narrow way it is viewed upon. If teachers are going to grade participation, there needs to be a conscious effort between the teacher and the student to communicate. Teachers should strive to learn how each student learns best and acknowledge multiple valid ways to “participate” in class, such as through group projects, written responses, one-on-one check-ins, or short reflections, not just speaking out in front of thirty people. For many students, working in small groups is just as effective, and often less intimidating, than responding to or asking a question in front of the whole class.

  Isaac Son ’27 corroborated this idea. “I think definitely within a small group, I feel like you probably have much less judgment.”

 Teachers who want to better gauge student performances can use written responses or individual forms. To facilitate the sharing of ideas, classes should use small groups in which students can confer with their peers and have more meaningful conversations. There is never a need for teachers to assign grade-point worth to a system that works for very few and accomplishes very little.

Cons of participation: How important is class participation?

*The PHS Learning Commons stores 
archives of The Tower dating back 
to the first issue in 1929. We decided 
to take a look and show some of the 
most interesting pieces of PHS history 
throughout the years.*


### The Tower conducts a survey of redheads


In 1947, the Tower conducted a survey 
on the personal likes and dislikes of 
PHS redheads. The only definitive 
result from the survey, according to 
the article, was that the majority of 
redheads disliked the nickname “red."


### PHS students purchase a plane


During World War II, the student 
council led a buy-a-plane campaign, 
which aimed to raise $15,000 to buy 
an army trainer ship. The student 
body ended up raising almost $20,000 
through bonds and stamps, equivalent 
to $3.6 million today. As such, a 
sponsorship panel with PHS’s name 
was placed on the plane. 

### Frank Sinatra visits PHS

On March 29, 1945, the Tower 
reported on an event where multiple 
Hollywood stars, including Frank 
Sinatra, hosted an event at PHS to 
encourage students to purchase war 
bonds. The cheapest tickets for the 
event started at $100 of war bonds 
(worth $1,800 today), and the most 
expensive reached $5000 in bonds 
($90,000 today)!

### PHS students watch Sputnik


In 1957, the Tower covered a group 
of PHS “moonwatchers” who woke 
up early to watch the Soviet’s Sputnik 
Satellite, the first satellite to reach 
space. The students described it as 
“quite a sight.” However, the head 
of the PHS science department 
downplayed the event, saying that “if 
there had been a race to be first, we 
could’ve been there two years ago.”
PHS students purchase a plane
The Tower conducts a survey 

Graphic: Emily Kim


Sputnik satellite

The Tower peeks into PHS history

This article was not written by ChatGPT, but it very well could have been. As the artificial intelligence world learns to adapt and seep through the gaps of our detection system, it evolves at a deplorable rate with humanizers, paraphrasers, and other ingenious developments to mask its footprints. If masking technology continues to progress at the rate it is, it seems inevitable that an AI-generated essay will be indistinguishable from a human-written one. 


PHS administration attempted to solve this problem of totalistic AI usage through the banning of the ringleader, ChatGPT. However, shunning the idea of AI usage makes it a “forbidden fruit” all the more appealing to students, and encourages methods like AI humanizers to create less detectable ways of cheating. History proves this fact; look towards large-scale events such as Prohibition or crackdowns on the drug trade in recent years. Instead of curbing the usage of said substances, it only encouraged perpetrators to create more discrete and undetectable methods. However, Principal Cecilia Birge acknowledges this issue, clarifying that the arrangement of banning ChatGPT is not here to stay.


“I have no doubt it is temporary,” said Birge. “I just don’t know how temporary it is. I also think this tug-of-war between innovation and regulation will continue and become even more intense.” 


Although temporary, this solution poses a serious threat to the overarching effort against AI usage. Despite the intention to limit unsolicited usage, students can simply rely on other tools that complete the same purpose. It only serves to expedite the tug-of-war that Birge alluded to as regulation takes longer than innovation. Hence, regulatory focus should be pivoted towards accepting AI’s place amongst the giants, educating ourselves about it and using it as a tool. Our school should consider educating teachers on how to incorporate AI into their classes or possibly even having a required elective about responsible and effective AI usage, similar to how PIRL and Personal Finance are required.


 “[AI] replaces everyone that is less competent than it,” said computer science teacher Edward Yin. 


