The Samohi Wednesday December 14 | Santa Monica High School | Volume CXI - Issue III
Cover by Kira Bretsky
The Samohi
02 December 14, 2022
News
120 Samo students participate in UCLA blood drive
UCLA Health personelle help students check in.
Ryan Kim
Staff Writer
On December 8, 120 students participated in Samo’s annual health blood drive. Students had the opportunity to donate blood with the help of ASB and UCLA Health. Terri Hill, the Community Liaison and coordinator for the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center, was in charge of organizing the event. In order to bring the blood drive to Samo, ASB prepared for over a month with the help of Hill. A blood drive collects blood for patients who have lost blood or are in need of a blood transfusion for a variety of reasons, including surgery, injuries or internal bleeding. Donors have to prepare ahead of time for the blood drive, making sure to drink a lot of water and eat several proteins, ironrich foods and complex carbohydrates
Taylor Witt/ The Samohi
such as fruits. Donors should also avoid drinking caffeinated beverages on the day of the drive because caffeine would block essential iron needed for their bodies. Hill talks about her reasons for collaborating with Samo. “We love to go to high schools for blood drives,” Hill said. “In fact, 75 percent of the blood collected, nationwide, are from high school blood drives. That makes this generation so very important to the treatment of our patients and their survival.” Hill worked with the ASB students to show them the duties they would be doing to help the blood drive. ASB Community Service Commissioners Archie Windsor (’26) and Dominic Arias (’26) explain their duties. “We had a system where we were on the signups, facilitating the line and caring for those who already donated,”
Kira Bretsky/ The Samohi
Jessica Brown (’23) donates blood.
Windsor said. Students made their way to D100 instead of the gym, where blood drives were held in past years. Sherwin Shahrabi (’24) was one of the students who participated in the blood drive. “I’m feeling great,” Shahrabi said. “It feels good to donate blood knowing you’re going to help people out. The doctors made me feel very safe and the whole process was very simple and easy.” Some students were unable to donate due to being deferred. Before donating, students had to complete a questionnaire asking about their health history, travel history and personal choices and undergo pressure, pulse and hemoglobin tests. A nurse would then decide if students would be allowed to donate blood or be temporarily or permanently deferred.
Taylor Witt/ The Samohi
Dawson Hawthorne (’23) and Jade Furukawa (’24) sit in the recovery area.
Brooklyn Duncans (’24) explains why she was unable to donate blood. “I was deferred from donating blood because my hemoglobin level was 8.5, while the average level for a woman is 12.1, so my levels were way too low,” Duncan said. “I felt upset for the people that I couldn’t help, but also worried for myself because I was unaware of how my hemoglobin levels were and my high possibility of having anemia.” Some donors, such as Robert Feinberg (’24), had to stop donating blood early because they felt dizzy, faint or unwell. “My blood was moving too slow and tried to keep my blood and they had to stop,” Feinberg said. “I felt a little disappointed because I went to donate blood and I couldn’t do it.” Hill calls these things reactions and
assures that proper help is available. “...We are able to identify donors fairly quickly that are about to have a reaction and we have trained professionals that know what to do to minimize the reaction,” Hill said. “It is not normally the case but it does happen more often with younger donors. It could be related to nervousness but most likely it is because donors have not prepared well to give blood.” After donating blood, ASB gave drinks and snacks to the donors to stay, eat and recover. Students who donated received an In N Out or AMC gift card as an incentive for helping the community. “I wanted to help somebody out and had a good incentive to feel good afterward,” Shahrabi said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
District responds as COVID-19 enters fourth year 2022 COVID-19 cases at Santa Monica High School 800
2022 COVID-19 cases at Samo
Emi Yamashiro-Hergert
Faculty Advisor
Kathleen Faas
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
Managing Editors
Riya Khatod Noor Memarzadeh Copy Editor
Alani Kanan
News Editors
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mate provides convenience for them to multiply. As the weather grows colder and the holidays apIn recent weeks, the holiday season and lack proach, people also tend to gather in close quarof preventative measures have contributed to a ters indoors, increasing the danger of spreading surge in COVID-19 cases. Throughout the coun- viruses. Additionally, past protective measures try and on a local level, increased rates of illness such as masking lessened people’s exposure to have imparted their effects on Samo students. pathogens and thus increased their vulnerability Cases in Los Angeles County have more than to those illnesses once the measures were lifted. doubled since Thanksgiving, as the LA Times Lila Subin (’26) shared how COVID-19 has afreports. Average cases per day reached 3,780 on fected her celebration plans this holiday season. Thursday, Dec. 8, with 6.9 percent of hospital “During Thanksgiving, my whole immediate beds occupied by COVID-positive patients. This family ended up having COVID,” Subin said. “All placed LA County in high COVID-19 communi- our plans got canceled the day of. We had a lot of ty level as of Thursday, a classification the county leftover cranberry sauce.” has not met since the summer surge of the OmiDespite growing numbers county-wide, procron variant. If the number of COVID-positive tocol at Samo remains the same as it was at the patients rises beyond 10 percent, a mask man- start of the semester. As school nurse Erin Dedate will become imminent. Tura reports, SMMUSD is following guidelines According to the American Heart Association, set by the Los Angeles County Department of viruses like COVID-19 have spread more rapidly Public Health. Masks are recommended but in winter months because the cold and dry cli- not required at school, and the weekly student testing that occurred last year was replaced by recommended at-home testing. According to H House Principal Tristan Komlos, Samo’s numbers follow a similar trend to the county. Cases have fluctuated throughout this semester but are currently on the rise. The peak so far was in November, with at least 73 cases reported by families and staff. “Actual case numbers may be higher than reported,” Komlos said. “With 37 cases and only 8 days this [December], we are on pace to surpass last month’s numbers if we were in session for a full month.” Last year’s winter surge saw 257 Samo students and faculty test positive in one week at the height Kira Bretsky / The Samohi of the variant; around 900 students were absent Samo puts COVID-19 tests at the exit every week. in the week following winter break, according Staff Writer
Month
Data before June is from DoctorNow. Data after July is self-reported cases.There is no data for June or July.
to district data. The year before, students were in the midst of virtual school, confined further by a county-issued “safer at home” order announced in late November. A message released by the SMMUSD Health Services Team elaborated on the changes made to the district’s COVID-19 policy. “Many of the regulations and district policies are more relaxed this year, and the health services staff is eager to have all families and students as active partners in health and learning,” the district release said. Though COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States have not yet risen to the levels of previous years, Presidential Chief Medical Adviser Anthony Fauci and other experts strongly recommend US citizens get up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots. CDC Epidemiologist Ruth Link-Gelles spoke with the LA Times about the benefits of acquiring the most recent booster, which was rolled out in September this year. “Certainly as we enter the holiday season, per-
Centerspread Editors
Student Life Editor
Opinion Editors
Kendra Martinez
Ava Memarzadeh Juliet Swimmer Indigo Craane Sara Javerbaum Sports Editors
Matilde Martinez-Navarrete Hawene Alemayehu Aili Forster Nori Quist
Sydney Roker A&E Editor Art Editor
Kira Bretsky Social Media Editor
Grace Gyepes
sonally I would want the most possible protection,” Link-Gelles said. “You potentially would stop yourself from getting a grandparent or other loved one sick.” The US as a whole is feeling the effects of what is now being called the “tripledemic,” the threefold threat of COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV presents cold-like symptoms in adults but poses a much greater danger to young children, elderly citizens, and people with preexisting conditions. There is no vaccine for RSV yet, but companies including Pfizer are working to create one. The flu is also a growing issue, according to the Washington Post: its severity is 13 times that of previous years and its arrival in early November was much sooner than expected. “Rates [of illness] are definitely rising, mirroring the rates in LA County,” Komlos said. “Make sure you test before returning to school after winter break.” thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Staff Writers
Sienna Bevan, Violeta Buitrago, Addison Burns, Natalie Gazzana, Jewel Greene, 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 December 14, 2022 03
News
World Cup 2022 distracts students at the end of the semester
Riya Khatod / The Samohi Students tune into the World Cup games on their devices, while some teachers show the games on their projectors.
