The High School Student News Site of The American School in London

The Standard
The High School Student News Site of The American School in London

The Standard
The High School Student News Site of The American School in London

The Standard
Sophia Bassi

Sophia Bassi, Lead News Editor

Sophia Bassi (’24) is the Lead News Editor for The Standard. She began exploring journalism in Grade 6 on the Middle School newspaper, The Scroll, and sees journalism as a powerful way to inform the community. Outside of The Standard, Bassi is on the Sustainability Council and plays competitive tennis.

All content by Sophia Bassi
Interim High School Principal Jack Phillips approves the affirmation of student free expression rights Sept. 8. The affirmation was developed by the Private School Journalism Association and the Student Press Law Center to ensure that students in school-sponsored media have free expression rights.

Interim High School Principal affirms student free expression rights

Sophia Bassi and Oskar Doepke
September 9, 2023
Interim High School Principal Jack Phillips delivers a speech to Grade 12 students in Bruce House Garden Aug. 24. At the gathering, food and drinks were provided as students mingled and received their red senior shirts.

Students gather for Grade 12 social event despite Head of School’s absence

Sophia Bassi, Lead News Editor
August 24, 2023
A fire spreads through St. Mark’s Church in St. John’s Wood Jan. 26. The London Fire Brigade responded to the scene at 11 p.m.

Local Victorian church burns down

Clara Martinez and Sophia Bassi
January 27, 2023
An area in Napa flooded in January. The deadly storms, which lasted three weeks, resulted from strong atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones.

Floods devastate California communities

Sophia Bassi, News Editor: Online
January 20, 2023
Underground workers are striking over pensions and job cuts, which caused many London tube lines to close Nov. 11. This is the sixth tube strike of the year given Transport for London has been unable to reach resolution with strikers.

Tube strike disrupts travel throughout city

Sophia Bassi, News Editor: Online
November 11, 2022
The cities of Sindh in Pakistan flood in 2022. Monsoon rains and melting glaciers caused the flooding.

Pakistan floods prompt discussion around worsening effects of climate change

Sophia Bassi, News Editor: Online
October 14, 2022
After-school study hall is set up to take place Sept. 14 in classroom O-345. Students partaking in the study hall are required to remain in the room for the full 90-minute duration.

Students, faculty scrutinize new attendance policy

Sophia Bassi, News Editor: Online
September 14, 2022
Grade 12 students throw their caps into the air after receiving their diplomas at the graduation ceremony June 11. Graduation, which took place without COVID-19 restrictions at Central Hall Westminster, included speeches, musical performances and the presentation of diplomas.

Graduation for class of 2022 takes place without COVID-19 restrictions

Sophia Bassi, News Editor: Online
June 13, 2022
The Blue Gym floor will undergo renovation over the summer. Water seeped into the wood slats underneath the floor due to a leak, which caused damage and subsequently posed risks to students.

Blue Gym floor to undergo renovation after experiencing water damage

Sophia Bassi, News Editor: Online
May 24, 2022
Asylum seekers face legal, financial and language barriers when they enter the U.K. These refugees wait months for asylum claim decisions in addition to receiving very minimal financial and language support.

Shifting attention to refugees ensures collective humanitarian advancement

Sophia Bassi, News Editor: Online
May 18, 2022
Many High School students have created and run businesses that reflect their passions. Through developing these businesses, they have overcome challenges, learned valuable skills and set future goals.

High School students cultivate passions through self-created businesses

Sophia Bassi, Vittoria Di Meo and Anna Reznick
May 17, 2022
Grade 11 and 12 students dance at the prom event at Church House, Westminster May 14. Due to previous COVID-19 restrictions, prom was held for the first time in three years.

Prom takes place after two years of COVID-19 cancellations

Sophia Bassi, News Editor: Online
May 16, 2022
A sign encourages students to remain silent while Advanced Placement exams take place. AP exams are administered May 2 to 20 on the ASL campus and at the Danubius Hotel.

Community reflects on AP exam commencement

Sophia Bassi, News Editor: Online
May 9, 2022
High school students discuss how mental health resources can be provided to lower income groups March 3. As part of the “Mindfulness and mental health resources as a tool to alleviate socioeconomic disparity” workshop, participants discussed how economic status affects the availability of mental health resources and then brainstormed resources for students at a local primary school. “It was nice to be able to see where there are gaps in a national response to mental health in children,” Maisie Rosenberg (’24) said.

[Photo] Community participates in student-led Aequitas workshops

March 10, 2022
The SAT is undergoing changes that will come into effect by 2024. These changes include shortening the test and moving from paper to digital.

College Board announces changes to SAT

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
February 14, 2022
There are many twin sets throughout the school community who have both shared and different character traits. The Okpoyo (’23), Kettler (’24) and Cerrell (’24) twins reflect on their personalities, interests and favorite memories together.

ASL twins contemplate their differences, similarities and experiences

February 2, 2022
Because of the Omicron variant’s high contraction rates but comparatively low level of severity, health experts claim that COVID-19 may turn from a pandemic into an endemic. Students and faculty assess these claims and whether governments around the world should lift restrictions as a result.

Students, faculty evaluate whether Omicron could shift COVID-19 to endemic

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
January 31, 2022
Students wear masks while leaving school campus Oct. 7. As of Oct. 18, masks will no longer be required.

