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Senior Nico Bennett poses with his Lead Actor trophy at the Rita Moreno Awards. He now moves on to the Jimmy Awards in New York City.
Bennett wins Lead Actor at Rita Moreno Awards, advances to Broadway’s Jimmy Awards
Trump administration freezes billions in private university funding
Trump administration freezes billions in private university funding
The elevator in the C-Building is one of the several out-of-service elevators on campus, complicating mobility for junior Adam Zimmer, who broke his ankle and now relies on crutches.
Out-of-service elevators restrict class access for injured students
The event, held in the San Mateo County Event Center on Saturday, April 26, heard from 19 speakers and featured 40 booths covering a wide range of disaster preparedness topics.
San Mateo County hosts wildfire preparedness event
Recent collegiate sports cuts have left students such as sophomore Alexa Chang, freshman Elaina Newman, and senior Giana Johnson contemplating their decision to play sports in college.
Sports budget cuts affect student-athlete recruits
From firefighting to tattoo art, students pursue alternative pathways
From firefighting to tattoo art, students pursue alternative pathways
As first-generation college students, Wang, Chieppe, and Song pave the way for their siblings and family.
First generation students forge new pathways
Farewell to familiar faces: teachers retire after years in the classroom
Senior Nico Bennett poses with his Lead Actor trophy at the Rita Moreno Awards. He now moves on to the Jimmy Awards in New York City.
Bennett wins Lead Actor at Rita Moreno Awards, advances to Broadway’s Jimmy Awards
Guest speaker Jenna Smith presents to parents at a meeting on Monday, April 28.
RISE group connects parents of neurodivergent students
President Donald Trump passed an executive order on March 1 declaring English as the United States’ national language, reversing the policies of former administrations and setting a new precedent for the country.
The US shouldn’t have an official language
According to NBC News, as of April 16, government authorities have revoked the visas of international students across 32 states by citing “a seldom-used 1952 foreign policy statute to take aim at their activism” or for past charges.
Editorial: Revoking student visas violates First Amendment
‘They don’t make them like they used to’: TV shows from the early 2000s are better than the ones now
‘They don’t make them like they used to’: TV shows from the early 2000s are better than the ones now
In 2024, Louisiana passed a bill requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in every public school classroom within the state.
Editorial: Religious doctrine has no place in school
Despite facing various issues including homelessness and trailing job growth, San Francisco has proven to be resilient across history. © Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 4.0
A city of resilience: SF’s fate is not sealed
‘They don’t make them like they used to’: TV shows from the early 2000s are better than the ones now
‘They don’t make them like they used to’: TV shows from the early 2000s are better than the ones now
Goodthing Coffee opened in October 2024 and is a popular spot on Burlingame Avenue for trending desserts and decadent drinks.
Review: Goodthing Coffee serves up unique and fast-selling drinks and desserts
Player 456, Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, finds himself playing in the Squid Game once again. This time, however, he is determined to save as many players as possible and put an end to the games once and for all.
Why Squid Game season two outshines the original
Holiday train ride drives down Burlingame Avenue.
Annual Winterfest brings holiday spirit to community
Auliʻi Cravalho returns to voice all favorite Polynesian princess Moana, in the movie “Moana 2”.
‘Moana 2’ delivers a heartwarming Disney sequel despite familiar formula
Junior Grayson Howard lays a bunt down the third base line.
Baseball ends season without playoff berth
Freshman Alvin Feng Heng Ho became the first player to qualify for the California Interscholastic Federation playoffs in Burlingame history.
Badminton thrives in postseason, caps off successful season
In his No. 3 singles match against Menlo-Atherton, junior Alex Bozinovic clinched 4-6, 6-4, 10-6.
Boys’ tennis settles the score with Menlo-Atherton, extends season to CCS
Senior defender Ella Wang pushes up the field during the first quarter of a game against Los Gatos on Tuesday, May 13.
Girls’ lacrosse ends season in CCS quarterfinals against Los Gatos
Senior midfielder Henry Bradley winds up for a shot during the third quarter of the Panthers’ CCS matchup against Archbishop Mitty.
Boys’ lacrosse’s historic season comes to an end against Archbishop Mitty
Students gather on the dance floor during Pride Prom, celebrating in an atmosphere designed to be welcoming and inclusive for all.
District celebrates Pride Prom as LGBTQ+ community faces pushback
Community members gather around the buffet table during the Ramadan Iftar potluck, an event hosted by the SMUHSD Family Engagement Program.
Beyond fasting: students share significance of Ramadan
The signature lion dance is performed during Lunar New Year to scare off demons. In Chinese culture, stroking the lion's head blesses people with extra luck and prosperity.
Students celebrate Lunar New Year through tradition, food, and family
Holiday train ride drives down Burlingame Avenue.
Annual Winterfest brings holiday spirit to community
Around the dinner table: students share holiday recipes rooted in tradition
Around the dinner table: students share holiday recipes rooted in tradition
Screen time management tools: helpful or harmful?
Screen time management tools: helpful or harmful?
The Blitz: March Madness predictions
The Blitz: March Madness predictions
The Blitz: Follow up on the Grammys
The Blitz: Follow up on the Grammys
The Blitz: Grammy predictions
The Blitz: Grammy predictions
Music Department showcases 101st annual winter concert
Music Department showcases 101st annual winter concert
February Issue Crossword
February Issue Crossword
December Issue Crossword
December Issue Crossword
October Issue Crossword
October Issue Crossword
Weekly Crossword (#2)
Weekly Crossword (#2)
Weekly Crossword
Weekly Crossword
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, Design Editor

