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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

Payton Zolck

Payton Zolck, Production Editor

Payton Zolck is a senior at Carlmont High School. She enjoys journalism and making videos about things she is interested in. She is very passionate about the environment and hopes to pursue a career in marine biology or environmental science. She is currently involved in San Mateo County Youth Climate Ambassadors and is a co-president of an ocean conservancy and marine biology club, where she loves learning about and advocating for the environment. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, track, singing in her school choir, playing guitar, exploring, being outdoors, and volunteering. To learn more about her work, go check out her portfolio here.

Twitter: @pzolck

All content by Payton Zolck

Animals provide pawsitive effects on people’s mental health and lives

Payton Zolck, Production Editor May 20, 2022

Jasper Ridge Farms, a non-profit focused on helping those in need through the comforting power of animals, strives to create unique experiences and therapeutic interactions for clients from various walks...

Are Starbucks’ 2021 holiday drinks worth the hype?

Payton Zolck and Maya Kornyeyeva December 12, 2021

With the holiday season here, Starbucks has released its selection of 2021 holiday drinks. In this video, Payton Zolck and Maya Kornyeyeva decide whether these drinks represent the epidemy of the holiday...

Peninsula Food Runners deliver produce to those in need

Payton Zolck, Production Editor December 3, 2021

Peninsula Food Runners is an organization that has volunteers pick up food and deliver it to people in need. Every Sunday, these volunteers pick up extra produce from the Belmont Farmer's Market and drop...

Opinion: We need to clean up after ourselves

Payton Zolck, Production Editor November 12, 2021

After lunch, students are leaving trash around the tables and on the ground. Instead of relying on others to clean up after us, we have to be more aware of our effect on the environment and be considerate...

Activist Steve Peters works towards decreasing the prejudice towards people with AIDS.

AIDS survivor and activist preaches against prejudice

Payton Zolck, Production Editor October 25, 2021

People acted too afraid to touch him or be in the same room with him. Fighting for his voice to be heard was a challenge Steve Pieters began facing when he was diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency...

Climate change sparks students to take action

Payton Zolck, Production Editor October 1, 2021

On September 24th, students from around the globe participated in a global climate strike. One organization that organized a local strike in San Fransisco is Youth Vs. Apocalypse. At  Carlmont, Climate...

APES encourages student involvement in the world around them

Payton Zolck, Production Editor September 10, 2021

This school year, Carlmont students have the opportunity to take a new AP course, AP Environmental Science, also known as APES. Teachers and students reflect on the importance of the class, what differentiates...

Living with mother Earth Ep. 7: What you can do

Payton Zolck, Production Editor April 28, 2021

Throughout, this series Payton Zolck has spoken with various people about climate change and different environmental issues. Join her in the last episode of Living with mother Earth, where she speaks with...

San Mateo County manages an effective vaccine distribution system

Payton Zolck, Production Editor March 15, 2021

As vaccine distribution becomes a priority across the country, San Mateo County works to maintain an effective plan to distribute vaccines to its citizens.

Living with mother Earth Ep. 6: Energy is Everywhere

Payton Zolck, Production Editor February 28, 2021

In this Episode, Payton Zolck speaks with Kirsten Andrews-Schwind from Peninsula Clean Energy about how energy affects us and the environment, as well as the different types of energy and how it gets to...

Living with mother Earth Ep. 5: Save The Bay

Payton Zolck, Production Editor January 29, 2021

In this episode, Payton Zolck speaks with Charlie Onorati from Save The Bay about the different impacts we have on the Bay, the restoration Save The Bay is doing, and some of the things you can do to help.

Living with mother Earth Ep. 4: The climate crisis

Payton Zolck, Production Editor December 9, 2020

In this episode, Payton Zolck speaks with Lizbeth Ibarra from Youth Vs. Apocalypse about the climate crisis and the social issues that accompany it.

Living with mother Earth Ep. 3: Reduce reuse recycle

Payton Zolck, Production Editor November 18, 2020

In this episode of Living with mother Earth, Payton Zolck talks with Heather Rockwood, a Recology waste zero specialist, about what happens to our waste once we are done with it, including what happens...

