The Samohi Tuesday, February 14, 2023 Santa Monica High School Volume CXI - Issue IV
An inside look at the cover - page 2 Photo by Kira Bretsky
The Samohi
02 February 14, 2023
NEWS
An inside look at the cover Mark Kelly appointed interim superintendent
Kira Bretsky Art Editor
On Monday, Jan. 23, Samo’s Chinese program invited members of local Chinese culture performance group Kaimera Wanderbeasts to join students during lunch in the Innovation quad for a celebration of the 2023 Lunar New Year. In addition to crafts, food and speakers, the event included a traditional Chinese lion dance, complete with drums and a knife show. During the performance, which was performed by two dancers inside of a bright green lion costume, lettuce was thrown at the crowd of students who had gathered around the festivities to ward off evils. In Chinese culture, red envelopes are also offered as a symbol of good luck for the upcoming year. Halie Matsui (’23) is pictured on the front cover giving the lion an envelope as she and her friends watch the dance.
Addie Burns and Declan Ney Staff Writers
The lion dance took place just hours after 11 people were killed during Lunar New Year celebrations in Monterey Park. On Jan. 22, the first day of the Lunar New Year, a man opened fire in a small Chinese community as people gathered to recognize the holiday. Prior to the dance, Sierra Yee (’23) spoke to students about violence in predominantly Chinese areas of California and held a moment of silence for the victims of the attack. On Jan. 24, seven more people were killed in a shooting in Northern California town Half Moon Bay. The celebration at Samo was held to educate students about the Chinese community through an interactive demonstration outside of the classroom. According to Matsui, it can be difficult to teach people about cultures different than their own without engaging them directly in its practices. “I think many students know of [Lunar New Year] from friends celebrating or the media,” Matsui said. “But I don’t think the significance or traditions that are so important to celebrators are usually understood unless you participate in it.” thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Former SMMUSD Superintendent, Ben Drati announced his resignation on November 18 to become the new superintendent of Bellflower Unified School District. About a month after Drati’s resignation, the SMMUSD Board of Education approved Mark Kelly as the district’s new interim superintendent. Kelly attended UCLA for college and earned his Doctorate in Education in educational leadership. He then went on to serve the district 23 years and began his new role on Jan. 1, 2023. Kelly has had much experience working in SMMUSD. He started as an administrator at Samo in 1999, where he worked for five years in a variety of positions, including the assistant principal. He also worked as the principal of Malibu High School for eight years. Then, in 2012 he moved to the District Office as the Director of Student Services; he had a transition job of Executive Director of Student Professional Services and then started as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in 2016. With Kelly’s background at SMMUSD, the Board of Education came to him and asked him if he was willing to take on the assignment of interim superintendent. “It made sense for me to take on this, giv-
Photo from smmusd.org
en my work history with the school district,” Kelly said. With his new job, Kelly works more closely with the Board of Education as well as the divisions, department heads and principals. He plans and prepares for upcoming and future board meetings, stays informed on all the current construction happening throughout SMMUSD and is planning and looking ahead towards future school years. “I feel honored to support the district during this time of transition,” Kelly said in a district press release, “We will continue our tradition of excellence in SMMUSD and will move forward initiatives and plans that Dr. Drati initiated over the past several years.” Since there is no permanent superintendent, a sub-committee of board members Maria Leon-Vasquez, Laurie Lieberman and Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein has been created to help promote the hiring process. This committee will not have the power to decide SMMUSD’s official superintendent; the community as well as students will be able to share thoughts about who they think should be hired. Samo Principal Marae Cruce is hoping that the School Board will hire someone that has similar ideals to Drati. “I would hope that they’re coming with the same mindset of leading from the middle and focusing on what our teachers and students need,” Cruce said. “I also hope that the new superintendent will continue to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.” As Kelly said, this is a period of transition for the district. The board is in the process of seeking a new superintendent, which will take several months to complete. Kelly hopes to stabilize and keep things moving forwards as these major changes are happening. “My goal is to keep people understanding that we want to keep things calm, keep things moving forward,” Kelly said. “We have great principals in all of our schools that will lead our schools. I want to be a resource to them and support them as we make this transition. And then I want the board of education to have the time to have the thoughtful process of hiring the next superintendent.” thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
PBL at SMC: Project Based Learning goes to college
Declan Ney / The Samohi
The Project Based Learning program moved to Santa Monica College’s campus in August 2022.
Declan Ney Staff Writer
Pathways for Project Based Learning School (PBL) was formed as part of the Samo curriculum back in 2019, with a mission to “do, learn, and thrive.” The school operated on the Obama Campus on Lincoln and Ocean Park, across the street from the Blick Arts Materials store. But recently, a few unforeseen events have
forced PBL to move into a small part of Santa Monica College. The story of PBL’s move to SMC started right before the end of last school year, when the entire PBL community had a meeting with former SMMUSD Superintendent Ben Drati. He shared the grim news that there was interior water damage throughout the Santa Monica Alternative Schoolhouse (SMASH), which resided
just a couple minutes west of the Obama campus. This meant that the teachers and students at SMASH would need to relocate to the Obama campus while SMASH’s building was fixed, with reconstruction projected to be finished at the end of 2024. After spending a few weeks talking with the School Board and evaluating options, Drati decided to temporarily move PBL to SMC as a small part of the campus contained several classrooms that were capable of containing the school. “I admire how quickly the teachers were able to transition their classrooms from the Obama campus to SMC, and I feel like the students have been able to replicate the environment that existed at the Obama campus last year,” PBL Principal Nicole Nicodemus said. “I also like that we get to be on the SMC campus because it allows the students to have a more convenient way of traveling to and from both campuses with the Big Blue Bus.” Since PBL’s arrival at SMC, the move has been given lots of praise, especially by the teachers that helped to make the move possible. PBL’s Algebra Teacher, Amy Tsang, has fully embraced the transition from one campus to another. “Generally speaking, the transition has been really good,” Tsang said. “The staff has been able to make connections with SMC professors and their network, and it’s also been a challenge to find new spaces
around the campus where we can have our community meetings.” Many students at PBL, such as Elliot Wechsler (’24) have also become big fans of the campus at SMC, as there are many energizing activities for the students to take part in when they aren’t in class. “I believe that many of the students have enjoyed the transition to SMC,” Wechsler said. “There seems to be a much bigger sense of community at the SMC campus due to the inclusion of activities such as pool, ping pong and foosball during our break time.” Now that Dr. Drati has left SMMUSD for a position in the Bellflower Unified School District, many people have questioned the fate of the School Board projects that he organized, most specifically PBL. SMMUSD is assuring parents in the school district that those projects will remain untouched by the new regime. “We have heard some concern that a new superintendent will disrupt or abandon some of the initiatives and successes in our district,” a district press release said. “It is important for the SMMUSD community to understand that the Board of Education will support and protect the incredible work that is happening daily at every one of our school sites.”
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The Samohi February 14, 2023 03
News
Meet Santa Monica’s newest City Council members
Taylor Witt Staff Writer
The Santa Monica City Council elected Caroline Torosis and Jesse Zwick as council members and Gleam Davis as mayor on November 8, 2022. Three seats out of the select seven councilmember seats were up for election. Lana Negrete was elected to a four-year term as mayor pro tempore, meaning that in the case of the mayor’s vacancy, she takes over. Davis is due to have one year as mayor, and Phil Brock is to serve the second of the two-year mayoral terms. Santa Monica’s City Council holds control over citizens’ everyday lives. City Councils budget, establish tax rates, pass ordinances, regulate public safety and oversee programs. Santa Monica’s City Council is made up of seven members who control what passes and what doesn’t. Councils have the power to increase budgeting for programs and most importantly, ensure that the city is safe and clean. “The role of the City Council is to direct and manage the budget for the city [and] oversee the city staff, including hiring and firing the city manager, the city attorney and the city clerk,” Torosis said. “We, in simple terms, make sure that all of the services are working, that the buses are on time, that the city’s clean.” Homelessness has been an ever-growing issue
Taylor Witt / The Samohi Gleam Davis, Phil Brock, Lana Negrete, Caroline Torosis and Jesse Zwick were elected on Nov. 8, 2022 to serve in the Santa Monica City Council for the following years.
in the United States, especially in Los Angeles. Downtown Santa Monica has suffered the most from post-pandemic effects along with displaced people sleeping on the streets. If business isn’t booming, Santa Monica won’t have a budget to provide necessary services to citizens. “We are coming out of a pandemic,” Torosis said. “This city relies heavily on tourism and also
office spaces. And so, with tourism still down and not at the pre-pandemic levels…We need to make sure that we get more revenue back so we can hire more people back. I see our financial situation as the gateway to everything else because if we have more money, we’re going to have more resources.” Like Torosis, City Council Member Zwick sees
mental health issues in Santa Monica as a priority. Currently, the Council is working on getting therapeutic transport vans out to the city for people in crisis. “I very much am supportive of trying to bring more mental health resources in the City of Santa Monica, so when someone is struggling with mental health, there are appropriate resources, there are social workers and psychologists and others who can be called onto the scene who can help that person and not necessarily a police officer who isn’t trained in that situation and someone who has other tools other than violence to address it,” Zwick said. Santa Monica’s budget depends on if people are paying into the city’s economy. So if people aren’t buying food or goods, there’s less money for necessary programs like said mental health services and transportation. The city has worked toward creating a safe and ideal environment for workers, renters, homeowners, visitors and the like. The newly elected City Council members are looking forward to making positive and long-lasting changes in our city. “I ran for City Council and decided to live in Santa Monica because I believe that at its core, this city wants to be a progressive leader for the rest of the region and wants to think creatively and innovatively about what’s possible.” Torosis said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
First Partner visits Samo to tour its mental health services Matilde Martinez-Navarrete and Elleanor Quist News Editors
On Tuesday, January 24, California’s First Partner Jennifer Seibel Newsom toured the Samo campus and its mental health facilities with the Governors of Colorado, New Jersey and other members of the National Governors Association. The NGA is the nonpartisan political organization of the American governors, dedicated to promoting visionary state leadership and sharing good practices, which held a roundtable that day in Santa Monica to discuss youth mental health. “Santa Monica High School is a model,” Newsom said in an interview with FOX 11 Los Angeles. “It’s doing really great work.”
Phil Murphy, the governor of New Jersey, was also impressed with Samo’s mental health program. “I’ve already got some food for thought on how we can apply some of this back in New Jersey,” Murphy said. Samo offers free weekly one-on-one and group therapy, as well as drop-in sessions if students have had a bad day. Students Ryan Sly (’23) and Samanta Ramirez (’23) gave testimonies to these visitors about their experience with Samo’s mental health services. Ramirez spoke about the first time she got therapy at Samo. “I just had some unprocessed trauma that came back in my junior year, and that’s when I started to actually deal with mental health issues that I hadn’t dealt with before or ever spoken about before,” Ramirez said. “I think I just walked into the nurse’s office
— I was sobbing — and they sent me to one of the therapists that they had, and they started getting me scheduled for one on one counseling at school.” Ramirez has gone on to join the Student Wellness Advisory Group (SWAG Club) to talk to other students about mental health and promote Samo’s services so that they may also benefit from them like she did. “It was super easy for me to just say that I was fine… and I didn’t think it was going to help to get counseling, but once I did start receiving it, it was great,” Ramirez said. “It was really good to have someone to speak to… whose job is to help you and… navigate you through what you’re going through.” thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Four Samo artists win regional recognition for their work Matilde Martinez-Navarrete
Every year, students across the country submit their creative pieces to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Founded in 1923, it is the nation’s most prestigious and longest-running recognition program for creative teens. Samo students Milo Bernini (’24), Malia Kabwe (’23), Emma Thorpe (’24) and Mira Wali (’23) were recognized in the regional awards for the 2023 competition. Pieces were either awarded a Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention, American Voices Nominee, or American Visions Nominee Award. Gold Key pieces qualify for national finals, with the winners to be announced in the spring.
