Where are they now?
See page 2
February 2013 Volume LIII Issue IV
SCHOOL NEWS EDITION Valentine’s Day Edition Education Editorials--pages 6 and 7 More School News--pages 2 and 3
of Monarchs of the Month! See page 8
Manzano High School
Manzano in Wonderland Cerridwen Stucky 2015 Alice in Wonderland is a story about a fanciful young girl who follows a rabbit and ends up in a world of dreams. This February, this story will be retold for your viewing entertainment by Manzano’s drama department, Catwalk Productions. Ryan Morris, the producer and director of the play, is putting in an abundance of time and effort to keep up with the furious demands of the special effects that are required to enhance the plot of the play. The Cheshire cat disappearing and reappearing, the floating egg, Alice growing tall and small and tall again; these usually computer generated effects will be live and working during the show. “Most of the special effects will be generated through the costumes and lighting,” said Mr. Morris. The cast is made up of a wide variety of students from freshmen to seniors, and are working hard at rehearsal to memorize lines and block their places to make the show as realistically dreamy as possible. “To me, you read the lines, learn the character, then memorize the lines. The blocking flows afterward,” said senior Dara Castellanos. Instead of the usual one actor per role, one role per actor format that most directors tend to use, Mr. Morris has opted for a more creative approach this year, giving some actors a few roles, and giving a few of the characters more than one actor to play them. Alice will be played by two people, sophomore Abby Thomason and senior Chloe Jew. They will alternate nights, doing different shows. Both actors have other roles they will be playing when not being Alice. “Every person interprets the character different,” Mr. Morris said, and this will make each show a unique experience. Going to see the show more than once might not be a bad idea; that way one can experience the different casts. To help with special effects and make the play even more likely to sell out, Mr. Boyd’s Advanced Woods class and Mr. Morris’ stagecraft class will be working together to build a rather extraordinarily psychedelic set. In addition, in an effort to collaborate with the others in Manzano’s Fine Arts Department, Mr. Morris has teamed with art and ceramics classes, graphic design, and photography to demonstrate the creation of art through literacy. “Ceramics and art took the play and broke it down scene by scene and are creating art based on their interpretation,” said Mr. Morris. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, often shortened to Alice in Wonderland, was published in 1865 by a man named Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, under the well-known psuedonym Lewis Carroll. Dodgeson wrote the story for his niece, Alice. After hearing her tell him the story on a riverbank in England, he requested to write it down. The more he wrote, the more parts to the story he thought of, until the whole thing spiraled wonderfully into a book. The show opens on February 13th at 7pm, then on the 14th and 15th at the same time. There will be a matinee on Saturday the 16th at 2pm.
Bree Vargas (second from right) celebrates with her teammates with their second place trophy. Photo courtesy of Brandon Gill.
Bree Vargas Holds New Bowling Record
Taty Amaro 2013 Know the feeling of breaking a record? Imagine doing so without planning on it! Bree Vargas, an MHS senior, has averaged 200 points during her bowling season of 20 games. She is the first female in the state to do so beating the previous record of 198. Vargas had grown up with the holder who has averaged 198. “I had not anticipated beating her because I started off the season rough and really didn’t think I’d average anything around 200,” said Vargas. Vargas’ average starting the season of 2012-2013 was 186, and for her to improve so much was a great accomplishment. After a finished bowling game, Don Thompson, the head director of bowling, told Vargas about her achievement of reaching a 200 average. It was a very exciting moment for Vargas and she recalls almost crying when receiving the news. “I was extremely proud of her,” said Brandon Gill, MHS senior who is third in state with an average of 206 in bowling and one of Vargas’ teammates, “to see one of my best friend accomplish something of that nature is just amazing; I’m honored to be on the team with her.” Gill is not the only one to acknowledge Vargas’ great strive. Gary Gill, Brandon Gill’s father, has been Manzano’s bowling team coach for six years, along with Sam Pinge, another coach for the bowling team, and has known Vargas for 7 years. “Bree’s improvement has been remarkable, I’ve seen an intense focus in her that I haven’t seen before that I believe is the main reason for the large improvement,“ commented Coach Gill. “She’s been very receptive to trying different things with her game that the coaches ask her to do.” Kristin Montes, MHS Psychology teacher, is a sponsor of the MHS bowling team along with Andrew Houser, a MHS social studies teacher. Ms. Montes has been sponsoring the team for eight years and has seen the bowling team progress. She has seen the team grown into the sport and mature together. With stiff competition from schools like Rio Rancho and Cleveland, the sport gets, “unexpectedly exciting,” according to Mr. Houser. Ms. Montes has been able to witness Vargas at the top of her game, as well. “She is focused, intense, and excellent under pressure,” commented Ms. Montes. In bowling, one can be on the advanced, intermediate, novice, or rookie team. Vargas is the only female on the advanced team; she has been on it for 5 years. She joined the team back in eighth grade when eighth graders were allowed on the team. She first began to bowl at the age of six and has been bowling competitively for eight years. Most of Vargas’ family had bowled in their life therefore it came naturally to Vargas when it was her turn to pick up a See “Record” on page 7
