WASC and State Testing assess Samo proficiency
From Mon. Feb. 12 to Wed. Feb 14, Samo was visited and evaluated by The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Additionally, juniors are in the middle of California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Testing (CAASPP) — another metric attached to Samo. However, some question the real benefits these evaluations bring.
Samo’s cafeteria transforms for spaghetti and strings
On the night of Feb. 10, the Intermezzo, Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras greeted guests at Samo’s cafeteria for the annual Spaghetti and Strings concert.
What's going on around Samo?
The California Science Center interships; Project Lead The Way: Animal Shelter;National Holocaust Survivor Day Celebration; New Alcohol Policy.
A deep dive into the 2024 Girls’ Water Polo season
Samo's Varsity Girls' Water Polo closed out their season on Jan. 31 with a game against Culver City. Winning 8-1, the score reflected the effort the team has put into practice throughout the semester.
The Truth About College Essays
The college application process isn’t as stressful as most high school students think.
Rising stars take the stage at cafe samo
On January 26 and 27, the Samo choir program hosted its annual Cafe Samo show, leaving an adoring crowd in awe of the students’ talent. Each act was carefully picked through an audition process led by Brooke Aron (’24), Justin Xu (’24), Walden Sullivan (’25), Sam Rubin (’25), Madeline Bryce (’24), Hope Hamilton (’24), Sarah Linowes (’24) and Valentina Manco (’24), and ultimately 21 acts were selected to play both nights. Upon being chosen for the show, students had just 10 days to prepare for the final culmination of their hard work.
Lack of fundraising could mean the end of samo programs
SMMUSD schools are witnessing a sharp decline in fundraising from the Ed Foundation, which could mean the end of various programs in the 2024-2025 school year.
Martial Arts From the female perspective
Within sports, conversations around sexism are usually limited to pay, physical ability and overall resources and popularity. However, with close-contact sports such as martial arts, sexism becomes much more complex and nuanced. The dynamics between trainees and the overall ultra-masculine culture within such sports create toxic and unwelcoming environments, particularly for women.
California Increases minimum wage for fast food workers
On Apr. 1, the minimum wage for fast food workers was increased from $16 an hour to $20 an hour as an attempt to provide aid to the low-paid workers, some of whom are homeless or supporting more than one person on their wage.
samo CELEBRATES black history month
The dangers of Doctor Goodle: stop self diagnosing
In recent years, it has become far more common to find teens and young adults self diagnosing- as the stigma around mental health has begun to melt away… but this can be far more harmful than one may believe.
Reading burnout: Inevitable?
Samo's Varsity Girls' Water Polo closed out their season on Jan. 31 with a game against Culver City. Winning 8-1, the score reflected the effort the team has put into practice throughout the semester.
Psych(o) paths: The variability of a psychology degree
Gaslight. Narcissist. Trauma response. Terms like these have proliferated through today’s society along with an uptick in interest of psychology. This increasing popularity has created not only a major point of interest among students but also opened the door to diverse career paths.
Banned Books Find a Home at Samo
For the past few years, the issue of banned books has been a hotly debated topic across America, especially in terms of policies in education. From toddlers to teens, state governments have grown concerned about the information put into young minds through literature.
The blatant truth about Brandy Melville
Inside almost every young women’s closet, you can find the highly questionable and controversial business of Brandy Melville. This fashion symbol of our youth’s culture has held a distinctive grasp on women for the past decade through their minimalist and effortlessly fashionable clothes.
Tiktok is the new tireswing
Generation Alpha is the first generation to have a hand-held smart device for the entirety of their lives. 10-year-olds flooding Sephoras all across the nation are making news because they are purchasing extremely expensive make-up and skin care products designed and marketed towards adults. This led to the “Drunk Elephant 12-year-olds'' trend on TikTok, where pre-teens purchase unnecessary skincare products.