Joelle Huysmans is a junior at Burlingame High School and Design Editor as a third-year journalism student. Outside of school, she enjoys playing tennis, running track and field, discovering new countries with her family, and playing electric guitar. Her profound passion for reading, writing and art has led her to this class and she is excited to see where it will take her next.

All content by Joelle Huysmans
Ethnic Studies sparks debates at district and state level

Ethnic Studies sparks debates at district and state level

Evelyn Du and Joelle Huysmans
March 31, 2025

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Beyond red and blue: students explore the layers of identity and experience behind their political beliefs

Beyond red and blue: students explore the layers of identity and experience behind their political beliefs

Joelle Huysmans and Connie Lu
December 10, 2024

Every four years, the presidential election provides students with the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about their nation’s future and explore their own political stances. Whether they...

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Mardakhaev performs skateboarding tricks at the Millbrae Skate Park.

Breaking the stereotype: Skateboarding builds community and shapes identities

Joelle Huysmans, Design Editor
May 24, 2024

The term “skater kid” often conjures images of a rebellious teenage boy clad in baggy jeans, skateboard tucked under one arm. Part of this stereotype holds some truth: many skateboarders wear similar...

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From left to right, freshman Alexa Chang, senior Sofia Kim, junior Karena Huang and freshman Katelin Huang pose for a picture after earning medals in their races.

Swim ends PAL season on a positive note at finals

Joelle Huysmans, Design Editor
May 1, 2024

Varsity swim culminated its season on Saturday, April 29, when the Panthers competed in the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) finals at Menlo Atherton High School. Leading up to the championships, girls’...

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Sophomore Kieran Clarke takes a deep breath as he swims butterfly in his race.

Swim overcomes Aragon in advance of PAL finals

Joelle Huysmans, Design Editor
April 16, 2024

The Aragon High School’s boys’ varsity swim team are the reigning Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) champions. And the Dons are no less formidable this year, with swimmers such as Gabe Anagnoson, who...

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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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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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Junior Donovan Ranta prepares to serve over the net during practice on Wednesday, Feb. 21.

2024 Spring Sports Preview: New players and high aspirations

Kaylee Hwang, Brinda Iyer, Josie Wettan, Joelle Huysmans, Evelyn Du, Arda Inegol, Audrey Wei, Brendan Gilmore, Zachary Newman, and Arshia Chakravartti
February 29, 2024

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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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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 Panther's matchup against Capuchino.

New coaches bring energy, experience to winter sports

Zachary Newman, Jeannine Chiang, and Joelle Huysmans
December 22, 2023

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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Season of celebration: Burlingame's holiday traditions

Season of celebration: Burlingame’s holiday traditions

Abby Knight and Joelle Huysmans
December 19, 2023

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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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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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2023 Winter Sports Preview: Strong leaders and new contributors

2023 Winter Sports Preview: Strong leaders and new contributors

Henry Gardner, Joelle Huysmans, Zachary Newman, Jeannine Chiang, and Sophia Puzon
November 21, 2023

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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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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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2023 Fall Sports Preview: Fresh faces and ambitious expectations

2023 Fall Sports Preview: Fresh faces and ambitious expectations

Zachary Newman, Joelle Huysmans, Sophia Doss, Brinda Iyer, Jeannine Chiang, Arshia Chakravartti, Sophia Puzon, Abby Knight, and Natalie Gyde
August 29, 2023

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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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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 clichés — like enjoying croissants and a coffee at a café with a friend — "Emily in Paris" portrays some truth about Parisians.

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

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

Amanda Brown

Joelle Huysmans, Design Editor
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, Design Editor
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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