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The Student News Site of Bellevue East High School

The Tom Tom

The Student News Site of Bellevue East High School

The Tom Tom

The Student News Site of Bellevue East High School

The Tom Tom

Greatness in the making. Members of the inaugural Mayor’s Youth Council from left to right are Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike, Merrick Hobbs, BenJamin Nicola, Victoria Bogatz, Timothy Bogatz, Henry Gregor, Gabrielle Shuster, Tessa Pointer, Councilwoman Kathy Welch, and Police Chief Kenneth Cleary. Meetings are held at the Bellevue City Council Chambers. “Our goal as the Mayor’s Youth Council is to bring another generation of voices and ideas to our community,” freshman Tim Bogatz said.
East students join new Mayor’s Youth Council
Savannah Stultz, Newspaper Co-Entertainment Editor • December 13, 2024

The Mayor’s Youth Council has chosen their members and officially begun meeting for the 2024-25 school year at the Bellevue City Chambers in...

Loading slowly. While doing homework on her iPad, sophomore Alayna Dunlap struggles with technology issues. Dunlap has been plagued with issues pertaining to Wi-Fi and slow internet even since August. “In settings it will say that Wi-Fi is on but it’s not actually at the top of my screen and it’s not working,” Dunlap said.
Students, staff struggle with technology issues
Maya Valenti, Newspaper Reporter • December 13, 2024
Full ride. Playing soccer for years, senior Fallyn Glomb receives a full ride athletic scholarship to Central Community College. Glomb plans to major in athletic training. “[The scholarship] was important because I’m trying to set myself up to be successful later in life,” Glomb said.
Scholarships boost students into colleges and careers
Charlotte Palm, Newspaper Features Editor • December 13, 2024
Getting inspired. Looking for new ways to advertise the Bellevue East Theater Department, sophomore Taelor Stevens scrolls on TikTok. Stevens uses TikTok to motivate people to come to their shows. “I am constantly looking for inspo to use for advertisements,” Stevens said.
TikTok faces choice between a ban or sale
Lailyah Duncan, Newspaper News Editor • December 13, 2024
Double tasks. Within an English class full of seniors in instructor Carla Palo’s classroom on November 19, senior Avery Walker is working on her assignment for one of her two English classes. Walker is taking two English classes in one semester  because she is graduating early and needs to meet the  graduation requirements. “I was, to put it bluntly, done with school and just wanted to move onto the next stage of life,” Walker said.
Bellevue East’s early graduates leave as semester ends
Lucy Cook, Newspaper Reporter • December 13, 2024

Seniors in an English class are working on their diction assignment for class for the day. Some are done and chatting with friends about recent events. Students  ask each...

Illustration by Lisa Connell
Seasonal depression affects students
Savannah Stultz, Newspaper Co-Entertainment Editor • December 13, 2024
Lighting the candles. Two Shabbat candles fill the area with light at the home of Diversity Club sponsor Mark Coup. In Jewish tradition, Shabbat candles are lit every Friday before sunset to honor the Jewish day of rest. “This is the time we turn everything else off,” Coup said. “You’re just trying to give your body the rest that it needs.”
Winter holidays bring joy, community to students lives
Victoria Bogatz, Newspaper Co-Editor in Chief • December 13, 2024
Snip. Snip. Snip. Scissors cut through paper as Key Club President  Addison Pithan works on holiday cards during their club meeting [Left]. Key Club is a club geared towards volunteering, and their next big project will be the Angel Tree, pictured right. “Here is this opportunity if you have the resources to donate. This goes back to  the kids,” Pithan said.
Bellevue East angel tree represents art of holiday giving
Emily Hollars, Newspaper Co-Entertainment Editor • December 13, 2024
Taylor Swift is overhyped
Lailyah Duncan, Newspaper News Editor • December 13, 2024

Taylor Swift has been known to be one of the biggest pop stars in music today, but for some people, like me, I think she is overrated. Taylor Swift is overrated because her...

Taylor Swift is underrated
Victoria Bogatz, Newspaper Co-Editor in Chief • December 13, 2024
To an extent, public display of affection is disgusting
Layla Hango, Newspaper Opinion Editor • December 13, 2024
Illustration by Lisa Connell
Schools don’t encourage creativity
Tom Tom Staff, Editorial • December 13, 2024
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Smile and wave. On August 17, senior Lindsey Burt walks in the Arrows to the Aerospace parade along with the rest of the Bellevedettes. The parade helps local businesses promote themselves and allows for schools to show off their spirit. “[I like] getting to represent the school and the dance team,” Burt said. “To be able to show what we can do.”
Bellevedettes involves hard work, community engagement
Lucy Cook, Newspaper Reporter • December 13, 2024

One move flows into the next one as the Bellevedettes go through their dance routine. They’re repeating parts that need to be improved, or changing moves to help the dance...

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Meeting his match. During a boys wrestling practice on November 20, senior Lucas Perrin (left) wrestled fellow teammate junior Jason Hike (right) in the wrestling room at Bellevue East. The wrestling team uses their time on the mat to improve their wrestling techniques and build endurance that is needed for a 6-minute match at competition. “I didn’t want Jason to get my leg,” Perrin said. “I was trying to get his arms off my leg, turn around, and get behind him.”
Preparing for wrestling season impacts athletes
Lillian Herrick, Newspaper Sports Editor • December 13, 2024
Just keep running.  It takes a lot of dedication and effort to succeed in cross country, and for the team’s last meet, the athletes ran 5,000 meters (3.11 miles). Placing 30 out of 88 is freshman Hannah Kinsey. “In high school you run like a ton more, more seriously. We train in the summer, we have a lot of meets, we travel farther, and the distance [we run] is longer,” Kinsey said.
East cross-country team sees spike in female athletes
Lucy Cook, Newspaper Sports Editor, Co-Director of Media Production • November 1, 2024
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Iconic ‘Survivor’ is still a humongous hit after 47 seasons
Charlotte Palm, Newspaper Features Editor • December 13, 2024

Eighteen strangers are stranded on the islands of Fiji.  They are competing in challenges and trusting each other while also having to vote each other out. There is little...

Students, staff rank favorite holiday movies
Charley Leon, Newspaper Co-Editor in Chief, Yearbook Copy Editor • December 13, 2024
Students share, make, enjoy favorite fall recipes
Students share, make, enjoy favorite fall recipes
Charley Leon, Newspaper Co-Editor in Chief, Yearbook Copy Editor • November 1, 2024
‘Who you gonna call?’: Ghostbusters makes an icy entrance
‘Who you gonna call?’: Ghostbusters makes an icy entrance
Brianna Yang, Newspaper Managing Editor and Web Manager • November 1, 2024
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AI gains role in the classroom
Lillian Herrick, Newspaper Sports Editor • December 13, 2024

Artificial Intelligence, frequently called AI, is growing in popularity in many places in our communities, especially in our education, making...

Students and staff recognize environmental strain due to AI
Brianna Yang, Newspaper Managing Editor and Web Manager • December 13, 2024
Potential negative impacts of AI emerge
Layla Hango, Newspaper Opinion Editor • December 13, 2024
Voicing opinions. At a public hearing for Initiative 439 on Saturday, October 26th, Dr. Emily Patel delivers opening remarks as a proponent of the initiative. Initiative 439 would make abortion legal in Nebraska until the point of fetal viability. “We believe that abortion care is healthcare,” Patel said.
Ballot initiatives allow Neb. voters to directly decide laws
Victoria Bogatz, Newspaper Co-Editor In Chief • November 1, 2024