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
Keira Sarmiento

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer

Keira Sarmiento (Class of 2026) enjoys music, art, animation, animals, and spending time with her family. She is excited to create content for Scot Scoop and learn more about the world of journalism. Outside of journalism, she spends most of her time laughing with her two sisters and eating good food.

All content by Keira Sarmiento

Young Aspiring Artists Ep. 3: Shane Fitzpatrick’s future in filmmaking pt. 2

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • April 24, 2025

In this episode, host Keira Sarmiento speaks with Carlmont senior Shane Fitzpatrick about his passion for filmmaking. Fitzpatrick details one of his short films for his college applications and his...

The American Dream glorifies the United States as a country where hard work is rewarded. While making money allows some to be financially secure, many avoid taking vacations, enforcing a culture where work comes before health and personal fulfillment.

[Photo] Opinion: Americans should take more vacations

Valerie Pilipenko, Staff Writer • April 24, 2025

The American Dream glorifies the United States as a country where hard work is rewarded. While making money allows some to be financially secure, many avoid taking vacations, enforcing a culture where...

Young Aspiring Artists Ep. 3: Shane Fitzpatrick’s future in filmmaking

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • April 4, 2025

In this episode, host Keira Sarmiento speaks with Carlmont senior Shane Fitzpatrick about his passion for filmmaking. Fitzpatrick has always been an artist, but he shares how his interest shifted from...

Young Aspiring Artists Ep. 2: Samantha Roberts on merging artistic passions

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • March 6, 2025

In this episode, host Keira Sarmiento interviews Carlmont junior Samantha Roberts about her passion for creative writing and acting.  After talking about how Roberts grew to love literature and theatre,...

Despite being advertised as conservation efforts, some zoos are considered unethical as they prevent animals from living fulfilling lives, often harming their physical and psychological health.

[Photo] Opinion: Keeping animals in zoos is unethical

Valerie Pilipenko, Staff Writer • March 6, 2025

Despite being advertised as conservation efforts, some zoos are considered unethical as they prevent animals from living fulfilling lives, often harming their physical and psychological health.

Young Aspiring Artists Ep. 1: Sienna Hubert’s dream to become a singer/songwriter

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • February 5, 2025

In this episode, host Keira Sarmiento speaks with Carlmont junior Sienna Hubert, otherwise known as Sienna Renee on YouTube, about her journey with singing and writing original songs. They begin by...

A study done by Pew Research shows that across most ages, races, and genders, people are more likely to learn about personal finances from their family and friends than they are from school. This creates a problem, because it means that children who come from families with poor income and poor financial knowledge will grow up with the same tendencies when it comes to money and pass them on to their own children. It's important for schools to do their part to ensure that everyone gets the financial education they need.

Cartoon: Money cycle

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • December 17, 2024

President Joe Biden has faced a lot of backlash for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, from his convictions on felony tax offenses as well as misdemeanor tax offenses. According to a study by NORC at the University of Chicago, 51% of adults disapprove of Biden's decision. A poll by Monmouth University confirms this trend, stating 58% percent of Americans disapprove. This situation is complicated because back in June of this year, Biden swore that he would not pardon him. However, Biden claims that the justice system has failed his son and treated him harshly because of his ties to the president. While, Biden's actions does make him less trustworthy, he did the right thing because at the end of the day, it is family who matters the most. Biden said in a statement on December 1, "I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision."

Cartoon: A father first

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • December 17, 2024

Hold your horses, because Former President Donald's Trump's re-election has sparked conversation about his proposed policies for his future in office. His plans includes cracking down on illegal immigration and even ending birthright citizenship, requiring a change to the 14th Constitutional Amendment. Furthermore, he claims that he will put an end to foreign conflicts the US is involved in, specifically the war in Ukraine through a negotiation. One of the reasons many people voted for him in the first place was because they believe he will improve the US economy. Trump plans to raise foreign tariffs and encourage US manufacturing. Finally, Trump's second administration will affect all students in public schools because he seeks to abolish the federal Department of Education and refuses to fund school who teach Critical Race Theory, among other topics he deems as inappropriate. This is only the surface of the changes Trump has in mind for 2025, so the people of the US can expect some turbulence as the entire system goes under construction.