Cleo Topp Staff Writer
As December marches on, the World Cup stays in full swing with students at Samo rooting for countries all around the world. From Japan to Brazil, these places play each other for a chance to win the most coveted international title of “World Champions”. This event is already the most watched sporting event worldwide and projected by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to have over 5 billion people tune in to the games this year. Within this figure of riveted audience members, Samo students and teachers are included and the World Cup is being played in classrooms all over the school. Usually, the World Cup is played during the summer months, meaning class time would have no cause to be interrupted by the matches. However, as it is being hosted in Qatar this year, the tournament was pushed back in the year in order to avoid the high temperatures of Qatar summers,
which average around 99 degrees Fahrenheit compared to a winter average of 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, as the games are being held in school months, more and more students are tuning in to these games on their devices during class time. One such student is Luca Bainbridge (’24), who is closely following the World Cup. “As a Brazilian American it’s a huge part of my culture to support the Brazilian national team, and for us Brazilians it just brings us even more together when this time every 4 years rolls around – as I know it does in many other cultures as well,” Bainbridge said. “I’ve been watching as much of the tournament as I‘ve been able to on my laptop or phone but I’ve been responsible about it.” Some teachers at Samo are not so bothered by the games, trusting their students – like Bainbridge – to be responsible with their watching and to be able to get the work done. Some are even embracing the tournament, going so far as to show them to their classes on their projectors or create class projects centered around the World Cup and the diverse teams competing. Whether it is on in the background while students complete independent work, or used as an incentive to keep students on task, teachers around the school have been broadcasting the tournament for their students for a myriad of reasons. Jimmy Chapman, former Head Coach of the girls’ and boys’ soccer programs at Samo and an avid soccer fan throughout his life, uses his connection to the tournament to connect with his students. “There is a unifying sense to the World Cup where we are all standing behind a team or several teams, but it shouldn’t interfere with the work that needs to be done,” Chapman said. Whether students actually have an interest in the sport or are just looking to put off work and that despite any connection to the game, it does not override Chapman’s first priority as an educator and the reason students come to school; to learn. Other teachers feel that it is also a distraction, or simply couldn’t care less that the tournament is happening. Whether it’s the loud cheering from students when a team scores a goal or the lack of attention to lessons when the game is playing on their chromebooks, the games are contributing to a growing lack of motivation and attention for classes as the end of the semester approaches. Heather Knight, an AP World History and Freshman Seminar teacher, has noticed the impact of the games on her students. “It has definitely been distracting,” Knight said. “I don’t
know how much learning is going on for the students who continue to watch it.” Despite some teachers lacking support of students watching the tournament in class, Samo teens continue to watch the games in their classrooms in order to stay up to date on the latest results. Knight explains that the one student in her class even asked her whether or not they could watch the games on their phone during class time, and if not, they would rather stay home from school to keep up with the matches. While this level of commitment is not the same for all students at Samo, it is common to hear the commentators keeping track of the players on screen and students cheering along throughout classrooms as they tune in to watch athletic history transpire. “It’s the end of the semester and everybody is kind of burnt out, so if you having that on your phone is going to bring you a little bit of joy – and you’re still getting your work done – I guess I have bigger battles to fight than a little bit of soccer,” Knight said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Ellanora LoGreco / Contributor Nathaniel Acker and his students watch the Argentina vs. Netherlands penalty shoot-out in his AP US Government class on Dec. 9. After the 2-2 tie, Argentina won 4-3 in penalties.
PLTW seniors place fourth in JPL competition finals Malia Kabwe
ficult circumstances. Teams were required to invent a product that is creative and unique while designOn November 19, PLTW engineering se- ing, fabricating, testing, solving niors competed in NASA’s Jet Propulsion complex problems and remaining Laboratory (JPL) “Sticky Wicket” region- collaborative. The device had to al competition. Samo’s team Ocean’s 1011/ strike a maximum of five rubber XI/B, comprising the senior class, placed balls into wicket-shaped targets. fourth out of 25 school teams. Ocean’s 1011/ The contest was open to teams of XI/B will advance to the finals at NASA JPL middle school and high school stuon Dec. 9. dents from Southern California, as This is the 23rd time the STEAM-based well as JPL employees, contractors challenge has been held. This year’s contest and their immediate family memis titled “Sticky Wicket,” a term that origi- bers. Samo students Aiden Hernannated in the sport of cricket to describe dif- dez (’23), Joshua Kim-Pearson (’23), Joaquin Martinez Devis (’23), Aiden Lee (’23), Alexa Duffy (’23), Danny Chmaytelli (’23), Aurelio Paltera (’23) and Dylan Neumeyer (’23) spent months preparing their devices for the conDylan Neumeyer / Contributor test. Neumeyer was proud of The Ocean’s 1011/XI/B team at the JPL “Sticky Wicket” Finals. They won fourth place in the qualifying round, Ocean’s 1011/XI/B standing. advancing to the finals where they also placed fourth, beating five teams of JPL engineers. “Although we were fourth, we were only beaten by one would strike the rubber ball toward multiple in the finals. Their device experienced mischool, and if we hadn’t missed one wickets. During the competition, four team nor difficulties during the competition that of the targets we would’ve taken first members operated the device. Hernandez slowed down the device, but they still earned place. The fastest run was 28 seconds aimed the device and moved the swivel. Lee a perfect score of 190 points with a time of and in practice, we’ve gotten four pulled the pin to drop the hammer. Neumey- 29 seconds. Oakwood Secondary School’s points in 18 seconds,” Neumeyer er was the auxiliary ball loader, while Duffy three teams with the same device won first, said. assisted in loading the balls as a technician. second and third place and were the only Much like in cricket, points were Corey Eckhart, a science teacher at Samo other school to get a perfect score. Samo lost awarded for completing each target. and the PLTW advisor, sometimes helped third to Oakwood by one second. Each ball could only be struck once the students when building their device, but “[The students] probably don’t feel that and only one ball could be moving left them largely to their own devices. they did so well, but they did,” Eckhart said. at once. The teams had 60 seconds to “Intentionally I tried to be as hands-off as “We’ve had some successes in the past… my Alexa Duffy / Contributor hit all of their targets, each of which I could,” Eckhart said. “It’s really nice when understanding is that we do well on average, Ocean’s 1011/XI/B complex invention in its final form., had different point values. The de- we go to the competition and then when but this may have been the closest we were completed after months of work and testing. The device vice also had to fit into a two-meter their device does well it’s because they did ever to the top in the finals.” features a swivel, a hammer, and a ramp to best direct by two-meter area. Samo’s team de- it, not me.” the balls to their targets. signed a hammer on a swivel that On Dec. 9, Ocean’s 1011/XI/B competed thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com Staff Writer
The Samohi 04 December 14, 2022
OPINION Time to wrap up Spotify Wrapped Taylor Witt Staff Writer
It is finally time to celebrate the season with Spotify Wrapped’s annual curation of what you listened to most this year. The joy of being in an artist’s top .005 percent of listeners never ceases, though with that pride comes extreme competition. Individuality complexes among teenagers has triggered the fear of having “basic” taste in music. The question is: Do we succumb to social conformity or embrace it? Showing off the top five artists of 2022 has been consuming social media platforms whole lately. Some see being a popular artist’s top fan a brag, but to others, this is embarrassing. In many cases, some of these “embarrassing” artists have been previously charged (multiple) accounts of sexual assault or they are just insane. The fact is that music is a sentimental and private thing for many. If your top five artists have less than 100,000 monthly listeners, it is considered unique and underground– but for people with artists like Drake and other rappers, it is mainstream and overhyped. This is tru-
In all honesty, anything is acceptable as long as it is ly a war between gatekeepers and people with enough not country. When genres like Goblincore exist, money for Taylor Swift tickets. anything goes. But this raises the question Judgment over these artists has created unreasonof whether the pretentiousness of personal able humiliation. People are allowed to like who music tastes is making us lose our indithey like. It is a matter of personal taste and viduality. The showcasing of most liseven what sparks a happy chemical tened-to artists is now a battle of who in the brain. For example, over obscure. Or maybe, how long is more listening to artists that belong will people keep their top in the shoegaze genre (like artists a secret until the Duster) may say that you truth comes out? need therapy. With all the Your Spotify Wrapped hate and sly commentary should not be something like a competion other’s Wrapped statistion. Its purpose is to reflect on the year tics, we learned that people you have experienced and take a walk are embarrassed of the musicians down memory lane. When we hear music, they love. Emmaline Thorpe (’24) it connects to memory and triggers feelings calls out these people keeping Art by Sofia Hume of nostalgia. Instead of using Spotify Wrapped to music to themselves. alter your real music taste, use it to review the year “Even if you consider it a niche band, you should want to support that band or art- and all the ups and downs that came with it. ists and spread it to other people because that creates a thesamohistudentewspaper@gmail.com positive sharing grindset,” Thorpe said.
