Faith’s Portfolio
Reflection #1 Some of the reasons I am most proud of this year is that no matter what there is always so much effort put into the paper. Through blood sweat and tears the paper is created and is given to the printer on time, everytime. Even though I already had a semester under my belt, InDesign just kicked my butt sometimes still. All of my articles were done ahead of time, which makes things a thousand times easier. It also was not have written for a first draft. This semester the articles were a little slower getting in which made it more stressful. For this issue I had many controversial topics that gave people ambition to write about. For example, the pro/con was about Modern Feminism.. Also in this issue we had more related pieces between news and opinion, which looks good to the people who grade our paper for awards. Another example of this is the ID piece that was in this issue. What my favorite part about the final product was that it was catchy to the readers, it kept the readers engaged in the stories and it also had the best headers to draw people in. This issue also had the most controversial topics, which I love. One of my biggest contributions to the paper this year would have to be my leadership as an opinion editor. In past years students may have felt vulnerable or there voices were not heard but this year, I have changed that. The paper in the past has always been one sided. People may disagree but look last year how there was a whole page about the women’s march and nothing about the other point of view. So this year I have made sure every issue of the paper there has been an equal amount of views on both sides of the political parties. This I believe has made the pages stronger. This semester I had a lot of out of newspaper commitment so I spent a lot more time after school and in class attempting to get my pages done. I did a lot more myself this half of the year. For example, the report card I did it myself getting the polls and making the graphic on canva. One of the most important things to me in newspaper is journalism ethics. The opinion page sometimes can get really whiny and super personal to some. Do not get me wrong I love when people are passionate about their work, but on the other hand people need facts and research to back up their point of view. They need to come up with a logical solution as well. Although we took the San Francisco trip late in the year, I believe that I learned a lot of skills that I came back and taught the staff for next year. I took classes on handling political topics which relates to a lot in my page. Also I took a class on taking sports pictures and not only captioning the sport but the people’s reaction to the sport which is just as important. For instance, captioning the picture of the coach right after the player scored the winning touchdown. In conclusion, this newspaper class has taught me a lot of life skills that I will use in college and future references.
Reflection #2 One of my most important work was in February on the page of the Pro/Con. This issue in our class is very sensitive and many people feel very passionate about it on both sides. One of the biggest issues was making sure people did not include their feelings into the work but that they had facts to back up their statement. The February issue was the first time we ever did a man on the street for a pro/con and I believe that this made the readers way more attracted to the article if they see people of the school voicing their opinion as well. One of the biggest struggles was making sure that both articles gave facts that backed up their point of view. Another struggle is making sure the articles related to each other. For example if one point in the article was given, the other article must refute that reasoning. Another attraction to the article is the graphic, people tend to be drawn more to pictures then to words on the page. The two arms in the story represent the struggle between modern feminism and taking it too far. On the page there was also pull quotes from the article which readers are tended to be drawn too since they are bigger letters. So overall there was a lot of attention drawn to the page that the readers loved. On top of that it was a really relevant topic that people feel very passionate about. My purpose for making this topic go in the opinion section was to show that we are an equal paper that shows both political sides in a respectful and mature way. A lot of high schools tend to vary away from political topics that will cause issues, but overall as a team we covered this topic well. Surprisingly, this topic was fairly easy for my writers to write and for me to edit. They both went over word count and got their article in on time. Lauren and Katelyn felt very passionate about this topic so they gave a lot of facts to back up their points. Katelyn and Lauren both went over the word count of 500 easily by 200 or 300. This was nice as an editor because I was easily able to cut down on the word count when they went on rambling or they put in their feelings.
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Tear Sheets-Stories April-Sports SPORTS
THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS
MAY 18, 2018 ■ 13
Absolute bull
Professional bull riders face being gored, gouged, and trampled to ride a bull for eight seconds. By ANNALEE BARNETT g sports editor
Two thousand pounds of muscle and flesh bucks wildly as a terrified human clings to the monster’s back. Only eight more seconds remain until the man receives glory, fame, and thousands of dollars.
