Cullen Durant: General Assignment, Photographer

Maddy Grant: Sports, Editor

Lottie Kanter: Education, Editor

Claire Nichols: Sports, Arts & Culture, Environment

Mose Stephens: General Assignment, Arts & Culture, Sports

Aaradhya Vedre Kyanam: General Assignment, Health, Sports

Altamont Teachers Spend “Inspirational” Week in Costa Rican Jungle, See Climate Change and Indigenous Values Up Close

By Cullen Durant

Altamont science teachers Julie Camp and Haley Gajewski-Thompson did something special last month: they spent a week in Costa Rican jungle with a well-known writer and the indigenous Bribri, whose way of life is being upended by climate change even though they haven’t contributed to it. The Acta Diurna interviewed Camp and Gajewski-Thompson about the trip, the reasons behind it, what they learned, and the larger implications of what they experienced. Read More

Time and Tenacity: Award-Winning Altamont Senior Helps Bridge Digital Divide

By Claire Nichols

Senior Michael Schmalz won unprecedented national recognition last month for an initiative he started through Altamont’s Miree Center. It’s called Digital Harmonies, and it helps connect people to the Internet, whether for simple face-to-face digital calls and meetings or applying for jobs. Through short classes, Michael and volunteers taught people the basics of using computers. Michael faced many challenges but persevered and created a successful project he hopes will continue to bridge the “digital divide” into the future. Read More

25 Hobbies All Around You That You Probably Didn’t Know About

By Maddy Grant

The Altamont community is diverse in more ways than one. Every student, faculty member, and staff member brings their own uniqueness to the table. Based partly on a poll recently published in the Acta Diurna, this compilation highlights just a few of the Altamont people who do things “on the side” you’re likely unaware of. Maybe you’ll start a conversation based on this information, or maybe you’ll just marvel at just how diverse the Altamont community’s interests are. Read More

Johnny Stumpff Wins International Debate Competition, First in School History

By Aaradhya Vedre Kyanam

Altamont senior Johnny Stumpff recently made history by winning an intensely competitive international debate competition called the Tournament of Champions Digital Qualifier #3. Johnny competed in the Open Lincoln-Douglas division, which had 135 competitors from places including Taiwan and New York. Read More

An Altamont Senior’s Farewell and Advice for His Sixth-Grade Self (and You)

By Mose Stephens

In the fall of 2017, I began my first year at Altamont. Seven years and one pandemic later, I am getting ready to graduate and begin a new chapter of my life. I have loved my time at Altamont, and I will miss going to school here next year. As the finality of the next few weeks dawns on me, I have begun to reflect on my time as an Altamont Knight. Read More

Feature Photo

Altamont Science teacher Julie Camp excitedly gets to know a tarantula in Costa Rica. For more on what she and Altamont colleague Haley Gajewski-Thompson saw and learned, check Cullen Durant’s interview in this issue.