Four Santa Monica City Council seats up for grabs
The Santa Monica city council election takes place Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. With four out of the seven city council seats up for reelection, a change in Santa Monica’s leadership is possible.
For 40 years, Santa Monicans for Renters Right (SMRR) dominated local elections. While the slate is most recognized for its unwavering support of rent control, the renters’ rights organization holds democratic socialist values. In 2020, in reaction to poor responses to homelessness, rising residential crime and overspending, residents voted out the far left slate. Incumbents Anna Maria Jara, Terry O’Day and Ted Winterer were replaced by Phil Brock, Oscar de la Torre and Christine Parra. Brock, Parra and de la Torre ran under the Change Slate, a new political group with an emphasis on law and order and an ideology closer to the American Democratic Party.
A guide to chic thrifting & antique stores
The LA area for Samo students is a hub for antique and vintage furniture. With that though, comes the issue of rising prices at the thrift. The Samohi has compiled a list of some of the best stores tailored to your aesthetic preferences.
SMRR: the renters’ rights organization pulling the ropes
Santa Monicans For Renters’ Rights (SMRR) has doubled as a renters’ rights organization and the leading voting slate in Santa Monica for the past 40 years.
Bergamot Station: Train tracks to masterpieces
In a world where nothing good seems to be free, Bergamot Station Arts Center, located on the corner of Olympic Boulevard and 26th St, somehow seems to slip the mind of every high schooler in Santa Monica. Funded by the city of Santa Monica, the former train depot has managed to stay free to the public for its entire 30-year existence while simultaneously staying firmly atop the West Side art scene.
Elevating Athletics: Samo’s New Gold gym
With the new Exploration Building officially open, students are looking forward to the opening of the new Gold Gym. The Gold Gym was originally planned to open for the 2024-2025 school year, but it has experienced some recent delays. At it’s time of opening, the new gym will expand Samo’s athletic programs tremendously. The Gold Gym will house two gyms, a dance studio, outdoor workout areas, a yoga room, a fitness room, new locker rooms and a third auxiliary court for both volleyball and basketball. The gym’s large size and modernization makes it unique to the other gyms on campus. Featuring well-lit spaces and outdoor areas, the new Gold Gym is designed to be an ideal and productive environment for student-athletes.
Kids with Iphones need a wakeup call
A child getting their first phone has become a modern-day rite of passage, sparking debates at the dinner table, stirring up opinions in the classroom and leaving parents wondering if they're handing over a lifeline or a pandora’s box of problems. While the convenience and safety offered by smartphones are undeniable, there are significant developmental concerns that come with giving children access to these devices at a young age.
Team Splash: a Look Into This Season of boys’ water polo
The Samo boys’ water polo team had a very successful 23-24 season and is looking to replicate that again this year. The team, now 8-5, has their next home game on Sept. 24 against Culver City High School.
Coconut trees, chartreuse green and 'Brat' politics
Since the start of an unprecedented presidential campaign in late July, Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris has repeatedly gone viral online. Kickstarted by British singer Charli XCX's tweet "kamala IS brat," and now with over 4 million followers on Tiktok, Harris' campaign platform is utilizing social media trends to reach out to the crucial 41 million Gen Z voters across the country.
New coaches and captains propel cross country team to new heights
During Samo’s historic run last season, the Vikings were stopped short in the CIF Southern Sectional championship, ending in a 27-29 loss to Rio Hondo Prep.
Teens discuss: is Halloween overrated?
Childhood is one of the most exciting and carefree points in one's life. With the undeveloped mind being so full of mystery, the hours spent watching fantasy movies and getting lost in new worlds with your toys were absolutely magical. From a young age, my friends and family told me about the one day within the year where all of those fantasies and imaginary adventures would blossom into reality: Halloween.
samo’s fashionistas stitch it to fast fashion
In a world dominated by fast fashion, a growing number of Samo students are taking matters into their own hands - literally. Whether it's driven by a desire for sustainability, personalized style or creative expression, these students are joining a movement that values individuality and mindful consumption. Beyond creating handmade pieces it can also foster a deeper connection with both the clothes they craft as well as purchase, it makes them think about the longevity of their clothes and quality.
A guide to chic thrifting & antique stores
The LA area for Samo students is a hub for antique and vintage furniture. With that though, comes the issue of rising prices at the thrift. The Samohi has compiled a list of some of the best stores tailored to your aesthetic preferences.
What’s going on around Samo?
Santa Monica Fire Department welcomes new chief, 2024 Club Row introduces new clubs to Samo, Samo brothers make scientific strides, PBL holds their student government elections, and Waymo: Is the future in safer "hands?"
Samo focuses on building a healthier coastal environment
Heal the Bay had its 35th yearly coastal cleanup on Sept. 21 in recognition of the international holiday, Annual Coastal Cleanup Day. Heal the Bay will also be trying to raise $35,000 to provide these kinds of cleanups year-round. With over 60 different cleanup sites to choose from, everyone can help remove 2 million pounds of trash from LA County waterways. With numerous other programs and activities to get involved with, there’s something for everyone.
Are second-hand prices going first class?
From vintage shirts to denim skirts, the rise in popularity of thrift stores is undeniable. For many, thrifting has become a hobby, serving as a unique alternative to the mall. However, prior to this trend, the majority of thrift stores’ customers shopped not for the perfect baby tee, but out of necessity.
HOTLB: Samo’s favorite paris 2024 moments
The 2024 Olympics happened this past summer, from July 26 to Aug. 11, in Paris, France. The Olympic games brought people together, uniting them behind their TV screens while they supported their nation’s leading athletes in search of a gold medal.
Project 2025’s proposed educational changes
Project 2025 is a political initiative published by the Heritage Foundation, a playbook for the first 180 days of the next president's administration. One of the many changes outlined in the document is a shift towards more conservative processes within the education system. If passed, the Samo community and their families may feel the effects of many of these policies.
Samo teachers begin to crack down on phones
Students may have noticed that more of their Samo teachers have implemented cell phone pockets in their classrooms this school year. This practice is one way that teachers can uphold the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s (SMMUSD) electronics policy that students may only use their devices for academic purposes during class.
Smmusd and Malibu finalize school separation agreement
On Sept. 12, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) and the City of Malibu announced they would finally separate, allowing Malibu to become an independent district. The current separation package is ready for public review.