Do finals really measure your learning? Amilia Tejada Staff Writer
As finals week comes to an end, we can all collectively exhale and look forward to the upcoming holiday break. As we reflect on our semester we are reminded of all of the studying sessions, tests, retakes, and essays we worked to complete this semester. So we begin to wonder, after all of that hard work, why is there so much pressure to do well on one single test? The grade you get on your finals can be influenced by so many different factors. Cramming so many different tests into one week can cause anyone to receive a bad score. There is an overwhelming amount of information that students need to retain, especially when teachers give cumulative finals. Colleges like the University of California’s (UC’s) have begun to stray away from stan-
Students studying in Language building library during lunch in preparation for the upcoming week of first semester finals.
dardized testing as people are realizing that one test is not an efficient or accurate way to measure someone’s educational capability. The UC’s have acknowledged that standardized testing has prevented many minority students from getting into college due to a lack of the expensive prep, like tutors, that other students have access to. The same goes for smaller scale tests like finals. Low income and minority students may have to work jobs after school, have a long travel time home, have to take care of younger siblings, etc., all of which would reduce the amount of studying time they have. Tests like the SAT and ACT are similar to finals because they both test a student’s knowledge in one test. If SAT’s and ACT’s are considered unfair, why aren’t finals? Aside from the wealth disparity that can influence students’ performance on their final exams, test anxiety is another source of poor scores. Students at the highschool age are already at a heightened state of anxiousness. So much pressure is put on students to achieve high grades and placing so much weight behind one single test can often cause students to crack under pressure. Overthinking answers or not being able to sleep are effects that students with anxiety have to deal with. Although they may seem mundane they can have a large effect on a students thought process when it comes to taking the test. Lack of sleep can result in both physical and mental exhaustion, conditions that are not suitable for back to back tests which can last over an hour long…each! Evgeniya Dubik (’23) explains how personal issues can affect students’ performance during finals week. “Finals week is an incredibly high pressure environment. There are a lot of students that have anxiety and ADHD who receive low scores. I have many friends that are incredibly intelligent that do not do well during fi-
nals week. There should be a better way of measuring someone’s knowledge,” Dubik said. So why must finals all be crammed into one week? Oftentimes students are stuck studying for three or more finals at the same time, overloading your brain with more information then it can manage. I recognize that teachers are on a tight schedule to ensure that the entire curriculum is being taught to their students, especially AP teachers whose students have the AP test to prepare for (another big test I don’t love). However, perhaps if final exams were more spread out, students’ scores and mental health would benefit from a reprieve between exams. Some students propose that replacing a final with an end of semester project would be a better way for students to showcase their understanding of the material they have learned. Kian Naini (’23) agrees that finals are an inefficient way to determine how knowledgeable a student is. “Finals dont show how much you have learned. They show how much you have memorized in a week,” said Naini. Due to the time constraints and pressure that finals can bring, students are drawn to memorize as much information as they can as quickly as they can, rather than ensure that they really understand the material. Students show little opposition to the idea of an end of year cumulative assignment, however, they would appreciate the education system making an effort to allow more possibilities to demonstrate their knowledge.
thesamohistudentewspaper@gmail.com
Stay safe this Hol-ill-day season Violeta Buitrago Staff Writer
Why are we acting like COVID-19 is over, when at this cold stage of the year, it is the most critical time to be cautious? As of late, people seem to think of the virus as a “thing of the past.” As you walk around the Samo campus, you rarely see students wearing their masks. If they do, it’s not even correct. Think tucked below the nose, underneath the chin, etc. This isn’t just limited to at school either. Staying six feet away from people brings weird looks, and going to big concerts are becoming more normal. Dismiss it as forgetful, but with the holiday season in swing, it’s just ignorance at this point. Brooklyn Duncans, a junior at Samo, has been cautious of COVID-19 since the pandemic.
“It’s kind of unnerving. I’m a person who has been worried about Covid since the start. The fact that everyone just got up and decided that it’s gone is just freaky… I see more people out of my classes lately. I get worried,” Duncans said. It’s crucial, especially now, to be worried about catching the virus. With Christmas and New Ye a r ’s around the corner, people are traveling everywhere like flies. Not even the airport is regulated. Fliers are seldom asked for proof of COVID-19 vaccinations, tight space in an airplane of recycled air… this Christmas season is a hot-spot of catching the disease. This is proven in statistics issued by the CDC. Since Thanksgiving, Los AngeArt by Sofia Hume
les County has been ravaged by new COVID-19 cases. The numbers have spiked up by 75% compared to before, the percentage being a mixture of associated deaths, hospital visits and general reported cases. According to a recent interview from the Los Angeles Times, the Public Health Director of Los Angeles County, Barbara Ferrer, spoke on the recent resurgence. “We are seeing a rapid acceleration… We’ve got to get more people boosted and everybody should go ahead and put those masks on when they’re indoors,” Ferrer said. As we enter our third pandemic holiday season, we should know better by now. Don’t let this be a repeat of last year with Omicron. Though officials are saying that the third winter wave could be in more control due to vaccines and treatments, this winter is going to make one sickly season. COVID-19, paired with an early onslaught of the flu, is not ideal for your big winter bonanza with the family. Remember, it’s not just about your health – it’s about keeping the people you care about safe. thesamohistudentewspaper@gmail.com
The Samohi December 14, 2022 05
opinion
Highlighting Jewish culture this holiday season Audrey Strauss Staff Writer
’Tis the season for reindeer, mistletoe, candy canes and… exclusion? It’s easy to get swept up in the joy of the holiday season, but what about the people who don’t celebrate Christmas? At Samo, there’s a large Jewish population, but a sense of community can still feel lacking during this time of the year. Judaism is more than just a religion — it’s a people. Being an ethno-religion, many Jews feel a connection to the culture beyond just typical religious practices, like prayer or holidays. Jewish student Shiraz Benisty (’25) relates to having a complex connection with Judaism. “My family is relatively religious, but I feel pretty connected to Judaism outside of religion because I keep kosher and have a lot of Jewish friends,” Benisty said. “I definitely feel like we are moving backwards with antisemitism becoming more prominent due to Kanye’s recent actions and other factors.” With open acts of hate speech in our own backyard, whether it’s a banner over the 405 reading “Kanye was right” or antisemitic literature being placed on cars around Beverly Hills and the Grove,
Art by Audrey Strauss
it seems like the issue of antisemitism is on the rise. It’s more important now than ever to make an effort to connect with not only the history of our culture, but also the way it presents itself now. Hanukkah, a historically minor Jewish holiday, has been amplified in America to be something bigger than it is. But why? Hanukkah has been given a bigger role in Judaism so that Christians and other non-Jews have an easy holiday to quickly mention to get diversity points, without taking into account actual Jewish people’s thoughts on it. Just like all things, religion evolves over time, and Hanu k ka h is included in that. And while to a certain extent, Jews embraced the change in order to get the visibility that’s been lacking, it wasn’t something that happened naturally. It was, like many other things, catered towards Christianity. School breaks are built around Christian holidays, whether it’s Christmas or Easter. This makes it easy for those who celebrate those holidays to travel during that time of the year and be with their families, but for Jewish students, Hanukkah rarely even falls into winter break. And for holidays like Rosh Hashanna, the Jewish new year, where family and community is something important, there’s only one day off for each holiday, which is hardly enough time to visit any extended family. While Christmas affects Jewish people now, it affected Jewish populations centuries ago too. Dec. 25 was once the final day of a festival known as Saturnalia in Rome. Starting in 497
B.C. and continuing for centuries after, the holiday was a week-long period of lawlessness celebrated between Dec. 17-25 in which Jewish citizens would commonly be killed, tortured and ridiculed for the amusement of the Romans-- a tradition intentionally revived by the Catholic Church in 1466. As Christians slowly changed the holiday from a Pagan one to a Christian one, the final day of the festival was renamed as the birthday of Jesus. To this day, Saturnalia influences many common Christmas traditions (wreaths, candles, feasting and gift-giving were all derived from Saturnalia). While no one is expecting Christmas to go away or be changed, an effort to educate about the circumstances around the holiday would be an excellent way to shed light on forgotten history and be more respectful towards Jews. At a time of year that can feel isolating for students who don’t celebrate Christmas, spaces for students to find people who can understand their experiences are critical. Clubs like the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and Jewish Student Union (JSU) hold so much additional significance when students are feeling left out. Co-president of the JSU Taj Ford (’23) sees exactly how the club benefits its members. “Having groups like JSU is important because it provides members of our religion a community and helps inform other people about Judaism,” Ford said. “Jews make up a pretty small percentage of the population, so it’s really nice to have a platform to connect with other members of the community.”
