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
Robin Linares

Robin Linares, Staff Writer

Robin Linares is a senior at Carlmont High School in her third year of the journalism program. She enjoys reporting current events and local news that impact the community and environment. Outside of journalism, you can find her at the Performing Arts Center, working as a part of the technical theater crew and spending time with her friends and family.

Twitter: @_robin_linares_

All content by Robin Linares
Students report more academic stress during flu season because they find it difficult to catch up after missing class. “That is why many of the kids come to school sick, spreading the germs; they are told, ‘I won’t allow any late work,’ or ‘I will not let you make up a test,’” said Leonor Perez Zarco, Carlmont’s attendance clerk.

Flu season stress infects Carlmont community

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • December 11, 2022

The cold air and leafless trees mark the end of the fall semester when students are preparing for finals and the much-needed winter break that follows. However, the semester's closing brings an unwelcome...

Volunteers help students as they order snacks at the Student Store. "It can be crowded," senior Rhiannon Windeler said. "The volunteers that work there are pretty nice, though."

Opinions of the Student Store form a mixed bag

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • November 19, 2022

With the hustle and bustle of the school day, as students rush to see friends or take the quickest route to class, one location often makes them stop and turn: the Student Store. At the Student Store,...

Smaug, a goat, eats away some brush at his job site. "We feel our goats are vital employees at City Grazing, so we try to treat them with respect and give them the best quality care we can," said Genevieve Church, executive director of City Grazing.

Goats munch away fire risk

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • November 2, 2022

With California fire seasons becoming more extreme, there has been an increased focus on fire prevention efforts. One such effort is pretty unconventional, considering it quite literally, devours the fire...

The new staff parking provides direct access to Happy Campers Daycare Center, according to Grant Steunenberg, Carlmont's administrative vice principal. “In the technology and security building, there is also a third office which is a lactation room for mothers who need to breastfeed or pump milk during the day,” Steunenberg said.

Students learn the driving force behind senior lot changes

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • October 27, 2022

The senior parking lot saw the addition of 10 staff parking spots. While this new development provides relief for staff, it was a shock for students. On Tuesday, Oct. 11, when students drove into the...

Lindsay Roth was able to learn more about web design through her work on the Belmont Water Dog Run website. “We got to choose the colors of the website ourselves. And that involves understanding what colors look good together, which is hard to do on a website because, on every screen, the colors look a little different,” Roth said.

Carlmont students race to get involved in Water Dog Run internship program

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • October 5, 2022

With the changing leaves of fall comes Belmont's annual Water Dog Run. While most are familiar with the community-oriented run, which fundraises for schools and youth programs, many may be unaware of some...

Jennifer Lang uses interior design to make her office more inviting, a method she started during her days as a teacher to keep students engaged. “I think that if you provide a really cool environment for students who may not like school, then they’re more apt to come to a classroom and not skip your class,” Lang said.

Carlmont welcomes Jennifer Lang as new instructional vice principal

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • September 15, 2022

Jennifer Lang took on the position of instructional vice principal (IVP) following Gay Buckland-Murray's promotion to principal. Lang brings 32 years of teaching experience to Carlmont. She has worked...

In addition to shoreline protection with levees, there is hope to add trails on top of them to make it an additional cultural value. "The current thinking, wherever possible [is] to include a levee with a broad slope towards the bay and in a trail on top," said Len Materman, chief executive officer of OneShoreline.

Peninsula works to implement preventative measures against sea level rise

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • May 29, 2022

Plans to increase further shoreline protection on the Peninsula have begun to help prevent the effects of future sea-level rise in San Mateo County.  According to Climate Central, San Mateo County...

As many around the country are concerned about the likely overturning of Roe v. Wade and increasingly restrictive abortion laws in states, junior Luiza Nunes wants to make sure people continue to protest. “Those who have been organizing for abortion rights saw this coming. It’s almost inevitable, and it’s something that we have to keep fighting for,” Nunes said.