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February 2013
Turning Tables: From Teacher to DJ
Samantha Landavazo 2014 Have you ever wondered what your teachers would do if they decided to quit teaching? Chris Romero, former 9th grade Biology teacher at Manzano, is the owner of a local DJ-ing company called Cutmaster Music. Romero has been professionally DJ-ing since 2001 and has not been a teacher since 2011. He handles most of the DJ-ing and specializes in weddings, clubs, and school dances. “I probably enjoy school dances and club gigs the most,” said Romero. “School dances allow me to get into the Top-40 and dance music, which is really fun to mix. And when it comes to a club event, there’s nothing like having a crowd go crazy when you drop into a track they were never expecting. It’s the most amazing feeling.” Working along with him are eight other DJs who help bring his company together, including one of Manzano’s very own Spanish teachers: Mrs. Romero, Mr. Romero’s wife. She is the co-owner and co-founder of Cutmaster Music and helps with planning events. In addition, Ernie Lopez is part of the DJ team. He is new to Cutmaster Music and is currently a college student and basketball coach at Manzano. He helps with lighting, music requests, and other odd-n-ends to DJ-ing. Romero is also a basketball coach at Manzano. In his other free time, he likes to snowboard, DJ, and spend lots of time with his family. “I’ve always loved music. I was in band as a kid and grew up listening to 90’s hip-hop. Pioneer DJs like Q-bert, Kid Capri, and Grandmaster Flash always interested me and in my 20s I decided to take it up as a hobby,” said Romero DJ Romero has always been a favorite for Manzano students when it comes to who they want to DJ the dances. Not only that, but a favorite teacher amongst many of his former students. “He was cool and laid back but would buckle down when he had to,” said Manzano junior, Mayra Palacios “The thing I miss the most about teaching is the students. I really enjoy the high school age group and the great experiences we had in my classroom. The kids at Manzano are really great and I miss walking into the classroom to those that were really excited to be there. There are things that teachers have no control over; those are the things I don’t miss,” said Mr. Romero. DJ Romero is working on expanding his company and making it an even more extraordinary and exciting experience. Said Mr. Romero, “I think my calling as a huge festival DJ passed a long time ago. My current goals are to make Cutmaster Music one of the best mobile DJ companies in New Mexico and to provide the best music service for those that are looking for mobile sound and lighting. Hopefully we’ll be relevant for many years to come.”
Former Monarch Now Famous Boxer Kayla Vandever 2015 Believe it or not, we have a lot of celebrities from New Mexico and even some from Albuquerque. To top that, we also have a celebrity who graduated from Manzano High School. Who is it, you ask? Holly Holm. Holly Holm is a professional boxer from Albuquerque who graduated from Manzano in 2000 and also studied at University of New Mexico for a year. “I had Holly in 9th grade English,” said Brett Rimer, a MHS English teacher. “She was a great student, athlete, and all around friendly person.” Holly Holm, who received the nickname “The Preacher’s Daughter” because her father was a preacher, played soccer at Manzano. She also did gymnastics, swimming, and diving before she got into kickboxing and boxing. “She was very competitive, had already begun competing in kickboxing and boxing as a freshman, and planned to go professional if she could, which she obviously did,” said Mr. Rimer. Holm competes in many boxing matches and dominates most of them. She competes with women all over the world and is one of the greatest female boxers of all time. She also won Comeback Fighter of the Year according to the 2012 Female Fighter Awards and has been the world champion more than once. She is an 18time, three-division world champion, her record being 32 wins and 2 loses. She also knows kickboxing and mixed martial arts. “I started aerobics to keep in shape, saw the (kickboxing) class, I thought it looked pretty cool, so I thought I’d try it for one fight and see what it was like,”
said Holm (hollyholm.com). Her aerobics instructor also taught kickboxing classes and that’s when she started kickboxing. She won her only kickboxing match. Holm also won the only two matches for mixed martial arts, as well. She made her first debut on June 1, 2002 in an IKKC five rounder against Valerie Anthonson. She then made her professional boxing debut on January 25, 2002 at the Isleta Casino and Resort. On December 7, 2012, Holm won her second World Boxing Federation championship against Australian Diana Prazak. Holm is already a WBF World Champion at Welterweight. Her next fight was anticipated for July 2013 in Las Vegas against the undefeated Cecilia Braekhus, but Braekhus selected a different fight against Mia St. John. Holm’s record in MMA (mixed martial arts) of 2-0, will take her to her 3rd MMA fight on February 28th at Santa Ana Star Center (opponent has not been selected). During her very first MMA fight against Christina Domke in March of 2011, Holm made a mistake by dropping her opponent and waiting for a countdown, like boxing. Both of her MMA fights were won by knockouts. Holly Holm did not respond to the Paw Print’s request for an interview.