Finding community can come from pride and positivity, but part of it can also come from shared pain.
New year, same me Aaron Smollins Staff Writer
On Jan 1 of this year, I made a New Year’s resolution to not use social media as much, limiting it to 30 minutes a day. Not surprisingly, just a week later I was back to my normal habits, scrolling aimlessly as I forgot my resolution. Heading into the new year, people are expected to make immediate changes through resolutions, compensating for all that they lacked during the year. People tend to idealize the trend ‘New Year, New Me’ without considering that most of these resolutions die just weeks after they’re born, resetting a cycle of shame and regret once a year. Rather than setting overwhelming, and often unattainable, goals, reach for short-term benchmarks each month. Blue Hunter (’25) agrees that setting goals just once a year isn’t the most efficient way to better yourself. “New Year’s resolutions are for the weak. You should not have to wait for a new year to make a change in your life,” Hunter said. The only way that New Year’s resolutions can be successful is through a consistent plan and a way of holding yourself accountable. Talking about what you hope to accomplish over the whole year simply isn’t enough without a pathway to success and or a consistent regimen. According to a Forbes article from Dec. 21, 2019, about 80 percent of people fail in making resolutions because of procrastination, forgetfulness, and a lack of specificity in their goals. Charles Thun, AP psychology teacher at Samo, agrees that resolutions must be strategic and realistic in order to stick. “I think New Year’s resolutions can be somewhat effective as long as the goals are realistic
Similar to acknowledging both the past and the present of culture, it’s critical to consider why and how a group is considered “other” or erased. Think back to your childhood, the shows you watched and the characters they featured. From cartoon villains that have essentially been Jewish caricatures with large crooked noses and big curly hair like Mother Gothel, to banker goblins with exaggerated Ashkenazi features in “Harry Potter,” not-so-subtle antisemitism has been ingrained in the media we consume our whole lives. These instances might mean less if heroes and princesses were given the same traits, but until recently, they haven’t been. Moreso, for a long time, Jewish people’s inclusion would only be through tired stereotypes. Whether it’s the nerdy Jewish boy/awkward Jewish girl (think Rachel Berry from “Glee” or professor John Frink from “The Simpsons”), the spoiled ‘Jewish-American princess’ (Mona Lisa from “Parks and Recreation”), or overbearing Jewish mother (Mrs. Wolowitz in “The Big Bang Theory”), it’s a relief whenever Jewish characters are allowed to exist outside of archetypes. When consuming media, it’s crucial to take into account the implications of what you are watching and how marginalized groups are portrayed. Many Jewish youth and adults alike are left feeling disconnected from their identities. Finding community can come from pride and positivity, but part of it can also come from shared pain. Most Jews understand the experience of having their parents or grandparents talk about how ashamed they were to be Jewish growing up and the ways they hid it. This pattern needs to end with our generation, and the only way to change things for the better is to embrace the culture and history that people have tried to erase. During this Hanukkah season and every one that comes after it, let’s remember the past and celebrate the future as a community.
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Sandy the Seagull
by Sofia Hume
and incremental with step wise patterns to what you want to accomplish. Otherwise if they’re too dramatic, too high expectations then they’re probably ineffective,” Thun said. Instead of beating yourself up and thinking negatively about the things you can improve and fix into the new year, you can positively reflect on the things you are fortunate to have and what good things you have overcome. People can be happier and feel more confident without making resolutions once a year through gratitude; it’s much more beneficial to reflect on what you’ve been through, how you’ve grown and persevered rather than tearing yourself down for what you regret or dislike about yourself. Whether you make resolutions or not, lift yourself up this New Years rather than tearing yourself down. Peter Jarvis (’25) gives his opinion on New Year’s resolutions and their effectiveness. “I don’t make new year’s resolutions because I think it’s good to be constantly evolving and not limit myself to change once a year. I don’t think New Year’s resolutions are effective because when you fail once, you have the mindset that you have to wait till the next new year,” Jarvis said. This year, if you do decide to make resolutions, be realistic with yourself and set goals that will truly improve your life rather than goals rooted in insecurity. Reflect on all you’ve been through this year and remember, you’ve done enough this year and you deserve to treat yourself with compassion. Art by Audrey Strauss
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Art by Kira Bretsky
Don’t be s(elf)ish this holiday season Jewel Greene Staff Writer
Andy Williams’ famous words, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” rings true about many aspects of the holiday season, but like most things, it comes with its consequences. Overconsumption of gifts has a major environmental impact during the holidays. This is further perpetuated by the holidays centered around shopping such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These holidays are synonymous with ridiculous amounts of greed. Shoppers rush to malls and stores to buy copious amounts of new gadgets, toys and technology. Overconsumption is focused on wants, not needs. For example, consider whether or not buying a new appliance is absolutely necessary. Do you really need a 90-inch television if you already have a 70-inch? The gifts you buy should be practical and functional so that they add value to your own and others lives. Reducing our consumption in ways like only buying necessary items is a great start to lessening the
global waste. Beyond physical waste, overconsumption is detrimental to the planet as it increases one’s carbon footprint in many aspects of traditional holiday activities. According to a study published on Telesur HD, the US uses a surplus amount of wrapping paper daily, wasting roughly $2.6 billion on decorative papers each holiday season. As a proactive action, using one box for multiple gifts can cut down on wrapping paper waste. Additionally, having reusable bags when you go Christmas shopping helps rid the earth of the absurd amount of plastic we already have on the planet. Efforts like recycling gift wrap or reusing old gift boxes may seem like it will have little impact, but in reality, it’s a small start toward addressing a huge problem. It is also essential to be wary of food waste during the holiday season. We all know the excitement of looking at a table filled with delicious food, but the aftermath is overlooked. Oftentimes, the plentiful leftover food ends up in the trash hours after the meal. The Ecology
Center found that in the United States, there is a 25 percent increase in waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Food waste is a problem year-round, but Americans are especially wasteful around one particular holiday: Thanksgiving. According to ReFED, a non-profit working to end food loss, about 305 million pounds of food valued at $400 million went to waste on Thanksgiving alone. To diminish this harm, try to prepare just enough food during the holidays, encourage friends and family to take leftovers home and store leftovers in the freezer to enjoy after you’ve had a break from them for a little while. If you are looking for creative ways to repurpose holiday foods, one can look up “holiday leftover recipes” online for new ideas. Students are leaning towards staying sustainable during the holidays. “To stay sustainable during the holidays, my family and I use old wrapping paper that we have
saved over the years to not be wasteful. My family hates wasting food, so if there’s any leftovers it goes to my dog,” Max Harrison (’23) said. This holiday season, it is especially important to look out for our planet. By following some of the guidelines listed above, you can mitigate the harm done to the environment while enjoying the festive season. Art by Kira Bretsky
Santa goes sustainable: eco-friendly holiday gifts Sienna Bevan Staff Writer
When gifting for family and friends, it’s important to keep the environment in mind. So, here are The Samohi’s best sustainable gift ideas for your heading into the holiday season. Reusable items: Anything reusable is a simple way to help the environment. Using reusable water bottles and containers rather than plastic can make a huge difference, and is easy to do. Environment friendly water bottle brands include Hydro Flask, S’well, 4ocean and OXO. Reusable bags, such as tote bags, are also a cute alternative to plastic bags.
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Subscriptions: Online or boxed subscriptions are a great way to give gifts to someone remotely, along with reducing waste. Possible subscription boxes can include food, such as Hello Fresh, all the way to DIY educational boxes like Kiwi Crates, where you can practice STEM related topics. Digital subscriptions can also include streaming services such as HBO Max and Spotify, or news outlets like the New Yorker.
