The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News
The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News
The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News
News
An employee writes the words "buy or leave" on the latte to represent Starbucks' new code of conduct. Customers and employees alike share mixed feelings about the new policy and how some locations can force people to leave if they don't make a purchase. "Businesses are allowed to refuse service to anyone, but I don’t think we reserve the right to ask someone to leave unless they are making a scene or hurting the business," said Erlan McMahon.
Starbucks brews controversy with their new code of conduct
Lara Ibasco, Staff Writer • January 21, 2025

Stopping by a local coffee shop to hang out with friends or to quickly use the bathroom is not as simple anymore. A purchase is necessary to...

Shoppers browse the aisles of a pharmacy. Americans often turn to local pharmacies for decongestants, cough suppressants, antihistamines, expectorants and other medications to help deal with respiratory illnesses.
The winter ‘quad-demic’ spreads across the nation
Nikhil Nunna, Staff Writer • January 20, 2025

A quartet of infectious diseases -- COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus -- have spread nationwide in especially...

A customer grabs the last carton of eggs in the store. With a shortage of eggs, some supermarkets, such as Safeway, are limiting the amount of eggs you can buy at one time. “I feel like we’re back in the pandemic, and eggs are toilet paper. And even though we have eggs at home, we still need to buy eggs anytime we see eggs now,” said Kristin Behling, a customer at Mollie Stones. 
Scrambling for eggs
Kiana Chen, Staff Writer • January 18, 2025

Egg prices have increased significantly throughout the 2024-25 winter due to the soaring cases of Avian flu, leaving shelves bare and customers...

Features
A girl articulates her emotions more effectively through the use of profanity. Studies have shown that, although often considered inappropriate in many contexts, the occasional use of strong language can actually benefit one’s well-being. “Swearing is used for expressions of pain, expressions of sympathy, and even expressions of joy, whereas it's possible to be very, very hurtful and even hateful, without using swearing at all,” researcher in computational neuroscience and science author Emma Byrne, Ph.D., said. “Unpicking the difference between using profane language, and acting in a way that is hurtful and obnoxious is very important.”
What the %@#!
Kathryn Winters, Staff Writer • January 15, 2025

Dang it. Shoot. Frick. And much worse. Swearing is a well-known taboo, even considered a sin in some religions and cultures. However, contrary...

Zak Ibsen leads a team discussion, giving his advice to young athletes right before a high-level soccer game. A former professional soccer player and Olympian, Ibsen now uses his experience to mentor the next generation in MLS Next, the top level of U.S. youth soccer. “Part of his role as a coach is to develop the whole person, not just the player. Zak does a great job of helping kids learn from situations, whether they’re good or bad, and believes failure is a good chance to learn a lesson,” said Andrew Ziemer, one of Ibsen's coaching assistants.
Falling from glory, rising from ashes
Sean Zhang, Staff Writer • January 14, 2025

Sweat dripped down his forehead as he watched his soccer team put their all into the game, each sound of the ball echoing memories of his past...

Juan "Wonway Posibul" Amador gets into the jazz of his nightly music set. Amador broadcasts diverse genres on the radio every weeknight.
Behind a radio host’s microphone
Anna Ypodimatopoulou, Staff Writer • January 13, 2025

The car is freezing, your backpack is comically heavy, and you tune into the pop station with the jingle you memorized at 10 and never forgot....

