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Branson School News, Sports, Life and Opinion

The Blazer

Branson’s student-run newspaper
Branson School News, Sports, Life and Opinion

The Blazer

Branson School News, Sports, Life and Opinion

The Blazer

Cooper Tenney

Cooper Tenney, Former Editor-in-Chief

Cooper Tenney served as editor-in-chief and first joined The Blazer in 2020. He has received two honorable mentions, one in 2022 for environmental coverage and the other in 2021 for news story, from the Journalism Education Association of Northern California.

All content by Cooper Tenney

Jump back through time: The Blazer, March 1957

By Cooper Tenney April 19, 2024

A jump through time of the Blazer’s History: how different was Branson on March 1, 1957 from today, March 1, 2024? Looking back through the archives, I was able to find some of the first editions of The Blazer with the help of Charlotte King-Mills, librarian. This specific edition was published...

Coach Jerome Saddler, Brason's Gallard Fellow. Saddler began coaching Branson football this August.

[Photo] Bulls football turns new chapter with coaching change

By Charlie Zwibelman November 11, 2023

Coach Jerome Saddler, Brason's Gallard Fellow. Saddler began coaching Branson football this August.

The Branson football team works out with Bruce Pruiett. Pruiett has coached football team lifts all fall season.

[Photo] Opinion: The pressing need to expand Branson’s weight room

By Ella Garrett November 11, 2023

The Branson football team works out with Bruce Pruiett. Pruiett has coached football team lifts all fall season.

Tara Sridharan and Laila Elkhoury bump rackets on the court. The duo lost the match with scores of 4-6, 0-6.

Tennis season’s midway point brings toughest opponent yet

By Cooper Tenney November 6, 2023

Girls varsity tennis fell 2-5 to Redwood for their first loss of the season. Both teams were undefeated prior to the match. As MCAL tennis reached the midpoint of the season, Branson sits in second place after the loss to rival Redwood. “[Redwood is] a tough team,” said coach Chrissie Costamagna....

Karl Schmidt's ninth-grade physics class dives deep into concepts, assessed through objectives-based grading. OBG was implemented for all ninth-grade level classes in 2021.

Guide to Objective Based Grading

By Cooper Tenney September 3, 2023

Starting your first year at Branson is very exciting, and the rest of the school can’t wait to welcome the class of 2027! A new school comes with many new things and questions waiting to be answered. Some of those questions might be: “What the heck is OBG and what does it mean for me?” Both are...

The former student lounge area by the commons on March 15, 2023. The school intends to bring back the student lounge in spring 2023.

Commons’ student lounge to return with gusto

By Cooper Tenney March 15, 2023
New furniture and perks will fill the now-dormant room beside the commons.
Students hold the Elmer C. Brown banner, Oct. 11, 2022. The North Coast Section award recognized Branson’s academic and athletic strength.

Award again lauds Branson’s athletic, academic prowess

By Cooper Tenney November 14, 2022
The school won the North Coast Section’s Elmer C. Brown award.
Eva Lacy, a senior, serves the ball against San Rafael at home, Oct. 12, 2022. Senior night ended with a decisive win against the MCAL opponent.

[Photo] Big day for seniors ends with big win

By Shun Graves October 12, 2022

Eva Lacy, a senior, serves the ball against San Rafael at home, Oct. 12, 2022. Senior night ended with a decisive win against the MCAL opponent.

Vans sit in the Corporation Yard in June 2022. Branson has sought to expand its van fleet to shuttle students from off-campus locations.

New traffic restrictions face students amid enrollment growth

By Cooper Tenney June 14, 2022
Trips in and out of campus will face monitoring as Branson seeks to obtain more vans.
Solar panels atop the commons on March 14. Planned solar and environmental projects this year will boost Branson’s commitment to sustainability, school leaders say.

Green goals grow with planned solar panels, charging stations

By Cooper Tenney March 14, 2022
Head of School Chris Mazzola has called for “priority” on sustainability as Branson expands its solar and environmental initiatives.
The Meatless Mondays lunch on Jan. 31, 2022. No-meat lunches could continue beyond January.

Before continuing, Meatless Mondays should face student scrutiny

By Cooper Tenney January 31, 2022
No-meat Mondays could extend beyond January. But students should first have a say.
Max Gutierrez jumps during the 2021 trip to Courtright Reservoir. Outdoor education will expand to sophomore orientations in 2022. (Courtesy of Max Gutierrez)

Get hiked! Outdoor education set to expand

By Cooper Tenney December 8, 2021
In a new addition to orientation, all rising sophomores will take a backpacking trip starting next summer.
Eighth grade students gather in front of the library to start their campus tour.

Admissions program keeps adjusting in 2nd pandemic year

By Cooper Tenney November 2, 2021
Hybrid events and no standardized tests define this year’s admissions season.
clubs-fair-abby-keenley

New organizations boost fair to most clubs ever

By Cooper Tenney October 4, 2021
Clubs fair returns with both old and new clubs attracting the student body.
Seniors Julia Chow and Serafina Carlucci work on their group aquaponics capstone project.

Seniors shared their experiences with capstones this year

By Cooper Tenney June 2, 2021
Their projects range from aquaponics to veterinary work, in the latest installment of the year-end Branson tradition.
Faculty and staff departures

Faculty and staff departures

By Cooper Tenney May 8, 2021
Eight members of faculty and staff will leave the school.
Branson begins conversations about expanding solar power

Branson begins conversations about expanding solar power

By Cooper Tenney March 29, 2021

Branson has begun discussions of expanding its solar power and installing backup batteries in the coming years, with a goal of becoming more efficient and adaptable to a changing environment. The factors that have influenced the project include power outages, long-term financial savings and environmental...

Color-tiers to dictate when various Branson sports begin

Color-tiers to dictate when various Branson sports begin

By Cooper Tenney February 23, 2021

Branson sports have now been assigned to COVID-colored tiers: purple (most restrictive), red, orange and yellow (least restrictive). Purple-tier sports teams began practice Feb. 2.  All interscholastic sports are completely tied to their assigned color tier. “Sports can begin once the county...

Update on the upcoming Branson sports season

Update on the upcoming Branson sports season

By Cooper Tenney December 1, 2020

11/4/20 Branson sports are scheduled to start on Dec. 7, dependent on a smooth academic reopening in light of COVID-19 and associated protocols. COVID-19 concerns have led to the elimination of the fall athletic season, a shift of fall sports to the winter, and a shift of winter sports to the spring....

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Branson School News, Sports, Life and Opinion
Cooper Tenney