There are certainly reasons to fear the rise of AI. It consumes mountains of energy and moves thousands of gallons of water, but unfortunately, top companies do not care about negative impacts. Morality has never stopped innovation and it certainly will not this time, as we already see billions of dollars being invested in the field. There is no reason to believe that the well-meaning will be able to change the minds of the greedy.
It is imperative that our district accept that AI is here, and regardless of whether it will stay, students should adapt to new technology for the sake of their future; someone who cannot use AI to improve their productivity will always be outcompeted by someone who can. Yin’s approach is to maintain a traditional approach to his class and integrate AI later. Although PHS is trying to devise a more holistic approach to AI, an all-out ban is not as beneficial as it may first seem. AI is not an enemy, but it’s possible to make it one. 

Pros of AI in School

Some of the most important subjects in life are those that cannot be learned in solitude or taught in school. Whether those are skills learned through experience or lessons realized 
through failure, as students, we ought to have a place to explore these ideas. Instead of relying on a home or school setting to facilitate this growth, we should seek a “third 
space” — a public area where individuals can interact and build a sense of community. The way to cultivate such a space is to ensure that everyone is welcome there and that there are no serious responsibilities. Busy PHS students often neglect to venture into environments besides home and school, but seeking out third spaces is highly beneficial for their own well-being and overall social health.

PHS’s academic culture is very competitive, and third spaces may feel like a waste of time unless it’s for meeting up to do work. However, these places act as buffers against burnout and isolation. Many libraries now incorporate creative “stress-buster” zones — think therapy dogs, board games, and “Secrets Walls” where anxious students can share confessions anonymously and connect through shared vulnerability.

Indeed, studies have shown that attendance at third spaces provide academic benefits too. For example, a study in 2011 by Anton Havnes, a professor specialized in education, found that 
the likelihood of college enrollment increased by 7% when students took advantage of these spaces. He reasoned that this increase was due to more people being taught about the importance of college having spoken to people they otherwise would not have. A survey from the NIH conducted shortly after the rise of Covid found that people reported levels of reduced 
well-being because they could not access their third spaces, proving that these spaces are essential for success.

But even without these benefits, students should value and protect third spaces. School often forces students to be constantly productive without room for breaks, and this stress carries over into late-night studying sessions at home. Third spaces allow for us to slow down and have fun; it is just an 
added benefit that enjoying ourselves is academically beneficial.

Given all of these upsides, where are these places? Established third spaces have a few characteristics: it should be welcoming to all and easily accessible, it shouldn’t require work 
or commitment to participate in, and finally, it should be focused on human connection. They outline the key social functions these spaces serve — not just physically, but 
emotionally and culturally. His framework helps us understand why these spaces matter so deeply in building community, well-being, and belonging. Though the internet wasn’t prevalent when third spaces were first devised, these places can be online too. Consider using these places to take a break and take comfort in knowing that work is still being done; learning is most efficient when it is wanted.

One of Princeton’s most attractive third spaces for students is the Princeton Public Library. Whether you’re meeting with friends to study or just to have fun, it serves as a 
place for socialization and connection. The Teen Center frequently offers Take & Make crafts to help destress, and the third floor has a collection of different games to play with 
friends. In addition to serving as just a free-form space, the library often hosts events open to the public. Princeton also offers many cafés and boba shops with space that students can 
take advantage of, such as Small World Coffee and Junbi. No matter how busy life seems to get, we should always carve out time to find a third space and experience connection

Photo: Yeseong Na

The Hinds Plaza provides an accessible third space.

In search of third spaces

# Odin’s Discovery of the Runes

Odin, chief of the Aesir gods, stood atop a branch of Yggdrasil, the tree that supports the nine realms of existence. He stared down into the Well of Urd from which the tree grew.

Within this pool were the Norns, the three guides of fate, and Odin sought the ability to change the future by carving a rune onto Yggdrasil. Control over creation lay in understanding those shapes, and Odin knew of just one way to learn them.

He drew his spear; he had told his fellow gods not to doubt he was worthy. He flipped himself over the branch and stabbed his spear into his side.

Pain was nothing in the grand pursuit of knowledge; Odin had already given up an eye for understanding. He hung for nine days, searching.