News Editor
The following artwork is grayscaled. To see these paintings in their original colors, please visit thesamohi.com. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
SILVER KEY SILVER KEY “More Than A Saint” by Emma Thorpe “With Love” by Emma Thorpe Acrylic on canvas Ink, graphite and charcoal on paper
SILVER KEY “Matriarch” by Mira Wali Water-based oil paint on canvas
HONORABLE MENTION “Isolation” by Mira Wali Acrylic on canvas
HONORABLE MENTION “Shared Space” by Mira Wali Acrylic on canvas
SILVER KEY “A Walk in the Forest” by Milo Bernini GOLD KEY Acrylic on wood “Factory Cow” by Milo Bernini Acrylic on wood
HONORABLE MENTION “Gratitude” by Mira Wali Acrylic on canvas
HONORABLE MENTION “Black Boys Look Blue” by Malia Kabwe Acrylic on canvas
The Samohi
04 February 14, 2023
News
California and Samo weather extreme winter rain storms
Lucia Castro / Contributor On Jan. 9, Samo’s yoga studio flooded after Santa Monica experienced an intense rain storm.
Emi Yamashiro-Hergert Staff Writer
This winter has brought extreme weather to Samo and the world beyond. Starting in late December, California has been hit by relentless storms. The weather in California impacted Samo’s campus. During passing periods, it became common for students to head to classes on walkways impeded by water, or to be caught in downpours. Samo Principal Marae Cruce reported leaks in the Discovery Building and construction site, as well as a “lake” in the Greek Theater where the drain had clogged. Maintenance, operations, construction and district experts collaborated with Samo to address the leaks. Samo sports have also faced challenges from the recent storms; namely, girls’ Frosh/Soph soccer has had games and practices affected. An away game against Palos Verdes was canceled and one in Redondo was moved to a local middle school, both
to avoid flooded fields. Soccer Coach Ahmar Masood discussed further difficulties caused by the storms. “We had some practices changed up,” Masood said. “That affected the entire soccer program. There were days when it was just way too much rain and the program decided to have the girls spend sixth period in the library.” The recent storms have been caused by atmospheric rivers, concentrated streams of water vapor in the lower atmosphere. They are guided by the jet stream, or storm track, a belt of strong winds. Storms travel to California in atmospheric rivers above the Pacific. According to the “LA Times,” the location of the jet stream is different from preceding years. As a result of this shift, five atmospheric rivers hit California beginning around Christmas and continued until Jan. 19. Atmospheric rivers that bring potent storms in quick succession can cause heavy rainfall and damage to surrounding areas. In Santa Monica, storms have caused power outages, flooding in businesses and homes, car collisions and damage to the coastline. “I think we got enough rain for a little while,” Cruce said. “Maintenance of drains… was also affecting homes. Living in Southern California, we don’t have as much rain so it’s not always a priority to make sure drains are clean.” California has experienced “too much of a good thing,” as reporters have put it. Precipitation in the state is at 138% of the seasonal average, according to the “Santa Monica Daily Press.” Though almost every county in California has exited the two highest drought classifications, there are still significant deficits in reservoir water levels. The drastic influx in storms has also caused widespread destruction: mudslides, strong winds and massive floods prompted officials to issue evacuation orders to thousands of citizens in high-risk areas. Additionally, UC Irvine reported at least 22 deaths and well over $1 billion worth in damage repairs across California, as of Jan. 27, causing President Biden to declare a state of emergency. The damage and weather conditions also disrupted holiday plans, as Isla Meehan-Smith (’25) experienced. “My family was supposed to visit, but their flight was postponed because of the rain,” Meehan-Smith said. The United States as a whole has undergone an atypical winter. Most states in the South, Midwest and East Coast were hit by intense storms and blizzards this winter and several major cities reported record-breaking cold weather on Christmas, as stated by “CNN.” Climate researchers report
that freezing winter temperatures are likely caused by climate change; the melting Arctic releases frigid air to other parts of the world. The global rise in temperatures gave the US an unprecedented summer heat wave and an ongoing winter heat wave across Europe. As global warming continues, shifting atmospheric patterns will continue to cause aberrant weather on either side of the extremes. Maya Williams (’24), the STF President and a Team Marine club leader, elaborated on the effects of climate change. “It’s frustrating that most people aren’t talking about the climate crisis, and that it’s being treated as something that will go away naturally,” Williams said. “We all need to take action… and that’s simply not happening.” thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Isla Meehan-Smith / Contributor Principal Cruce dubbed this flood the “Greek Lake,” which emerged in the Greek Theatre after the rain storms because the drains were clogged.
Team Marine urges a switch to renewable energy at Samo Natalie Gazzana Staff Writer
Team Marine is starting this year off by focusing on switching SMMUSD to 100
percent renewable energy. The switch to 100 percent renewable energy is a goal set by Team Marine and the Human Rights Watch Student Task Force (STF) in order to do Samo’s part in helping the environ-
Maya Williams / Contributor (Left to right) Mari Fickbohm (’24), Liv Nicholls (’24), Riley Callahan (’24), Emery Cunningham (’24), Cody Kay, Austin Toyama, Carey Upton, Maya Williams (’24), Benjamin Kay attended an SMMSUD School Board meeting to advocate for a switch to 100 percent renewable energy at Samo.
Managing Editors
Riya Khatod Noor Memarzadeh The Samohi is a monthly newspaper by, for and about Santa Monica High School students. Our goal is to empower the student body through information. We do not represent the views of the administration or staff. We do not endorse advertisements placed in our paper.
Editor-in-Chief
Sakura Amano
News Editors
Matilde Martinez-Navarrete Elleanor Quist Opinion Editors
Indigo Craane Sara Javerbaum
ment and combating climate change. Maya Williams (’24), the STF President and a Team Marine leader, headed the renewable energy proposal along with Team Marine Co-Captain Willa Ross (’24). The two of them spoke together in front of the School Board on Jan. 19, asking them to make the switch. “The sustainability manager for the district, Austin Tomoya, was giving a general sustainability update for the district,” Williams said. “He also talked about how important it was for the Board to switch to renewable energy, and then we testified in front of the Board.” Although they are primarily focusing on advocating for this switch to renewable energy, Team Marine is also attempting to introduce a climate literary resolution to Samo, which is an educational goal that would help push an environmentally conscious curriculum in science classrooms. The club is in the process of creating a subject that will teach students about climate change before presenting it to the School Board for approval. Team Marine Co-Captain Emery Cunningham (’24) is
Student Life Editor
Sydney Roker
Centerspread Editors
in charge of overseeing this climate literacy proposal. “We want to begin the conversation with the School Board,” Cunningham said. “We don’t know yet if we want it to be another period, but we know that the district knows what they’re doing, so we want to start the conversation.” The Los Angeles Unified School District already adopted their own climate literacy resolution in February of last year in a unanimous decision decided on by their own School Board. According to press release from LAUSD, the resolution centers around giving teachers and students the educational tools needed to combat climate change. Cunningham thinks that this resolution will be helpful when establishing a base for Samo’s own curriculum to present to the School Board. “What we want to do is adapt the resolution LAUSD has so we can slowly turn Samo into a place to learn about the climate and how to fight [climate change],” Cunningham said.
Art Editor
Kira Bretsky
Ava Memarzadeh Juliet Swimmer
Social Media Editor
A&E Editor
Copy Editor
Kendra Martinez Sports Editors
Hawene Alemayehu Aili Forster
Grace Gyepes Alani Kanan
Faculty Advisor
Kathleen Faas
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Staff Writers Sienna Bevan, Violeta Buitrago, Addison Burns, Natalie Gazzana, Jewel Aston, Sofia Hume, Malia Kabwe, Ryan Kim, Declan Ney, Aaron Smollins, Olivia Stephansen, Audrey Strauss, Amilia Tejada, Cleo Topp, Taylor Witt, Emi Yamashiro-Hergert
The Samohi February 14, 2023 05
OPINION
Do mandatory classes take heart out of art?
YES
Audrey Strauss Staff Writer
In most schools, academic subjects are prioritized over subjects that explore creativity—while there are options for art electives, students aren’t exactly encouraged to take them. But what makes history, math or English more important? Art matters in its unique way, and implementing 4 year-mandatory art classes into the school day would be a way for students to discover its value. From an emotional release to storytelling, art can be anything students need it to be, especially for stressed and emotional high schooler students. One student, Zelda Ehasz (’25), started taking Painting 1 this year and she immediately noticed a change in how she was feeling. “Having time to take an art class makes my days less stressful. Instead of doing test after test, I have a period where I can relax and do something I really enjoy.” Ehasz said. Everyone likes to look at pretty pictures on their walls and artsy Instagram posts, but that appreciation of art doesn’t typically cross over into young artists trying to find a way to express themselves. Dismissive comments like ‘you won’t make any money as an artist’ are thrown around constantly and students have internalized it. Whether students put their passion aside when they reached high school because they knew an art class wouldn’t look good on a resume or simply never experimented with art at all because they didn’t see a point, there’s a lack of motivation to participate in the arts in high school. If art classes were mandatory, some of the stigma around pursuing art could be removed and students would no longer be robbed of the chance to be creative. Additionally, art is more vast than people think it is. Artists aren’t bound to just sketching eyes or painting landscapes. There’s always something else to explore. A new medium-- like sculpture. Even for the artists who feel that they’re really good at something, it doesn’t mean that’s all they have to do. Many students might feel as if they don’t have the skill set to take a visual arts class, but if it were mandatory, it wouldn’t be about talent. It would be about the opportunity to find something new about yourself, even for people who’ve never considered exploring their creative side. James Simon (’25), a student in Drawing 1, found more out about himself through the class. “I feel like the more time I’ve spent drawing, the more easily ideas have been coming to me. If I
wasn’t in the class, I don’t think I would’ve figured out how much I enjoy it.” Simon said. Just like playing an instrument, art is a learned skill. Artists aren’t inherently creative geniuses destined to be better than their peers. When someone expresses that they’re just “not an artist”, what they’re saying is that they haven’t gotten a chance to be one. And until they try, they won’t know just how art fits into their lives. Though adding another class might seem daunting for Samo students with packed schedules, there are ways to mitigate the stress of squeezing in another course. If art classes were required, the district could find a way to make it work, whether it meant adding an additional period added to the school day (as administration is currently considering) or other class requirements being changed. Art classes wouldn’t be an added stressor, they would be something positive: a way to relax and connect with yourself on overwhelming days. Inmost class es, success Art by Kira Bretsky is measured in concrete terms: 4.0 GPAs, A pluses, AP test scores, etc. This rigid grading system tends to reward memorization over actual learning, often leaving students scrambling to decide between genuinely understanding the material and getting good grades. Visual art classes, however, have more holistic grading styles that encourage personal growth and creativity. Though Samo students might be scared off by the idea of adding an art class to their workload, the art program can be an incredible outlet to destress from their busy schedules. Pushing students into an environment where there’s room for mistakes, growth, and self-reflection will only help raise morale and give students a new perspective on what succeeding in school can look like.
