The Medallion April/May Newsletter

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The Medallion Newsletter

April/May Edition

]

Class of 2022

Table of Contents

7 11-12 13-14 16 25-28

To Pledge or Not To Pledge

By Jordyn Rebeles

Culturas Gallery

By Melinda Lopez

My Abnormal Horror Story

By Juan Espinoza

Going Down Memory Lane

By Jazmine Jurado

Medallion Ceremony Gallery

By Melinda Lopez & Jacob Rodriguez

EDITOR’S NOTE M

y years of school were very difficult until I fell into VMT’s program. I’m a journalism student and I have tried my hardest with my classmates to publish VMT’s proudest moments. I also found something that I really liked doing. I found my place in the fine arts school where I discovered my creative self and gained a family that I didn’t have at home. I am super grateful for Ms. Maria Salas; she was the my guidance through the years and taught me how to use programs that I never thought I would be using. She also inspired me to pursue college and attend Texas A & M for a marketing degree.

For my last writing for VMT, I want to thank all my classmates and all faculty for making this experience full of creativity and surprises possible.

Thank you for pushing your students to be more than just normal.

- LUIS F. SANCHEZ

FIN..

Principal

Mr. Jose A. De Leon First and foremost, congratulations Vidal M. Treviño Class of 2022!

I am very proud of the accomplishments, performances, leadership, character and outstanding creativity you’ve demonstrated during your time at VMT. I commend each and every one of you on the remarkable achievement of graduating from not only your home schools, but also the Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts. Best of luck in everything you will do.

Students, we wish you a restful summer break. Get your summer courses done, take a well deserved break and prepare for the fall semester. We can’t wait to keep growing and learning with you at VMT. Thank you for a wonderful 2021-2022 school year!

Assistant Principal

Ms. Rebecca Gonzalez Congratulations Class of 2022! I wish you the best of luck on all your future endeavors; keep your head high and embrace what life has to offer. It has been an awesome year at VMT. I feel blessed to complete my first year as an Assistant Principal with exceptional students from VMT. Thank you to all the students, teachers, and staff for making this year a memorable one. Hope everyone has a great summer; stay safe, have fun and see you all next year!

TEACHER OF THE MONTH APRIL / MAY

Gilberto Rocha Roberto m. lopez

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH APRIL / MAY

gary valleza gloria ortiz

STUDENT OF THE MONTH APRIL / MAY

MELISSA GONZALEZ CARDENAS Melissa Gonzalez Cardenas has been part of the VMT Ballet Folklórico Flamenco for four years. Melissa has shown all of the attributes of an outstanding student since she was a freshman.

Melissa is respectful, responsible, and caring. As per her academic teachers, Melissa has always demonstrated character in her courses as a great student, someone to look up to and admire. - Ms. Alicia McKinnis

VALERIA PAREDES Valeria is a student that I can truly count on when it comes to tasks. She has had perfect attendance and will stay afterschool almost every day as much as possible. She is very dedicated to her instrument AND her studies. She is currently in the top 10 of her class and has received many awards at UIL Solo and Ensemble. She has also placed in the TMEA Region 14 Orchestra many years. Even when she has a lot on her plate, she still finds time to practice and even help others in her section make sure they know their music. She is a fantastic leader and a great role model for the younger students. - Mr. Jesus Jimenez

To Pledge or No

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of Am indivisible, wi ledging allegiance to the United States flag has become more of a force of habit than an act of patriotism.

Generation after generation, we are taught to stand and recite these words at an age where we can’t even comprehend what we are repeating. This issue of repeating rather than respecting was brought into a very bright spotlight with the protests by ex-NFL free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick almost 8 years ago.

Kaepernick used his position to advocate for social justice and racial equity. One of his ways of protesting was kneeling during the national anthem at the start of football games. This sparked conversations by many people about the meaning of standing and pledging to the flag and what Kaepernick’s actions meant.

“I remember being baffled that people couldn’t understand why he was doing it,” Jaime Alvarez, a U.S. Army veteran and history teacher at Martin High, said. “His act itself really didn’t bother me. I think it was more how people reacted that bothered me.”