Sports
Opinion
Japanese citizens and tourists visit the Asakusa Senso-ji temple, an ancient Buddhist temple in Tokyo. Visiting temples is one of many leisure activities that Japanese citizens enjoy. Unfortunately, due to the hectic work culture and the long hours spent at work everyday, Japanese citizen seem to find it hard to take part in such activities.
Opinion: Japan is not the perfect utopia
Ziya Myneni, Staff Writer • January 20, 2025
Opinion: If you’re old enough to fight, you’re old enough to drink
January 18, 2025
Satire: The Oppression Olympics
January 17, 2025
Opinion: You will never be rich, and that’s by design
January 16, 2025
Opinion: Health insurance and medical services should be integrated
December 14, 2024
Entertainment
"Beyoncé Bowl" is now available on the live streaming platform Netflix. "I get to watch this high quality performance whenever I want," said Hana Yamawaki. "It's revolutionary."
Beyoncé debuts ‘Cowboy Carter’ on Netflix’s ‘Beyoncé Bowl’
Johan Sijp, Staff Writer • January 21, 2025
A viewer selects the second season of "Squid Game" to watch within Netflix's Squid Game Collection. The highly-anticipated second season has dominated Netflix's Top 10 charts since its release on Dec. 26. "Season 2 is a lot more unpredictable than Season 1," said Katelyn Yee, a sophomore at Carlmont. "Unlike the first season, you can't really tell who's going to die and who's going to survive."
‘Squid Game’ Season 2 tops charts with global impact
Chloe Chu, Staff Writer • January 13, 2025
Students showcase their 2024 Spotify Wrapped, comparing vibrant visuals and personalized summaries. This year’s AI-driven features sparked mixed reactions, fueling conversations about music trends and listening habits.
Students share their take on this year’s Spotify Wrapped
Shreya Parmar, Staff Writer • December 16, 2024
Cartoons
Personal style and individual expression through clothing have decreased due to obsession with celebrities and social media microtrend hopping. Several different "aesthetics" and categories stemming from social media trends, such as "clean girl" and coquette," constantly categorize fashion subcultures and discourage exploration. Additionally, fast fashion companies mass-produce low-quality products to fit trends that change every week. These trends make it difficult for people to develop their own tastes and generally make individual expression uncommon, harming the natural growth of trends.
Cartoon: Temporary Trends
Leher Kawadia, Staff Writer • January 21, 2025
In today’s society, overconsumption has become a common trend. With the popular app TikTok, influencers constantly promote the latest trend. The Get Ready with Me and lifestyle videos are among the many ways influencers entice viewers into buying items. It creates a sense of craving and need for the latest trending item. Students can feel pressured to buy the newest trending item. However, once purchased, the thrill of the product fades. It’s soon discarded and neglected, placed on a shelf, stored in a box, or shoved in a drawer. The cycle of overconsumption harms the environment through the increasing amount of waste it produces.
Cartoon: Trendy trash
Amber Chow, Staff Writer • January 21, 2025
Amidst the Los Angelos fires, incarcerated firefighters have joined the front lines. A controversial decision as last year California voters rejected Proposition 6, a ballot initiative to ban involuntary labor in prisons and jails. This includes bringing incarcerated people to help fight wildfires to fill in for the lack of professionals. The deadly conditions and destructive nature of the Palisades and Eaton wildfires rage on as the CDCR's fire program undercompensate those entering jeopardy. Nonetheless, the majority of inmate firefighters claim that despite the work being dangerous, it's much more preferred than remaining in prison, including the addition of fighting back for the residents and environment of Southern California.
Cartoon: Incarceration vs. incineration
Skylin Lui, Staff Writer • January 20, 2025
Games
Crossword: Shuffle up
Crossword: Shuffle up
Wesley Kron, Staff Writer • January 21, 2025
Crossword: Game Time!
January 17, 2025
Crossword: Palindromes
January 16, 2025
Quiz: Which high school superlative are you?
January 15, 2025
Crossword: Apps
January 14, 2025
Trending Stories
1
Quiz: Are you more of a Glinda or an Elphaba?

Quiz: Are you more of a Glinda or an Elphaba?

2
Quiz: Which Jellycat are you?

Quiz: Which Jellycat are you?

3
A viewer selects the second season of "Squid Game" to watch within Netflix's Squid Game Collection. The highly-anticipated second season has dominated Netflix's Top 10 charts since its release on Dec. 26. "Season 2 is a lot more unpredictable than Season 1," said Katelyn Yee, a sophomore at Carlmont. "Unlike the first season, you can't really tell who's going to die and who's going to survive."

'Squid Game' Season 2 tops charts with global impact

4
Zak Ibsen leads a team discussion, giving his advice to young athletes right before a high-level soccer game. A former professional soccer player and Olympian, Ibsen now uses his experience to mentor the next generation in MLS Next, the top level of U.S. youth soccer. “Part of his role as a coach is to develop the whole person, not just the player. Zak does a great job of helping kids learn from situations, whether they’re good or bad, and believes failure is a good chance to learn a lesson,” said Andrew Ziemer, one of Ibsen's coaching assistants.

Falling from glory, rising from ashes

5
Youth activism has been prominent especially in modern times with youth being a driving force behind movements advocating for things like climate change.

Creating the future

Campus
Alyssa Lu starts her Chemistry for Biotechnology class by announcing the agenda for the day. "In class, students work in groups or pairs. Assignments usually consist of labs or check-in worksheets and simulations. Occasionally, there are edpuzzle assignments," Lu said.
Staff Profile: Alyssa Lu mixes passion with education
Olivia Wang, Staff Writer • January 18, 2025
The line for winter formal tickets stretches across the ASB room as students wait to purchase tickets. “The number of tickets sold for formal have definitely increased over the year,” said James Kelly, the ASB director.
ASB launches ticket sales for winter formal
Skylin Yee, Staff Writer • January 17, 2025
Students often struggle to stay motivated in school as they begin the second semester. “By the second semester, everyone’s dreading that they have to deal with school all over again for another few months. I think it’s because we’re all so drained from getting through first semester,” said junior Jolie Zheng.
Second semester pushes limits and tests resilience
Ashlyn Wong, Staff Writer • January 15, 2025
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Podcasts
The Highlander
Editorials
The practice of students focusing their college essays on personal trauma has been referred to as “trauma dumping.” As college admissions continue to become more competitive, the pressure to trauma dump rises, for students feel the need to offer a narrative that is dramatic and evocative to admissions officers.
Editorial: Students need to stop exploiting their trauma in college applications
Editorial Staff • December 11, 2024

Scots Media (@scot.scoop) • Instagram photos and videos

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