The Samohi
Cover by Kira Bretsky
Monday November 21 | Santa Monica High School | Volume CXI - Issue II
The Samohi
02 November 21, 2022
NEWS
LAUSD and SMMUSD combat growing fentanyl danger Emi Yamashiro-Hergert Staff Writer
The crisis surrounding the harmful substance fentanyl has gained urgency in recent years. The exponential rise of fentanyl-caused deaths continues from the increase of 30 percent between 2020 and 2021, according to the LA County Coroner’s office. The LAUSD and SMMUSD communities are struggling to cope with teen dealing, addiction and death. Fentanyl is a colorless, odorless opioid that is highly addictive and 50 times more potent than heroin. Since it is a synthetic drug, the cheap and fast nature of its manufacture causes some drug dealers to cut various counterfeit pills and substances with it. According to the CDC, overdoses have become the leading cause of preventable death among ages 18 to 45, and data from the journal “JAMA” states that 77.14 percent of adolescent overdose deaths in 2021 involved fentanyl use. The severity of these statistics has been reflected in recent months among teenage students, as LAPD numbers report seven or more adolescent fentanyl overdoses in the month of September alone. Samo PTA VP Parent and Community Education Gayle Gilman expressed her concerns. “It’s important to raise awareness of fentanyl because it is a major contributor to overdoses in the US,” Gilam said. “Most people are unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl.” On Tuesday, Sept. 13, four adolescents overdosed on fentanyl-laced pills at Bernstein High School in LAUSD, resulting in the death of one teen. After two high school boys were arrested for selling the pills that led to the overdoses, the Los Angeles Department of Public Health issued a health alert. Department experts led a town hall on Thursday, Sept. 22, joined by experts from the LA Drug Enforcement Agency and LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, to spread awareness about the fentanyl crisis and provide answers for anyone with questions. Additionally, a Student Public Health Ambassador training took place virtually on Nov. 16 for any LA County middle or high school student who wanted to help fight the opioid crisis. The LA Department of Public Health is working on providing similar opportunities, as reported by department representative Luis Renteria. “We offer workshops to parents and students and are always
looking for schools who are interested in contacting us directly to ated a slideshow just before Homecoming that presented about provide such resources,” Renteria said. the dangers of fentanyl schoolwide. Club members are also aimAccording to Renteria, the department is working with local ing to talk to the School Board about harm reduction’s place in schools to educate school communities on the dangers of fentanyl Samo classes, guided by SWAG Club Advisor and Mental Health and provide them with resources like testing strips and naloxone Counseling Coordinator Shuli Lotan. doses. Test strips are used to identify fentanyl-laced drugs by sub“We feel really strongly that harm reduction is an important part merging the strip in a small amount of the drug supply dissolved of education,” Lotan said. “If you know people who use and you in water. They can be purchased online or in locations around have those resources on you, it increases your safety and the safety LA listed on AIDS Project Los Angeles of those around you.” website. Naloxone, commonly sold as Fentanyl is particularly dangerous to teenagers. Federal data Narcan, is a medicine used to reverse shows that young adults have the highest rates of illicit drug use overdoses on opioids. In California, nal- of any age group, and CDC data notes that double the amount oxone is readily available in pharmacies of teenagers reported mental health disorders after the pandemic with no prior prescription required. Sa- compared with before. Adolescents in mental distress may look mo’s Student Wellness Advisory Group for a quick and easy way to cope, and the rapid-fire, anonymous (SWAG Club) and school nurse Erin exchanges that happen on any social media provide convenient DeTura are currently working to estab- platforms for dealers. As Renteria says, even non-pill substances lish naloxone distribution sites through- purchased frequently by teenagers such as marijuana, liquid drugs out campus. and vape pens can be laced with lethal amounts of fentanyl. SWAG “We will be providing even more in- Club President Jacob Gonzalez (’23) shared how the SWAG Club formation on this as we secure our plan is trying to help adolescent students with the fentanyl crisis. for education,” DeTura said. “As of [Nov. “Outreach is our priority.,” Gonzalez said. “We hope to advocate 17], I am happy to report we have re- with the resources we have offered through the school and outside ceived stock of 2100 doses of Narcan.” of school… to promote knowledge on how to deal with it safely, DeTura and the SWAG club also are planning to bring educa- to get others help.” tion on both fentanyl and naloxone to Samo students and teachthesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com ers. If approved by the School Board, lessons may be held as Featured Flex-Times, including training on how to administer naloxone so each student is able to play a part in fighting the fentanyl crisis. Samo Principal Marae Cruce discussed further steps taken by Samo. “Myself and some of the house principals have been trained on using Narcan, as an immediate step,” Cruce said. “We are now branching that training out. We’re going to be training the entire staff.” Many Santa Monica parents and students are raising awareness on fentanyl within the SMMUSD community. The PTSAs of Samo, JAMS and Lincoln held a parent workshop on Nov. 10 at the JAMS Performing Arts Center, explaining what fentanyl is, how adolescents Photo from commons.wikimedia.org access drugs and what concerned parents LAUSD and SMMUSD schools are working on bringing education on fentanyl and naloshould do for their childrens’ safety. To support wellness and knowledge about zone to their students. Naloxone, a medicine used to reverse overdoses on opiods and available resources, the SWAG Club cre- commonly sold as Narcan, has been made available at all K-12 LAUSD schools. According
...even non-pill subtances purchased frequently by teens such as marijuana, liquid drugs, and vape pens can be laced with lethal amounts of fentanyl.
Samo Nurse Erin DeTura, Samo has received 2100 doses of Narcan.
False bomb threat puts Samo on lockdown Sienna Bevan Staff Writer
Elleanor Quist / The Samohi While stuck in their classrooms for two hours during the lockdown, students had to find ways to entertain themselves. Mira Wagabaza (’24) looks proudly onto her completed card tower as her classmates play Jenga.
On Thursday, November 3, Samo went into a school-wide lockdown due to a bomb-threat. At 11:42 a.m., Samo received a phone call from an anonymous number claiming that a bomb was placed inside of the school, set to explode in five minutes. This triggered an immediate response by school
officials, in which proper safety procedures were followed. Samo Principal Marae Cruce alerted the Santa Monica Police Department, as well as the district office and school resource officer. “It’s… a coordinated effort between myself and the police and district office,” Cruce said. “So to get all three of those teams talking to say, okay this is the next step, this is what we need to focus on and this is what we believe is truly the threat.” A shelter-in-place was called at the beginning of flex-time over the PA system, and a shelter-in-place was announced 20 minutes later. Because the call was received during a passing period, administrators waited until students got safely into classrooms to prevent any chaos or confusion. Isis McDowell (’24) was unsatisfied with this course of action. “I felt like the school really mishandled, like, spreading the information,” McDowell said. “The bomb was set to go off at 11:45 or so. We would be dead. We would be killed, and the school still decided to keep us in for the next two hours… It disregards the safety of the students.” Luis Contreras, a pre-calculus and geometry teacher at Samo, reported that he, like a few other teachers, didn’t initially understand the PA announcement. “We thought it was a drill because we had received some notifications that during flex time there would be some drills, so initially we thought it was just some sort of drill, that nothing out of the ordinary was occuring,” Contreras said. According to Cruce, details of the phone call led school administrators and police to believe that the threat was located outside of the school or along the evacuation routes, so security personnel made sure the evacuation routes were safe before considering evacuation orders. Mid-lockdown, Cruce released a brief statement through email and a dialer message notifying Samo families. The shelter-in-place lasted about two hours, with the all-clear being given at around 2:15 p.m. Students were released for a grab-and-go lunch or were free to go home. In the future, some students including Olivia Pirrone (’24) would like to be notified early on about the threat by the administration.
“One thing I do think is that students should get an email about what’s happening on their smmk, not just parents,” Pirrone said. “My mom knew something was wrong before I did.” thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Anika Sarvey / Contributor In response to the potential bomb threat, some students had to shelter-in-place in a bathroom on the second floor of the Discovery Building. They remained there for about half an hour before safely returning to their classrooms.
The Samohi November 21, 2022 03
News
Results out for local and statewide November election
Violeta Buitrago Staff Writer
On November 8, California held the midterm election for the State Governor, State Senators, House Office seats and seven different propositions. The election also included new School Board members for SMMUSD, new City Council members for each district, and each city’s Mayor. Registered voters received their ballots in the mail starting early October, giving them a month to cast their vote. Samo students participated in a mock election that consisted of some of the same categories on the real ballot. One proposition on the ballot was Prop. 28, which provides greater funding for the arts and music education in public schools. Samo student Isabel Hudson (’24), who has been in the SMMUSD music program since fourth grade, participated in this year’s mock election. “As a viola player in orchestra, I think Prop. 28 is very important when it comes to the arts and music department which is why I voted yes on it in our mock election,” Hudson said. As of Nov. 16, 63 percent of voters in California voted Yes on Prop. 28. Similarly to California’s statewide student mock election where 82.33 percent of voters voted Yes as well. Additionally, 66 percent of
adults in California voted yes on Prop. 1, which protects the right to reproductive freedom, while 86.09 percent of students in California voted Yes on this proposition. This shows a 20.09 percent split between adults and students who voted in these elections when it comes to reproductive freedom. Samo student Dylan Bruce (’24) shares why she thinks there is a percent gap between adult and student voters.
“Some adults tend to be more closed minded in regards to the topic of abortion while teenagers have a more open minded stance on the topic since it effects their future and is something they care to fight for.” Bruce said. As well as the different propositions, the ballot included measures and candidates of local elections. Santa Monica’s School Board had four open seats up for grabs. Rich-
ard Tahvildaran-Jeswein and Laurie Lieberman, two previous members, were up for re-election. Six new candidates —Alicia Mignano, Stacy Rouse, Esther Hickman, Miles Warner and Angela DiGaetano— ran as well. In the end, Lieberman, Tahvildaran-Jeswein, Mignano and Rouse were elected to the School Board. Newly-elected School Board Member Rouse shares her first course of action.
“My first actions after the election will be three-fold. To begin learning what I need to know to be better equipped for the role of board member, to listen to the different people — students, teachers, staff, families, community members — and their experiences with our schools, and to begin building connections across groups in our district,” Rouse said. After being elected in 2013 and then re-elected in 2017, Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garectti was not able to run in this election due to term limits. Karen Bass faced off against Rick Caruso for the position, both running under the Democratic Party. On Nov. 16, Karen Bass was announced the projected winner, and will become the first woman to ever be Mayor of Los Angeles. As Mayor, Bass plans on fighting for social and economic justice. Some seniors at Samo who are of age decided to vote this year, which gave them a say in these local and statewide elections. Kylie Riggs (’23) voted in this year’s midterm election. “I think voting is very important. If you’re eligible it’s good to contribute to your community, especially if you care about politics in any sort of way. You might not think your vote matters but it truly does. Even one vote can separate the result of the poll,” Riggs said.
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Voters line up at the Roosevelt Elementary School poll location.
Malibu set to split district
* Projected winner The SMMUSD Board had two open spots and two members up for reelection on Nov. 8.