Kaepernick’s kneeling was intentional and had meaning behind it. He used to sit during the national anthem but changed to kneeling after talking to a veteran to ensure his protests against police brutality and social injustice wouldn’t be disrespectful to those who served in the armed forces.

Everyone has different morals, opinions, and meanings of respect and disrespect. Many people accused Kaepernick of being ungrateful and insulting to the service and loss of so many people in arms because of their meaning for standing.

“When it comes to disrespecting the flag, people disrespect the flag everyday, but not in the way that we think,” Alvarez said. “What most people consider disrespectful to the flag, like burning the flag, stepping on the flag, that is someone’s right to protest.”

The U.S. Flag Code is a set of rules for how to correctly and respectfully handle and display the United States flag.

Subsection 8D of the code states, “The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.”

Many other parts of the code talk about how the flag should never be used in advertising of any kind, should be burned if it is no longer fitting for display, should never be used as a covering for a ceiling, and so many other almost common day things. There is no mention of someone having to stand for the pledge of allegiance.

How many people wear clothes with the flag displayed on it for the Fourth of July to show pride for their country? Yet they’re never called disrespectful or ungrateful to veterans.

This is not to say that everyone shouldn’t stand or stop wearing clothes with the flag on it, but it’s to show that we’ve socially made things acceptable in the name of respect while allowing things that are written as disrespectful to be a show of patriotism.

“I strongly feel that the pledge should be recited,” Gregorio Garza, an army vet and retired Spanish teacher, said. “It is a reminder of the loyalty that we should have to our country and the rest of the commitments that we need to do as individuals, as part of a community, as part of a nation that has particular values.”

The pledge has come to mean many things to many people, whether it’s to pledge loyalty to the government, to honor those who serve in the name of our country, or as a cult-like chant. No matter what side you’re on, you should never be abrasive to someone who has a different stance than you.

“People usually don’t stop to think, they just act,” Alvarez said. “A lot of people hear things that they don’t agree with and instantly shut it down instead of listening.”

The pledge was made as a rallying cry to bring together the people of the United States. There are so many people who care very deeply about standing during the pledge or the national anthem. There is no shame in being proud of the country you live in or of being upset at the way it’s run.

We live in a country that fights for freedom and justice, so we all have our right of speech and opinion. That’s the beauty of America.

“You can be a patriot, love your country, but not agree with your government,” Alvarez said. “As a patriot, you not only love the country that you’re in but you love the people that make up that country and you want to protect what’s best.

P

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ot to Pledge

merica and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, ith liberty and justice for all.”

By Jordyn Rebeles

No matter what side you’re on, you should never be abrasive to someone who has a different stance than you.

Photo By Luis Sanchez

8 Newsletter

coco Chanel

By Alondra Reyes

C

hanel. Most known for her signature tweed suit, the image of noted supermodel, Naomi Campbell, circling the internet daily walking for the 1994 Fall/Winter collection wearing a pink dress with an overcoat and white pumps.

French native, Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel first dipped her toes into the large and in charge world of fashion at the start of 20th century. Nearly a decade into making hats, a friend gave her ground floor in Paris, soon she was able to have a serious business by the name of Chanel Models.

After a couple of years of curating accessories, Chanel opened its doors to innovative women’s clothing; this meaning it was simple, functional, and above all else, uncorseted. The garments were luxe yet easy on the eyes, loose, but flattering on the women’s body.

In the 20s, Coco became known among society, her fashion stylings represented the trends and what’s “hot” within women.

Soon, the launching of a perfume we are all familiar with: Chanel No. 5. Business was booming, Chanel was building an empire of her taste.

Today, if you wear dresses, you recognize the term “little black dress” as an essential in your closet. The origin comes from Coco’s creation of a form fitting but effortless black dress that became “all the rave” within the modern women in the 20s.

At the start of the 30s, MGM, one of the leading production companies in Hollywood, hired Coco to dress their stars. She earned millions and gained recognition from Audrey Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, and many more.

During the mid-40s, though, Chanel was arrested for collaboration with Nazi’s, making her leave for Switerland.

