About

The mission of the Centipede is to inform, spark curiosity, and generate discussion within the community and beyond. The majority of the content relates to school issues, events, and news, but occasionally writers voice their opinions on politics, sports, and other contentious topics.

Please send Letters to the Editors: Cecily Monahan & Xander Grossman. Concord Academy, 166 Main Street, Concord, MA 01742.
Alternatively, you may send letters electronically to: cecily.monahan@concordacademy.org & xander.grossman@concordacademy.org.

Who are we?

The Centipede is a student-run journalism publication that distinctly reflects the CA student body. We are comprised of several student writers, editors, and layout staff.

25-26 Editorial Board

Our 2025-26 Editorial Board is made up of about 20 students who work as editors and staff writers. Each member contributes ideas, writing, and edits to every issue. Those on staff also attend weekly meetings, where we work to plan upcoming issues, sharpen our journalistic skills, and train new writers.

What do we write about?

Within each publication, you’ll likely encounter articles on school events, local art exhibits, winning sports teams, and interviews with faculty, staff, and alumnae/i. We also publish commentary written by CA students about personal experiences, politics, and more.

How do we create our publications?

Members of the staff are involved in every stage of the paper’s production, pitching article ideas, interviewing sources, photographing events, and perfecting the layout.

Cecily Monahan '26

Cecily Monahan is a senior boarding student at CA from Salem, Massachusetts. She is Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Centipede after editing for News during her sophomore and junior years and serving as a staff writer during her ninth grade year. Additionally, Cecily is co-head of the school’s mock trial team and a member of the book club. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing guitar, and playing with her dogs.

Xander Grossman '26

Xander, a senior day student from Newton, MA, is a Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Centipede. As a consistent writer for the paper since tenth grade—first a staff writer and, more recently, co-editor of the Opinions section—he has enjoyed examining CA and the world around us through conversational and more conventional opinion pieces. He’s often spotted around campus on a "boarder" bike and is always in favor of any sort of adventure.

Alan Wei '25

Alan Wei is a senior at Concord Academy and is the Head Web Editor of The Centipede. In addition, he is a member of the Varsity Sailing team and leads Algorithm Club and Programming Club (PACA). Alan enjoys managing this website, researching computer science topics, listening to Rachmaninoff, and hanging out with friends. Alan succeeds Nick Brady, who succeeds the legendary John Oh.

Xander Grossman '26

Xander Grossman is a junior day student and an Opinions section co-editor for The Centipede. Previously, as a staff writer, he enjoyed examining CA and the world around us, particularly in opinion pieces. He’s often spotted on a campus bike and is adamantly in favor of escapades.

Averie Lee '26

Averie Lee is a junior day student from Newton. She has been writing for the Centipede for the past three years. This year, she is one of two Science and Technology section editors. Besides writing, Averie enjoys eating good food, playing with her dog, and co-heading the Big Data and Poetry clubs.

Evan Griffith-Ebrahimi '26

Evan Griffith-Ebrahimi is a junior day student from Cambridge, MA. This is their third year with The Centipede, and their first as one of the Features Editors. Outside of the newspaper, they are a co-head of the Science Bowl Club as well as the GSA.

Lily Kim '27

Lily Kim is a sophomore boarding student from California. She has been involved with the centipede since freshman year as a staff writer and now serves as the backpage editor. Outside of writing, she participates in Model UN, embarks on spontaneous bike rides with friends, and plays softball.

Lucy Newman '25

Lucy Newman is a senior day student and News Section Editor of the Centipede. This is her third year on staff, and, when not writing, she also finds joy in captaining CA’s cross country team, frolicking with her friends, and attending an excessive number of concerts.

Lila Rhee '26

Lila Rhee is a junior at CA. This is her third year on the Centipede and her first as a section editor. Outside of the newspaper, she has been particularly enjoying her Advanced Physics class on waves, optics, and vibrations, and hopes to help bring the girls varsity soccer team to their second playoff run in a row.

Paul Marmot '27

Paul Marmot is one of the Science & Technology editors for the Centipede. He is a sophomore and a co-head of both French Club and USABO Club. In his free time, Paul enjoys playing bass guitar, walking his dogs, and running for CA’s cross country and track teams.

Cecily Monahan '26

Cecily Monahan is a junior boarding student here at Concord Academy. She is a News section editor for the Centipede. Additionally, she is a cohead of CA’s mock trial, plays guitar in the CA Jazz Ensemble, is an editor of CA’s humor newspaper the Scallion, and is a member of Book Club.