Athletes continually facing criticism over self-expression
College athletes often face criticism due to concerns about expression, as they gain significant revenue and attention from the recently allowed NIL deals, and for universities while receiving limited compensation and facing strict rules regarding NIL endorsements and outside income. Recently, college basketball players Jared Mccain and Caleb Williams have been criticized for painting their nails, and they additionally signed with nail polish companies to update their NIL catalog. After these signings, they were bombarded with negative comments, surrounding and questioning the player's sexuality.
Whats going on around Samo?
Hazel Health:
Hazel Health, a new program coming to Samo available from home and at school, will provide free virtual therapy to all students in need, This program was brought together by Samo after taking part in a needs assessment a couple years ago through the LA county office of education.
The Renaissance of Digital Art
Digital art first blossomed in the late 90s and early 2000s and while initial forms of it were not as expansive as current apps such as Procreate, these beginning stages opened a new medium into the art world.
From print to pixel: the digital dawn of news consumption
As society descends deeper into the digital age, our youth becomes progressively more media illiterate and desensitized to misinformation. Gen-Z often mocks older generations for falling victim to false information on platforms like Facebook, yet we are indifferent to this. Teens are immersed in a life that revolves around information they intake on the internet that the line between fact and fiction begins to blur.
KCRW, Keeping Local Radio Alive Since 1945
In recent years, radio channels have declined in quality while platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have replaced go-to sources of personalized sound. Amidst these modern music empires, KCRW, an iconic radio station based in Santa Monica, is hard at work to keep independent media alive.
2024 Primary Elections- An Ongoing Race
The primaries are a system utilized by the two prominent U.S. political parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, to determine their nominee for the 2024 presidential election, which will take place in November. The frontrunners for the 2024 election are President Biden and Former President Donald Trump.
Anti-Semitic Graffiti Prompts Response in Santa Monica
On Apr. 8, multiple reports came out detailing the use of swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti marked on sidewalks, trees and lamp posts within the SM-Pico neighborhood.
An Ode to Concept Albums
In a world of constantly changing songwriting, concept albums remain one of the most immersive forms of music-making. Story-telling albums go beyond a simple compilation of tracks but create a string of songs that all contribute to one cohesive narrative. Each song can mimic a different chapter in a book, creating a genuine and immersive storyline for listeners.
Samo choir echoes their Spain trip at Cathedral Classics
On Friday April 19, 2024, Samo’s top choir showcased their skills at the Cathedral Classics Concert, held in the foyer of Barnum Hall. This performance culminated their recent tour across several Spanish cities such as Barcelona, Zaragoza, Segovia, Madrid, Toledo and Burgos, where their melodious voices graced iconic cathedrals, including the renowned Catedral de Burgos.
Ballot initiatives for this year's election
The primary election on March 5 offers students of age to vote for national and statewide ballot measures at their nearest polling center or by mailed ballot. Ballot measures are laws, issues or questions of both state-wide and local significance for voters to decide on. There are two ways a measure can be placed on the ballot. State legislatures can propose initiatives and 26 states including California allow residents to place measures by gathering enough signatures.
European soccer’s top teams fight for league titles
As we begin to prepare for summer, Europe’s biggest soccer leagues are preparing to crown their newest champions. Europe’s, and subsequently the world’s top five leagues, are in England, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. They range from having 34 to 38 games per season with a point system of zero points for a loss, one point for a tie and three points for a win.
Music- In With the Old, Out With the New
It is widely known that particularly in the US, there is a fad for older music. Why? It is simply due to the fact that this nostalgic fascination is far superior to that of the new generation’s. Old music has facets not contained in new music, like; originality, variety, and skilled vocals. These advantages of old music make it incomparable to the songs of today.
Boys’ tennis find success amidst challenging season
The Samo boys’ tennis team started off the season strong with a big win against Venice when the Vikings defeated the Gondoliers 16-2 on Feb. 29. They played their final match on Monday, April 22 against Culver City, ending the season on a high note with a win of 11-7. Although the team performed well on both ends of the season, they faced challenges in consistently holding their form steady. The Samo boys’ tennis team finished the season with a record of 5-9.