On the ninth night, as the torture crescendoed, his body, muscles burning, delirious from loss of blood, he saw shapes with tangible power. He shouted, releasing his spear and ending his torment. He had seen the runes!

Odin left Yggdrasil, returning to Asgard as the most powerful creature in all of creation.

Knowledge and power is rewarded only to the dedicated.

# Orpheus and Eurydice

Orpheus wasn’t supposed to have seen hell yet. The exit to Hades’ palace was in front of him, his wife’s shadow beside him. He held under his arm the lyre he had just played to petition Hades for his wife’s life. He silently thanked Apollo for giving him the instrument before stepping out of the doors.

The conditions for leaving Eurydice were simple: walk out of the underworld without looking back at his wife. Upon seeing the sun, her life would be returned to her.

Orpheus mulled over the challenge, comforting in the sound of his treasured wife’s footsteps. He was excitedly waiting to exchange words with Eurydice once again. They continued traveling, protected by Hades, until the end was in sight. Orpheus walked through the border between Elysium and the surface.

Suddenly, Eurydice’s footsteps ceased.

Fear shot through Orpheus’ heart. He was so close. He kept his eyes forward, waiting. Her footsteps never returned. Maybe she had already crossed; maybe she was hurt, stuck, unable to leave the underworld. The thoughts chewed up his mind.

He turned around.

Orpheus saw Eurydice leave his life, one step away from escape, consumed in shadow, and dragged back to the Underworld.

Not trusting in those you love can have dire consequences.

Short Mythological Stories

The summer has nearly arrived, meaning it’s also time
for insects to rear their ugly heads once again. As we begin
to spend more time outside, avoiding insects is not just
important for general comfort but also for steering clear
of diseases.

The most common type of insect repellent contains a
chemical called N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or DEET
for short. This chemical has proven to be very effective,
being the strongest bug repellent option on the market
and having saved millions of lives in disease-prone
areas. However, in places with fewer mosquito-borne
diseases, it’s a good idea to move away from DEET as
we consider a greener future.

A study by the National Institutes of Health
in 2020 shows that DEET is an excellent bug
repellent because it disrupts the olfactory
system of insects, making it so that insects
cannot detect humans. Unfortunately,
pollinator insects also rely very heavily
on these senses to support their survival
and their ecosystem. Compounded with DEET’s long
degradation time, this negative externality significantly
harms biodiversity, food webs, farming, and many
environmental aspects for long periods of time.

DEET also has a few other issues, such as having
an unpleasant odor and causing skin irritation.
According to the National Pesticide
Information Center, it can occasionally
be harmful to pets that are nearby while
applying the spray, potentially causing
seizures if the animal is overexposed.
These problems can be solved by
switching to plant-based repellents —
made from essential oils such as neem,
clove, or eucalyptus. Additionally, plantbased repellents degrade much faster
than DEET based repellants. Consumer
Reports stated in 2023 that because of
their fast evaporation time, however,
plant-based botanical repellents usually
only provide around two hours of protection, requiring
frequent reapplication. But given that crucial pollinators
are affected far less by botanical sprays, the trade off is
worth it to lessen environmental damage.

While alternative insect repellents may offer
environmental and health benefits, DEET remains the
most effective option in certain contexts. In regions such as
sub-Saharan Africa, where mosquito-borne illnesses such
as malaria claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year,
DEET’s potency makes it a preferred choice. Thus, if you’re
traveling to areas with a high risk of insect-borne diseases,
using a DEET-based repellent is advisable.

However, even then, you still don’t necessarily need a
formula with 100 percent DEET; concentrations of 20 to
30 percent can still offer strong protection with reduced
exposure. For those staying in lower-risk areas like
Princeton, consider switching to repellents that are less
harmful to both your health and the environment. Choosing
safer alternatives can still provide adequate protection while
minimizing negative impacts. 

Ditch the DEET this summer

As the school year comes to a close, it can be tempting to sit back and relax, letting the whole summer blur past while you stay indoors and retreat to the online world. While relaxing is crucial, staying physically fit can be just as important.


Exercise has numerous health benefits, but without school sports in the summer, it can be hard to find ways to stay healthy. Fortunately, staying active doesn’t mean you have to do vigorous exercise every day. Even something as simple and small as going outside for a stroll can be beneficial.