NO Sofia Hume Staff Writer
Taking part in the arts should be an opportunity available to everyone who chooses to participate. However, programs such as visual, performative and musical arts should not be mandatory parts of Samo curriculum. Such programs are enjoyed by students who seek a creative outlet, where they can express themselves artistically during the school day. In making participation in the arts mandatory, the environment of these courses are altered to support a more grade based system rather than one pression. Turning of artistic exthe arts into a mere mark on one’s t r a n script, you are not only forcing students into these classes who do not benefit from these style of courses, but also affect artistic students’ existing passions with the arts. Art student Keira Yanez (’23), who has been a part of Samo’s various art programs the last four years, shared her opinion on the cross-section between art and academics. “One of my favorite parts about art class is being surrounded by passionate and creative minds all working to improve their artistic skills… if someone’s not genuinely passionate about art they have less drive to improve and should not be forced into an art class,” Yanez said. Why should the effectiveness of art programs be compromised by enforcing students uninterested in said courses to join? They should not. In personally witnessing how an art class
dynamic can be thrown, the problem seems to almost always stem from students forced to partake. With who are only present in order to achieve a graduation requirement. Not only does making students who lack interest in the arts participate prevent themselves from pursuing other passions during that time, but ultimately dilutes the experience for others in creating a less artistic environment. Kara Jai (’24), who is taking her second year of AP Art, voiced the flaws of working within this biased environment. “I remember having a teacher that often graded me down because my pieces didn’t look exactly like hers. It was frustrating because I was trying to find my own art style,” Jai said. This type of structure, being graded on whether your creative style fits within someone else’s perception of what art is meant to look like, prevents artists from developing individuality within their work. Not only ruining the relationship students have with the arts through being forced to take these courses, but also altering the way they feel towards creatively expressing themselves as well. In making the arts mandatory for everyone whether they wish to partake or not, the arts just becomes another subject to be graded on, in doing so making one’s self expression something quantifiable. Everyone should have access to the arts, but in making participation mandatory the appeal of expressing yourself creatively is weakened. This just conditions students to partake for a passing grade, rather than for their own self expression. To make participation mandatory yearly in these classes, is to risk ruining the effectiveness of art programs overall.
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Turn academic stress into academic success Emi Yamashiro-Hergert Staff Writer
Calling all high-achieving students! For those of you taking upwards of three AP or HP classes per year, bolstering your resume with countless extracurriculars and staying up all night writing that three-page extra credit essay — read this article now to find out how to be successful in the most selective colleges and beyond! Now that you’re paying attention, here are what the facts say. According to an NYU study, grades and preparing for college are the most significant sources of stress for high school students. Operating under a heightened level of stress for an extended period of time can leave long-lasting impacts like mental disorders, substance abuse and poor sleep. As the PEW Research Center reports, the selectiveness of a college is not indicative of a person’s overall life satisfaction. So, rather than the constant striving Art by Audrey Strauss to be
more competitive than everyone else, high school should be a time of personal development, a time to figure out who you want to be. From social life to physical appearance to academic achievement, there are countless ways in which high school students are led to hyperfixate on their flaws and shortcomings. All too quickly, a student’s personality can become entirely tethered to the areas in life they fixate on. Classes often cross the line between true learning and simply cramming knowledge into the minds of students. The focus is placed on test scores and college readiness; students that can recall material for quizzes, regardless of understanding it, are labeled “high-achieving” and put under further pressure to maintain their academic status. When students are reduced to putting half-effort into assignments just to get them done and keep straight As, school becomes more of a contest than a learning environment. Art teacher Amy Bouse discussed the flaws of highly competitive tracks. “This world of very specialized students… they are concentrated into classes that ramp up the pressure on themselves,” Bouse said. “It’s not really the amount of knowledge they’ve acquired, it’s the letter that shows up on their transcript that they’re worried about,” Bouse said. According to the National Library, the arts can reduce stress and have other positive effects on mental health.
Still, even classes in creative fields can become a pressure on adolescents. Creative hobbies like painting or writing poetry are often turned into things that students can be quantifiably “skilled” at, nothing more than another item on a resume. However, forms of art that students find joy in are worth their time. Full stop. Passions do not need to become a club or satisfy the VAPA requirement to contribute meaningfully to life. As a subject, art should be healing, not another source of competition. Mira Wagabaza (’24) shared her opinion on the academic pressure that schools create. “It goes further than just Samo,” Wagabaza said. “It ends up being the whole school system. We feel pressured to… know what we want for our future and be in extracurriculars that focus on that. It’s just not conducive to expanding our worldview.” Four formative years pass by quickly. Everyone around you is only now figuring out how to live in a world that contains more than academia. Until schools can regulate the intense stress they put upon their pupils, it’s up to us as students to consider our priorities. Instead of putting pressure on yourself to achieve everything you can in this short time, take a deep breath and a step back. Trust that things will work out whether or not you push yourself to the brink of collapsing. High school is the place where you begin to define your future self, so why not enjoy what happens along the way? thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The Samohi
06 February 14, 2023
10 things I hate about high school romance Sienna Bevan Staff Writer
Today is Valentine’s Day, 24 hours in which the world is in love with love, or at least the idea of it. Many of us may find ourselves turning to our favorite rom-coms, filled with seemingly spontaneous yet perfectly planned out whirlwind romances. Whether you choose to spend your Valentine’s Day living vicariously through the leads of your favorite films or through the countless couples making out in the hallway, your expectations of love will often differ from reality. In rom-coms enemies become lovers, people confess their love in the pouring rain, the quirky “not like the other girls” lead falls in love with the secretly emotionally intelligent jock, Art by Audrey Strauss
etc. On the topic of tropes, why have all directors agreed that a girl is only deemed pretty the moment she takes off her glasses and lets down her ponytail? And I’m sick and tired of that classic, overdone meet-cute—books being dropped, heads bonking and hands grazing in an attempt to pick it up. The tropes and stereotypes seen in movies are often unrealistic and far-fetched, misleading their naive and impressionable audiences. Upon entering high school, you might expect to star in your very own grand disney original love story but unfortunately, high school romance embodies the bare minimum. The truth is, you’ll most likely end up in a situationship where you don’t even acknowledge the other person in real life, avoiding eye contact when you pass by them. With dating becoming more casual now, it seems like highschoolers have outgrown the concept of getting to know each other the “old-fashioned way”...by talking. Any romantic endeavors will probably be conducted entirely over DMs or Snapchat, with their online status sending you into emotional turmoil. What happened to working for what we want, or in this case who? Romance has become so digitized in recent years that now it’s as easy as liking an instagram story or sending a quick “heyy” (make sure to add an additional ‘y’ for flirtatious effect) to start something up. Forget about handwritten love letters and prepare to swoon at the bare minimum (aka rizz) or someone calling you “bad”. The students in relationships that can’t control their hormones just choose to hook up at school, with no mercy for those around them. While attempting to put on a show for the rest of us, please keep in mind the bungalow bathrooms are there for a reason.
Dear college rejection: it’s not me, it’s you
Compared to a 10 things I Hate About You serenade of “can’t keep my eyes off of you,” or a heartfelt poem about why “[you] hate the way [you] don’t hate [me]. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all,” the standards for dating in high school are in fact extremely low. We have these false ideas of what romance is because of what we see in the media. We then further perpetuate these ideas, raising our expectations and making what’s “normal” seem dull. By giving into the idea of the perfect “rom-com” love and crafting these false realities, we miss out on real love. Forget about meet-cutes, soulmates and forbidden love; this is real life, not a movie. The awkwardness, uncomfort and mistakes are all a part of it. Love is vulnerable and genuine; we don’t get scripts, cues or multiple takes.
Art by Audrey Strauss
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sandy the seagull by sofia hume
Malia Kabwe Staff Writer
Do you ever catch yourself daydreaming on the Big Blue Bus wondering “When will they call me?” Or, “I wonder if they’re reading my letters of recommendation right now?” Well, stop your swooning ’cuz there’s always a chance they just aren’t that into you. So, for my brokenhearted brethren, I have designed this letter as a template of what to send to your unrequited love.
Art by Audrey Strauss
thesamohistudentewspaper@gmail.com
Student Life
Surviving a Rainy Day at Samo (Good Luck!) Cleo Topp Staff Writer
By Nori Quist
It starts raining just as you’re walking to 4th period and now your converse are getting wet and your hair is getting messed up! What do you do? What can you do? One thing is for sure, the rain is out to get you, so you better prepare. Here is a guide to surviving a rainy day at Samo, if you can.
The Samohi February 14, 2023
07
Vikings’ Valentine’s Day Olivia Stephanson Staff Writer
Valentine’s Day is for its pink and red colors, heart-shaped chocolates and the hope of receiving flowers from someone special. Although traditions may have changed from elementary school, where it was common for students to decorate their own bags and exchange treats, high schoolers at Samo like these four students still celebrate the holiday but in a different way. Here’s how some Samohi students plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year.
TIP #1: Dress for Success If you want any chance at surviving a day in the rain, you must start with the right outfit. Ditch your Uggs and Converse and find yourself a new pair of rainboots, fit for the torrential downpour you will have to endure. After this you must choose your pants carefully. Finding a middle ground between shorts and pants past your ankles might be tough, but the rain is no joke and can require some sacrifices that you will just have to make. Finally, to finish off the outfit, grab at least one jacket—and please make sure that it is waterproof (unfortunately feather stuffed vests do not count, and are actually a bad idea).
“On Valentine’s Day I am planning to go out with my boyfriend and exchange gifts with him as well.” - Emily Umana (’25)
TIP #2: Prepare Before Heading Anywhere Outdoors As a school in Southern California, Samo has an outdoor campus meaning that hallways, lunch spots, sports areas and essentially everything but classrooms are rarely indoors. Although this is nice for nine months of the year, it makes the other three really, very tough on the students and staff. However, this is the case, and as such it needs a lot of preparation. Before heading out to go to the next period, make sure that you are ready with your jacket(s) on, umbrella out and are prepared for the worst because it will take a lot of effort. Although passing periods can be difficult, this is unfortunately no match for lunch. Because no one will be eating outside, make sure you get a spot in the cafeteria quickly (this might take some running, just be careful not to slip and fall or worse: be confused with a freshman). Better yet, find a nice warm classroom nearby to eat in, even if it means joining a club for a day (maybe you will even enjoy it – at least more than the rain).
“I am going to La Scala in Beverly Hills with my boyfriend. After that we are gonna grab Sweet Rose and eat it at the palisades bluff lookout.” - Maya Karni (’23)
TIP #3: Avoid, Well, the Majority of Campus Samo can be dangerous in the rain, so it is important to use extra caution when walking across campus in order to avoid any and all obstacles. If you need to get to first floor Language, be extra careful when walking towards the entrance doors, otherwise you may end up on the floor after an embarrassing, painful, but not uncommon slip on a grate. Alternatively, if you have a class in Discovery or Innovation while it is raining, the ground around either building can be thought of as one giant puddle and would be best to avoid it all. Overall, the best strategy is to not step foot outside, otherwise, good luck.
“I don’t have plans for Valentine’s Day just to play football with my friends.” - Cedric Mogol (’26)
TIP #4: Avoid all Athletics or Hope for the Best Despite possibilities of canceled sports practices, games or P.E. classes, the chances of this are never guaranteed, so you must prepare yourself to play. If you do end up being required to exercise outside on a rainy day, it is best hope that it clears up during the fact, or at least that you will be somewhat dry in the end. If this is not the case, the next thing to do is cross your fingers that you don’t get hypothermia and that you will be able to run a brush through your hair afterwards. For those in yoga, the rain does not pose much of a threat to class activities and so you will most likely be expected to carry on as usual, but at least you will be able to stay dry.
“I am going to suprise my boyfriend with a gift!” - Flora Gunn (’25)
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Meet the counselors behind Samo’s College and Career Center Violeta Buitrago Staff Writer
In all of your experience as a student at Samo have you ever felt stressed out or worried about college or your future? If so, the college and career counselors of Samo are here to help you. These counselors at Samo work with strictly seniors during the fall semester, and both seniors and juniors during the spring semester. So if you are a junior, pop on by the college and career center to start the college application process. Who are these college counselors you may ask? Let’s take a look into the three very important people who run the college center here at Samo.
