The Student News Site of Burlingame High School

The Burlingame B

The Student News Site of Burlingame High School

The Burlingame B

The Student News Site of Burlingame High School

The Burlingame B

Joelle Huysmans

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator

Joelle Huysmans is a sophomore at Burlingame High School and Diversity Coordinator for The Burlingame B as a second-year journalism student. Outside of school, she enjoys playing tennis, running in track and field, spending time with friends, playing board games with her family, and traveling across the world to discover foreign cultures. Her profound passion for reading and writing has led her to this class and she is excited to see where it will take her next.
All content by Joelle Huysmans
Senior captain Sofia Kim swims the 500-meter, finishing with a Central Coast Section (CCS) championships qualifying time of 5:27.43.

Swim hits CCS marks in victory over San Mateo

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
March 18, 2024

Varsity swimmers must really like what they do. It’s just March, but numerous members of the team have already ensured that their season won’t be ending anytime soon. After only three meets, freshman...

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On Thursday, Feb. 22, the leadership class hosted a Black History Month event for students during lunch to celebrate the lives of various African American icons.

Celebrating Black History in the arts: stories worth sharing

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
March 5, 2024

Introduction Each year, the United States recognizes February as Black History Month to honor the achievements made by African Americans across the nation and acknowledge their central role...

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In response to the abundance of false information online, a new bill was signed that requires K-12 teachers to teach media literacy skills.

New media literacy law seeks to educate students about fake news

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
February 16, 2024

According to a 2019 Stanford study, two-thirds of students tested couldn’t distinguish editorial content and advertising, and 96% didn’t comprehend why a climate-change website supported by a fossil...

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In the first minutes of the game, sophomore midfielder Gaelle Foy heads the ball.

Girls’ soccer draws with Sequoia in riveting last minutes of play

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
January 20, 2024

A look at the Peninsula Athletic League standings before the girls’ soccer’s matchup with Sequoia High School on Tuesday, Jan. 16 was enough to know that it was going to be a good game. The Panthers...

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Head coach David Lopez watches his team play defense during the Panthers matchup against Capuchino.

New coaches bring energy, experience to winter sports

Boys’ basketball: David Lopez Zachary Newman It may be his first year as a varsity head coach, but David Lopez has his squad ready for this season. The boys’ basketball program, led for...

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When I gave a geography test with eight questions to a class of 25 Burlingame students, the average score was 3.8 out of 8 — concerningly low.

Make geography a standalone class

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
December 8, 2023

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Junior Emma Daly searches for a player to pass the ball to as she dribbles past a forward from Redwood High School.

Girls’ soccer exhibits resilience despite their loss against Redwood

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
December 4, 2023

Girls’ varsity soccer (2-1) fell short in a 1-0 loss to Redwood High School in their opening game of the Firebird Classic on Thursday, Nov. 30.  Although they did not walk away with a victory, the...

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Girls’ varsity receives their awards, celebrating the first CCS championship in Burlingame cross country history.

Cross country exceeds all expectations at CCS championships

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
November 15, 2023

Forty-eight — that’s the total number of times this year’s Burlingame cross-country team has trained on the Hallmark Park course. Since June, assistant coach Steve O’Brien has been tallying his...

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Seniors Isaac Van Voorhis and Arouka Purev-Chang maintain a steady pace throughout the 5k run.

Cross country prepares for deep playoff run at third meet of the season

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
October 28, 2023

As the cross country season draws to a close, the team’s focus shifts towards the end-of-season championships — the key races for any runner hoping to qualify for the state championship. That objective...

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Sophomore Ryan Liu leads a group of runners during the boys’ frosh-soph race. He ended the race in eighth place.

Cross country’s “team first” mentality yields outstanding results in first meet

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
October 1, 2023

Running is an individual pursuit. Cross country, however, is a team sport. In their first Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) meet on Sept. 27, the Artichoke Invitational, Burlingame's runners proved the importance...

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Of the four blazes that broke out in Maui on Aug. 8, the Lahaina fire was perhaps the most destructive, wreaking havoc on the historic town.

Burlingame students witness tragedy of Maui fires

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
September 19, 2023

One morning during her stay in Maui, junior Sofia Crosina headed to downtown Lahaina for coffee. Nearly all businesses were closed due to a power outage, so island residents and tourists alike queued in...

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The lunch cafeteria in the comedy Mean Girls is where cliques congregate. Although cliquey friend groups exist at Burlingame, lunchtime dynamics certainly do not reach the same intensity.

Not every Burlingame high school experience feels like a movie

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
September 6, 2023

When I pictured high school life as a rising freshman, I imagined hectic hallways, cliquey cafeterias and spirited football games. Like most nervous eighth graders, I was imagining myself trying to survive...

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Each freshman at Burlingame experiences the transition into high school in their own unique way.

Two weeks in, freshmen evaluate high school experience

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
August 31, 2023

Curious to learn about the more than 300 students who joined the Burlingame community this year? Diversity Coordinator Joelle Huysmans was too. She asked nine freshman students to share their first impressions....

