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
Ava Rafii

Ava Rafii, Staff Writer

Ava Rafii (class of 2027) is a sophomore at Carlmont High School and a first-year writer with Scot Scoop. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, running, and playing the violin for the school orchestra and the Peninsula Youth Orchestra (PYO). Ava is looking forward to expanding her knowledge and skills in Media Arts this year.

All content by Ava Rafii
A Duolingo user earns rewards for completing a Spanish lesson. According to Duolingo’s 2024 Language Report, Spanish was the second most popular language learned globally and the most studied language in the United States. “I wanted to learn Spanish because my new babysitter spoke it,” said Michael Winters, a student at Ralston Middle School.

Duolingo speaks a new way of learning languages

Ava Rafii, Staff Writer • February 26, 2025

Duolingo’s gamified approach to learning languages has contributed to a surge in popularity among users of all ages. In 2012, Duolingo was launched globally with the goal of making language-learning...

A Monopoly player adds the “Go to Jail” expansion pack to their preexisting board game. This expansion pack includes corruption and super corruption cards which allow players to steal each other's properties, buy properties for discounts, and get free properties. “This pack seems like it would be my favorite because a game with mischief seems more fun than the classic Monopoly game,” said Sophia Lee, a sophomore at Carlmont.

Monopoly rolls past ‘Go’ with new expansion packs

Ava Rafii, Staff Writer • January 27, 2025

Monopoly levels up the board game world as it celebrates its 90th anniversary with brand new expansion packs, adding new twists and excitement to the classic game played by new and old players alike. Over...

A traveler checks the status of his flight at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). According to InsureMyTrip, SFO has the highest flight delay percentage out of all United States airports. As of January 2024, 37.2% of all SFO flights have been delayed.

Nature’s wrath disrupts holiday travel plans

Ava Rafii, Staff Writer • December 12, 2024

From grounded planes to snow-packed roads, winter weather is causing widespread travel disruptions, leading to numerous delays and cancellations for air and road travelers alike. On Dec. 9, there were...

Target displays its holiday items and decorations weeks in advance. “One of the retailers' top priorities is getting consumers to shop early. They do this through early sales and displays,” said Patricia Huddleston, a professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University.

Retailers ring in the season of giving

Ava Rafii, Staff Writer • November 14, 2024

With Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holiday season right around the corner, retailers are rolling out new technological shopping assistants and strategies to attract customers and improve their shopping...

An invasive nutria resides in a patch of grass and stares into the distance. “The water that nutria inhabit, as well as their diets, pick up iron, and the iron pigmentation causes their teeth to be orange,” said Greg Yarrow, professor of Wildlife Ecology at Clemson University .

Invasive nutria pose threats to California ecosystems

Ava Rafii, Staff Writer • October 28, 2024

Over 1,000 nutria have been eradicated in California this year, yet their presence continues to increase and spread. Nutria are an invasive species in California that harm infrastructure and wildlife....

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