In-State: Deciding on your college path (Copy)
For any Samo student, not staying in-state would be a waste of the colleges and overall resources available to them. As California residents, Samo students have the privilege of living near an impressive list of state schools that should certainly be considered in their application process.
Out-of-State: Deciding on your college path
During the college application process, many different factors go into choosing where to go such as location, price, and overall academic opportunity. For many, location, and whether to stay in-state or out-of-state can be the deciding factor in their decision. While going to college in-state might seem like the easier option for students heading off to college, leaving the state for college can prove more beneficial.
Israel-Hamas war spurs political controversy on college campuses
College campuses across the U.S. have all witnessed different responses to the Israel-Hamas war since Oct. 7, when the initial bombing of Israel occurred. With there undeniably being multiple sides to the dispute, there has naturally been division among students and the administration.
What's going on around Samo?
New superintendent; search for new I House Principle; approval of Team Marine’s climate literacy resolution; annual club row
Understanding Israel, Palestine and Hamas
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a constant struggle since Israel’s establishment in 1948; this war is not just the beginning.
Sexual harassment highlighted in the sports world
On Aug. 28, a sexual harassment case arose in professional womens soccer when sexual harassment allegations were charged after Jenni Hermoso, a player for the Spanish Women’s National Soccer Team and the Mexican club Pachuca, was sexually harassed.
Day of the Dead inspires Samo’s annual art gallery
On Thursday, Oct. 26, Samo hosted its annual Roberts Art Gallery, with a themed focus on the following celebration of Day of the Dead. The walls were decked with pictures, paintings and multimedia pieces with mediums like fabric, string, paper mache and more.
Love, lies and laughter collide in “The Foreigner”
“The Foreigner” by Larry Shue came to life at Samo’s Humanities Center for the first time on Oct. 27, with three other shows following.
Dazzling duets and fundraising feats at Sweet Serenade
The Samo choir students serenaded the audience on Saturday, Oct. 21 at their first concert of the school year. Apart from the showcase of talented singers at Samo, Sweet Serenade–fittingly–provided arrays of handmade dessert trays as well as an auction/raffle fundraiser.
School to studio: the power of making music
Finding time to make music while also balancing responsibilities personally and academically can be a challenge, however it’s not just about juggling tasks, it’s about finding time to express themselves, and ultimately harmonizing their multifaceted lives.
Trying to be cool about boygenius’ new album
Boygenius has established itself as an icon of the indie music scene. Building upon the themes presented in their first full-length album released in March, Boygenius’ Oct. EP “The Rest” continues their tradition of melancholic melodies that emphasize a sense of community and love.
2023 National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists
Samo students Milo Berini (’24) and Justin Xu (’24) were named semi-finalists for the National Merit Scholarship competition and are proud and honored to become a semi-finalist.
Samo band kicks off the year with their fall concert
On Nov. 7, the Samo band held their annual fall concert, bringing together the five levels of the band led under directors Kevin McKeown and Terry Sakow. The concert was an impressive showcase of the band’s first few months of practice and only foreshadows the coming performances.
Principles on profit: Should non-professional athletes be paid?
NIL deals, also known as Name, Image, and Likeness Deals, have been taking the sports world by storm.
Local’s Night celebrates Samo community
On Oct. 19, Local’s Night was held at the Pier and consisted of a community pep rally to get folks in the spirit to support Samo and their community.
Examining Biden’s student debt alleviation plan: Hopes and Doubts
In a decisive move to confront the mounting student loan crisis, in the summer of 2023, President Joe Biden announced a plan to alleviate the financial burdens facing current students and recent graduates alike. The student debt crisis has only been compounded in the past decades due to tuition costs outpacing wage increases, leading to more students taking loans and falling deeper into debt. Biden’s plan's focal points include a revamp of income-driven repayment (IDR) programs, an expansion of loan forgiveness initiatives, and a proposal to cap federal student loan interest rates. On Oct.4, Biden also approved nine billion dollars in student debt relief, further pushing to reduce the burden of student debt.
Students reflect on Israel-Hamas conflict
On Oct. 7, 2023, the Islamic Resistance Movement, more widely known as Hamas, led a series of coordinated attacks against the people of Israel… Students at Samo with connections to loved ones in Israel have been adversely affected by the conflict.
Emma Thorpe achieves perfect AP Art score
Out of 10,000 SMMUSD students, Samo student Emmaline Thorpe (’24) was one of two students in the district awarded a rare perfect score on the AP 2-Dimensional Art and Design Exam.
Tricks, treats, and terrific costumes at Samo
On the day of Halloween, Samo students gathered around the entrance to Barnum, attracted by a spooky holiday soundtrack broadcast across campus.
The true value of an Ivy education
To thousands of high school students across America, an Ivy League education is the equivalent of a lucid dream. The aura of its prestige and the alumni revered by each school makes it easier to be drawn towards the East Coast. However, there are mixed opinions today on what an Ivy League education can offer in contrast to what it may have previously.
Smells like Samo spirit: a swell in Viking pride
In recent years, school spirit has been dampened due to the COVID-19 pandemic which halted pep rallies, sporting events and school dances. Without these key experiences, it can be challenging for students to connect with Samo. Now, with the full-fledged comeback of school-sanctioned events, there has been an uptick in school spirit.
Samo Mathletes hosts American Math Competition
For the first time, Samo hosted the American Math Competition (AMC) which took place on Nov. 8-12.
Weekend Bags Program Addresses Student Hunger in SMMUSD
After months of emails, countless meetings with district officials and hours of work, the Weekend Bags program was finally launched in Dec. 2021 with the help of Braun’s co-coordinator, SMMUSD parent and registered dietician Deb Novak.
“The Bear” season two and the path to healing
Season one of FX’s “The Bear” ended with a joyous discovery of $300,000 hidden in tomato cans, and it seemed like the show with 99% positive ranking from Rotten Tomatoes couldn’t get much better than it already was.
Samo introduces new sports medicine class and club
Samo has introduced a new sports medicine class and sports medicine club this year, which will give students an opportuni ty to advance in the field, either with a career in mind or just for fun.
Girls’ flag football team is the newest ball to catch
This year, the CIF-Southern Section voted on adding Girls’ Flag Football as a sanctioned sport for the fall 2023-24 sea son. Ramsey Lambert, who was the strength and conditioning coach, is now the head coach of Samo’s new flag football team.
Samo Welcomes New Cheer Coach Lavel Butler
This cheer season brings a new head coach for the team: Lavel Butler.
Around the World (in LA)
From Los Angeles natives to those who have just moved to the city, there are endless unique spots—especially restaurants— to explore. L.A. is a vast and diverse city with an abundance of different cultures present in the food scene. To celebrate the range of cuisines in LA, The Samohi has gathered a list of the best food spots from a variety of cultures!
Increased weather catastrophes in the wake of climate change
With Hurricane Hillary hitting California in mid-Aug., recent headlines have brought attention to similar weather and natural disaster reports, often related to or traced back to the effects of climate change.