Drati to leave SMMUSD Elleanor Quist News Editor
Ben Drati, superintendent of Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District, will be leaving the district next semester, in January of 2023. On Nov. 17, the Bellflower Unified School District Board of Education approved Drati as their new Photo from smmusd.org superintendent, with SMMUSD and BUSD to settle on a specific January start date in the coming months. Drati announced the coming change in a Nov. 18 email to parents and staff. “I realize this is unexpected,” Drati said. “I want to let you know that I have thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated serving as the Superintendent of SMMUSD and will always cherish my time here.” Drati became SMMUSD’s superintendent in 2017, after Sandra Lyon, the previous superintendent, left to be superintendent of Palm Springs Unified School District. Between June 2016 and January 2017, Chris King and former Samo principal Sylvia Rousseau took over as interim co-superintendents, a current possibility for SMMUSD. SMMUSD has not yet named an interim or permanent superintendent to replace Drati. The Board of Education will have a special closed session on Nov. 22, during which they
will decide what to do going forward, such as whether to hire a consulting firm and an interim superintendent. “The school board, staff, students and community all learned about this decision within the past few days,” Gail Pinsker, SMMUSD’s community and public relations officer said. “The Bellflower USD Board of Education approved his appointment last night, which is typically when news of departure becomes public, which we did mid-morning today.” BUSD’s search for a superintendent began in July 2022, when they brought on Hazard Young Attea Associates as consultants. According to the schedule laid out on their website, HYA was recruiting in August and September, and applications for the position of superintendent were due on Oct. 1. With the end of BUSD’s search comes the beginning of SMMUSD’s. The Board of Education, including new members Stacey Rouse and Alicia Mignano starting in December, will find and hire Drati’s replacement. Current board member and vice president Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein, who was on Drati’s hiring committee and was reelected in the Nov. 8 election, spoke to the Santa Monica Daily Press about Drati’s announcement. “I would really like to convey this to you and anyone who’s interested in what I might think,” Tahvildaran-Jesswein said. “I’ve said to people over and over that what I think one of the best decisions I’ve made as a board member was to hire Dr. Drati, and I stand by that.” thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
SMMUSD and Malibu will split into two districts by July 2024 at the earliest.
Matilde Martinez-Navarrete News Editor
After months of debate that goes back to April of this year and decades of being discussed, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and the City of Malibu have agreed to separate into two unified school districts, Santa Monica Unified and Malibu Unified, following a detailed framework and process outlined in a press release. “This process we’ve identified reflects countless hours of negotiations and hard work on both sides,” Jon Kean, SMMUSD Board member, said in a press release. “The commitment by both sides to move forward under this framework represents the first time that we have been able to mutually agree upon anequitable financial model. While there is work left to do, we have reached an historic moment in this process.” SMMUSD’s Board of Education initially opposed the City’s petition because of inequity. According to SMMUSD, with Malibu’s proposal, students in Malibu would be funded at about $30,000 per student, while Santa Monica would be funded at about $15,000 per student. This inequity is projected to grow, with the new Santa Monica district funding at about $30,000 per student and the new Malibu district funding at about $90,000 per student in 25 years. The difference in funding per student can be accounted for by the fact that a percentage of school funding comes from local property taxes. Both Malibu and Santa Monica have a property tax rate of 1.1 percent of assessed value, but the median sold home price in Malibu is $2.4 million compared to $1.7 mil-
Photo from smmusd.org
lion in Santa Monica, according to realtor. com. This points to an issue with U.S. education being funded by local property taxes: Although Santa Monica is not poor, it is often the case that children in impoverished neighborhoods receive a lower-quality education through lack of funding. This disproportionately harms the education of Black, Hispanic and Native American children who, in California, are about three times as likely as white and Asian children to live in high poverty areas, according to KIDS COUNT Data Center. Malibu’s proposal reflects this imbalance: Currently, SMMUSD is 51.1 percent white, but after the split, the new Malibu district would be 78.4 percent white, while the new Santa Monica district would be 47.2 percent white. The difference in race layout and funding is SMMUSD’s main holdout, according to their frequently asked questions page about the split. The new proposal addresses SMMUSD’s concerns, providing a “conceptual financial model to insure both districts maintain sufficient revenue and revenue growth to provide the same or greater level of educational programs to students in both territories,” according to a district release. It also promises a tax-sharing agreement, operations agreement and joint powers agreement that are yet to be finalized. “Now that the Term Sheet has been accepted by both the SMMUSD Board of Education and the Malibu City Council, I am hopeful that the process and framework set forth will guide us to the ultimate goal of two separate school districts,” Malibu Mayor Paul Grisanti said in a press release. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The Samohi
04 November 21, 2022
News
Team Marine experiments in the future of gardening Cleo Topp Staff Writer
Team Marine, an activism club at Samo, installed a hydroponic garden on the Discovery Building rooftop in August. A hydroponic garden is a type of garden that uses a water reservoir to deliver nutrients to plants to grow them anywhere, at any time, with faster growth results and fewer materials than traditional gardens take. As a club focused on being an active group in the climate scene, Team Marine implemented the hydroponic garden in the hopes of being able to spread awareness and teach the community about urban and organic gardening and its benefits. In addition, the club captains Willa Ross (’24) and Emery Cunningham (’24) hope to make it a community space. “Some things that we talked about were introducing some of those vegetables and fruits into the cafeteria or lunches so that people get seasonal food, or bringing it to farmers markets and talking about how we used urban agriculture to grow these things,” Ross said. Around the world, hydroponic gardens are used in urban agriculture and beyond. Due to their many benefits, farmers have taken to the idea of a hydroponic garden. While regular gardens may require manual labor to weed, till and fertilize plants, hydroponic gardens save the effort, time and money needed to do so through the watering and nutrient providing system that they use. Not only this, but they also allow the farmers to ex-
Cleo Topp / The Samohi Team Marine Co-Captain Emery Cunningham (’24) cares to some lettuce sprouts for their hydroponic garden on the Discovery Building rooftop. The club hopes to grow produce to share with the community and spread awareness about urban and organic gardening.
pand their crop production amounts and speed of production without the need to expand the amount of space taken to grow these crops. So, while conserving water, energy, money and time used in growing a garden, hydroponics become gardens of the future that anyone can run anywhere they choose. Many urban cities have begun to use hydroponic gardens to supply fresh produce to those living in these
areas, and companies like Ikea, Target and Disney have experimented with hydroponics to provide produce to their customers. NASA has even continuously used hydroponic gardening systems in space. “Urban agriculture is going to be a huge thing, especially because we live in a very urban place,” Ross said. “We want to educate people about having an urban garden because it is possible,
and it is great to grow your own food.” To run these hydroponic gardens, members of Team Marine plant the plants into growth mediums instead of soil. These are then submerged in water filled with the nutrients that plants regularly get from soil. In this way, they are able to deliver these nutrients to the plants quicker, and the plants will grow bigger and fuller faster than they might in a regular garden
using soil. Despite many benefits, there are more technical aspects that are hard to work with. The intricate and interconnected web of the garden makes it important to balance the growth factors just right. If a problem arises in one place in the garden, it can cause greater detriments than the problem might in a regular garden. For instance, if a plant develops a disease, it is then much more spreadable to the rest of the plants; if the power shuts out, the system may stop running and the plants would be put in peril. These gardens can also cost thousands of dollars, but Team Marine received them as a donation. Despite this easy acquisition, Team Marine has still run into problems with the garden. While trying to figure out how to manage the watering schedule, their first round of plants died, and the next are in a process of trial and error, something that Cunningham is working on. “The plants aren’t growing, and maybe that’s our bad in watering it, maybe it’s something else, but they are behind the curve,” Cunningham said. However, the club is determined to keep figuring out how to help the garden thrive and is excited to be on the learning curve that will take them to the end result. “I think it’ll be a fun experience, and it’ll be cool if we really get it established to teach more people like the Garden Club who could potentially do more stuff,” Ross said. “It’s going to be fun.” thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
STF educates Samo students on environmental justice Malia Kabwe Staff Writer
Samo’s Student Task Force (STF) hosted an environmental justice event on Nov. 1. Presenters spoke at tents and tables while students took notes on their provided worksheets. The goal of the event was to inform the Samo students of the local candidates for the midterm election and to promote voting through a human rights lens. Two tents were set up at the event with tables on each side with interactive QR codes and petitions. One tent focused on informing students about voting and electoral rights. President Maya Williams (’24) has been a part of STF for three years now. “Our hope is that students leave our event informed about the content of the election as well as why it’s important to exercise our human right to vote,” Williams said. At the voting table, STF created a voter guide that outlines the impacts of several propositions on the ballot, focusing mainly on Prop. 30, which would increase taxes on people with a personal income above $2 million by 1.75 percent. This revenue would be put towards zero-emission ve-
hicle infrastructure like electric vehicle charging stations as well as wildfire suppression programs. Here, there was also a link to a petition for Santa Monica’s Board of Education to revert back to using 100 percent renewable energy, especially in the Discovery Building. At the voting tent, club members highlighted four City Council candidates who expressed their concerns for climate action in Santa Monica: Albin Geilicz, Ellis Raskin, Samantha Mota and Natalya Zernitskaya. Students also learned about local and global environmental justice and injustice at another tent. They were also able to scan a QR code at a separate table to find out if they lived near an oil rig, which could cause many adverse health effects. Sadie Lovett (’23) enjoyed learning about topics like these during the event. “I really liked how everything was super put together and how all of the presenters were very informed and passionate about what they were saying,” Lovett said. Other STF chapters at local high schools including Animo Venice Charter, Palisades Charter and New Roads hosted similar events. While some chapters organized similar tent events, others held mock elec-
Managing Editors
Riya Khatod Noor Memarzadeh The Samohi is a monthly newspaper by, for and about Santa Monica High School students. Our goal is to empower the student body through information. We do not represent the views of the administration or staff. We do not endorse advertisements placed in our paper.
Editor-in-Chief
Sakura Amano
News Editors
Matilde Martinez-Navarrete Elleanor Quist Opinion Editors
Indigo Craane Sara Javerbaum
tions and distributed educational materials and guides concerning the election. A weekly STF newsletter highlighted Samo’s event, as well as those of these other schools. “Across chapters, one point was made
clear: the most effective step we can all take to protect our planet is to vote for candidates and measures that will reshape the ways we address climate change for years to come,” the newsletter said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi STF President Maya Williams (’24) gives a presentation to students about voting with a human rights lens, overviewing candidates for local elections and California propositions.
Student Life Editor
Sydney Roker
Centerspread Editors
Art Editor
Kira Bretsky
Ava Memarzadeh Juliet Swimmer
Social Media Editor
A&E Editor
Copy Editor
Sports Editors
Faculty Advisor
Kendra Martinez Hawene Alemayehu Aili Forster
Grace Gyepes Alani Kanan
Kathleen Faas
Staff Writers Sienna Bevan, Violeta Buitrago, Addison Burns, Natalie Gazzana, Jewel Aston, Sofia Hume, Malia Kabwe, Ryan Kim, Declan Ney, Aaron Smollins, Olivia Stephansen, Audrey Strauss, Amilia Tejada, Cleo Topp, Taylor Witt, Emi Yamashiro-Hergert
The Samohi November 21, 2022 05
OPINION
Can individuals save our planet?
