Scot Scoop Profile
Protesters demand justice for police officerMarch 7, 2016
Cookies: Girl Scouts vs. Parent ScoutsFeb 9, 2016
Many explore new Thanksgiving traditionsNov 24, 2015
Students feel pressure to stick to status quoOct 19, 2015
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The Hackathon: Students code the day awayJanuary 18, 2017
FOMFers research their way to the topMarch 14, 2016
Hang up your skates and dreams: Belmont Iceland has reached its endJan 26, 2016
Dreams of pursuing science become a realityNov 10, 2015
Journalism breaks through in Carlmont CupSept 29, 2015
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Halloween spirit creeps into costume contestNovember 2, 2016
High fashion faces pressure to be inclusiveFeb 19, 2016
Passion: One key to happinessJan 20, 2016
Students share opinions on block schedulingOct 29, 2015
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The Hackathon: Students code the day away
January 21, 2017
Coding, collaborating, and creating — all in 24 hours.
You’re sitting at a table, surrounded by other high schoolers. The area around you is crowded with people, napkins, food, even a pyramid of soda cans, but you’re too busy to care. You’ve got 24 hours, so all of your attention is focused on writing code on the computer in front of you.
This was the scene at SM Hacks, San Mateo High School’s first hackathon. Walk around Informatica — the data company where the hackathon was held — and the first thing you notice is the sheer number of high schoolers, many of them toting duffel bags for the overnighter, laptops covered with stickers, and of course, the freebies. Nearly 200 people were in attendance.
Hackathons are, to put it shortly, like marathons for people who want to code a product. But unlike a marathon, many collaborate with other hackers. At the end of a hackathon, teams can demo their products in front of a panel of judges.
Anna Singer, a junior, said, “I’ve never done anything like this for 24 hours. I feel accomplished!”
This was Singer’s first time attending a hackathon. Singer had come with three other friends of hers, and together, their team made a website called Weather Watcher. “It’s a site where you can type in any location, and it’ll tell you the weather and suggests clothing for that weather,” said Singer.
Students, like Singer, came to the hackathon for various reasons. For many, this was their first time attending a hackathon or even their first time coding — which is why there was a variety of workshops like Intro to Programming, Intro to Web Development, and Intermediate iOS Apps. It was also a chance to experience the rush of hackathons and socialize with others who found it fun to code and wanted to learn even more.
However, it wasn’t all serious. The environment was more fun and games than not, and the game corner was crowded all night long — the constant ping! and the shouts of people trying to beat each other at the arcade basketball game, the sound of the ball clacking in the foosball game, the chatting between hackers taking a break. The place was just a constant area of activity, whether it be shooting hoops at the game center or at a table typing in code.
You’re sitting at a table, surrounded by other high schoolers. The area around you is crowded with people, napkins, food, even a pyramid of soda cans, but you’re too busy to care. You’ve got 24 hours, so all of your attention is focused on writing code on the computer in front of you.
This was the scene at SM Hacks, San Mateo High School’s first hackathon. Walk around Informatica — the data company where the hackathon was held — and the first thing you notice is the sheer number of high schoolers, many of them toting duffel bags for the overnighter, laptops covered with stickers, and of course, the freebies. Nearly 200 people were in attendance.
Hackathons are, to put it shortly, like marathons for people who want to code a product. But unlike a marathon, many collaborate with other hackers. At the end of a hackathon, teams can demo their products in front of a panel of judges.
Anna Singer, a junior, said, “I’ve never done anything like this for 24 hours. I feel accomplished!”
This was Singer’s first time attending a hackathon. Singer had come with three other friends of hers, and together, their team made a website called Weather Watcher. “It’s a site where you can type in any location, and it’ll tell you the weather and suggests clothing for that weather,” said Singer.
Students, like Singer, came to the hackathon for various reasons. For many, this was their first time attending a hackathon or even their first time coding — which is why there was a variety of workshops like Intro to Programming, Intro to Web Development, and Intermediate iOS Apps. It was also a chance to experience the rush of hackathons and socialize with others who found it fun to code and wanted to learn even more.
However, it wasn’t all serious. The environment was more fun and games than not, and the game corner was crowded all night long — the constant ping! and the shouts of people trying to beat each other at the arcade basketball game, the sound of the ball clacking in the foosball game, the chatting between hackers taking a break. The place was just a constant area of activity, whether it be shooting hoops at the game center or at a table typing in code.
The opportunities that hackathons presented were exactly the reason why San Mateo High School senior and hackathon organizer Samuel Escapa pushed for this event.
“I hope that the people who participated in it, especially if this was their first hackathon, can see coding as something they can do, even as a hobby. Hopefully, they come again and again and keep bringing new people,” said Escapa.
Escapa and his team spent months preparing for these 24 hours — there were sponsors to find, people to advertise to, and the whole question of putting it all together. Although it was a lot of work, Escapa found it exciting to be able to work with others who wanted to make the hackathon happen as much as he did.
Their work paid off — hackers at the event had access to expert mentors who could show them a better, easier, or faster way of doing something.
“I hope that the people who participated in it, especially if this was their first hackathon, can see coding as something they can do, even as a hobby. Hopefully, they come again and again and keep bringing new people,” said Escapa.
Escapa and his team spent months preparing for these 24 hours — there were sponsors to find, people to advertise to, and the whole question of putting it all together. Although it was a lot of work, Escapa found it exciting to be able to work with others who wanted to make the hackathon happen as much as he did.
Their work paid off — hackers at the event had access to expert mentors who could show them a better, easier, or faster way of doing something.
Halloween spirit creeps into costume contest
November 2, 2016
It was the ultimate face-off. The contestants had given all they had, but it was down to Dora the Explorer and Suicide Squad.
Here came the final moment — the audience would decide who would be the winner of the Halloween costume contest.
MC Sophie Clark stood in between the contestants, ready to start the final round.
With their cheers, the audience cast their votes. Whoever got the loudest response would be crowned the winner. To the tune of whoops, claps, and hollers, the victory went to… Dora!
“I had no idea about the Halloween parade and contest, and I didn’t expect anyone to know me or cheer for me. I just entered,” said winner Devon Sagon, a junior.
Sagon got the idea to dress up as Dora from a nickname.
“Everyone calls me [Dora] because of my hair, so I had to dress up as her,” said Sagon.
Dora was just one of the many costumes presented at the contest. During lunchtime, students paraded in front of the audience and panel of judges in the Quad. The MC interacted with the contestants, giving them a chance to appeal to the audience. Carlmont Dance kickstarted the event with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” energizing the crowd.
Many students went beyond just wearing a costume and adopted the persona of their character, becoming the character themselves.
Dora danced carrying her purple felt backpack. Harley was in her element, smirking and casually swinging her baseball bat. The Joker, the other half of the Suicide Squad, was close by, brooding and pensive. “You’re wrong!” Trump exclaimed. A couple dressed up as Taco and Belle, together as Taco “Belle,” held hands and were deemed as “relationship goals” by members of the audience.
Here came the final moment — the audience would decide who would be the winner of the Halloween costume contest.
MC Sophie Clark stood in between the contestants, ready to start the final round.
With their cheers, the audience cast their votes. Whoever got the loudest response would be crowned the winner. To the tune of whoops, claps, and hollers, the victory went to… Dora!
“I had no idea about the Halloween parade and contest, and I didn’t expect anyone to know me or cheer for me. I just entered,” said winner Devon Sagon, a junior.
Sagon got the idea to dress up as Dora from a nickname.
“Everyone calls me [Dora] because of my hair, so I had to dress up as her,” said Sagon.
