ASB petition for new sustainability position
On Oct. 22, students in the environmental advocacy club Team Marine released a petition urging the Associated Student Body (ASB) to add a position focused on sustainability at school events. Samo’s student body has specialized committees for various categories, such as spirit, media and community service, and this position would focus on making ASB events more environmentally friendly to reach the school's sustainability goals. Since the petition began, it has gained the support of over 55 verified signatures and is continuing to grow.
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ICC’s mission to clean up clubs
Samo’s Inter-Clubs Council (ICC) stepped into the ’25-26 school year with new guidelines for clubs to concise the number of clubs, putting the focus on club quality and publicity rather than variety.
Fujinomiya and Santa Monica celebrate 50 years of friendship
On Oct. 23, Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) and the city of Santa Monica welcomed the delegates from the city of Fujinomiya in Japan to Samo, commemorating 50 years of the sister city partnership between the two cities.
Closure of I-Bathrooms: The what, where, when and why?
Since the beginning of the school year, multiple Samo bathrooms, primarily those in the Innovation building, have been closed to the student body for extended periods of time. School administrators cite vandalism and vaping as some of the main reasons behind the bathroom closures.
Wrestling team shows promise in pre-season
Samo’s co-ed wrestling team is back and ready to prove themselves once again. The season ended strongly last year, with Arata Sakamoto (’26), Fred Ekberg (’25), and Kenji Ineno (’25) all qualifying for the CIF Masters Meet. The team’s commitment was evident in their early fall and summer training, with intense practices to build strength and cohesion.
E-bikes rise in popularity
E-bikes have experienced massive growth in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. With sales exceeding $ 1 million in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, this increase has been supported by government initiatives.
Students unite for climate action
On Nov. 14, students from Samo and Palisades Charter High School gathered for a joint climate rally in front of the Santa Monica Pier. The rally centered around the “Make Polluters Pay” campaign, which aims to hold large companies accountable for environmental and health issues that they have contributed towards.
Santa Monica City Council approves new ‘Realignment Plan’
A new reshaping effort for the city of Santa Monica has been approved by the Santa Monica City Council, promising to reinvigorate tourism while stabilizing the local economy. This ‘Realignment Plan’ was proposed by City Manager Oliver Chi on Oct. 27 and aims to make neighborhoods safer, keep streets cleaner and rebuild a solid foundation for generations to come.
The why, what, when and where of Prop 50
On Nov. 4, registered voters will go to the polls and vote on Proposition 50 (Prop. 50), formed by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Prop. 50 temporarily redistricts the state of California, switching five Republican districts Democratic. This was done in response to House Bill 4 (HB 4) in Texas, which flipped five Democratic districts Republican.
Ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took place on Friday, Oct. 10, marking the first sustained pause in fighting after two years of conflict in Gaza.
Congress yet to agree on new budget plan as shutdown continues
The government shutdown is set to enter its fifth week following Congress’s failure to enact a budget plan for October and beyond. While Republicans hold a majority in both chambers of Congress, the party lacks the needed 60 votes for any bill to pass through the Senate, giving Democrats some negotiating power during the shutdown. Democrats and Republicans blame each other for the current government shutdown, with stalled talks and no plans for compromise in sight.
Gov. Newsom signs new housing laws for California
Gov. Gavin Newsom this month signed Assembly Bill (AB) 628 as well as Senate Bill (SB) 79. The bills are part of housing laws that Gov. Gavin Newsom has passed in an effort to provide more housing, lessen homelessness and create more affordable housing for the state.
Ocean ave. mental health facility cancelled after backlash
On Nov. 4, registered voters will go to the polls and vote on Proposition 50 (Prop. 50), formed by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Prop. 50 temporarily redistricts the state of California, switching five Republican districts Democratic. This was done in response to House Bill 4 (HB 4) in Texas, which flipped five Democratic districts Republican.
Flag football; three years three league titles
With a flawless 7-0 league record, the Samo girls’ flag football team emerged victorious from their game against Inglewood High School, crowning them Ocean League champions for the third year in a row. The game was full of energy with fast-paced runs and throws, showing the team's chemistry on the field.
California tightens plastic bag ban
On Aug. 30, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1053, a law that will ban all plastic bags at convenience and grocery stores starting Jan. 1, 2026. After years of failed attempts to mitigate plastic pollution, the new law closes the 2014 bag ban’s loophole to finally eliminate plastic bags in California.
What’s going on around samo?
On Oct. 16, the annual Great ShakeOut drill was held at Samo at 10:16 a.m. The Great ShakeOut drill is a statewide drill done to prepare students and school staff for any potential earthquake. Earthquakes are common in California, with southern California experiencing about ten thousand earthquakes a year, according to the United States Geological Survey.
In an article published in the Seismological Research Letters by scientists at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, professor of Earth Sciences Yeduha Ben-Zion proposes that preparing for supershear earthquakes has been neglected.
Beach within 100 feet of Santa Monica Pier hits unhealthy levels
In a study conducted by Heal The Bay on May 22, the beach within 100 feet of the Santa Monica Pier was ranked the second most polluted beach on the west coast and an F on their grading scale.
What’s going on around samo?
On Aug. 26, the 15-year-old Nordstrom location at Santa Monica Place closed down. Part of an ongoing trend of closures around the Downtown Santa Monica area in recent years, the promenade faces high vacancy rates- some reaching upwards of 22 percent in July 2025. The emptiness of the promenade has been caused by multiple components, including the high rent and lingering effects of COVID-19. Due to this, the promenade has lost many visitors. As a result, the promenade has been passing policies in an attempt to revitalize the area, part of the city’s larger goal to guide the promenade back to its past state.
University tuition rising amid policy changes
Samo seniors, alongside their peers at other Californian high schools, face major changes in in-state higher education as the Cal State system’s budget deficit continues to grow, alongside recently announced tuition hikes by the UC system. For students, this also comes at a time when the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, signed on July 4 by President Donald Trump, has made it increasingly harder to borrow, repay and qualify for federal student loans.