NO
YES
Emi Yamashiro-Hergert Staff Writer
Of all the dire problems on Earth, climate change may just be the most pressing. NASA scientists predict that if our carbon emissions continue at their current rates, average global temperatures will increase three degrees Fahrenheit in the next few decades. We are already experiencing the devastating consequences of these temperatures: the frequency and severity of natural disasters are rising alongside sea levels and homes of humans, animals and plants alike are experiencing mass destruction. Amidst this incredibly daunting and insurmountably vast crisis, many people may feel as if their choices and actions have no chance of making a difference. Though small daily decisions like throwing your bottle in the recycling or choosing an organic apple at the grocery store might seem insignificant, any size step toward carbon neutrality is a step in the right direction. Since food accounts for 26 percent of humans’ greenhouse gas emissions, even that weekly grocery store trip can be a way to advocate for the climate. One BBC article found that animal products, particularly beef and cow dairy, take the most emissions to farm and cook. Plant-based replacements can cut back on emissions and water use. Even the long-criticized almond milk requires less water to produce than dairy. Awareness of food waste is also crucial, as uneaten foods that are composted make up 14 percent of the greenhouse gasses of foods that end up in landfills. If everyone all at once stopped recycling or composting, carbon emissions would shoot up drastically. Individual choices add up; our collective mindset matters because enough people demanding ethical alternatives pressures companies into changing their practices to meet sustainable standards. Environmental Defense Club president Sophie Roth (’25) provides a point of view on the importance of the individual. “There is a general consensus that large corporations are the main culprits in disrupting our Earth. This is not untrue, but some of our mindsets are so fixated on this and see it as something much bigger than ‘us…’ As individuals, we CAN make a difference if we all join together,” Roth said. Among younger generations, ideas spread rapidly. Social media, trends and influencers have a profound impact on youth: so many of us are
motivated to participate in movements we see Sofia Hume on social media. According to NPR, Gen Z ac- Staff Writer counts for over 40 percent of secondhand fashion Though you may believe your individual purchases, just showing how things like thrifting, actions hold a significant impact in the fight upcycling, buying “used,” that are so often seen on against climate change, this is not the reality social media feeds, have been adapted on a mas- of the situation. Choices like turning the lights sive scale and shifted our climate emissions for the off to conserve energy, taking only the necesbetter. Circular business practices like secondhand sary amount of time in the shower and living fashion cut the emissions used to both produce by a plant-based diet are simply not enough. and discard clothing, which accounts for about 10 The truth is that no matter how many people percent of our global carbon footprint, shown by participate in these small lifestyle adjustments, United Nations Environment Programme data. little to no change is actually made. Large As seen in the countless variations upon the vin- companies and politicians, the main contributors toward the climate crisis, are where the tage aesthetic, the readiness of young peoreal environmental advances are necessary. ple to adapt to our peers allows Those with positions of power in politics, what is initially one person’s just like those with positions of power in passion to become a worldcompanies, have a massive influence on wide catalyst for positive the environment. For example, Calchange. ifornia Governor Gavin Newsom These movements can signed aggressive legislation also take the form of largeinto place earlier this scale gatherings like protests year to combat or walkouts, formed by the climate criindividuals inspired by sis. These laws, each other to speak which aim to out on what matters create four milto them. The club lion new jobs, Team Marine aims r e d u c e fossil fuel use by to educate and take 92 percent and much more action against climate over the next 20 years, will change. Club president have a greater impact on the Willa Ross (’24) touchclimate crisis than your decies upon why movements sion to throw your water bottle in are so effective. the recycling ever could. “Protests and walkouts are really In fact, according to CNBC, just because impactful because they bring awareness to the is- you decide to recycle something doesn’t mean sue. These kinds of actions force people to notice it actually gets recycled. Many countries that and to listen. It shows that there are lots of people used to buy recyclable waste have stopped, so that care and that is really empowering,” Ross said. garbage companies don’t have an incentive In the world we currently live in, it’s easy to fall to separate recycling from trash. And since a into the negative mindset telling us that we as in- Carbon Majors Database study found that just dividuals cannot possibly begin to untangle the 100 companies are the source of over 70 perissues that the world faces. But think of it like the cent of worldwide emissions, that day you left classic metaphor of a raindrop falling into a pond. the hallway light on doesn’t actually matter in One single drop of water creates a ripple, which the grand scheme of things. What the world radiates outward to affect the entire surface of the really needs right now is more action from orwater. One single person creates an idea, which ganizations and people like Newsom that have radiates outward to cause real and lasting change a real impact on the environment. “California is taking the most aggressive in the world. action on climate our nation has ever seen.
We’re cleaning the air we breathe, holding the big polluters accountable… That’s climate action done the California Way – and we’re not only doubling down, we’re just getting started,” Newsom said. To attempt to fight against the climate crisis, it’s big corporations like this that we need to hold responsible for their actions. One of Samo’s AP Environmental Science teachers, Benjamin Kay, spoke on how some teachers benefit from oil company investments. The California Public Employees Retirement System and California State Teacher’s Retirement System use billions of dollars to fund large fossil fuel corporations, making teacher’s pensions complicit in the climate crisis. This means some money teachers receive after retirement is associated with the same corrupt organizations and corporations that environmentalists are going up against. Kay also discussed the importance of activism and letting your voice as an environmentalist be heard. As Kay described it, the first step to getting big corporations to change their minds about climate crisis issues is through fighting. “If we want to make drastic change, a lot of our energy should go towards pressuring people in power of corporations to make sustainable choices. There is so much corporations can do to help the climate crisis,” Kay said. While it doesn’t hurt to bike to school instead of driving or cut back on the amount of meat you’re eating, these individual decisions don’t impact the climate as much as we’ve been conditioned to think they do. If you really want to aid the cause, the best course of action would be to increase the pressure on corporations and people with the ability to exert their power. Write letters to company representatives and local leaders, vote for candidates with environmentally-aligned values and educate yourself and others on the ways you can aid the climate initiative most. It’s high time society took the focus off of our insignificant individual actions and placed it, instead, on the real catalysts of climate change. Art by Kira Bretsky
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Are you arm-y enough for the army? Art by Nori Quist
Out with the old, in with the... stolen? Taylor Witt Staff Writer
Over the past 100 years, the body standard for women has been in flux, a pendulum jumping back and forth. Bodies go in and out of style in media and microtrends seem to sprout into popularity every few months. Not only this, but the way women and people dress and present themselves has been the topic of criticism and praise for decades, swinging back and forth depending on the recipient. Interestingly, micro-trends and trends taking on a much larger scale emerging today are the same trends that black and brown communities were previously criticized for wearing. Lately, the ‘Clean Girl Aesthetic’ has been sweeping the nation. The trend includes gold hoop earrings, slicked-back buns, and a plethora of claw clips. But wait… we’ve seen this be-
fore. Black and brown communities had these looks trademarked in the 1980s and 90s while being mocked for their minimal appearances. However, when a conventionally attractive white individual recreates the look, it’s dubbed “cute”, “neat”, and “clean” and becomes a beauty trend. When worn in black and brown communities only 30 years prior, the look was then considered “ghetto” or “cheap”. Additionally, the ‘Model Off Duty’ look has become a major trend, becoming another glorified rip-off of what black and brown women would wear daily and be criticized for yet again. Though celebrities’ remixes of these trends are not an exact replica, the looks are quite similar. The baggy jeans and sweatpants with oversized jackets or small tops are now considered aesthetic when worn by eurocentric individuals, but when worn by people of color the look is deemed dirty or lazy. These trends do not stop at clothes choices. even characteristics of facial features are being stolen and plastered onto the face of yet
another white person. Too many celebrities such as supermodel Bella Hadid have been caught getting surgery or doing their makeup to achieve the ‘fox eye’ effect. Asian-fishing has been around for a while but trending videos on TikTok are bringing the harmful epidemic back. Influencers spend thousands of dollars on surgeries, skin care, makeup looks, and overpriced clothes just to get the look that they judged so heavily in the past. The bottom line is that reemerging trends are nothing new, and of that, black and brown communities are being robbed of their original creations when a few years later, white people come around to it and claim it as their own. Further, most of the population cannot pay the price to achieve the ‘typical beauty standard’ which fluctuates every decade or two, leaving those once condemned in the past used to recreate a “new look”. Remember, these trends are only subpar reconstructions of what has already been done, and the looks worn today have a deeper history beArt by Kira Bretsky hind them.
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The Samohi
06 November 21, 2022
Opinion
Fun-draising or Not-so-fun-draising? Cleo Topp Staff Writer
As clubs start up again, so is the question of raising money. From the most common to the unconventional, below are my rankings of potential fundraisers for the penniless people.
Bake Sales: 3/5 cupcakes
Car washes: 2/5 cupcakes
Restaurant: 3/5 cupcakes
Jog/Walkathon: 3/5 cupcakes
Everyone, and I mean everyone, does a bake sale. Because of this bake sales are 3/5. This might seem high, but bake sales can be incredibly effective in making money for a club, however, that is about all there is to it. Bake sales can be fun if there is a theme to it, like holiday themed cookies or pumpkin muffins. Unfortunately, you also lose extra points if it is hosted on the corner of Montana in front of the Whole Foods.
The next one is rare for a reason, and this time it’s not so good. Car washes tie for last place, earning a 2/5. While these are less common and somewhat creative, they do not really rack up the funds and are not the most enjoyable. Spending all day in the sun washing cars is not your typical teenager’s idea of fun, and after a hard day’s work there is not much to show for your efforts. However, points for effort, because washing cars all day really does take work.
Fundraiser number three is a collaboration with a restaurant, more often used by sports teams, such as the Girls Soccer team’s anticipated partnership with California Pizza Kitchen, but sometimes used by clubs. Overall, this gets a score of 4/5. Because of its rarity and because it comes with food, this one automatically gets a high score. However, these partnerships often only last for one night, making it hard to support at times, and bringing the score down.
Fundraiser number four is the jogathon; a nice idea to get everyone involved and active, but a lot of work on the participants. Not only do the runners have to find pledges and donations, they also then have to go about jogging and earning cash. Similar to a jogathon, but perhaps more loved by the general public, is a walkathon. While you have to work for the earnings in both, at least you could just walk. This allows for friendly conversations and time spent with friends, all while earning cash. This brings the combined two to a 2/5 rating.
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Return of the Viking spirit
Students at recent home game on Oct. 21.
Sofia Hume Staff Writer
With the long-awaited return of pep rallies back into Samo’s student life, it is no surprise that with their arrival, school spirit has also increased. Whether you are a freshman, senior, or of any class in between, Samo students seem to all agree that the Viking’s enthusiasm has once again been restored. With spirit being at an all-time low as of the 2021-2022 school year, this noticeable difference in Samo students’ pride is a much-needed change of pace. With even Samo’s new principal taking notice. “I think there have been more students showing up for activities,” said Marae Cruz. The return of the pep rally has not only increased school spirit as students enter the Greeks, but in everyday student life. Many would agree that in the past few years Samo’s student body has been lacking in the pride department. The addition of pep rallies and other school-led activities is now changing this. When speaking with one freshman; also a proud member of Samo ASB; on her feelings regarding the most recent rally, she had only positive remarks to share on her first homecoming assembly experience. “People are participating way more, and a lot of people I know are way more excited. They’re like, when is the next pep rally?” Gelila Mihret (’26) said. ASB does not go unnoticed in their many initiatives to improve Viking spirit, actually breaking school records in the process. When talking to one ASB member, Ellenor Brandt (’23), she stated that ticket sales for this past Home Coming had record-breaking results. What usually is just a couple hundred attendees to Samo’s Homecming dance, was just
Teddie Waxler/Contributor
around 1,300. “We had the most tickets we ever sold, around 1300,” Brandt said. If you didn’t believe there to have been a drastic increase in school spirit before, there is no denying the facts themselves. Not only have this year’s school events broken records, been fun, and brought more pep into Samo’s student life. School events have also brought the student body closer together as a community. Perhaps people who would have never become friends, talked, or even met previous to this year are now creating bonds through their love of being a Samo Viking. When talking to one member of ASB, Yohanes Mihret (’23), he attributed the school’s increased sense of spirit to this newfound sense of community. Relating his thoughts on the matter to the senior sunrise that occurred earlier this school year. “I really think it brought the seniors together, and it felt like there was a sense of community. Because it was so many different groups of people that sometimes don’t always hang out together, but being in the same place made it feel like a family,” Mihret said. Though it still is very much the beginning of the ’22/’23 school year, the Vikings are starting off strong with their newfound spirit and sense of community. Thanks to the school-led activities that have been put on thus far, Samo students can foresee what might be recognized as a very spirited future.