Parks are a great place to spend time outside and enjoy the nice summer weather. Whether it’s taking a walk or walking your dog, parks are there for you to get some fresh air. Smoyer Park is a classic, with open fields and ponds, which is a nice and peaceful environment to walk through. Marquand Park offers labelled trees and well-kept trails, perfect for those who love nature. For those sports and skateboard enthusiasts, Hilltop Park contains a soccer field, baseball/softball diamond, basketball courts, and a whole skate park. These parks are perfect for sports lovers that play sports even outside of the school season, like Sebastian Balestri ’28.



“I like playing tennis, so sometimes during the summer I like going to certain parks with tennis courts and just play tennis with my friends,” said Balestri.



The Community Park Pool is also open during the summer, and swimming is a great way to stay active, with your body burning calories to stay warm and swimming itself being a strenuous activity. Pools are the place to go if you just want to spend time with your family, cool off, or just have fun and fool around with your friends.



There are a number of hiking trails in and around Princeton too. The Watershed Reserve, located in Hopewell Valley, has over 10 miles of trails and supports one of the largest nature centers in New Jersey. Within Princeton are the Herrontown Woods, which is open to the public everyday free of charge, and the 5.2 mile Stony Brook trail. For those who are willing to travel the distance, the Sourland Mountain Preserve is 30 minutes away with hiking trails that have amazing views and beautiful rock formations.



“Over the summer I like to hike at the Watershed Reserve because I really like the environment there. I like to go there when the sun is about to rise to get a good view,” said Gavin Macatangay ’27.



As for indoor activities, there are also many options nearby. Gyms such as Planet Fitness offer a traditional gym experience, while places like the Gravity Vault have other options, such as rock climbing.



The key to staying active is keeping consistent while making the most out of your summer, even if the things you do are small and simple. Staying active doesn’t mean missing out on the summer fun, it means making the most out of the time that you have.

Photo: Emily Kim


Lily Berkery ’26, Kalina Tacheva ’26, and Mercy Ebong ’26 walk laps during gym.

Ways to stay active after school ends

“Charlie the Chocolate Factory” takes
a twist at the Odyssey of the Mind World
Finals, as Chef Oopsie Doopsie (an oompa
loompa) overthrows Willy Wonka and
decides to use the factory for a dinner
party instead.


But things soon go awry for Chef Oopsie
Doopsie as his guests begin reacting poorly
to his concoctions (including hair toffee),
and at the last moment Chef Oopsie
Doopsie decides to pursue his true passion
instead: becoming an opera singer.


Joy Chen ’27 , Claire Yang ’27, Viola
Que ’27, and Julia Li ’27 and Luna Xu ’28
competed and performed this skit from
May 21–24 at the Odyssey of the Mind
World Finals in Michigan. Odyssey of
the Mind is an international competition
encouraging students to use creativity in
a theatrical performance that responds to
one of five prompts, while incorporating
STEM or literarature-related topics. This
year, the PHS team chose the prompt
“Classics...Cooking with Books,” where
they were challenged to create a skit based
on “an original chef character inspired by
classic literature.”


 In addition to creating the skit, the team
also had to create props and costumes out
of materials totalling no more than $140,
which led the team to use recycled materials
— using cardboard and construction paper
to make large green wigs for the Oompa
Loompas and a mechanical lazy susan to
present the dishes.


The largest part of the judge’s final score
are the creative aspects of the skit, which
encouraged the team to think in a different
way than usual. Que noted that some of the
most engaging presentations came from
younger competitors in the elementary
and middle school divisions.


“[In] Odyssey of the Mind, you think
in a different way — like [someone] at a
younger age. I think as you get older, in
high school, [you’re] afraid to be judged,”
said Que. “[But] when you do Odyssey of
the Mind, anything goes. If you want to
do something, you can do it, and nobody’s
going to judge you, even if it sounds silly.”


The team began each session with a brain
dump, coming up with ideas, trying out
different possibilities, and dividing up the
work according to the strengths of each
member. Marcus Strum ’27, a member of
a different team in the PHS Odyssey of the
Mind club, noted the strong work ethic of
the team that qualified for Worlds.


