CATALYST MAGAZINE: Fall 2025
TRIPLE THREAT DAY
Catalyst’s Triple Threat Day is more than a typical school day. It’s a snapshot of what learning can look like when curiosity, creativity, and collaboration all come together across disciplines. From guest speakers to off-campus learning experiences, every moment is designed to engage students in meaningful ways. Through this specific day, we saw how Catalyst blends academics, community, and real-world exploration to captivate students’ curiosity. As students, we wanted to capture not just what we did, but how it felt to participate and learn in this environment.
MERRICK WARD
Catalyst Student
PARKER SMITH
Catalyst Student
CLASSROOM LEARNING
At Catalyst, English class is more than just reading and lectures; it is a space where discussion and ideas come alive. For example, during this class, we delved into Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, explored how she used imagery, and made a compelling argument about humanity’s responsibility to nature. One aspect of class that makes Catalyst so unique is our debates and discussions, which encourage every student to think critically and on their feet. These discussions pushed us to think critically and speak confidently, connecting literature to urgent issues today like the climate crisis, a theme that runs across subjects in Catalyst.
COMMUNITY
Menlo doesn’t solely run on academics, as it thrives through community spirit and energy. Right after English class, we joined the rest of the school for the first House Competition of the year, with various events such as jigsaw puzzles, typing tests, and double dutch. Us Catalyst students cheered, laughed, and engaged with one another in meaningful ways, bringing out school spirit and friendly competition across grade levels. We felt valued as members of the Menlo community through this competition, because we were not left out, with the opportunity to either lead our house as a captain or participate in the competition games. Although Catalyst follows a different academic schedule, it is intentionally aligned with schoolwide lunches and events, ensuring that we remain connected to 0ur peers and school traditions. The result is a strong sense of community, belonging, and shared school spirit across all grade levels and Catalyst and non-Catalyst students.
GUEST SPEAKER
Later in the day, we met with Dan Reed, the former NBA G League President and COO of Reality Labs at Meta. Our interaction with him was not just a presentation about himself and his career, but rather an immersive and interactive conversation among our small cohort of peers. In fact, Dan Reed did not prepare a lecture or a slideshow, but immediately opened the floor to student questions. In Catalyst, guest speaker conversations are always student-led, allowing students to explore relevant topics that we are curious about and take active leadership roles in guiding these discussions. We as students left the conversation with numerous insights into how to become a better leader and work more effectively collaboratively in dynamic work environments. If you would like to hear about other guest speaker opportunities we had this semester, please check out Riko’s page here.
FIELD LEARNING
One of the most significant components of Catalyst is that learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. In the afternoon, we visited the Stanford Cactus Garden, where we explored photosynthesis and plant adaptations in a real-world setting. As we walked through the garden, we observed how cacti adapt photosynthesis cycles to conserve water and how their natural corrugated surfaces create shade. Seeing these concepts firsthand made the science behind them much more tangible and memorable. Furthermore, we discussed how these natural adaptations could be applied to engineering through biomimicry. The experience turned abstract ideas into an experience that was interactive, immersive, and exciting to be a part of.
IMPACT OVER TIME
In just one day, Catalyst students experienced discussion, connection, mentorship, and exploration. Imagine the impact of this approach to learning over an entire semester. The Triple Threat Day demonstrates how learning is the most powerful when students are fully immersed and engaged in the topics they are learning. Students don’t just memorize; instead, they debate, collaborate, and explore real-world issues through a unique lens. Catalyst is a prime example of what school can be when creativity, relevance, and impact come together, preparing students for the opportunities and challenges beyond the classroom.
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