Dora was just one of the many costumes presented at the contest. During lunchtime, students paraded in front of the audience and panel of judges in the Quad. The MC interacted with the contestants, giving them a chance to appeal to the audience. Carlmont Dance kickstarted the event with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” energizing the crowd.
Many students went beyond just wearing a costume and adopted the persona of their character, becoming the character themselves.
Dora danced carrying her purple felt backpack. Harley was in her element, smirking and casually swinging her baseball bat. The Joker, the other half of the Suicide Squad, was close by, brooding and pensive. “You’re wrong!” Trump exclaimed. A couple dressed up as Taco and Belle, together as Taco “Belle,” held hands and were deemed as “relationship goals” by members of the audience.
“It was fun rooting for Taco “Belle.” [The contestants] were pretty good, they prepared a lot for it and were really into it,” said freshman Larissa McCord.
The parade attracted many students to the Quad as the MC moved from contestant to contestant, each giving reasons on why they should win. The range of costumes and students’ spirit impressed many, including the judges.
“I love the fact that students are still into [Halloween]. The energy, creativity, and effort were really good and that playful spirit is one of the reasons why I’m a teacher,” said judge and Activities Director Jim Kelly. Kelly himself got into the Halloween spirit, dressing up as an ear of corn.
For one day, the school campus was dotted with celebrities, food, and iconic characters. Behind many costumes was a story, whether it be making a political comment by dressing up as Trump or taking a nickname to heart.
Finalists Spencer Stancil and Travis Mathers took inspiration from Suicide Squad, a comic made movie, choosing to be Harley Quinn and the Joker. Though Halloween is only for a single day, it was a magical day for many.
Stancil said, “I really enjoyed being able to show off all the hard work we did for our costumes — they took about a month to make and two hours to put on. It was especially fun to act in character!”
Protesters demand justice for police officer
March 7, 2016
“Justice for all! Justice for all!”
This chant resonated in the streets of San Francisco, as thousands of protesters turned up to support police officer Peter Liang, who had been convicted of second-degree manslaughter for the fatal shooting of an unarmed African-American man Akai Gurley. Many have called this shooting accidental, and the conviction of up to 15 years in prison has stirred much controversy.
“Peter is at fault for [not handling the situation properly], but not manslaughter. The verdict is not justice,” said Jennifer Wang, a protester.
According to The New York Times, on Nov. 20, 2014, NYPD officer Liang and another officer were patrolling a Brooklyn housing project. Liang, who had his gun out, was in the stairwell and claimed to be startled by a noise, causing him to flinch and pull the trigger. The bullet ricocheted off the wall and hit Gurley, who was walking down the stairs with his girlfriend. Liang had not seen Gurley.
Chunhua Liao, one of the main organizers of the protest in San Francisco, said, “This is selective persecution. There were worse cases of shootings, but the officers involved weren’t even convicted.”
Protests such as the one in San Francisco took place all over the nation. Many protesters believed that Liang was being made into a scapegoat.
“This is a rookie police officer, a newbie, who was sent to the most dangerous place in New York. The police are making Liang an example because he’s Chinese-American, and there’s traditionally not a lot of support from the Chinese-American community, so we’re speaking out,” said Liao.
Indeed, many Chinese-Americans turned up at the rally, passing out flyers and turning the heads of many people walking by.
This chant resonated in the streets of San Francisco, as thousands of protesters turned up to support police officer Peter Liang, who had been convicted of second-degree manslaughter for the fatal shooting of an unarmed African-American man Akai Gurley. Many have called this shooting accidental, and the conviction of up to 15 years in prison has stirred much controversy.
“Peter is at fault for [not handling the situation properly], but not manslaughter. The verdict is not justice,” said Jennifer Wang, a protester.
According to The New York Times, on Nov. 20, 2014, NYPD officer Liang and another officer were patrolling a Brooklyn housing project. Liang, who had his gun out, was in the stairwell and claimed to be startled by a noise, causing him to flinch and pull the trigger. The bullet ricocheted off the wall and hit Gurley, who was walking down the stairs with his girlfriend. Liang had not seen Gurley.
Chunhua Liao, one of the main organizers of the protest in San Francisco, said, “This is selective persecution. There were worse cases of shootings, but the officers involved weren’t even convicted.”
Protests such as the one in San Francisco took place all over the nation. Many protesters believed that Liang was being made into a scapegoat.
“This is a rookie police officer, a newbie, who was sent to the most dangerous place in New York. The police are making Liang an example because he’s Chinese-American, and there’s traditionally not a lot of support from the Chinese-American community, so we’re speaking out,” said Liao.
Indeed, many Chinese-Americans turned up at the rally, passing out flyers and turning the heads of many people walking by.
One volunteer, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “The NYPD is supposed to train their officers, but this didn’t happen with Liang. [The NYPD] didn’t offer this. I don’t know why and I don’t understand.”
Another African-American passersby, Anthony Robinson, was explaining this incident to others who were perplexed by this case.
Robinson said, “There’s an underlying racism in these instances, such as the case of when an officer put a man in a chokehold. There’s discrimination against any minority, and we need to realize that there’s no escape from [the racist society]. It does exist.”
In this case, many Chinese support Liang, while some African-Americans see the conviction as justice.
One lone African-American on the sidewalk who was against the protest said, “This protest is a lie. The press needs to tell the truth.”
According to ABC News, Liang awaits sentencing on April 14 after the jury’s charge of second-degree manslaughter. Meanwhile, many protesters hope that justice will be served.
Wang said, “This is not just about Liang. It’s about punishment that needs to be proportionate to the crime. I hope that this protest will be a wake-up call.”
Another African-American passersby, Anthony Robinson, was explaining this incident to others who were perplexed by this case.
Robinson said, “There’s an underlying racism in these instances, such as the case of when an officer put a man in a chokehold. There’s discrimination against any minority, and we need to realize that there’s no escape from [the racist society]. It does exist.”
In this case, many Chinese support Liang, while some African-Americans see the conviction as justice.
One lone African-American on the sidewalk who was against the protest said, “This protest is a lie. The press needs to tell the truth.”
According to ABC News, Liang awaits sentencing on April 14 after the jury’s charge of second-degree manslaughter. Meanwhile, many protesters hope that justice will be served.
Wang said, “This is not just about Liang. It’s about punishment that needs to be proportionate to the crime. I hope that this protest will be a wake-up call.”
FOMFers research their way to the top
March 14, 2016
They’ve done it again.
Again, and again.
The Carlmont Friends of Millard Fillmore (FOMF) team won by one point over Castilleja High School in the 47th Annual FOMF Hunt, bringing home the trophy for the third consecutive year.
This trivia hunt is famous for its unique nature. Students have one weekend to find answers to a series of random questions, and are faced with the task of bringing in evidence to prove their answers, whether it be copies of books, physical evidence, or photos.
FOMF President and senior Jasmine Davidson said, “It’s always amazing to me how many people come together to complete the task of answering as many questions as possible.”
This year, FOMF’s winning strategy was a lot of preparation — a meticulously-organized leadership team, meetings held every week leading up to the hunt, and recruiting efforts. Presentations, the use of social media, a theme song, and extra credit from many history teachers all served to attract potential members.
With the team looking to add another win to their two-year record, the school continued to support their efforts. During the competition, the Carlmont library and two classrooms stayed open after-hours, stocked with platters of food. These fueled the students, who faced questions such as bringing in an original Star Wars ticket stub from a 1970s movie showing, an original newspaper clipping of the last Peanuts comic, and a picture of a team member in a Google self-driving car.
Again, and again.
The Carlmont Friends of Millard Fillmore (FOMF) team won by one point over Castilleja High School in the 47th Annual FOMF Hunt, bringing home the trophy for the third consecutive year.