“Before the competition, there’s typically
several working sessions at people’s houses
and script writing sessions over FaceTime.
The team that went to worlds this year
worked all day going into a sleepover,”
said Strum.


Throughout the year, the team fundraised
for their event and journey to Worlds
through GoFundMe and chocolate bar
sales, as the trip was not supported
financially by the school.


“It was unfortunate that for all the
hard work we [put in that] we [weren’t]
able to get funded by the school on our
trip, even though we were also going to
be representing Princeton High School
at [an] international competition ... with
thousands of people,” said Que.


Although Que admits that the team
was initially unfamiliar with Odyssey of
the Mind, their experience at Worlds,
where they ultimately placed 25th out of
38 teams in their category, has energized
and motivated the team to perform even
better next year.


“It’s made me excited for next year,
because I [realized that] if I put my mind
to [something], I can make whatever I
want, and it can be a fun experience. If you
want to make something really cool, like,
mechanical gadget, or a robot ... [I realized]
you can do it,” said Que.

Photo Courtesy: Jacqueline Katz

From left to right: Viola Que ’27, Julia Li ’27, Joy Chen ’27, Luna Xu ’28, and Claire
Yang ’27 after their performance of ‘Chef Oopsie’s Revelation’ at World Finals.

PHS Odyssey of the Mind team competes at Worlds

As co-president of the PHS teachers’ union, advisor to the Science Olympiad club, former Hebrew and chemistry teacher, and current special education teacher, Renee Szporn’s résumé spans 40 years and multiple careers. However, education has remained a constant throughout.

“I love learning, and I want to share my love of learning with others,” said Szporn. “I remember from a very young age lining up my dolls and playing school. I always wanted to be a teacher.”

Szporn, at her parents’ request, majored in Chemistry, though she struggled to find jobs after graduation. After brief stints as a chemistry teacher and a Hebrew teacher, Szporn decided to pursue special education.

“At the time that I was looking for work, there weren’t a lot of science [education] jobs. Teachers were treated with a lot more respect — they had a lot more autonomy in their classroom — and [they] weren’t leaving education, so there were no openings,” said Szporn. “All my friends were telling me, ‘Well, if you get certification in special education, you’ll get a job,’ and that’s what happened.”

In New Jersey, special education teachers must receive certification, accommodate students’ Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs), and adapt to students’ varying needs.  
“I’m very glad, but it’s tough. I’ll give an example: here’s Hamlet. I have four different editions. I have kids who need [a larger copy] because of dyslexia. They’ll need a larger print, and then they can rearrange and cut out the letters. Then I have students that have major comprehension problems, so then I’ll have [a translated copy] ... and then I have kids that really can’t read. And then we do stick figures,” said Szporn. 

For Szporn, one of the most rewarding parts of her job is seeing the impact of her efforts. Her special education students have gone on to work on Wall Street, publish books, and attend Harvard Medical School as postdoctoral students.

“I’m making a difference with special education. I’m really helping the kids. I’m glad I made the switch, but it was difficult. I think a lot of people don’t respect special education teachers. I think a lot of people think that we’re less than when we are more than,” said Szporn.

Evan Kang ’25, a student in Szporn’s English IV In-Class Resource Program (ICRP) class, is one student impacted by Szporn. A self-described “introvert,” Kang emphasized how Szporn’s combination of humor and passion has helped him open up.

“[Szporn] makes me laugh every day,” said Kang. “I applied to 26 colleges, and she’s like, ‘You’re crazy.’ I’m like, ‘I’m going to commit somewhere, but I haven’t done it yet.’ And ... she’s like — ‘You’re gonna be the one who makes me want to retire.’ We like to joke around.”

Szporn also serves as one of three co-presidents of the Princeton Regional Educators Association (PREA), a union that represents the interests of all of the  teachers in the Princeton Public School district, including salary, health benefits, working conditions, and teaching policies. Just as with special education, Szporn’s position as union president was not originally planned.

“[I was told] by my father to never volunteer ... but someone came up to me and said, ‘You used to be a debater [and] you speak very well. Would you like to be in the union?’” said Szporn. “And like a fool, I said yes, and I moved up in the ranks. I had no intention of ever being a union president and then I’m co-president.”

Although she has left a career in chemistry behind, Szporn has kept that part of her life alive by serving as the advisor for the PHS Science Olympiad team for the past 20 years.