Daniel Xu '25

Daniel Xu is a co-Editor-in-Chief of the Centipede. He joined the newspaper freshman year, and previously served as an News editor during his sophomore and junior years. Daniel is an avid Model UNer, runner, and writing associate, and plays the violin both in and outside of CA. He enjoys listening to not-quite-electronic music, and playing games of ping pong.

Aurora Hao '25

Aurora Hao is a co-Editor-in-Chief of the Centipede and a senior day student. She has joined the newspaper since freshman year. Aurora is also a co-head of Mock Trial, a Head Tour Guide, and a member of Dance Project. She enjoys traveling, learning new languages, and exploring hidden cafes with friends.

Alan Wei '25

Alan Wei is a senior at Concord Academy and is the Head Web Editor of The Centipede. In addition, he is a member of the Varsity Sailing team and leads Algorithm Club and Programming Club (PACA). Alan enjoys managing this website, researching computer science topics, listening to Rachmaninoff, and hanging out with friends. Alan succeeds Nick Brady, who succeeds the legendary John Oh.

Xander Grossman '26

Xander Grossman is a junior day student and an Opinions section co-editor for The Centipede. Previously, as a staff writer, he enjoyed examining CA and the world around us, particularly in opinion pieces. He’s often spotted on a campus bike and is adamantly in favor of escapades.

Averie Lee '26

Averie Lee is a junior day student from Newton. She has been writing for the Centipede for the past three years. This year, she is one of two Science and Technology section editors. Besides writing, Averie enjoys eating good food, playing with her dog, and co-heading the Big Data and Poetry clubs.

Evan Griffith-Ebrahimi '26

Evan Griffith-Ebrahimi is a junior day student from Cambridge, MA. This is their third year with The Centipede, and their first as one of the Features Editors. Outside of the newspaper, they are a co-head of the Science Bowl Club as well as the GSA.

Lily Kim '27

Lily Kim is a sophomore boarding student from California. She has been involved with the centipede since freshman year as a staff writer and now serves as the backpage editor. Outside of writing, she participates in Model UN, embarks on spontaneous bike rides with friends, and plays softball.

Lucy Newman '25

Lucy Newman is a senior day student and News Section Editor of the Centipede. This is her third year on staff, and, when not writing, she also finds joy in captaining CA’s cross country team, frolicking with her friends, and attending an excessive number of concerts.

Lila Rhee '26

Lila Rhee is a junior at CA. This is her third year on the Centipede and her first as a section editor. Outside of the newspaper, she has been particularly enjoying her Advanced Physics class on waves, optics, and vibrations, and hopes to help bring the girls varsity soccer team to their second playoff run in a row.

Paul Marmot '27

Paul Marmot is one of the Science & Technology editors for the Centipede. He is a sophomore and a co-head of both French Club and USABO Club. In his free time, Paul enjoys playing bass guitar, walking his dogs, and running for CA’s cross country and track teams.

Cecily Monahan '26

Cecily Monahan is a junior boarding student here at Concord Academy. She is a News section editor for the Centipede. Additionally, she is a cohead of CA’s mock trial, plays guitar in the CA Jazz Ensemble, is an editor of CA’s humor newspaper the Scallion, and is a member of Book Club.

Co-Editors in Chief: Cecily Monahan ’26 and Xander Grossman ’26
Head Web Editor: Ashley Yu '26
‍Section Editors
Features: Evan Griffith-Ebrahimi ’26 and Sophia Zhou ’26
News: Lily Kim ’27 and Flora Xu ’27
Opinions: Melina Petropulos ’28 and Lucy Targum ’26
Arts: Elyn Tao ’26 and Emma Li ’28
Sports: Rose Whaley ’27 and Mia Rajagopal ’26
Science and Technology: Paul Marmot ’27 and Ryan Zhao ’26
Backpage: Loanne Kim ’27
‍Web/Media Editors
Assistant Web Editor: Christopher Choy ’27
Layout Editor: Chloe Park '26 and Birdie Ratana-Ungkool '27
Photo Editors: Oliver Coates ’26 and Alvin Zhai ’28
‍Staff Writers
Noah Alperin ’28, Kavya Arora ’28, Evalyn Chen ’27, Amilyn Feng ’27,
Grace Goodman ’27, Cece Gu ’27, Hannah Hou ’28, Juliana Katzenstein ’26,
Levi Lasser ’28, Bella Li ’27, Rose Marmot ’28, Edie Menard ’26,
Monica Meng ’28, Sophie Qiao ’28, Lena Sillman ’28, Jenny Wang ’27,
May Zheng ’26, Albert Zhou ’27

The Centipede is the official student newspaper of Concord Academy. The paper encourages comments from its readers in the form of Letters to the Editor. No anonymous letters will be printed. The Centipede reserves the right to edit all articles for length and content.