BULL RIDING IN ARIZONA “Bull riding is one of those sports meant solely for athletes that have a death wish. It’s a true adrenaline junky kind of thing,” said Jocelyn Adams, a junior. Adams competes in local bull riding events as an amateur. Some of the more popular places to see bull riding include Buffalo Chip Saloon and Road Runner Bar. These places allow anyone over 18 years of age to participate, even first timers. Bull riding in Arizona is one of the most popular sporting events in the state. The surplus of western themed towns and barns allows for bull riding to continue to grow in popularity. “I think since Arizona was a settler and frontier town with a bunch of cowboys, western events like bull riding are ingrained in our culture as a state,” said Sierra Fluegel, a senior.
PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDING In March of 2018, the Professional Bull Riding organization came to Phoenix, Arizona. The Gila River Arena was filled
to the brim with thousands of excited fans ready to see some high action bull riding. Professionals travel around the country to compete in events, similar to a tour. The professionals who travel and compete at the events do not have a sports contract like a football player would. In order for a professional to make a substantial amount of money, they must compete and win. “Being a pro bull rider is tough. I mean, it’s their job and they don’t make much if they don’t win. They’re mostly just doing it for the insane adrenaline rush,” said Adams.
INJURIES Not only do professional bull riders not earn as much as other pro athletes, they also have to spend thousands on medical bills. The average professional will have four to five serious surgeries in their lifetime. Bull riding is also credited with the most deaths out of any other professional sport. This is mostly due to injuries in the areas of the head, shoulder, and knee. However, many professional bull riders ignore the fact that they are ever injured. “They don’t care, they just want to be able to get back on the bull the next day,” said Rich Blyn, in a separate interview. Blyn is a Professional Bull rider athletic trainer.
AT BUFFALO CHIP Bar and
Saloon, an amateur bull rider takes a swing at the bull named Noodles. The man had a successful ride and even stayed on Noodles past the designated eight seconds required to qualify.4ANNALEE BARNETT
Administration plans to repair vandalized track
After several unknown people vandalized the school’s track with suggestive graffiti, efforts to remove the spray paint have not been entirely effective. New plans are being made to remove the provocative graffiti.
H
By FAITH HASHER g opinion editor
EARTS pounding, sweat dripping, the track athletes are out on the field putting 100 percent effort in, just so some kids can vandalize the track. The track athletes began their season at the start of February to find out that the weekend before someone had drawn provocative images with spray paint of the field. Throughout the season, there were three home meets where other schools came and saw the embarrassing graphics.
“This summer we plan to finish removing sport itself has to take money out of their all of the spray paint before the football seabudget to replace or fix whatever is broken. son begins,” said Steve Bebee, “It is kind of rude how principal. someone would just ruin Since this vandalism happroperty that people use pened right before the track to train on,” said Grace season, the school had to wait Tipton, a freshman and until after the season to bring track athlete. equipment on the field so they The track team is the did not impede the athletes largest team on campus training. and all of the athletes pracMost people do not know tice or compete six days a that all sports are self-funded week. so when someone ruins the The school is involving equipment or property, the Steve Bebee, principal. the insurance company
This summer we plan to finish removing all of the spray paint before the football season begins.”
because there is a possibility that part of the turf is going to have to be replaced. No matter what, there is a deductible with the insurance which is costing the school. “The people who vandalized the track obviously have no respect for sports or the athletes competing,” said Adam Voeller, a senior and track athlete. Voeller is a sprinter on the track team, who ran the first leg of the 4x1 that broke the school record and got third in state this year. From now on, the track will have newer and more cameras around the stadium as well as more locks so people cannot break in.
