The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
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Webb rankings decline: what happened?

Eric Luo and Sandy Li
February 20, 2025
Nichole Lee (‘25) frets over Webb’s change in the Niche Rankings. Since 2022, Webb has fallen from 25th best American boarding high school to 41st. “Of course, the school is more than rankings, but such an enormous drop is not a good sign,” said Nichole.
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Waving proudly above the Price dining hall on a cold winter morning, flags hang, representing the different countries that Webb students come from. "I think the flags in Price are a beautiful way of displaying students’ culture,” Rebecca Bronshtein (’27) said. These flags are one of the steps Webb takes in its commitment to representation. "They really make our community feel closer together.”
A window into Webb’s diverse cultures
New Years Resolutions
New Years Resolutions
Each carefully tended plant is a testament to the collective care of the Lopez Urban Farm. From access to education to sustainable practices, the volunteers are always focusing on impact. "I think the most meaningful part of the work that we do is creating access. So, a lot of the things that we offer are normally monetized,” Bianca Ustrell-Friend said. Whether it is food or clothes to put on your back, the Lopez Urban Farm always meets the needs of the locally underserved.
Growing seeds of change within and beyond Webb
In preparation for donation drives, items were packaged and gathered together in the science building. Monetary donations were also used to purchase additional items including packaged food, wipes and diapers. “When tragedy strikes, I don’t feel comfortable standing by. I believe in taking action and doing what I can to help,” said Billie Guerrero, Science Department Faculty. The donation drive showcased efforts to support fire impacted residents.
Webb community aids fire-impacted residents
The photo shows key figures from Advancement and Business who starred in this video. Top Left to Right: Leanne Schweitzer, Rona Panginna, Rico Sanders, Michelle Vega. Bottom “Business is super helpful when it comes to processing my checks after I get paid from being a waiter at community dinner. They make sure everything runs smoothly, and I always get paid on time!” said Jayden Aleman ('26).
Meet the advancement and business teams
Kenny Clay (‘25) and Leia Albornoz (‘25) blast the speakers in the library, bringing good vibes to lunch on Friday the 13th of last week. Anyone walking by could hear the best tunes coming from the library that drew in a crowd of people. Kenny and Leia do not have record players yet, so for now, they are DJing using a laptop set up. “I just want to push my music agenda,” Kenny said. “Steph [Ma (‘25)] said this is just a lame excuse to be on AUX, but I’m gonna capitalize off that.”
New DJs on deck!
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Alexandra Wang (‘27) took this photo on her balcony back at Arcadia, documenting the rapid spread of the Eaton fire in Altadena. Along with the dry Winter weather and rapid blowing Santa Ana winds from inland, the fire exponentially increased in a short period of time, spreading fear among many local residents as well as Webb students tracking the hourly growth of the fires on the Calfire website, “I noticed that the Eaton Fire was getting close to my home in Arcadia on the evacuation map on Tuesday night, so I was kind of worried,” Kevin Wang (‘27) said. Boarding students with homes near the fires felt anxious especially, fearing their family’s potential evacuation.
Gale Force Tuesday: Webb tackles extreme winds and the Californian fires
Webb students often use AI tools like ChatGPT to navigate questions they have about their classes, some students even having ChatGPT Pro subscriptions. “I think it becomes a habit that’s hard to break because ChatGPT is such a versatile and accessible tool to use for everything,” Triet Pham (‘26) said. However, headlines have been surfacing linking the detrimental environmental impact of AI, with some news sources even tying the recent California wildfires to AI’s resource use. This research has raised questions on whether investing in AI is worth it.
The dangers of AI: what do Webbies know?
We are what we eat. Although this saying is repeated far more than it is actually thought about, one thing is clear—food plays an essential role, not just in our personal lives but also in culture and society as well. Good food can remind you of home when you are far away; it can bring people together when they need company; it can offer solace when all you want is to be alone on Webb’s campus. In this guide, we will break down the essentials of ordering food at Webb—what does not disappoint, what you must try, and what you might want to think twice (or a lot) about.
