The Samohi 24-25 Cycle 4

What’s going on around Samo?

Imani Toler Staff Writer

Historic Rose Café to serve its final brunch on Dec. 15

The beloved Rose Café on Venice Avenue is officially closing its doors after 45 years of service. The café has been a staple in the Venice and Santa Monica community since its opening in 1979.

Featuring renowned chefs such as Jason Neroni and Ray Garcia, the café catered across Los Angeles and boasted an impressive array of fresh food options.

The café attributed the closure to the reduced popularity of the area and the café’s struggles with inflation. Samo student and Rose Café regular Solis Perez Armendariz (’27) shared a fond memory of the café.

“I remember when I was really young, I went there with my grandma and I never got to see her because she lives in another country,” Armendariz said.

“She really liked it there, and the staff there were always so nice.”

Rose Café has touched many, and their last day of service was on Dec. 15 for a final Sunday Brunch. The brunch commemorated their impressive run and the positive impact the café has made on the community over the years.

Samo commends the new Exploration Building and Gold Gym with a ribbon-cutting ceremony

On Dec. 12, Samo hosted a historical ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the construction of the recently added Exploration Building and Gold Gym. Elected school officials and student speakers were featured in the event, sharing their thoughts on the new space and recognizing the impact and importance that a more open layout provides for both student and teacher.

Speakers included AP Art student Sadie Sills (’25) and AP Photography student Joel Koyeforquet (’25), Volleyball Captain Jane Robinson (’25), Mock Trial member Shenandoah Márkos (’26), Project Lead the Way JPL Captain Noah Fraser-MacDuff (’25) and Samo student Lucia Valle (’25).

After a performance by the Samo Pep Squad, Principal Marae Cruce spoke on the benefits that the Exploration Building will provide students in the upcom -

ing years.

“The spaces in the Exploration Building will allow for teachers to bring learning outside of the typical classroom to incorporate more collaboration, problem solving and communication and presentation skills,” Cruce said.

The Exploration Building has specialized classroom facilities, such as 48 pottery wheels for the ceramics classes, a darkroom for photography, an outdoor patio equipped with easels for art students and more.

Both buildings would not be possible without the Santa Monica community voting on moving forward with Measure SMS in 2018, a measure intended to allocate funds to the Santa Monica school district for school improvement. Looking towards the future, the recent passage of Measure QS on the Nov. ballot will fund similar projects.

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On Dec. 12, the UCLA Health Community Blood Drive was open to students from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in D100, partnering with Samo ASB to give students the opportunity to be a part of the 30,000 volunteers that donate life saving supplies of blood every year. Located in Los Angeles, UCLA prides itself on the locality of these life changing drives, welcoming churches, workplaces, schools and community events to host a blood drive.

Donating blood helps save around 4.5 million Americans annually, with one pint of blood saving up to three people. ASB member Tegan Blaine (’26) explained the necessity of these blood drives.

“You go in and donate a pint of your own blood, but it really helps out in the long term. Blood transfusions can use up to 60 pints of blood at a minimum, so if we get 60 students to donate, that’s only one blood transfusion and millions of people need transfusions every day,” Blaine said. “It’s a small step, but it’s really important in saving lives.”

Tsunami warning in Northern California warrants evacuations

On Thursday, Dec. 5, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Northern California Coast, causing a tsunami warning for the first time since Jan. 2022. The earthquake was felt all the way from Oregon to the San Joaquin Valley, while the effects were

even worse for locals in the small town of Ferndale, which is 62 miles away from where the earthquake hit. As food fell off of grocery store shelves, evacuations in the West Berkeley area ensued. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the aftershock for future earthquakes is forecasted to remain elevated over the next year or more. Aftershocks are also predicted to continue for a few days after the initial quake, with 78 aftershocks with a magnitude of three or higher documented so far.

As coastal residents, Samo students and their families can stay prepared for the threat of a tsunami by creating an emergency plan by mapping out safety routes and constructing a safety kit, as there is no definite way to predict them.

Samo PLTW team wins annual JPL Invention Challenge

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) —the seniors-only STEM forward class—won first place competing in the annual NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Invention Challenge on Dec. 6. In the competition, teams were tasked with creating a device capable of launching 50 peanut candies into a target standing five meters away in 60 seconds. The Scallywags, captained by Noah Fraser-MacDuff (’25), created a crossbow featuring a piston and a tube capable of loading five peanut candies or gumbo candies at a time. The machine then shoots the candies out to hit the target.

“We were kind of unorganized, but it’s kind of part of the charm of the device,” Fraser-MacDuff said.

Incorporating engineering into hands-on activities, PLTW has competed in the JPL challenge many times before, even scoring

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first place in the 2018 competition. Fraser-MacDuff attributed this year’s win to the team’s critical thinking skills, awareness of the timeframe and ability to stay on the simpler side.

“I think some people get so

caught up and try to come up with a novel idea that they don’t stop to think about an actual good idea,” Fraser-MacDuff said. “We were just kind of simple, we just thought ‘okay, what’s actually going to work.’”

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Staff Writers

Athena Barefoot, Laurel Cohn, Ryan Colvin, Addy Fiore, Emma Godfrey, Alisa Ignatenko, Sia Kresch, Leo Lucente, Koi Lerner, Eugene Naruse, Yaretzi Preza, Arata Sakamoto, Kamerin Shakir, Imani Toler, Hope Wang

Imani Toler / The Samohi

Imani Toler / The Samohi

The iconic entryway to the Rose Cafe on Venice Blvd. is adorned with a mural of multicolored roses.

Marae Cruce / Contributor

Donating a single pint of blood has the capacity to save three lives.

Imani Toler / The Samohi

SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton cuts a ribbon in the Exploration Building alongside Samo Principal Marae Cruce.

Samo ASB hosts annual UCLA blood drive

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.

[Left to right] Vincent Cheng (’25), Hayden Vukadinovich (’25), Noah Fraser-MacDuff (’25), Ellis Wheeler (’25), Ethan Cohn (’25), Steele Winterer (’25), Isaac Davies (’25) and Isabella Moneta (’25) were responsible for the winning device.

Protests in SM demand end to Gaza war

Eugene Naruse Staff Writer

On Nov. 29, hundreds of protesters, many carrying signs and Palestinian flags, gathered in front of Tongva Park near the Santa Monica City Council. Commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, a UN-designated observance day, protesters walked from the park to the Third Street Promenade, temporarily halting traffic and shoppers in the process. Ending their march in front of the Pier, multiple people from the event’s organizers, including the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) gave speeches in front of the iconic blue sign.

Noah Pust (’26), who serves as the president of the Samohi chapter of DSA, was one of the attendees at the protest.

“The protest was a beautiful thing and it was an event where the Los Angeles community really showed up,” said Pust. “At the protest, our focus was getting Los Angeles to see that we won’t stand for Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people and that we won’t be complicit in funding it. We called for an immediate end to US weapons aid to Israel, a ceasefire and the return of all Palestinians, some of whom are just children, unjustly imprisoned by Israel. The liberation of the Palestinian people, like any other marginalized group, is vital to the making of a better world for all.”

Coinciding with Black Friday, protesters also called for a boycott of shopping and consumerism, made clear by the chanted phrase, ‘While you’re shopping, bombs are dropping.” Stores with locations on the Promenade, including Nike, a company on the boycott list of the Palestinian Call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions [BDS] National Committee due to their ties to Israel, were the main targets of the protesters. The Palestinian Youth Movement also called for the cutting of ties with Maersk, one of the largest shipping and logistics companies in the world, for shipping “military cargo that facilitate Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people”, per their website.

Other phrases, such as “Long live the intifada” and “From the

river to the sea, Palestine will be free” are also comment chants at Pro-Palestinian Protests, some reportedly used at the Santa Monica protests.

The latest crisis erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, between Israel and Palestinian militants, when Hamas launched an assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip. The attack resulted in more than 1,200 deaths, primarily Israeli citizens, with more than 240 people taken as hostages during the attack and 63 currently remaining in Gaza. The conflict in Gaza began with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducting air strikes on the Gaza Strip in retaliation, followed weeks later by the incursion of ground troops and armored vehicles. By November 2024 more than 43,000 Gazans had been killed. While these figures are from the Hamas-controlled health ministry which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, these figures have been deemed reliable by the UN, and analysis by the UN Human Rights Office released in early November shows that close to 70% of verified victims were women and children.

Eli Tobel (’27), an active member of the Jewish community at Samo, discussed the impact of the pro-Palestine protests while acknowledging the complexity of the conflict and its impact on the community.

“Obviously, everyone should have freedom of speech and be able to say what they want and express their feelings, but I think when they’re mentioning things like the Intifada, personally I don’t think that’s very respectful, because if you’re looking at the historical meaning of that, the Intifada was a time when there many Jewish people killed. So calling to globalize that is essentially calling to murder Jews.”

