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The student news site of Brookline High School

The Cypress

The student news site of Brookline High School

The Cypress

The student news site of Brookline High School

The Cypress

After a decade leadership, Darby Neff-Verre prepares to retire as Coordinator of Guidance, leaving behind a legacy of support for students and staff alike.
Darby Neff-Verre retires after ten productive years leading the guidance department
Talia Hsieh, Staff Writer • June 16, 2025

Need someone to fix your schedule? Need a pair of ears to listen? Or do you just need someone you can rely on in school? Darby Neff-Verre has played all of these roles and...

The Student Library Advisory Board held their end-of-year celebration in the quad with food, prizes and book-themed activities.
Library end of year party celebrates a love for reading
Talia Hsieh, Staff Writer • June 16, 2025

The quad filled quickly with the sounds of laughter and music as students milled about, interacting with the tables of book themed activities, food and prizes. On Wednesday,...

Food waste is a rising and relevent problem across the world, and has also manifested in various ways within the high school and greater Brookline community.
The inside scoop on food waste
Aki Moriguchi, Staff Writer • June 14, 2025

Each day, students at the high walk away from the cafeteria with food filled trays. However, some of that food will never be touched, and thus, thrown away in the trash. The...

Brody '25 argues that during his four years at the high school, he saw a lack of competency from the administration as countless incidents occurred, such as a mugging, graffiti, and an assault.
The Incompetence Crisis
Dylan Brody, Contributing Writer • June 26, 2025
While I’ve remarked on many things about the high school in my articles over the past four years, one thing has become ever more apparent: the sheer incompetence of the
We may never know what’s truly “right.” But sharing our imperfect ideas, while keeping an open mind, is the only way we move forward.
Escaping the Demosthenes-Feynman trap
Ezra Kleinbaum, Opinions Managing Editor • June 15, 2025
The Brookline Conservatory program recently faced potential budget cuts. These cuts were rejected, however, after a group of parents organized a petition against them.
Brookline’s conservatory department looks ahead with hope and hesitation after proposed cuts.
Ella Upadhyay, Staff Writer • June 12, 2025

When you walk through the Brookline K-8 Public Schools, it’s not unusual to hear a mélange of performances: trumpeters making their way through a Star Wars melody in one...

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When the weekend rolls around, some students gear up for basement ragers, while others avoid the party scene altogether.

An anonymous survey on party culture at the high school conducted by The Cypress was sent out to the whole student body via Canvas. Out of the total 207 respondents, 45.9 percent of respondents said they had not attended a party in Brookline in the last 12 months, while 54.1 percent said they had attended at least one. Within those who do attend parties, there was significant variation in their frequency of attendance.

Find out more at thecypressonline.com.

✍️ Flannery Poon and Surya Jayashankar
📸 Anonymous
When the weekend rolls around, some students gear up for basement ragers, while others avoid the party scene altogether. An anonymous survey on party culture at the high school conducted by The Cypress was sent out to the whole student body via Canvas. Out of the total 207 respondents, 45.9 percent of respondents said they had not attended a party in Brookline in the last 12 months, while 54.1 percent said they had attended at least one. Within those who do attend parties, there was significant variation in their frequency of attendance. Find out more at thecypressonline.com. ✍️ Flannery Poon and Surya Jayashankar 📸 Anonymous
2 months ago
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1/9
Opinions Managing Editor Ezra Kleinbaum shares the story of the high school’s Meatless Mondays, reflecting on the change that he, the Warriors for Animal Rights Club and many other community members have made.

🎥 Ezra Kleinbaum
Opinions Managing Editor Ezra Kleinbaum shares the story of the high school’s Meatless Mondays, reflecting on the change that he, the Warriors for Animal Rights Club and many other community members have made. 🎥 Ezra Kleinbaum
2 months ago
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2/9
On Tuesday May 6, Brookline voters elected Michael Rubenstein to the Select Board. In the race for School Committee, Valerie Frias was reelected, and newcomers Danna Perry and Bob Weintraub took the remaining two spots.

Joey Elasmar, the high school senior running for the Board of Library Trustees, did not win his race.

Read our article on thecypressonline.com for more information and updates.

✍️ Geo Elasmar and Marco Neer
📸 Geo Elasmar
On Tuesday May 6, Brookline voters elected Michael Rubenstein to the Select Board. In the race for School Committee, Valerie Frias was reelected, and newcomers Danna Perry and Bob Weintraub took the remaining two spots. Joey Elasmar, the high school senior running for the Board of Library Trustees, did not win his race. Read our article on thecypressonline.com for more information and updates. ✍️ Geo Elasmar and Marco Neer 📸 Geo Elasmar
2 months ago
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3/9
Institutional neutrality is the idea that an educational institution should not take political stances and should, in the words of The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, “host critics—not become the critic itself.”

Though generally applied in the context of colleges and universities, themes regarding institutional neutrality have gained some traction locally, including in a February piece by Opinions Managing Editor Elias Brendel and a suggested proposal for a district-wide political signage policy that would have, in part, banned unapproved “Political, religious, or commercial advertisements” from being displayed on school property.

The Cypress interviewed five of the six School Committee candidates in the upcoming May 6 Town Election and asked the following general question: “Is institutional neutrality an achievable goal in Brookline? If so, is it an admirable one?”

Read what they had to say at the link in our bio.