DJ Romero at his DJ station in his home. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Romero. See page 8 for more about the Romeros.
Local Band Has Roots At Manzano
Cassady Leonard 2015 Everyone has a dream. Many are either strongly supported or crushed at every opportunity someone has to put the person down. At the age of five we are asked “what do you want to be when you grow up?” we respond with the typical child’s answer. ‘an astronaut’ or ‘a princess’ and at only five we are given all the moral support on our dreams. At 13 we are asked again, and respond with answers like ‘a dancer’ or ‘a ghost hunter’ and typically in middle school they aren’t as kind at supporting ‘unreal dreams’. Yet again we are asked “what do you want to do with your life” while we are in high school, we have more serious answers and many have not the slightest clue. Former Manzano students Tom Green, Andrew Jaramillo and Izacc May proved it is possible for dreams to come true with their local band ChaosIsMe. ChaosIsMe is an all acoustic group with a unique style of music unlike any other. “We don’t fit in and thats the thing about our music. We don’t care to and we know that we never will, but to us that doesn’t mean anything, it doesn’t matter. We’re just happy doing what we’re doing, if people like it, you know what, by all means we love it, we’re glad they like it. If they don’t, that makes it that much better and they cared enough to listen”, said Izacc May guitarist for the band. The band started as a side project Green had
Where are they now?
come up with back in October of 2011 to help cope that soon had led to Jaramillo wanting to start a band. Green suggested that he join ChaosIsMe back in July of 2012 and that soon led to the start of ChaosIsMe becoming bigger than they had ever imagined. Eventually, in August of 2012, Izacc joined the group and the band became the trio it is today. “It’s better than it would have ever been by myself,” said Green. Their bond is stronger than just the average band - they’re family, and with their love for each other the band’s progress will only grow for the better and become more than they are now. “These guys are like family to me. I know I can always come back to them and I’m always going to be there for them no matter what,” said Jaramillo. Under the label ‘No Manners,’ ChaosIsMe released their first album that was self titled. The album contains a variety of songs written by each member of the band along with ‘Not Strong Enough’ which was the first song they made as a group. Each song expresses the pasts of the members in a different way, whether it be about a bad childhood or a bad break-up. The emotions they express through the music is raw and real, they show you their lives through a whole new looking glass: Music. Not only does the album express them but is relatable to a lot
Holly Holm poses with her Championship belt. Photo courtesy of mmaweekly.com.
of listeners. Music is always a great outlet and in so many ways can be your best friend. “It keeps me sane, It helps me deal with stuff it helps me know that I’m not alone,” said Green. ChaosIsMe doesn’t look at music as just something there for them, they look at it as life and they express it everyday with putting their passion and devotion to their music in their everyday life. When asked where would they be without music they all gave the same response, “I’d probably be dead.” The kids who everyone looked down on eventually turned life around and became something more. They are living breathing proof that dreams can come true. “Love us, Hate us; either way thank you,” said Izacc May. A photo of the band ChoasIsMe at an album cover photo shoot in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. Photo courtesy of Tom Green.
School News
PAW
February 2013
All State: The best of the best
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Zoe Alam 2015 January kicked off with the New Mexico Music Educators Association (NMMEA) All State Concerts, where the top student musicians in the state perform together in Popejoy auditorium. All State is held every year. The goal of All State is to promote the advancement of musical education in schools statewide. Auditions are held in October and November and require students to perform in front of a judge with the music they had been preparing. Although nerve racking, students enter the audition room and play the required scales, attitudes or songs and a sight-reading test. “It’s really level between everyone; there’s no bias at all because of the requirements. It’s just the way you play and nothing else matters,” said sophomore Audra Vigil, who has been concert mistress for guitar All State for two years in a row. After days of auditions, the final cuts were made and the students who made it became overjoyed because all of their hard work had paid off. “It takes more than just learning the music,” said Manzano band teacher Brad Dubbs. Students must also work on fundamentals such as their sound and techniques. Students received music and later met with the entire group for practices. Practices were held during the conference week (January 9-12) and consisted of the group practicing for up to 8 hours a day on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Students get to meet other
musicians and create a masterpiece of music together. “All of us were social and happy to be there and we all talked and I loved it,” said sophomore clarinetist Anna Kassay-Paddilla. There are some definite challenges that come along something as big as All State, but the final product is worth the hard work and dedication. Time management is a huge necessity in the life of a student musician. Having to balance everything from before and after school rehearsals, concerts, and trying to find time to practice, do homework (lots of it), sports, and family is a difficult thing to do and requires a lot of energy and effort on the student’s part. Vigil expressed that both music and academics are extremely important in her life and she can’t slack off on either one of them. Shaelee Hjorth, a senior chorus member at MHS, said that she believed two of the hardest parts of being a student musician were the nerves of performing in front of people, and having people automatically assume stereotypes because of their involvement in music. By participating in All State, students are also able to work with some extremely talented conductors. “It allows [a student], once they make it, to work with some of the best conductors in the United States; people who are composers and university directors. Very well known musicians come to conduct with them,” said chorus teacher Carla Erickson.