The word “Intifada”, which translates to “rebellion” in Arabic, refers to two mass uprisings that started in 1987 and 2000 against the Israeli occupation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which was marked with heavy casualties on both sides. Escalating tensions saw Palestinian protests and riots, with harsh by Israeli military and police. Numerous acts of terror against Israeli civilians were also seen, specifically in a series of bombings throughout the country by

terrorist groups such as Hamas. While the intent of pro-Palestine protesters using the word in recent protests can be seen as a call for resistance against occupation, many in the Jewish community see the word as a sign of violence and terrorism against the community and Jewish institutions.

“I think the conflict has definitely divided a lot of people, maybe potentially making Jews feel isolated. Personally, I know people whose families have been divided and there’s been conflict because of that,” Tobel said. “On US aid to Israel, personally, I’m a supporter of Israel, but I do believe that the US spends too much tax dollars funding Israel. However, I believe that US aid and support to Israel should continue, because if you’re looking at the creation of Israel, a lot of why it exists today is because of the US and other countries’ support and that should continue, as Israel is surrounded by enemies. But I definitely understand why people are upset with the amount of aid being given and obviously there are a lot of people dying, so I hope it ends soon.”

Both individuals agreed on the need for a resolution to peace. “We believe in peace and the end to Israel’s brutal occupation. So many lives have been lost and we want to see an end to the bloodshed,” Pust said.

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Trump’s homelesss policy and Santa Monica

Athena Barefoot Staff Writer

On Jan. 20, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States, bringing significant changes to federal homelessness policies that could significantly impact communities like Santa Monica. Current policies, including rental assistance programs, housing vouchers and supportive housing initiatives set into place by the Biden administration, have aimed to provide temporary and permanent solutions for unhoused individuals. With these policies in place, the westside of Los Angeles County (including Santa Monica) saw a nearly 20 percent decrease in the total population of people experiencing homelessness, according to the Santa Monica Government.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), conducted a homeless count across Los Angeles in 2024 revealing a 6 percent decrease in Santa Monica with 826 people experiencing homelessness in 2023 and 774 in 2024. Santa Monica has implemented many new programs to address the issue of homelessness, including partnerships with the Los Angeles County Pathway Home program, which transitions individuals into interim housing. Along with this, the opening of The Laurel, a permanent supportive housing development, has provided a home and services to 57 formerly homeless residents. Santa Monica also supports nine outreach teams, offers 24/7 shelter referral services through first responders and has launched initiatives like the STEP Court program, which helps participants access housing and treatment. A citywide Homelessness Strategic Plan is in development and will be presented to the City Council in the new year.

Trump’s proposed policies emphasize more punitive ap-

proaches, including complete clearance of “tent cities”, and possibly ending the “housing first” model, which prioritizes providing shelter without preconditions. In Los Angeles and Santa Monica, local leaders like Mayor Karen Bass and Senator Ben Allen have worked to address homelessness with state funding and initiatives such as Project Homekey, which converts hotels and motels into housing. While Trump has previously criticized California’s homelessness strategies as failures, advocates worry his administration’s proposals could lead to reduced federal funding for such programs, potentially exacerbating challenges faced by unhoused individuals living in California. The added lack of confirmation from Trump on his plans for the homeless could leave homeless experts, advocates and people within the community at risk of significant change without warning.

Kamila Soto (’26) is the president of the Food on Foot

Club which is partnered with an already-existing organization [also called Food on Foot]. This club and organization supports the homeless population by supplying them with essential supplies such as food, water, toiletries and clothes. Soto believes that aggressive and more punitive approaches to dealing with homelessness are often more harmful than helpful.

“I think more aggressive attempts to remove homeless people, especially in densely populated homeless areas like Skid Row, is a very ineffective way to deal with the issue because they’re just going to come back. I know a lot of places that are very populated with homeless people and people will try to clear it out and ‘clean the street’ but then the next day, people will be back there setting up their things” Soto said. “So I just think the idea of going around the city and ‘cleaning the streets of homeless people’, is just not going to work and I think federal workers need to help the homeless population rather than just trying to throw them out.”

Arthemen Shakibaeian (’26), a Samo student who is passionate about the homelessness issue, has a different perspective, believing the homelessness crisis requires a tougher approach in order to make a difference on the streets.

“The cops don’t really care about it, they just go past them even though they see that homelessness could be dangerous to people. They could be high and acting aggressively against people but the police don’t necessarily take action towards it. Trump definitely has the possibility to change it, if he cares enough about it, he could change the most populated areas like LA. ” Shakibaeian said. “People that are always aggressive and using drugs every day should go to prison or a mental hospital and if they can’t get the issue fixed, they should stay there.”

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CA conservatives sue community colleges

Kamerin Shakir Staff Writer

California Community College students and professors have filed numerous lawsuits against the state’s higher education system, alleging the state’s liberal viewpoints are being forced on students and professors. The plaintiffs made claims over campuses forcing pronouns, taking down posters and alleged censorship for expressing conservative political beliefs on campus and in classrooms. The lawsuits argue that the various college’s suppressing reaction to their beliefs violates their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and equal protection under the law. Therefore, the cases have ig-

nited a statewide debate over the role of individual diversity and academic freedom at public universities. Many lawsuits against the higher education boards by professors and students arose from concerns about freedom of speech and bias in educational institutions. Many have argued that universities exhibit a liberal bias, vocalizing liberal ideas over others. Key reasons for the legal actions being taken include the belief that academic freedom is violated when professors cannot teach or discuss conservative perspectives. Claims of censorship or retaliation against those voicing conservative opinions further fuel the people’s decision to take legal action, for what they see as protection of their rights. Granted, some perceive the censorship of conservative students as valid due to the fact they believe the views they express could often be categorized as hate speech or violent incitement. One example of this can be seen in the refusal by many conservatives to use preferred pronouns. This is viewed by many of the aforementioned community colleges as a rejection of fellow students’ identities and thus could result in administrative blowback towards these conservative students.

These debates reflect broader societal conflicts about tolerance, freedom of expression, political diversity in academia and the role of educational institutions in fostering open dialogue.

Student activist Lucky Padraig-Basseri (’26) who advocates his political beliefs on social media, shares his opinion on why he believes these cases are a valid attempt at protecting the free speech of students.

“Universities should be open forums for discussion and debate, allowing political beliefs to be discussed outside the classroom in areas like the quad or clubs. For instance, Santa Monica Community College faced criticism for banning a Jewish club due to tensions with pro-Palestinian groups, highlighting the problematic nature of campus administration’s role in suppressing certain voices,” Padraig-Basseri said. “Academic freedom on campuses often feels restricted, as many ideas are suppressed, creating an artificial environment controlled by the administration.”

It is yet to be seen whether or not this phenomenon of lawsuits will continue throughout California.

Athena Barefoot / The Samohi

OPCC, Social Services on Cloverfield Blvd. which prvides care to the Santa Monica homeless population

Protestors march inside Santa Monica Place on Black Friday

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian

It’s time to let go of your passions

College is a looming threat facing many of Samo’s student’s right now, especially when it comes to choosing a major. What should you study? Should you follow your passion? But, what if your passion is art, a lifestyle previously known to be unstable, now at risk of being consumed whole by the internet. The question arises - is it worth it to risk it in hopes of fulfilling a dream? Not really.

Unfortunately, our society follows the idea that passion is everything. It is our purpose, our reason. Everyone says to follow your passion! But, why? If your passion is going to wear you down, force you into a situation in which you’re struggling to pay off extraordinary amounts of college debt, pay rent, pay for utilities, simply pay to be alive, why follow them? The arts, drawing, writing, painting, etc, are known for being exceptionally unstable. Those who pursue them in college face significantly high rates of unemployment or underemployment- meaning they don’t work full time and/or aren’t paid enough for training or financial needs. According to VisualCapitalist, liberal art majors have the second most

unemployment- at 7.9%- and 56.7% underemployment rate. Commercial art and graphic design, one of the most sought out art majors, still has a 6.0% unemployment and 33.7% underemployment rate. Simon Ashford (’25), an artist who has chosen to follow law and not his passion, discusses life as someone pursuing art.

“What I’ve learned is that it’s very hard to make it as an artist if you’re not born into a great deal of wealth,” Ashford said. “And it’s really only viable, as a career, if you have something else on the side, or if you’re really lucky…I know that this starving artist is kind of clique but I think there are some realities to that. It’s very difficult to have an income that’s solely based on art and it’s hard to tell what people want and how much people will pay you and generally how to deal with managing art.”

Not many people can enjoy art when you’re doing it to survive- following your passion should not be so heavily emphasized. People work for the purpose of survival, for a house, for running water, for food, not some kind of emotional fulfillment that might fizzle away over time.

Turning your passion into a job limits what you can create, especially in a workplace setting. It limits time, crunches hours into minutes and ultimately drains the artists. Even at a college level, worrying not of an actual

job itself, many art students lose passion for creating because of the harsh limits put upon them by the teachers. It’s almost like a curse- art students run to college with a bright future in mind, only to fizzle away, like a flame, as their burning passion turns to embers under the stress of making just one more piece. One more piece. Too little time.

“Not doing [art] all day definitely helps it be more of a comfortable space and something that I can go to when I’m not having a good day,” Ashford said. “Or when I’m bored or anything and it’s a nice distraction. I don’t know if people who are full time artists can have that same experience.”

