M-A’s Most Unforgettable Class Traditions

At M-A, every teacher is dedicated to guiding students through their curriculum and lessons, ensuring they truly master the material. But some take it a step further, weaving in unique traditions and unforgettable events that bring an extra spark to the classroom. Whether it’s the iconic AP Literature Yam Slam or the well-known cat dissection in AP Biology, here are some of the most iconic class traditions that make M-A truly one of a kind.

In AP Environmental Science, students explore real-world environments on three interactive field trips throughout the year.

Students kick off their APES fieldwork with a hands-on trip to a local creek, where they test water quality and collect aquatic insects to deepen their understanding of ecosystems. “You have to go into the water and collect critters. Some people don’t want to at first, but when they finally catch something, they’re so excited,” APES teacher Erica Woll said.

Next, students visit Jasper Ridge, a Stanford-operated preserve, where they connect classroom debates about water-generated energy to real-world environmental concerns such as dam removal.

On their final trip to the tide pools at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, students gather data on local marine life and compare it to records from the past 20 years.

While these trips are a highlight, Woll emphasizes that they are just a small part of what makes the class so special. “There’s a really strong community in APES,” Woll said. “They do so much together and get to know others that they wouldn’t necessarily have crossed paths with.”

Every year, the Jazz Band travels to showcase the music they’ve been rehearsing throughout the year. While the destination varies, for the past three years, they’ve attended the WorldStrides Heritage Music Festival in Anaheim—a prestigious national event that gathers bands from across the country to compete and perform.

This year, however, M-A’s Jazz Band had the chance to go to Hawaii and perform with local high school bands.

Their first performance took place at Waipahu High School Jazz Festival, located just past Pearl Harbor. M-A was honored as the only out-of-state band invited to participate. 

The following night, the band performed in Honolulu at the Blue Notes Jazz Club, a venue known for its excellent musical atmosphere and history of hosting famous performers such as Dizzy Gillespie.

Jazz Band teacher William Flaherty also set aside time for students to relax and enjoy “For this trip in particular, it seems like a lot of the students bonded really well. It was a good shared experience,” Flaherty said. 

These trips serve as a good incentive for students to work hard, motivating them to refine their skills and take pride in their performances. “It’s a good motivation for a lot of the students, they feel that they need to perform strongly when we’re out in front of an audience that’s not local,” Flaherty said.

In AP Biology, students participate in one of the most hands-on labs of their high school experience: the infamous cat dissection. This dissection offers students a unique opportunity to engage with anatomy in a way that goes beyond the diagrams they’ve studied in class. “It makes a lot of things that can be quite abstract much more concrete,” AP Biology teacher Patrick Roisen said. The lab also allows students to gain a deeper understanding of complex biological systems, transforming theoretical concepts into something tangible. 

For students who may struggle with traditional assessments, the dissection offers them a different chance to excel. “I had a student who had decided science wasn’t for her because she wasn’t great at multiple choice tests, but she did the dissection really well,” Roisen said. “Very rarely are scientists taking tests.”

Beyond learning, the dissection also fosters collaboration. “Often one person will discover a part, and they’ll explain it to other people,” Roisen said. “It helps create a real sense of community.” 

Since the dissection takes place near the end of the year, it allows students to take the time needed to deeply explore the cat’s anatomy. “It’s one of the few opportunities I have over the course of the year to really slow down and give the kids as much time as they need to get deep into a topic,” Roisen added.

The M-A Academy offers college-prep courses designated to foster academic success, with a focus on smaller classes, real-world skill development, and personalized support. Beginning in sophomore year, Academy students build lasting memories through shared experiences, field trips, and events. 

A key tradition is the Academy’s annual grade-level community-building trip. Sophomores and juniors participate in activities like hiking the Lands End Trail in San Francisco, visiting Shorelines Lake, or bowling. This year, the senior class attended Broadway shows in San Francisco, including The Lion King, Hamilton, Frozen, and Back to the Future. “Hiking the challenging Lands End Trail hike in San Francisco always holds a special place in students hearts,” Rubin said.

The Academy Graduation, held before M-A’s regular ceremony, marks the culmination of the Academy experience. During the event, students reflect on their achievements and growth. A cherished tradition is the unveiling of the Academy Time Magazine Poster, which features all the graduating seniors and is displayed in the classroom for future classes to admire. 

This year, the Academy team is awarding college scholarships and new laptops to 22 graduating seniors, supporting them as they embark on the next steps of their journey. 

AP Literature teacher Lisa Otsuka incorporates a variety of creative events and games to deepen students’ understanding of the texts they read in class. 

The year kicks off with Shakespeare’s King Lear paired with the game Lear Pong, a twist on Beer Pong with a March Madness-style bracket. When a team sinks their shot, their opponents must correctly finish a quotation from the play. 

“People study for the quizzes, but they crazy study for Lear Pong,” AP Literature teacher Lisa Otsuka said. 

Next comes Pride and Prejudice, which inspires several themed activities. Students participate in a dating game, portraying characters from the novel as bachelors or bachelorettes, reflecting the story’s focus on matchmaking and social status. The unit also includes regency-era dancing and a big end-of-unit tea party, immersing students in the customs and culture of Jane Austen’s time period. 

Second semester brings one of the most famous AP Literature traditions: the Yam Slam. After reading Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, a novel deeply inspired by the cadences of jazz and the blues, student groups perform parodies of songs, creating lyrics based on the novel’s plot, culminating in a heated competition between the various groups. 

“I want people to have good memories of the literature, not just analysis,” Otsuka said.

“Since this is a language class that bridges a lot of French culture, I like to include a little bit of food every semester,” French teacher Sapna Bhagwat said. Each semester, students in French classes enjoy a taste of traditional French culture through cheese and crepes.

In November, the French classes participate in a cheese tasting, sampling five different kinds of cheeses along with a baguette. In February, students celebrate La Chandeleur, a French holiday traditionally marked by making crepes. Students bring their own toppings from home and cook the crepes in class, blending French culture with a fun, hands-on experience. 

“It’s something we do every single year, and I hope we continue doing it,” Bhagwat said.

To deepen students’ understanding of the Gilded Age, U.S. History teacher Marcus Kevorkyan brings history to life with a mock trial project. 

Students take on roles from the era, “resurrecting” historical figures as they use knowledge from the unit to write their cases. The class is split into prosecutors, the defense, and jury members. After presenting their arguments, the prosecution and defense step outside while the jury deliberates to determine the winner. 

“It’s one of students’ favorite projects every year,” Kevorkyan said. “They get really into it.” 

No matter the activity, field trip, or event, M-A’s class traditions go far beyond the standard curriculum. These experiences deepen students’ understanding of the subject and leave them with unforgettable memories to take with them as they move on to their next journey after graduation.