Jewelry: Although pricey, jewelry is always a strong gift option. It is important to buy high quality jewelry because it lasts longer, and therefore is better for the environment. Some may even last generations, making the perfect re-gift. There are also a large variety of types to please everybody, such as necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, etc.
Crochet items: Crocheted items are the perfect gift for someone who wants to stay warm and fashionable during the winter. They can be beanies, scarves, hand warmers, etc, whether you make them yourself or buy them from a second-hand or sustainable store.
The life of a Christmas tree Sofia Hume Staff Writer
As the holiday season rolls around, it is tradition for many families to go and pick out a Christmas tree. For most the christmas tree is a symbol of wintertime celebration, but for the few who are knowledgeable on the life of a christmas tree, a remembrance of one of the many unsustainable traditions that occur over the holidays.
Art by Sofia Hume
Staying warm and keeping the planet cool Sienna Bevan Staff Writer
With the inclination to buy more clothes during the winter, it is important to decrease the support of fast fashion by buying sustainably. Santa Monica’s winter is especially unique because of the varying moderate temperatures. Light layers over a summery outfit are the embodiment of winter fashion here.
Jade Furukawa (’24) balances California weather and winter fashion with an almost entirely thrifted outfit. She wears a citrus red tank top under a neutral sherpa-collar corduroy jacket and colorful contrasting crochet accessories. The only non-thrifted elements of her outfit are the crocheted hand warmers, which are bought from a small local business, and the crocheted scarf, handmade by a friend.
Oscar Verk (’25) reflects the look of an off-duty band member with his outfit. He pairs the sherpa-collar leather jacket with an upcycled shirt bought in the parking lot of a concert. His thrifted black Doc Martens match the style of the leather jacket. The alternative 90s feeling of the outfit is also a reflection of his taste in music.
Sienna Bevan / The Samohi
Marina Strube / Contributor
Sherwin Shahrabi (’24) shows off a vintage outfit representing his goto style. He layers a Nautica jacket, thrifted from the Melrose Flea Market, over a thrifted button-down. The green of his Adidas Forums also match with the green of his top tie the look together perfectly.
Keira Yanez (’23) wears a sustainable sweater all the way from ireland. Handmade out of 100% wool by a small business called Pachamama, it is perfect for the winter. She pairs it with a simple pair of thrifted blue jeans, a long lasting necessity in anyone’s closet.
Sienna Bevan / The Samohi
Sofia Hume / The Samohi
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The Samohi
08 December 14, 2022
Student Life
Tis’ the season to discover Samo holiday traditions Cleo Topp Staff Writer
The California air has dropped 10 degrees, lights are being strung upon houses and with the introduction of the winter months holiday cheer is fast approaching. To ring in this holiday season, Samo students and their families participate in yearly traditions, from christmas movies to month long celebrations, Samo students are bringing festivity this year with these holiday traditions. One ongoing debate throughout America is when to begin decorating for the winter holidays. With Thanksgiving and Halloween positioned in the months leading up to these events, decisions vary from just after Halloween to mid-December. For Isabella Salem (’25) and her family, Christmas decorations go up the day after Thanksgiving each year. Having these traditions since before she can remember, they have turned into a constant in her life, especially around the hectic holidays. After visiting Church each Christmas Eve, she also heads over to a specific restaurant that has been the case for many years to enjoy a special dinner with her family. She and her family also dine on a Lebanese style breakfast with cinnamon rolls and Christmas cutlery in the morning, pulling traditions from many parts of her heritage. Being able to celebrate Christmas in a way that is meaningful to her family allows her to feel closer in their traditions each year. “I really enjoy all of our traditions because it is uninterrupted time with family and friends and a personal way to celebrate the holidays,” Salem said. Whether she is decorating the tree just after Thanksgiving, going to Church every Christmas Eve, eating meaningful and
special meals, or simply sitting around the tree with her family, they are able to celebrate each other and cherish the special connection they feel each year. The holidays can be a chaotic time, and getting the whole family together can be an overwhelming and complicated task. For Ruby Dembo (’26), the aim of making sure that everyone can be there on a certain holiday has led to them learning to adapt and host their holidays on a different day of the year. Every year at least one person would not be able to make the original holiday date, so instead, she and her family set a new day on which to celebrate together. Whether that means celebrating holidays early, late, or even bunching a couple together, holidays now fall on a new day each year for her family. The tradition that started as a convenient way to get the whole family together has grown into a treasured part of the holiday season for Dembo and her family as they pick a new random day to celebrate on. For instance, this would mean that instead of celebrating Hanukkah for eight days only, she is able to celebrate it for a whole month and keep the holiday spirit and cheer with her family together and ongoing. This, like many other traditions, helps her and her family feel closer to each other as they get to spend more time together in ‘the most wonderful time of the year’. “I really like this practice because we get our own holiday when there are no official holidays at that time and I get to see all of my family members at the same time,” Dembo said. A common tradition on Christmas Eve for many families and friends alike is to bake holiday cookies the night before Christmas to leave out for Saint Nick. For Ryne Kapen (’25), although he does not leave them out for Santa Clause anymore, this tradition has become an important one in his family and has
been ever since he was a little kid. Every year, when Christmas Eve rolls around, he and his family slip into the Christmas spirit as they bake fresh cookies together in anticipation for the big holiday. Another common way to show holiday cheer in the winter season is to watch holiday movies showcasing the magic of the holiday celebrations. On Christmas Eve once more, Kapen and his family turn on Nickelodeon to watch “Santa Hunters” together as they have been for years. Having these traditions each year, they become fond memories from many Christmases
past that he can look back on with a warm feeling, and one that he can recreate and immerse himself in every holiday season. “Although I feel it’s something many people do, but maybe not watch the exact same movie, it brings my family together and we talk, and have so much fun, and it’s really just a special part of the year!” Kapen said.
Check this list twice! Find out if you’re naughty or nice.
Natalie Gazzana Staff Writer
Santa Claus is coming to town this holiday season and he’s gonna find out who’s been naughty or nice. Here are some Samo practices that’ll determine your place on his lists.
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The Samohi December 14, 2022 09
Student Life
Match the teacher to their New Year’s resolution Ryan Kim
Staff Writer
Holding resolutions every New Year is a practice that is well-known across the world, even if only a small percentage of people uphold their resolutions. However, these teachers are motivated and ready to keep their resolutions this New Year.
Photos By: Ryan Kim / The Samohi
1. Katharina Valentiner
2. Dana Bart-Bell
3. Kevan Shipley
4. Amanda Paiva
5. Nathan Fulcher
6. Alyssa Pazzi
Answers:: 6c 5e 4f 3a 2d 1b
a. “My New Year’s resolution is to eat more desserts to be happier.” _____
d. “My New Year’s Resolution is to live a healthier lifestyle” _____
b. “My New Year’s resolution is to stay on top of grading and breathe more.” _____
e. “My resolution is to go to new restaurants and more concerts to see more live music.” _____
c. “I need to make new friends because I moved from Central Valley.” _____
f. “My New Year’s resolution is to be happier.” ______ thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Tune-in to Samo’s up-and-coming musicians Malia Kabwe Staff Writer
Samo has always been a school filled with artists from all mediums. However, we would like to highlight the musicians of our school. From notable alumni like Ken Harby, Daryl Dragon, and Ry Cooder, to our celebrated music programs, music is embedded into the culture of Samo. Now, these singers, DJs, and bands are breaking into the Samo music
Sydney DeFranco: Sydney DeFranco (’23) released her self-titled first jazz EP on Nov. 11, with all music written and sung by her. She has been in love with music her whole life and uses it as a form of self-expression. DeFranco has been singing since she was a baby. Her parents say that she sang before she could talk. “My parents say at 11 months old before I knew how to talk, they heard me singing the “woo hoo’s” on the song “Black Horse And The Cherry Tree” in the backseat of the car, so I guess that’s when it started,” DeFranco said. Although she got her start playing piano at age five, DeFranco has moved towards jazz piano in the past few years. Some of her largest inspirations are Betty Carter, Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Bill Evans, Esperanza Spalding and D’Angelo. She began recording demos in her freshman year learning to manipulate software as she experimented. This summer, Brooklyn Alexander: Brooklyn Alexander (’23) grew up in a very musical family. Her family members play many different instruments including the bass, and piano however singing is their main passion. Alexander’s grandmother was a choir director and her mother and aunties have been singing all their lives. While she played the violin and piano as a child, as she got older she wanted to focus her time on singing, and has been writing and recording her songs since the eighth grade. Despite the pandemic setting her production off track, she is still refining her work and is excited to release music soon. Alexander often uses poems she writes as lyrics for her new songs. “I love writing songs so I write whenever I am passionate about something! I’m always writing so if I have an idea in mind I can hum the melody and the words just flow with me” Alexander said. Her biggest inspirations are Fantasia and Jhene Aiko, two R&B singers who Alexander feels have a similar style to hers. Alexander appreciates their meaningful lyrics as well as their overall humility toward their success. In addition, Alexander’s mother is a songwriter.