Cartoon: Taking the reigns

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • December 15, 2024

Cancel culture is a word often thrown around social media. While some argue it's a form of protest, others believe it's a way to silence opposing opinions.

A conversation about controversy

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • December 11, 2024

A 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center states that 61% of Americans have heard the term “cancel culture.”  But what does it mean? Some may have heard of their favorite influencers getting...

An incarcerated person mops the floor while looking outside of their cell and sees a desk and lightbulb. Many people in prison are unable to prioritize rehabilitation and education due to prisons having them work instead.

[Photo] Opinion: California needs to prioritize rehabilitation in its prisons

Kiana Chen, Staff Writer • November 16, 2024

An incarcerated person mops the floor while looking outside of their cell and sees a desk and lightbulb. Many people in prison are unable to prioritize rehabilitation and education due to prisons having...

A fire spreads in the dry hills of California due to a broken power line. With lower humidity and strong winds, the probability of a fire starting increases.

[Photo] Breaking News: Power outage sparks safety concerns in the Bay Area

Lara Ibasco, Staff Writer • November 7, 2024

A fire spreads in the dry hills of California due to a broken power line. With lower humidity and strong winds, the probability of a fire starting increases.

Roblox has established itself as a leading platform for game development, with the top 10 creators on Roblox making 30 million dollars annually, according to Roblox. "The magic of Roblox is that you can just do and make anything you want really fast and learn the entire ecosystem pretty quickly. Roblox is the best platform in the world to start making something," said Nathan Griffin, a developer on Roblox as well as former employee of the platform.

[Photo] From Robux to revenue: innovating success

Emi Sim, Scot Scoop Editor • November 5, 2024

Roblox has established itself as a leading platform for game development, with the top 10 creators on Roblox making 30 million dollars annually, according to Roblox. "The magic of Roblox is that you can...

Although coffee has existed for hundreds of years, the third wave of coffee, which began in the 1990s, promotes not only an enjoyable experience for consumers, but also emphasizes creating an impact that is beneficial for the farmers who are involved in the extensive production process, who often live in poverty. Through partnerships with organizations like Fair Trade, specialty coffee roasters and cafes can be increasingly assured that their profits directly benefit the quality of the lives of farmers.

[Photo] Beyond the bean: the far-reaching impacts of sustainable coffee

Emma Goldman, Scot Scoop Managing Editor • November 22, 2024

Although coffee has existed for hundreds of years, the third wave of coffee, which began in the 1990s, promotes not only an enjoyable experience for consumers, but also emphasizes creating an impact that...

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Cartoon: The battle of the states

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • October 22, 2024

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Cartoon: Murder Outside!

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • October 16, 2024

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Cartoon: A leader lost

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • October 7, 2024

What appears to be a dress up game for children has become an internet sensation for many teenagers and adults. Dress to Impress (DTI) is a game created on the online gaming platform Roblox. While Roblox has already been working on expanding their age demographics, with a reported 41% of 17 plus users by the end of 2023, DTI only help boost this change in age demographics by attracting many new and previously dormant players to the Roblox scene, such as college students and ordinary working people trying to destress after a long day. In addition, celebrities such as Caseoh and Madison Beer enjoying the game, as well as DTI's official collaboration with pop star Charli xcx, only further increased the game's audience. Overall, Dress to Impress has made a positive impact on Roblox as well as the teenagers and adults who get to rediscover their childlike desires.

Cartoon: A game for all ages

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • September 26, 2024

Last week, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off in their first presidential debate hosted by ABC News. Trump made a claim that in Springfield, Ohio "they're eating the dogs. The people that came in. They're eating the cats. They're eating -- they're eating the pets of the people that live there." This claim, among many others from Trump, were proven false. However, the phrase had already become an internet sensation, remixing Trump's words into songs. While many Republican's think Trump's debate performance was strong, others admit that they think Trump's argument wasn't strong. Trump needs to continue watching his words to avoid hurting his standing, and his party, in the presidential race.

Cartoon: They’re eating the dogs!

