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The News Site of Mills High School

The Thunderbolt
55&deg Millbrae, CA
Students and Teachers Weigh In On AI Use
During the San Francisco Walkout, protesters held signs, demanding justice for Renee Good. (Marvin Loong / Mills High School)
When ICE Acts, Communities Rise
Like many students, they get distracted by their phones while working.
Phone Policy Proposition 2026
Mills students and the Japanese exchange students pose for a photo while holding omikuji (good fortune paper slips).
Mills High School Welcomes Cultural Exchange Students
MOCK UP: A rendering of what the retail space will look like once T&T moves in.
Millbrae’s Potential New Asian Supermarket
CSF hosts STEM field trip
Aislinn Xiao (12) captures a photo of the ocean view during the camp's beach day field trip.
A Trip to Remember
Nicole Li (11) runs a series of checks on the plane in preparation for take off.
Mills Student Prepares to Take to the Sky
Volunteering is a great way for high school students to figure out what they want to do in the future.
Step Up and Serve
A New Beginning
Senior Brooke Phimsoutham arranges custom bouquets, each created with love and care.
Brooke’s Bouquets
Ring given by her mom
A “Piece” of History
Picture paradise, paired with a slice of cake and a warm drink to soothe your appetite.
Love in Many Ways
Black kitten holding a small bouquet of bright pink flowers and pastel hearts.
Relation-sinks.
In Mariah Carey's latest "defrosting" video, the elf carries away her Sephora products as he goes on strike. (Image courtesy of Mariah Carey on YouTube, "Mariah Carey - It's Time!!!! (2025)" )
Defrost Disaster
Sexual Abuse: Are Schools Doing Enough to Stop Staff from Perpetrating it?
The middle college experience
During Mills High School 2025 Homecoming, this picture shows how students seem to be un-intrigued during the dance and would rather play cards instead
Has Mills Lost Its Spirit?
TIKTOK; the flip the phone trend takes over people.
Is the ‘Flip the Camera’ Trend Bullying?
Mills High School student sleeping in class after staying up late doing homework.
The Truth About Teen Sleep
Boys varsity soccer Ethan Cabrera (12) getting ready to kick soccer ball
What’s Kicking With Mills Soccer?
JV boys basketball in their pregame huddle before a game
The Successful Team Chemistry of JV Basketball
The Differences Between JV and Varsity Quad Games
SNOW MAIDEN: After a long day of Nutcracker performances, Olivia Ma (9) smiles in front of the holiday backdrop in her Snow Maiden costume.
My Nutcracker Christmas Tradition
Freshman guard Makena Hoover (9) banks in the fast break layup
Girls Varsity Basketball Features Two Freshmen
CUTOUT: Bruno Mars cardboard head cutout held up in the air in a crowd
Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might” Might be Your Next Obession
The Return of Physical Media
The Return of Physical Media
A vivid look into the brand-new final season of Stranger Things
Stranger Things Season 5: The Most Controversial Season Yet
The cast of Dancing With the Stars gather to take a photo on Good Morning America.
Born to Be Wild On the Dance Floor
Photo of the "Wicked: For Good" poster with Elphaba, Glinda, Fiyero, Madame Morrible, and the Wizard. (Jukoff via GoodFon.com, CC BY-SA 4.0 License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
Missed the “Wicked” movies?
CARTOON: New year, new supplies: pencils, notebooks, binders, and ... a bullet proof vest? A grim reflection on the normalization of gun violence. "First Day of School!!!" by Joon Russo (12), Thunderbolt Creative Committee Graphic Artist
Editorial: The Media Has Desensitized and Normalized Gun Violence
We Call for Compassion and Action: Addressing the Impact of Global Events on Students
We Call for Compassion and Action: Addressing the Impact of Global Events on Students
The Increasing Cost of Housing in Millbrae
The Increasing Cost of Housing in Millbrae
Our Vote Matters In American Politics. Here's Why
Our Vote Matters In American Politics. Here’s Why
Changing Student Culture Begins with Us
Changing Student Culture Begins with Us
The News Site of Mills High School

The Thunderbolt
The News Site of Mills High School

The Thunderbolt
News
Students and Teachers Weigh In On AI Use
Ricardo Palomares-Hernandez, Staff Writer • February 18, 2026

The day has come where the school district temporarily banned artificial intelligence (AI) on all school Chromebooks. The district is setting up a committee to decide a direction on AI going forward, according to Technology Support Specialist Gabe Glynn. Some...