Defranco contacted a producer and sent three demos and everything fell into place from there. She learned the music notation software, Sibelius, to transcribe her arrangements and worked with many musicians throughout the recording process. In college, DeFranco plans to go to college for jazz studies, composition, or songwriting. However, her ultimate goal is to pursue a career as a recording artist and songwriter.
Sydney DeFranco / Contributor
“My mom is also my inspiration because I love her voice and she is also a songwriter. She is confident in everything she does and she teaches me to be the same way!” Alexander said. Alexander’s not completely sure what her future in music will entail. While she does want to make her mark in the industry, she doesn’t see herself becoming a huge performer. She sees herself performing slower intimate sets where the music speaks for itself. She also would like to write songs for other artists so she can do what she loves while also staying behind the scenes.
Evan Daghighian: Evan Daghighian (’24) or “E.Q. EV” has been interested in music since he was six years old. He remembers music playing a large part in his household since his dad plays piano and his sister plays the flute. After seeing the Flo Rida “My House” music video, Daghighian recalls being more interested in production. Daghighian plays many instruments including but not limited to the piano, synthesizers, and drums. While he has been DJing for several months he is really looking forward to performing his own music in the future. “Every time I’m in the studio, I visualize how exciting the response for my songs would be, played at a huge event. I’m always running around the studio, dreaming about people vibing and dancing to my music,” Daghighian said. Daghighian feels his experience in producing helps him put his own songs into great dynamic sets. When Samo played his Homecoming
Remix this year, he was very excited about his future musical plans. While he does see himself pursuing musical careers, Daghihian is keeping his options open. For now, he is enjoying having fun with his music. Currently, he is continuing to release music, collaborate with other artists, and refine his upcoming album.
The Poolboys: The Poolboys are an indie band started by three Samo students Theo Tobel (’23), Eli Meyuhas (’23) and Matthew Lewis (’23) along with New Roads students Ewan Bourne and Axel Pearson. Tobel plays bass, Meyuhas plays guitar, and Lewis is the lead singer. Although they have not released any original tracks, they are currently working on their own music. “We began our band’s journey in an effort to resolve our own insecurities, specifically our widespread lack of attention from women. Although we have not made considerable progress in our efforts, we are still overjoyed to have founded such a great band,” Meyuhas said. Meyuhas began playing guitar in freshman year as a hobby and soon became obsessed with it. Lewis started singing in the fourth grade at Franklin Elementary School. Since then, he has always used his musical talents to express himself. Tobel also began his musical journey in fourth grade to fill in for his brother’s band. “I immediately fell in love with the steadfast,
yet understated nature of the instrument and haven’t stopped playing since,” Tobel said. At first, Tobel and Meyuhas were together in a different band. However, after playing with Lewis, they realized they shared a lot of musical interests and eventually formed a new band. “I got in touch with my old friend Axel and he introduced us to Ewan and we just began playing from there,” Meyuhas said.
Brooklyn Alexander/ Contributor
Evan Daghighian/ Contributor
Sakura Amano / The Samohi
Eli Meyuhas, Matthew Lewis, and Theo Tobel. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Who are students rooting for in the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
Addie Burns Staff Writer
The World Cup is one of the largest sporting events in the world. It happens every two years, alternating between Men and Women. The 2022 World Cup is currently being played in Qatar. Due to the large time difference between the U.S. and Qatar, students at Samo are finding all sorts of ways to watch the games during class. Whether it’s on their phones, bringing a computer from home to watch, or even teachers projecting it on their screens, students are all trying to keep track of the games. Here are some teams that students want to win this World Cup.
Addie Burns / The Samohi
“I’m rooting for Brazil because my Dad lives there and I grew up watching Brazilian players, and Brazil is the best.” -Khaelan Zeitlin (‘26)
Aili Forster / The Samohi
“I’m rooting for England because Jack Grealish is sexy.” - Sienna Goetz (‘24)
Cleo Topp/ The Samohi
“I want Argentina to win. Even though I'm Colombian, since I was little my dad has told me to support Argentina because of Messi and because he loves the culture and the team.” - Crystal Gaitan (‘26)
Juliet Swimmer/ The Samohi
“I’m rooting for England because it’s coming home.” - Teddy Rotgin (’23)
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The Samohi
10 December 14, 2022
Arts & Entertainment
Motus Perpetuus: the short and sweet winter choir concert Kira Bretsky Art Editor
On Friday, December 9, Samo choir students filled the Barnum Hall stage for their winter concert – but they weren’t seen just on stage. Samo’s annual Motus Perpetuus concert breaks the boundaries of traditional choir concerts by keeping its members moving, and the result is a captivating and unique performance. Choir Director Jeffe Huls finds that the artistic freedom of the
concert is its key characteristic. “I like finding creative ways to get the audience engaged immediately and get them to realize that the concert isn’t what they thought it would be,” Huls said. The name “Motus Perpetuus” means “perpetual motion” in Latin, which refers to the entrancing nature of the concert. Students move around Barnum Hall, walking and dancing through aisles during the songs to reflect their cadences and the different
Ryan Kim / The Samohi
Samo’s Beauty Shop choir group sang “I Got Rhythm” during Motus Perpetuus, the winter choir concert. They were one of many groups to take the stage before all the choirs sang a combined medley of “The Story of Tonight” and “Found Tonight”.
voices that build them. The concept adds another dimension to the music, and it’s a perfect example of Samo’s remarkable choir program at its best. In addition to the “motus” of the concert, the “perpetuus” didn’t allow the usual break between songs. Each element of the concert flowed seamlessly into another one, and audience members were asked to hold their applause until it fully came to an end. This kept it much shorter than a conventional concert, which might be more “palatable” for audience members, as Huls describes it. This year’s performance was the 17th time Huls produced the show, a tradition he began the very first year he started teaching at Samo. The choir wasn’t able to perform the concert during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Huls modeled the pieces this year to reflect a theme of community and coming together through adversity. The show opened with a handful of students on stage and more filled in as the music progressed, then ended with another small group left as it concluded. The songs ranged from soft, classic songs like “Hallelujah” to animated pieces from well-known musicals like “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hansen”. Huls arranged the concert as a thoughtful transition to winter festivities. “This concert is a nice way to enter our holiday season. There’s all kinds of music, and because of the way it’s presented, it allows plenty of time for the audience to reflect on what they’re hearing and the messages of the songs,” Huls said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The orchestra concert turns Barnum Hall into a winter wonderland Ryan Kim
Staff Writer
With winter finally here, the orchestra program had their annual winter concert on December 6, where they played holiday music and wore festive costumes. Because of the orchestras playing some iconic songs, such as “Can-Can” and “Jupiter”, the audience had positive reactions to each performance. To make the concert available for everyone, there was a livestream available online, bringing people all around the world together for the festive event. Lucas Yarmand (’25) talks about seeing their family as they played as well as on the live stream. “I think the live stream is a good idea, especially for people who can’t make it,” Yarmand said. “Our group sounded really good and my grandparents were very excited to see me play during the concert.” The students’ determination and concert sound prevailed as the Concert Orchestra played “Royal Fireworks”, “Minuet and Trio”, “Fantasia”, “Dance of the Tumblers” and “Mystic Layer”. Having his grandparents watch made Yarmand want to play even better, so he could showcase the school and its spirit. Luke Terlizzi (’25) is a trombone player in the Philharmonic Orchestra and a guest player in
the Symphony Orchestra. “The piece ‘Jupiter’ had a tenor tuba part that didn’t have a player and I signed on to support the low brass section,” Terlizzi said. “I feel so thankful that Mr. Aiello allowed me to play on stage with such an elite group of musicians.” The Symphony Orchestra performed “Venus”, “Jupiter”, “Tico Tico” and “Sleigh Ride”. Each piece blew the audience away and highlighted the talented musicians, especially since “Venus” and “Jupiter” are challenging pieces. Orchestra Director Jason Aiello explains the preparations and things that had to be planned in order to prepare for this concert. “We rehearsed every day during school,” Aiello said. “Students put in a lot of time out of school individually and in rehearsal.” As the concert came to an end, there were a few surprises in store for the audience. Jim Wang, the second orchestra director, and Aiello brought the winner from the raffle, Donald Kennedy onstage to conduct the final song, “Sleigh Ride”. Two other raffle winners were picked to play the whip and sleigh bells. Snow fell as the orchestra played and children, students, and adults alike reached to touch the snow. However, due to malfunctions, only the south side of the hall snowed, but it was still a wonderful experience nonetheless for everyone. It was a little twist on the typical Califor-
Ben Singer /Contributor
Symphony Orchestra played “Sleigh Ride” while the raffle winner, Donald Kennedy conducted them and Aiello watched in the background. The students wore festive gear and snow fell from the ceiling to enhance the holiday spirit.