But, this doesn’t mean passion should be completely overruled. Instead, one can turn their passion into a hobby- stretching it outside of a job. Unlike many other passions such as math or environmental science, the arts can easily be done outside of a job. At home alone, or in class- art can exist outside of a professional sphere. Not following your passion as a job does not mean giving it up. Free time exists. Find a job you’re at least alright with and draw, paint, write in your free time. Don’t make yourself suffer when you have more time.

The digital evolution of sexism

Addy Fiore Staff Writer

Why, in an era of supposed equality, does sexism still exist? Although awareness has been increasingly brought to sexism, it is far from being a relic of the past. Sexism has evolved and adapted with society. There are nuances to sexism, shifting from legal discrimination to more subtle forms like workplace bias, media stereotypes, and social norms that reinforce gender roles. A significant societal shift has been the rise of social media, which has played a role in amplifying sexism. Influencers like Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate have constructed “bro culture” which has allowed for the objectification of women and fostered sexist comments among young boys. Influencers like Tate have even gone as far to say, “women belong in the home and should be considered a man’s property” and “rape victims must bear responsibility for their attacks” What is even more shocking than the vulgar nature of these comments is how many people are not only consuming it, but

supporting it. Tate has 9.9 million followers and Rogan has 20 million followers across all platforms totaling approximately 30 million young men being influenced by these views, shaping their perceptions of gender roles, relationships, and ultimately perpetuating harmful stereotypes that hinder progress toward gender equality. Mabel Sharp (’27)reflects on this influence.

“Nowadays almost every kid is growing up on social media, so we should be even more aware. I grew up on social media as well, and I came to realize when I was older how insane some of the content I was watching is,” Sharp said. “People, especially younger people, don’t realize what they watch can subconsciously manifest into their own life. It’s true that you are what you believe in”

These objectifying comments exist beyond social media, making its way in the workplace and even influencing societal expectations. The online sphere of “bro culture” has also encouraged women to equate their beauty and self worth with external validation, often measured by likes

and comments.

A nuance of modern day sexism is the unrealistic beauty standard that women are being held to, influencing women to adhere to a specific body type and physical appearance. These expectations are reinforced through media and social media platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram. The consequences go far beyond mere insecurities, it can lead to anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. According to The Eating Recovery Center, A study showed that 46% of teen girls aged 13-17 claimed they felt worse about their body image due to social media exposure. All this being derived from deeply ingrained stereotypes and social norms that equate women’s worth with their physical appearance, instead of their worth being based on personality. Quality of character can’t be shown through a screen so women have been taught that their perceptions of themselves is based solely on their physical

Sexism persists not because society is

Social media, while amplifying voices for equality, has also perpetuated harm to many women’s self worth and harmful stereotypes. Only through education, awareness and action can society move closer to genuine equality.

beauty.

Koi Lerner Staff Writer

Art by Kayman Mangan

Art by Kayman Mangan

What South Korea’s crisis reveals about modern democracy

In less than 48 hours, on Dec.3, South Korea found itself under martial law by the order of President Yoon Suk Yeol — a turn of events almost unbelievable in its sheer surreality. Tanks rolled into the streets of Seoul and congress members scaled barricades to enter parliament, creating a dramatic spectacle of democratic collapse. The turmoil, which ended in a quick repeal of martial law amid overwhelming public protests and government opposition, exposed the fragility of South Korea’s democracy. And although overwhelming public disdain for President Yoon eliminates any immediate threats to the country, the line between democracy and authoritarianism has never been thinner.

Division both within the national assembly and public has set back South Korea to its 1970s military era when pro-democracy movements like the Gwanju uprisings were dismissed as “communist riots” and became excuses to carry out mass detentions, torture and extrajudicial killings. Of course, the catalyst for President Yoons rampage was an amalgamation of ongoing personal scandals, pushback on his proposed 69hour work week legislation (among other anti-union policies) and a lack of progress

on denuclearization with North Korea. This isn’t just about President Yoon or any single administration, though; it’s about the conditions that allow something as extreme as martial law to be deployed in a modern democracy.

Political polarization in South Korea has reached a breaking point, with both sides increasingly incapable of constructive dialogue, divided along ideological lines. As in the United States, the right has almost embraced authoritarian nostalgia while the left struggles to maintain ideological clarity.

Divisions over economics, foreign affairs and civil rights are exactly the kind of cracks fascists’, by the likes of President Yoon and Donald Trump, slip through — and we’ve seen it happen before. Fascism ultimately thrives in chaos and disillusionment, feeding on the public despair over systemic failures. In the United States, it’s undeniable we are living

in such insecure times: citizens are being stripped of fundamental rights, unable to financially sustain their families, and losing faith in institutions that are supposed to protect their welfare. Billions of taxpayer dollars fund a mismanaged healthcare system and administration, while the nation engages in unjustified military operations abroad. The far right is losing humanity, and has consequently normalized political violence, from state repression in South Korea to the Capitol riots in the United States. This is not a conscious embrace of fascism by its supporters however, but an unconscious reaction to the system’s dysfunction. People are angry, frustrated and crucially lacking the ideological tools to channel their rage productively. This is partly why — as even democrats admit — Trump was able to win the 2024 presidential election: he leveraged this anger to

HOTLB: What’s your holiday hot take?

strategically stir up voters. Even those who strongly identify with a party often, unknowingly contradict themselves. “Republicans” will openly decry for-profit insurance while voting for deregulation — a policy that only exacerbates the issue. The recent assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, however, is a case in which the shared anguish experienced by Americans, conquered this political polarization. Illustrated by the lack of sympathy for Thompson’s murder, most Americans can agree there must be some restructuring of the current for-profit healthcare system — even if this pressure campaign goes to extremes.

Violence, suppression and disillusionment are ultimately the tell-tale signs of a nation under risk of fascism. The apathy many — especially teens — feel towards politics does present the greatest threat to democracy. Relentless violence, an overload of information and an increasingly complex and intimidating media landscape is demoralizing after all. But to settle in this defeat is to remain stagnant as a people; we must find ways to radicalize ourselves healthily in order to constructively address the system’s flaws.

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As the holiday season has arrived, Samo students have endless opinions. In every busy hallway or crowded lunch table, you’ll hear debates over anything and everything festive - from the tastiest new holiday drink from Starbucks to arguments over the best Christmas movie. To avoid the overbearing stress of final grades, students can’t help hopping on the holiday train and discussing the controversial topics of the season with each other. Check out the video interviews of these students

Finals week... or my final week?

Finals week might be the most stressful period of time of a high schoolers career. From pulling all nighters to study to spending countless hours in the library. Is this stress worth it and should finals really be the deciding factor of how much you learned this year and how well you do in the class?

At Samo, the baseline is that finals are worth 20% of your grade. This puts an enormous amount of pressure on students at the end of the semester to recall everything they have learned over the past four and a half months from up to seven different classes. Studying for these tests can be highly demanding as organizing everything - tests, quizzes and assignments - from the past 80 days or so, is scary. Trying to cram and make sure you remember everything for one test that practically determines your grade in the class is unrealistic. Especially if the class is an Honors or AP, which means the material is more in-depth and usually covers more units throughout the semester than a non-AP or Honors. Michal Kalinowski, a physics and chemistry teacher

here at Samo, says that he does not believe in finals.

“I feel that the unit exams have enough information… I believe that it’s enough for me to gauge an accurate grade for the students, ” Kalinowski said.

Finals weigh heavily not only on students’ grades, but their mental health. November and December are some of the peak months for seasonal depression, and for many, the added stress of finals only exacerbate these feelings. Students also experience stress due to sleep deprivation, a common byproduct of last-minute studying. Insufficient sleep can lead to spiraling and negative thoughts, which can leave lasting impacts on student’s mental health and even affect their ability to perform well on the exams themselves. Veronika Brandt (’26) reflects on her men tality approaching finals week.

“It’s really just not worth the mental toll it takes… It’s also not just the stress of finals week itself but also the weeks leading up to it,” Brandt said. “So many teachers continue to assign work and introduce new topics even the week before exams, so you have to deal with learning this new material while there’s

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practically no time to study.”

Although finals seem unbearable, many teachers feel that they can justify finals being such a large part of grades. Things like the minimum F policy (which allows all assignments to be graded at least 50 percent, even if the student didn’t fully finish it) and test retakes give students the opportunity to raise their grades throughout the semester. Finals can also help students prove that they actually learned and understood the material if they haven’t been able to prove that earlier with tests and homework.

Despite the numerous forms of grade inflation, these dominant tests simply put too much pressure on students to recall everything they learned and compile it into one exam. At the end of the day, is it really worth it to continue assigning finals if it means piling unnecessary stress on students?

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sprinkles tastes. Except for the one’s from Bob’s, those are good.” - Oscar Verk (’25)

Aili Forster Editor-in-Chief

Laurel Cohn Staff Writer

Yaretzi Preza / The Samohi

Yaretzi Preza / The Samohi

Yaretzi Preza / The Samohi

Sara Javerbaum / The Samohi

Art by Kayman Mangan

Free Malaysia Times / Contributor

Thousands of South Korean citizens protest outside President Yoon’s office in the capitol on Dec.4, demanding his resignation amid impeachment efforts.