The ultimate guide to food deliveries at Webb
The girls' basketball team rallied in pink ribbons, ready to gather their support for cancer survivors while playing a nail-biting game. Bolstered by their competitive spirit, the team joined with the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches in an event called Coaches vs. Cancer. “By being here, you are showing that your community stands united,” said Coach Kays, science department faculty and Webb’s girls’ basketball head coach “You're demonstrating that in the face of cancer, we refuse to be silent.” The game included packed stands with fans supporting the team, and the cause!
Girls’ basketball takes on a bigger cause
Frannie Hinch (‘25) and Yuki Layman (‘25) brighten the quad through decorative chalk art. This is one of the many activities the peer advisors put on to celebrate Stress Less Week. “It was a really fun way to de-stress because drawing particularly with chalk is a really calm thing for the mind,” Yuki said. The colorful designs brought a cheerful touch to campus, lifting everyone's spirits.
Stress Less Week: does it really de-stress?
On one of the Webb robotics team’s new Skytech Nebula computers is Jake Hui (‘25), engineer of Webb’s 358 Robotics team who is currently improving his team’s robot virtually in a Computer Aided Design application, or CAD. Before the building, the driving, and the victories, comes the prototyping of the robot. “Right here [on his computer] is where the robot is designed, and I have access to all the parts that I need to try things out,” Jake said. Technical computer skills as well as an intimate knowledge of how robots work is required to efficiently work in the CAD design space. The skills are well worth the time spent, as it can save hours or even days' worth of time spent on assembly in the real world. "If there is a piece that we don’t have, 3D print it to see if it's really necessary before making an expensive purchase, as the parts can cost hundreds of dollars,” Jake said.
Webb robotics: showcasing every part of the machine in action!
About the Contributors
Eric Luo
Eric Luo, Chief of Media
Eric Luo (‘25), a senior looking forward to graduating at the end of this year, brings a unique blend of passions to campus. As the leader of the Mycology club, Eric’s enthusiasm for nature shines through his hobby of growing mushrooms; a practice he enjoys for its sustainable benefits and culinary rewards, this passion for environmental preservation mirrors his dedication to upholding strong journalistic integrity. Eric spent this summer abroad reconnecting with old friends in China and Hong Kong; traveling to Japan, he enriched his palette and broadened his perspective. Adding on to his talents, Eric is also musically inclined, composing jazz and playing three instruments: saxophone, bassoon, and piano. Continuing his journalistic pursuit in his final year, Eric remains determined to produce impactful work for the Webb Canyon Chronicle. He also hopes to bring thought-provoking content surrounding politics, such as foreign policies, social issues, and other controversies that people may feel judged in talking about. This year, Eric looks forward to bringing forward a variety of opinions and voices in and out of the Webb community, giving everybody a platform to be heard.  Favorite song: Twilight by Bôa 
Sandy Li
Sandy Li, Staff Writer
Sandy Li (‘27) is an adrenaline junkie; you can always catch her trying out new things, whether that's wrestling, new TV shows, or even now journalism. Expect the unexpected when it comes to Sandy. No one knew she was coming to Webb, not even herself. She spontaneously decided to join the Webb community and study abroad, coming all the way from Shenzhen, China to sunny California. Before joining Webb, Sandy was unsure of her passions and unable to find her true self. Now she branches out and does things for herself, not for others’ validation. She unexpectedly joined girls wrestling and took everyone by surprise with her amazing talents as a first year on the team, coming out on top as league champion by the end of the season. This year, Sandy is branching out once again; she is taking journalism and is here to stay. Her creative writing style is sure to bring a big bang into the publication, as writing is not just a hobby for her but a talent. In fact, outside of the classroom you can catch Sandy winning poetry contests, just another one of her spontaneous hobbies that became a honed talent.  Favorite Song: Burn (Hamilton Musical) by Phillipa Soo