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
Kara Kim

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor

Kara Kim is a junior at Carlmont High School and excited to be a Highlander editor this year. She enjoys talking to new people and is very interested in sustainability. In her free time, you’ll find her doodling or looking to try a new restaurant. Check out her profile here!

All content by Kara Kim
Bruce Bennett, Valentino Bennett, and Lorenzo Bianchi play music in Carlmont's band room. The three are among the handful of Nesbit Middle School students that went on to join Carlmont's music program.

Breaking the silence on BRSSD music education disparities

Shiori Chen, Kara Kim, Isabella Zarzar, Katherine A. Zhang, and Arianna Zhu • May 30, 2024

Student food service worker Alexander Nicholson prepares to take a student's order. Each student worker gives out hundreds of meals every day.

Behind and beyond the counter

Kara Kim and Arianna Zhu • May 30, 2024

Although providing a strong academic program has always been a focus for schools, it’s not the only contributing factor to student success. In recent years, schools have begun dedicating more effort...

Not only does climate change raise environmental concerns, but also threatens California homeowners' access to home insurance, critical to protecting one's property and personal belongings. Increasingly, in recent years, large insurance carriers are offering less policies in the state and more residents are unable to insure their homes.

Climate change heightens California’s home insurance crisis

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • April 15, 2024

With climate change accelerating the rate of wildfires and other natural disasters in California, getting access to home insurance for residents is becoming increasingly difficult. Standard home insurance,...

Despite efforts to pass legislation for student free speech protections and those already in place, student journalists face unique challenges with censorship and publishing ethical work. But for those who have already gone through such experiences, the process was also an opportunity for learning and growth.

Students press for journalistic freedom

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • March 20, 2024

The First Amendment gives Americans freedom of speech and press. In 1969, the Tinker v. Des Moines Supreme Court case extended those rights to students. However, 19 years later, the Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier...

As the climate crisis looms overhead, concerns for the future have prompted increasingly more people to take action in their communities. Teachers, administration, parents, and students are all playing a part in the growing grassroots sustainability initiative.

A grassroots sustainability effort: local groups continue the fight against climate change

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • February 27, 2024

The sea level is rising, wildfires are burning, and the planet is heating. The consequences of human activity and climate change seem overly daunting for a single person — but smaller groups are showing...

On Jan. 15, 2024, participants of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. march and celebrations in San Francisco make their way to Yerba Buena Gardens, waving signs, playing music, singing songs, and meeting new people.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day march honors civil rights activist’s legacy

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • January 28, 2024

Beginning at Caltrain’s 4th and King Station, attendees of the annual San Francisco Martin Luther King Jr. Day march wave signs, play music, and sing as they make their way through closed-off streets...

While senior care facilities are places for important end-of-life care, issues such as understaffing and insufficiently trained staff can lead to senior mistreatment and lasting impacts.

[Photo] Senior mistreatment allegations underscore larger abuse issues

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • December 13, 2023

While senior care facilities are places for important end-of-life care, issues such as understaffing and insufficiently trained staff can lead to senior mistreatment and lasting impacts.

As the modern world evolves to appreciate diversity, participation in golf, especially for women, has dramatically increased in recent years, bringing impactful changes to the sport and its players.

A new era ‘fore’ female golfers

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • November 29, 2023

The ongoing Israel-Hamas War has been and will continue to be linked to international powers — the question is, how far will that involvement go, and which side will be chosen to receive support?

The global chessboard: international influence on the Israel-Hamas war

Kara Kim and Katherine A. Zhang • November 22, 2023

As the Israel-Hamas war continues into its second month, the question of international involvement and the extent of participation has been circulating among foreign nations. The key thing to note is...

Senior care facilities, like the Ivy Park at Belmont, provide daily assistance, personal care, and a variety of other activities for their residents. However, nurse and staff shortages in some facilities, worsened by the pandemic, have had negative impacts on seniors' physical and mental health.

Staffing shortages in senior care facilities impact residents’ health

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • November 12, 2023

The ongoing issue of staff shortages in the healthcare industry is impacting senior care centers — such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities — where insufficient staffing affects elderly...

As climate change exacerbates wildfires in California, fire prevention methods such as prescribed burns are increasingly relied upon. Yet at the same time, climate change also threatens the viability of such methods.

California’s prescribed burns: protective services doused by climate change

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • October 20, 2023

Concerns over the heightening wildfire crisis in California have prompted government action and the official implementation of prescribed burns, however, the climate crisis is threatening the execution...

As the fentanyl crisis in the Bay Area worsens, counties such as Santa Clara County and San Mateo County develop new plans for drug overdose prevention. Young populations are especially vulnerable to fentanyl, an opioid that is increasingly used to create fake pills and sold on social media.

