Student newspaper returns and so does its ancient name

Journalism students publish first newspaper since spring of 2022, retire “Titan Times” name

Jonas Jones, Staff Writer • October 15, 2025

Principal Rebecca Huang gives reporter Liam Geissler information about the school cafeteria restorations during a press conference on Sept. 5. Geissler, a senior, is one of 18 staff members of The Oracle, Skyline’s revived school newspaper.

The Oracle, a newspaper forgotten — or never even seen— by many currently at Skyline High School, has finally returned.

It has a new adviser, Lisa Shafer, leading the comeback of journalism on campus. Shafer, a former reporter, is returning to high school journalism after 10 years away. She previously advised newspapers at Fremont High School and Clayton Valley High School. She also ran the all-city Oaktown Teen Times that often included many stories from The Oracle.

“In this paper, I’d like to see more interviews between students on our campus,” said Shafer. “This newspaper is for everyone, and everyone should be seen within the newspaper.”

Shafer said it was more important than ever for students to talk to each other and to feel their voices matter.

The Oracle also has returned to its original name after being renamed The Titan Times by former adviser Chris Scheer in the late 2010s. The Titan Times distributed its last paper in May 2022 under Scheer’s successor, James Shapiro.

The Oracle was the name of the first school newspaper when the school opened in 1961. It was inspired by the school’s Greek theme. An oracle was a priestess who gave people wise but mysterious advice from a god. The oracle of Delphi was said to be able to foretell the future.

While The Oracle cannot promise that type of advice or fortunetelling, a team of 18 reporters does plan on producing some “entertaining and interesting stories,” according to AED senior Ivo Garcia, a staff writer for The Oracle.

Esey Gebregiorgis, another AED senior and member of The Oracle staff, offered his own promise to readers.

“The Oracle will serve as an effective way to communicate important information about Skyline,” he said.

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About the Contributors

Jonas Jones, Co-Editor In Chief

Jonas Jones, a freshman in the house of Prometheus, is one of two editors-in-chief for The Oracle. Jones, who has always been interested in literature and English, said he did not expect to enjoy Journalism at first. “I thought the class would be more learning and less newspapery,” Jones said, explaining that he was surprised by how hands-on the experience has been. Jones has found himself actively helping produce the school’s newspaper. Outside of class, Jones enjoys reading a wide variety of books, with favorite genres spanning from romance to horror. One of his main goals this year is to read a grand total of 80 books this year.

Emily Olbekson, Staff Editor, Social Media Manager, Features/Campus Life Department

Emily Olbekson is a senior in the Arts, Entertainment & Design (AED) and a staff writer for The Oracle. Emily originally planned to join yearbook, but after encouragement from teacher Sean Phan-Kohles, she decided to pursue journalism instead. This decision led her to feature and campus life reporting, which have been her favorite types of stories. She shares a passion for skateboarding as the VP of Skyline’s campus skateboarding club. “I didn’t expect to love skateboarding,” she said. “The community is something I enjoy, so being with a community that loves something that I start to love helps me connect with others.” Known for her outgoing personality, Olbekson enjoys discussing movies and books like Everything, Everywhere all at Once. In the future, she plans to write more feature stories and remain actively involved in Skyline campus and events.