Julie Honda: For the past 15 years, Julie Honda has been one of the college and career counselors here at Samo. Honda works with juniors and seniors whose last names start with H-N. Since Honda works with students who are either applying to college, or having to think about their next steps out of high school, she gives some advice to those who feel overwhelmed about these future objectives. “Take a breath- I think a lot of kids worry and stress out about college, but I think there is a fit for everyone, and I honestly believe the right fit will come to you,” Honda said.
Besides guidance about the stress and rigor with college applications, Honda and the other college counselors are also here to support you with college applications, essays, financial aid, scholarships, awards and finding the best fit school. Honda shares what she finds favorable in her experience working with students on these tasks. “Since we ask the students like 10 million questions, we get to know the kids really quickly, and having a safe space for them here, whether they are sad or upset is great since they know they can come in here and be themselves,” Honda said. Violeta Buitrago / The Samohi
Ernesto Flores: If your last name starts with any of the letters A-G, your college and career counselor is Ernesto Flores. Flores has been a college counselor here at Samo for nine years, where he has gotten to know and create relationships with many students. As a college counselor, Flores Shares his favorite part of the job after so many years. “I get to learn about student lives and listen to different background stories, I also get to know them in their past, present and future,” Flores said.
Besides just getting to know the students of Samo, Flores is also there to help you with the stress that comes with applying to college and being a highschool student. As a student, it is very easy to get stressed out with your workload and extracurricular activities, so Flores talks about some of his best advice if you fall under these categories. “Know your priorities-balance these priorities; Focus on the task at hand, and balance your stress levels,” Flores said. Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
Rosa Mejia: One of the three college counselors here at Samo is Rosa Mejia. Mejia is a counselor for the students with last names starting with O-Z and has been working at Samo for thirteen years. As a college and career counselor, Mejia is there to offer support and guidance to juniors and seniors who are either applying or soon to be applying for college. Help and guidance isn’t only offered to students who want to go to college, but also students who want to build a career straight out of highschool. Mejia shares her best advice for seniors to destress amongst all the chaos of college and career planning. “It is overwhelming to think about the big change that is coming, such as adulthood, and the
things that come with adulthood, but I want them to really enjoy each day and savor those moments with their friends,” Mejia said. Now that we are in spring semester, Mejia and the other college and career counselors will be leading presentations in junior English classes. Mejia shares what she wants juniors to do in order to prepare for the stress and rigors of college planning. “The main thing that I want Juniors to think about is what are their interests, what are their priorities, what are their goals, because that is what really drives the next year and a half,” Mejia said.
Violeta Buitrago / The Samohi
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Harvard University professor Robert Waldinger performed an 80-year study on happiness and the importance of deep personal connections for longterm joy in the book “The Good Life”. Inspired by the study the Samohi staff compiled their top recommended media, meals and habits for their community to enjoy.
Comfort foods to heal your soul As we all know, food can be used to bring people together in times of need. Food can connect you to your culture and the act of cooking is a sacred experience for many. The Samohi Staff has decided to share the variety of dishes that bring them and their families joy.
Sweet Potato Pie
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi
Fresas Con Crema
Dak-Galbi
Matilde Martinez-Navarrete / The Samohi
Ryan Kim / The Samohi
Malia Kabwe
Matilde Martinez-Navarrete
Ryan Kim
Every holiday season my mom makes our family and friends sweet potato pie. It’s a simple recipe made of mashed buttery sweet potatoes sugar, nutmeg, egg, vanilla and evaporated milk. The sweet and buttery taste never fails to get me into the holiday spirit, and the memories of baking with my mom brings me joy. It is quick and easy to make, so we have time to make it together. Overall, making this dish is a unique kind of bonding activity for my mom and I.
I had fresas con crema a lot as a kid, so eating it always takes me to a happy place, like my grandparent’s kitchen or my sunny living room. All it involves is quartering some strawberries, mushing them a little in some cream and sprinkling them with sugar. The combination of the sweet and crisp strawberries with the milky cream is just delicious. Also, the fact that it could not be easier to prepare, as it is literally just strawberries in cream, makes it the perfect snack or dessert.
One of my favorite recipes to make with my family is Dak-Galbi. It is a spicy stir fried chicken with any toppings from cheese, tteok (rice cake), lettuce or potatoes. My family and I love to make this together, as it allows us to spend more time together while enjoying good food. I have eaten this ever since I was 11 years old and it is absolutely delicious. Its spicy yet sweet flavor makes it the perfect comfort food after a long and stressful day, reminding me of my childhood.
Staff Writer
News Editor
Staff Writer
Media that makes us happy - staff picks Sienna Bevan Staff Writer
Everyone has their go-to comfort media. Whether it’s a song to sing in the shower or a movie to watch on a rainy day, it’s something that brings a feeling of joy. Here are The Samohi staffs’ favorite media—movies, shows, songs, artists and books:
SONGS:
MOVIES:
BOOKS:
“Brown Eyed Girl” - Van Morrison “Boy’s a liar” - PinkPantheress “Chasin’ You” - Morgan Wallen “Come On Let’s Go” - Broadcast “Could You Be Loved” - Bob Marley “Dog Days Are Over” - Florence + The Machine “Happy” - Natasha Beddingfield “Home” - Edward Sharpe + The Magnetic Zeros “Gotta Get Up” - Harry Nilsson “Mr. Brightside” - The Killers “Party In The U.S.A.” - Miley Cyrus “Quelqu’un m’a dit” - Carla Bruni “Rich Girl” - Hall and Oates “Shake It Off” - Taylor Swift “Soulful” - L’Indécis “Stolen Dance” - Milky Chance “Suddenly I See” - KT Tunstall “Sunrise” - Norah Jones “That’s What I Like” - Bruno Mars “Tongue Tied” - Grouplove “Unwritten” - Natasha Beddingfield “West Coast” - Coconut Records “You Belong With Me” - Taylor Swift
“10 Things I Hate About You” “Borat” “Cheaper by the Dozen” “Cinderella Story” “Elf” “Enchanted” “Ferris Bueller’s day off” “Happiest Season” “High School Musical” “Home Alone (series)” “It’s a Wonderful Life” “Little Women” “Legally Blonde” “Moonrise Kingdom” “My Neighbor Totoro” “Paddington” “Pitch Perfect” “Princess Diaries” “Rushmore” “Sorry to Bother You” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse” “Stand by Me” “Step Brothers” “The Fantastic Mr. Fox”
“Bad Monkey” -Carl Hiaasen “Dune” -Frank Herbert “Ella Minnow Pea” -Mark Dunn “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” -James Patterson “Frog and Toad are Friends” -Arnold Lobel “Gone” -Michael Grant “Harry Potter 4” -J.K. Rowling “Ivy and Bean” -Annie Barrows “Little Women” -Louisa May Alcott “Needful things” -Stephen King “The Apothecary” -Maile Meloy “The BFG” -Roald Dahl “The Da Vinci Code” -Dan Brown “The Grinch” -Dr. Seuss “The House in the Cerulean Sea” -TJ Klune “The Land of Stories” -Chris Colfer “The Name of this Book is Secret” -Pseudonymous Bosch “The Phantom Tollbooth” -Norton Juster “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” -Taylor Jenkins Reid “The Summer I Turned Pretty” -Jenny Han
HOTLB: What are your simple pleasures? Sofia Hume Staff Writer
Second semester can be difficult and overwhelming with school and extracurricular activities. If you need inspiration and motivation to keep going, here are some simple rituals that Samo students are implementing.
FOOD “Eating cocktail onions late at night. They’re definitely a shock to the system, they give me that boost, and they’re delicious. They’re like pickles but crazier.” -Emmaline Thorpe (’24)
SELF CARE “Taking weekly baths. School and stress make me feel grimy and overwhelmed, so to refresh myself mentally and physically I like to take a bath instead of shower and relax.” -Lola Satinover (’23)
“Making peanut butter, banana, and honey toast. Easy to make, tasty, and comforting.” -Lola Satinover (’23)
“Spending time with myself and getting small purchases. Though it may not be the best for my wallet, I feel much happier after buying myself a coffee after a nice bus ride home. Winding down at night with an hour or so of creating artwork. It’s a much better substitute to mindless scrolling, it keeps me in the present.” -Xavier Xu (’24)
MUSIC “Whether I’m making a playlist that captures a certain mood or it’s just a collection of random songs that pops in my head, playlist-making is one of my favorite ways to pass time.” -Salo Singer (’25)
ACTIVITY
“When I’m anxious or stressed, I light some candles, and listen to music like the Fugees, Fiona Apple, or Lizzy Mcalpine. It always calms me down and helps me process my feelings.” -Lucy Letcher (’26)
“I love to compete with my friends on our watches, it brings us together and makes me prioritize working out” -Billie Waxler (’23) “Playing catch. After stressful days at school, throwing a baseball with my friends and not thinking about anything else helps clear my mind.” -Salo Singer (’25)
The key to continued happiness Nika Nazarizadeh Staff Writer
Samo students are faced with hefty workloads, long school days and unpredictable daily challenges that can have a serious toll on one’s mental health. Small changes in our day-to-day lives can aid in reducing stress and increasing happiness levels. Expressing gratitude is a simple and worthwhile way to internalize joy. A good way to start expressing gratitude is to send messages of appreciation to those around you. Start by reflecting on those who bring you joy, and thanking them for their role in your life. A Harvard University study on the correlation between mental health and giving thanks explains that when one is able to appreciate the people around
them by sending letters of thanks, they almost instantly experience higher levels of happiness. By taking a minute to thank people you appreciate, they will feel validated just as you will feel good knowing you made someone else’s day better. Along with expressing gratitude, it is crucial to maintain healthy social relationships with those around you. Psychologists studying medicine at Stanford University found that the number one factor in people’s happiness is taking the time to truly engage in meaningful relationships. The study explains how meaningful bonds starkly reduce the amount of stress one faces in challenging situations and elucidates that positive relationships can encourage better behavior and greater contentment. Satisfying the natural desire to form stable and interper-
sonal relationships can not only generate more satisfaction in one’s life but can have health benefits by reducing blood pressure, and even strengthening one’s immune system. Investing into previously built connections is a key way to uplift spirits, but surrounding yourself with a diverse group of people is a great way to form new relationships; joining clubs, sports teams or extracurricular activities are all great ways to meet new people and form meaningful connections. Happiness is a key component to living a successful and meaningful life. By taking the time to give thanks and form meaningful bonds, Samo students could elevate levels of joy and create a more interpersonal community.