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Whether motivated by insecurity, peer pressure or enjoyment, the way students beautify themselves is entirely up to them and some may choose not to do it at all.

ChapStick or Lipstick? The Choice Is Yours

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
May 1, 2023

Despite the fact that Burlingame's first bell rings every day at 8:30 a.m., a number of students manage to carve out time in their morning routine to arrive to class with perfect faces of makeup, styled...

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Sophomores Jayden Wan and Shayna Blum contributed to Youth for Climate Policy by recounting their experiences in taking climate action, inspiring students to follow their footsteps.

Students advocate for climate action at youth policy seminar

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
April 25, 2023

On Friday, April 20, Sustainable San Mateo County hosted the Youth for Climate Policy seminar in advance of the following day’s Earth Day celebration. While the event aimed to shed light on the escalating...

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In many ways, Pride Prom mirrored a traditional school dance, but with a special emphasis on inclusion and diversity.

First annual Pride Prom celebrates LGBTQIA+ community

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
April 19, 2023

On Friday, April 14, the San Mateo Union High School District hosted its first county-wide Pride Prom at the College of San Mateo, offering students an inclusive alternative to traditional prom. Pride...

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Teenagers experience pressure to conform to the unrealistic body types diet culture promotes, which makes them feel obligated to restrict their calorie intake.

How self-esteem becomes dependent on the numbers on the scale

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
April 8, 2023

Skip breakfast. You don’t need three meals in a day. Run every morning. The fitter you are, the more popular you will be. Look at these models on your social media. Don’t you want to be just...

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From being forced to leave their homes to not receiving the basic necessities, 26 million people across both Turkey and Syria still need humanitarian aid according to the World Health Organization.

7,000 miles away, impact of Turkey-Syria earthquake reverberates for students

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
February 25, 2023

For most Burlingame students, the impact of the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6, taking an estimated 47,000 lives, has been reduced to images on social media of pulverized houses, orphaned...

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Although containing an abundance of French clichĂ©s — like enjoying croissants and a coffee at a cafĂ© with a friend — Emily in Paris portrays some truth about Parisians.

‘Emily in Paris’ goes beyond croissants and the Eiffel Tower

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
February 23, 2023

When I envisioned "Emily in Paris," Andrew Fleming's newest wildly popular Netflix show, all of the city’s stereotypes came to mind: a buttery croissant at a cafĂ© overlooking the Seine, a stroll  along...

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Like many technologies, gasoline and air conditioning promised extensive benefits to our society despite — or perhaps because of — their destructive effects.

Should we blame our grandparents for triggering climate change?

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
February 20, 2023

On California highways, it’s hard to miss the warning signs of climate change. They are big, with bold black text on a white backdrop. “$1000 fine for littering,” they say, like an angry teacher...

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Led by the DJ’s compelling music, students showed their best moves on the dance floor.

Under shimmering Northern Lights, students dance the night away at Winter Formal

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
February 8, 2023

Loud music, colorful disco lights, mini dresses and sharp-looking suits — a winter formal is the ultimate high school dance experience. Every year, the event marks a time when students can forget their...

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Whether it is a promise to finally clean our bedroom, come to school on time, minimize our screen time or not to fail the next Spanish test, we are constantly vowing to improve. But when the new year comes around, that impulse to change is far more intense.

New year’s resolutions? More like unrealistic goals

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
January 16, 2023

“New year, new me.” Ever heard that before? It’s the same old promise we make year after year on Jan. 1 as we make a list of our self-improvement resolutions. But I think the laudable objectives...

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Rows of colorful tops displayed at the Hillsdale Mall’s Lululemon store, a favorite for Burlingame students.

High school fashion: a new uniform?

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
January 6, 2023

Every decade comes with its own, unique style. 50 years ago, there was the distinct ‘70s hippie look, consisting of the popular bell-bottom pants, maxi dresses and tie-dye t-shirt—the fashion staple...

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Showing their pumpkin spirit, Half Moon Bay locals wear festive costumes while driving in a decorated car during the Great Pumpkin Parade.

Half Moon Bay’s Art & Pumpkin Festival returns for a 50th year of fall fun

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
October 19, 2022

Picture this: the fragrance of pumpkin and cinnamon wafting through the air, Bob Dylan and Hall and Oates tunes playing in the background and colorful, unique art pieces showcased from booth to booth....

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Teaching Burlingames English 3 classes, Amanda Brown finds herself doing rewarding work: helping her students find relevance in the stories they read.

Amanda Brown

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
October 4, 2022

Teaching Burlingame's English 3 classes, Amanda Brown finds herself doing rewarding work: helping her students find relevance in the stories they read.

2022-2023 ASB President Rinko Miyoshi stands in front of the leadership class’s window reflecting Burlingame High School.

New year, new leadership: Rinko Miyoshi embraces an open mind as new ASB president

Joelle Huysmans, Diversity Coordinator
September 23, 2022

This past August, senior Rinko Miyoshi's family moved to Japan while she stayed in Burlingame to finish her final year of high school. Living more than 5000 miles away from her family, Miyoshi has been...

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