During the San Francisco Walkout, protesters held signs, demanding justice for Renee Good. (Marvin Loong / Mills High School)
When ICE Acts, Communities Rise
Iris Lee Chou and Olivia Ma
Like many students, they get distracted by their phones while working.
Phone Policy Proposition 2026
Ellie Kang and Mabel Kaufman
Mills students and the Japanese exchange students pose for a photo while holding omikuji (good fortune paper slips).
Mills High School Welcomes Cultural Exchange Students
Tiffany Pham, Staff Writer
MOCK UP: A rendering of what the retail space will look like once T&T moves in.
Millbrae’s Potential New Asian Supermarket
Elijah Cabatic, Opinions Editor
Features
CSF hosts STEM field trip
Sofia Madrigal, staff writer • February 18, 2026

The Mills High School club, the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), recently visited Spring Valley...

Aislinn Xiao (12) captures a photo of the ocean view during the camp's beach day field trip.
A Trip to Remember
Danica Vazquez, Staff Writer
Nicole Li (11) runs a series of checks on the plane in preparation for take off.
Mills Student Prepares to Take to the Sky
Amelia Naughten, Editor-in-Chief
Volunteering is a great way for high school students to figure out what they want to do in the future.
Step Up and Serve
Mikayla Ho, Center Spread Editor
View All
Center Spread
Senior Brooke Phimsoutham arranges custom bouquets, each created with love and care.
Brooke’s Bouquets
Rufella Roldan, Staff Writer • February 18, 2026

As love season comes along and the smell of fresh flowers fills the hallways of Mills High School, many students find themselves wishing for...

Ring given by her mom
A “Piece” of History
Senai Rivas, staff writer
Picture paradise, paired with a slice of cake and a warm drink to soothe your appetite.
Love in Many Ways
Natalie Tam, Staff Writer
Black kitten holding a small bouquet of bright pink flowers and pastel hearts.
Relation-sinks.
Amelia Percy-Wong, Staff Writer
View All
Entertainment
CUTOUT: Bruno Mars cardboard head cutout held up in the air in a crowd
Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might” Might be Your Next Obession
Emily Wu, News Editor • February 18, 2026

I just might listen to Bruno Mars’ new and upcoming album. On Jan. 9, Bruno Mars released his lead single, “I Just Might” from his fourth...

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Sports
Boys varsity soccer Ethan Cabrera (12) getting ready to kick soccer ball
What’s Kicking With Mills Soccer?
Adrian Lopez, Staff Writer • February 18, 2026

As we kick off into the second round of the soccer season for both girls and boys varsity, they’ve both been working hard and improving, even with some challenges along the way. Both teams are focused on pushing forward, staying motivated, and finishing...

JV boys basketball in their pregame huddle before a game
The Successful Team Chemistry of JV Basketball
Matthew Du, Sports Editor
The Differences Between JV and Varsity Quad Games
Muunee ShineOd and Tiffany Pham
SNOW MAIDEN: After a long day of Nutcracker performances, Olivia Ma (9) smiles in front of the holiday backdrop in her Snow Maiden costume.
My Nutcracker Christmas Tradition
Olivia Ma, Staff Writer
Freshman guard Makena Hoover (9) banks in the fast break layup
Girls Varsity Basketball Features Two Freshmen
Neola Lo, Staff Writer
Opinions
Sexual Abuse: Are Schools Doing Enough to Stop Staff from Perpetrating it?
Madison Sneed, Staff Writer • February 18, 2026

In March 2023, the Association for the Treatment & Prevention of Sexual Abuse posted a study, finding that in child sexual abuse cases, 63%...

The middle college experience
Michael Pacheco and James Maza • February 18, 2026

Middle College is a program that not only gives students the opportunity to enroll in college courses while in high school, but also to attend...