Yaretzi Preza Staff Writer

Festive fun... in the sun!

Leo Lucente Staff Writer

When people think of winter they often picture snowy streets, cozy firesides and layers of wool and cashmere. When you live in Los Angeles, winter looks a little different. While the East Coast and other parts of the U.S. might be covered in snow, with temperatures dropping well below freezing, LA winters have relatively warm weather, thus denying residents a true snowy winter experience. Despite this, LA certainly knows how to bring the holiday cheer from festive lights to outdoor ice skating and seasonal drinks. Even without snow, Southern California winter seasons have plenty of festive magic — without the chill.

One of the best ways to embrace winter is by enjoying a comforting drink. In LA, you may not need scarves and mittens to keep you warm but you can certainly rely on coffee shops seasonal drinks to keep your stomach cozy. Seasonal drinks from popular spots like Starbucks, La La Land and Dunkin’ Donuts allow you to enjoy a good day with drinks ranging from pumpkin spice lattes to peppermint mochas.

While you won’t find snow falling on the palm trees in LA, the Third Street Promenade offers the same festive mood with the display of dazzling lights. The streets and trees are decorated in

colorful decorations making it a good spot to go holiday shopping and enjoy the spirit of winter.

In places like New York, ice skating in Central Park is a classic winter activity. Here, you are able to enjoy the same experience with a twist. Ice at Santa Monica located just off the promenade at the corner of Arizona Avenue and 5th Street offers an unique opportunity to skate under the clear California sky.

Most importantly, the holidays are encapsulated by the feeling of spend ing time with family and friends. Snow or no snow, you don’t have to look farther than your household to get that true wintry, comfortable feeling of togetherness. Steve Yoon (’26) shares what brings his family together for the holiday festivities.

“Instead of making Christmas related foods, we make our own cultural foods together,” Yoon said. “Even though we live in the states, we usually make staples in Korea, like kimbap, bibimbap, kimchi stew and anything that we grew up eating to remember our culture and our home.”

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The psychology of coziness

Alisa Ignatenko Staff Writer

Now that the temperatures are dropping, have you noticed that you start gravitating towards your bed and living room couch more often? We all crave coziness at this time of year, but psychologically, why do we want to feel more at home during the winter months?

Cozy, tranquil, soothing, serene, snuggly — many words describe the state of contentedness that emerges from comfort and warmth. It’s that feeling you experience when you’re curled up inside on a rainy day, lost in a good

book, with a warm drink in hand. It’s the sensation of being safe and at peace, where the outside world fades away and your mind feels calm and at rest. This feeling, especially cherished during the colder months when outside time is compromised due to the cold, is something many people long for as the winter chill sets in.

When prioritizing positive, calming experiences over external stressors, there are a multitude of benefits. DK Therapy, a therapist organization in Chicago, addresses these.

“Feeling warm and cozy stands to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress,” the organization said.

“When your environment makes you feel safe and at peace, you’re more likely to experience feelings of self-compassion, increased selfworth, and a sense of gratitude for the things you have in your life,” the organization said.

Winter can bring a lot of stressors, especially for young adults. Finals, break plans and family can all be sources of tension. Stress can take a toll on physical health in much the same way it does on mental health. However, when we counteract that with calmness and comfort, our bodies respond in kind. Activities that make us feel cozy help encourage physical relaxation because they help our minds produce chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and endorphins which enhance the way we experience happiness. Healthline says practicing indulging in things that evoke warmth and coziness

can offer better sleep, more thorough self-care practices, reduced need for unhealthy coping strategies and fewer spikes of cortisol and other stress hormones.

So many holidays in the colder months, like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, tend to bring us closer to our family and friends. On top of having the ability to make us feel at peace, the concept of coziness also embraces a healthy social life and highlights connections with our loved ones. When one feels content, or even cozy, they’re more likely to reach out and spend time with loved ones. When we spend time with others, we tend to cope better with the stresses in our lives, feel more motivated, and experience fewer negative feelings. In turn, spending time with loved ones can help our brains produce oxytocin, the love chemical. In a way, the social benefits of embracing coziness help elevate the mood-boosting benefits of this lifestyle.

Creating a warm and cozy environment in your home presents an array of unique benefits that can make it easier to get through the colder months and thrive with closer relationships and more habitable space. To make your environment more cozy for yourself and your loved ones, try using warmer lighting, decorations for the holidays you celebrate, and lots of blankets. Embracing the art of coziness may very well implement lasting positive changes in your home, body and mind.

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Graphs & Data Collection by Emma Godfrey

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian

Comic by Kayman Mangan

Hygge: Finding cheer in simplicity

Arata Sakamoto Staff Writer

Hygge (hyoo-guh), a staple characteristic of Danish and Scandinavian culture, is the quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality synonymous with the holiday season. The Danish word does not have a direct translation to English. Luckily, there are plenty of resources to make sense of it.

Hugga, a sixteenth-century Norwegian term, means to comfort or console and is the derivative of the English word, hug.

Danish author Meik Wiking discusses hygge in his work, The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well, summarizing the word with ten ideals: atmosphere, presence, pleasure, equality, gratitude, comfort, togetherness, harmony, truce and shelter. In a nutshell, hygge is a lifestyle that prioritizes simple pleasures and family to create a warm, content environment.

“Hygge has been called everything from ‘the art of creating intimacy,’ ‘coziness of the soul,’ and ‘the absence of annoyance,’ to ‘taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things’ [and] ‘cozy togetherness’” Wiking said.

Hygge became a mainstream term in Santa Monica and across the US in the winter of 2016 and was added to the Oxford English Dictionary a year later in early 2017. Cookbooks, lifestyle articles and other media of the sort can be accredited to hygge’s rise in popularity. People started to

tag #hygge on Instagram posts of candles, fluffy socks and steaming hot chocolate. But sitting wrapped in a warm blanket and drinking a hot drink is as much holiday imagery as it is hygge. Hygge’s emphasis on family and social interaction seems to get lost in the American interpretation of the word.

Denmark currently ranks #2 in the World Happiness Report’s Happiness Index. Their high ranking can be accredited to, of course, factors like faith in government, social mobility and high GDP per capita, but hygge factors in as well. It makes sense why a concept such as hygge would come out of a country like Denmark: in Nordic countries, winters are long and dark as most winter days in Scandinavia get dark before 4 PM. Wiking points out that, for many, hygge is a survival strategy.

This belief may give an understanding as to why hygge blew up in the US around the winter of 2016. In the wake of a reality TV star and perpetrator of sexual assault winning the American presidency, people were left despondent. It can be speculated that in the same way Scandinavians use hygge to get away from their somber natural environment, Americans use it to get away from their depressing political environment.

Although hygge became popular for sharing “cozy-core” social media posts of users’ comforting environments, the lifestyle is about, most of all, family. Don’t let the aesthetic posts of hot cocoa and fluffy socks take away from the true meaning of the holidays. The fireplace is only as warm as the person sitting next to you.

“Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love,” Wiking said. “A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down.”

Have a hygge holiday season!

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Graphs & Data Collection by Emma Godfrey

DTLA debuts its first Christmas market

Sia Kresch Staff Writer

On Nov. 29, Downtown Los Angeles welcomed the Los Angeles Christmas Market for the first time. Themed as the bustling city of Germany, the market features festive holiday music, freshly baked food, treats and dozens of open-air booths.

Located on 777S Alameda St., the Los Angeles Christmas Market is open Wednesday through Sunday from 4 PM-10 PM until Christmas Eve, from 12 P.M.- 5 P.M. The market also offers easily accessible parking at ROW-DTLA which provides free on-site garage parking for the first two hours.

At the entrance of the Christmas market, customers receive a map displaying featured activities on the “Winter Wonderland” side and the “Downtown North Pole” side. The back of the map contains a scavenger hunt, where guests can locate and collect six different stamps and turn them in for a prize at the end of their experience.

On the Winter Wonderland side, customers could walk into an outdoor Christmas-themed movie, such as

Christmas Vacation. The Winter Wonderland side offers igloo passes to guests who want a more immersive experience. Those with igloo passes can attend a 90-minute igloo experience, featuring crafted drinks, bites and desserts. Compared to the normal market ticket prices which are $15 for early purchase, $20 for weekday admissions, and $27 for weekend admissions, the igloos range from a starting price of $180 to $380.

The North Pole side features Santa’s Special Visit, where guests of all ages can meet Santa Claus and take holiday pictures. The Downtown North Pole area also contained numerous food options, including cheese wheel pasta, chowder, apple cider, eggnog, hot cocoa, poffertjes (dutch batter cakes that resemble small pancakes), smoked salmon and more.

For example, the Los Angeles Tea Emporium is one of the many specialty booths the market offers on the North Pole. The shop features exclusive items to its Christmas Market brand, including exotic teas.

The booth is run by Sylvia Wignua, who has noticed positive sales for the booth and lots of Christmas joy from the customers.

“I love the market, it’s helped build the

Christmas spirit and assisted customers with holiday shopping,” Wignua said. “We have had a very positive response to being here, and I hope to return for the following years to come.”