May-Sports
Tear Sheets-Designs
February 2018
March 2018
April 2018
May 2018 THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS OPINION
OPINION
6 ■ MAY 18, 2018
THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS
TO GRADUATE OR NOT TO GRADUATE? NERVOUS AND EXCITED, YOU stand amongst your peers clad in royal blue gowns. You buzz about in a poorly assembled line just out of view of the audience. In a muffled mumble, you hear the names of your graduating class read off through the loud speaker. You inch closer and closer to the stage, until your name blasts more clearly now and reverberates throughout the audience. Confidently, you walk up the makeshift stairs onto the stage. Ten steps away from your diploma, your future, your ticket out. Nine, eight, seven, you count in your head. Now you are reaching, fingers grasping for that single slip of paper. But then, a crash. The air is knocked clean out of your lungs as your fingers graze the faux leather casing. You are on the ground, body slammed by two security guards. As their forearms press firmly into your sternum, you hear over the loud-
speaker, “You should have finished your ECAP, punk.” Though an exaggeration, it is a nightmare almost every graduating senior experiences as the school year comes to a close. “Did I finish that budget essay? Do I still owe that dollar to the bookstore?” as we see it
the editorial and of course the main question, “Am I actually going to graduate?” As of now, it’s not just passing classes. Graduation means completing long forgotten ECAP assignments from freshman year, paying for a library book you lost somewhere in the second semester of sophomore year, ensuring that senior ditch day doesn’t push you into academic probation and treading lightly with an ultimately lame senior prank. One thing is certain, it’s a lot. To avoid becoming a forever falcon, there are a few simple guidelines to follow.
ECAP. With ECAP, the simplest course of action is to just redo every single assignment ever. All of them, seriously. Even though you distinctly remember completing all of them, redo them anyways. Checking your checklist on your TCCI account was always too time consuming anyways. For library or bookstore fees, write a check equaling your life savings, maybe your first born child just to be extra careful, and deposit it with the bookstore. Boom, fees gone, and then some. Better to be safe than sorry. Attendance is pretty simple. Miss too many days? No problem. Just loiter for eight hours in the parking lot of the school this summer, it's basically like making the days up. All in all, graduation is rough, tough and time consuming. But with these simple steps, you’ll be just fine.
The EDITORIAL represents the consensus view of the members of the Editorial Board. The Editorial Board members are Kiera Riley, Katelyn Reinhart, Lauren Haggar, Annalee Barnett, Maddie Howard, Mia Gilling, Sara Windom, Emma Russello, Grace Haycraft-McKee, Faith Hasher, Olivia Stickel, Zoie Lambesis and Sean Gannon.
KANYE BEST
Kanye West’s quick change in politics sparks a new conversation about race and political party. OPINION
LAUREN HAGGAR Kanye West is known for two things in this world, being a rapper and being Kim Kardashian's husband, but recently he received media attention for something no one saw coming. No, he didn't release a new album, or drop a new pair of Yeezys, but what he did come out with was tweet showing tremendous support for President Trump. The news came as shock, considering his wife has openly displayed her disapproval of Trump. What naturally came next was the media and fellow celebrities showcasing their disappointment and anger with West, with a series of posts insulting him for simply having an opposing view. What is utterly amazing about West coming out as a Trump supporter, is that he has sparked a conversation, better yet a revolution, like no other. He has awoken many in the black community and other like-thinkers. West has opened peoples’ eyes to the fact that you
don't have to agree with everything someone says to still support them; the very same message many Republicans have been trying to get across since day one. But what is different about when West displays the message, is that he has a completely different audience, people who would normally never hear an opposing view because they simply do not want to, now have seen and heard it from someone who they regard as one of their own. Additionally West has been talking with Candace Owens, a very influential African American Republican woman, who has denounced the Black Lives Matter movement and talked heavily on the topic of “black victimization.” These two people are exactly the people many Republicans have been waiting to join the movement. Conservatives have been waiting for African Americans to realize that their skin tone does not have to determine what political party they
stand with. Owens and West are modern day pioneers, spreading the Make America Great Again message, and revealing facts and statistics to people previously unwilling to listen. West is especially influential simply because of who he is. His platform is enormous, and he has a completely different perspective -- he is not a die hard Republican, he, in fact, still has some fairly liberal views, but what is unique and ultimately impressive is that he did not let the establishment decide how he thinks. He has to chosen to fight the modern day stigma that associates all celebrities with liberalism, and has embraced the philosophy of free thinking. West may be eccentric, out there, and unpredictable, but he is exactly the type of person Republicans need joining the movement, because, just like Trump, he cannot and will not be bought and stands up for what he truly believes in.
