Bellevue East Student News Site

The Tom Tom
Bellevue East Student News Site

The Tom Tom
Bellevue East Student News Site

The Tom Tom

Lailyah Duncan, Newspaper News Editor

Hey! I’m Lailyah and I am the News Editor for the Tom Tom. I feel like this is a good role for me because I enjoy writing a lot. In my offtime I like to make clothes and chill out in my off time!

All content by Lailyah Duncan
This is it. Sophomore Julian Pulido mentally prepares to play the accordion alongside fellow band members at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The group's performance was scheduled for September 13, but they had been practicing since June in order to ensure their performance would go smoothly. "Right before we performed, I was looking out at all the spectators and letting it sink in," Pulido said.

Student takes the stage at Crawford fight

Lailyah Duncan, Newspaper News Editor
October 30, 2025

East athletes to play in collegiate sports

Lailyah Duncan, Newspaper News Editor
October 30, 2025
Warmup time. On August 28, 2025, junior Liam Dworak attends his daily football practice despite being injured on the Bellevue East high school field. Dworak watches the practice to help and also learn. “I was warming up with one of my teammates before he went on the field,” Dworak said.

New students get used to school at East

Lailyah Duncan, Newspaper News Editor
September 26, 2025

Ring Ring Ring: A Deep dive into Tyler, The Creator’s new album

Lailyah Duncan, Newspaper News Editor
September 26, 2025
Time for a visit. Parent Tony Valenti sits in on his daughter Maya Valenti’s class on September 4, 2025, . Bellevue Public Schools policy allows parents to visit class as long as they submit a request in advance. “We need parent involvement... I think that’s an important check and balance in our schools,” Bellevue Board of Education President Maureen McNamara said.

[Photo] BPS makes changes to parental involvement policy

Victoria Bogatz, Newspaper Co-Editor in Chief
September 26, 2025
(LEFT TO RIGHT) Semi-Sweet chocolate chip cookie, Peanut Butter Cup Cookie ft. REESE’S, Vanilla Crumb Cake Cookie ft. GOLDEN OREO, Confetti Cookie, Chocolate Cookies & Cream Cookie, Carrot Cake, Raspberry Cheesecake.

Crumbl’ Cookie moves to Bellevue with sweetness

Lailyah Duncan
May 19, 2025
Smile! On April 8, 2025 at Bellevue East High School, junior Kasen Warner signed with MH Equipment. MH equipment is going to pay for their two year degrees in skilled and technical trade areas and pay for a full set of tools. “This opportunity helps me because I'm gonna be shadowing people and learning more about how to do it [do things in his trade],” Warner said.

Junior Kasen Warner signs with MH Equipment

Lailyah Duncan
May 19, 2025
Apartment fire affects English instructor

Apartment fire affects English instructor

Lailyah Duncan
May 19, 2025

Students should be let in the building before 7:30

Lailyah Duncan
April 7, 2025

DOGE affects the employment of many in workplace

Lailyah Duncan
April 7, 2025

T’Niyah Wilson opens up about her basketball journey

Lailyah Duncan, News Editor
February 11, 2025

East’s Black History Month celebrations remain limited

Lailyah Duncan, News Editor
February 11, 2025

Friday Announcements- December 17th

Audrey Sloan, Lailend Duncan, Helen Oathoudt, Skye Combs, Olivia Berg, and Lailyah Duncan
January 17, 2025

Taylor Swift is overhyped

Lailyah Duncan, Newspaper News 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

Bellevue East celebrates homecoming: “A Night In Paris”

Jaidyn Gaddis, Lailyah Duncan, and Rudy Bonilla
November 1, 2024
Icy cold. In order to make sure sophomore Brooklyn Houghtaling does not get thirsty throughout the day she drinks her Stanley. Everyday in the morning Houghtaling fills up her Stanley or Owala with ice and water and it lasts her throughout the day. “I got my Stanley as a gift and I like that it stays cold throughout the whole day,” Houghtaling said.

Water bottle trends relate to consumerism, students say

Lailyah Duncan, Newspaper News Editor
November 1, 2024
Starting young. From the age of 6, freshman Grace Rued (Left) started playing volleyball with her childhood best friend. Little did she know, she’d one day go on to play for the varsity team as a freshman student at Bellevue East High School. “My mom just kind of put me in volleyball with my best friend, and I have now been playing for 5 years ever since,“ Rued said. “We are still friends now.” Photo courtesy of Grace Rued

East students play their first season at the high school level

Lailyah Duncan, Newspaper News Editor
September 30, 2024
At bat. As she steps on the mound, senior Hayley deMontel is waiting for the perfect time to swing at the ball. With the team’s effort they were able to beat Westside 13-3 on Sept. 4. “Coaches are always teaching me new drills and how I can improve on and off the field, but I believe if you aren’t having fun there’s no point,” deMontel said.

[Photo] Softball is rolling into the new season with a positive attitude

Lucy Cook, Newspaper Sports Editor, Co-Director of Media Production
September 30, 2024
Let’s win. Running across the field, senior Erick Gomez waves to his friends in the stands. The Bellevue East football team had a winning 2023-24 season and celebrated their victory afterwards. “It’s always been fun, and we all really just work together to do our best,” Gomez said.

[Photo] After a winning season, East football begins a new year

Maya Valenti, Newspaper Reporter
September 30, 2024

Phone policy disrupts student growth

Lailyah Duncan, Newspaper News Editor
September 30, 2024
Listen up. In her free time, freshman Lailyah Duncan listens to Kendrick Lamar, Future, and Metro Boomin’s new diss track called “Like That” from the “WE DON’T TRUST YOU” album. During her journalism class, she often listens to various hip-hop artists and Kendrick Lamar is one of her favorites. The song “Like That” is one of the many diss tracks in the feuds between Drake, J. Cole, Metro Boomin, Future, and Lamar. “Kendrick’s part in the diss track goes crazy,” Duncan said. “Drake is getting cooked with the new disses Kendrick dropped. It’s a cruel world we live in.”

A deep dive info the Kendrick Lamar, Drake feud

Lailyah Duncan, Reporter
May 17, 2024

District event

Lailyah Duncan, Reporter
May 17, 2024

Look-alike siblings: the struggle is real

Lailyah Duncan, Reporter
April 18, 2024

E-pass system controls student restroom usage

Lailyah Duncan, Reporter
April 18, 2024

The new E-hall pass system is ineffective

Lailyah Duncan, Reporter
February 29, 2024
Illustration by Lisa Connell

The new E-hall pass is ineffective

Lailyah Duncan, Reporter
February 29, 2024

LGBTQA+ scholarship offered to students

Lailyah Duncan, Reporter
February 29, 2024
Chocolate for sale! Members of the East Spanish Club sell chocolate bars from World’s Finest Chocolates to help raise money so that club members can participate in many fun activities, and attend field trips. Several varieties were available, including some with and without nuts. One club trip being planned for in the near future is to Chicago. Participating, in turn, helped motivate members to come out of their shells to talk to new people, like junior Angel Dawson. “It caused me to have interactions with people I would never have talked to before,” Dawson said. Students interested in joining Spanish Club can contact club sponsor Abigail Ceremuga in room C-05, or send an email through BPS Gmail. Club meetings are usually during GPS on Fridays, but check the school- wide club calendar with advisory teachers.

Spanish club sells chocolate bars to raise trip funds

Lailyah Duncan, Reporter
December 19, 2023
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