In the late 40s through early 50s, the grand rivalry of Coco Chanel and Christian Dior was in full swing.

Public degradation by Chanel created a buzz in the fashion industry. Dior created garments designed to be glamorous: cinched waists, padded hips, heavy clothes up to 27 kilograms.

“Look how ridiculous these women are,” Chanel famously commented. “Wearing clothes by a man who doesn’t know women, never had one, and dreams of being one.”

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Coco insisted his work pulled the women back decades and upholstered them, Chanel made aesthetic, light clothing while Dior made lavish, heavy garments that were praised by the media.

“I think of my work as ephemeral architecture,” Dior contradicted. “Dedicated to the beauty of the female body.”

The question of “are you for or against the New Look?” became a conversation topic within fashion extraordinaires, observers, and customers of expensive wear.

This “new ideal” for womenswear angered Coco so much, she came out of retirement in Switzerland and returned to Paris.

For the next couple of years, she worked tirelessly to create garments that are now considered iconic: the women’s suit, elegant evening dresses, “Chanel Cut” skirt length with flattering over jacket.

In the 60s, her creations were common amongst the modern women, at 80 she was continuously producing while her fragrance was the best-seller.

Chanel passed away in the early 70s, but left a message in regards to her eventful lifestyle that involved love, heartbreak, infertility, and rage: “I don’t complain about anything, because I lived intensely!”

Happy Administrative Professionals’ Day!

April 27, 2022

10 Newsletter

CULTURAS TO MEXICO AND SPAIN: A MUSIC AND DANCE TRIBUTE

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Photos by Melinda Lopez

12 Newsletter

My Abnormal

Horror

Story

By Juan Espinoza

G

rowing up, I never really had much to talk about with my friends in elementary school.

All everyone really talked about were cartoons/animated films that were popular at the time, for example “Ben-Ten”, “Brave”, and “Total Drama Island.” While all I knew were films about killers, creatures, and more spooky stuff, that little to no one had ever seen.

I only really grew up watching horror films like “Tenebre” (1982), “Dawn of the Dead” (1978), “Ginger Snaps” (2000)

“Horror was my only real constant in a world filled with variables, and for many years, these films, characters, and creatures were my way of connecting to myself.”

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which really taught me valuable lessons, they actually gave me a lot of advice and commentary about how life really is.

What I mean is “Ginger Snaps”, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (2003), “It Follows” (2014) and “Student Bodies” (1981), to name a few, were horror films that taught me always to practice safe sex. Not in the way “Friday the 13th” (1980), and “Halloween” (1978) did by murdering those who had sexual intercourse, but in the way of learning and educating us about diseases and telling us how to always practice safe sex.

Horror films also were my biggest best friend growing up; they never strayed away from me nor made me feel left out/ feel a bit different from everyone else.

These films were an escape from my reality. I didn’t have to stick with the problems I faced at home or the problems I thought about.

My family was a big part of making me feel different. They always were disgusted by the fact that I liked watching these types of films. Although I did also judge the type of films they watched, which were films of shootouts with no plot or cringe modernized romantic films of old folklore,

but never once did I ever insult them in a way they did when I talked about or was watching horror. I never let them take away the love and happiness I had with the horror genre, little me always kept watching till the endings that i either fantasized or terrorized me.

Whenever I watched the movies, everything else just faded away and all that really mattered were me and the tv screen across from me playing a horror film about teenagers getting slashed. Watching these types of films gives me a feeling I never felt before, a feeling I can’t explain much though sometimes I’m left happy crying over them and it’s not because of happy endings or characters living, I tear over them by the fact that I, for once, was feeling happy.

For instance, a month ago a film named “X” was released. I’ve been waiting to see this slasher film that’s set in the 70’s ever since it was announced in 2021. I went to watch “X” a day before its initial release with my dad and my stepmom because it was rated R. From the beginning to the end of the film I was watching it with a big smile on my face. That smile never went away even as my stepmom kept trying to ruin

my film experience by using her phone or commenting on how the film was “trash” every 10 minutes. That didn’t change the fact that I cried at the end knowing I had experienced one of my favorite films in theaters; it’s something others may never experience in their lives.