Samo student Luca Donahue (’26), visited the market, immersing herself in the festive activities and trying the various traditional foods.

“I really enjoyed going to the market, I hadn’t been to anywhere like this before and it really put me in the festive spirit,” Donahue said, “I especially enjoyed the apple cider.”

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UBSUC vice president elected from Samo

Hope Wang Staff Writer

On Nov. 16, Aaliyah McGee (’26) was elected as the second Vice President of Southern California for the United Black Student Union, representing Samo on the USBC Board.

UBSUC is a platform for Black students all across California, which is divided into three regions: Northern, Central, and Southern. McGee is a part of the Southern region, where many high schools gather for conferences, workshops, and networking events. The board members are responsible for organizing these events, reaching out to colleges for space and speakers, and providing resources such as scholarships and internships for students.

As the Black Student Union (BSU) vice president, McGee is ready to fully participate in this commitment. She said she has always been a fan of fostering community and found this to be an opportunity to make a change.

“I wasn’t going to run at first, but when I realized no one else from my school was running, I thought, ‘Let me just give it a shot,’” said Mcgee. McGee’s extensive involvement in extracurricular activities has thoroughly shaped her leadership journey. She is a member of the Samo orchestra, cheer and Girl Scouts.

Additionally, she organizes an annual event called “Our Girls Rock,” which hosts workshops and seminars on college and career readiness for girls of color. These experiences have deeply shaped her desire to bring diversity and inclusivity into more spaces.

“In a lot of the extracurricular activities I’ve been part of, there’s a lack of diversity, and that made me want to help create a place where people like me can feel seen,” said McGee. “We’re a diverse community, and we shouldn’t cap our future at being in certain career fields, a lot of the times people categorize us like hobbies or activities that you’re supposed to like or do.”

McGee’s victory was hard and well-earned; running against two other candidates. McGee said run -

ning up against the two candidates felt pressuring, but ultimately was an inspiration to keep fighting for the win. Her message of inclusivity, empowerment and plan of action, resonated with her audience, earning her this amazing role. McGee expressed a mix of pride and responsibility when reflecting on her win.

“It means a lot because Samo has always been a member of the UBSUC Southern Region board. I’m making the people who came before me proud,” said McGee.

As she looks ahead to her term, McGee is eager to bring new opportunities to students, such as connecting local organizations with UBSUC. She plans to take a strong sense of action, ready to inspire through her strong leadership skills and connect deeply with her community. Her strong sense of self reflects her desire to make a difference and leave her community with lasting impacts.

Winter trends never “seam” to

Winter is here and the Samo students are unveiling their looks for the season. The Instagram account “@samofashionweek” proves as a great source of what is on the rise for winter fashion at Samo. It documents multiple pictures of students’ outfits throughout each season. One of the anonymous faces behind the account said they admire the different styles around campus.

“Samo is very diverse, so in turn, we see so many stylistic outfits around campus. Our account features the outfits of people who aren’t afraid to show up to school in a fun outfit,” said @ samofashionweek.

Despite the originality of each outfit, a couple of staple pieces have been spotted being worn by students. Timelessness, coolness and rugged charm are flaunted across campus with oversized leather jackets and big wooly scarves to keep warm. @samofashionweek’s consensus was that scarves were essential for surviving Samo winter.

The overall theme of this 24-25 school year is a revival of the early 2000’s. The account features a lot more boots being worn daily, skinny jeans and fur-lined jackets. Earlier @samofashionweek’s posts show us the running trend at Samo with a more casual look. Instead

Small acts make big impacts

Hope Wang Staff Writer

As the holiday season approaches, one thing students can agree on is the importance of giving back. Volunteering is a way to give back to the community, by helping others or making a positive impact no matter how small., offering a meaningful opportunity to help others and make a positive impact on the community. Nevertheless, there are plenty of opportunities for getting involved. Here are some great places to volunteer and make the most of your winter break!

Located in West LA, Wags and Walks is dedicated to advocating for at-risk dogs, particularly bully breeds, medical dogs, and mothers and puppies. Volunteers will assist with dog care, socialization, and adoption events, helping these animals find loving homes.

Volunteers at the Santa Monica History Museum can guide tours, help with research, raise funds for the museum, and digitize photos. They can take on a variety of roles, from guiding tours to helping with research, fundraising, and even photo digitization. Most positions require a 3-6 hour commitment per week, with provided training. Volunteering here offers a unique opportunity to learn about Santa Monica’s history while contributing to the community.

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end at Samo

of jackets, there were more hoodies, instead of boots, there were more sneakers and crocs. An essence of polished and effortless chicness has infiltrated Samo grounds.

While walking through the halls, scrolling through the @samofashionweeks grid, or simply asking them ourselves students agreed that scarves are the essential piece for winter at Samo. Lulu Poretta, (’27) said she noticed a lot more self-expression among students through their clothes by choosing different styles.

“I’ve seen a lot of people basing outfits around their mood, like wearing more flashy and flattering things when they’re happy. If someone is in a dull mood, they take more inspiration from the ’90s with baggy jeans and shirts,” said Poretta.

“I want to inspire students, especially those at Samo, who might not feel seen or represented, to come out and participate…I have a lot of ideas, but now I finally have the chance to stand up and make them happen,” said McGee. thesamohinews@gmail.com

The Teen Talk App is another great way to get involved, volunteers are able to provide peer support for other teens facing mental health challenges. Teen Talk is a remote opportunity, allowing for flexible hours. Volunteers receive professional training and guidance, all while making a difference in their peers’ lives.

Another great opportunity is to take advantage of cleaning up beaches. Living so close to the Santa Monica Beach is a great way to assist with beach cleanups around Santa Monica and help protect the oceans from pollution. Though it’s a long process, the beaches can change from a beach full of microplastics and trash to a cleaner environment, safe for people and animals.

Aaliyah McGee / Contributer

Aaliyah McGee (’26) is one of the students who ran for Vice President and is grateful for her win.

Alisa Ignatenko Staff Writer

Meleja Horlick (’25) is one of the students showing off their fashion to the Instagram.

The overall theme of this 24-25 school year is a revival of the early 2000’s.

Sia Kresch / The Samohi

The Christmas Market brings props made up of Christmas lights amongst the North Pole and the Winter Wonderland side.

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian / The Samohi

Santa Monica History Museum / Contributor

Samofashionweek / Contributor

Arts and Entertainment

Rising Freshmen Win DTASC Acting Competition

Samo emerges victorious out of 32 hundreds of students, at the Drama Teacher’s Association of Southern California (DTASC) Festival. On Nov. 9 Calliope Kirschbaum (’28), Sage Moore (’28), Alexandra Ornelas (’28) and Lea Zakharia (’28) took first place in the Female-Centric category. The event allows Drama groups across Southern California to meet and compete against one another. Each of the four girls feels especially proud of their performance of “Dance Nation” by Claire Barron.

Since the age of six Kirschbaum has been passionate about musical theatre. She has performed in a multitude of musicals at her middle school, Santa Monica Playhouse and Santa Monica’s Morgan Wixson Theatre. The opportunity to act in “Dance Nation” was her first non-musical performance. The experience has made her eager to pursue more of these straight-acting roles as she grows as an actress. Feeling accomplished of the work she did relating to her character and of the dedication and collective effort of the group, Kirchbaum reflects on their win.

“I’m so incredibly proud of all of us and all the work that we did, I cannot believe we won!” said Kirchbaum.

Entertaining a multitude of audiences in a diverse range of performances, Moore has also been acting since childhood. She has appeared in commercials, films, short films and musicals including many at her middle school. Preparing for and performing “Dance Nation” has taught her new ways to approach a script and a role. Enthusiastic to take on future

characters, Moore thinks on how this experience is motivating her.

“We didn’t know what to expect, but we had created such a bond that when we won it was like wow, this is something bigger than we thought it could be.” said Moore. “It was really rewarding because it confirmed that our hard work had paid off and we are where we should be.”

For Ornelas what started as a hobby, acting in her school musicals, is beginning to shape her as a person and her high school years. Seeing her peers get involved in larger acting roles inspired her to immerse herself more deeply into acting. Participating in a scene with a main role in DTASC gave her the opportunity to come out of her shell and fully commit to her character. She feels extremely validated to be selected for DTASC and win the honors that she did, as her growth as an actress is certainly showcased by it.

“I’ve realized that when I’m on the stage I’m the happiest. Acting and this opportunity has really shown me how to present myself, put myself out there and has made me so much more confident” said Ornelas.

This accomplishment has also deeply strengthened Zakh-

aria’s confidence. Acting since a very young age, she has always been drawn to the performing arts and has appeared in a couple of short films. Zakharia fully embraced her character, spending hours of practice memorizing lines, understanding her character’s relationships with others and figuring out what she was feeling and thinking in each scene.

“I want to go more into acting and I’m hoping to become an actor someday, so this is really a milestone, it’s a big thing to win so I’m very happy” said Zakharia.