All art by Kira Bretsky
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The Samohi
10 February 14, 2023
Student Life
Samo sports go head to head at the Winter Pep Rally Nika Nazarizideh Staff Writer
On January 20 Samo celebrated winter sports by hosting their annual winter sports pep rally. The pep rally, which had a theme of neon lights, was split into a freshman/sophomore rally and a junior/senior rally. ASB decided on splitting this rally to generate more school spirit between the upper and underclassmen. This pep rally differed further from previous rallies because ASB did not get approval to host the event in the Greek theater due to unpredictable weather and flooding. Aside from working around differing weather conditions, ASB students including Ethan Fitzgerald (’25) work alongside Marae Cruce and Sarah Paulis to sort out the logistics of all pep rallies. “First, we find a theme, and then based upon that, we create a script. We work hard to make sure the script is engaging and fun. Once the script takes hold, we then move forward into auditions
Teddie Waxler / Contributor
Samo seniors on the girl’s soccer team show classs spirit at the pep rally by wearing white.
for the emcee role,” Fitzgerald said. The chosen emcees for this rally were sisters Kaya Schwartz (’23) and Josie Schwartz (’24). They guided the sports teams through a set of activities to get students excited for the upcoming sports seasons. Girls’ Water Polo went head to head against the wrestling team in a human hula hoop match. The crowd cheered as they watched their classmates try to move through the hoops. The wrestling team took the win for the junior/ senior rally, while girls’ water polo won at the freshman/ sophomore one. Before the games began, students rose to join the chamber singers who sang the national anthem, and Samo Pom kicked off the introduction of sports teams by performing a dance number featuring various songs by Drake and other artists. The cheer team performed a dance full of stunts that got the crowd on their feet when each grade level competed in a game of Finish the Lyric. A clip of a song was played and students shouted out the remaining lyrics. Junior Hannah Smith (’24) shares her thoughts on the games at the games from the rally. “I really enjoyed playing Finish the Lyric. I thought it got everyone really excited when the grade levels competed,” Smith said. Girls’ and boys’ soccer put their skills to the test when they were challenged to knock down inflatable bowling pins with a blownup soccer ball. After, boys’ and girls’ basketball competed against each other in a “bouncy ball” relay race. Although many students enjoyed the new indoor location, Varsity basketball player Milan Kis (’24) had some criticism of the environment. “I really enjoyed coming out with my team to represent Samo, but I wish it was back outdoors,” Kis said. The pep rally came to a close when Samo choir’s madrigal ensemble performed “Hymn of Praise”, Samo’s traditional anthem
Michael Sergeev / Contributor
Crystal Ramos (’23) is lifted as Samo’s cheer team performs a dance full of stunts at the Junior/Senior Rally.
that has been sung for decades. As students left the stands, many students had similar thoughts to Jagger Nichols (’23). “The pep rally was overall fine but it was nothing compared to the good old outdoor rallies in the greek with the whole school,” Nichols said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
A sneak peak at Samo’s new classes for the 2023-2024 school year Ryan Kim
Staff Writer
With homework, exams and the stress of grades, students can be overwhelmed with all of the new classes and options available for the 2023-2024 school year as they get called out for course requests. As students explore their class options for the new school year, they’ll be able to see a variety of newly created classes that will available for selection this fall. Feminist Literature is an upcoming English class that will be available to seniors only starting next year (2023-2024). This course focuses more on peer-to-peer discussions with texts such as “The Poet X” by Elizabeth Acevedo and “Fun Home” by Alison Bechdel. Groups of students will talk about books they chose from the course, to build empathy for empowering them to think in a way t h a t respects our diverse p o p u l at i o n . Elizabeth Waters the English teacher that made this class and explains her reasons why. “I’ve always been influenced by literature written by and for women and I’ve been learning from students as well,” Waters said. “The idea of this class was born in the Feminist club and the students wanted to help push to make this into a class.” Waters further talks about the steps needed such as a course overview and alignment with the process to get the course approved. Lillian Topp talked about seeing a lack of feminist perspectives through her classes shich helped her push forward to this class. “Ms. Rodriguez then connected us to the amazing Ms. Waters, who volunteered to teach the class, and we’ve been working with her on district approval and school implementation,” Topp said. “Ms. Rodriguez is still our club advisor for Feminist and Queer Literature club, which we created to help test the syllabus, guide this process,
and share the material and journey with other students.” Halie Matsui (’23) was a student who also worked hard to make this class a reality. “We’ve been working on creating this class for the past 2 years with Ms. Waters and Ms. Rodriguez and it’ll be great to finally see it happen next year,” Matsui said. “Feminism has and always will be important to learn about and discuss, and so we really wanted to create a classroom space where students had the opportunity to explore feminist literature together.” A graphic novel class will also be offered this year. Nathan Fulcher will be teaching this senior class will feature both classical and graphic novels to see how they compare to each other. Graphic Novels will contain projects like making your own comic and reading graphic novels such as “Night” by Elie Wiesel. Being available to seniors, Fulcher wanted to open the doors to focus on this type of literature. “When I was teaching summer school, I used a new method that incorporated graphic novels,” Fulcher said. “It was always really successful in getting students excited about English Class again and wanting to read more… It kind of opened their eyes to things they haven’t read before.” Mason Oliva (’24) talks about being excited about the class because of Fulcher and the counselor recommending it to him. “I wanted to take Graphic Novels because I was interested in the literary aspects of the visual aspect of it,” Oliva said. Directing will be a class for theatre that will be layered with either Acting P or Acting II next year. Students will be with the other acting groups and they will understand how to direct, pick scripts, and cast actors. By directing with their peers, students will be getting an idea of the process that is put into creating a play. Kate Barraza,
the acting/theater teacher, says it’s a perfect trajectory to develop that set of skills “They are going to be taking the responsibility of a leader,” Barraza said “Peer-to-peer relationship is sometimes way more powerful than a student-to-teacher. It embodies this back.” type of service and giving Sports Medicine is a class that will omores to be available for sophseniors starting in the fall of 2023. Sports medicine is a Career Techincal Education course (CTE). CTE means that it’s going to be a pathway where it gives the student several courses in that program to learn from. Samo Principal Marae Cruce explains the course will be a pathway and an introduction to learning the basics of care such as CPR, first aid, anatomy and physiology. “If I’m interested in medicine, studying medicine, health and going to become a doctor, that could be one of my launching points, because now I’m starting to see anatomy and physiology, see how the body works, kind of learning about some of the different care that can be offered,” Cruce said. Daniel Tran, the teacher for this class explained how sports medicine was a club originally. “It’s going to be a mixture of lecture and experience to get students involved and get hands-on skills,” Tran said. “Part of it will be being on the field and seeing what the training’s like on a basketball, football, or any sports game.” These upcoming electives will bring the idea of exploring different careers and goals for students. Despite the long process some of the courses had to go through to gain approval, they all have been well thought out to achieve the goals that are fit for students in new and engaging ways. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Who’s running ‘Running with Speakers’? Taylor Witt Staff Writer
From the carnivals to the mandatory assemblies, Running with Speakers, led by Oliver Russel (’23), carries the weight of the wonderous sounds of Samo. Running with Speakers is no normal club, they produce the lighting, sounds, and all tech for Samo events. These unsung heroes of Samo paint an atmosphere like no other. The common belief many students have is that Samo hires people to do the tech for events. However, that is not the case. Every pep rally, assembly, or music playing in the Innovation quad during lunch is completely student-run. Teacher Bill Wishart advises the club but most of the work is up to the students. Samo’s very own, small but powerful group of students gathers in B206 every Tuesday. Running with Speakers has about 20 members, but in reality, only a handful know the more complicated side of the necessary tech. Member, Olivia Gorman (‘24) feels that Running With Speakers’ increase of members has helped better manage her time and responsibilities within the club. “So far this year there’s been a lot of people showing up which is great, since last year it kind of was just like three of four people. Unless it was a really big event, we would have more people. So like sometimes it would be just be me and one other person working until eleven at a football game. So I definitely support more people joining so we have more support, it helps a lot,”
Gorman said. With a fluctuating amount of participating members, time and practice is very important. The amount of time they dedicate to the club is incredible. Running with Speakers member Zach Swerdlow (’24) explains their commitment to preparing and managing the tech and how it may sometimes interfere with academic responsibilities. “For doing regular events, usually it doesn’t take a lot of time, some of them you can do work during the events. But then you get big events where I have to spend multiple days beforehand planning out what’s going to happen, and then during the event it takes up like the entire school day, and then past the school day,” Swerldlow said. Members must dedicate their lunches and on some occasions, Flex-Times to put on the lights and sounds for thousands of Samo students. This takes knowledge of complicated sound systems with way too many wires that can plug in. So the next time the microphones blow out at an assembly or pep rally, give them some slack. “During one of the pep rallys we had speakers out all day pretty much and they’re black so they absorb a lot of light… Swerdlow/ Contributor and I kind of didn’t compute how black things become hot in Running with Speakers members Olivia Zach Gorman (’24), Oliver the sun… so I picked it up and I had to literally sprint so they Russel (’23), Severn Ubanaik (’24), Sabrina Glaser(’26), and didn’t sear into my hands.” Gorman said. Jackson Lundberg (’25) set up for a pep rally in the Nor th Gym. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Arts & Entertainment
The Samohi February 14, 2023 11
Cafe Samo returns to the Humanities Center with a variety of performances from choir students Malia Kabwe Staff Writer
On February 3 and 4, the entirely student-run choir concert, Cafe Samo, was held in the Humanities Center. Choir members Sadie Lovett (’23), Katell Brady (’23), Kaine Zeoli (’23) and Ella Crandall (’23) were the students to organize the event. Choir members showed off their personal music taste by choosing a variety of different songs including
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi
From Left to Right: Isabel Reid (’23), Raeva Vasisht (’23), Ava Memarzadeh (’23), Mira Wali (’23) and Rebekah Raphling (’23) were accompanied by serveral band studentss as they opened the show with their performance of “Lovely Day”.
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi
From Right to Left: Lucy Letscher (’24) and Egan Waktole (’23) sang in harmony a beautiful rendition of Taylor Swift’s “no body, no crime”, along with Ava Memarzadeh (’23) and Ella Crandall (’23).
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi
From Left to Right: Celine Hutchinson (’25), Adam Silverman (’25), Brooke Aron (’24) and Leah Boumel (’25) sang a lively performance of “Don’t Let Go”, which highlighted each voice nicely.
“Valerie”, “A Song For You” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”. Students were encouraged to do solos as well as duets, and there were two group performances by Beautyshop and T-Tones. The concert finished off strong with an ensemble performance of “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi
From Left to Right: Emma Tuttle (’23), Hudson Griffin (’23) and Lara Hunter (’23) performed an energetic cover of “American Girl” by Tom Pettey and the Hearthbreakers, which had the audience clapping along.
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi
Choir group, T-Tones sang an acapella rendition of “The Sound of Silence” by Pentatonix and were greeted by applause from the audience.
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi
From Left to Right: Ella Crandall (’23) and Sadie Lovett (’23) sang “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen along with Katell Brady (’23) to end the night. They were joined by all the performers from the night.
SNL longtime writer and star Tim Meadows helps Samo’s acting class with their comedic scenes Aaron Smollins Staff Writer
The Samo acting class had the ultimate workshop experience with former SNL star, Tim Meadows. Meadows led the students over the span of a month, teaching them how to construct and sketch their own skits, which they performed in their own Samo comedy show on January 25th in the Humanities Center. At the end of their time together, students presented their skits in front of friends, family and Meadows. The whole show was so hilarious that the Humanities Center was filled with applause and constant laughter after each performance. As a long time member of SNL, Meadows was able to provide special and insightful guidance. Director of the Samo Theatre program and acting teacher, Kate Barraza discusses how she was able to invite someone of Meadows’ caliber to share his expertise with her students. “Tim Meadows is a friend of mine and it was really fun to watch what he brought out of them creatively,” Barraza said. “He
took an idea and guided them to make it better and better and better. He would also laugh, he laughed so much which made it special.” Georgia Press (’23) expresses the excitement she felt while working with Meadows. “He was great, really funny, and friendly,” Press said. “Dr. Meadows made the space super fun and playful. The most exciting part is that he’s freaking Tim Meadows!” After the show Meadows explained more about working with the acting students, and what the highlight of his workshop was. “Tonight was definitely the highlight of the whole workshop because this was the peak, to see it all performed and produced and written. I think my goal really was for the writers of the piece to sort of experience what it’s like for SNL to have people laughing at [the] material that you thought of and wrote by yourself alone in your room and that’s really what I think we accomplished here,” Meadows said. By being able to learn from the best of
the best, the Samo acting students put on a show and built fun, memorable memories among friends. Along the way, they gained a greater knowledge and understanding
of comedic sketches while producing and writing professionally guided skits. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Malia Kabwe / The Samohi
From Left to Right: Titus Auger (’25), Tatum Mayer (’23) and Tali Chase (’23) perform their comedy skit for their friends and family in the Humanities Center. They were guided in making this skit by former SNL star, Tim Meadows.