This trivia hunt is famous for its unique nature. Students have one weekend to find answers to a series of random questions, and are faced with the task of bringing in evidence to prove their answers, whether it be copies of books, physical evidence, or photos.
FOMF President and senior Jasmine Davidson said, “It’s always amazing to me how many people come together to complete the task of answering as many questions as possible.”
This year, FOMF’s winning strategy was a lot of preparation — a meticulously-organized leadership team, meetings held every week leading up to the hunt, and recruiting efforts. Presentations, the use of social media, a theme song, and extra credit from many history teachers all served to attract potential members.
With the team looking to add another win to their two-year record, the school continued to support their efforts. During the competition, the Carlmont library and two classrooms stayed open after-hours, stocked with platters of food. These fueled the students, who faced questions such as bringing in an original Star Wars ticket stub from a 1970s movie showing, an original newspaper clipping of the last Peanuts comic, and a picture of a team member in a Google self-driving car.
And these were just three questions out of the 26, which often had multiple sections in each question.
However, three days of working to find answers at school wasn’t sufficient.
The solution was the infamous overnighter.
Members from the FOMF leadership team grouped in a house on Saturday night and worked in the cold, huddled around a picnic table with computers and bowls of snacks.
FOMF Vice-President Kyle Jung said, “I was really tired, and the leaders only got about one hour of sleep on average. But I do it because I enjoy being with the leaders and working together as one team to solve some really weird and difficult trivia questions.”
When the time for adjudication came, both Carlmont and Gunn High School were prepared to defend their answers. Lawyers whipped out rules and presented their answers, and members were on standby to pass proofs to the team sitting before the panel of judges.
Despite the fact that FOMF remains at danger with fewer schools participating, many students aim to keep FOMF alive.
Sophomore and participant Jenna Williamson said, “FOMF is special. Plan A doesn’t always work for FOMF, and usually the first book with an ample proof isn’t available to obtain. This lets FOMFers get creative by looking for alternate options.”
In the end, Carlmont pulled through with countless hours of research and ingenuity. Despite the win, many simply love FOMF.
Davidson said, “FOMF is a giant research trivia hunt, which sounds super nerdy. And I guess it is, but it’s so much more than that.”
However, three days of working to find answers at school wasn’t sufficient.
The solution was the infamous overnighter.
Members from the FOMF leadership team grouped in a house on Saturday night and worked in the cold, huddled around a picnic table with computers and bowls of snacks.
FOMF Vice-President Kyle Jung said, “I was really tired, and the leaders only got about one hour of sleep on average. But I do it because I enjoy being with the leaders and working together as one team to solve some really weird and difficult trivia questions.”
When the time for adjudication came, both Carlmont and Gunn High School were prepared to defend their answers. Lawyers whipped out rules and presented their answers, and members were on standby to pass proofs to the team sitting before the panel of judges.
Despite the fact that FOMF remains at danger with fewer schools participating, many students aim to keep FOMF alive.
Sophomore and participant Jenna Williamson said, “FOMF is special. Plan A doesn’t always work for FOMF, and usually the first book with an ample proof isn’t available to obtain. This lets FOMFers get creative by looking for alternate options.”
In the end, Carlmont pulled through with countless hours of research and ingenuity. Despite the win, many simply love FOMF.
Davidson said, “FOMF is a giant research trivia hunt, which sounds super nerdy. And I guess it is, but it’s so much more than that.”
High fashion faces pressure to be inclusive
Feb 19, 2016
The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York is in full swing. However, more attention from the mainstream media was dedicated to the issue of diversity and celebrity rather than the latest styles on the runway.
Fashion used to be about the clothes. Tall, beautiful, and predominantly white models would be touted across the media, displaying the exclusivity of fashion. That is all changing due to pressure from many people pushing for diversity.
A black model, Maria Borges, and a model with Down’s syndrome, Madeline Stuart, have been viewed as champions of the inclusivity, body positivity, and diversity movements.
The industry has responded to this movement by increasing the exposure of diversity in high fashion.
However, this exposure has been limited — according to The Business of Fashion, nearly 80 percent of the models who walked the runway in 2015 were white, followed by black models at 10.2 percent, Asian models at 6.5 percent, and “other” models at 2.3 percent. This representation does not reflect the true makeup of the American population in terms of race.
The recent move toward increasing diversity can be viewed in two ways: the industry is including more diverse models to support the movement, or its “support” is a marketing ploy meant to gain more money and attention from the masses.
Due to this exposure and the widespread influence of social media, the elitist bubble of fashion is cracking.
In high fashion as shown on the runways, models who fit the standards of beauty are celebrated. In reality, however, people are not all tall, white, or “beautiful” by traditional standards. What’s advertised doesn’t always match reality.
This is what the diversity movement aims to change, and this extends beyond fashion. The push to make fashion more inclusive sends a message that style is not just about the clothes, but also about the person, their race, and what they represent.
Fashion week is not just an outlet for clothes. It’s now being idealized as a way to celebrate the individuality of “real” people. However, there are real people who are tall, predominantly white, and beautiful. These standards of beauty are being hacked at by the diversity movement in a way that contradicts the positive influence of inclusivity.
Perhaps this is a pivotal moment for fashion. Maybe it’s time for fashion to break out of its elitist shell and get on with the times. Either way, the industry benefits and has seen that it’s in its best interest to go along with the heightened pressure put on fashion.
The industry has struck a balance by connecting with the masses by use of diversified models and social media. However, it’s also disconnected itself by remaining “elevated” from the masses, ironically also through social media. The elitist bubble of fashion has been cracked, but not broken. After all, much of what is shown on the runway is rarely seen on the streets.
The fact is that most of the models walking for the fashion houses are still tall, white, and beautiful.
But is that a crime!
Fashion used to be about the clothes. Tall, beautiful, and predominantly white models would be touted across the media, displaying the exclusivity of fashion. That is all changing due to pressure from many people pushing for diversity.
A black model, Maria Borges, and a model with Down’s syndrome, Madeline Stuart, have been viewed as champions of the inclusivity, body positivity, and diversity movements.
The industry has responded to this movement by increasing the exposure of diversity in high fashion.
However, this exposure has been limited — according to The Business of Fashion, nearly 80 percent of the models who walked the runway in 2015 were white, followed by black models at 10.2 percent, Asian models at 6.5 percent, and “other” models at 2.3 percent. This representation does not reflect the true makeup of the American population in terms of race.
The recent move toward increasing diversity can be viewed in two ways: the industry is including more diverse models to support the movement, or its “support” is a marketing ploy meant to gain more money and attention from the masses.
Due to this exposure and the widespread influence of social media, the elitist bubble of fashion is cracking.
In high fashion as shown on the runways, models who fit the standards of beauty are celebrated. In reality, however, people are not all tall, white, or “beautiful” by traditional standards. What’s advertised doesn’t always match reality.
This is what the diversity movement aims to change, and this extends beyond fashion. The push to make fashion more inclusive sends a message that style is not just about the clothes, but also about the person, their race, and what they represent.
Fashion week is not just an outlet for clothes. It’s now being idealized as a way to celebrate the individuality of “real” people. However, there are real people who are tall, predominantly white, and beautiful. These standards of beauty are being hacked at by the diversity movement in a way that contradicts the positive influence of inclusivity.
Perhaps this is a pivotal moment for fashion. Maybe it’s time for fashion to break out of its elitist shell and get on with the times. Either way, the industry benefits and has seen that it’s in its best interest to go along with the heightened pressure put on fashion.