Another key part that contributed to the group’s win was the support they received for their performance from their director and acting coach for the scene, Gina Oster. Oster gave the group significant room to grow when preparing for their performance. She assisted them in blocking and directing scenes and finding their characters. Additionally teaching them along the way about DTASC and the performance they were going into, so in the future they would be able to take even more responsibility in directing their scene. Each girl felt that

Oster created a welcoming, warm and comfortable environment for them to really get out of their comfort zones and perform to their greatest potential.

For their impressive performance, they have been awarded the DTASC Scholarship. All four girls will represent DTASC, performing “Dance Nation” at the California State Capitol on March 12, 2025. There they will promote the arts by performing their scene to legislatures. As Samo’s first win of this honor, this great accomplishment highlights the exceptional talent, passion and dedication of

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Samo Orchestra Article

Ryan Colvin Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Samo Orchestra held their annual winter concert in front of a sold out Barnum crowd. Crowned by fake snow machines, Santa hats and festive lights projected across the walls, the near three hour show doubled down on the entertainment factor this time around. All seven of Samos orchestras were and played a minimum of two pieces each, ranging from movements by distinguished composers such as Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Georges Bizet to Christmas classics such as “The Christmas Song” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Symphony violinist Nathan DeBeech (’25) weighs in further on what separates Samo from other high school orchestra programs. “It really shows how large our orchestra program is, which is not a common highschool thing,” DeBeech said. “Most orchestra programs are significantly smaller, even in college you won’t have as many orchestras in a single arrangementhere it is the Samohi Orchestra Program and it’s pretty cool to see just how many pieces we can play and produce.”

The night kicked off with performances from the combined String and Concert Orchestras. Sinfonia then added on three pieces of their own, the last of which introduced the show’s holiday theme in the form of “Winter Solstice” by Todd Parrish. Intermezzo followed up with the critically acclaimed “Symphony No. 29” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart before transitioning into the Concert Orchestra for the last acts before intermission.

The student-led group’s rendition of “Serenade for Strings, O. 48” produced vibrant rounds of applause in the audience to cap off the first half of the show. After the break, Philharmonic produced one of the highlights of the concert, conquering all five movements of Georges Bizet’s “Carmen Suite No. 1,” derived from one of the most famous classical operas of the 19th and 20th centuries. Symphony finished off a truly special night with two massive productions of 17 and nine minutes respectively, before putting the star on the

tree with their annual performance of “Sleigh Ride.” Aerin Lee (’25), concert master of Samo’s top orchestra, explains why it remains the defining moment of their most unique yearly concert.

“Winter concerts are special to me just because they’re more interactive with the audience,” Lee said. “We play more classical repertoire than we would for the fall concert, but for this one you pull tickets and instead of winning prizes you can go on stage during Sleigh Ride and conduct, play the sleigh bells and the clappers… I think it’s really fun that way, and more special.”

The song was certainly a special moment. With every performer sporting Santa hats, each section surprised the audience with their own unique addition; the first violins hitting their bows together along with the clapper, the violas covered in Christmas lights and more. Accompanied by the raffle winners on stage, Symphony orchestra left a heartwarming ring resonating through Barnum Hall as the crowd passed through blizzards of fake snow surrounding the exits. Lee reflects on a night that she believes all orchestras should be proud of.

“We were a little nervous because we were very ambitious with what pieces we were planning on playing, but I think it was really good and I was super happy with our performances,” Lee said. “That was also the most fun I’ve had playing Sleigh ride - it’s nice that I had the most fun when it’s my last year doing it.”

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Ryan Colvin/ The Samohi Samo’s Intermezzo orchestra performing Mozart’s “Symphony No. 29” on Dec. 10, 2024, at the annual winter concert in Barnum Hall.

Alexandra Ornelas, DTASC winner. Sage Moore, DTASC winner.

Calliope Kirchbaum, DTASC winner.

Lea Zakharia, DTASC winner.

Ryan Colvin Staff Writer

Emma Godfrey/ The Samohi

Emma Godfrey/ The Samohi Emma Godfrey/ The Samohi

Emma Godfrey/ The Samohi

“Wicked”ly Overhyped: A stage-to-screen slump

Jon M. Chu’s long-awaited adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked” was supposed to be a dream come true for fantasy fans everywhere. While the film had a few redeeming qualities– the set design and vocal talent were certainly impressive–the movie was a major disappointment. Clocking in at nearly three hours and with a budget of $150 million, “Wicked” was oversaturated with color and misplaced energy. The film was poorly executed as a whole; Ariana Grande’s performance as Glinda felt as artificial and overdone as the special effects, the plot derivations were confusingly political and not well elaborated upon. The best part of my movie watching experience was leaving the theater.

Set in the pretext Victor Fleming’s “Wizard of Oz”, “Wicked” brings a nearly 20-year production run of a beloved musical to the big screen. While anticipated by theater enthusiasts everywhere, from a critical perspective, the movie was as bumpy and forever-winding as the yellow-brick road. The movie added seemingly random plot points to the already fabricated prequel that “Wicked” is. While the original musical was at least based off books, the movie takes the setting and characters and adds obscene elements such as classism against animals; essentially giving more depth to a musical about two friends fighting over a boy. Rather than

coming across as intellectually stimulating, it adds corny controversy to a fantastical land takes away from the ditsy aspects of “Wicked” fans have grown to adore. “Wicked” should have taken an approach more wsimilar to “Hamilton”, simply recording a Broadway performance and putting it on streaming platforms; the dignity the franchise once had would still be prevalent, and there still would be some $145 million dollars to fund genuine creatively-capable films.

beauty and leaving nothing but a grotesque overuse of CGI and not-so-special effects. With the entire movie looking like a color wheel on steroids, the supernatural feel was almost as visually unsetting as the unnatural state of Ariana Granda and Cynthia Erivo’s bodies.

This film was a perfect example of why films should have a cap on budgets. A major aspect of both the original “Wizard of Oz” and stage-products is the creative use of space and sets; with the original movie being filmed in the 1930s and theater everywhere not having the advantage of movie “magic”. Yet, “Wicked” took the world of Oz by storm, dare I say tornado, sweeping the nostalgia and understated

The “Wicked” press tour left almost everyone who followed it at an uncomfortable loss for words. With both co-stars bursting into tears at conversation starters, viewers everywhere are left wondering what exactly happened during the filming process of “Wicked”. Grande and Erivo have undergone rapid weightloss since the beginning of production, now, rather looking the part of wonderful witches, they’ve quickly become reminiscent of sickly scarecrow. Copious amounts of speculation on the matter has flooded the internet about a sort of competitive anorexia between the two. Both actresses are already tiny, both being 5’1, whatever is happening behind the scenes is extremely dangerous, making the watching experience as if I went to see a psychological horror film- not a heartwarming musical.

Whether it was treacherous timing or the corny commercials, my hopes walking into the theater were as shockingly small as Grande and Erivo. Leaving the cinema was no better, having wasted a Saturday evening observing the speculation that was “Wicked”: comedic catastrophe, pitchy vocals and what looked like a period piece about fantasy famine.

A Night of Motion: Samo Choir’s ‘Motus Perpetuus’

On Dec. 13, 2024, the Samo choir delivered a crowd of over 1,000 the cascading melodies of “Motus Perpetuus” for the 18th year running. Translated as “Perpetual Motion” in English, this annual winter concert tradition presents a beautifully unique listening journey. e performers continue to move throughout the performance, making their way across each walkway, up to the mezzanine and even out onto the foyer in an e ort to provide a surround sound experience. While a multitude of pieces are performed, it can be seen as more of a compilation; the audience is asked to hold their applause until the nal song concludes, providing the breathing space for each moment to ebb and ow into the next. In preparation for the show, Catherine Chun (’25) explained what makes Motus such a gratifying experience.

“Motus is pretty special since, in my opinion, it’s the rst ‘real’ concert that I get to have with the choir,” Chun said. “Every year, the ensembles change due to promotions and graduating seniors and the like, so you don’t really know how your group is going to sound when it all comes together. I’m looking forward to making new music, and for motus to kind of set the scene for it.”

As soon as the lights dimmed for the rst time it was clear that the choristers had settled into their new ensembles. e show opened with charming performances from Samo’s student-led groups, Barbershop, Beautyshop, Valkyries and Testosterones before transitioning into the o cial program. As soon as Motus began, the mood shi ed and remained

consistently hypnotic until the nal applause. Purple, blue and yellow lights danced across the venue, illuminating the various sections of stage and walkway that were occupied by

the ensembles. For songs such as “How Can I Keep From Singing?” by Gwenyth Walker, Samohi Chorale was joined by various middle school ensembles from JAMS, Lincoln and SMASH; other pieces featured guest musicians, including Gregory Gee (’25) on Cello, Marco Sung (’25) on Trumpet, Charlotte Moss (’25) on French horn, and many more talented Samo students. is wide range of instruments provided the backbone for a night with a truly diverse spectrum of music. Madrigals ensemble member Alma Street (’25) re-

ects on how their setlist was brought to life on Friday night. “I didn’t like our pieces with other instruments very much until I actually heard them with the instruments - It really brought the pieces together,” Street said. “My favorite piece that we performed was ‘Divi Sirmi Kumeliņi’ and it really came together once we heard it with the drum. While rehearsing it we always just had to wait in silence until our next entrance so it was cool to hear it lled in nally.”