nian winters. The winter concert was a delightful experience for everyone in the audience and students alike. “It has filled me with such joy to play music
in a different style than any other genre that I have played before,” Terlizzi said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Samo students take over the CODA Honor Orchestra Addie Burns Staff Writer
The California Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) held their December Honors Orchestra concert on December 3. Students all around California auditioned earlier this year by turning in a submission of orchestra excerpts as well as a set of scales. A total of 46 students from Samo made it into this honor orchestra, highlighting the immense amount of talent at the school. “I think it’s amazing how many students in the orchestras were from Samo,” Henry Sullivan (’25) said. The group left on Dec. 1 in the morning for San Diego State University, where their rehearsals were being held. They only had two days to prepare for the concert. They had their first rehearsal on Friday which lasted around nine hours. They also rehearsed the morning of the concert on Saturday, which began at 1:00 p.m. The String Orchestra played “St. Paul’s
Joshua Tang / Contributor
There were 46 students from Samo who attended the CODA concer t in San Diego. Students had to audition and were selected as the top orchestra musicians in the state.
Suite”, “Romanian Folk Dances” by Bartok and “Estampas Mexicanas” by Elizondo. The Symphony orchestra, which was also a full orchestra, played “Mothership” by
Mason Bates, “Huapango” by Jose Pablo, “Moncayo” and “Symphony No.2 IV Finale” by Sibelius. Here are some final thoughts from Samo students who played in the CODA
concert. “We rehearsed the whole day so by the time we got back to our hotel rooms everyone was very tired. The concert was the best part and
it felt pretty rewarding,” Shania Ghassemi (’23) said. She was the harpist for the Symphony Orchestra, the highest honor group. As a bass clarinet player in the Samo Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, Joshua Tang (’24) played with the honor orchestra for the first time. He, like a few other Samo students, had a unique experience since this was the first year wind players were able to audition and play with the orchestras. “I thought CODA was a great experience and I’m so glad I had the honor of going and meeting so many other amazing people,” Tang said. The CODA concert was a place where students were able to demonstrate their talents and work with other talented musicians and directors. It was an honor to have so many Samo students representing the school at a state event, congratulations to the musicians who participated. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Sports Boys’ soccer heads into the new season Amilia Tejada Staff Writer
The boys’ soccer season officially kicked off on November 30 after having a few preseason games. Last year, the boys’ varsity team made it to the CIF playoffs but were eliminated after the first game. The team has hopes of making it to CIF again and getting even further in the playoffs. Captain Gabriel Gamez (‘23) explains that he is excited to be leading the team and has high goals for the season. “It goes without saying that a goal of mine is to win CIFs. However I am most looking forward to playing good soccer with my teammates this season,” Gamez said. The team began the non-league season strong, with a 3-1 win against Beverly Hills. The standout player of the game was the team’s second captain Kieren Quinn (‘23), who scored two goals at the game against Beverly. “I think the team has very high ambitions,” Quinn said. “In practice, we are focusing on making sure the players new to varsity are adjusting to the team well in order to create unity.” Coach Chris Sandoval (’16) explains that he is excited to be back coaching the boys’ varsity soccer team after coaching the freshmen/sophomore team last year. “Coaching the varsity team has been very enjoyable,” Sandoval said. “The players are always happy for each other and want one another to succeed. They really bring
a family atmosphere into training.” Sandoval began practices over the summer, since then the team had four preseason games of which they lost four. The whole team was not present at these games since a few were held over the summer or players had mandatory club games to attend. However, many of these players participate in club soccer teams which served as their preseason training, including multiple practices a week and weekend games. Diego Demacena (’23) explains his club season experience. “During club season our training usually consists of a lot of possession games and scrimmages between teams,” Demacena said. “The club season really prepares us as players for high school because there is a high standard to perform at during club games.” As a result, much of the preseason for players involves their club team season. Sandoval shares what their preseason practices have involved. “Our preseason focus has been making sure that we work cohesively as a team, Sandoval said. “We want to make sure that the players can maintain possession of the ball as a team and that the players are comfortable with the ball at their feet.” The team is excited to continue representing Samo in the Bay League this season and is hoping to start 2023 strong by continuing their winning streak.
The Samohi December 14,2022 11
Kira Bresky / The Samohi
Dylan Galperin (‘24) defending the ball with a header at the Samo vs. Bell Gardens game on Dec. 2.
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Boys’ Basketball blocks off competition in successful pre-season Kira Bretsky
team’s comfort on the court is essential. “What’s nice to see year-to-year is the continuity with the team and their growth – not only in ability but also in confiAs temperatures drop a few degrees in Santa Monica, sports fans are moving from the football field to the North Gym while dence,” Hecht said. “It’s fantastic to watch.” The team has gotten younger and younger (and younger) the boys’ basketball team gears up for the 2022-2023 season. for three consecutive seasons now, and this year’s team has After last year’s Bay League Championship win, expectations only two seniors: Captain, Point Guard and Homecoming are high for the team – and it doesn’t look like they’ll cave King Joshua Hecht (’23) and Forward Ty Vudmaska (’23). anytime soon. From the tip-off at their very first game against The junior-heavy roster is led by varsity veterans Luke Hecht (’24), Holden Hendrickson (’24), Paco Vandenbrook (’24) and standout Anton Berge-Wells (’24). At 6’7”, Berge-Wells is the tallest member of the team and is using his height advantage accordingly as the team’s highest scorer. Game-to-game, the experience of returning team members is a reliable guide for newer players. Every competition is action-packed and Joshua Hecht believes that the boys’ connection with one another is their defining characteristic. “I would say our biggest strength this year is our chemistry,” Hecht said. “A lot of the guys have played together before, so playing together is easy.” The team will play at home next against Los Angeles CES on Dec. 17. Following a series of tournaments over the holidays, the first league game will then take place at Peninsula High School on Jan. 3. Kira Bretsky/ The Samohi Coach Hecht is looking forward to seeing full stands Viking Team Captain Josh Hecht (‘23) makes an offensive play against Van throughout the rest of the season. Nuys. Samo won the Nov. 16 game with a lead of 85-48. “It’s not only in basketball, it’s in every sport and Van Nuys, the team has had the upper hand and their current every level of competition that the audience gives the most record of 5-2 in the non-league season could promise a very motivation to a team,” Hecht said. Art Editor
successful winter. Head Coach James Hecht believes that the
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Girls’ basketball is shooting for a successful season Natalie Gazzana Staff Writer
Varsity girls’ basketball is jumping into their 2022-2023 season with high hopes. After making it to the CIF playoffs last year, the girls are working hard in their non-league season, and it’s paying off. The team’s first game against the Narbonne Gauchos on Nov. 16 ended with a 59-16 win. One of three team captains, Brielle Minor (’23), already committed to play basketball at Fullerton College, has positive expectations for this year. “The team is definitely excited for the season. We beat some really good teams but also fell short against other teams. So we try to keep as even mindset as possible as to not underestimate any team we play against,” Minor said. In their second game, against Birmingham, the teams were neck and neck for nearly the whole game, until Siena Blaustein (’25) broke the tension and scored a two-pointer for the team, leading in the fourth quarter by four points.