The industry has struck a balance by connecting with the masses by use of diversified models and social media. However, it’s also disconnected itself by remaining “elevated” from the masses, ironically also through social media. The elitist bubble of fashion has been cracked, but not broken. After all, much of what is shown on the runway is rarely seen on the streets.
The fact is that most of the models walking for the fashion houses are still tall, white, and beautiful.
But is that a crime!
Cookies: Girl Scouts vs. Parent Scouts
Feb 9, 2016
‘Tis the season… of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs, sold by Girl Scouts, with profits going back to an inspiring community of girls.
Girl Scouts span a variety of ages, and many high school Scouts can be seen at Carlmont carting boxes upon boxes of cookies, enticing high school students and teachers.
This annual tradition kills two birds with one stone — cookies are a successful business model, and Scouts learn lifelong skills along the way.
But not all of these delicious cookies are sold by Girl Scouts themselves.
This is a depressing step backwards, especially considering the Scouts’ long and proud history.
Since 1912, the Girl Scouts have played a major role in 100 years of history. They participated in relief efforts during the Great Depression, flew in the Wing Scouts program during the World War II, and held Speak Out conferences during the fight for racial equality. Despite the new age of technology, they have stayed true to their roots by connecting with the outdoors.
To fund their activities, they started selling cookies in 1917, which has proven to be both popular and profitable.
According to ABC News, about 200 million boxes of cookies are sold each year. However, these cookies go beyond just providing funds for the Scouts.
Cookies build Girl Scouts. They contribute to the mission of building “girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.”
So after more than 100 years of building self-reliant girls, why is it that it’s no longer just Girl Scouts selling cookies?
Sophomore Ryan Leung said, “I bought Thin Mints from a friend whose sister is a Girl Scout, and after he sold the cookies he gave the money to her.”
Nothing may seem amiss at first. After all, it is just a cookie transaction.
But there is something wrong with that.
Girl Scout and junior Megan Wadleigh said, “The Girl Scouts emphasize honesty, fairness, and responsibility. I think that parents selling cookies on behalf of their girls runs counter to those ideals.”
Instead of girls coming up with ways to sell and maximize their profit, parents are coercing their colleagues to purchase cookies at their workplace. Instead of girls going door-to-door and practicing their sales pitch with strangers, parents are wooing customers over at the tables in front of supermarkets. Instead of the girls, it is the helicopter supporters.
This contrasts sharply with the principles on which the Girl Scouts were founded.
Now, the organization meant to build leadership is turning into an organization that rewards laziness. Instead of shaping world leaders, it is shaping world loungers. That should not be happening.
So let the Girl Scouts go. Provide a support network, but remember that “support” has some limits.
Anyone selling cookies other than the Girl Scouts themselves only does disgrace to an organization so powerful and inspiring.
Cookies are for Girl Scouts to sell. Let us keep it that way.
Girl Scouts span a variety of ages, and many high school Scouts can be seen at Carlmont carting boxes upon boxes of cookies, enticing high school students and teachers.
This annual tradition kills two birds with one stone — cookies are a successful business model, and Scouts learn lifelong skills along the way.
But not all of these delicious cookies are sold by Girl Scouts themselves.
This is a depressing step backwards, especially considering the Scouts’ long and proud history.
Since 1912, the Girl Scouts have played a major role in 100 years of history. They participated in relief efforts during the Great Depression, flew in the Wing Scouts program during the World War II, and held Speak Out conferences during the fight for racial equality. Despite the new age of technology, they have stayed true to their roots by connecting with the outdoors.
To fund their activities, they started selling cookies in 1917, which has proven to be both popular and profitable.
According to ABC News, about 200 million boxes of cookies are sold each year. However, these cookies go beyond just providing funds for the Scouts.
Cookies build Girl Scouts. They contribute to the mission of building “girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.”
So after more than 100 years of building self-reliant girls, why is it that it’s no longer just Girl Scouts selling cookies?
Sophomore Ryan Leung said, “I bought Thin Mints from a friend whose sister is a Girl Scout, and after he sold the cookies he gave the money to her.”
Nothing may seem amiss at first. After all, it is just a cookie transaction.
But there is something wrong with that.
Girl Scout and junior Megan Wadleigh said, “The Girl Scouts emphasize honesty, fairness, and responsibility. I think that parents selling cookies on behalf of their girls runs counter to those ideals.”
Instead of girls coming up with ways to sell and maximize their profit, parents are coercing their colleagues to purchase cookies at their workplace. Instead of girls going door-to-door and practicing their sales pitch with strangers, parents are wooing customers over at the tables in front of supermarkets. Instead of the girls, it is the helicopter supporters.
This contrasts sharply with the principles on which the Girl Scouts were founded.
Now, the organization meant to build leadership is turning into an organization that rewards laziness. Instead of shaping world leaders, it is shaping world loungers. That should not be happening.
So let the Girl Scouts go. Provide a support network, but remember that “support” has some limits.
Anyone selling cookies other than the Girl Scouts themselves only does disgrace to an organization so powerful and inspiring.
Cookies are for Girl Scouts to sell. Let us keep it that way.
Hang up your skates and dreams: Belmont Iceland has reached its end
Jan 26, 2016
Ice skaters of various ages, from tots to adults, are losing their home. Belmont Iceland has announced that it will be closing its doors by the end of April 2016, leaving many hearts shattered.
With the closure of Belmont Iceland, current skaters and coaches are not the only ones affected. It’s also the skaters of the future who will never have that experience in this town.
I remember when I first truly fell in love with skating. It was the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and I was 13 years old, sitting in front of the TV in my living room. It was the men’s short program, and Yuzuru Hanyu, a 19-year-old skater from Japan, went on to break a record and win the gold medal.
When the first notes of “Parisian Walkways” started, I was floored. It was flair. Power. Beauty. Grace. I was overwhelmed. From that moment forward, I never forgot Yuzuru Hanyu and his skating. It was the crowning of a new prince.
Inspired by the ice legacies, I started skating again with a new fervor.
When I found out that Belmont Iceland was closing after nearly 60 years of business, my stomach dropped.
My stomach dropped even further when I found out that the closure was due to financial issues.
A mere $1 million. The price of a condo in the Bay Area. What most people don’t realize is that what Belmont Iceland has is worth far more than that amount.
The devastating fact is that within the span of three years, we’ve lost two local rinks. The Bridgepointe ice rink in San Mateo closed in 2013, and has been sitting there for nearly three years with its lights off, its ice begging for people, for life.
The city council is now at risk of making a huge mistake; the council is considering a proposal to redevelop the Bridgepointe rink and replace it with retail stores. The rise of the dollar and retail stores selling overpriced leggings at the expense of ice rinks is disparaging. A place harboring so many dreams should not be shut down.
For the past four years that I have been skating, I learned far more than shopping could ever teach me. I learned that crashing into someone else while skating backwards and promptly falling on your butt is okay. For a sport that allows you to fly, spin, and jump, the risks are incomparable.
Belmont Iceland is the only place where you can experience this special environment. It is the only place where you can see people of all ages clutching onto the railings, legs flailing, yet having fun. This is the only place in Belmont that has Glow Skate sessions on Saturday nights where people can let loose.
Belmont Iceland is a place of extraordinary art combined with unlimited spirit, where the sport of power, beauty, and grace reigns. Soon, that will all be gone.
With the closure of Belmont Iceland, current skaters and coaches are not the only ones affected. It’s also the skaters of the future who will never have that experience in this town.
I remember when I first truly fell in love with skating. It was the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and I was 13 years old, sitting in front of the TV in my living room. It was the men’s short program, and Yuzuru Hanyu, a 19-year-old skater from Japan, went on to break a record and win the gold medal.