PRESS
Strike seemed necessary considering the state of education funding in Arizona. OPINION
THE NEWSPAPER OF CACTUS SHADOWS HIGH SCHOOL IN CAVE CREEK, ARIZONA
Editor in Chief Opinion Editor Features Editor News Editor Sports Editor Tech Editor Photo Editor
MAY 18, 2018 ■ 7
WTF: WHERE’S THE FUNDING?
THE
ANNIE SOGAARD
Kiera RILEY Faith HASHER Olivia STICKEL Lauren HAGGAR Annalee BARNETT Sean GANNON Mia GILLING
A
dated. The public is growing increasingly aware of and equally frustrated with the issue, thanks to the walk-in demonstrations or the march at the Capitol. Governor Doug Ducey unveiled his 20x2020 plan to increase teacher salaries 20 percent by 2020. However, the teachers are concerned that the plan is based off projections that the state will see an increase in revenue, and is not supported by actual funding. It also would not cover the salaries of support staff or improved resources for schools. On April 19th, leaders from Arizona Educators United (AEU) and Arizona Education Association (AEA) declared the 20x2020 plan “disingenuous.” An overwhelming 78 percent of 57,000 teachers voted in support of a walk out, which began on Thursday, April 26th. The very idea of shutting down schools with a walkout should have been taken by legislators as more of a threat, intended to give
RIZONA
school districts and teachers are taking a stand in the Red for Ed movement, advocating a much needed improvement in the prioritization and funding for education. Clad in red, teachers are banding together to demand higher pay and more money for classrooms. It is no secret that schools are drastically underfunded in Arizona. Budget cuts made during the recession in 2008 have yet to be restored to their normal levels. According to data from the National Education Association, the national average for annual teacher salaries is $58,000. Arizona is currently ranked 49th in the country, paying teachers an average salary of about $44,000. Supporters of the movement are also concerned with resources available to schools, as curriculum materials such as textbooks or technology are often scarce or out-
CSPress Staff Brook BOWMAN, Makenna FRENCH, Griffin GOLDSTEIN, Avianna HOPPES, Aidia NIELSON, Maja PEIRCE, Morgan REIMER, Tyler SHEA, Annie SOGAARD, Kassidy WHEELER
EDITORIAL POLICY: The CSPress is published by the Journalism class of Cactus Shadows High School. The newspaper serves the students and staff of Cactus Shadows High School and as a connection to the surrounding community. The objective of the CSPress is to publish a factual, informative and entertaining newspaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints. The opinions and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all CSPress staff members. The CSPress is also published online, at cactusshadowscspress.com. The editors reserve the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment. WE VALUE YOUR OPINION. EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO CSPRESS.OPINION@gmail.COM The CSPress values opinions from its readers. If you have something to say about anything you had read, please write a letter to the editor and send it to cspress.opinion@gmail.com. Letters must be typed, less than 100 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. The CSPress will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an individual. Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. The CSPress reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Advertising Manager at (480) 575-2493. The CSPress is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association, and the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association.
