Breaking News
Breaking News: Shooting in Belmont causes a secure campus order
“This is not a drill.” Words you would not want to hear on campus were said around an hour before the end of the school day. A secure campus order was put into place after the police notified the administration of gunshots down the street. The interim principal soon sent out an email to the Carlmont community, informing families of the lockdown and potential traffic restrictions. Since no further facts were disclosed, we waited to publish this article the next day. Updates were added as more information was revealed, usually from released police statements.
News
Historic Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson signifies change
I first heard about Judge Jackson’s confirmation hearings through the radio on the way to school one morning. Since I have an interest in law, I was curious about what was happening, especially since we had also been covering similar topics in my history class. As the first Black woman to be nominated to serve on the Supreme Court, Judge Jackson can be seen as a symbol of changing societal values. Nonetheless, the debate surrounding her nomination during the hearings should still be noted.
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Breaking News
Breaking News: California lifts school mask mandate
As rates began declining in February following rises in COVID-19 cases a month earlier, California decided to lift the school mask mandate starting in mid-March. The San Mateo County (SMC) soon announced that they would not add local health orders to the state guidelines. Responses to this change varied, with some thinking it is too early to remove masks and others tired of wearing coverings in class. As a result, we deemed this announcement important to our community and reported it as a breaking news story.
News
Winter Olympics inspires young athletes to pursue their dreams
For many aspiring athletes from the younger generation, the Olympics is an exciting time to see their favorite role models compete for their country and honor. Although the Summer Olympics tends to be discussed more, many youths are also involved in winter sports. To them, the Winter Olympics can serve as an opportunity to witness the level of skill needed to perform on a worldwide stage and learn from the performances. Through interviews with Carlmont students and quotes from professional athletes, one can understand how impactful the Games can be.
Breaking News
Breaking News: ASB postpones Winter Formal due to surges in omicron variant
After the omicron variant landed in the United States, the country experienced a huge surge in COVID-19 cases. Originally scheduled to take place at the end of January, Carlmont’s Winter Formal was postponed to early March. This was the first article using the new breaking news beat process, which aimed to provide more accurate and complete information in a timely manner.
News
String of retail robberies prompts safety concerns and law enforcement action
When I first heard about the string of organized retail robberies, I was shocked at the huge number of people who participated. Since these events occurred near the holiday season, many shoppers became weary of entering a physical shopping center while businesses lost great amounts of merchandise. In response, district attorneys announced a partnership to combat organized crimes. While talking with the San Mateo County (SMC) District Attorney, I learned more about their job and drive to decrease crime.
News
Teen drivers bump through challenges from inexperience
Traffic is seen every day before and after school, with student and adult drivers on the road. Many high school students begin learning to drive to receive their permit as soon as they turn 15 and six months, leaving others questioning the area's safety. Although drivers must pass certain requirements before earning permission to drive, tendencies to make rash decisions generate concern from students walking near the cars.
News
California requires ethnic studies course for high school graduation
California became the first state to require high school students to take an ethnic studies course to graduate high school. The new legislation was especially significant after recent protests and voices urging more diversity and respect. Carlmont had already begun piloting Ethnic Studies with freshmen before Gov. Newsom passed the bill due to students requesting the implementation of courses that focused on all ethnic groups in the country.
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News
National heritage months celebrate cultures amidst increasing hate
With the growth of hate crimes and discrimination in society, many articles center around reporting those events. However, I hoped to present those incidents from a different perspective by connecting them to national heritage months. These months aim to celebrate various minorities' contributions to American history, society, and culture throughout the year. To help decrease the amount of hostility, people must start by understanding each other: "Every day should be a celebration of the cultures and backgrounds that make up the world."
News
Three COVID-19 vaccines build immunity
Hope appears after a year into the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic as three COVID-19 vaccines become authorized for emergency use. As more people become vaccinated, I wanted to provide an overview of how vaccines work, compare the available vaccines, and examine the future regarding variants. This article required much more research than my previous works, as I needed to understand biology and the virus. Fortunately, I was able to put some knowledge from biology class last year into use, which made the process a little smoother. I strived to make the concepts less confusing so that readers are more prepared before getting their vaccinations.
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News
Public Wi-Fi bridges the digital divide
The digital divide has become more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic; lower-income students who cannot afford technology now have a greater disadvantage in school. Accordingly, the San Mateo County (SMC) works to provide equipment and internet connectivity for those students. As I conducted more interviews, I learned of different programs that I was unaware of before, which helped me form a comprehensive article encapsulating resources people can use to adjust to the digital age.
News
Breakfast needs remain a priority at Samaritan House
Not everyone is able to enjoy a healthy, filling breakfast, often called the most important meal of the day. The high demand for breakfast foods at the Samaritan House reflects the importance of that morning meal. Carlmont's OneWorld club recognized this need and organized a breakfast and cereal drive to help. Collaborations, similar to this one, between organizations and students are significant in building a supportive community.
News
Habitat for Humanity expands affordable housing in Redwood City
Affordable housing has grown in importance with the rise in average house prices. Habitat for Humanity and Redwood City are both working towards building new homes for those with lower incomes. Downtown Redwood City serves as a perfect location for residents, as places like the library, restaurants, and movie theaters are within walking distance. Residents are essential to retaining diversity and economic viability.​
Features
Building from the ground up: Entrepreneurial obstacles for minorities
“Well, what do you know about doing business?” was the response she received when she first became an entrepreneur. Living in Silicon Valley has exposed me to numerous companies, particularly those in the technology industry, with a similar "group" of people always holding higher positions. I reached out to a female entrepreneur I learned about while writing a previous article, who offered her experience and journey in the business and technology world.​
Features
A social phenomenon: how social media affects teens
Many teens have used some form of social media, made possible with the developments in technology. Being able to share multimedia, such as photos, videos, and audio, revolutionized communication in society. This feature article dives into the effects of social media on teens and examines the exchange of creativity between users. I decided to take on the angle of how social media encourages creativity and art in hopes that people can use social media positively.
Campus
Clubs Fair sparks passion and engagement after year of virtual events
School reopened after learning online for an entire year. Clubs Fair, organized by the Associated Student Body (ASB), was the first in-person event I covered for journalism. The Quad was crowded with eager students who explored each booth and signed up for clubs. I also practiced photojournalism by capturing how the event developed with images. Since I also wrote my first-ever article on the previous year's virtual Clubs Fair, I was able to compare the two drastic experiences.
Campus
Students rise up in the fight against blood cancer
"This is who you've been able to help." When fundraising becomes more than a number, a human connection develops between those in need and those helping. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) holds a Students of the Year (SOY) program each year as a competition to raise funds for the organization, whose mission is to cure blood cancer and improve patients' quality of life. Conducting the interviews and hearing participants talk about their campaigns strongly moved me, as I also help out in a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children battling cancer.
Campus
Green Team urges the school district to recognize the importance of climate change
Climate change is an increasingly important topic in the world. In response, Carlmont's Green Team issued a Climate Emergency Petition for students and administration to recognize climate change urgency. They also collaborated with students from other schools to push a district-wide petition. Through this article, I hope to bring more awareness to student efforts in solving environmental issues.
Campus
Carlmont holds a virtual Clubs Fair to adhere to social distancing protocols
With the move to distance learning, the Associated Student Body (ASB) had to modify the annual Clubs Fair. Instead of the usual bustling crowd of students in the Quad enjoying their lunch and touring the various club booths under the sun, students learned about the different groups from a website detailing each club's information. ASB also featured videos made by each club's leadership on social media to reach more students.​