Festive fun…in the sun!
When people think of winter they often picture snowy streets, cozy firesides and layers of wool and cashmere. When you live in Los Angeles, winter looks a little different.
“Wicked”ly Overhyped: A stage-to-screen slump
Jon M. Chu’s long-awaited adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked” was supposed to be a dream come true for fantasy fans everywhere. While the film had a few redeeming qualities– the set design and vocal talent were certainly impressive–the movie was a major disappointment. Clocking in at nearly three hours and with a budget of $150 million, “Wicked” was oversaturated with color and misplaced energy.
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?
UBSUC vice president elected from Samo
On Nov. 16, Aaliyah McGee (’26) was elected as the second Vice President of Southern California for the United Black Student Unionion, representing Samo on the USBC Board. UBSUC is a platform for Black students all across California, which is divided into three regions: Northern, Central, and Southern. McGee is a part of the Southern region, where many high schools gather for conferences, workshops, and networking events. The board members are responsible for organizing these events, reaching out to colleges for space and speakers, and providing resources such as scholarships and internships for students.
Small acts make big impacts
As the holiday season approaches, students can agree on the importance of giving back. Volunteering allows you to give back to the community by helping others or making a positive impact, no matter how small. It offers a meaningful opportunity to help others and make a positive impact on the community. Nevertheless, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Here are some great places to volunteer and make the most of your winter break!
Hygge: Finding cheer in simplicity
Hygge (hyoo-guh), a staple characteristic of Danish and Scandinavian culture, is the quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality synonymous with the holiday season.
Girls’ basketball aims to make playoffs after patchy start
The girls’ basketball team had a disappointing year last year, notching only four wins in regular season play and just falling short of the playoffs. This year’s team however is more experienced, having a large portion of last year’s roster returning for the season. With one of the largest senior classes in recent years, head coach Lance Radford is hopeful the team will find more success than last year.
Marching band’s championship run reflects both art and athletics
Samo’s marching band finished their season 4th in 5A with a score of 88.2 at Championships this past Saturday, Nov. 23. While the band’s performance is undeniably an achievement, it resurfaces the challenge of categorizing marching band as either a sport or a performing art. Marching band walks a fine line between physical performance and artistic expression, blending musical talent with technical skill and athleticism, making it tough to distinguish the activity as either a sport or an art.
Election aftermath: Democrats shaky as right sweeps
Donald Trump and the Republican Party came out
victorious after a historic election this past month. In
congress, the Republicans maintained control of the
House with a majority of 220 to 215 and flipped four
senate seats to secure a 53 to 47 majority. In regards to
the presidential race, all seven swing states voted con-
servative as Trump won both the electoral college and
popular vote—312 to 216 and 50 percent to 48.3 per-
cent, respectively. Contrarily, in Samo’s mock election,
Harris received 71 percent of the votes while Trump
received 12.4 percent. When Trump is inaugurated
as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20,
2025, the Republican party will control the judicial,
legislative and executive branches of the United States.
Samo alum stephen miller to advise trump
21 years ago Stephen Miller (’03), now President Trump’s nominee for Deputy Chief of policy, walked the halls of Santa Monica High School. Raised by a liberal- leaning Jewish family in the heart of Santa Monica, Miller’s childhood environment contrasted the political ideas he would later promote. Miller's time at Samo was marked by controversy, where he would deliver speeches to the student body and write conservative opinion pieces to various newspapers. Later he became a polarizing political figure as Senior Advisor to Trump’s 2016 administration.
Institutionalized Starvation and Its consequences
It's common knowledge that adolescents have poor eating habits. Eating disorders, economic disadvantages, general lack of appetite, illness — the list of factors in teen hunger goes on. Studies have proved time and time again that the absence of food is extremely detrimental to the human body. But what exactly happens with each meal missed?
Samo Students win award at first Model UN conference of the year
On Nov. 9 and 10, Model United Nations (known as Model UN) had its first conference of the 2024 school year.
Countdown to 2030: Trump’s climate crisis
The White House might be able to handle four more years of Trump, but can the climate? Last time Trump was in office, his administration rolled back over 100 environmental rules and his win is predicted to add 4 billion tons of carbon emissions to the environment by 2023.
Boys waterpolo faces heartbreaking CIF semi-final loss
The Samo boys’ varsity water polo team capped off their season on Nov. 12, 2024. The Vikings’ made it all the way to the CIF Semifinals and ended the season with an overall record of 19 wins and 16 losses and a record of 3-5 in league play. Despite losing 11 crucial seniors last year, this year’s team adapted and exceeded expectations.
School abroad vs. America: students share their experiences
The student body at Santa Monica High School reflects a diverse community of peers from different cultures, backgrounds, and even countries. While many students have lived in America their whole lives, others have been students around the world, bringing an international perspective to their education at Samo.