Having a father who had different views and a family who would shame same-sex relationships it was hard not to hate myself or hate the fact that I would be a shame to my family. Horror helped me not be ashamed of my true self. I didn’t see a lot of LGBTQ representation in horror growing up so that’s why I strongly connect to these films—”A Nightmare On Elm Street 2” (1985), “The Fear Street Trilogy” (2021), “Freaky” (2020) and “Pitchfork” (2017), just to name a few— which all had main characters who are queer; Queer and major to the plot not just side characters for diversity. Not only did these horror films entertain me, but they showed teenagers who were just like me. Queer and often fending for themselves who could prevail against the odds.

Watching the first ‘scream king’ put a temporary end to Freddy Kruger, Deena and her girlfriend Sam ending the devil’s curse their town had suffured from since 1666, Josh helping her best friend Millie switch out of the murderer’s body and back into her’s before time runs out, and Hunter Killian desperately trying to kill the picthfork murderer that’s after him for being gay. The Silence (2019) as bad and trashy the film is, it has a special place in my heart, since it was the film playing while I came out to my mom in my freshman year. I don’t remember

exactly how everything went down, but what I do remember was the tears slowly rolling down, as I sat down on the couch feeling comfort as the film in front of me kept progressing.

Horror films sparked a little light in me when I was about three years into my obsession, ever since then I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in directing and writing horror has been my dream job.

My biggest inspirations to be a director/writer are horror legends George A Romero, James Wan, Dairo Argento, Wes Craven, and Amy-Holden Jones. Who all have a big place in my heart, I want to be known and represent my background as one of the future Latino horror directors.

Not only will my films have big representation, they will be made to please future generations of horror fans, but to also make them feel included.

From millions of films and plenty of their subgenres, I have not ever seen a

person of color as a main character unless they are the typical side stereotype character. Most importantly I have seen a few POC final girls in horror. Emily “Leprechaun back 2 Tha Hood” (2003), Deena - “Fear Street 1994” (2021), and Abernathy and Kim - “Death Proof” (2009) are just some of the few to little POC final girls I’ve seen watching horror all my 16 years of living.

This brings shame to me, never once did I ever see myself get represented in horror. Never once did I ever see a Latina final girl to be empowered by, all I ever saw were characters like Maria - “Home Sweet Home” (1981) who no one understood because they didn’t speak Spanish and just stood in the background until the screen looks writers were ready to murder her character in a mean sexualized way to add to the body count. Characters like Maria are why I want to show representation in horror. I want future watchers of every ethnicity to see themselves on the big screen defeating or surviving whatever is haunting/ slashing them.

I’m grateful that I could count on horror films when I was growing up. I’m grateful that I grew up with lovable idols.

Heather Langenkamp, Felissa Rose, Katharine Isabelle, and Robert England who were all an improvement on getting back to a good mental health. I’m honored that horror was introduced to me at an early age. I’ll be forever grateful to scare and inspire many future horror fans.

14 Newsletter

BookTok and Why I got out of it S

ince I started to read books that my oldest sister gave me around 2020, I became an addict to reading but didn’t know what kind of books to get.

It wasn’t until around January 2021 I joined BookTok, a community on TikTok where people can discuss, recommend, and say their unnecessary opinions- I mean their validated opinions about books they had read.

I was excited about it because I thought that the community would be nice and understanding.

I was planning on buying all the books that they were recommending. I was watching videos about spoilers of books that I have not read and I didn’t mind it at that time. (Yes, it was a huge mistake) But then after a couple of months… I was getting upset and was not happy being on BookTok. The main reason is that they love to excuse an author’s problematic history.

There have been so many times where an author is exposed for being problematic. Their fans try to excuse their behavior and say the famous phrase “separate the artist from their work.” which is completely fine if they believe that. But using that phrase

By Jazmine Jurado

does not make sense if it’s coming from their own book/writing.

Literally, how could anyone separate the artist from their work if their work is being problematic?