The Samohi
12 February 14, 2023
Arts & Entertainment
Samo’s Jazz Bands take on their first concert of the year with amazing solos and singers Ryan Kim
Staff Writer
On January 29, 2023, Samo’s Jazz program played their first concert of the school year in the new auditorium at JAMS. The lights dimmed as the audience filled the seats, making them look like stars and creating an outside-like atmosphere. A spotlight then lit up the stage, revealing the Jazz II performers on stage, and as soon as they started playing, the audience was captivated, clapping along to every solo. Since it was their first one of the year, the concert was a special moment for many of the students. Cameron Ravare (’24) explained how he felt during the show. “I felt confident because as a band, we really bonded with each other last semester, which led us to be ready for this concert,” Ravare said. “We were a bit anxious but as long as we stayed focused and remembered how much work we put into this band, we felt confident.” Tom Whaley, the teacher of Jazz I, talks about bringing in clinicians (professional players) to the rehearsals to prepare for the concert. “The brand new JAMS Performing Arts Center is a beautiful world-class performing venue that can seat 750 people, so it is a perfect size for our performing groups and audience,” Whaley said. “The directors choose music that features the strengths of the players in the band and
we also choose music that reflects many different styles/grooves rather than many styles of the same genre.” Nate Jaffa (’25) from Jazz I talked about the preparations for this concert. “We practiced two times a week from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM,” Jaffa said. “We had lots of prep time for it and were not as nervous when we performed during the concert.” During the concert, there were two songs where Jazz I pianist Sydney DeFranco (’23) sang: Overjoyed and Stuck in the Middle With You. DeFranco has wanted to sing for the program since her sophomore year. She planned this with Tom Whaley and Mr. Rowles. “I mentioned to Mr. Whaley that I won an honorable mention in YoungArts for jazz voice and that led to picking potential charts I could sing in big band/combo and eventually to performing vocals in jazz band,” DeFranco said. “I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in Samohi’s music program that has helped to make me the artist I am today.” As the concert finished, the audience gave standing ovations, calling for encores each time. Jazz Band has been a program at Samo for several years and this concert showed that they played with passion, excitement, and pizzazz. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Ryan Kim / The Samohi
Jazz I is the top jazz group at Samo and performed two songs that featured their pianist, Sydney DeFranco (’23) as a vocalist, providing the audience with a unique and delightful experience.
Ryan Kim / The Samohi
Jazz II member, Cameron Ravare (’24) performed his saxaphone solo during the concert and left the audience excited for the performences to come.
Bands at the Broad: Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony return to the Broad Stage Jewel Anston Staff Writer
Samo’s Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony returned to the Broad Stage on Feb. 7 with the 9th annual Bands at the Broad concert: Back to the Broad. Bands at the Broad is intended to fundraise money for the program’s tour fund and general necessities. The concert was filled with a variety of arrangements and showcased the skills of the top two bands at Samo. To kick off the concert, Wind Symphony opened with “Back to the Future” as an ode to this year’s concert name. Samo’s Director of Bands, Kevin McKeown, dressed up as Doc Brown from the classic movie and was greeted with joyful laughter from the audience. The Wind Symphony then performed the rest of their set: “Eine Kleine Yiddishe Ragmusik” by William Berz, “This Cruel Moon” by John Mackey and “Strange Humors” also by John Mackey. The audience was left in silent awe after the Wind Symphony’s beautiful rendition of “This Cruel Moon” which conveyed deep and raw emotion as they per-
Ava Memarzadeh / The Samohi
Wind Ensemble stands after their last piece, “Hollywood Milestones” by John Higgans, at the Bands at the Broad concert on Feb. 7th.
formed. To lighten up the mood, they performed “Strange Humors”, which was filled with a variety of quirky parts and festive solos. After intermission, Wind Ensemble took the stage with performances of “Molly on the Shore” by Percy Grainger, “All the Pret-
ty Little Horses” by Andrew Boysen, “Suite from Mass” by Leonard Bernstien and “Hollywood Milestones” by John Higgans. The audience enjoyed a taste of one of the pieces Wind Ensemble will perform in Ireland, “Molly on the Shore”. A highlight during “All the Pretty Little Horses” was the flute so-
loist, Aika Hughes (’23), who was featured throughout the whole piece. This piece was also conducted by a special guest, Allen Loyd. “It was really nice to play the solo,” Hughes said. “It was cool to have Mr. Loyd conduct for us because I had him in elementary school too, so it was like a full circle.” Both bands displayed high levels of skill and musicality. McKeown touched on the talent his bands displayed. “It was great,” McKeown said. “I was really proud of the students. I felt like they maximized their efforts at the right time.” Using the concert as a fundraiser, the band program organized gift baskets that were offered in a silent auction and a wine raffle. The winners of the wine raffle were announced before Wind Ensemble performed their last piece. During spring break, Wind Ensemble will be going on tour in Ireland and many of the funds from the concert will go to that. Bands at the Broad was a successful event and it was a beautiful showcase of the talent Samo has in its band program. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
SCSBOA invites Symphony and Chamber Orchestra to play at their conference Natalie Gazzana Staff Writer
The Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), is an organization dedicated to the appreciation and celebration of music in schools. Every year, they hold a conference in California where teachers are able to discuss their music programs and have an honor orchestra and band perform. This year, aside from the few Samo students who were accepted into the honor ensembles, the organization invited the Samo Symphony and Chamber Orchestras to perform for the music educators from different schools at their conference. Symphony traveled to the Hyatt Regency hotel in Anaheim and performed 2 pieces, “Jupiter’’ from “The Planets” by Gustav Holst, and
the “Afro American Symphony” by William Grant Still. Jason Aiello, one of Samo’s orchestra directors, has been teaching at Samo for the past 17 years, and has had students participate in SCSBOA’s honor ensembles each year. However, this is the first year since he’s been at Samo that the Chamber Orchestra has done a 45 minute sight reading in an effort to help music teachers discover new pieces. “When you go out and buy sheet music for a group, sometimes you can hear a sample being played, but this allows teachers to really see this being performed and give them ideas for music they maybe wanna purchase in the future,” Aiello said. Following the Symphony performance, Aiel-
lo gave a speech explaining the importance of having a full orchestra and how Samo is able to implement this. This gave Symphony and Chamber students the opportunity to speak, share their positive experiences being in a full orchestra and the chance to perform in SCSBOA apart from the honor orchestra. According to Aiello, the SCSBOA board was looking for orchestra sessions to present at this conference, when himself and Samo Orchestra Co-Director Jim Wang made the decision to have the Samo orchestras do it, instead of just individual teachers. “I would not have wanted to do it, just me talking for forty-five minutes,” Aiello said. “That’s when we got the idea of having the full orchestra, playing with the orchestra, and also
to give the orchestra students something to do outside of Santa Monica for the day.” Ryan Atienza (’23), one of the students chosen to speak at the conference about the importance of having a full orchestra, has been in orchestra all four years at Samo, and has been to SCSBOA twice. “Full orchestra impacted me just because it allowed me to further my music knowledge and career to enjoy diverse music that isn’t always available with just strings,” Atienza said. SCSBOA’s yearly conference is a place where students and teachers alike are able to celebrate music in schools, within an honor orchestra and different musical presentations. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Sports
The Samohi Feburary 14, 2023 13
Engarde:Whats new for Samo Atheletes?
Aaron Smollins
her and Ruvolo’s journeys as fencers. “We both go to 2 hour classes on Sundays, and get a private lesson on Saturdays While Samo offers a variety of sports, because we are preparing for the Junior from football to golf, there are many sports Olympics next month. There is a tempostill not presented at Samo; one of them rary location we are using right now on being fencing. The sport is widely popuOlympic near Sawtelle. I have only comlar at the professional level, but its poppeted three times before because I started ularity is limited at the high school level. in March of 2022. Arwin started a month Two Samo students, however, have taken before me and has competed a similar it upon themselves to represent Samo in amount,” Schmelzer said. their fencing journeys, doing so successWhile the possibility of a fencing team at fully as well. Elizabeth Schmelzer (’24) Samo is promising, the lack of popularity for the sport poses a challenge in addition to a myriad of other complications. Schmelzer explains the limitations preventing the sport from becoming a part of Samo. “I would love for Samo to have a fencing team. We can actually have a team for scholastic competitions with just two people but we would need an advisor and our school would have to pay a fee. If more people were interested in fencing here, it would be easier to get a program started at Samo,” Schmelzer said. One of the most attractive aspects of fencing is that it is a very inclusive sport. It is open to people of all body types and skill levels, making it a great option for a wide variety of students. Additionally, fencing is a safe sport, with minimal risk Morgan Ruvolo/ Contributor of injury. Ruvolo (left) is facing off her opponent in one of her final matches, and would later win second place at An addition to an athletics program that the SCSFL tournament. is constantly improving, a possible Fenc-
Staff Writer
and Arwin Ruvolo (’26), have most recently placed first and second in the SCSFL (Southern California Scholastic Fencing League) novice tournament, opening up the potential of fencing becoming a part of Samo’s sports. Schmelzer and Ruvolo are currently part of an outside team, the Beverly Hills Fencers club team. The two have competed in a few tournaments in Southern California, and are currently training for even bigger competitions. Schmelzer talks about the busy schedule that fencing presents and
Morgan Ruvolo/ Contributor
Arwin Ruvolo and Elizabeth Schmelzer pose together after taking the first and second place representing Samo.