Mask-wearing to be made optional Oct. 18

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
October 8, 2021
Marie Ogino (’20) helps local students explore their interests at the Shine community partnership, where ASL students can mentor other students on the ASL campus, in 2019.

Community partnerships commence in person

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
September 14, 2021
After extensive media coverage about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles pulled out of the competition due to mental health issues, demonstrating the impact negative media pressure can have on an athlete’s performance.

The world is watching: Media pressure on athletes

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
September 9, 2021
Rohan Prasad (’18) plays with a child at St. Johns Wood Adventure Playground in March 2018. This spring, the same community partnership resumed in person.

Community partnerships adapt to COVID-19 restrictions

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
June 15, 2021
National Computer Science Honor Society to conduct artificial intelligence program

National Computer Science Honor Society to conduct artificial intelligence program

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
June 11, 2021
The annual youngPOWER conference allows ASL students to interact with those from a variety of London schools, providing them with experiences that influence their futures.

youngPOWER conference leaves lasting impact on participants

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
June 4, 2021
As variants drive an increase in COVID-19 cases in other countries, the U.K. may be at risk of a third wave. Multiple other countries have already experienced a third wave of the virus and more restrictions.

Possibility of third wave in UK causes uncertainty among students

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
April 7, 2021
Anna Duffy (’21) works on a freedom charter while Co Workshop Leader Rudi Stern (’22) reads it in the “Freedom – A Right or a Privilege?” workshop March 23. Co Workshop Leader Ily Brigui (’22) said this activity led to a discussion on “balanc[ing] consequences of a free society” with “freedom itself.”

[Photo] Photo Gallery: Students participate in Aequitas workshops

April 2, 2021
The youngPOWER conference, which brings together students to talk about social justice issues, has happened in the past in person. However, this year, it will happen for the first time over Zoom March 19 to 20.

youngPOWER conference to take place over zoom

Sophia Bassi and Vittoria Di Meo
March 18, 2021
The Future Leaders in Medicine Club will host a Zoom from 4 to 5 p.m. March 12. Medical students from universities will speak at the meeting.

Future Leaders in Medicine Club to host Zoom with university medical students

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
March 11, 2021
Arhan Sarma (’22) plays games with school children from the Sonkheda Village in 2019. He said he made many Meaningful connections with the children he worked with.

Arhan Sarma utilizes technology to support education in India

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
March 4, 2021
Iran, Pakistan and Bolivia are among the countries that do not have high rates of vaccinations. In order to end the pandemic as soon as possible and guarantee human rights, poor countries must have equal access to vaccines.

Vaccine equality imperative to end pandemic

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
February 24, 2021
William Iorio (’22) revises for a class at 6:30 a.m. in Connecticut, equivalent to 11:30 a.m. in London. As all students are expected to attend synchronous Zoom classes, Iorio begins his classwork before dawn.

Timezones impact students’ DLP experience abroad

Sophia Bassi and Clara Martinez
February 11, 2021
Anna Duffy (’21) rows with ASL crew teammate Claire Graham (’21) in October 2019. Duffy committed to Cornell University for rowing.

Lockdowns disrupt college athletic recruitment

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
February 10, 2021
The WorkX summer speaker series, which began last year, is planned to take place again this summer. Due to the pandemic, many events last year, including the summer internships, were either cancelled or moved online.

WorkX Summer Speaker Series plans to continue amid uncertainty

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
January 28, 2021
Starbucks has released its new holiday drink specials. Staff Writers Sophia Bassi and Clara Martinez review the the Toffee Nut Latte, Eggnog Latte, Truffle Deluxe Hot Chocolate and Gingerbread Frappuccino.

Starbucks seasonal drinks review

Sophia Bassi and Clara Martinez
December 18, 2020
COVID-19 has caused travel restrictions, leaving many students having to quickly change vacation plans. High schoolers reflect on how the restrictions have impacted previous plans, how they will impact the future, and the effects of not being able to travel.

Students reflect on COVID’s restriction on travel

Zainab Shafqat Adil and Sophia Bassi
December 17, 2020
As a result of COVID-19, the annual alumni talks have been adapted to online webinars centered around the theme “Reimagining the World.” So far, two talks, “How to Navigate Uncertainty (and a Job Search) During COVID-19” and “Medical Racism and How to Build Anti-Racist Communities,” have been presented.

Alumni talks adapt to become online webinars

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
December 10, 2020
The varsity baseball team shakes hands with ACS Cobham after an ISSTs game in 2019. ASL hosted softball and baseball ISSTs at Canons Park, and both teams won gold.

Students reflect on uncertainty around sports season

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
December 9, 2020
The open campus lunch policy was imposed by the school administration Nov. 9 until Dec. 2 due to the second national lockdown. Students reflect on its effectiveness.

Students reflect on off-campus policy

Sophia Bassi, Staff Writer
December 2, 2020
While getting settled in London, Sage Bellinger-Wehner (24) takes a moment to compare her life to those of people around the world. When she was young, she had the opportunity to see various cultures; some of the places she has traveled to include Italy, France, Croatia and Germany. Everyones different but everyones the same, Bellinger-Wehner said. Someone who is on the opposite side of the world from you can have all the same interests.

[Photo] 14 new students reflect on their transition to the High School

October 8, 2020
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