California commits to continued abortion access as Roe v. Wade likely overturned

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • May 10, 2022

In response to the unclear fate of Roe v. Wade and strict abortion restrictions popping up around the country, California prepares to aid those seeking out-of-state abortion care in areas where abortion...

An observer looks at the variety of work shown in the Annual Women's View 2022. "By having a lot of different artists, we can capture many different views of the world, and that's essentially what this group exhibition is about: celebrating the unique power of each woman," said Shawna Vesco, the San Mateo County Galleries Curator.

Annual art exhibition celebrates local artists

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • March 19, 2022

San Mateo County is holding its 17th Annual Women's View Group Art Exhibition, showcasing work from various women, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming artists in the local area.  The exhibition, located...

San Mateo County still recommends the use of face coverings, despite its lifting of the mask mandate, as a study published by the Centers for Disease Control showed that even wearing a cloth mask decreases the likelihood of getting COVID-19 by 56%.

Masks still recommended as San Mateo County lifts indoor mask mandate

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • February 17, 2022

San Mateo County, along with most other Bay Area counties, lifted its indoor mask mandate starting Feb. 16, following state recommendations.  Under the new requirements, vaccinated individuals are...

Amid an ongoing blood crisis, the Red Cross urges those who are eligible to donate. “It’s vital that donors come forward in the days and weeks ahead to help prevent further delays in vital medical care,” said Cari Dighton, the Regional Communications Director for the American Red Cross in the Northern California Coastal Region.

Red Cross blood shortage sparks need for donations

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • January 27, 2022

The Red Cross declared a national blood crisis after having the worst blood shortage in over a decade. Blood donations are used for blood transfusions, which are needed in many different circumstances....

It is essential to step away from the stress that the technological world can cause and enjoy what nature offers. Georgie Rauls, the green team co-president, noted the importance of spending time in nature. “I still don't interact with nature as much as I'd like to, [but] I think connecting with nature is important because it gives us a break from things,” Rauls said.

Nature’s role in a digital world

Oliver Fichte and Robin Linares • January 21, 2022

Click.  Tap.  Scroll.  Like.  The use of technology has become an essential part of our lives, for better or for worse. It seems, through the haze of a more stressful, urbanized world,...

After the guns are collected, they are put into various bins, as shown from the last buyback from 2019. Danielle Lacampagne explained what the police department does with the collected firearms. "The Sheriff's Office process them and have to log them, but they don't trace them to anyone," Lacampagne said. "In the end, they all get destroyed, and essentially melted down."

Gun buyback promotes gun safety and mental health awareness

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • November 25, 2021

Content Warning: This article mentions suicide and contains other content which may be triggering to some readers. In an effort to offer a safe space for gun owners to dispose of their firearms, San...

To make getting the vaccine less scary for younger children, San Mateo County has a set up a pediatric vaccine clinic with many fun activities. According to the county website, they have set up "televisions and life-size games of chess and Connect Four [that] will also help children feel at ease while waiting for their shot and during the 15-minute observation period."

CDC approves Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • November 3, 2021

Children ages 5-11 are now eligible to get Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, following the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  The decision comes following a Pfizer study whose...

Congestion and traffic jams outside of the entrance to Carlmont present a major challenge for students who are trying to park.

Easing the bottleneck

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • October 13, 2021

When students hear the final bell, many rush to their cars to go home, only to find a sea of traffic awaiting them. That is the reality for many Carlmont students as the congestion from the number of...

A tarantula raises its front two legs outside of the T-wing. According to Live Science, tarantulas do this when they feel threatened, usually to scare off predators by making themselves appear larger.

Tarantulas return to the Bay Area for mating season

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • September 21, 2021

Within the past few weeks, the local tarantula species dubbed the Bay Area blond has returned to the trails of Belmont and San Carlos for its mating season. Tarantula mating season begins in early fall...

The overwhelming amount of geese in the Redwood Shores area has affected the cleanliness of much of the sidewalk space, which is a common dropping area.