“Divi Sirmi Kumeliņi,” a traditional Latvian piece, de ned the night better than any other song; laced with intense percussive grooves and an odd time signature that alternated between 7/4, 3/4 and 4/4, the track was a perfect example of the creativity and cultural appreciation on display. roughout the night, songs were played that represented the likes of Ireland, France, and more– as well as a variety of di erent religions.

By the end of the program’s concluding song “No Time,” the audience around me was struggling to hold back their applause. e show came to an o cial close a er former Santa Monica mayor Phil Brock conducted the Samo Hymn of Praise with all choir students and alumni on stage. Street was proud for this to have been her last ever Motus Perpetuus. “I had so much fun at the concert and it was very special for me as a senior because it was my last winter concert,” Street said. “ ere’s always stress before the concert because we don’t get to run through the whole show with instruments and placements until the night before, but it always works out and comes together.”

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Muddled Moana: Yet another recent Disney dud

Kamerin Shakir Staff Writer

Moana and her village are back for a new adventure in the newly released sequel. It has been over seven years since the directors of Moana, Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand, David Derrick Jr. took fans on a thrilling adventure with her demigod pal Maui (Dwayne Johnson). In the recent sequel released Nov. 24 Voice actor Auli’i Cravalho (Moana) faces fresh challenges as she ventures into uncharted waters, both literally and figuratively. “Moana 2” captures the liveliness of the first film, while also introducing new characters and new songs fans will love to add to their playlist. Moana’s growth into a young adult, leader and protector of her people is also newly introduced and heavily conversed about. Fans of the original will find plenty to love in this heartwarming continuation of the movie , but “Moana 2” simply doesn’t live up to the groundbreaking legacy it’s prequel left. In the film, Moana is not only now a teenager but a big sister to Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), whose feisty nature and determination resembles Moana more than ever. Moana is now the sole leader of her island and is faced with a heart wrenching challenge that could decide the fate of her entire island; she is attempting to break the curse on the lost island of Motu Fetu. This time breaking the curse will need more than just Moana, She has a crew supporting her with various skills and talents. The sequel provides a new series of accom-

panying characters to help Moana in her Journey, but whether or not they were fillers or fulfilling to the plot is debatable. Moni (Hualalai Chung), one of Moana’s new pals, who knows all about the legends and lore, will surely tell the tale of Moana’s journey for years to come. Moni was painted as the perfect boy for Moana, but isn’t made her love interest, a typical Disney move. It felt like a missed opportunity from Disney, and quite honestly made that subplot of the film disappointing. Thus, bringing up the conversation of whether or not Disney is releasing sequels purely to stay relevant. Pixar recently dropped “ Inside out 2” which shows the protagonist Riley (Kensington Tallman) coming of age, they include relevant topics for teens such as anxiety, depression, envy and more. The inclusion of relevant teen problems added contrast to the movie and really conveyed the “coming of age” message- yet, Disney fails to do the same. It seems like sticking to the repetitive “kid friendly” movies is only showing Disney’s lack of diversity in more mature

topics. This might be Disney’s attempt at straying from the reputation of female protagonists always having a romantic interest, though it seems to allude to the contempt that inorder to display successful women they must be single, which is one-dimensional and untrue. Speaking of dimensions, Disney fans have long asked for a revert to 2D animation types and new storylines, rather than give fans what they want, Disney continues to deliver sloppy seconds. Even after being bought by Disney, Pixar pumps out more authentic sequels and content overall. “Moana 2” was yet another sad sequel that Disney likely produced as a license to print money- not a genuine continuation of a once dignified story of female empowerment.

Ryan Colvin/ The Samohi

Max Kehoe Arts and Entertainment Editor

Samo Chamber Singers performing “Tuttarana” at the 18th annual “Motus Perpetuus” in Barnum Hall.

Ryan Colvin Staff Writer

New beginnings for girls soccer: New league, new coach

Imani Toler Staff Writer

Last year, the Samo girls soccer team had a successful season, advancing into the first round of CIF playoffs with an overall record of 9-9-2 and .500 winning average. The team, which finished fifth in the Bay League last season, fought hard in their final match against Harvard Westlake which resulted in a 0-4 loss, eliminating them from the CIF playoffs. This season, after moving from the

Bay League to the Ocean League, the team is focusing on readying their newer players with help from Coach Jason Daglis, a new coach this season, as well as Coach Alyssa Pazzi.

“Many of our younger players have had to step into new roles on varsity, which has given us a chance to form a new identity as Coach Pazzi and I look to build our team culture. Tactically, the girls have been working hard to solidify a strong midfield to help us create more scoring opportunities,” Daglis said.

The loss of 12 seniors last year has given the team an opportunity to improve newcomers, as said before; Coach Daglis points out some players that he expects to excel this season.

“Bella Santiago (’25) and Piper Forsyth (’25) are two talented seniors who have been the anchors to the program. Drew Sievers (’25) doesn’t shy away from tackles and has great field awareness. Poppy Carr (’25) has already done an amazing job for us as our goalie and Mia La Palm (’25) has stepped up as an important playmaker. LB Caldwell (’26), Nyla Ryf (’26), and Dani Lira (’27) will also make a strong impact this season,” Daglis said.

The Vikings have been fairly consistent in earning their spot in the CIF playoffs throughout the years, and want to continue that streak this season. Players and coaches alike have high hopes for the season and team captain Piper Forysth (’25) shares her thoughts on preparations for upcoming games.

“To improve for our next games, I think we would both play better with a longer warm up and a faster start in the first 15 minutes of the first half,” Forsyth said.

So far, the first home game of the season resulted in a loss of 0-2 against Cleveland High School on Dec 6th. The team currently stands at 1-3-1 record, with the next game for the girls being on Jan. 6th against Inglewood High School.

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Samo wrestling ready to pin their competition this winter season

Liam Sauer News Editor

The Samo co-ed wrestling team has begun their long anticipated season, currently standing evenly with three dual-meet wins and losses against their rivals in Bay League and two tournament placements. Led by Coach Jason Mun, boys team captains Raden Madley (’25) and Frederick Ekberg (’25) and girls team captain Maia Baker (’25), the team is confident that this season will be a success for the program.

In the season prior, many of the varsity wrestlers received season ending injuries that significantly affected the performance of the team which had in past years, received very high places in competition with their Bay League rivals.

Mun is convinced that due to the numerous seniors providing leadership, that this season could be much different.

“Okay, so last year, we didn’t have that many seniors. We only graduated, like four kids,” Mun said. “What’s cool about this team is, aside from like three starters in the lineup, the rest of the team came back.”

Mun went on to explain the positive impact he is seeing these seniors and specifically his team captains, are having on younger wrestlers in the room.

“We have a lot of really dedicated members of the team. The community is really strong. Everyone’s so friendly with each other,” Baker said. “I think that, like in terms of how strong we are in wrestling, I think that our varsity team will do really well.”

Wrestling, though a group with a successful record at Samo, having placed countless students into the CIF playoffs, is an obscure sport to many students. Mun believes that if students would take some time to see the team in action, they would really appreciate the sport and could even possibly be inspired to join the program.

“When students hear the word wrestling, they don’t really know what it is. I think a lot of them, while they may not necessarily understand the rules, they would realize it’s pretty exciting. It’s two young men or two young women, basically in a controlled fight and it’s as close as you’re gonna get to like a combat sport and in high school athletics,” Mun said. “Especially for the younger kids, hopefully they like it and they become interested and maybe they will try it.”

The wrestling team will have its first on campus dual-meet against Peninsula High School on Jan. 9th at 3:30. The team also holds a club open to elementary and high school students every Monday and Wednesday at 4:30 in the wrestling room.

In addition to this solid leadership, Baker, the girls team captain, also pointed out the community spirit and work of her fellow athletes that is helping shape the team to improve ever further this season.

“It’s been helpful. They’re good kids on and off the mat. They’re getting good grades. They’re good with the younger kids setting a good example. They work hard,” Mun said. “They’re the ones [the captains] that are going to be leading the warm ups at tournaments and making sure that everyone is warmed up properly in the evening and that sort of thing.”

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A new season brings a fresh energy to girls water polo

On Nov. 14, the Samo girls’ water polo team officially entered their 2024-2025 season. Although the girls ended with a 9-14 overall record and a 2-6 record in league last year, they are eager to build on their momentum from a 8-1 win against Culver City, which capped off their season.

Since then, the team has worked to rebuild their team after a loss of a lot of their graduated seniors. Despite these changes in players, the team’s focus remains the same: to compete and improve at the highest level possible. Last year, the team prioritized their communication during games and overall awareness while in the pool, specifically working to improve their shooting strategies. Coach Matthew Flanders prioritizes keeping a forward mindset while directing girls towards their goals this season.

“Last year was last year. It is in the rear view window. I am all about the present,” Flanders said. “Our goals are always to win league and CIF and we will be focusing on the fundamentals of play to get there.”

So far, girls’ water polo has played five games this season with three losses in total, earning their first win on Dec. 4. Despite the early losses, the team stays committed to their growth. Serena Wu (’25), reflects on the importance of keeping a calm and steady mindset during stressful games.

