"Little Man in the Tree" Christmas Decorations from Wikipedia Commons There are so many different ways to celebrate Christmas, from gathering with family to traveling the world. So, what are some ways Bellevue families celebrate Christmas? Christmas traditions in America originate with the Christian religion, as Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Many people celebrate this religious holiday with church services and giving to charity. But as time went on, Christ

Photo from Unsplash Sports betting has exploded in popularity over the years, becoming a major part of modern-day sports. With its rapid growth it comes with questions about how gambling influences not only fans and leagues but players as well. Platforms like ReBet and Kalshi have introduced new ways for younger users to engage in betting, which raise additional concerns about kids getting hooked and the extended pressure on athletes. Rebet operates under a “sweepstakes” mo

Bellevue High School Orchestra students seated in Benaroya Hall on 11/7. Trips like these are integral to the Orchestra experience, and rely on your continued support. Photo by Evan Du. On Nov. 7, our own Orchestra visited Benaroya Hall to see Seattle Symphony’s performance of Dvorak’s 9 th  Symphony and the Tchaikovsky violin concerto featuring soloist Simone Lamsma. Tchaikovsky’s sole violin concerto lasted around 35 minutes before an intermission into Dvorak’s four-move

Photo from Unsplash When the federal government shuts down, countless government-funded programs lose funding or face severe delays. This includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps nearly 40 million people across the country put food on the table each month. Since the government shut down for 43 days, from October 1, 2025, to November 11th, 2025, SNAP resorted to emergency funds. These funds inevitably ran dry on November 1st, 2025, leaving te

Photo from Unsplash The Starbucks winter menu is always long-awaited, as it brings in the holiday season. People love to welcome back the classic drinks and treats they have been missing and are excited to see what new items are in store once the temperature drops. For many Bellevue High School students, Starbucks is a year-round staple. With its official 2025 drop, what does the student population have to say about the menu, and what is worth trying this season? Compared t

Photo from Unsplash With the winter season approaching, it is finally time to put on our cozy and warm outfits to keep protected from the harsh cold of December. As much as everyone likes snow and hot cocoa, the cold is at times unbearable. To shield our hands from getting patchy and our fingernails from turning purple, it is important that we dress appropriately. However, layers of clothing and huge coats that go up to our knees are not exactly the most practical for every

A true Bellevue High student knows the daily lunchtime dilemma all too well: Chipotle or PCC? Located just steps apart, these two spots have become the unofficial lunchtime hubs for Wolverines who leave campus. But behind every meal is a strong opinion, and at BHS, the debate over which location reigns supreme is very real. “I love Chipotle because it is very consistent, quick and has different toppings, always good on a cut or a bulk,” senior Duke Stauffer said. Chipotle h

Donald Trump's Face on the Nobel Peace Prize. Artwork by Mingze Shi. Last month, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to María Machado, a powerful advocate for democracy from Venezuela. Machado was praised for fighting oppression in Venezuela’s government and her work in freedom fighting gained global attention, but her recognition of this also brought international controversies. President Trump was one who reacted strongly to the award. Trump argued he deserved it and that h

Current Bellevue seniors and their little siblings playing a Thanksgiving football game years back. Fun activities like this are always a great way to bring everyone together. Picture by Rowan Gerron. Thanksgiving reminds us of the importance of having gratitude and spending quality time with family. Moreover, It gives students a chance to recharge over the four-day weekend and enjoy their favorite Thanksgiving traditions. “Thanksgiving is different for me since my famil

Senior class officer, Swafiya Twahir with her second period's donation bag! Picture by Stella O'Connor. Bellevue High School has officially kicked off its annual Fall Food Drive, which will run from November 12th through November 25 th . This year’s focus is simple but meaningful: to collect peanut butter and jelly to support local families in need this Thanksgiving. In partnership with Families Helping Families Give, BHS Leadership is working to encourage students to parti

In 2023, the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) found that only 14 percent of 13-year-olds reported reading for fun “almost every day,” compared to 27 percent in 2012. Reading for fun, which I’ll refer to as “personal reading,” is defined as “any kind of reading done for enjoyment or purposes other than work or school” and has innumerable personal benefits. These range from increases in general reading comprehension and vocabulary to promoting sleep quality or

Hydroflask (left) and Owala (right) bottles next to each other. Picture by Jeremiah Kowalski on waterbottleadvisor.com . For many students, drinking enough water every day is easier said than done. Though water is vital for our health, many factors can make drinking water unmotivating. Carrying a full water bottle can feel like an unnecessary added weight, making students hesitant to refill their bottles and add to their heavy load. Additionally, the actual act of drinking ou

Photo from Creative Commons Volunteering among teens is on the uptick after the pandemic. Students are participating in local projects and community organizations in record numbers, and schools are experiencing an increase in teen interest in service-based participation. Students felt isolated while learning online and staying at home for extended periods of time. Volunteering allows students to regain relationships and feel that they are connected to their community. Recen

Photo from waymo.com It hasn’t been long since rideshare apps have taken over the world of transportation. Now a new fast and convenient method is making waves. Waymo, a subsidiary company of Alphabet Inc., is like Uber but without a driver, or more specifically without a human driver. Their cars use autonomous driving technology to transport customers to their desired destination. The company first launched in 2020, in Phoenix, Arizona. Since then, they have expanded their

Bellevue High School has officially kicked off its annual Fall Food Drive, which will run from November 12th through November 25 th . This year’s focus is simple but meaningful: to collect peanut butter and jelly to support local families in need this Thanksgiving. In partnership with Families Helping Families Give, BHS Leadership is working to encourage students to participate and make a real impact in the Bellevue community. Peanut butter and jelly might sound like a small

Artificial Intelligence art sold at an auction at a realized price of $94,500. Picture from https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/augmented-intelligence/lots/3837 Art is a popular outlet for self-expression. Through mediums like paint and pencils, one can create a variety of perspectives and colors can invoke different emotions in the viewer. These creations turn into meaningful pieces that highlight themes artists are passionate about. All these factors hold authenticity and va

Speech and Debate commons in Nationals tournament in a school in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo by Nate Chiang-Lin. The first thing you will notice about the bus leaving school is how comfortable it looks. There are seatbelts and even an overhead bag holder. You could call this the nice bus. But do not be fooled. The bus will have gained cushioned seats at the expense of space. The half-hour before your first round will be your most productive time yet. Didn’t think you could read

A game of Clash Royale on Zia Shaikh's phone. Video games are no strangers to dramatic shifts in popularity. Games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Among Us have seen manic levels of popularity, followed by long periods without much traction at all. Recently, one game specifically has been through this exact cycle. Clash Royale is mobile video game where two players manage characters on an online battlefield, like a general managing their soldiers. The goal is to destroy the ot

It was a typical Seattle morning—drizzling, damp, and melancholy—when Bellevue High’s varsity cross-country team arrived at Lakewood High School. Quickly scampering to the refuge of their somewhat water-free tent, they settled down in an attempt to save their energy. But despite the weather, the team was buzzing with excitement, ready to compete in the 42 nd  annual of the Hole in the Wall Invitational—a cross-country invite bringing the best high school runners from across t

Jen-Hsun Huang (Jensen Huang) at the first K.T. Li Awards ceremony 2023 in Taiwan. As of 9/4/2025, NVIDIA Corp. is the first publicly traded company to reach a valuation of $5T. Photo by 總統府  / CC 2.0 It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of people claiming AI will completely revolutionize every facet of life. That humanity is on track to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), a lofty and still yet-to-be-defined concept of an AI “superintelligence.” But reality is dirty and