ing program would open a door for Samo students who are looking to try something new and participate in a very unique, fun and competitive sport. Starting a fencing program would require help from the Samo Athletic Department but Schmelzer and Ruvolo who are already fencing are sure to do their best to spread the word for a legitimate team at school by recruiting others and building awareness. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Damar Hamlin incident triggers conversation on emergency preparedness in high-impact sports Addie Burns
force sports such as football are more prone to more severe and even fatal injuries. Samo Athletic Director Coleen Davenport discussed her experience with the Damar Hamlin incident and how that relates to high school sports. “My original job in life was a certified athletic trainer for 25 years, so I watched that inci-
EAP is reviewed annually and practiced by all Bay League participants. The plan calls for an automated external defibrillator to be on site at every sporting event. Every coach and staff member who works with athletes must be trained in CPR and first aid, and must take a course in cardiac arrest. The plan of action en-
discussed the possible dangers of playing nonleague games at other schools. “When we go and play in a tournament at On Monday, January 2, Buffalo Bills Safeanother school that’s not part of our league, ty Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after there’s a 50/50 chance that they don’t have an tackling Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Tee athletic trainer hired,” Davenport said. “The Higgins. The 24-year-old was surrounded by only people who are trained are the coaches his teammates while the stadium fell who might not be well practiced at it.” into silence as millions watched the Although this requirement exists, unincident on television. The game was derfunded athletic programs may not be paused after the first quarter, and the as prepared for types of situations similar NFL later announced that the game to what happened to Damar Hamlin. Acwould not be resumed. Risks simicording to CIF, 21 percent of high schools lar to what happened over a month reported having access to a full time trainago can be seen through all different er, while 49 percent have no access. Many sports, specifically football. Can these of these schools rely on the mere training risks also be seen at the high school of the coaches and other staff present to level? respond to these situations. However, it is Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on not the responsibility of coaches to know the field and received CPR on the field how to deal with injury and fatal circumby trained medical personnel. After stances to save an athlete in an emergency. about 19 minutes, he was transferred Sport programs without athletic trainers to the University of Cincinnati Medhave athletes at higher risk. Samo Athletic ical Center to receive further medical Trainer Daniel Tran discussed Samo’s plan help. Doctors say a condition called in case of a major injury. Commotio Cordis is most likely what “We have the emergency action plan that happened to Hamlin. Commotio we follow in case anything happens,” Tran Cordis occurs when a force is applied said. “Whenever an athlete gets injured, to someone’s chest at just the right we’ll go through the protocol we have. Part moment; it then causes an abnormal of that protocol is just the personnel being heart rhythm that throws the victim in charge of an injury and the stuff we have into cardiac arrest. Hamlin was well to take to make sure the athlete is properly Kira Bretsky / The Samohi taken care of.” enough to return to Buffalo and stay at a hospital there. On Monday he was Sports-related trauma isn’t always obvious at first. Often, high school injuries are overlooked as students prioritize play Controversy over high school football admitted to the Buffalo General Medi- time over safety still remains, especially since professional cal Center/Gates Vascular Institute for dent in horror in real life,” Davenport said. “In sures that high school athletes within the Bay player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest further treatment. the state of California, it is required for youth League are able to receive the care they need on the field. All types of Injuries occur in footSports injuries range in severity, from com- sports and specifically high school sports during an emergency. The plan also requires ball, so it is important for high schools to be mon injuries such as shin splints and sprained to have an emergency action plan that is re- other sports facilities to have the appropriate prepared if an athlete gets seriously injured ankles to more extreme injuries such as con- viewed and in place at any sporting event.” equipment for said situations. while playing. cussion and ACL tears which, can leave play- Samo’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP) outlines Schools outside the Bay League don’t always ers out for several months. However, physical the protocol for emergency situations. This follow the same protocol as Samo. Davenport thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com Staff Writer
The Samohi
14 February 14, 2023
Sports
Boys’ Basketball ends league season with two close games Kira Bresty
On Thursday, Feb. 2, the boys’ basketball team faced Culver City for the last league game of the 2022-2023 season. The long-stand(Boys basketball head into CIF wildcard game on Wednesday ing rivalry brought high intensity and exceptional performance to Feb. 8, 2023 after publication date) . On Tuesday, January 31, Samo the North Gym, and the Vikings won the game with a final score boys’ basketball met Mira Costa for an evening match, the secondof 66-61. This secured the Vikings’ fourth place standing in the Bay to-last of this year’s league season. The Mira Costa Mustangs are League. some of the oldest, biggest and most experienced athletes in Feb. 2 was also Senior Night, which highlighted Captain Joshthe Bay League, whose seniority challenged the Vikings’ young ua Hecht (’23) and Ty Vudmaska (’23). Both members of the roster. After four quarters of heated competition, Samo lost the team have played basketball at Samo for all four years of their game with a score of 36-59. high school career. The first quarter of the game flew by with few time-outs and The Vikings fought to maintain their narrow lead through fouls. Possession fights were long and uninterrupted, bringing their second quarter, which challenged the team’s ball control the audience to their feet in the stands of the North Gym as Luke as the Culver City Centaurs brought strong offense inside the Hecht (’24) led a consistent pace to a near-tie at the first buzzer. three-point line. The emergence of young Jake Vanderveen Hecht’s smooth transport abilities allowed time for other team (’26), however, provided relief to the team and opened the court members to hold Mira Costa players back as they ran down the to wider plays. The Vikings shut the first half with another close shot clock, leaving the Vikings down by only two points at the lead of 25-20. end of the quarter with a score of 11-13. However, the fourth quarter was swift and clean, but the final In the second quarter, the team’s defense took several hits, deciding moments of the game racked up fouls for both teams tightening tensions on the court. The arrival of freshman point as the aggression on the court grew. The last two minutes on the guard Onieli Thurston (’26) brought promise to the team’s outscoreboard took place over fifteen minutes in real time. After side game, but they couldn’t keep up with the Mustangs’ consisseveral back-and-forths between players, referees, and coaches, tent offensive pressure. The team ran out of time under a Mira Kira Bretsky / The Samohi the team’s victory was finally secured, which brought deafening Costa lead of 17-26. At halftime, basketball fans from all cor- Point guard Holden Hendrickson (’24) fights defensive pressure as the Vikings cheers from the stands. ners of the gym were fired up in anticipation of the Vikings’ try to take the lead during the first quarter of the home game against Mira This game closed their season, and the team is waiting now to return to the court, which brought deafening cheers from the Costa see if they will qualify for CIF playoffs later in the month. stands as both teams prepared for the second half of the game. The Vikings brought a burst of power to the third quarter as was paused twice within one minute of the final buzzer, and ended Holden Hendrickson (’24) stood up to Mira Costa’s strongest playwith a final score of 36-59. Art Editor
ers. Hendrickson, who appears to have mastered the art of teleportation, brought relief to the team’s defense – but without the support of more Viking surface area on the court, the team wasn’t able to reach the Mustangs’ lead of 27-38. The final minutes of the game were played closely with high intensity as both teams struggled for control of the ball. The game
Girls’ Basketball defends their home court Natalie Gazzana
team secured a tight win, with a 47-45 final score. The starting five consisted of Karen Garcia (’23), Brielle Minor (Girls basketball head into CIF wildcard game on Thursday Feb. (’23), Siena Blaustein (’25), Kalaya Hudson (’23) and Bibiana Pe9 2023 after publication date ). Samo girls varsity basketball hit the terson (’24). Peterson has been with the team her three years at North Gym court once again in a league game against the Mira Samo, and is looking forward to the team’s performance next year. Costa Mustangs on January 31st, 2023. With an 18-10 record , the “Starting is really symbolic. It’s all about performance and making sure the team gets to where it needs to be.” Peterson said. The Mustangs started out in the lead, winning the tip off and scoring the first few points. However, the Vikings were directly behind with Hudson scoring two points the team quickly after. Mustangs stayed primarily in the lead until halftime when the score was 24-21, and Samo quickly caught up with the first score, going to Hudson. With one minute and 38 seconds left in the quarter, Samo called a time out, the score at 27-31, with Samo in the lead. Both teams were continuously calling timeouts, with two Mustang timeouts in the last two minutes, and one Samo. However, Garcia scored two points on foul shots with 23 seconds left. Samo girls varsity basketball celebrated senior night at their last league game against the Culver Micheal Sergeev/ The Samohi Kalaya Hudson (‘23) playing offense post senior night celebrations against the CulverCity Centaurs on February 2nd, 2023. Before the City Centaurs in the last league game of the season. game, head coach Doug Kim, commemorated the eight seniors on the team by introducing them,
Staff Writer
along with their family members and the teachers they feel has had the most impact on them. The team also had player Shelsie Vasquez (’23), sing the national anthem prior to starting. The starting five seniors were made up of Brielle Minor (’23), Basai Hundessa-Wade (’23), Vasquez, Kalaya Hudson (’23) and Karen Garcia (’23). The team started out strong, winning the tip off, with lots of crowd support and cheers. Team co-captain Minor, said she could feel the support from the student section during the game. “This is the biggest crowd we’ve had since my freshman year, so I was super energetic.” Minor said. The first points went to the Centaurs, but the Vikings quickly caught up and got on the scoreboard. The game was neck and neck with a Centaurs lead until halftime, with the score at 18-24. In the second half, the Vikings quickly put themselves in the lead with a three point break from Siena Blaustein (’24), a two pointer from Hudson and a two pointer from Minor, all back to back. The Centaurs were trying to catch up, and scored again with only one minute and 50 seconds left in the game. However, Samo’s defensive game was strong, and they kept it up until the end. The game ended with a tight Samo win of 38-36. Although the game ended on high, considering this was the last league game of the season, it was a sentimental moment for many players, including Minor, who has been a part of the team since her freshman year. “It’s so bittersweet,” Minor said. “It feels like leaving behind my family.”
Boys’ Soccer shoots for CIF championship Nika Nazarizadeh Staff Writer
On January 30 Samo boys’ soccer went head to head against Mira Costa at home. Mira Costa took the win with a close score of 1-2. Although Samo did not take home the win, they fought hard throughout the match and managed to get the ball across the field numerous times to attempt to score against Mira Costa. The first goal of the game was made by Mira Costa but right before halftime, Captain Kieran Quinn (’23) made Samo’s first goal. With the help of an assist by midfielder Nikolas Wheeler (’23), the two seniors equalized the score into the second half. Wheeler played a long ball in from a free kick on the left side, setting Quinn up to rise up and score for Samo. The second half of the game had parents and supporters on their feet. Both teams fought extremely hard to break the tie game before the game ended. The perseverance from both teams led to an intense overtime battle, however, in the end, a foul granted Mira Costa a free kick that led them to victory in the match. Despite Samo’s loss, teammates like Atreyu Lucas (’24) held high spirits and continued to prepare for the game that determines if they make it to the CIF playoffs on Feb. 1. “I feel like the loss is gonna give us momentum to work hard for the Culver City game and we will have more motivation since it’s Senior Night,” Lucas said. On Feb. 2 Samo boys’ soccer took the win in a 2-1 win against Culver City High School. This victory was an especially important one as it determined whether or not they would qualify for the CIF playoffs. The night was also specifically dedicated to seniors for their Senior Night, where they commemorated and celebrated the 16 seniors on the team.
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Samo kicked the game off with the first goal of the game scored by Julius Arias (’23) making the first half score 1-0. Arias played a commemorable game as he was awarded “Man of the Match”, an award granted to the best player of the game. The team went wild when Arias scored the first goal of the match. “The game went well, we played very well together, we kept a high-pace game, we attacked the goal really well and we had really good energy all around,” Arias said. Samo furthered the lead with a goal made by Chris Rodas (’23) right after halftime. The goal led them to victory, despite a goal made by Culver with a penalty kick. Disregarding the skill on the Kira Bretsky/ The Samohi field, Samo fought throughout After senior Julius Arias scored the first goal of the Senior Night game, senior captain Kieran Quinn the game as a team and upheld a shields off the defender as he protects the ball for Samo and helps lead them to victory. great sense of community. From ergy and the spirit,” Dereje said. team huddles to constantly congratulating one another, it With this win, the boys will be moving on into the CIF was clear to every observer that the Samo boys worked toplayoffs and continue to fight for a Viking victory. gether as a united front on and off the field. Eyuel Dereje (’24) was one of many players that were excited to play with his senior teammates at Senior Night. “Since it was Senior Night, I feel like they brought the enthesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The Samohi February 14, 2023 15
Sports
Wrestling ends up on top at Jan.14 home tournament Taylor Witt Staff Writer
Samos’ wrestling team saw excellent placements at the Jan.14 tournament. With just about every school in Los Angeles packed into Samos’ North Gym, friends and family included, the crowd at 9 in the morning felt nothing short of invigorated. Throughout the nearly twelve hours the Samo wrestlers spent in the South Gym, a total of 10 wrestlers made placements in their respective divisions. Girls team captain Taira Sakamoto (’23) placed first along with her sister Arata Sakamoto (’26) and Naomi Gage (’25). Alicia Lewis (’24) and Janelley Garcia (’23) placed second. Rani Prasad (’26) and Himanshi Manchhaal (’25) placed third. The girls saw an incredible amount of victories this tournament and they hope to see more. “The tournament ran smoothly, we had a great turnout and everyone gained some experience,” Sakamoto said. Among the frosh boys, the tournament turned out to be a breeze. Fred Ekberg (’25) placed first and Libero Somanini (’25) and Raden Madley (’25) placed second. Ekberg recalls his matches and strategy used to place first.