When the first notes of “Parisian Walkways” started, I was floored. It was flair. Power. Beauty. Grace. I was overwhelmed. From that moment forward, I never forgot Yuzuru Hanyu and his skating. It was the crowning of a new prince.
Inspired by the ice legacies, I started skating again with a new fervor.
When I found out that Belmont Iceland was closing after nearly 60 years of business, my stomach dropped.
My stomach dropped even further when I found out that the closure was due to financial issues.
A mere $1 million. The price of a condo in the Bay Area. What most people don’t realize is that what Belmont Iceland has is worth far more than that amount.
The devastating fact is that within the span of three years, we’ve lost two local rinks. The Bridgepointe ice rink in San Mateo closed in 2013, and has been sitting there for nearly three years with its lights off, its ice begging for people, for life.
The city council is now at risk of making a huge mistake; the council is considering a proposal to redevelop the Bridgepointe rink and replace it with retail stores. The rise of the dollar and retail stores selling overpriced leggings at the expense of ice rinks is disparaging. A place harboring so many dreams should not be shut down.
For the past four years that I have been skating, I learned far more than shopping could ever teach me. I learned that crashing into someone else while skating backwards and promptly falling on your butt is okay. For a sport that allows you to fly, spin, and jump, the risks are incomparable.
Belmont Iceland is the only place where you can experience this special environment. It is the only place where you can see people of all ages clutching onto the railings, legs flailing, yet having fun. This is the only place in Belmont that has Glow Skate sessions on Saturday nights where people can let loose.
Belmont Iceland is a place of extraordinary art combined with unlimited spirit, where the sport of power, beauty, and grace reigns. Soon, that will all be gone.
Passion: One key to happiness
Jan 20, 2016
What brings people happiness? Some may say family. Friends. Money. Love. Fame. World domination. Possible answers range from the silly to the serious. But arguably, one of the things that brings people happiness is something that many people are in pursuit of: passion. “I can’t picture myself doing anything else,” said sophomore Jenna Williamson, a devoted musician.
Williamson is a percussionist and French horn player in the Carlmont Symphony Orchestra and the Peninsula Youth Orchestra (PYO). For her, music is her life.
“The goal for the quarter is to have 20 hours of practice for each student and I usually come up with at least 100 hours on each practice record, which is kind of insane,” said Williamson, laughing.
Sophomore Kalea Pasion is witness to Williamson’s passion. Pasion said, “She really puts a lot of time into perfecting the piece she’s working on. Her music reflects her determination.”
Williamson has made many sacrifices for her love of music.
She said, “A lot of times that I could be spending studying or doing homework, I’m playing music. I also sacrificed a lot of my social life and don’t have a lot of time to hang out with friends after school.”
For Williamson, though, it’s a choice she’s willing to make. “Music makes me happy because it’s my way of speaking to the world. Even though I haven’t made all of the auditions I’ve tried for, going through the process of auditions really boosts my self-confidence.”
While her passion lies in music, senior Joanna Tabacek’s passion lies in a different area — Mock Trial.
Tabacek is the president of the Mock Trial club at Carlmont, in which students simulate court trials in competitions against other schools. Several graduates from the club have gone on to pursue careers in law and forensic science.
“I’m an attorney on the team, and I’ve been a member since freshman year,” said Tabacek. “I do get frustrated at times just because I care so much.”
Williamson and Tabacek are examples of people who have found a strong passion, but for many people, finding a passion feels like it isn’t a reality.
“The goal for the quarter is to have 20 hours of practice for each student and I usually come up with at least 100 hours on each practice record, which is kind of insane,” said Williamson, laughing.
Sophomore Kalea Pasion is witness to Williamson’s passion. Pasion said, “She really puts a lot of time into perfecting the piece she’s working on. Her music reflects her determination.”
Williamson has made many sacrifices for her love of music.
She said, “A lot of times that I could be spending studying or doing homework, I’m playing music. I also sacrificed a lot of my social life and don’t have a lot of time to hang out with friends after school.”
For Williamson, though, it’s a choice she’s willing to make. “Music makes me happy because it’s my way of speaking to the world. Even though I haven’t made all of the auditions I’ve tried for, going through the process of auditions really boosts my self-confidence.”
While her passion lies in music, senior Joanna Tabacek’s passion lies in a different area — Mock Trial.
Tabacek is the president of the Mock Trial club at Carlmont, in which students simulate court trials in competitions against other schools. Several graduates from the club have gone on to pursue careers in law and forensic science.
“I’m an attorney on the team, and I’ve been a member since freshman year,” said Tabacek. “I do get frustrated at times just because I care so much.”
Williamson and Tabacek are examples of people who have found a strong passion, but for many people, finding a passion feels like it isn’t a reality.
“It’s a lot of pressure to find passion in high school because in college, you have to already know what you want to major in. People are pressing it earlier and earlier [into high school], and I don’t agree with that,” said sophomore Alyssa Fong. “I think you should find your passion in college, because that’s when people are more mature.”
Despite the pressures and lack of time that many high school students face, many students often look at themselves and wonder, “What am I doing with my life?” In their ripe old ages of 13 to 19, many teens find themselves in a crisis of wanting to know the secret behind happiness and passion. After all, passion is idealized as something that brings happiness and purpose in life.
An answer to that question could lie in the words of Cal Newport, a Georgetown University assistant professor and author of a series of bestselling books, one of which is titled, “How to Become a High School Superstar.” Newport himself is a graduate from Dartmouth University, one of the eight Ivy League schools.
In his Study Hacks blog, Newport talks about the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which explores the source of what motivates people and makes them love what they do.
According to Newport, SDT claims that “to be happy, your work must fulfill three universal psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.”
In other words, the theory proposes that people are happy when they have control over how they spend their time, have mastered useful abilities and continue to do so, and have a connection with others.
That seems daunting to the average person, but Williamson and Tabacek have proven that it’s possible. The matter of question is, who will do it?
Williamson is an example of someone who found something, kept up with it, became good at it, and grew to love it.
For Williamson, a career is in the works. “I would love to major in music composition and put my musical thoughts on paper, which is a really cool and creative outlet,” said Williamson. She hopes to be a teacher in the future, and has already gotten a start by teaching French horn.
While this is impressive, the beauty is that many people have passions without realizing it — sophomore Jimmy Rudger is passionate about family and hopes to carry on the love and support to his future family.
For Williamson, what started as an “I-want-to-do-that-too” moment in third grade grew into something that she now sees as a career.
Tabacek said, “I can’t imagine not being president [of the club]. It makes you realize that we’re teenagers and we’re doing something on such a great scale.”
Williamson and Tabacek never thought their interests would grow into the passions they have today. But for them, it’s now a part of their identity.
English teacher Cynthia Faupusa had a word of advice for people in pursuit of a passion: “Pursue it. Pursue it with everything you have.
Despite the pressures and lack of time that many high school students face, many students often look at themselves and wonder, “What am I doing with my life?” In their ripe old ages of 13 to 19, many teens find themselves in a crisis of wanting to know the secret behind happiness and passion. After all, passion is idealized as something that brings happiness and purpose in life.
An answer to that question could lie in the words of Cal Newport, a Georgetown University assistant professor and author of a series of bestselling books, one of which is titled, “How to Become a High School Superstar.” Newport himself is a graduate from Dartmouth University, one of the eight Ivy League schools.
In his Study Hacks blog, Newport talks about the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which explores the source of what motivates people and makes them love what they do.
According to Newport, SDT claims that “to be happy, your work must fulfill three universal psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.”
In other words, the theory proposes that people are happy when they have control over how they spend their time, have mastered useful abilities and continue to do so, and have a connection with others.
