Students respond to greater enforcement of campus policies
As a new school year at Samo unfolds, students have noticed new policies and a stricter enforcement of pre-existing rules. Whether it’s at football games, pep rallies or other school events, the school security and policies seems to have tightened for the ’25-’26 school year.
HOTLB: What is your favorite Halloween memory?
Students shared their favorite nostalgic Halloween memories.
Would you agree with samo’s sweet winner?
After four rounds and hundreds of student and teacher votes across the board for our school’s favorite Halloween candy, Sour Patch Kids emerged as the ultimate champion against 16 sweet contestants. While chocolate dominated early rounds, the final vote showed Samo siding with sour over sweet.
Starbucks closures open doors for local coffee shops
After years of rapid expansion, the popular coffee chain Starbucks is changing its business approach by closing more than 29 locations across California and approximately 430 nationwide. These closures could potentially shift the coffee scene and allow smaller local coffee shops to stand out.
Fried Chicken: From the south to los Angeles
Fried chicken has become a craze in Los Angeles (LA) over the past few years, with multiple restaurants opening rapidly and big chains expanding their locations throughout the city. However, there’s a rich history behind how fried chicken arrived in Los Angeles.
New district policy officially enforces phone pockets
Entering the ’25-’26 school year, most Samo students are already used to storing their phones away for when class is in session. But many may notice that instead of having only a handful of phone-free classes like last year, phones must now be put away in every class. This is because the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) has implemented a policy which restricts electronic devices during academic hours. Starting this school year, what was once up to teachers is now a district-wide policy.
Step into a Tangled Fairytale at this year’s homecoming
As Homecoming week unfolds, the excitement spreads through campus, beginning with the Homecoming Carnival on Oct. 8, where students gather for games and food. The carnival precedes the football game on Oct. 10, which all leads up to the long-awaited Tangled up in Hoco dance on Oct. 11. ASB’s Activities Committee is organizing this week of spirit, led by Lilah Pantallion (’27) and Chase Noble (’27).
Samo students welcome the fall season
As a new school year emerges, students at Samo are beginning to prepare for the fall season. What was once an iced refresher has turned into a pumpkin chai, and although the California heat is at its peak, many cozy fall trends have started flooding social media. Fall culture has many significant components, but the ones that are essential to experience a snug fall are food, trends, activities and entertainment.