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • September 18, 2024

Last week, Sabrina Carpenter broke music chart records with her new single "Taste" and her sassy and sensual album, "Short n' Sweet." Carpenter is the first female artist to ever place an Official Chart Double on the Official U.K. Albums Chart and the Official U.K. Singles Chart, while also landing the top three singles. She has also gotten the top album and top three singles in Australia's music charts, as well as a No.1 on the Billboard 200. With Short n' Sweet, Carpenter demonstrates power in femininity and solidifies her place as one of the world's biggest pop stars.

Cartoon: Slaying the charts

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • September 10, 2024

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Cartoon: Baby talk

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • September 3, 2024

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Cartoon: Back in the race

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • August 27, 2024

The US Department of Justice sued Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, for violating customers and antitrust laws. The lawsuit attempts to break the bond between the child and parent companies and end Live Nation’s monopoly on the live events industry. Ticketmaster has long been loathed by many concert-goers and even musicians like Taylor Swift. Because Live Nation has a firm grasp on ticket selling, they control 80% of the tickets sold for big-scale concert venues, and many fans were grudgingly forced to give their money to a company that provided poor customer service and high prices. Despite the accusations, Live Nation still sits comfortably on its throne, saying its disbandment won’t benefit fans. In addition, the trial will likely take years to complete. Although there is a long road ahead, this trial must succeed to allow fans to continue enjoying the concert experience.

Cartoon: Controlling concerts

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • June 4, 2024

Cartoon: Drake and Kendrick's rap battle

Cartoon: Drake and Kendrick’s rap battle

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • June 3, 2024

The theme for the Met Gala 2024 is "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" with the dress code "The Garden of Time," based on J.G. Ballard's short story. The Metropolitan Museum of Art stated the theme reflects interactive fashion, utilizing the five senses. The reference to Sleeping Beauty is supposed to reflect how the clothes are so fragile they cannot be worn again. The dress code is a reference to nature, which many celebrities, such as co-host Zendaya, captured in their looks. While the event brought forth many unique looks, it is ironic how the theme is "one-time use" while the dress code is nature, a topic related with sustainability, a juxtaposition to the nature of the Met Gala.

Cartoon: Wearing off fashion

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • May 28, 2024

Cartoon: Positive planet news

Cartoon: Positive planet news

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • May 11, 2024

Many children dream of being influencers, but some such as 7-year-old twins Koti and Haven Garza are already internet famous. On their account "Garza Crew", which is run by their mother, Adrea Garza, the they have gathered a mass of 4.8 million followers on TikTok alone. With the increase in the amount of child influences followed an increase in concern about the topic. Some accuse the parents of taking advantage of their children and using them to earn income. Others worry the children are maturing too quickly. Garza assured the worries by explaining how she used the income for the girls' benefit, took measures to protect their privacy, and would never force them to keep posting if they did not want to. However, even measures such as those taken by Garza may not be enough to ensure a child's protection, especially for young girls. A study found that a majority of followers for many young girl accounts are men. Therefore, parents have to be extremely careful and observant of their children's accounts.

Cartoon: Generation Alpha influencers

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • May 11, 2024

In the midst of the war on Gaza, protests supporting Palestine have spread across the US. The students have demanded that their schools cut off their support for companies that support Israel, including Google and Airbnb. While many protests remained peaceful, some groups of protesters have breached campus buildings and set up tents, and some have voiced harm to Zionists, making Jewish and Pro-Israel students feel unsafe. Schools such as Columbia University, where most of the action is taking place, are faced with a tough decision on how to take action, and currently suspensions and arrests are the answer. While it's important colleges recognize their students' right of free speech, it is even more critical that colleges create a safe space for their students.

Cartoon: Divestment protests on campus

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • May 8, 2024

A few weeks ago, the Bay Area experienced hail and a thunderstorm, surprising many. While hail may seem out of place during the spring, it is a normal result of the cold and warm air meeting each other. However, it's still important to consider that there has been research that has found global warming affected larger hailstorms, proving that we do have even the slightest impact on our weather.