It wasn’t until later when Birmingham players made two free throws that the two point difference was made. However, the Birmingham effort wasn’t enough. The game ended shortly after with a 46-44 Samo win. “It felt amazing to win and the whole team’s energy was amazing afterwards,” Blaustein said. “We were all in a really good mood and motivated by the perfect start to our season.” Going into his 18th year of coaching girls’ varsity basketball, Coach Kim has been working with the team since October on the outside basketball courts. The team also stayed active in Samo’s ‘open gym,’ a nighttime opportunity where students of all grades and levels were able to practice and play against one another in the North Gym. “You condition more in the off season and get to more fundamentals,” Kim said. “Those are still important and you want to put those into practice but it’s really about game plan, it’s about understanding who your opponents are and understanding and executing your own stuff.”
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
Samo basketball player Anton Berge-Wells (‘24) dunks during the first home game against Van Nuys HS. Hundreds of fans attended the Nov. 16 game.
With a 7-3 record, all in away games, their commitment in the on and off season is clear. The team variety is of immense help as well, with players from all different grade levels including Kalea Oshidari (’26), Kyla Cotton (’25) and Basai Hundessa-Wade (’23). “We all have really good chemistry,” Bibi Peterson (‘24) said. “We all really love each other a lot and I think that’s really important, especially since it’s such a team sport.” Next semester, the team will be heading into more intense games, including their first home game and the CIF tournament. “This year is kinda like a revenge year,” Minor said. “Last year, we made it to the semis before we lost in the first round of state… This year we wanna get better and go farther. The goal every year is to win CIF in Kira Bretsky/ The Samohi the end.” Ariadni Potamianos (‘23) working hard at practice to hold Samo’s 7-3 Girls Basketball record.
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The Samohi
12 december 14, 2022
Sports
Girls’ Waterpolo splashes into winter season Audrey Strauss
Wrestling warms up for the winter Taylor Witt
Staff Writer
After a strong season last year, making it to CIF quarterfinals, the girls’ water polo team has a hard record to beat. Their first home game was against Venice, and took place on Nov. 15. It was a strong start to the season, with Samo eventually winning with a 23 to 1 score. Head coach Matt Flanders touches on the expectations for the 2022 season. “This year will be a year of growth. I expect us to improve throughout the season to get ready to compete in the league during January,” Flanders said. With 15 team members, the team has around 24 competitions to make it into the CIF league, which is the regional championship. One of the two team captains, Sarah Linowes (’24), has been playing since her freshman year. This year, she has even more faith in their success than previous years. “I expect a lot of growth from the team. There are a lot of new players and each game, win or loss, is a great learning experience. We are continuing to improve and there will be some great wins this season,” Linowes said. Linowes’ confidence is understandable consid-
Staff Writer
Kira Bretsky The Samohi
Catherine Chun (’25) passes the ball over Marlborough defender.The home game took place on Dec.6, with a win for Samo.
ering their strong start, and hopefully the team will continue their streak as they participate in more games. When practicing, Flander’s motto is that the basic strategies win games. Flanders explains what daily practices usually entail to ensure their team is in the best shape it can be. “Practices are two hours long, a mixture of swimming, passing, shooting, drills and gameplay. With 7.5 lbs weight belts on too,” Flanders said. All things considered, Samos girls’ water polo season is looking optimistic. Their next home game will be on Nov. 15 against Garden Grove.
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Girls’ Soccer shoots for undefeated season Olivia Stephansen Staff Writer
Kira Bretsky/ The Samohi
Audrey Howard (‘26) takes on a defender from West Torrance. Howard is the only freshman on varsity this year.
Coming off the last season, girls’ soccer had a strong year, with 11 wins and placing fourth in the Bay League. With new additions to the coaching staff, the team is prepared to win this season. Coach Pedro Najera is the new head coach for the varsity girls team, and Alyssa Pazzi, an English teacher at Samo joins the coaching staff as an assistant coach. Samo hopes to continue their previous record in the upcoming season. Varsity’s new assistant coach Pazzi shares her goals for the girls on the team. “I want them to connect well on and off the field, for them to win many games and grow as players and individuals,” Pazzi. Samo has played three non-league games so
far this season. The first two games Samo lost, the first one being against Torrance on Nov. 30, Samo fought strongly but lost 1-3. The Second away game this year was against South Torrance where the Vikings won 3-1. For the first home non-league game of the season on Dec. 5, Samo played West Torrence where they scored three goals but lost 3-5. Najera states his goals for the season. “My goal is not just for the season but for all the seasons coming up, I want to create a program that is recognizable in Santa Monica. I want the soccer program to have an identity, style of play that will stick with the program. It is not easy and will take quite some time but that’s my main goal. I want all the 3 teams to play the same style of play in the four moments of the game,” Najera said. The girls’ soccer season goes through Feb.1, an away game against Culver City, the last league game of their season. One team captain Sydney Forsyth (’23) hopes to qualify for the CIF playoffs and bond as a team. “Our goal for the season is to just compete as best as we can in every game we play. Of course, we want to win but we also want to have fun doing it,” Forsyth said.
The Co-Ed Wrestling team had their first competition on Nov. 23 and the team is looking optimistic for the upcoming season. Boys duels (matches that go head to head between two schools) on Nov. 23 went 2-2 with two losses to Torrance and Chaminade, and two wins against Banning and Simi Valley. The Samo wrestlers are excited to see what’s in store for them this season. The next home competition is on Jan. 5 against Peninsula high school. Despite practicing year-round, the winter season lands the biggest opportunity for league competitions. Last year the girls won the league championships with star player, Taira Sakamoto (’23) taking the lead. Coach Stephen Cox reflects on his experience wrestling in high school compared to today. “When I was in high school we only had one girl on our team and I feel like it really did her a disservice because she wrestled boys most of the time and she didn’t have a chance to really grow, but in California, we send the girls to entire girl tournaments. There are so many girls that wrestle in California, and they have grown so much,” Cox said. When Sakamoto joined the wrestling team her freshman year, she was the only girl. The influx of female wrestlers has created a more equal space for the sport and Sakamoto points out how it has benefited the physical strength and competitiveness of the girls. “Our team is still majority boys but our girls team has grown exponentially since I joined my freshman year. I think having a big coed team is great, having a big support group always helps. Even though we compete at
different tournaments, it’s great to come back after the weekend and hear how all the boys did. As for us girls, it helps to work out with the boys because they’re physically stronger which definitely pushes us,” Sakamoto said. Similar to many teams, the 2020 COVID-19 resulted in many losses of team members. Head Coach Jason Mun sheds some light on how it has affected the wrestling team and how they’ve built themselves back up over the last two years. “Two years ago that COVID year we graduated like ten – maybe even more than thatkids so we were really young, and because of that COVID year we didn’t really have a lot of younger kids to rebuild with. So we kind of started from the bottom ground up, but fortunately we got a lot of like, young, hungry, now – sophomores and juniors that had a really good scoring in the summer that allowed us to be in this position to be successful this year despite graduating so much two years ago,” Mun said. This year is all about setting high goals and working as hard as possible to achieve them. Team member Jaxson Lockwood (’23) outlines what the team has worked on since last season in order to have as many wins as possible. “We’ve been working a lot on our escapes from bottom and looking for pinning combinations off of our takedowns which have proven really effective in the matches we’ve wrestled so far, but there’s always room for improvement,” Lockwood said. With upcoming matches against Mira Costa, Beverly Hills, and Redondo Union, the team is expecting to see plenty of victories this season. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Cameron Davidson / Contributor
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com Oscar De La Torre (’24) prepares to tackle his Torrance opponent in his opening match of the ’22-’23 wrestling season.
Offside for Dummies
Matilde Martinez-Navarrete News Editor
Onside:
With the World Cup in full swing, soccer fans around the globe have tuned in to the intense matches between the world’s top teams. A common experience in all watch parties is screaming and insulting the referee for a bad call. The offside rule is probably one of the more difficult rules to grasp, especially for new fans. To help everyone
A player is onside when they are in front of or completely level with the second-tolast defender. A player may start in an onside position and run to receive the ball in an offside position. If the start running at the same time or after the ball is passed, they arwe onside.
Offside:
A player is offside when they are standing between the second-to-last defender and the goalie. A player is also offside if a part of their body that can score a goal (so not including their lower arms and hands) is behind the second-to-last defender. .The key is the timing of the pass, not the reception. If a player starts in an offside position when passed the ball, but then goes to meet the ball in an onside position, an offside will be marked.
Art by Sofia Hume