Santa Clara County approves new plan amidst Bay Area opioid crisis

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • September 28, 2023

*Content Warning: This article contains mentions of drug overdose and death. After obtaining a multi-million dollar grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Santa Clara County...

The Goldman Environmental Prize Ceremony was held at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera house, bringing in more than 2500 participants from across the Bay Area and the globe to celebrate the successes of six inspirational climate leaders.

Goldman Environmental Prize celebrates global climate leaders

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • May 1, 2023

The Goldman Environmental Prize Award Ceremony, held at San Francisco's War Memorial Opera House, celebrated the work and lives of six climate activists around the world. The event connected 2,000 interested...

In response to struggling local newsrooms, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks' Journalism Preservation Act would require Big Tech companies to pay a fee in order to use smaller publishers' content.

California act proposes journalism usage fee for certain technology companies

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • April 2, 2023

Oakland Assemblymember Buffy Wicks has recently authored the California Journalism Preservation Act (AB 886), a bill focused on the state that would require Big Tech companies to pay a “journalism usage...

The turnstiles at BART's Millbrae Station allow passengers with tickets to enter and exit. BART's new Homeless Action Plan works on improving the aspects of a rider's experience and helping with the overall homelessness crisis in the Bay Area.

BART’s Homeless Action Plan addresses homelessness in the Bay Area

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • March 23, 2023

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has recently developed its first Homeless Action Plan, which outlines the state of homelessness in the Bay Area, funding for increased outreach, and collaboration with local...

Attendees of the event observe and explore the historical art gallery at the OACC.

Lunar New Year x Black History Month unites Black and Asian communities

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • February 11, 2023

Oakland’s first Lunar New Year and Black History Month joint event celebrated Black and Asian solidarity with the sharing of food, crafts, literature, music, and history at the Oakland Asian Cultural...

Ready for action: The crowd of protesters in front of the UCSF Sol Silverman Oral Medicine Clinic listen to speakers after marching in organized groups while holding signs with “Honk 4 Living Wages” and “On Strike: Unfair Labor Practice.” It is their fourth day outside, and the speaker empowers the crowd to bring more pots, pans, or anything else that makes noise to the upcoming rallies.

A national labor movement: The journey towards better working conditions

Kara Kim and Elaine Jiang • January 23, 2023

“What do we want?” a protester yells. The sound of their megaphone pierces through the cold November air. “Living wages!” the crowd of 50 cries back.  “When do we want them?” “Now!”   The...

The newly effective ban on single-use plastics in California have hotels leaving behind complimentary take-home shampoo and conditioner bottles and opting for refillable bottles attached to bathroom walls.

A step toward sustainability: California bans single-use plastics in hotels

Kara Kim, Highlander Editor • January 22, 2023

A 2019 bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed has recently come into effect in 2023, banning the use of single-use plastics for bathroom essentials in California hotels with over 50 rooms.  The bill, titled...

Starbucks employees use this table to hold protest signs as a part of a movement of Starbucks workers called the Red Cup Rebellion.

[Photo] The butterfly effect: Starbucks Workers United

January 23, 2023

Starbucks employees use this table to hold protest signs as a part of a movement of Starbucks workers called the Red Cup Rebellion.

As people listen to motivated speakers, the sign-in table at the UCSF protest proudly displays signs advertising their protest.

[Photo] Strength in numbers: United Automobile Workers and UCSF

January 23, 2023

As people listen to motivated speakers, the sign-in table at the UCSF protest proudly displays signs advertising their protest.

Outside view of Chinatown along the street in front of the Clarion Performing Arts in San Francisco, where the Save Cantonese at City College of San Francisco celebration took place.

Cantonese classes preserve culture in San Francisco

Kara Kim and Elaine Jiang • December 9, 2022

After community-led efforts began in May 2021, City College of San Francisco (CCSF) finally became the first community college in the country to offer Cantonese certificates — a bid to save Cantonese...

Interior of DaVita Mills Dialysis Clinic in San Mateo. Patients must stop by multiple times a week to receive sufficient dialysis treatment. The clinic hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

[Photo] Proposition 29: third time wasn’t the charm for stricter dialysis regulations

Kara Kim and Elaine Jiang • November 10, 2022

Outside view of Mills Health Center in San Mateo at night. Inside is a DaVita Dialysis clinic.

Locals and out-of-towners interact with the large variety of stands along Laurel St. on Saturday, Oct. 8, the first day of the San Carlos Art and Wine Faire. Many people find acquaintances and friends within the thousands of attendees.

Putting ‘unity’ in ‘community’: San Carlos Art and Wine Faire makes a comeback

Kara Kim and Elaine Jiang • October 11, 2022

Laughter, music, the smell of fresh barbeque, and many cries of “Oh my gosh, it’s been so long!” fill the air as pedestrians walked the streets of San Carlos during its annual Art and Wine Faire. It’s...

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