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.
Girls soccer is off to an exciting start
Last season, the Samo girls’ soccer team finished second in the Ocean League with a record of 8-2, while advancing to the first round of the CIF playoffs. During the first round of CIF, they faced a 1-2 loss against Notre Dame Academy, which concluded their season with an overall record of 11-10-1. The team coaches, Jason Daglis and Alyssa Pazzi, hope to build off of last season to strengthen their future performances, as well as the new five team captains that were named; LB Caldwell (’26), Audrey Howard (’26), Nyla Ryf (’26), Becky Scholze (’26) and Kayla Yee (’26)
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.
What happens to stolen art: in lieu of the louvre
From the Ocean’s franchise to classic Pink Panther films to the real-life phenomenon, the concept of a museum heist has always been something that pulls the public's attention. The elaborate plans and suspenseful escapes are bound to draw in a crowd, whether or not the story is fiction or reality. In recent years, however, art heists had become far less common-until Oct. 19, 2025, when $102 million worth of historical jewelry was stolen from the Louvre Museum. Immediately, social media exploded, mocking the Louvre’s security, memeing the event and even coining the heist as ‘chic’. Among this uproar, almost nobody seemed to be concerned about the stolen items; millions of dollars worth of culturally significant jewelry was taken, quite literally pieces of history, but despite this, there appears to be no concern for the future of these jewels.
Free Art Opportunities on the Westside
All of the following art experiences are free and located on the West side of Los Angeles.
Samo boys’ soccer sets sights high for the upcoming season
Boys’ Soccer looks to build off of a successful ’24-’25 season, ending with a perfect 9-0 record in Ocean league and a 22-4-2 record overall, which qualified Samo for the open division of the CIF playoffs.
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.
Japanese sports day comes to Samo
The Japanese tradition, Undokai, also known as Japanese sports day, was brought to Samo for the first time on Nov. 14. Japanese programs from both Samo and Cortines High School partnered up to organize this event in the North Gym.
Should social media influencer be considered a job?
With the rise of influencers, a debate has been sparked whether being an influencer should be counted as a job or not. These articles explore both sides of the argument.
Democrats gain political momentum heading into 2026
On Nov. 4, there were elections in New York, Virginia, New Jersey, and California. Each election resulted in favorable outcomes for the Democratic Party.
Girls’ basketball aims higher this season
Last year, Samo girls’ Varsity basketball made
it to the first round of the CIF playoffs, losing
by a score of 32-34. Finishing their season with
a league record of 6-4 and an overall record of
11-15, they finished third in the Ocean League.
Head Coach Lance Radford reflected on the
successes of last season.
Girls’ tennis wraps up the season undefeated in league
The Samo girls’ tennis team ended their season on Nov. 7 in the second round of CIF playoffs, losing 4-14 to Canyon High School.
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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The development crisis in santa monica
As new buildings take over the streets of Santa Monica, it is now more urgent than ever to rethink the development of the city. With increasing frequency, multi-use high rises and apartment buildings are swallowing up entire blocks and dulling the city’s character. The charm of Santa Monica is fading at the hands of urban developers and something must be done before it is too late.
To those who keep our campus safe, seasoned, and sanitary
Everyday, you endure cleaning up food fights, breaking up angsty teen aggression and dealing with a non-stop stream of peckish students. Your significant efforts as Samo’s security, custodians and cafeteria staff go overlooked too often. With your consistency, students can easily forget that it’s hired hands, not magic, that keeps the campus so well tended to. It’s not absurd to think that without your management, much of Samo would fall into chaos. Bathrooms would soon turn into biochemical hazards and lunch lines would transform into a high school edition of “The Hunger Games”. The impact that you have made on our school is beyond comprehension.
Premier league executive to lead new USL Division One
On Nov. 3, it was announced that the current chief football officer of the Premier League, Tony Scholes, was named President of the United Soccer League (USL) Division One. The USL’s Division One was formed on Feb. 13. With this new league, a system new to the U.S is planned to be put in place. Scholes was brought in due to his background in the Premier League, where he worked running competitions as well as player development.
Holiday helper: a gift guide for all your special someones
Whether it’s a gift for the hardcore gym bro, an aspiring pâtissier or a self-proclaimed fashionista, finding the perfect present during the holiday season can be difficult. From the personalized products on Etsy cursed with long delivery times, to Amazon’s overwhelming amount of items, to thousands of small shopping sites that end up being scams half the time, it’s hard to know where to start. Rather than stuffing stockings with last-minute cards and candles, take a trip down to one of many local mom-and-pop shops all around Santa Monica.