That seems daunting to the average person, but Williamson and Tabacek have proven that it’s possible. The matter of question is, who will do it?
Williamson is an example of someone who found something, kept up with it, became good at it, and grew to love it.
For Williamson, a career is in the works. “I would love to major in music composition and put my musical thoughts on paper, which is a really cool and creative outlet,” said Williamson. She hopes to be a teacher in the future, and has already gotten a start by teaching French horn.
While this is impressive, the beauty is that many people have passions without realizing it — sophomore Jimmy Rudger is passionate about family and hopes to carry on the love and support to his future family.
For Williamson, what started as an “I-want-to-do-that-too” moment in third grade grew into something that she now sees as a career.
Tabacek said, “I can’t imagine not being president [of the club]. It makes you realize that we’re teenagers and we’re doing something on such a great scale.”
Williamson and Tabacek never thought their interests would grow into the passions they have today. But for them, it’s now a part of their identity.
English teacher Cynthia Faupusa had a word of advice for people in pursuit of a passion: “Pursue it. Pursue it with everything you have.
Many explore new Thanksgiving traditions
Nov 24, 2015
The way many people celebrate Thanksgiving has changed over the years. However, one central idea remains in the name of the holiday — giving thanks.
For many, Thanksgiving is a time to get together with family and friends, often with traditions such as eating turkey and watching football games. But mainly, it’s a welcome break for people to recharge and reflect on their lives.
“We [my family] either all get along or don’t get along. I yell at people while we’re making dinner since someone’s likely doing something wrong, but it’s a way to bond,” said sophomore Daisha Sherman.
Sherman and her family have a tradition of making food that not many would expect.
“We’re going to make, or rather, attempt to make, food with Blue Apron. My dad’s a pescatarian [and] we usually don’t get meat, so when we do get it, I get excited for some good quality meat!” said Sherman.
Blue Apron is a business that delivers pre-measured ingredients and a recipe in a box. After all, the offer is tempting; Blue Apron offers recipes such as Apple-Cider Glazed Chicken, Seared Cod and Garlic Ginger Rice, and Pork Chops and Apple Mostarda.
Some people from other cultures also take part in Thanksgiving with their own traditions.
Parent Yvonne Li, who is ethnically Chinese, said, “This Thanksgiving we’re having old friends over. Instead of having turkey and gravy, we’re getting a turkey from San Francisco and incorporating it into a Chinese dish that usually has Peking duck.”
Thanksgiving also comes right before finals and Dead Week, signaling the start of the holiday season.
“School is stressful and puts a lot of pressure on me. Everyone needs a break once in a while — a break that’s longer than a weekend,” said sophomore Miya Okumura.
Not only are students anticipating time off, but the teachers are also looking forward to the break. Andrea Seremet, Government and AP Psychology teacher, is going over to a friend’s house for dinner.
“It’s a new thing that just started, which is nice since you can be with people and share a meal. It would suck to be alone!” said Seremet.
She advised her students, “Don’t forget to be mindful of people who have been supporting you, whether it’s been family, friends, the person who drives you to school, whoever.”
While all these people have their own traditions for Thanksgiving, they all have something that they’ll always be thankful for.
For Sherman, it’s her dog, the Puff, also known as the Puffmeister. He was Sherman’s 14th birthday present. Sherman said of her Pomeranian, “I’m thankful for [the Puff] because he’s always so happy and makes me feel important.” The Puff was adopted from an SPCA shelter and had surgery for breathing issues.
“He’s always so happy when we come home! He’s constantly jumping and he’s really fluffy and soft,” said Sherman.
For Okumura, it’s her cousin Sadie.
“She’s a good listener, gives good advice, and she’s funny and smart!” said Okumura. “We usually go outside and talk about our problems or shop at the Hillsdale Mall.”
As for sophomore Oliver Golden, it’s his own privilege.
“I’m grateful for the economic security to be able to celebrate with the people that I love. My family’s alive, my friends support me, and I can talk to them when something’s troubling me,” said Golden.
What all these people have in common are cherishing what they have. Their lives, their relationships with others, and the world around them. In the fast-paced lives of many people, it’s easy to forget about the privilege we have in life.
So whether you’ll spend this Thursday watching the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, eating good food, or spending time with loved ones, always remember to be thankful.
For many, Thanksgiving is a time to get together with family and friends, often with traditions such as eating turkey and watching football games. But mainly, it’s a welcome break for people to recharge and reflect on their lives.
“We [my family] either all get along or don’t get along. I yell at people while we’re making dinner since someone’s likely doing something wrong, but it’s a way to bond,” said sophomore Daisha Sherman.
Sherman and her family have a tradition of making food that not many would expect.
“We’re going to make, or rather, attempt to make, food with Blue Apron. My dad’s a pescatarian [and] we usually don’t get meat, so when we do get it, I get excited for some good quality meat!” said Sherman.
Blue Apron is a business that delivers pre-measured ingredients and a recipe in a box. After all, the offer is tempting; Blue Apron offers recipes such as Apple-Cider Glazed Chicken, Seared Cod and Garlic Ginger Rice, and Pork Chops and Apple Mostarda.
Some people from other cultures also take part in Thanksgiving with their own traditions.
Parent Yvonne Li, who is ethnically Chinese, said, “This Thanksgiving we’re having old friends over. Instead of having turkey and gravy, we’re getting a turkey from San Francisco and incorporating it into a Chinese dish that usually has Peking duck.”
Thanksgiving also comes right before finals and Dead Week, signaling the start of the holiday season.
“School is stressful and puts a lot of pressure on me. Everyone needs a break once in a while — a break that’s longer than a weekend,” said sophomore Miya Okumura.
Not only are students anticipating time off, but the teachers are also looking forward to the break. Andrea Seremet, Government and AP Psychology teacher, is going over to a friend’s house for dinner.
“It’s a new thing that just started, which is nice since you can be with people and share a meal. It would suck to be alone!” said Seremet.
She advised her students, “Don’t forget to be mindful of people who have been supporting you, whether it’s been family, friends, the person who drives you to school, whoever.”
While all these people have their own traditions for Thanksgiving, they all have something that they’ll always be thankful for.
For Sherman, it’s her dog, the Puff, also known as the Puffmeister. He was Sherman’s 14th birthday present. Sherman said of her Pomeranian, “I’m thankful for [the Puff] because he’s always so happy and makes me feel important.” The Puff was adopted from an SPCA shelter and had surgery for breathing issues.
“He’s always so happy when we come home! He’s constantly jumping and he’s really fluffy and soft,” said Sherman.
For Okumura, it’s her cousin Sadie.
“She’s a good listener, gives good advice, and she’s funny and smart!” said Okumura. “We usually go outside and talk about our problems or shop at the Hillsdale Mall.”
As for sophomore Oliver Golden, it’s his own privilege.
“I’m grateful for the economic security to be able to celebrate with the people that I love. My family’s alive, my friends support me, and I can talk to them when something’s troubling me,” said Golden.
What all these people have in common are cherishing what they have. Their lives, their relationships with others, and the world around them. In the fast-paced lives of many people, it’s easy to forget about the privilege we have in life.
So whether you’ll spend this Thursday watching the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, eating good food, or spending time with loved ones, always remember to be thankful.
Dreams of pursuing science become a reality
Nov 10, 2015
Science has changed and continues to change the world. When given an opportunity to learn more about science, some Carlmont students jumped at the chance.
The Biotechnology Institute (BTI) functions like a school within a school. Students can use machines worth thousands of dollars, learn about the impact of science on the world, and be a part of a scientific community.
For some students, science is something that intrigues them. For sophomore Julia Griesbach, that’s one reason why she joined BTI.
