California beaches threatened by fire pollution
The Palisades and Eaton fires, which occurred in January, have significantly impacted California’s marine ecosystem. With a large amount of debris contaminating the ocean, there is potential for an ecological crisis. Approximately 4.5 million tons of toxic waste were generated from the fires, some of which is now being washed up on the Los Angeles Coast. This includes harmful pollutants and carcinogenic [cancer-causing] chemicals. With this, the Los Angeles County Department of Health prohibited swimming at beaches, with undisclosed dates of when they are going to be opened back up to the public.
Signing Day: 12 Samo athletes make their college commitments official
On Feb. 5, Samo hosted their school-wide edition of national signing day for 12 committing senior athletes in the North Gym. Various sports teams came to support the athletes signing and cheer them on from afar. Surrounded by friends, family, coaches and staff, these athletes officially committed to their respective colleges, with putting pen to paper. They celebrated years of dedication and hard work. The event highlighted some of the athletes achievements and each respective coach gave a short speech commending the dedication they had given these past four years. As they embark on the next chapter, they look ahead to the next level of competition, ready to bring the same dedication and hard work to their college teams.
After the flames: political disputes and policy management
The recent Los Angeles wildfires have been among the most devastating in the city’s history. The fires resulted in $275 billion worth of devastation and over 16,000 structures burned. In addition to the obliteration of numerous homes and businesses, a significant amount of resources were utilized during this period. 7,500 firemen combated the fires, with international support from Mexican and Canadian firefighters and hundreds of thousands of gallons of water used to help combat the fires.
impact of air quality upon athletes amidst recent fires
Athletes in Los Angeles face unique challenges posed by the city’s air quality ranging from city pollution to wildfires. Air quality can have a major impact on an athlete's performance, health and overall well-being.
Here’s what you need to know about the la wildfires
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Greater Los Angeles area was set ablaze in a series of the most destructive wildfires in LA history, destroying thousands of structures and taking many lives. These are the costliest wildfires in California history, with over $200 billion worth of destruction.
Samo alum stephen miller to advise trump
21 years ago Stephen Miller (’03), now President Trump’s nominee for Deputy Chief of policy, walked the halls of Santa Monica High School. Raised by a liberal- leaning Jewish family in the heart of Santa Monica, Miller’s childhood environment contrasted the political ideas he would later promote. Miller's time at Samo was marked by controversy, where he would deliver speeches to the student body and write conservative opinion pieces to various newspapers. Later he became a polarizing political figure as Senior Advisor to Trump’s 2016 administration.
Teens in crisis: addressing high school mental health
Schools across the country have witnessed an extreme mental health crisis afflicting their students.
According to Mental Health America, 20.17 percent of youth (ages 12-17) reported suffering from at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year.
Even starker, the CDC found that more than 4 in 10 (42 percent) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29 percent) experienced poor mental health.
With college applications for seniors coming up, hours of homework a night and extracurriculars becoming overwhelming for high schoolers, there has been a rise in awareness of the pressure brought on students. Mental health is an invisible struggle that many students across the nation go through, although we may not be able to see it, it often leads to students having to struggle alone. The academic standard that students are being held to is becoming unmanageable and anxiety inducing to many.
samo’s fashionistas stitch it to fast fashion
In a world dominated by fast fashion, a growing number of Samo students are taking matters into their own hands - literally. Whether it's driven by a desire for sustainability, personalized style or creative expression, these students are joining a movement that values individuality and mindful consumption. Beyond creating handmade pieces it can also foster a deeper connection with both the clothes they craft as well as purchase, it makes them think about the longevity of their clothes and quality.
Relationship radar: unpacking toxic trends
Love bombing. Ghosting. Gaslighting. These terms are often thrown around in online discourse to define a toxic relationship, which are oftentimes romanticized and glorified.