Peninsula Humane Society and local shelters adopt new safety measures due to COVID-19

Payton Zolck, Production Editor October 19, 2020

With the rate of animal adoptions increasing due to COVID-19, Peninsula Human Society and other shelters alter their adoption and volunteering processes, while adopting safety measures that align with...

Living with mother earth Ep. 2: The plastic problem

Payton Zolck, Production Editor October 9, 2020

Plastic is everywhere, in our waters, on our lands, in our food, in animals, and in us. In this episode of Living with mother earth, Payton Zolck examines the problem of plastic pollution. Zolck questions...

Living with mother Earth Ep. 1: Carlmont’s climate

Payton Zolck, Production Editor September 16, 2020

You turn on the TV, go onto a social media account, or read an article. You see it pop up multiple times throughout your experience, and you have heard talk about it millions of times. Climate Change is...

Duck Tales Ep. 5: A whole new world

Payton Zolck, Production Editor June 12, 2020

In this episode of Duck Tales, the ducks will be introduced to the lake behind Payton's house. Join the ducks as they explore this "new world." Music obtained from Youtube’s Audio Library: Musik...

Duck Tales Ep. 4: Where no duck has gone before

Payton Zolck, Production Editor May 21, 2020

In this episode of Duck Tales, the ducks embark upon a new journey as they make their way to the park near Payton's house. At the park, the ducks start to explore new places. Music obtained from Youtube’s...

Duck Tales Ep. 3: Just keep swimming

Payton Zolck, Production Editor May 6, 2020

The Duck Tales series continues as the ducks embark on a major milestone. Join Payton and her 12 ducks as they begin to learn how to swim. Music obtained from Youtube’s Audio Library: Potato Deal...

[Video] Duck Tales Ep. 2: The age of exploration

Payton Zolck, Production Editor April 27, 2020

Payton's journey with her 12 ducks continues as they begin to explore their surroundings. In this episode, she will follow the ducks on their journey of venturing outside into the front yard. Music...

Duck Tales Ep. 1: The journey begins

Payton Zolck, Production Editor April 15, 2020

You may have a pet dog, cat, fish, or even a bunny. But not many people have pet ducks. During the summer of 2017, Payton and her dad raised 12 pet ducks and have decided to do it again as a result of...

Pets hold a powerful relationship with their owners

Payton Zolck, Production Editor March 4, 2020

A dog has always been said to be man’s best friend. Some owners believe their pet positively impacts their mental health and feel a strong connection in the relationship. Whether it be from the stresses...

Technology transforms the school environment

Payton Zolck, Production Editor January 29, 2020

As society becomes more and more reliant on technology, schools have increasingly changed with this reliance. It is being used more often in these environments, helping to create a variation in learning...

Students are hard at work, taking notes while listening to their teacher's lecture.

Mercy Beyond Borders provides impoverished women with more than an education

Payton Zolck, Production Editor January 17, 2020

A young girl. She has been told her whole life she is something worth less than a cow. By the time she is a teenager, her father and uncles have already picked an older man for her to marry. Despite...

Sophomore Valentina Espinosa puts food into a paper bag for the canned food drive.

Canned food drive helps those in need through student participation

Payton Zolck, Production Editor November 18, 2019

You gather around the table with your family. You smell the warm aromatic smell of rosemary coming from the bubbling turkey. A sweet smell flows from the vibrant red cranberry sauce, and buttery, fluffy...

Sophomore Valentina Espinosa and sophomore Marguerite Fields walk to their next class in their spirit week outfits.

Sophomore Valentina Espinosa and sophomore Marguerite Fields walk to their next class in their spirit week outfits.

Sophomore Katelyn Gamberin uses an AP testing book to help her prepare for her AP test in the Spring.

The Testing Book Drive provides materials for students in need

Payton Zolck, Production Editor October 2, 2019

With so many tests that high schoolers are required to take, several students tend to use an immense amount of testing books. Once the test is over, many students are left with books they will never use...

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