Griesbach said, “I’m interested in finding out about the unknown, since a lot of people think they know about something, but actually don’t.”
Biotechnology is a science that manipulates living organisms. It has produced revolutionary products and techniques. Among these are anti-cancer drugs, more efficient ways of growing food, and mind-blowing discoveries that weren’t even possible hundreds of years ago.
Biotech teacher and BTI director Tina Smith said, “We introduce the industry, such as how scientists were able to become scientists. We also hope to pair students with mentors, as well as offer internships and relations with community colleges.”
In this program, students have been experiencing a science-influenced curriculum, with a focus in biotechnology. Despite the institute being in its first year, there have already been some highlights.
Sophomore and BTI student Emilio Barbosa Valdiosera said, “The program teaches about different biotech companies and offers lab experience. We also had a conference about it, and people who worked at biotech companies came in and talked to us.”
According to the BTI brochure, the Institute has “an industry-led advisory board.” Their partners include Gilead, a company recently in the headlines for its game-changing hepatitis C drugs Sovaldi and Harvoni, as well as companies such as LakePharma and DNA2.0.
However, the BTI has faced several challenges in its first year. The institute doesn’t offer advanced classes, which turned some people away. The BTI didn’t have much of a reputation for students to look at since it was so new.
BTI sophomore Alice Gevorgyan said, “I thought it was going to be really competitive and with top-percentile students, but not everyone in the program actually wants to become a scientist or is interested in that field.”
Some students think that the program could be even more science-focused.
“It would be nice if the curriculum was based on science, with history and English classes layered over that,” said Griesbach. “Since the director, Dr. Lundeberg, left, there has been less of a spark.”
However, Smith said, “We do want to bring science into the program to a certain extent, but meeting standards such as English and history are important. The program is science-focused, but it’s not just science.”
Despite some setbacks, many are glad that they joined the BTI.
Valdiosera said, “It’s like one big family in class.”
The Biotechnology Institute (BTI) functions like a school within a school. Students can use machines worth thousands of dollars, learn about the impact of science on the world, and be a part of a scientific community.
For some students, science is something that intrigues them. For sophomore Julia Griesbach, that’s one reason why she joined BTI.
Griesbach said, “I’m interested in finding out about the unknown, since a lot of people think they know about something, but actually don’t.”
Biotechnology is a science that manipulates living organisms. It has produced revolutionary products and techniques. Among these are anti-cancer drugs, more efficient ways of growing food, and mind-blowing discoveries that weren’t even possible hundreds of years ago.
Biotech teacher and BTI director Tina Smith said, “We introduce the industry, such as how scientists were able to become scientists. We also hope to pair students with mentors, as well as offer internships and relations with community colleges.”
In this program, students have been experiencing a science-influenced curriculum, with a focus in biotechnology. Despite the institute being in its first year, there have already been some highlights.
Sophomore and BTI student Emilio Barbosa Valdiosera said, “The program teaches about different biotech companies and offers lab experience. We also had a conference about it, and people who worked at biotech companies came in and talked to us.”
According to the BTI brochure, the Institute has “an industry-led advisory board.” Their partners include Gilead, a company recently in the headlines for its game-changing hepatitis C drugs Sovaldi and Harvoni, as well as companies such as LakePharma and DNA2.0.
However, the BTI has faced several challenges in its first year. The institute doesn’t offer advanced classes, which turned some people away. The BTI didn’t have much of a reputation for students to look at since it was so new.
BTI sophomore Alice Gevorgyan said, “I thought it was going to be really competitive and with top-percentile students, but not everyone in the program actually wants to become a scientist or is interested in that field.”
Some students think that the program could be even more science-focused.
“It would be nice if the curriculum was based on science, with history and English classes layered over that,” said Griesbach. “Since the director, Dr. Lundeberg, left, there has been less of a spark.”
However, Smith said, “We do want to bring science into the program to a certain extent, but meeting standards such as English and history are important. The program is science-focused, but it’s not just science.”
Despite some setbacks, many are glad that they joined the BTI.
Valdiosera said, “It’s like one big family in class.”
Students share opinions on block scheduling
Oct 29, 2015
When the Carlmont administration discussed the possibility of block scheduling, the news spread like wildfire. Students and teachers voiced their opinions, with some teachers even taking the time during class to share their thoughts.
During block schedule, the current six or seven periods are replaced with longer classes that meet fewer times per week.
“Block scheduling would give me more time to learn about subjects that I enjoy,” said sophomore Oliver Golden. “We could also do more creative projects instead of having one day homework packets, which I find are stressful and not beneficial.”
Carlmont is the only school in the district that hasn’t yet adapted to block scheduling. However, opinions remain divided on the true effects of having fewer, yet longer classes every day.
English teacher Cynthia Faupusa said, “With the block schedule, students would get more time to process and receive help on their homework. But with the current 50-minute period, I have just enough time to get students in, have them settle down, do one or two things, and get them out. And when they’re stressed, they’re less focused.”
Students and teachers experienced block scheduling during testing on the week of Oct. 26.
Math teacher Laura Robeck said, “Math should ideally be done every day. It would be hard to keep students engaged, and it could be more stressful for students because they get tired more easily and have more homework. However, different subjects require different approaches.”
Having longer and fewer classes every day means something different to every student. To Golden, it means more time for projects and less stress. But for others, it may mean missing the class they love the most.
Symphony Orchestra percussionist Jenna Williamson said, “I want to go to my favorite classes every day. My dream is to be a musician, and if I had block every day, I wouldn’t be able to play music in class. Having block scheduling once in a while such as during testing week is fun, but having it every day would be boring and tiring.”
There are many things to consider when deciding whether or not to make the permanent change to a block schedule.
Faupusa said, “This isn’t just about block schedule, this is also about the rushed nature of students’ lives. Most students nowadays are sleep deprived and stressed, and block scheduling would allow them to focus and slow down.”
During block schedule, the current six or seven periods are replaced with longer classes that meet fewer times per week.
“Block scheduling would give me more time to learn about subjects that I enjoy,” said sophomore Oliver Golden. “We could also do more creative projects instead of having one day homework packets, which I find are stressful and not beneficial.”
Carlmont is the only school in the district that hasn’t yet adapted to block scheduling. However, opinions remain divided on the true effects of having fewer, yet longer classes every day.
English teacher Cynthia Faupusa said, “With the block schedule, students would get more time to process and receive help on their homework. But with the current 50-minute period, I have just enough time to get students in, have them settle down, do one or two things, and get them out. And when they’re stressed, they’re less focused.”
Students and teachers experienced block scheduling during testing on the week of Oct. 26.
Math teacher Laura Robeck said, “Math should ideally be done every day. It would be hard to keep students engaged, and it could be more stressful for students because they get tired more easily and have more homework. However, different subjects require different approaches.”
Having longer and fewer classes every day means something different to every student. To Golden, it means more time for projects and less stress. But for others, it may mean missing the class they love the most.
Symphony Orchestra percussionist Jenna Williamson said, “I want to go to my favorite classes every day. My dream is to be a musician, and if I had block every day, I wouldn’t be able to play music in class. Having block scheduling once in a while such as during testing week is fun, but having it every day would be boring and tiring.”
There are many things to consider when deciding whether or not to make the permanent change to a block schedule.
Faupusa said, “This isn’t just about block schedule, this is also about the rushed nature of students’ lives. Most students nowadays are sleep deprived and stressed, and block scheduling would allow them to focus and slow down.”
Students feel pressure to stick to status quo
Oct 19, 2015
People worry and wonder about the future — particularly their own. This is especially true for high school students.
With the looming PSAT/NMSQT, constant homework, peer pressure, and the age-old question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” students are often pushed to live up to expectations. However, not many take the time to stop to take a breath and wonder why.
