dancing away in the enchanted forest
Homecoming is a flashy celebration where students can dress up and enjoy themselves mingling with friends on a starry night while celebrating a new school year.
New Samo art clubs paint fresh canvases of creativity
New art clubs across Samo aspire to support student artists of all skill sets and create communities that foster artistic expression and imagination. Collage Club, Crochet for a Cause Club and Zine Club provide a space for students to relax and express themselves.
Samo football looks to secure spot in CIF playoffs
The Samo football team currently holds an overall record of 4-5 as they head towards the end of their season. With four league games down, Samo has been gearing up for their final home game against Peninsula that will conclude their regular season. Special leadership has been shown by the captains throughout the season that has built a stronger team and community of players.
Your ultimate scary movie survival kit!
Spooky season is here and with that comes all things scary. Horror movie nights are a thrilling way to spend a fall evening, especially on Halloween. For a perfect spooky film night, the following checklist is all that is needed. Go plan one!
Independent cinemas and the future of film
On Sept. 22, the AMC Broadway 4 located on the 3rd Street Promenade closed down, marking the end of its film legacy. With the beloved Santa Monica location gone, it leaves only one AMC, the Santa Monica 7, and two other cinemas in the city: The Aero on Montana Ave. and Laemmle on 2nd St.
Cross-country on road to CIF
Halfway through the 2024 cross-country season, the varsity teams have made a name for themselves in their first year in the Ocean League. So far, the boys have won two meets and the girls have won one, coming second in others. With performances like these, the team is on track to qualify for the CIF Preliminaries, needing a top-three finish in Ocean League to do so.
The end of California legacy admissions
On Sept. 30, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1780, prohibiting legacy and donor preference admissions for private universities in California.
What’s going on around Samo?
Metro expands its “TAP-to-exit” program to Santa Monica, Samo elects new Student Board Representative, and College Fair lets students explore schools
Girls’ golf team captains shine amidst league struggles
The Santa Monica High School girls' varsity golf team finished the 2024 fall season with a final record of 1-6, ending 5th out of 5 in the league. Despite the team’s inconsistency, both team captains, Frances Aguilar (’26) and Cash Henton (’25) made it to league finals, with Aguilar additionally advancing to the first round of CIF.
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.
Cross-Country on road to CIF
Halfway through the 2024 cross-country season, the varsity teams have made a name for themselves in their first year in the Ocean League. So far, the boys have won two meets and the girls have won one, coming second in others. With performances like these, the team is on track to qualify for the CIF Preliminaries, needing a top-three finish in Ocean League to do so.
Historic spending helps Dodgers reach World Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished the 2024 regular season with the best record in Major League Baseball (MLB) at 98-64, and booked themselves a trip to the World Series after the most expensive spending spree in the team's history.
HOTLB: College Fear Hits Seniors
The college application process is in full swing at Samo, with seniors sending in applications as soon as Nov. 1. As Samo seniors write essays, assemble their applications and visit potential colleges, worries about life away from home arise. Moving across the country, leaving family and friends and simply surviving alone are common fears of the college-bound class.
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.