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Sandy the Seagull
Art by Kira Bretsky
Raffle: 3/5 cupcakes
Last but not least is a raffle, earning a solid 3/5 because it is a very mixed bag. If you get enough people to participate, the club can earn a lot of money. However, for the participants, the chances get slimmer and slimmer of earning that prize. If the raffle is accompanied by some other motivation, such as refreshments, being held at an event, or a bonus simply for participating, raffles can move up in their score. However, they do lack a certain creativity and are a bit bland, meaning that the score shoots back down once more.
by Sofia Hume
The Samohi November 21, 2022 07 07
Student Life
Casino Homecoming night brings Vegas to Santa Monica Aaron Smollins Staff Writer
ly hectic and out of control with water being thrown from every direction. People were partying so hard that many students fell down like dominos. The DJ also was open to taking requests from students which made the event more enjoyable. Elijah Boktor (‘23) rates his experience at Homecoming. “This Hoco was lowkey a movie. The whole school was getting lit together. The ticket price was definitely worth it because of the 20 pizza boxes we snagged. The DJ was pretty fire and crowd surfing was lit until the opps shut it down,“ Boktor said. Homecoming was also a night where many people danced and had fun with students in different grades. This inclusivity made the event much better than it already was. ASB President Nathan Castanaza (‘23) describes the process of setup and the Teddie Waxler / Contributer ideas behind the memorable night. Lilly Ryf (’23), Sydney Forsyth (’23), Scarlett Mickel (’23) and Nyla Ryf (’26) dance at this year’s casiono themed In ASB we ensured the event was Homecoming. well publicized and our activities For many Samo students, Homecoming was a With the Homecoming Dance making a return to commissioner ordered all decoranight to remember. As you entered through the the Discovery Atrium for the second year, this time tions, coordinated backdrop and larger decorations Seventh and Michigan gate as rain fell from the sky, there was a new addition of food options. Students through PegLeg, and the DJ,” Castanaza said. big block letters spelling ‘HOCO 2022’ towered over had access to free food from gourmet food trucks in Spending time with friends, classmates and peers the steep stairs of the Discovery Building and hang- the Innovation quad and catered Chick-Fil-A and in a nice environment with good food and music ing lights set the tone for this year’s theme, Casino Domino’s Pizza was served in the cafeteria. can allow Samo students to make amazing memoNight. This year the wmosh pits and crowds got extreme-
Teddie Waxler / Contributer
Ava Lowe (’23) and Yohannes Mihret (’23) at Homecoming, which was hosted for the second consecutive year in the Discovery Atrium.
ries and have fun despite the stressful times in high school. Administration and ASB members such as Castanaza are hopeful for future Samo events after this year’s positive Homecoming turnout. “Homecoming was very successful this year. I was very pleased to hear that we sold over 1300 tickets and broke the school record,” Castanaza said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Hoco Queen and King making it ‘reign’
HOTLB: Advice from Samo’s Senior Class
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Amilia Tejada
Natalie Gazzana Are you an underclassman struggling to find your place at Samo? Searching for ways to fit in and navigate the school successfully? Look no further! Samo’s senior class has advice for you!
“These are your early years of high school, use this time to get used to the school. Branch out and get the swing of things.” -Jacob Gonzalez (’23)
“Walk faster in the halls. But also take it easy freshman and sophomore year. Don't stress out too much until junior year.” -Jasmine Gonzalez (’23) Michael Sergeev/ Contributer
Brooklyn Alexander (’23) and Joshua Hecht (’23) at the Homecoming Pep Rally, before being elected Homecoming Queen and King later that night at the Homecoming Game.
“Know there are so many paths to take and you create your own future. Whatever anyone tells you, know that you know yourself best and don't follow what you think is a safe path as those can be the riskiest.” - Adin Freedman (’23)
Brooklyn Alexander makes her homecoming debut Brooklyn Alexander (’23) was very surprised exander loves to sing and write her own songs and to learn that she had been nominated for Homepoetry. Alexander has recorded over ten original coming Court. She was so honored that her peers songs and dreams of releasing them for the world had nominated her for Homecoming Court and to hear. Alexander has also been part of leadership was even more excited to learn that she was voted for Black Student Union as she was the president Homecoming Queen. Alexander explains how last year and is now the Senior Representative for she felt when she learned she won Homecoming the organization. Being a leader of Black Student Queen. Union has given Alexander the opportunity to “Once it all settled in I was extremely excited voice her beliefs. Alexander uses her posi- tion to to share that moment with my peers and show enforce self advocacy. other kids of color that they can be royalty too,” “I want the underclassmen and anyone else to Alexander said. know that self advocacy is important and you can Alexander is known as a friendly face around have anything you want in life if you work hard for school and this win truly enforces that idea. Outit,” Alexander said. side of campaigning for Homecoming Queen, AlJoshua Hecht rules the homecoming and basketball courts From shooting hoops on the Varsity basketball Clinic Club works to provide healthcare to underteam to escorting Brooklyn Alexander (‘23) to privileged and orphaned children in Egypt. Hecht Homecoming royalty, Josh Hecht (‘23) certainly is passionate about this club because he enjoys helpknows how to rule the court. Hecht explains his ex- ing others and feels this club does just that. Being a citement when learning he was nominated. part of these clubs and representing his school in “I didn’t know that it was something I could be basketball has made Hecht’s time in high school all nominated for, so I was shocked when my friends worthwhile. Hecht explains that winning Hometold me that I was,” Hecht said. coming King was the cherry on top to a great high Apart from playing basketball and winning school experience. Homecoming King, Josh has also been an active “My experience at Samo has been great. I have member of multiple clubs including the Middle met so many great people here and all four years Eastern Virtual Clinic Club, Leveling the Court, have been amazing,” Hecht said. and Future CEO Club. Middle Eastern Virtual thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
“Join different sports and activities. Don’t think that just because you didn’t do it in middle school that you can’t do it now. Commit to something for all four years.” -Maya Karni (’23)
“Really pay attention in your classes because your future self will have an easier time.” - Santiago Arteaga (’23)
Photos By: Natalie Gazzana / The Samohi
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Music and the Mind: their correlation and its effects Sienna Bevin Staff Writer
Whether you are listening to the melancholic ballads of Radiohead, the powerful poetry of Tupac, or the meticulous lyrics of Taylor Swift, music provides catharsis. Putting in headphones to your favorite song can feel as if you are being taken to another world—without the stress, worries, and expectations of real life. It just becomes you and the music. Music has a significant positive impact on students’ mental health. According to a study done by researchers from McGill University, it gives a rush of dopamine to the brain, acting as a mood booster. The neurological reactions of subjects were tested when listening to music, showing a release of dopamine when listening to music they enjoyed. Samo musician Theo Tobel (’23), has music to thank for finding himself and a great deal of his happiness–whether it be through his passion for playing the bass, or by forming bonds with his family with music. “I think of my bass as an extension of my body, and it makes me so happy to play at the end of a long day. [...] I cannot fathom a life without music,” Tobel said. It has also been found that music can lower stress and anxiety levels, proving beneficial to students. According to a study done by Stanford University, the rhythm of the music closely correlates with its effects on the brain, due to the changing
in brainwave frequencies. For example, slower songs have a meditative effect, while faster songs can actually lead to higher concentration. Kevin McKeown, the Director of Bands at Samo and conductor of Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble, touched on the connection between music and the mind. “[Music is] a way to kind of get lost. Music is a place where you can lose yourself and where you can find yourself,” McKeown said. Music can also unlock memories and past emotions associated with certain songs. Think of a song you played during a late night drive or at summer camp that just takes you back to that moment. With a single song can come life and love. “We relate music that we connect with those times. So it’s kind of a way to memorialize our present,” Mckeown said. For many, music is an escape. Like a soundtrack that we determine for our own lives, it lets us remember the past and influence the future. Music is a universal language used to communicate with others, beyond language and social barriers.
HOTLB: What are Samo students listening to?
Art by Kira Bretsky
Sienna Bevan and Malia Kabwe Staff Writers
Music is everywhere. It is a universal language, shared by all kinds of people. Everyone has a unique range of music they use to express themselves. With the wide variety of genres and artists, as well as tastes here at Samo, we decided to ask the question: what are you listening to? thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi
Wongiel Gebeyehu (’23) Runnin- 21 Savage
Sienna Bevan / The Samohi
Siena Blaustein (’25) Hella Good - No Doubt
Sienna Bevan / The Samohi
Ajax Haendel (’24) Intergalactic - Beastie Boys
Sienna Bevan / The Samohi
Anjalie Butte (’25) Sugarcube - Yo La Tengo
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi
Seila Phipps (’23) I Was Never There- The Weekend
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi
Emmaline Thorpe (’24) Coffee & TV- Blur
Sienna Bevan / The Samohi
DJ Bevan (’23) Drown - Smashing Pumpkins
Samo music groups serenade outside the classroom Ryan Kim
Staff Writer
School’s out and you’re leaving campus. As you walk past the music rooms, the sound of music plays all around you. Ever wondered what this is? These 4 Samo bands fill the afternoons with the joys of music, uplifting those lucky enough to hear.
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Jazz Band jazzes up music options at Samo
As jazz music plays in the band room after school, one can’t help but notice and nod their head to the music. Having two separate levels of jazz groups makes the band more accessible for all levels. Jazz Band 1 is the advanced version while Jazz Band 2 is a beginner introduction to the music. Tom Whaley, the director and teacher of Jazz Band 1 talks about what kind of culture jazz brings. “We play a variety of charts every year to expose the students to the different styles and interpretations, from bossa nova to cha-cha to bebop, swing, fusion, funk, rock, salsa, ballads, etc…” Whaley said. “I also try to make rehearsals fun because they take place after school and I believe we have a good time and make
good music.” Whaley also mentioned having famous jazz artists coming in to inspire and share their life as professional musicians with the students. Hosting classes after school from 3:30 to 5:30, the Jazz band is a creative and incredible opportunity to engage in music at Samo.
Ryan Kim / The Samohi
Art by Kira Bretsky
Franklin Daley (’23), Theodore Rotgin (’23), DJ Bevan (’23), Ken Rugprayoon (’23)
Acapella groups spark up the choral program Student-led acapella groups are a hit at Samo. The Choir program hosts various groups that have been standing for years, including Barbershop, Beautyshop, Valkyries and T-Tones. These groups light up every Samo choir performance, engaging the audience with unique song choices. The Barbershop student leaders are Kaine Zeoli (’23) and Barney Lanning (’23). Ella Crandall (’23) leads Beautyshop, and Sadie Lovett (’23) and Emma Tuttle (’23) lead Valkyries. Justin Xu (’24) is the leader of T-Tones. Barbershop and Beautyshop play snappy tunes, bringing a jazzy feel to choir concerts. Between each group, there are usually 8-11 people in each all from similar choir disciplines. The barbershop is an all-boys group, while the beauty shop is
an all-girls group. Auditions for juniors and seniors are held by the student leaders at the beginning of each year, each group requiring weekly meetings. Valkyries and T-Tones both consist of around 20 individuals and sing various pop songs, Valkyries being all girls and T-tones all boys. Both groups accept all choir students from freshman to senior year. These student-led acapella groups are different in the songs and style, but each contribute greatly to the choir program and Samo’s student life. “It brings a lot out of our front choral programs to show these student-led groups and how we can all work together,” said Crandall (’23).