Garcia slams opponent down to ground, finishing match against Banning.
“I hit a blast double on every guy I wrestled so I would have to say that that was my best move,” Ekberg said. A blast double is a technique involving hitting the opponent’s chest with the head
Kira Bretsky/ The Samohi
and wrappping the arms around the opponent’s hamstrings in order to push through. Unlike other Samo sports teams, where games are usually against only one school, the wrestling competitions involve multiple
schools coming to compete at once. Schools participating in the Jan.14 tournament included La cañada, Banning, Lawndale, Paramount, West Torrance, South Torrance, North Torrance, Torrance and Mira Costa. Libero Somanini also reflects on the tournament and the advice received from the coach. “The tournament was great, it moved quickly and there were a lot of good wrestlers. Coach Mun always tells us to focus on staying in stance and trying to maintain pressure and to work the moves that work best for us,” Somanini said. The team’s success can be attributed to their hard work, as well as their head coach Jason Mun. With an evergrowing team, Mun explains his attitude when the team competes in tournaments. “As long as the kids are out there competing, having a good time, that’s all I really ask for. Obviously I want them to win but that’s not the most important thing,” Mun said. With this being the last home tournament, the wrestlers are working harder than ever in anticipation of their last few competitions including CIF-SS Masters on Feb. 17-18 and State Championships Feb. 23-25. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Girls’ Soccer seniors tie up last season at Samo Olivia Stephansen Staff Writer
The Samo girls’ soccer team has made it to CIF playoffs, once again this year, after a challenging but ultimately successful season. Currently ranked third in the bay league, their dedication and continuous efforts were reflected in this 2023 season. On Jan.13 Samo, fourth in the bay league, faced off against Mira Costa, who are third in the league. This was an important game for Samo to try and take first standing in the bay league . The game ended in a loss for Samo, with the final score being 0-2. In the first half of the game, both teams had even possession. Samo had a great start with promising drives and shots on goal. After a noscore game for most of the first half, Mira Costa scored off of a penalty kick making the score 0-1. Sydney Forsyth (’23) shares her thoughts on the game. “I honestly thought we played
Teddie Waxler/ Contributor
Seniors, Lauren Forsyth, Sydney Forsyth, Lilly Ryf, Jillian Brander, Billie Waxler, Kaya Schwartz, Alexis Corpuz celebrate their last home game with posters and flowers gifted by underclassmen teammates.
pretty well, we just didn’t finish our opportunities when we had them and got unlucky with the other team getting a cheap PK,” Forsyth said. During the second half, Samo continued fighting with plenty of shots on goal. With very little time left in the game, Mira Costa scored
again which brought the score up to 0-2, with only a couple minutes left for a Samo comeback. Samo lost the game making their league record 1-3. Samo girls’ soccer played Culver on Jan.16, ending with a final winning score of 7-0. Samo had a sol-
“I think after a loss, it’s important to reflect as a team and make observations. It helps us see how to get better,” Linowes said. Samo girl’s water polo brought heat to the cold pool on Tuesday, Jan. 24, as they faced off against Mira Costa. Though Samo did face an unfortunate loss of 2-15, the team is still proud of their efforts. Regardless of their loss, there was still a good back and forth during the game, and many times where team members got close to scoring more than they did. One team member, Charlotte Moss (‘25), reflects on the team’s process after a loss. “...Losing can be a valuable experience, showing us areas that we can improve during practice,” Moss said. At the start of the game, coaches paced along the side of the pool as Mira Costa took the lead. Though the scoreboard might’ve intimidated some, players like Moss and her fellow teammates didn’t let it faze them. Instead, the team kept their heads in the game, continuing to do their best to block Mira Costa’s efforts and score goals for Samo. On Thursday, Jan. 26, Samo girls’ water polo played Culver City high school. Despite a losing score of 7-12, both the audience and coaches were clearly impressed by both Samo’s defensive and offensive efforts. Through-
out the game, Samo and Culver left the crowd on their toes as the score swayed between the favor of Samo’s and Culver’s teams. One particularly standout player was Hope Hamilton (’24), who scored two beautiful goals, distressing Culver’s coaches. Once Hamilton received the ball, she sprung into action, recognizing that she had the opportunity to score and taking it. She proceeded to make great shots and contributed to Samo’s score of 7 greatly. Sydney Schaffer (’24) was another strong contributor in the Culver City game, who ended up making three goals. By staying open and always being prepared to take the ball and move, Schaffer was a quick decision-maker able to figure out the easiest way to score quickly, along with being a strong thrower who could get past the goalie. After a strenuous season, players will now have downtime from the constant games to continue their training as the team looks forward to another great season. Team Coach Matthew Flanders can’t wait to see how the team continues to get stronger in years to come. “…They are a great bunch of girls and with some hard work will be a great bunch of water polo players next year,” Flanders said.
id start to the game, and within 10 minutes scored a lobbed shot on goal. Samo got the ball back allowing them to keep scoring, and increasing their lead. The determination from Samo did not stop there. They kept on scoring while they had many great shots on goal, and their defense stood out. On Jan.27, Samo faced Redondo at home for their senior night. The game was significant as it would be the deciding game for the team’s chance to go to CIF playoffs. Samo scored very quickly in the first half, through a throw-in, one of the first drives of the game, by Forsyth. As Samo gained momentum, they scored again. Wide forward Audrey Howard (’26) crossed the ball to Cassie Bibby (’24), who scored through a header, extending their lead to 2-0. Redondo, however, was able to score due to an own goal by Samo. In the final minutes of the game, Redondo was awarded a pen-
alty after a Samo hand ball in the penalty box, tying the game. Despite 20 minutes of overtime, the game ended 2-2. Along with the game, the night highlighted seniors on the team, who are ending their high school soccer careers after four years of hard work and dedication, on and off the field. Lilly Ryf (’23) has spent all four years of high school on the soccer team —three of them on varsity— and feels bittersweet about her last season coming to an end. “Ending soccer, honestly it’s really sad. I stopped playing club last year, but this year I am with my best friends and sisters and knowing that I am probably not gonna be playing this sport at a collegiate level, maybe at a club level, in college, is just really sad. I know that this is definitely a great experience and great memories that I will carry throughout my life,” Ryf said.
thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Girls’ Waterpolo gains knowledge after a tough 2023 season
Audrey Strauss Staff Writer
On Jan. 30, the Samo Girls’ water polo team concluded their season, culminating the months of hard work, team-building, and grueling early morning practices in preparation for their late night meets. During the team’s 30 meets, the water polo team’s adoring audience saw the unparalleled camaraderie amongst teammates as the girls cheered each other on during both wins and losses. Though the team did suffer eight losses during the eight CIF tournament meets, their losses didn’t come without an admirable effort. Samo competed against Palos Verdes high school on Jan. 12, which was their first CIF game of the season. Despite losing 1-9, the team still had strong plays and moments, as demonstrated by Serena Wu’s (’25) expert defense, shaking the other team’s confidence and blocking many of the other team’s goals. After competing, the team will often go over game footage to gain insight on where the team lacks and the areas that the teammates shine. Team captain Sarah Linowes (’24) has noticed that this process really helps the team to progress and improve after each game.
Audrey Strauss/ The Samohi
Linowes speeds towards ball, in Jan.10 home game against Cleveland. Samo won the game 10-3, a successful start to the season. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The Samohi
16 February 14, 2023
Sports
Samo shoots their shot! In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Samo students sent messages to their friends and secret lovers. Take a look at some of the love confessions and letters of appreciation!
To: Carla Santini From: Anonymous
To: Sienna Bevan From: Sienna Goetz
To: Sienna Goetz From: Sienna Bevan
To: Samo students From: Journalism
Mommy, I love you.
Sienna wants to rizz up Sienna. Happy valentines day.
You tickle my pickle. I would like to “goetz” you.
Join the 2023-2024 newspaper staff. Email kfaas@smmusd.org
To: Indimio From: Simona
To: Thalia Ryf, Nyla Ryf From: Lilly Ryf
To: Dashiell Brooks From: Anonymous
To: Amelie Hughes From: Your secret admirer (call me mommy)
My loves, my lifes. Muah Muah Muah! Our harem is unmatched. Peace and love, shawties.
I love you so much! You are the best valentine I could ask for and I will miss you more than you know. I will forever be just a text or phone call away<3
You make my dog slobber. And I like it…
All I want is you. You are my everything, my whole world. You have my heart and I know one day I’ll have yours. AHHGAGAGAGA
To: Pamela Anderson Cooper From: Count Ravioli Jillian
To: Count Ravoili Jillian Faith Brander III From: Pamela Anderson Lily Cooper
To: Rebekah Rhapling From: Georgia Press
To: Emmaline Clare Joy Thorpe
One of these days I will get to smell you my precious.
This carpet is your oyster, munch away.
Eres dulce chico ily.
Your jarring eye balls remind me of eutrophication and turbidity (but in a good way) and your wild curly hair reminds me of delicious 4 cheese pasta.
To: S Money From: J Buss
To: Maxwell From: Asher
To: Makena Weybright From: You know who
I love my little baby #subtext.
Babygirl…will you be the Naomi to my Avi this Valentine’s Day?
Maxwell, you’re the love of my life! I hope we spend the rest of our lives together!
Date me?
To: Kate Schell, Ella Allen, Grace Boktor, Atrina Charmchi, Sasha Liberman From: Tricia
To: Hawene Alomayehu From: Josie Kramarsky
To: Mrs.Chapman From: Caden McCallum
muah
To the love of my life. My track star <3 Xoxo xoxo
Thanks Mrs.Chapman for making this class so fun and special!
Your smile is a ray of hope, always brightening my day.
To: Samohi students From: Bok
To: Ella From: Kate
To: Maya Karni From: Georgia Press
To: Slater From: <3
HAYYYYYY
Love you cutie.
My soul mate you smell like tuna happy valentines
You make my go heart pitter patter
To: Aaron Smollins From: Georgia Press
To: Max Harrison From: Anonymous
To: Ilene From: Melany
To: Riya K From: Secret Admirer
Ur cute ;)
Am a good friend:)
You’re so pretty. Let’s go out. XOXO
To: Ulara From: Liam
To: Alfie From: (:
To: Lola Satinover From: Georgia Press
To: Ella Crandall From: Secret Admirer
Ur bad at golf but sea lions pretty cool.
I wanna run my hands through your luscious locks.
I love you more then anything my little galentine.
Love you sharty;)
To: Sakura From: Rizz Khalifa
To: Hawene From: Rizzarella Co-Editor
To: Eike From: Anonymous
To: Tobias Oberman From: Secret Admirer
You are the cream to my banana.
I love working with you and you always make me giggle. You’re the best!!
Eike open your eyes Naruto is mid go watch peak like One Piece (I dont watch One Piece)
P.S. DONT GO BACK TO GERMANY
To: Ava Lowe From: Georgia Press
To: Avery Smith From: Anonymous
To: Christian Recendez From: Georgia Press
My forever valentine I love you so so much
The way you dance gives me butterflies inside :)
Queen! Aaron loves you more than you love Speghetti! Happy Valentine’s Day I hate you.
You’re cute. Hit me up.
To: Sienna Bevan From: Fayre Mckenzie
To: Lucas Yarmand From: icloud girl
To: Riya From: Skylar
To: Fayre From: Rizz Goblin
I love your outfits and I have to force myself to not stare at you during math. I’m in love with you.
424-387-7329
You are my favorite future president <333
Mommy, mommy on the wall, you are the fairest of them all.
To: Julia Orsolini From: Georgia Press
My bff ilysm happy valentines boo boo.
From: The best gal you know
To: Isis From: Casper
To: Kenji From: A