ASB leadership chaos: Are we really a STUDENT body?
From the change in advisor leadership, to the questionable election mishaps, the Samo Associative Student Body (ASB) has suffered from much internal turmoil. This has prompted many questions about the leadership in the class and transparency within the association itself.

New Climate Corps club empowers youth action
Climate Corps is dedicated to educating people about the climate, and has recently created a new, year-round club. Students are invited to join the club - ages 15 to 21 - at 237 Hill Street, Santa Monica. The club is an offshoot of a pre-existing Climate Corps program, hosted by Climate Action Santa Monica (CASM).

Samo welcomes new students as community rallies together after fires
On Jan. 7 fire broke out through the Palisades and Pasadena, collectively burning over 36,000 acres and destroying over 22,000 structures. As of Jan. 29, there have been 145 requests for enrollment from students displaced by wildfires. Seventy-seven were approved for enrollment, with 46 of those approved being in SMMUSD schools.

SM and the new immigration policy
President Donald J. Trump began his second term on Jan. 20th and subsequently has major plans to revamp the current federal immigration policy. Many of these changes will directly impact citizens nationwide and even Samo students, as immigrants make up 23.2 percent of the population in Santa Monica.

An athletes struggle in staying fit over break
Winter athletes face so many hardships from weather to air quality, however winter break may be the worst one of all. For most winter sports, winter break falls right in the middle of their season. When athletes get back, some of their most important (league and CIF) games commence. However they cannot let winter break stop them.
Finals week… or my final week?
Finals week might be the most stressful period of time of a high schoolers career. From pulling all nighters to study to spending countless hours in the library. Is this stress worth it and should finals really be the deciding factor of how much you learned this year and how well you do in the class?

Lights, camera, Viking TV
The new elective Film & Video has brought a fresh set of skills to Samo students. Film and Video teacher Ruth Carters’ classes are dedicated to teaching students film & video production. The Film & Video elective is currently working on a show, set to broadcast in the spring, enlightening students on the goings on at Samo.

Boys’ waterpolo advances in CIF Playoffs
Samo varsity boys’ water polo ended their regular league season with a win on Wednesday, Oct. 23 against Malibu High School. They are now moving forward into Division lll CIF playoffs. Boys’ water polo will go into CIF with a record of 16-14 in overall play, and 2-4 in league play.