“I’m with my nerds [at PHS Science Olympiad]. I don’t like to call them that, but I love them. The kids are so inventive and dedicated and driven and we have a good time, and I just adore them. I love it,” said Szporn. 

Throughout PHS, whether in her special education classrooms, at Science Olympiad meetings, or among her colleagues in PREA, Szporn has developed a reputation as a person who is all-in for the causes she believes in.

“[Szporn] is really smart — she cares a lot about her students. She demands a lot of them, but she also gives them the support that they need to reach those goals,” said Jennifer Bigioni, Educational Media Specialist and Szporn’s colleague in PREA. “[Szporn] is flamboyant, she’s funny, she’s a justice warrior — she’s a very dynamic person.”


Photo: Emily Kim

Szporn introduces a video about King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table.

PHS Profile: Renee Szporn

Walk into any grocery store in America, and you’re bound to find shelves full of ultra-processed foods wrapped in shiny plastic packaging. Ultra-processed goods, products that are prepared using industrial methods, are often high in sugar, salt, and fat. For these reasons, many health professionals and critics on social media have taken to advocating for consumption of “whole” foods such as fruits and vegetables. Although reaching for an apple is decidedly healthier than grabbing a bag of chips, both foods can be sources of a less-discussed health threat — microplastics.


Microplastics are defined as small pieces of plastic less than five millimeters long, and result from the natural degradation of plastic products, such as packaging, synthetic textiles, and paint. Since the coinage of the term “microplastics” in a 2004 University of Plymouth study, its negative effects on marine organisms have been well-established. However, microplastics aren’t just a problem for our environment — they have begun to find their way into the foods that we consume on a daily basis.


For example, a 2020 study by Catania University discovered that carrots and apples contained high levels of microplastics, likely due to absorption of microplastic-contaminated water. Additionally, according to a National Institutes of Health study from 2023, tea bags made with certain plastics can release billions of very small microplastics into cups of tea. Marine organisms consumed by humans can also have thousands of larger microplastics, and any foods stored in plastic containers contain thousands of plastic particles of all sizes. When consumed, these microplastics have been shown to mimic hormones, messenger chemicals within the body. One study from the American Chemical Society found that a gene called TRPV4 was over-expressed due to microplastics acting as growth factors, leading to respiratory issues. Microplastics can contribute to an increased risk of cancer, neurological diseases, and respiratory issues. They also exacerbate pre-existing medical issues, or activate latent disease-causing genes in the body. 


In particular, many of the microplastics in humans arise from a process known as biomagnification. Because of pollution, there are many plastic particles floating in the ocean. Small organisms eat these plastics, and they are then consumed by predators. The plastics move up in the food chain, becoming more and more concentrated in the tissue of the apex predators. When a human proceeds to eat this animal, they receive a portion of the many microplastics present in the ocean. Biomagnification occurs in a similar sense for land animals like chickens and cows, which often consume contaminated plants. In all cases, the original source of microplastics are man-made materials that pollute the environment.


This is not a problem that can be solved through selection in what we eat, but instead needs to be solved at its origin. We fill our oceans with trash, destroying the single geographic feature that gave rise to all life. As a society, we need to change to save our planet, our oceans, our marine life, and ourselves. Large societal shift begins with small, personal steps. Right here at PHS, students can make a meaningful impact in the fight against microplastic pollution. From the cafeteria to the vending machines, we make daily choices that either contribute to or help combat this growing health and environmental crisis. 


If you want to stay away from these life-threatening, cancer-causing particles, start by putting your water bottles in the recycling. The next time you go to the cafeteria or Tiger Café, choose items with less plastic packaging. Bring your own reusable water bottle instead of purchasing plastic beverage bottles from the vending machine. Even small changes like using your own reusable utensils or avoiding plastic straws count. These changes may seem insignificant, but together, we can reduce sources of microplastics that end up in our food, and in our bodies.

Photo: Julia Li

Izzah Memon ’27 eats a bag of chips during break.