\SARA WINDOM lawmakers enough incentive to offer a plan that meets demands and is actually feasible. However, hundreds of schools across the state still closed for the six day long strike. It ended after the budget was passed, increas-
Walkouts are quickly becoming the most prominent form of political activism, and for good reason. OPINION
KASSIDY WHEELER Activism in the United States has been on the rise since the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Walkouts to support common sense gun laws, and to remember those who have been killed by senseless gun violence have taken place throughout the nation. More recently, teacher walkouts throughout the United States have pressured legislators to support more funding and higher pay to schools and educators. Walking out is very effective because it draws attention to an important issue. No protest is meant to be convenient, and a good way to raise awareness about an issue is to cause a disruption in order to force people to take a closer look. When it comes to inaction on serious issues such as gun violence, people have had enough. Turning
May 18, 2018, Volume 11: Issue 8 School enrollment: 1822 Number of copies printed: 1100
8 ■ MAY 18, 2018
on the news to see that another shooting has happened has become normal in America. We have been desensitized to these events because of how frequently they occur. People who are walking out against gun violence are angry because there has been no effective action taken or even
Despite bump stock bans and promises for stringent background checks, gun violence still happens far more in America compared to other developed countries. Those who have grown tired of seeing bloodshed on the television, walking into a movie theater thinking how they would escape if something were to happen, or wondering if they will come home from school that day have demonstrated that they want change. The walkouts have been used as an amplifier, to spread the voice of outrage to those who have not been paying attention to the tragic loss of life around the United States. Even though new laws regulating guns are still unapparent at
“No protest is meant to be convenient, and a good way to raise awareness is to cause a disruption.”
attempted. Their goal is not to take away everyone’s firearms, but to fight for common sense gun laws which will defend innocent lives.
OPINION THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS
TWO PERSPECTIVES Following a recent hike in suspensions, students discuss the issue of...
O
School Discipline
MAJA PEIRCE
W
OPINION
KATELYN REINHART
NE of the biggest problems facing any high school in America
is how to deal with discipline issues. Cactus Shadows is no different and, starting next year, the school will try out a new program called Pride Academy. This plan focuses more on education and prevention than the traditional suspension or expulsion curriculum currently in place. Instead of being sent off-campus, students who incur a 3-5 day suspension will instead attend a separate class on campus. This all day “class” will include education about the harmful effects of the offenses they committed, and also provide time for students to catch up on school work. Behind this program is the belief that the current plan of suspending kids off campus often results in students hanging out, watching television or playing video games all day, and not, in fact, leading to any change in behavior. There is plenty of research to support the fact that punishment should relate to the crime. With this new program, the school is hoping to provide more information for students, and, ultimately, lead students to make more educated decisions. Students who attend Pride Academy will spend one third of the day learning about the effects of whatever offense they committed – bullying, vaping and other drugs, vandalism. Another third of the day will be dedicated to working on self restoration and building character, and the last third on completing school work. To help support the program, the school is hiring a brand new staff member who will be strict enough to keep students focused, but simultaneously passionate about making a difference in their lives. The chances for the program to succeed depend largely upon having a person teaching it is that students can connect to but also respect. Opponents argue that the job of disciplining students belongs with the parents, and not the school. But this argument does not hold water, because schools ARE currently disciplining students - it just is not working. Given the increased violence in schools across the country, it is critical that they take every action possible to find discipline methods that result in less violent acts on campus. “Getting students to behave in a way that is conducive to learning is a perennial challenge for teachers,” said Jennifer Gonzalez, a National Board Certified teacher who works with schools around the country. “Restorative justice really stands on its own, because it focuses on building relationships and repairing harm, rather than simply punishing students for misbehavior.” Schools in Nashville, Oakland and Miami are using restorative justice programs with positive results. According to an article on expedia.com, these schools report that the programs have helped strengthen their communities, prevent bullying, and reduce conflicts between students. These schools have seen drastic reductions in suspensions and expulsions, and students say they are happier and feel safer. The Pride Academy is being pioneered by admin based on what our student body struggles with the most. Let’s hope that we see the same results as other schools who have had success with similar programs.
ITH the arrival of another year, students can expect
“Pride Academy is set up with good intentions but a lackluster execution.”
“The school is hoping to provide more information for students.”