Ryan Kim / The Samohi
Shelsie Vasquez (’23), Cienna Menville (’23), Ava Memarzedeh (’23), Lucy Letscher (’24)
Mariachi Band brings diversity of music and culture to Samo The Mariachi Ensemble is shaking the school with its music. This group represents Latino culture and tradition at Samo through music. Playing from 3:45-5:30 every Tuesday and Thursday, this band rehearses and earns two college units per semester. Working with Santa Monica Youth Orchestra (SMYO), this ensemble was made so that Latino and non-Latino students could learn more about mariachi music and the culture surrounding it. The teachers are Willie Acuña and Mary Alfaro, both professional mariachi artists. Acuña has played for over 25 years and talks about what he thinks.
In an article from SMDP.com, Acuña talks about what mariachi can do for people. “It gives people a chance to either dive into their heritage or, for someone from outside of the culture, to experience the culture more intimately and have a better understanding of it,” Acuña said. Growing in popularity, the mariachi band is becoming a group beloved by both students who participate, and their listeners.
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
Vaughn Jelks (’23), Michael Sergeev (’23)
Samo faces the music after the pandemic Natalie Gazzana Staff Writer
What happens when yearly subject requirements are changing and Samo is still facing COVID-19 after effects? The music program pays the price. Samo has long been recognized for its outstanding music program, but consequences of the pandemic and schedule requirements are its accessibility. Many students looking to fulfill their ACES requirements, the required amount of years in each subject, focus less on the music electives. The year requirements vary by subject, so while math and science require three years with four recommended, arts only require one. Samo’s variety of electives adds no help either. In addition to the variety of electives having an influence on incoming high
schoolers, commitment does too. Samo’s nationally recognized music programs are no joke, a stark difference from middle and elementary school music classes. Considering the music classes can be a commitment from freshman to senior year, with many events and trips throughout, students might feel intimidated by the involvement it takes. The common denominator in the lack of participation in the music program is by far, the pandemic. Playing music, an already difficult feat, is incredibly challenging over distance learning. During distance learning, many students dropped music as a class, and are now reluctant to pick it back up in person. The music program directors and teachers have also taken account of these changes. Jeffe Huls, Samo’s choir program director, provides insight on
the reasoning behind it. “It is due in part to the way music was experienced during quarantine. You have to think of the nature of what we do. It’s community based. It’s not only making great music but making great music with others. It’s not present playing into a recording. We lost people because they were not experiencing music the way you need to,” Huls said. However, senior student Skylar Tuckett (’23) who is a cellist in Samo’s Symphony orchestra has noticed one positive element coming from this shift. “Although there’s been a decreasing number of students joining the music program, the underclassmen that are in the program are very committed. They’re always the most prepared during rehearsals and ready to learn from our directors. The only change I’ve observed is the number of partic-
ipants, but the quality of musicianship persists within the underclassmen,” Tuckett said.
Ava Memarzedah / The Samohi
Chamber Orchestra members Mattin Aframian (’23) and Aerin Lee (’25) performing before the Disney concert.
The Samohi
10 November 21, 2022
Student life
Staff members “Wannabe” winners of Pep Rally Lip-Sync Battle Cleo Topp Staff Writer
On Friday, Oct. 21, Samo hosted a pep rally as a part of the Homecoming experience, this time featuring a staff lip-sync battle. With songs ranging from “Baby” by Justin Bieber to “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice, teachers, security guards and other staff members put on their costumes and mouthed along to some of their favorite songs. As done in past years, teachers picked a song alone or with the help of other teachers, students and staff members and danced their hearts out. After each performance, the students in the crowds gave a rating from one through five based on their quality and entertainment value. These scores were tallied up, leading to a first place winner of Ramsey Lambert who performed “Baby” by Justin Bieber. In total there were 12 performances, the first being ABBA’s song “Dancing Queen” performed by Marae Cruce, Tristan Komlos, Jose Cuevas, Satinder Hawkins and Heather Medrano. Ready to go with the classic 70’s clothes of the ABBA cast, fake instruments and even wigs to really embody the band, these staff members kicked off the battle with some groovy tunes.
Competing with this all-teacher performance were the acts with teachers and students alike, such as “Titi Me Pregunto” by Bad Bunny performed by Security Guard Natalie Cornejo and a band of students carrying towels and beach balls and even dressed as sharks. Another staff and student performance was that of Jenny Nicolas and a group of students dancing to “La Boda Del Huitlacoche” by Carin Leon. Yet another quite popular performance was Lily Sheahan and Samo’s Pom team dancing to “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande. As the coach of the Pom team, Sheahan was able to work with the team and put together a dance to this song where she could incorporate her own dancing talents as well. Not only were staff and students performing in this battle, but so were kids that did not even attend Samo. Performing as the Schuyler sisters in the song “Schuyler Sisters” by Lin Manuel Miranda, Amy Chapman along with Maggie Colburn and Emily Anderson brought along outfits, props and even another actor to make this performance stand out. This extra actor was Chapman’s young son, Ryan Chapman, who played the role of Aaron Burr. Not only did he dance in the choreography and dress the part, but he also had his own
Martin Ledford / Contributer
lines to lip-sync to by himself. Chapman herself, while nervous beforehand, had a great time as soon as she started lip-syncing. “I always love it,” Chapman said. In contrast, some teachers stuck to the acts by themselves such as Wilma Iniguez and Jenny Nicolas who danced away to “Mamiii” by Karol G or Tenesha Maisitis who threw cash in the air as she danced to Bruno Mars and Silk Sonic. Some teachers, while unaccompanied by a student group, danced in a group with other staff like the performance by Lizzie Stapleton, Jenny Forster, Jessica Gutierrez and Jay Daglis who pulled out their British personas and feminism and lipsynced along to “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls. Kira Bretsky / The Samohi Although all these perforStaff Lip Sync Battle winner Ramsey Lambert perform “Baby” by mances were cheered on by the students, the fan-favorite Justin Bieber at Samo’s Homecomng Pep Rally. audience would take the conclusion that he was “Baby” by Justin Bieber, performed by Lambert. Bringing back an was disabled, many students were confused all time favorite 2000s song, Lambert won by this and the performance was not quite over the crowd with the signature hair the hit that “Baby” was, although he admits swoop and outfit of the famous Justin Bie- he knew it was a flop from the minute he ber, becoming the embodiment of young JB came out on stage. However, Denis remains positive and looks forward to more perforhimself. “Once the song started playing and I al- mances now that he knows his audience a ready heard the student body getting into bit better. “I get a kick out of performing in front of it, that energy really just kind of flowed and made me not stress about it because large crowds,” Denis said. Overall, the lip-sync battle hosted many we were all just having a good time already, interesting performances from through the let’s just keep it going,” Lambert said. Finally, there was a performance by Ran- decades and performed by staff, students dy Denis lip-syncing “Ice Ice Baby” by Va- and children alike. This experience brought nilla Ice. As a play on the old and joked- Samo together once more in a pep rally in about Vanilla Ice, Denis came out on a anticipation of the upcoming homecoming wheelchair and was consistently aided by game and dance. Many students felt this fellow teacher Simon Heerdegen in order way, including Phoebe Benun (’25). “I had fun seeing a new side of my teachto continue to perform as he suffered from “setbacks” such as running out of oxygen, ers that day as they were given a chance to not being able to stand up and “soiling his be creative and have fun with all the stupants”. While Denis did not think that the dents,” Benun said.
Lizzie Stapleton and Jessica Gutierrez perform “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls.
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Samo scholars: Meet the National Merit Semifinalists Taylor Witt Staff Writer
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s yearly selection of 16,000 United States high school seniors has been announced, four of whom are current Samo students: Lincoln Jarvis (‘23), Maya Knauf (‘23), Kian Naini (‘23), and Danny Chmaytelli (‘23). Less than 1 percent of the nation’s high school students are represented in the pool of Semifinalists. Additionally, multiple Samo students have been announced as Commended Students, or students who nearly achieved the benchmark National Merit Semifinalist score. These students include seniors Ryan Atienza, Jillian Brander, Alexa Duffy, Taj Ford, Natalia Galperin, Rosemary Haygood. Riya Khatod, Isaac Kim, Claire Kovac, Aiden Lee, Elleanor Quist, Theodore Rotgin, Julien Schweighofer, Theodore Tobel, Raeva Vasisht, and Mira Wali. The National Merit Scholarship program has been providing students with financial aid since 1955. The list was announced on Sept. 14. Over 15,000 of the 16,000 qualified Semifinalists are expected to move on to the finals, then half of those Finalists will win the scholarship. In order to qualify, students must have taken the Preliminary SAT/
National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). A typical test includes Reading, Writing and Language, and two sections
cy: both in practice and in testing conditions. “If studying, be consistent, do like maybe 30 mins a day instead
studying habits came down to comfortability and familiarity. “Get yourself familiar with the timing of the test, that’s one of
mendation of said Finalist, a student essay, extracurriculars, and PSAT/NMSQT scores are taken into account for a qualifying spot among the Finalists. While many students view the PSAT as an end all be all exam, Naini views it differently. “It’s just kind of a test score, it doesn’t really say anything about like who you are as a person or anything that will affect me other than that day, other than getting into college,” Naini said. Despite getting high scores on the test, some students recognize that not everybody has access to the same resources. “I think it’s a good idea that colleges are starting to make it optional because I think that there are a lot of different underlying reasons as to why some kids do better than others. Like for me, I’ve had the opportunity to have tutoring and have my parents help me out,” Knauf said The four Samo SemifinalTaylor Witt / The Samohi ists of the National Merit ScholarSamo’s National Merit Scholorship Semifinalists Danny Chmaytelli (’23), Lincoln Jarvis (’23), Kian Naiani (’23), and Maya ship will be processed through the Knauf (’23) pose for a picture. corporation and then move on to of Math: one with a calculator, of three hours the day before. the hardest things about the SAT. the Finalist standing. The 7,250 Fiand one without. 2022’s minimum Definitely, when you're practicing Khan Academy in general is really nalists left will be notified of their qualifying score was 220 in Cali- mock the same environment so good for studying,” Jarvis said. prize in March and announced to fornia and 207 nationwide. you know close your door, do the About 7,250 students win the the media on May 10. For students such as Chmaytel- same timing, use the same pencil, scholarship out of the pool of the li, success on the test didn’t come do it on paper,” Chmaytelli said original 16,000. Factors including without a great deal of consistenSimilar to Chmaytelli, Jarvis’s academic record, school’s recom- thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Arts & Entertainment
The Samohi November 21, 2022 11
“1984”: “Big Brother is Watching” the Samo play The fall play blew us away into Oceania
Aaron Smollins Staff Writer
As the audience walked into the Humanities Center ready to see the show, the cast of Samo’s “1984”, could be seen already in character as they marched into the auditorium. The Samo fall play, “1984” opened on October 28 and closed on November 6; there were a total of five performances. “1984” was a great production by the theater program. Throughout the show, you could really see the emotion and passion when all of the cast members performed. The show had many fun comedic and mysterious parts like when Winston and Julia interacted with pole shopkeepers, O’Brien’s deception and times when crimes were thought to be committed which created suspense throughout the audience. While watching the show, it was interesting to see the outfits the characters wore. The members of the party who work alongside Winston, the main character, wore red jumpsuits with black straps over them similar to the ones in “Squid Game”. Other interesting outfits include a unique orange-red coat worn by O’Brien, played by Tali Chase (’23). Cameron Davidson (’24) who
Erin Nuemeyer / Contributor
“1984” was a success as they sold out all of their shows and the cast did an amazing job with their performances.