✍️ Marco Neer
📸 Kiran Bhatia
Institutional neutrality is the idea that an educational institution should not take political stances and should, in the words of The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, “host critics—not become the critic itself.” Though generally applied in the context of colleges and universities, themes regarding institutional neutrality have gained some traction locally, including in a February piece by Opinions Managing Editor Elias Brendel and a suggested proposal for a district-wide political signage policy that would have, in part, banned unapproved “Political, religious, or commercial advertisements” from being displayed on school property. The Cypress interviewed five of the six School Committee candidates in the upcoming May 6 Town Election and asked the following general question: “Is institutional neutrality an achievable goal in Brookline? If so, is it an admirable one?” Read what they had to say at the link in our bio. ✍️ Marco Neer 📸 Kiran Bhatia
2 months ago
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4/9
#1 IN NEW ENGLAND 😤 The Cypress cleaned up at the nespa conference on Friday, winning:

1st place: All New England Print Newspaper
1st place: All New England Online Newspaper
Story of the Year: Decision to pre-record DoRRS speeches sparks debate (Geo Elasmar)
1st place News Story: Decision to pre-record DoRRS speeches sparks debate (Geo Elasmar)
1st place Sports Story: Climate change threatens winter sports (Lily Kleinbaum)
1st place News Series: DoRRS 2025 Controversy (Marco Neer and Geo Elasmar)
All New England High School Journalist: Geo Elasmar
…and 10 more Special Achievement awards for individual articles 🤩🥳 #staywinning #donthurtemnow
#1 IN NEW ENGLAND 😤 The Cypress cleaned up at the nespa conference on Friday, winning: 1st place: All New England Print Newspaper 1st place: All New England Online Newspaper Story of the Year: Decision to pre-record DoRRS speeches sparks debate (Geo Elasmar) 1st place News Story: Decision to pre-record DoRRS speeches sparks debate (Geo Elasmar) 1st place Sports Story: Climate change threatens winter sports (Lily Kleinbaum) 1st place News Series: DoRRS 2025 Controversy (Marco Neer and Geo Elasmar) All New England High School Journalist: Geo Elasmar …and 10 more Special Achievement awards for individual articles 🤩🥳 #staywinning #donthurtemnow
2 months ago
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5/9
Girls Varsity Rugby highlights versus Weymouth. On to Algonquin this Thursday 4/8. LETS GO WARRIORS!

Send in your team’s game film for a highlight reel!
Girls Varsity Rugby highlights versus Weymouth. On to Algonquin this Thursday 4/8. LETS GO WARRIORS! Send in your team’s game film for a highlight reel!
3 months ago
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6/9
The boys took down Lincoln Sudbury 56-0 on April 4th. On to Hanover this Friday. 🥏⛽️
The boys took down Lincoln Sudbury 56-0 on April 4th. On to Hanover this Friday. 🥏⛽️
3 months ago
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7/9
Boys Varsity Basketball 2024 Senior Night 🔥

🎥: Annie Shi
Boys Varsity Basketball 2024 Senior Night 🔥 🎥: Annie Shi
5 months ago
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8/9
The high school held its annual Day of Racial Reform and Solidarity (DoRRS) on Tuesday, Jan. 28, nearly two months after its originally planned date of Dec. 3, 2024. The day went forward despite postponement, debates over its format and controversy surrounding one of its student speakers.

Read the whole story at the link in our bio.

✍️ Marco Neer and Geo Elasmar
📸 Marco Neer
The high school held its annual Day of Racial Reform and Solidarity (DoRRS) on Tuesday, Jan. 28, nearly two months after its originally planned date of Dec. 3, 2024. The day went forward despite postponement, debates over its format and controversy surrounding one of its student speakers. Read the whole story at the link in our bio. ✍️ Marco Neer and Geo Elasmar 📸 Marco Neer
5 months ago
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9/9
The boys varsity crew team competed in the annual Massachusetts Public School Rowing Association (MPSRA) Spring Championship in Fall River, Massachusetts, on Sunday, May 25.
Boys crew team ends the season off strong at the MPSRA Spring Championship
Ekaterina Borodina, Staff Writer • May 28, 2025

The boys varsity crew team competed in the annual Massachusetts Public School Rowing Association (MPSRA) Spring Championship in Fall River, Massachusetts, on Sunday, May 25....

Boys varsity baseball beat the Canton Cobras  12-4 game, on Friday, May 23, to end of their regular season.
Boys varsity baseball beats Canton High School 12-4, ending their regular season with a win
Valentina Coj, Staff Writer • May 28, 2025

Boys varsity baseball dominated the Canton Cobras in a 12-4 game, on Friday, May 23, ending off a strong regular season. The game started off strong with senior Elias Brendel...

The girls varsity rowing team took home  second, third and fourth place medals on May 25 at Watuppa Pond in Fall River.
Girls varsity crew finishes season triumphantly at MPSRA regatta in Fall River
Noah Harwin, Staff Writer • May 28, 2025

The girls varsity rowing team competed at the Massachusetts Public Schools Rowing Association (MPSRA) Spring Championship, taking home second, third and fourth place medals...

Crossing the Quad: May crossword
Crossing the Quad: May crossword
Geo Elasmar, Editor-in-Chief • May 21, 2025
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The student news site of Brookline High School
The student news site of Brookline High School