Redwood Shores embarks on a wild goose chase to control geese population

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • August 31, 2021

Efforts to control the population of geese are underway in the Redwood Shores area as they threaten the cleanliness of the community's facilities and the native wildlife that inhabit the area. The San...

Carlmont’s open house website provides an interactive experience for families to check out student work. Gay Buckland-Murray, the instructional vice principal, stressed the importance of the continuation of an open house, despite the abnormal circumstances. “Open House is a chance for students and families to ‘see’ teachers/classes that the student has been involved in all year [and say] ‘here’s the teacher/class that I’ve been talking about’. It’s a chance to look back in that sense to what has been happening this year,” Buckland-Murray said.

Virtual open house highlights perseverance with distance learning

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • May 7, 2021

Carlmont’s open house goes virtual this year, with a website showcasing student work and course information.  In past years, the open house has been a tool for families to see projects done in classes,...

The AP testing schedule gives information on what day each AP test will be and whether the exam is on campus or digital from home.

Carlmont releases AP exam schedule and information to students

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • April 18, 2021

Carlmont released their AP testing schedule with many options for at-home testing and gave more information about the digital exam software. According to the College Board, this year’s Advanced Placement...

One of the slides presented at the seminar shows how specific hallways will be designated as one-way or 2-way hallways. "In most cases, the one-way or one-directional hallway [is used] to minimize the crossing of students, but there are some hallways that are going to be two way," said Greg Patner, the administrative vice principal. "You can see some of those arrows are two-way arrows like near the football field, and then there's some that are one-way arrows to help students to navigate successfully around campus."

Parent seminar gives information on concurrent model

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • March 19, 2021

A Parent Information Webinar held by Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) and the Carlmont Academic Foundation (CAF) sought to provide more information for the new concurrent learning plan for the...

Students weigh their options on what science class they want to take next year before their counselor meeting to finalize course selections.

Carlmont adds new science courses to expand student options

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • February 26, 2021

Two science courses, AP environmental science and green technology engineering, have been added as course options for next year as students are in the process of choosing next year’s classes. Green...

Some students take access to online resources, prep books, and tutoring support for granted. This is not the case for all students wanting to take College Board classes; some students do not have the same amount of resources due to financial difficulties, making it harder for them to be successful.

Assessing the College Board

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • February 18, 2021

When students hear the phrase “College Board,” thoughts of PSATs, SATs, Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and college applications immediately cross their minds. While the College Board provides...

As the search for a superintendent continues in the Sequoia Union High School District, the community is giving input to help aid the next steps.

SUHSD searches for new superintendent with community input

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • January 31, 2021

The current “Phase 2” of the superintendent search is well underway, as The Board of Trustees starts receiving input from administrators, teachers, students, and various community members. The Sequoia...

Once someone enters the Scots Gym, the hand sanitizing station and a list of directions and procedures await them. "When students get to the check-in station … [they] fill out a questionnaire … then they take their temperature and sanitize their hands," said health aide Samantha Gingher, adding that students can't go to class until she reviews their questionnaire.

Administration revises, expands reach of cohorts

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • November 28, 2020

After evaluating the trial run of educational cohorts on campus, the Carlmont administration decided to open up more cohorts for students. The first round of educational cohorts included two cohorts,...

A classroom at Carlmont High School demonstrates precautions being taken for educational cohorts. It has plexiglass partitions at each desk, with seats measured 6 feet apart from each other.

Carlmont implements educational cohorts for on-campus support

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • November 4, 2020

As COVID-19 rates have started to slow in San Mateo County, Carlmont High School was able to use educational cohorts to open up its doors for some students. While following the guidance of the San Mateo...

Inside the administration office, the administrative vice principals (AVPs) have been intermittently coming to campus to work while following safety protocols.

Administrative vice principals shift focus during distance learning

Robin Linares, Staff Writer • October 14, 2020

As the pandemic closed school doors and changed the way school is normally run, the administrative vice principals have found ways to adapt their job and responsibilities to aid students during distance...

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