There have been countless times where people of color would explain why a famous book is problematic and it’s usually because the author writes indirect racist/homophobic comments in their work.

The next reason may be a petty one but the book community loves- is obsessed- with discussing the side plot of a book rather than the actual main plot.

Countless times, content creators discuss the side plot, the side conflict, and the side storyline instead of the main storyline.

I am glad I have only bought a book (It Ends With Us) where I was semi clickbaited.

Just like anyone else on the internet, they dislike it when a creator says an unpopular opinion about a book.

They could either be saying that they love the book and they will still get hate for that opinion.

They could even say that they don’t feel com-

fortable reading a specific genre like dark romance and ignorant commenters will still say stupid things like, “It’s fiction. Get over it.”

Everytime I read what they say, I want to smash my head against the wall and throw my phone.

Another petty reason why I dislike BookTok is that they love to talk about a popular book that they love and months will go by, and they start saying that they dislike the book.

It is perfectly normal for anyone to change their minds, but why is it that they always change their opinions on POPULAR books?

As a matter of fact, why do they just recommend, talk, and obsess over books that are trending?

So many booktok creators only post books that are trending, that are well-known. Why can’t they read books that aren’t popularlized? Why do they only read books that are trending?

Because of those reasons and a few other petty reasons, I was miserable participating in booktok. I got out of it a couple months ago. But I learned to just watch creators who only do recommendation videos.

GOING DOWN

W

hen I was young, I used to think that I wouldn’t forget any memories that I had made.

I would get so confused as to why people would forget about something that they did a year ago or even months ago. No, I’m not talking about what they ate in the morning of the second week of October. I’m talking about fun or even traumatic memories.

Back then I told myself to always remember anything that made me overjoyed or even scared.

But as the years went by, I started to make new memories that made old memories forgettable.

Last year one of my teachers asked my class to write a memory that they remember whether it was something traumatic or happy. I started to think hard because I was tired of writing the same story of me going to San Antonio.

First I thought about my 5th-grade teacher which led me to unlock so many memories that at that time, I told myself to never forget about.

I was thinking about how my 5th-grade teacher was being mean to me for a stupid reason and getting a referral for slapping a kid. I thought back to witnessing my chihuahua getting attacked by pit bulls.

When I thought of my 5th-grade teacher, I thought about the boy that I was involved with.

I say that because I was “dating” a boy that was a bad influence on me. Instead of trying to help me get out of that relationship, the teacher talked bad about me and started to talk to me in a huge disappointed kind of way.

My 5th-grade teacher was known to be strict, but I was on her good side until I started to date that boy.

From there, she acted differently toward me.

Every time I would ask her a question, she would

respond in a tone as if to say, “Are you stupid?”

She laughed at me, a ten-year-old little girl, when I was being forced to play basketball when it was Field Day. I remember that she called me out in front of the classroom. She told me that she was very disappointed in me and that I would make a huge mistake with him if I continued “dating” him. At that time, I didn’t (surprisingly) feel embarrassed; I was upset.

Months went by and I slapped him in his face after he told me something disturbing. The gym teacher saw me and gave me a referral.

She, or any of the teachers that heard what had happened, didn’t ask me why I slapped him.

My parents weren’t mad. My mom did ask me why I slapped him. I didn’t tell her why but I did tell her that he needed to be slapped. Even my 5th-grade teacher wasn’t upset, she literally gave me a high five for hitting him.

Even if they had asked me, I don’t think I would’ve told them. I was too ashamed to say it to my friends when they asked me.

My 5th-grade year was very unforgettable and very memorable.

At that time, I didn’t want to write about how my 5th-grade teacher was a borderline bully to me or how I assaulted a boy.

So I was trying to think of something else that happened to me.

I thought about two memories. One of those two memories was extremely traumatic to me.

I was probably around four or five years old when two pit bulls attacked my chihuahua.

My mom decided to take my siblings, my little chihuahua, and me to the park.

I remember my mom said that she was scared that the two pitbulls that we passed by were going to follow us. A couple of minutes later, someone said that the two dogs were following

us. My mom was starting to get worried.