played Big Brother wore a large mustache with a striped suit. Standout performer Rebekah Raphling (’23), who played Julia, talks about the process of put-
ting “1984” together and her opinion on how the show went. “I thought the show was incredible, it got better each night. It was so creatively put together. The
atmosphere of this dystopian world combined with the romance and some elements of comedy really was a great and unique adaptation of the script. Our ensemble really held the show together and the camaraderie among the cast and crew made the rehearsal process so much fun,” Raphling said. The book and this production of “1984” were really similar. Those who read the book before seeing the show generally would have a better understanding and expectation of what the show was about. That being said, for those who didn’t have prior knowledge before seeing “1984,” the show may have been confusing. Gus Reyman (’23) was among those who came into the show without reading the book. “The whole thing was confusing. I could tell that it was about a dystopian society where everyone was being looked at and watched but most of the show I couldn’t understand,” Reyman said. It was exciting to see how the story would be portrayed on stage compared to reading the story on paper. Overall, the Samo Theatre “1984” production was a unique and overall great show. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Meet Samo’s talented students who brought the characters to life Violeta Buitrago Staff Writer
Dylan Nuemeyer Winston
Samo’s production of “1984” has more components to it than just the dancing and cool costumes. There are also the castmates, who have devoted so much time and energy into making it an amazing performance for everyone to see. Let’s take a look into the main stars of “1984” and their thoughts on the play.
Erin Nuemeyer / Contributor
Dylan Neumeyer (’23) knows how to sing, play different instruments and is the star of “1984”. One could say he has it all. This is Neumeyer’s last year at Samo, making it an amazing experience to play Winston, the lead. “I am incredibly nervous for the first performance, though I am quite confident that we are ready for it,” Neumeyer said. Neumeyer put an incredible amount of work into the play and is most excited about the audience’s reactions to the performances. He is also excited about the opening scene of the play since it is complex and includes many emotions. Neumeyer also gets to have fun and enjoy rehearsals when acting with the people around him. “The scenes that are the most fun to act are in the third act where I am being tortured by O’Brien. I get to go slowly insane and just completely lose control,” Neumeyer said.
Erin Nuemeyer / Contributor
Rebekah Raphling Julia
Rebekah Raphling (’23) has been doing theater for a total of 10 years. “1984” will be her fifth Samo theater production where she plays one of the leads. Raphling plays Julia in the play. Julia is one of the main characters and is slightly rebellious. Her favorite scene to act in is the closing scene since it contradicts most of Julia’s behavior throughout the play and is quite sad. “I’m excited to see how the audience reacts to the show. It’s pretty weird and intense so I’m interested in how they feel about it since it’s unlike anything Samo has done in a while,” Raphling said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Tali Chase O’Brien
Erin Nuemeyer / Contributor
Tali Chase (’23) is co-president of the theater council. She plays a character named O’Brien who is in charge of Oceania, the town in “1984”. Chase describes how rehearsals feel when it comes to being one of the leads of the play. “Rehearsals have been going everywhere, some days I feel great about the show and others I feel stressed.Today is our last rehearsal and for myself, I feel it went well and I am both nervous and excited about tomorrow’s performance,” Chase said. Overall, Chase has a huge love for theater. She states how the theater direcror, Kate Barraza, and her step-dad helped her every step of the way. “This has by far been the most difficult acting/theater experience I have been in and I am very excited to show it to an audience,” Chase said.
Samo’s band program had a spectacular fall concert Audrey Strauss Staff Writer
On November 1, Samo’s bands put on their first performance of the year. The Fall Concert featured pieces from all five bands, under the direction of Kevin McKeown and Terry Sakow. The free entry attracted parents and students alike. They were all there to support and enjoy a truly spectacular performance. Overall, 10 songs were played with two from each band, respectively showcasing all the musicians’ unique talents and strengths. The night started off with bands directed by Sakow. Concert Band brought us “Regal March” by Bruce Pearson, a strong and majestic tune that set the tone for the night’s continued success. Symphonic Band followed with the “Earl of Oxford March” by William Byrd, a beautiful melody. The final act before intermission, Symphonic Winds touched sci-fi fans’ hearts with their impactful deliverance of a “Symphonic Suite from Star Trek.”
After intermission, McKeown’s bands took the stage. Wind Symphony was able to pull together an extraordinary performance of “Vesuvius” by Frank Tichelli on very short notice. “We were under a time crunch, which was a bit stressful. But I am proud of our band for putting it together in just a few rehearsals,” Wind Symphony flutist Shayna Kadish (’25) said. Regardless, they truly came through with their performance and made it a highlight of the evening. Bringing the evening to a close was the Wind Ensemble, their “Downey Overture” a delight for all in attendance. The harp feature put a graceful edge on the otherwise upbeat and exciting piece. McKeown chose an assortment of works that had distinct differences but still came together to make a cohesive show. “Our last piece, Downey Overture, is an exhilarating work that was programmed to challenge our musicians, and bring joy and energy to our appreciative audience.” McKeown said. We can anticipate three more wonderful per-
Mattin Aframian / Contributor
Wind Ensemble performed a lively rendition of “Downey Overture” during the band fall concert that took place on Nov. 1.
formances from the band program this school year, including the Jan. Winter Concert, March Spring Concert and Pops Concert in May. All in
all, the Fall Concert was a powerful performance that left the audience impressed and excited to see more of their work. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The Samohi
12 November 21, 2022
Arts & Entertainmnet
Samo and JAMS art students honor Dia de los Muertos Natalie Gazzana and Audrey Strauss Staff Writers
Samo’s art program welcomes the fall season with a new and exciting exhibit in the Roberts Art Gallery. Premiered October 27, students from both Samo and John Adams Middle School (JAMS) celebrated the Day of the Dead with art pieces dedicated to the Latin-American holiday.
The gallery featured paintings, drawings, graphic design posters, ceramic skulls and ofrendas. Some artworks displayed were inspired by the traditional Latin-American art format “Rotables,” in which the art is made on a square shaped canvas. For their pieces, the art students were instructed to share something they celebrated or they were thankful for. Many students shared paintings of family
Natalie Gazzana / The Samohi
JAMS art students made an ofrenda that honored public figures. The Samo art students made a separate ofrenda and filled it with pictures and artifacts of loved one’s who have passed.
members, cultural traditions or an animal, including AP Art student Keira Yañez (’23), who shared a painting dedicated to her grandfather. “My grandpa used to be a carpenter, so I painted him a toolbox with flowers inside,” Yañez said. By painting in celebration of her grandfather and remembering her loved ones, Yañez speaks in celebration of the holiday. Another student, Mira Wali (’23), painted an image of her hand underneath a piece of cloth, symbolizing how she is part of all the generations that came before her, a commentary on family and connection. “The art exhibit brings people from different classes in the department together as we connect over our love of art,” Wali said. Highlighting how many students felt inspired by the project, art students from JAMS shared their own perspective on this holiday with art pieces in remembrance of public figures, including Marilyn Monroe, David Bowie and Lil Peep. The decision to include JAMS students fell on art teacher Tania Fischer, who organized the project. “It’s a community event and I want to make sure everyone’s included. This year JAMS was interested in participating, so we decided to showcase some of their students’ work,” Fischer said. Fischer and other members of the art staff at
Natalie Gazzana/ The Samohi
AP Art student, Keira Yañez (’23), honored her grandfather through her painting of a toolbox.
Samo understand how important it is to represent a variety of cultures in their projects and bring attention to traditions and customs that may be going unnoticed. The Day of the Dead exhibit is supposed to bring students together, something it exceeded in doing by giving students a space to create and display their work for anyone to see. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Marching band makes it to championships with their show: “California Dreamin’” Audrey Strauss Staff Writer
Since the start of this school year, members of Samo’s marching band have been working hard to make it one of their best with their show “California Dreamin’”. The show consists of five movements which include musical pieces from all different parts of the country. It has “Empire State of Mind” to represent New York, “Just A Closer Walk” to represent Louisiana, “Saturday In The Park” to represent Chicago. The final two movements are meant to represent California: “California Dreamin’” and a “La La Land” medley. The theme of this year’s show is different from previous years, but the marching band put in a lot of effort to make it look spectacular. With morning rehearsals everyday plus an additional four hour rehearsal every Friday, the students who join the class have to be passionate about the work and ready to commit to it. The mellophone section leader, Franklin Daley (’23), knows this after being a part of the marching band for four years. “We end up having to put in an average of 10-15 hours a week into it. Although it may not seem as taxing as something like football or soccer, it’s more of a mental burden than a physical one,” Daley said.
Even though he and all the other members of the marching band acknowledge the harder parts of the class, it doesn’t mean it’s not worth it to them. Daley went on to say that the memories he has with friends he’s made because of it are a highlight to him. The marching band participated in five competitions throughout the semester, in which they consistently scored in the 70’s-80’s range. Their highest score was achieved during a competition in Savanna, with a score of 83.15 overall and a first place win in the 5A division. Together, the musicians worked together to overcome the challenges they faced this season. During their competition in Valencia, things seemed to keep going wrong. Heavy winds caused props to be blown around and they got the wrong starting time, which affected both the student’s mindsets and their final scores. They ended up scoring a 79.5, which was high considering the obstacles. A little before Valencia, they performed in Bakersfield, where their experience was much more positive. They ended the competition with the visual performance, musical performance, and tournament sweepstakes, meaning they were the best in those categories. After a few other competitions and receiving more awards, they ended up qualifying for SCSBOA
Katie Bryce / Contributor
LR: Mae Halperin (’23), Morgan Jarow (’20), Raeva Vasisht (’23), Charlie Marin (’22), Sara Ty (’24) and Cameron Ravare (’24) hold the trophies after the band won sweepstakes at their Bakersfield competition.