Microplastics are a macro problem

On March 27, PHS students gathered
in the new gym for a celebration of
Hispanic culture and history. Following
the administration’s postponement of the
assembly, which was originally schedule
for October, students from clubs such as
Latinos Unidos and Generation 1 came
together in January to begin the planning
process. This year’s assembly included
numerous performances, including those
that showcased the many perspectives of
Hispanic people throughout the Princeton
community.


In order to address PHS administration’s
concerns about the event’s educational
value, new performances focused on
teaching various aspects of Hispanic
culture, such as mariachi music and
quinceañera dances, a tradition that
celebrates a girl’s 15th birthday common
in many Latin American countries.
“A new event that we tried out that we
hadn’t done previous years for the assembly
is a quinceañera: we [had] a bunch of
quinceañeras with big dresses, and we [had]
teachers to do a waltz with them,” said Aimy
Solares ’26, one of the board members of
Latinos Unidos.


Latinos Unidos led the preperation for
assembly. As a completely student-led club,
the planning board coordinated with several
outside community groups, as well as club
members from the organization Gen 1, to
ensure all events and rehearsals happened
smoothly.


“[The preparation is] chaotic … we have
to talk to everyone who’s part of it to make
sure they’re up to date with everything,
especially with our other events making sure
everyone’s doing their part,” said Osbaldo
Morales ’25, co-president of Latinos Unidos.
This year’s Hispanic Heritage celebration
was the first to include several other PHS
clubs in its performances. This added an
extra challenge for the organizers, as they
had to schedule rehearsal times that would
work for all the students involved.


“For our assembly, usually we kind of just
plan it out among ourselves, but this year we
tried to get other clubs like PULSE involved
and the PHS Step Team,” said Solares. “We
[also tried] to get other people outside of
Latinos [Unidos] to come in and volunteer
and help with the assembly.”


Though the assembly was intended to
celebrate Hispanic culture, students of all
cultural backgrounds are encouraged to
participate in future events.


“Can you dance? Can you sing? Can
you move furniture around? I could. You
can. Everyone’s invited. Whoever wants to
participate — even the administration — is
invited. The community outside of the PHS
community is also invited,” said Idiana
Mejia-Rodriguez, a Spanish teacher at PHS
and the advisor of Latinos Unidos.


The organizers hope that the assembly
not only succesfully educated others on
Hispanic culture and heritage, but also
brought representation to Princeton’s
large, but often-underrepresented Hispanic
community. The assembly was intended to
serve as a public platform for their voices
and ideas to showcase their diverse culture
and form a sense of community.


“I think we just want them to feel seen
and know that there’s other kids just like
them and just to [provide] representation.
Hopefully [even] if they don’t feel like they
belong somewhere [else] in the school,
they know that they belong in our club,”
said Solares.

Photo: Charley Hu  

Camila Del Castillo, Mona Mobin-Uddin ’26, and Cecilia Reynolds ’25 adjust their garments in preparation for the assembly.


Hispanic heritage assembly showcases diversity and culture

Within two months of taking office, President Donald Trump has already cut funding for many departments within the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. The cuts to the National Institute of Health (NIH) hit especially hard, removing funding from many research institutions. 


The NIH is the federal agency responsible for conducting and supporting medical research. Their mission statement is to “seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.” 


According to the New York Times, in 2024, $32 billion was spent on grants, with $23 billion going to direct costs and $9 billion going to overhead costs. These overhead costs are what the Trump administration attempts to target, but what they’re missing is that overhead costs are incredibly important to research. Without them, the United States will fall behind in the scope of worldwide research progress. 


The NIH has served an essential role in the development of medications in the U.S. A data assessment from the JAMA Health Forum found that the NIH funded the creation of 99% of drugs approved between 2010 and 2019, ranging from cancer treatments to advancements in gene editing. With funding being frozen for some institutions, these developments are bound to grind to a halt. This means that the United States simply will not be able to research as quickly as other countries. This inevitably leads to less innovation, as the funds for the backend operations required aren’t being provided.


Biology teacher and PHS Research Program head Jennifer Smolyn relied on government funding for the multiple research programs and labs that she participated in during her college years.
“I think colleges and universities are going to have to think about who gets to do research. They’ll probably shift the focus more towards graduate students, and there will be fewer opportunities for undergraduates, is what I would guess is kind of the easiest fix,” said Smolyn. “But they will definitely need to think about where the funding is going, how they’re allocating resources, and to whom.”