I don’t remember much, but I do remember that when we turned around the corner, the pitbulls were an inch away from us. I got my dog and hugged them. I was scared to let them down because the pitbull was looking for my dog.

I remember the pitbull put his paws on my arms and my mom kept shouting to let it go.

I don’t know if I let it go or if my mom grabbed my arm, but the next thing I knew we were running away from them. I remember I turned back, crying, to look at my dog.

All I saw was my little poor chihuahua lying on the ground with one of the pitbull near his neck.

We reached the park. My mom quickly ran to a man and asked him to call the animal shelter since, at that time, she didn’t have a phone.

Pretty sure we didn’t stay in the park for much longer. We walked back. I don’t remember if I was still crying.

When we got close to the incident, I saw the animal shelter worker putting my dog into a black plastic bag. I felt, and still feel bad, for the dogs. I feel like it wasn’t their fault. I also feel bad for their owners.

It was an awful experience for my mom. Because of it, she has a strong hate for pitbulls.

The more I think about it, the more I’m confused as to why I wasn’t traumatized by it. I completely forgot about it. I didn’t want to write about it since it didn’t leave a big effect on me.

Finally, after twenty minutes of remembering all the not-so-great memories, I decided to write about how a cockroach landed on my chest which was a very traumatic memory for me.

By Jazmine Jurado

MEMORY LANE 14 Newsletter

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CLASS OF 2022

SENIOR BREAKFAST

18 Newsletter

ONE LAST DANCE V

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CLA

VMT

ASS OF 2022

20 Newsletter

Women’s City Club Excellence in Character Scholarships

E

counselor’s corner

very year the Women’s City Club awards scholarships to our Seniors that have demonstrated excellent character in the areas of respect, responsibility, caring, citizenship, fairness, and trustworthiness. Students are nominated by their VMT Elective Teachers and the Scholarship Committee consisting of several academic teachers make the final selections. Three students from each home school were chosen.

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Congratulations : - Martin High School Alejandro G. Cortinas, Sculpture with Mr. Santos Fiorela A. Gomez Reyes, Drawing/Painting with Mr. Rocha Rogelio Lara Jr., Guitar/Conjunto with Mr. Thatcher - Nixon High School Karyl D. De Guzman, Strings with Mr. Jimenez Melissa A. Gonzalez Cardenas, Dance with Ms. McKinnis Karen D. Valdez, Strings with Mr. Jimenez - Cigarroa High School Nataly A. Munoz, Sculpture with Mr. Santos Kisha L. Ortiz, Guitar/Conjunto with Mr. Thatcher Carolina Rangel, Drawing/Painting with Mr. Rocha

Happy NURSEs’ week!

May 6-12, 2022

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SPRING PERFORMANCES PERFORMANCES Photos by Melinda Lopez

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24 Newsletter

Medallion Ceremony

CLASS OF‘22

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26 Newsletter

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VMT Proud!

Happy National Police Week!

May 15-21, 2022

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Board of Trustees Hector J. Garcia President, District 6

Hector J.Noyola Vice President, District 3

Monica Garcia Secretary, District 7

Dr. Minita Ramirez Parliamentarian, District 3

Jose A. Valdez † Trustee, District 1

Guadalupe Gomez Trustee, District 2

Ricardo Garza

The Medallion Newsletter is produced by students in Communication and CTE classes of the Vidal M. Treviño School of Communication and Fine Arts, Laredo ISD.

Maria Salas Photojournalism Adviser

Jose A. De Leon Director

The Medallion NewsLetter Vol. 1 Issue 5 - April/May 2022 Production: VMT Journalism/CTE students using Adobe InDesign and iMac Computers Copyright: ©2022 Vidal M.Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts & The Medallion Newsletter VMT is a magnet school within the jurisdiction of the Laredo Independent School Districts.

Contributors

Trustee, District 4

Luis Sanchez EDITOR

Juan Espinoza WRITER

Jazmine Jurado WRITER

Frida Garcia WRITER

Alondra Reyes WRITER

It is the policy of the Laredo Independent School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, limited English proficiency, or handicapping condition in its employment practices as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.