\SARA WINDOM
the buzz of new students, adjustments to a new schedule, and a new disciplinary program titled Pride Academy. Aiming to be an alternative to in-school suspensions, Pride Academy is set up with good intentions but a lackluster execution. For as long as teenagers have existed, schools have taken preventive measures to ensure students make the right decisions for themselves. This includes seminars ranging from bland to passionate, educational videos, and pleas from schools themselves. However, despite the whir of “do not,” messages, teenagers often take the action they know best: they do. In this new program, students who would have gotten a suspension and missed school are instead placed into instructional time in which they are shown informative videos and given to get caught up on class work. Instead of missing school days entirely, students are participating in the Pride Academy program at school when they would have been at home. The days are split into three sections, with the first being social and self improvement skills, the second focusing on the offense itself, and the third is time for students to finish coursework from classes they miss. However, many students who are in the Pride Academy program for non-drug issues are spending a third of their day listening to lectures that do not apply to their offense. Along with that, previous school efforts of discussing social issues have fallen extremely flat, leading to another wasted section of the day. While it is currently undecided on exactly what offenses would warrant involvement of Pride Academy, tardies and absences make up a great deal of disciplinary action. People who are made to participate for these reasons are spending a great deal of their day listening to lectures that have no relevance instead of participating in class discussion, leaving them no better off than they would be with a regular suspension or Saturday school. By instituting these in-school suspensions, decisions on disciplinary actions are also taken away from the parents. When it comes to raising children, parents should have the ultimate say. By getting rid of regular suspensions, power is taken from the parents and given to the school. With a generalized program suited to fit everyone, Pride Academy struggles where parents do not: personalization. In a school where hundreds of kids are getting in trouble for hundreds of different reasons, administrators have no chance of disciplining students in a way that will leave an impact on individual people. Not every student will need a lecture on being kind and respectful, not every student will need a lecture on the harms of cocaine. Schools may not know who needs what, but parents know exactly what will apply to their children. Pride Academy will struggle because it swaps specificity with generalization in discipline, and students who participate will do the same things they’ve done in previous programs: daydream.
D=6%
THE REPORT CARD
D=17%
students on May 8:
C=0% A=15%
D=1%
B=4%
A=17% C=20%
What grade would you give ... Based on a poll of 100
C=15%
pletely met, the passing of this bill for education funding is a massive victory, and is helping steer the state government in the right direction and give teachers the support they deserve.
WALK IT LIKE YOU TALK IT
The CSPress Cactus Shadows High School P.O. Box 426 Cave Creek, Arizona 85327 (480) 575-2400
OPINION
ing funding for new textbooks and technology and support staff. It also gives teachers a 20 percent pay raise over the next three years, with 10 percent seen in 2018. While not all of the demands made by AEU and AEA were com-
SUMMER
PROM THEME
LIP DUB B=52%
B=59% A=95%
the national level, the walkouts in Florida caused state legislation to raise the age limit to purchase firearms to 21. Unfortunately, the walkouts have not had a significant impact with law makers across the nation, however, the youth that have organized these demonstrations have already done more than most legislators when it comes to combatting gun violence. Recently Arizona educators have taken it upon themselves to fight for their pay and school funding. Arizona teacher salaries are nearly $10,000 below the national averages. Teachers walked out in Arizona, and around the nation, to get the attention of lawmakers by disrupting the system in order to get higher pay and increased funding for schools. By doing so, many schools have been successful in other parts of
the country, but here in Arizona Governor Doug Ducey initially left out pay raises for support staff. After teachers walked out on April 27, Ducey agreed to update his policies to include support staff, give a 20 percent pay increase to teachers, and direct more funding towards schools with a $371 million increase over five years. Nonetheless, some are still skeptical about where that money is coming from, the action teachers took around the nation turned to change that will effect the future of education in our country. Ever since the Civil Rights Movement, young people have taken charge to make change in the United States. Though the way the youth protests has changed from sit-ins and boycotts to walkouts and rallies the goal remains the same: change.