One thing’s for sure. In today’s high-paced environment, many students neglect to reflect on their lives and what truly motivates and inspires them, rather than fulfilling other people’s expectations.
Instructional Vice Principal Jennifer Cho said, “We’re close to a breaking point, especially here in the Bay Area, where a lot of people are pushed to the max. I don’t know how it all started, but we always put the blame on the colleges, since the bar is being pushed higher and higher.”
The rising expectations can be seen nowadays. Students often push themselves to impress colleges, even going as far as to compromising their health.
Junior Elanna Vital said, “There’s been way too much testing going on lately. College is important, but your health is more important. There needs to be a balance, and it’s important to take care of yourself as well as your education.”
Today’s educational system has become a hot issue. With constant changes and reforms in the system causing confusion, such as the new format of the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT, it’s no surprise that the level of student stress has been hitting new levels.
Sophomore Haley Masters said, “The environment is super competitive, and if someone wants to get into a UC now, they [seem to] need all ‘As’ to even be eligible. Society looks down on people who get poor SAT scores or don’t go to college.”
Many also wonder if the stress is justified and how the educational system could be improved.
English teacher Cynthia Faupusa said, “It’s problematic to use the SAT as a means of evaluating student success in higher education because it doesn’t address some of the key features in order for students to be successful.”
However, today’s status quo promotes going to a good college and getting a job that requires a degree. Many students dream of UC Berkeley and Stanford, but the concept of what makes a good college leaves many options out, such as trade schools and nontraditional pathways.
Faupusa said, “I taught at a school in San Francisco in which students spent half the day at school and half the day learning about carpentry. Many were able to get jobs straight out of high school.”
Despite knowing there are many options, the majority of the students can’t help but feel the pressure to conform to the ideals that society advocates. The ideal stereotype ingrained in the minds of students is a model applicant — someone who is accepted into an Ivy League (preferably more than one), has a grip on life, and has a successful career plan.
This ideal limits the potential of students. However, it’s truly up to the student to decide the course of their lives.
Cho said, “How we are addressing this is making sure students are educated in their options, such as the fact that we have more colleges coming to the College Center this year.”
It’s true that students feel the pressure and may want to fulfill those expectations. But once people realize who they want to be and what makes them happy, they can decide for themselves whether those hurdles in life are worth it.
“People need to not be so hard on themselves and be open to the fact that their life may take a nontraditional path, but they may end up exactly where they wanted to be. It just may look different,” said Cho.
Every student has a future, but different experiences shape people to live life their own ways.
Cho said, “It’s a lot of letting learning happen to you.”
With the looming PSAT/NMSQT, constant homework, peer pressure, and the age-old question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” students are often pushed to live up to expectations. However, not many take the time to stop to take a breath and wonder why.
One thing’s for sure. In today’s high-paced environment, many students neglect to reflect on their lives and what truly motivates and inspires them, rather than fulfilling other people’s expectations.
Instructional Vice Principal Jennifer Cho said, “We’re close to a breaking point, especially here in the Bay Area, where a lot of people are pushed to the max. I don’t know how it all started, but we always put the blame on the colleges, since the bar is being pushed higher and higher.”
The rising expectations can be seen nowadays. Students often push themselves to impress colleges, even going as far as to compromising their health.
Junior Elanna Vital said, “There’s been way too much testing going on lately. College is important, but your health is more important. There needs to be a balance, and it’s important to take care of yourself as well as your education.”
Today’s educational system has become a hot issue. With constant changes and reforms in the system causing confusion, such as the new format of the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT, it’s no surprise that the level of student stress has been hitting new levels.
Sophomore Haley Masters said, “The environment is super competitive, and if someone wants to get into a UC now, they [seem to] need all ‘As’ to even be eligible. Society looks down on people who get poor SAT scores or don’t go to college.”
Many also wonder if the stress is justified and how the educational system could be improved.
English teacher Cynthia Faupusa said, “It’s problematic to use the SAT as a means of evaluating student success in higher education because it doesn’t address some of the key features in order for students to be successful.”
However, today’s status quo promotes going to a good college and getting a job that requires a degree. Many students dream of UC Berkeley and Stanford, but the concept of what makes a good college leaves many options out, such as trade schools and nontraditional pathways.
Faupusa said, “I taught at a school in San Francisco in which students spent half the day at school and half the day learning about carpentry. Many were able to get jobs straight out of high school.”
Despite knowing there are many options, the majority of the students can’t help but feel the pressure to conform to the ideals that society advocates. The ideal stereotype ingrained in the minds of students is a model applicant — someone who is accepted into an Ivy League (preferably more than one), has a grip on life, and has a successful career plan.
This ideal limits the potential of students. However, it’s truly up to the student to decide the course of their lives.
Cho said, “How we are addressing this is making sure students are educated in their options, such as the fact that we have more colleges coming to the College Center this year.”
It’s true that students feel the pressure and may want to fulfill those expectations. But once people realize who they want to be and what makes them happy, they can decide for themselves whether those hurdles in life are worth it.
“People need to not be so hard on themselves and be open to the fact that their life may take a nontraditional path, but they may end up exactly where they wanted to be. It just may look different,” said Cho.
Every student has a future, but different experiences shape people to live life their own ways.
Cho said, “It’s a lot of letting learning happen to you.”
Journalism breaks through in Carlmont Cup
Sept 29, 2015
It was a showdown. In a round of capture the flag, two opponents circled each other, eyes on the prize. Everyone else had been eliminated, and now the game entered sudden death. Suddenly, senior Taran Sun reached out and snatched the flag and just like that, it was over.
After breaking an intense tie, Journalism won against Girls’ Soccer in a round of Carlmont Cup.
Soccer player Amelia Armstrong said, “Girls’ soccer did a good job of staying spirited and positive the whole time. Even though [Carlmont Cup] is mostly little games, it’s a great opportunity to get a lot of groups together and have fun.”
Carlmont Cup is a recurring tournament that takes place at lunch, with more clubs and teams competing each year. It has been a tradition at the school that many people look forward to.
Armstrong added, “Although we can be very competitive, we had fun with each other and the other teams.”
Both Journalism and Girls’ Soccer supported their teammates in games such as one-on-one tug of war and knocking over cones with a ball. Senior Elena Mateus said, “It was really nice to be able to win with Journalism, since my volleyball team and I also won in a previous round. This time it was a serious best out of five games.”
Spirit is at the core of the event, and many people come to the quad to watch and cheer on their friends.
Mateus said, “It’s all about bringing spirit and being loud. I try my best to get the team pumped up, and this time, there was no dispute that we won.”
After breaking an intense tie, Journalism won against Girls’ Soccer in a round of Carlmont Cup.
Soccer player Amelia Armstrong said, “Girls’ soccer did a good job of staying spirited and positive the whole time. Even though [Carlmont Cup] is mostly little games, it’s a great opportunity to get a lot of groups together and have fun.”
Carlmont Cup is a recurring tournament that takes place at lunch, with more clubs and teams competing each year. It has been a tradition at the school that many people look forward to.
Armstrong added, “Although we can be very competitive, we had fun with each other and the other teams.”
Both Journalism and Girls’ Soccer supported their teammates in games such as one-on-one tug of war and knocking over cones with a ball. Senior Elena Mateus said, “It was really nice to be able to win with Journalism, since my volleyball team and I also won in a previous round. This time it was a serious best out of five games.”
Spirit is at the core of the event, and many people come to the quad to watch and cheer on their friends.
Mateus said, “It’s all about bringing spirit and being loud. I try my best to get the team pumped up, and this time, there was no dispute that we won.”