Field Championships, currently ranking seven out of the 14 qualifying bands. Drum Major Raeva Vasisht (’23) shared her excitement about the band going to championships. “I think we’re all past the point where scores don’t matter as much as going out there and putting on our best show, which I’m sure we’ll do,” Vasisht said. Clarinet player Henry Sullivan (’25) shares the
same sentiment as many other underclassmen. “The seniors definitely help carry the team and inspire the rest of us. Without them, we wouldn’t have done as well this season as we did,” Sullivan said. Congrats to the marching band, and a shout out to the seniors! They’ve been instrumental in making the marching band as successful as it is. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Taylor Swift: the “Mastermind” behind “Midnights” Kendra Martinez A&E Editor
The world was graced once again by Taylor Swift on October 21 with the release of her tenth studio album, “Midnights”. The album has broken numerous records since its release, which is no surprise considering Swift’s history. “Midnights” is a very cohesive album that is a mix of the pop and rock genre, and it highlights Swift’s lyricism while taking a more upbeat approach. The lead single, “Anti-Hero” encapsulates the overall vibe of the album as it has emotional lyrics but the production makes it more of a pop song. Many songs on “Midnights” seem to fall in the same category. However, there are a few tracks, like “Bejeweled”, that are just the epitome of pop. It was nice to see Swift tap back into her pop repertoire after her last two albums, “Folklore” and “Evermore”, fell under the category of indie music. Swift and her two producers, Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, explore electronic themes throughout the album and they also incorporate many drum instrumentals. Listeners get a feel for this after listening to the first two tracks on the album, “Lavender Haze” and “Maroon”. They also experimented with remixing Swift’s voice to add the electronic feel in a few songs including “Midnight Rain”. The standard version of “Midnights” includes 13 tracks and Swift released a deluxe version titled “Midnights (3am Edition)” that adds seven additional songs. With an album of 20 tracks, it is quite hard to choose a favorite. However, three notable songs are “You’re On Your Own, Kid”, “Karma” and “Mas-
Photo from taylorswift.com
Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” was released on Oct. 21 and has been the biggest album debut in history. It had 20 tracks total icluding the bonus songs.
termind”. “Karma” along with “Bejeweled” the two most pop oriented songs, however “Karma” has catchier lyrics that hold more meaning in the context of Swift’s life. It is a known fact that Swift intends for the fifth track of each of her albums to be
the one that holds the most emotional value, and “You’re On Your Own, Kid” meets that standard. It along with “Mastermind” both capture the story Swift is telling through her vivid and strong lyricism. It wasn’t just the fans that enjoyed the album, Swift reigned in many more listeners and the numbers are there to prove it. Within the first week of its release, “Midnights” held the top 10 spots on the Billboard Hot 100. In doing so, Swift became the first artist ever to accomplish this. “Anti-Hero” has been charting at number one for three weeks now. Needless to say this album has been making groundbreaking history. Shortly after the release of “Midnights”, Swift announced her Eras Tour which will be happening in 2023. Presale tickets hit the market on Nov. 15 which caused multiple crashes on Ticketmaster as millions of people were trying to buy them. Swift sold enough tickets during the two days of presale that her general sale has been canceled for the time being. This tour is predicted to be one of the highest grossing tours, further adding to the list of accomplishments and records Swift has. There are still four more re-recordings she has yet to release and it only makes sense to release them before her Eras Tour; legally, she can now re-record all of them. It has been a busy past couple of years for Swift, and with the release of “Midnights” and tour announcement, she doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Everyone should be prepared to be amazed with whatever it is she comes out with next. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The Samohi November 21, 2022 13
SPORTS
Hot Off The Lunch Benches: What do athletes want in the new gym? Addie Burns Staff Writer
The Gold Gym is part of the third construction phase at Samo, and is estimated to be completed in 2024. Out of the approximately 2,863 students who attend Samo about 1,000 of them also participate in sports. In order to accommodate these athletes, sufficient gym space is needed. Luckily for the athletes, the new gym will be two stories high, with two courts on the first floor and another on the second floor. There will also be pull-out bleachers that can seat 800 people. Although current seniors and juniors will not be able to use the completed gym, sophomores and freshmen will be the first to. With so much to expect, here are some things that different athletes want to see in the new gym.
Addie Burns/ The Samohi
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
Addie Burns/ The Samohi
Isaiah Fernandez (’26): Football
Jayden Xu (’25): Basketball
Kevin Watanabe (’26): Wrestling
“A new locker room would be pretty nice, along with some more training equipment. Air conditioning would be pretty solid too, and a cool painting of a Viking.”
“Especially for home games, all of us players would appreciate warm-up music and a good speaker system would be absolutely amazing in the new gym.”
“Since I’m on the wrestling team it’d be cool to have more equipment because right now we don’t have good equipment like weights.”
Zoe Dale (’26): Pom “It would be really nice to have lockers, because there are some for other sports but not in the cheer room. It also gets really hot in the room, so we’re all hoping for air conditioning. Speakers would also thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Sports team funds: Funding and Fundraising Olivia Stephansen Staff Writer
Sports are a big part of Samo’s high school experience, from going to football games to being on a team. To be able to afford all of this there needs to be sufficient funding. A lot of money goes into sports but does that money go to things that are actually needed? Sports coaches need to buy a lot to fulfill the team’s necessities. Each team has to fundraise based on their needs, from fundraising at restaurants, using websites and making merchandise to sell to parents and fans. There is also a website called the Vikings WebStore where donations can be made to any sport at Samo. Coleen Davenport, this
year’s new athletic director, explains the process of funding. “Each head coach determines the needs for that year. They talk with student-athletes about different fundraising ideas to cover these costs or some wants, like practice uniforms, sweatpants, and more equipment or if they want a special piece of equipment,” Davenport said. Fundraising money for sports has guidelines called the Californa ed code which determines how activities can raise money on a school campus. Donations can be given to teams and activities as long as the donation is voluntary and must stay clear of any pressure or force to make a student or parent donate. Programs at schools are allowed to fundraise but students cannot be denied participation if they don’t reach their fundraising goal or choose not to raise money. Specifically in Santa Monica, there cannot be raffles unless they are done by a group of people that
are not students, such as a group of parents or a booster club. Every sports department head at Samo submits budget requests in December and January before the next upcoming school year. These requests then get submitted to the district office, and the superintend e n t and business staff
calculate what money is available. By April the office announces what they can cover out of the requests and what debts they are able to get rid of from previous years. Principal Marae Cruce explains why certain sports might receive more funding from the district. “Sports normally receive the same amount of funding but with sports like football, compared to tennis, there are more players on football so it is going to cost more. Football also gets a bigger spotlight because of the crowds coming to the games. There is also security and custodial crews we have to hire,” Cruce said. 26-27 programs are currently available at Samo that require uniforms. Around ten teams per year get new uniforms, meaning each team receives new jerseys around every three years. The top priority for the sports that receive these uniforms are the team’s whose uniforms are falling apart or whether they don’t meet the needs of the team. Sports that do not receive the uniform funding are left to fundraise money by themselves. Cross country and track and field coach Tania Fisher goes over the main costs of the sports.
“We need to pay for tournament fees that run up to $700 per event - we have about 6-7 invitations (tournaments),” said Fisher. Davenport adds how each sport and year varies in their costs and needs. “Some years certain sports spike in their cost and other years they are almost free. A
sport like beach volleyball only needs to buy volleyballs so there is not a lot to cover. Golf requires their kids to buy their own clubs. It really depends on each sport and the year of how much things are going to cost,” Davenport said. There are many costs involved in sports teams at Samo which calls for various funding options. Teams are able to fund their needs through their own fundraising, donations and money from the school district.
Art by Kira Bretsky
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The Samohi 14 November 21, 2022
Sports
Vikings commit to continue with collegiate sports Amilia Tejada Staff Writer
From late night practices to weekend games, playing a sport in high school can be a time consuming and strenuous task to take on. Uploading videos, going to ID camps, contacting coaches, etc. are all a part of the college recruitment process for these dedicated athletes. Among the few students across the country to commit to a university for their sport are Mattea Sokolow (’23), Chloe Shapiro (’23), Aaron Smollins (’23), Brielle Minor (’23) and Mia Subin (’23.)
Aaron Smollins
Mattea Sokolow
Chloe Shapiro
Mia Subin
Brielle Minor
Aaron Smollins Contributor
Mattea Soklow/ Contributor
Broelle Minor/ Contributor
Mia Subin/ Contributor
Chloe Shapiro/ Contributor
Smollins has officially committed to Rollins College to play Division II baseball and is planning to study business management. Smollins has enjoyed playing Samo baseball since freshman year, and has become a known leader on the varsity team. He is eager to continue his baseball and educational career at Rollins and hopes to combine his passions for baseball and business by becoming a sports agent. Smollins discusses that the college recruitment process was far from easy. “It was really tough because there was a lot of rejection. Sometimes you thought you did well but there was always someone else that impressed the coach more. I had to stick with it and take it day by day” Smollins said.
Sokolow announced her commitment to Division I swim at University of Michigan, along with her plan to continue studying either kinesiology or psychology Sokolow began her college search right after her sophomore year, when coaches began reaching out to her. From there Sokolow spent hours on the phone talking to coaches from schools all over the country, when she eventually narrowed her search down to five schools. After going on multiple recruiting trips, Sokolow explains how she knew the University of Michigan was right for her. “I chose Michigan because swimming wise, the team environment made me feel the most accepted, and the coaches were the ones I connected to best out of all the schools” Sokolow said.
Minor (’23) is committed to play Division I basketball at Cal State Fullerton where she intends on studying kinesiology. Minor has been playing on the Samo girls’ varsity basketball team since her freshman year. Throughout her time in the program, she has formed close friendships. Minor appreciates their and her family’s support during the challenging college recruitment process. “I chose Fullerton because I loved the coaches and the girls on the team. They are all super talented and I know I will enjoy playing with them” Minor said.
Mia Subin is committed to the Division I rowing team to Loyola Marymount University (LMU) along with pursuing a major in psychology. Subin’s college recruitment process began when different college coaches started coming to her practices. After being invited to practice with multiple different college teams and receiving a few offers, Subin decided that LMU was the best fit for her. Subin explains that she appreciates LMU’s focus on both athletics and education which ultimately led to her choosing to commit to LMU. “I chose LMU because of the inclusive community and support system the school has for their student athletes.” Subin said.
Shapiro has been playing soccer since she was three years old and is planning to continue playing Division III soccer at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Shapiro began reaching out to colleges her junior year by emailing coaches and attending showcases. Although the University of Massachusetts-Boston was not a school Shapiroinitially contacted, after they attended one of her showcases in North Carolina, they immediately reached out to her. Shapiro explains that her decision on where to commit ultimately came down to the team atmosphere. “They let me know they would value me as a player and a person if I chose them. I’m really lucky to have found UMASS because of the team culture and the quality of people” Shapiro said.
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OOTD: Outfits of the Decades Sienna Bevan Staff Writer
Then:
Over time, sports uniforms have changed drastically. Dating back to almost 50 years ago! From dress pants in the ‘30’s and collared jerseys in the ‘80’s, to tank tops and shorts now, sports uniforms at Samo have fully evolved.
Now:
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Basketball 1963
Tennis 1934
Basketball 2021
Tennis 2022
Cheer 1953
Soccer 1987
Cheer 2022
Soccer 2022
Football 1954
Track 1935
Football 2022
Track 2022
The Samohi November 21, 2022 15
Sports
Girls’ Tennis serves this season Aaron Smollins Staff Writer
The Samo girls’ tennis team, despite having a challenging season, are continuing their pursuit to capture CIF gold. This season, the team faced difficult opponents in the most competitive league: The Bay League. They ended their season with a win over Culver City
Aaron Smollins / The Samohi
Ella Joyce (’23) and Halie Matsui (’23) walk around to the other side of the court during their doubles match against Peninsula High School.