Smolyn says that she is trying to be optimistic about the situation, but reading the news about these funding cuts is alarming and discouraging. However, she is still positive about the fact that the U.S. will remain a world leader in scientific research and progress despite these cuts. “I don’t know that I would say we’ll lose our position entirely, but I do think it will be more of a challenge to … hold the standard of academic research that we do,” says Smolyn. 


Although the funding cuts only directly affect the NIH, PHS will also inevitably feel its tremors. As the student Research Program relies on money from the New Jersey State Department of Education, which gets its money from taxpayers, this funding cut will likely affect PHS’s ability to support particularly resource-heavy student projects. Research is an integral part of PHS’s academic culture, and PHS students should be aware of these far reaching policies when casting their votes in the future.

NIH funding cuts hurt innovation

As a published author and the creator of the Mandarin
curriculum at PHS, Shwu-Fen Lin has taught Mandarin
for over 30 years. Growing up in Taiwan, Lin dreamed
of becoming a Mandarin teacher ever since she was a
young girl.

 “I think [being] a teacher is a powerful job. You can
teach somebody something new,” said Lin. “I think [it
is important that] you teach a student [so that] they can
see, they can read, they can speak, they can talk.”

 Lin’s journey as an educator began in Taiwan, where she
taught high school Mandarin for 3 years before moving
to the United States. She initially taught elementary and
middle schoolers in the Highland Park School District.
She ultimately found herself drawn to PHS because of
the students and the quality of the district.

 “I’m here because Princeton High School [is in] a very
good school district ... they have very nice students ... I
love to teach here,” said Lin.

 Lin employs a number of teaching methods that involve
simulating real-world situations to help students become
more confident with their Mandarin.

 “We can ‘shop’ in the classroom. So some students
become the vendor, some students become the buyer ...
[this is] very practical, how to shop in the real world,”
said Lin. “[I also use the] bicycle-chain [method] every
day. So all the students [stand] ... in the center of the
classroom [and talk about] different topics every day
[with a] friend [until] they rotate like a bicycle chain.”

 Another particularly unique method she uses is called
“ban zhang,” which means class captain. Being ban zhang
allows students to model the lesson for the day, setting
an example for their peers.

 “All the students can become a ban zhang for one
week ... to help ... the student’s self-confidence,” said Lin.
 Outside the classroom, Lin has also co-authored
books on Mandarin, from basic levels all the way to AP.
Her effective teaching style has led her to give talks at
multiple large teacher conferences.

 “The past 19 years ... I [gave] a lot of good [speeches]
in very huge teacher [conferences], like [the] National
Chinese Language Conference, and ACTFL, a very big
World Language teacher conference,” said Lin.
 Thomas Basso ’27, who has been taking Mandarin for
three and a half years, appreciates Lin’s energetic teaching
style and the enthusiasm she brings to class.

“She ... tries her very best to get everyone to participate
and will often cold-call on people who she thinks aren’t
participating enough, which in a way forces everyone
to pay attention and stay engaged ... I’ve been learning
Spanish since kindergarten, and I still feel like I know
more Mandarin than Spanish,” said Basso. “Mrs. Lin
sometimes makes jokes in class to make us laugh and is
happy to answer any questions that we have.”

 Lin believes that the end goal of learning Mandarin
is to connect with Chinese culture. To help spread
and showcase Asian culture throughout the Princeton
community, Lin established the annual Asian Festival
at PHS in 2007, an event featuring performances and
booths from several Asian culture clubs.

“Every year, we have around 500 people that come
together to celebrate [and] learn Asian culture. This is very
important [as] people need to talk to people, [because]
if I understand your culture, I will respect your culture,”
said Lin. “So I say language is communication, the tool,
but most important that you use this tool in real life, and
be able to use language not only as regular conversation,
but also as a skill to develop.

 Lin believes that learning a new language is not
something that can happen in a classroom alone, but
requires skillful practice throughout one’s life.

 “I like to help my [students] become life [learners],
not only in my classroom ... so they can continue to
learn, even in society,” said Lin. “When you graduate,
you will continue to learn your whole life. I think that’s
very important.

Photo: Katherine Chen
Lin shows her Mandarin class traditonal Chinese New Year decorations.

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