“The teams we’ve gone up against so far are in higher divisions than us, so we’re definitely all feeling a bit anxious and nervous… In those moments, we just make sure to check in with each other and speak with our coaches to settle ourselves before games,” Wu said.

Ultimately, the girls are awaiting what’s to come this season and are ready for their upcoming game at Culver City on 1/7 with a clear focus on teamwork and perseverance.

“We’re trying to go into this season strong. We need to stay open minded and confident even if we’re going against difficult teams,” Wu said. “It’s really about staying positive and believing in ourselves as a group and making sure we are constantly communicating with each other.”

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Claire Harrison Opinion Editor

Goalkeeper, Poppy Carr (’25), makes a jumping save on Samo’s first scrimmgae of the season against Marymount on 11/20.

Arata Sakamoto (‘26) breaking down a South Torrance wrestler.

Claire Harrison / The Samohi Girls waterpolo player Catherine Morgan-Chun (’25) pushes away from her defense, keeping the ball safe against El Segundo High School on 11/19.

Oliver Moss / Contributor

Oliver Moss / Contributor

LB Caldwell (’26) takes a touch after being played a ball in the air from a teammate in their scrimmage against Marymount on 11/20.

Boys’ soccer with dominant start on return to CIF journey

The Samo boys’ varsity soccer team finished last season with an overall record of 9-10-1 and a league record of 4-6, ultimately falling short of qualifying for CIF playoffs. This season, however, the Vikings have started off strong and are well on their way to maintaining a positive record. As of Dec. 15, the Vikings are 5-1. Head coach Chris Sandoval (’16) has his eyes set on glory this winter, hoping for a successful playoff run come February.

“The expectation for this year, especially with having an experienced group with a lot of seniors is to make it as far into playoffs as possible, but while doing so, making sure to finish league off strong,” Sandoval said.

Before the Vikings can think about post-season success, they need to first succeed in league play, which has yet to start. This season, the Vikings are competing in the Ocean League for the first time since the winter of ’19’20, after spending a four-year stint in the Bay League. Along with a change in scenery, the team has also lost 14 of last year’s seniors, including star forward Atreyu Lucas (’24) who put forth nine goals and three assists during his graduating season. Current senior Miguel Cano (’25) seems to be filling that void so far, scoring five goals and providing two assists through the Vikings’ first six games. In addition to Cano, the ’24-’25 roster appears to have players all across the board to fill in for the team’s former stars.

“There are a lot of players to look out for this season. We have Gabriel Sherman (’25) who is a Division I committed player going to Cal State Fullerton, Deacon Miller (’26) who is the first junior captain in well over ten plus years, Pedro Duarte Silva (’25), who is a

third-year varsity goalie, we have so much experience,” Sandoval said.

After missing out on playoffs last year, Sandoval is banking on these experienced players to take the Vikings back to the glory they so nearly achieved just two seasons ago.

“There was a big disconnect that [last] season between what the experienced guys wanted to do within the season and [what] the expectations were,” Sandoval said. “A lot of the boys on the team have experienced the highs of the program, like making division two semifinals and state quarterfinals, as well as not making playoffs last year- they’ve experienced both sides and understand what it takes to succeed.”

The Vikings’ turnaround this season hasn’t come out of the blue, but rather has been achieved through a combination of hard work and comradery. The squad has been training consistently since summer, improving technically on the field and gaining chemistry along the way. Midfielder Felipe Martini (’25) believes that this time has been beneficial for the team.

“Having so much time to train, especially since we train throughout the year, we’ve become a very good team together,” Martini said. “We play together well, we know each other well, we know what everyone likes to do and how they play - people know where to pass the ball and what to do.”

This strong sense of chemistry has been and will continue to be the Vikings’ backbone this season and this comes

as no surprise to Sandoval, who has aimed to instill a holistic approach amongst the squad.

“My biggest coaching philosophy is, person first, player second, which is why our group is a lot more well-connected than previous seasons,” Sandoval said.

The Vikings have four matches this week – they will face off at Animo Leadership and Centennial respectively on Dec. 15 and Dec. 18, before competing in the South Holiday Classic Tournament on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21.

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Returning starters look to lead boys’ basketball to postseason

In the 2023-2024 season, the Samo boys’ basketball team finished their year strong, ending with a 16-13 record overall. A 4-6 record in the league allowed them an at-large playoff bid in the CIF-SS playoffs. Seeded against a tough Westlake team, the Vikings fought hard until they were eliminated with a final score of 71-49 in the first round of playoffs.

Entering the new season, Samo strives towards a new goal of playing more deep into the playoffs, hoping for a CIF championship.

With the return of three starting players, Jaylen Smith (’25) and Xavier Seldon (’25), and captain Brenton Banister (’25 ) they look to use their returning experience and gain leadership through the squad. As head coach James Hecht looks to return for his 31st year coaching Samo, he shares his

thoughts about his goals going into the season.

”Our goals for the season is to work to be the best team we can be collectively and try to get a little better every day. Hopefully, our seniors can use their experience, leadership, and mentorship to be an extension of the coaching staff on the court. We want to play on the last day of the season, and we have a lot of work ahead of us trying to keep the mindset of trying to get better every day,” Hecht said.

With the new season, Samo looks to face new opponents in a different league this year. Due to annual realignment, leagues in California shift to ensure equal balance in competition, allowing each school a fair shot at playoffs. The Vikings look to compete for an Ocean League champion -

ship with the new league, which would put them in a good position for the CIF playoffs. Brenton Banister (’25) a returning starter, has the team’s future set bright, winning a league championship and extending their season into CIF.

“I feel this season is gonna go well, and we have a lot of great guys on the team. We try to get better every day, telling our guys there’s always room for improvement and we can be great as long as we are competing. We hope to win our new league, and make a run in CIF,” Banister said.

The Vikings currently have a 6-4 record, with a recent 68-53 home win over Calabasas. With two out of three games won at home, Samo goes on a road trip, facing their next opponent Centennial Compton on Dec. 18.

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Girls’ basketball aims to make playoffs after patchy start

The girls’ basketball team had a disappointing year last year, notching only four wins in regular season play and just falling short of the playoffs. This year’s team however is more experienced, having a large portion of last year’s roster returning for the season. With one of the largest senior classes in recent years, head coach Lance Radford is hopeful the team will find more success than last year.

“We have almost everybody back. We have seven or eight seniors. So we are going to rely on that experience that we got last year,” Radford said. “We are hungry to build on what we did last year.”

Co-captains Kyla Cotton (’25) and Maya Allshouse (’25) along with Sophia Miranda-Morales (’25) are three of the pivotal returning seniors on Samo’s roster.

“We have a strong group of seniors that have the ability to do something special this year,” Radford said.

Allshouse, a strong defensive force, playmaker and natural leader, plays a key role in the Vikings’ backcourt alongside Priya Mevasse (’26). Kalea Oshidari (’26), in company with sharp-shooting seniors Miranda-Morales and Cotton make up the core of the Vikings’ offense. The Vikings’ weak points are their size and ability to control the game, as Radford points out.

“Our focus has to be defensively. We have to be able to control the score. We have to be able to stop people, and especially stop people with size,” Radford said.

The Vikings will no longer travel to the beach cities of the South Bay for their league matchups. Instead, the team will trek inland to play Centennial (Compton), Inglewood, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Lawndale, Hawthorne

and Leuzinger. Like many of the other Samo sports, girls’ basketball transferred leagues from Bay League to Ocean League.

“The Bay League was super competitive. It was a challenge for us going against teams that were more experienced than what we had last year. We had a lot of JV girls come up,” Radford said. “It’ll still be competitive, but we will match up very well with the Ocean League opponents.”

CIF made changes beyond league realignments. The playoff system for girls’ basketball is different this year, placing less emphasis on league play and expanding the lottery system. This means that teams may not know if they have made the playoffs until their last game. Radford, an AP statistics teacher by day, made it clear the girls’ goal is to punch a ticket to playoffs, and coming back with an experienced, star-studded roster, it doesn’t seem too far out of the realm of possibility.

“Our expectation is to make the playoffs,” Radford said. The Vikings are currently 3-5. All three of their wins came at home, defeating Crenshaw 53-39 on Nov. 18, YULA 50-30 on Dec. 5 and Notre Dame Academy 47-35 on Dec. 6. Their next home game is on Jan. 15 against Leuzinger.

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Max Kehoe Arts & Entertainment Editor

Manny Lopez

Photo Editor

Leo Lucente Staff Writer

Midfielder Felipe Martini (’25) takes on a defender during the Vikings’ home matchup against Crossroads High School on Dec. 4. The Vikings lost the game 2-3.

Manny Lopez / The Samohi

Nylah Bennett (’25) drives down the court in 23-35 home loss to the El Segundo Eagles.

Manny Lopez/ The Samohi

Brenton Banister (’25) shoots a threepoint shot in a 71-32 home win against Animo Venice on Dec. 12.

Manny Lopez / The Samohi

Manny Lopez / The Samohi

Brooklyn Todd (’26) and Xavier Seldon (’25) link up on the sideline of Samo’s home court.