High School and their overall record fell at two wins and 11 losses. Co-Captain Jasmine Traill (’23) reflects on her last season as a Viking and how the team can bounce back next year. “Winning our last match was the perfect way to end such a fun season, especially for the seniors. The team is currently training hard to come back better and stronger next year!” Traill said. Sophomore and first singles player Meleja Horelick (’25) also gives input on her second year’s season and improvements as a team. “Despite being in the very tough Bay League, our team improved over the season and really jelled as a team. Our team hopes to become even more competitive and qualify for the CIF playoffs next year,” Horelick said. Even though the played a majority of their season without head coach Shaun Simone, Sophomore Allison Gee gives her view on the season and how the team did despite this setback. “Despite Coach Simone being out for most of the season, he continued to work with our Interim head Coach, Stanford Poon to help the girls have a great season.” Gee said. “Poon filled in the position well, and we were fortunate to have him help us. Overall, we had a competitive season with the help of both coaches. The team was filled with constant excitement and spirit despite their losses throughout the season and they
Aaron Smollins / The Samohi
Rebekah Raphling (’23) gets ready for her second set as third singles against Peninsula High School.
hope to bounce back next year. “I am really excited to play next year. Hopefully we can improve our record in the Bay League and have another fun season,” Sienna Goetz (’24) said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Boys’ Water Polo treads over rough waters Grace Gypes
Social Media Editor
The Samo boys’ water polo team has had another eventful season. Entering in Oct., the team began competing in league games. The first game of the season was played on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at Drake Pool against Redondo Union. Both teams fought hard, but Redondo came out strong winning the game, 13-10. Two days later, on Thursday, Oct. 6, Samo boys’ faced off against Peninsula. The game was quite eventful with multiple blocked scoring attempts. The boys secured the win with a three point lead, ending the game with a final score of 9-6. Samo then entered a bit of a rut, losing two games back to back. The first one on Tuesday, Oct. 11, against Mira Costa High School. Throughout the game, the lead score went back and forth. However, it sadly ended with Samo losing with a final score of 10-9. Two days later, on Thursday, Oct. 13, the boys faced one of the best teams in the league, Palos Verdes. Despite their fierce scrimmage, Palos Verdes scored more than triple the points
Goalkeeper Oliver Dubose (’24) passes the ball to a teammate.
of Samo, with the final score of 16-5. About a week later, Samo played against Culver City High School.The boys shocked the audience by absolutely demolishing the opposing team and ending the game
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
hard against Redondo Union, with the final score being only 1 point difference. However, we sadly lost with a final score of 9-8. By the time Samo played Mira Costa, they were exhausted. They ended the game scoreless with a final score of 18-0. According to head coach Matthew Flanders, the team was unable to reach the CIF playoffs for the third time in 27 years. “We had our great games, but we seemed to fall short to finish close games and that led us to not finishing our goal of making CIF,” Flanders said. “Next year we are hoping to improve more and make CIF.” Star player of this year, Giacomo Rivers-Altieri (’23) reflects back on the season. “Even though we didn’t meet all of our goals this past season, we all beneficially developed as both teammates and athletes,” Rivers-Altieri said.
with an amazing win of 19-2. The last two games of the league season were both played on Thursday, Oct. 20, against first Redondo Union, and then Mira Costa High School. Samo played
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A smooth swinging season for Girls’ Golf Sydney Roker Student Editor
Samo’s girls’ golf team ended their season on October 6, and despite missing out on CIF finals, Head Coach Roshni Mejia is proud of the growth and accomplishments of her team this season.
“[Our season] went really well because we improved greatly. We used to lose by a lot, and now that margin has gone down quite a bit,” Mejia said. This season, Samo’s upward scoring trajectory was demonstrated by their multiple close-scoring games, a sharp contrast compared to last season where the team’s closest game was 58
Kara Best / Contributor
Nataly Lopez (’24) prepares to putt the ball with Aubrey Hayes (’24) watching a few feet beyond.
points apart. This year the golf team had games with score differences in the single digits, including a game as close as 250 to 253 on Sept. 27 against West Torrance. An increase in new players also meant more playing opportunities for those who were on the team last year. During the 2021 season, the team was often forced to forfeit due to a lack of players. Although an increased roster of 14, enough for both JV and Varsity teams, was crucial to the team’s improved success, players such as Kara Best (’24) owe their success to Mejia. “This was our best season in years and we owe it to our new coach. Coach Meija got us new bags, uniforms, and new players. We’ve never had someone care about us like that,” Best said. The season’s end also meant the end of a Samo golf career for seniors including Maya Knauf (’23). “Golf has been such a fun experience and I love the girls on the team. The team is getting better and better every year, and I’m excited to
Kara Best / Contributor
LR: Leila Chamma (’23), Kara Best (’24), Nataly Lopez (’24), Frances Aguilar (’26) Cash Henton (’25), Maya Knauf (’23)
see where the team goes next year,” Knauf said. Despite Samo’s loss of Knauf, along with Leila Chama (’23) and Sienna Morgan (’23), Mejia is hopeful for the team’s improvement in the 2023 season.
“We’re losing three really strong players this year because they’re graduating, so just continuing to build as a team is important,” Mejia said.
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The Samohi
16 November 21, 2022
Sports
Football reaches the “end zone” after a tough 2022 season Declan Ney Staff Writer
The Samo varsity football team’s season ended on October 28. with a loss against Culver City to end their 2022 season with a record of 2-8. The Vikings doubled their win total from the previous season with wins over Fairfax at home and El Segundo on the road, but lost against Culver City, Redondo Union, Mira Costa, Palos Verdes, South Torrance, West Torrance and Calabasas. On offense, the emergence of quarterback Wyatt Brown (’26), running back Sammy Lipshy (’23) and wide receiver Griffin Seals (’24) helped turn around the Vikings offense from what it originally was back in 2021. With the growing number of players (almost 90 team members this year in comparison to about 50 last year), new coaches were added as well as a new head coach, Carter Paysinger. The new additions was not the only change for the team as this was also the first year that the home games were held at
the home field on campus,. where the team practices. This brought more students to attend the home games. Vikings offensive/defensive lineman Mason Oliva (’24) expressed his potential for both the bright spots of 2022 and the future of Samo’s offense. “We had a good push this year in terms of the run game and our aerial attack is showing major signs of improvement,” Oliva said. On defense, Samo showed signs of progress even as they slightly regressed from the year prior, with defensive lineman Jayden Montanez (’24), linebacker Caden McCallum (’24) and defensive back Joaquin Nava (’23) consistently making big plays. Execution of plays proved to be one of the main factors of the seasons outcome for the Vikings defense, something that Oliva is well aware of. “I feel like if we can tackle better, we’ll be stronger on that side of the ball,” Oliva said. The team endured a tough season with
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
Manuel Lares (’25) runs out onto the home field through the Victor Viking before Samo’s loss to West Torrance High School.
fierce competition but regardless of their losses, improved from their last season. The team will continue to practice for the
rest of the year in preparation for their next season.
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Cross Country crosses out competition into Bay League Championships
Matilde Martinez-Navarrete Staff Writer
After a successful pre-season, Samo cross country’s only regular league meet, scheduled for October 12, was canceled due to thundering storms. Ten days later, on October 22, Samo ran at the 74th Annual Mt. SAC Invite. 13,000 runners and 470 teams competed in this meet, one of the largest and most prestigious in the nation. The boys’ varsity team collectively placed fifth, while the varsity girls placed eighth. Samo regularly runs in large, competitive meets like these, which Luke Shimahara (’26) finds a little overwhelming. “[The number of people] was a little scary and hectic… but the crowd was very exciting,” Shimahara said. To prepare for league finals, the teams met for Saturday practice at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach, the course where the final was held. Team Captain Josephine Kramarsky (’24) has led group activities and bonding for the girls’ varsity team, and she describes how they went through the three-mile course as a team and how it would benefit them when the final came. “We have been working on reaction versus response, knowing how to react better to competition, running with a pack to keep pace and racing for a place versus going for a time, and I think that will all come during finals to help our team,” Kramarsky said. However, on the day of the final, Samo was put on lockdown in response to a potential
bomb threat. The buses were set to leave at lunch to arrive in time for the first race at 2:30, but due to the wait, the first bus had only just left by this time. JV boys and girls missed their race and had to run with the freshmen teams instead, leaving time for the varsity
they missed their race,” Fischer said. “It was just hard to wrangle everybody. I got most of the kids on the bus, but there were a few that didn’t get on. It was great that we got there though. ” The teams were shaken, according to Fisch-
David E. Hunzicker/ Contributor
Samo girls’ varsity, ranked number six in Division I in Southern Section, secures their spot at CIF prelims at their Bay League Championships.
teams to regroup and get ready. Head Coach Tania Fischer describes the stressful situation after Samo was given the all-clear. “It was madness because some people just assumed that they weren’t racing because
er, but they didn’t let that faze them. The boys’ varsity team placed fourth, with Colin McCormick (’23) racing tenth and earning a spot in CIF Prelims. The girls’ team already had a guaranteed spot at CIF Prelims because
they were ranked sixth in Division I southern section, earning them a wildcard that didn’t stop them from performing and placing fourth overall. Phoebe Benun (’25), racing yet another personal record at 17:09, got first place and was crowned Bay League Champion, with the team placing fourth as a whole. Benun beat a senior from Mira Costa and one from Redondo, the favorites to win. “Phoebe man, she’s just a baller,” Fischer said. “She just went out, and she’s gutsy. She wasn’t like ‘Oh these girls are veterans, they’ve been running four years…’ It was so insane.” Looking ahead to CIF Prelims, Fischer has high hopes. The girls’ team needed to place fourth or above in their heat, and McCormick, racing individually, had to place in the top fifteen runners. “I think we’ll get out of CIF Prelims and then we’ll have a good idea of what it’s going to take to get to state, but even if we don’t we’ve had a great season,” Fischer said. “I feel that from now on it’s a win-win.” True to Fischer’s prediction, girls’ varsity placed fourth among the 12 teams in their heat, advancing to CIF Finals. McCormick did not place high enough to advance, but nonetheless, Fischer praised him for “his extraordinary final cross-country season.” To read more about how the girls’ team did in CIF Finals, please visit our website thesamohi.com. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Girls’ Volleyball had a smashing season
Addie Burns Staff Writer
The Samo girls’ volleyball team ended their season on October 20 after their first round of CIF playoffs. The girls finished with a record of 4-6 and fourth in the Bay League. The 2022 season officially started on Sept. 13 where they played a home game against Redondo Union and lost 3-1.
Their regular season ended after their 3-2 win against Peninsula High School on Oct. 13. As one of the first seasons returning back from COVID-19, Samo hoped to go back to their pre-covid success where they ended 9-1 in both 2018 and 2019. In order to prepare for the upcoming season, they practiced throughout the summer.
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
Scarlett Mickel (’23) passes the ball during a home game win on Sept. 2 against Malibu High School. To her left is Catrina Zolkin (’23), the team’s libero.
After their first loss, they bounced back and won their second league game 3-2 against Peninsula. They lost their next two games, followed by a win against Culver City and three losses. Towards the end of the season, the Samo girls had a record of 2-6 and were hoping to end their season with a few wins. They were able to win their last two games against Culver City High School and Peninsula High School, and ended their season with a record of 4-6. This qualified them to compete in the CIF playoffs where their season eventually ended after the first round. This was the first year since the 2019 season that the team made it into the finals. Their first match was against Chaminade High School. Despite Chaminade’s skill, Samo was able to match their intensity throughout the game. They continued to keep the sets close and despite their 3-0 loss, Samo ended their season on a high note. Head Coach Liane Sato is proud of the team’s performance, as she reports on her final thoughts to the season’s close. “We were so excited to play a full schedule this year! The competition in the Bay
League is top notch and really helped us raise our level of play. Each team made tremendous improvements as a group and individually,” Sato said. This year’s graduating seniors include Scarlett Mickel, Grace Neumann, Aika Hughes, Violet Rist, Dylan Spanier, Catrina Zolkin, and Sophie Christmas. Christmas, this year’s Co-Captain, reflects on the beginning of the team’s season. “At the beginning of the season we were all unconnected pieces of a puzzle. By the end of season, we could read each other like the back of our hand and know what each other was thinking. We came together as a team, helped each other grow both as a person and a player, and had each others’ backs,” Christmas said. Overall the girls volleyball team had a strong season but hope to improve over the rest of year and prepare for next season. The Samo girls’ beach volleyball will also start in the spring.
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