Girls’ tennis brings momentum into CIF playoffs
Samo girls’ tennis continues another successful season. They started off the season with high expectations after winning Ocean League and advancing to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) last year. Now with a strong team and some promising new faces, the Samo girls’ tennis team is living up to their expectations.
Why buy when you can diy?
The art of the creative Halloween costume fuels the spirit of the holiday as a fun and essential tradition that can be enjoyed by all. The individuality that comes from developing an ensemble allows one to bring their vision to life while expressing their interests and ingenuity in a joyous way. The modern day rarity of these do-it-yourself, or DIY, costumes comes with the rise of a commercialized approach to the festivities, forgoing the inventive process of fabricating a costume with the quick fix of buying one online.
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.
World cup controversy
The World Cup, the biggest and most prestigious international soccer tournament, is coming to Los Angeles (LA) in the summer of 2026. Every four years, 38 teams from across the world come together to compete in this month-long tournament, the most watched event in the world. Controversy has surrounded the tickets for the World Cup, due to their high prices and complex systems of release.
The death of perspective
One of the most remarkable aspects of media is that people have the ability to interpret it in any way they deem appropriate. This is media literacy, a term defined by the ability to critically analyze stories presented in media and determine their credibility and accuracy.
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.
Girls’ flag football: building momentum for a big season
For the second year in a row, the girls’ Samo varsity flag football team ended the season strong after winning the Ocean League Championship and qualifying for the CIF playoffs. The team plans to carry on the momentum from last year and stay focused on the goal of winning the league again.
HOTLB: What Does Samo Think About AI?
Across the world, the subject of artificial intelligence(AI) has been a hot topic. With language learning models like ChatGPT or image generators like DALL-E becoming increasingly popular, it's hard for anyone not to form an opinion on them, and Samo’s campus is no exception. Considering all of the nuances that come with AI, there are a million different takes a person could have. This could range from thoughts on where and when AI should be used, whether the writing and imagery it produces are real art, how it impacts the environment, humanity, and more.
Even though the sport is prone to single team superiority, the races themselves can still end up highly entertaining and the 2025 season is a perfect example of this.
Inside Samos art classes
AP Art is one of Samo’s hidden gems. Students of all skill sets, backgrounds and ages are able to come together to create complex and extremely personal portfolios over the duration of the school year.
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.
Mental Health Tolls, Climate Costs and more; the Untold Truth of AI’s Impact.
Now that Artificial Intelligence (AI) software has been in the public eye for almost three years, the conversation has begun to turn from short-term effects–ease of its usage, inaccuracies on AI chatbots’ parts and inauthentic submissions of work–to issues regarding long-term effects on humanity. Younger generations’ brain development is especially at risk, as well as the speeding issue of climate change worldwide, if AI usage progresses as it currently is.
Kershaw Announces Retirement to Follow the Close of the 2025 Season
After 18 years in the league, the 37-year-old, left hander Clayton Kershaw has decided to retire following the conclusion of this year's playoffs.
Impressive mile times set cross country up for a stellar season
Starting off this year's cross country season Samo has shown great attitudes for the meets ahead. With impressive mile times and personal bests, the Vikings are looking good for a successful year.
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.
girls’ volleyball serves up success
Last season, the Samo girls volleyball team had a strong year where they went 21-6 in overall play and 9-1 in league games. In CIF playoffs, the team made it to the quarterfinals before losing to Newbury Park in a tight and tense match that went to a fifth and final set. Liane Sato summed up last season as a great overall year with many successes but also room for improvement.
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.
First serve to final point: the US Open 2025
For the second year in a row, the girls’ Samo varsity flag football team ended the season strong after winning the Ocean League Championship and qualifying for the CIF playoffs. The team plans to carry on the momentum from last year and stay focused on the goal of winning the league again.
Is it time to put the dogs away
Flip-flops seem to be taking over our trend cycle at the moment; it’s almost like you can’t escape them. Flip-flops have been a popular footwear choice for a while. Celebrities and people around Samo have been wearing them, but should this trend continue?
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).
Local Policy: Crime and Homelessness in Santa Monica
Crime and homelessness in Santa Monica remain relevant topics for the community.