[Photo] Cartoon: Hail in the Bay

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • April 9, 2024

A few weeks ago, the Bay Area experienced hail and a thunderstorm, surprising many. While hail may seem out of place during the spring, it is a normal result of the cold and warm air meeting each other....

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Cartoon: A royal mystery

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • April 3, 2024

This year, the final candidates for the presidential election are 81-year-old Joe Biden and 77-year-old Donald Trump. One of the main cases against the election of Biden is his mental ability due to his old age, which in turn caused his supporters to point out Trumps old age as well. Biden had an excellent response to this concern during an interview with Robert Hur. He delivered a stirring speech of his vice presidency, proving his memory was intact and twisting his elderliness into wisdom. Some people point out that Biden's age is a representation of the U.S. population as a whole, which is getting older every year. While age may be a factor to consider how someone might perform, it shouldn't be the reason.

Cartoon: An old man’s race

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • April 1, 2024

Olivia Rodrigo's critically acclaimed Guts World Tour has begun to make its way to the first of the many big stadiums the show will perform on during its run. With the tour, Rodrigo introduced her Fund 4 Good, a campaign to advocate a highly controversial topic she's always been passionate about: supporting women and providing reproductive rights. Rodrigo has committed a portion of the revenue from all her venues to go to local abortion funds. While many of her fans are right with her and her beliefs, knowing that just by buying a ticket you are supporting an abortion fund may hurt her overall fanbase. (Keira Sarmiento)

Cartoon: Olivia Rodrigo’s Fund 4 Good

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • April 1, 2024

A restaurant in Connecticut has been known for its $18 Big Mac Combo Meal. This is a reflection of rising prices across many fast food restaurants. The culprit of this inflation? Better wages for low-income workers. High fast food prices are a price that needs to be paid to ensure people get the income they deserve.

Cartoon: Inflated Big Mac

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • March 21, 2024

Azora, one of the dogs in the Peninsula Humane Society’s shelter in Burlingame, watches possible adopters pass by. Every year, over two million animals enter shelters in the United States.

Behind glass doors: the ethics of animal shelters

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • March 8, 2024

Back in February, Punxsutawney Phil and his fellow groundhogs around the U.S. have predicted an early spring for 2024! This year, it seems Phil's forecast is alarmingly true. Nebraska has reached record February temperatures and Colorado is already experiencing wildfires. Scientists argue that global warming is the reason spring keeps arriving earlier, which negatively impacts species by forcing them to rush through seasonal change, overall disrupting ecosystems. If we allow the global warming trend to continue, spring may arrive too early, even for the groundhogs.

Cartoon: The groundhog who never misses

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • March 7, 2024

Recently, there has been a decline in demand for plant-based meat. In response, start-up companies, such as Choppy, Hoxton Farms, and Mission Barns, are experimenting with putting real animal fat into plant-based meat. While it is appalling to vegetarians and vegans, the goal for these companies is to appeal to the larger, currently meat-eating audience. This is the transition needed for a sustainable and ethical future.

Cartoon: 1% Meat

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • March 1, 2024

Cartoon: Got Milk?

Cartoon: Got Milk?

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • February 9, 2024

A Forbes Health Survey revealed the top revolutions for 2024. It reports a recent trend of people opting for fitness goals over mental health goals which were popular in recent years. However, experts say that physical activity actually boosts mental health, allowing both goals to be met.

Cartoon: Off to the races

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • February 1, 2024

“Bluey” is an Australian children’s show popular amongst children, teens, and adults. The show features the life of main character Bluey, along with her friends and family.

‘Bluey’ captures the hearts of an older audience

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • December 11, 2023

Emmy award-winning TV series “Bluey,” which first aired in 2018, has become a hit children’s show worldwide. The Australian show created by Joe Brumm lets viewers see the everyday life of a six-year-old...

Disney shows multiple images of their new film "Wish". The film will be released on Nov. 22, 2023.

Disney fans have high hopes for Disney’s upcoming movie ‘Wish’

Keira Sarmiento, Staff Writer • October 23, 2023

Walt Disney Animation Studios plans to release its new musical movie “Wish” in theaters on Nov. 22. The movie explains the origin of the wishing star that has been seen in Disney classics such as...

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