All State is a lot of work, there’s no doubt about it; yet the experience that students receive is one that is surely immeasurable. Students love the experiences they gain by participating in All State. “It’s definitely an experience that a lot of people should try to go for,” said Hjorth. Musically speaking, All State provides an extraordinary way to grow and develop a musician’s knowledge and appreciation of music. “I think that if you have the opportunity to do something like this...it’s one of the best things you can do as a musician. To be able to play with other people in a setting like this is exceptional,” said Vigil. It’s no wonder that teachers highly encourage students to participate in All State. Some even participated in All State during high school and also enjoyed the experience as well. Ms. Erickson, who participated in All State orchestra in Montana, believes All State was an amazing experience, one that she will never forget. Mr. Dubbs also enjoyed his experience at All State. He made All State concert band his junior and senior years and made All State Jazz band all 4 years of high school. “Whether [students] make it or not,” expressed Mr. Dubbs, “it’s a goal that they can work towards.” For more information visit http://www.nmmea.com
Relax, Relax, and Relax: Skylar offers test-taking tips Skylar Griego 2014 All right, Monarchs. We made it through the first semester. Now here comes the hard part: second semester (cue the dramatic music). I know you upperclassmen know what I’m talking about. It’s time to start stressing over ACT, SAT, and of course, SBA. But never fear. Once again your favorite study advisor-moi-is here to help you calm the heck down. Let’s start with the most stressful and work our way down, shall we? The three letters every upperclassmen shudders to hear: ACT. In case my underclassmen out there don’t know, the ACT is a national college admissions exam that consists of subject area tests in English, Math, Reading, and Science. There is also the optional ACT Plus Writing, which includes the four subject test areas plus a 30 minute writing test. Students are required to take one of these at least once Junior or Senior year (and pass) in order to apply to four-year colleges. ACT results are accepted by all fouryear colleges and universities in the United States. I know. It sounds terrifying. In fact, it is terrifying. But so is every other giant test that’s been looming over us since grade school. So, here are some helpful resources and tips to prepare yourself for the big, bad, test. The most important tip is to breathe and relax. If you weren’t capable of doing this, you wouldn’t have made it this far. You’re being handed all the tools you need. Now you just need to let muscle memory take over and use them. Here’s a relieving fact: The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing. That means if you get an answer wrong, they just don’t count it. And if you get it right, you get the points. Man. I
wish all my tests were graded like that. Remember the PSAT we had take in October? Eesh, that test was brutal. But before we had to endure that, the counselors and advisors gave all the students practice booklets with tips and practice tests with answer keys. I don’t know about all of you, but I held on to mine. If any of you did as well, now is the time to break it out and actually use it. We’re not dealing with the practice test anymore. We’re playing with the big kids now. Trust me. They don’t say practice makes perfect just for the tongue twister. However, I’d bet my GPA that most of you threw that away. Fret not, my darlings. There are resources for you as well. Special thanks to the MHS Classroom website for providing the links to these sites. For those wanting to learn about the ACT, go to http://www.actstudent.org. For the SAT, go to http:// collegeboard.com. There is also a link titled “ACT/SAT/ AP Test Prep site - Free!” posted when you scroll to the bottom of the MHS Classroom page. It can’t get much clearer than that. All the information involving options for the ACT, fees, and anything else you want to know can be found on the website. If you still have questions, I suggest you make a meeting with Mr. Hansen, our college counselor here at Manzano. Lastly, anyone who qualifies for free or reduced lunch can go see Mr. Hansen about fee waivers for the ACT. Trust me, that test is not cheap. Take advantage of the opportunity if you have it. The next test
date (that still has an open registration) is April 13, 2013. All right. For those of you stressing about the SAT, the same goes for you. There are some differences between the ACT and the SAT, though. First, the SAT has a correction for guessing, meaning they take off points for wrong answers. It also only has 3 components: Critical Reasoning, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test. According to the ACT website, the key difference between the two is that “the ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school, while the SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.” Don’t let the guess penalty scare you off! This test is no different than any other one you’ve taken. Now let’s talk SBA. This test should be the easiest to deal with. It’s free, and you take it during regular school hours, unlike the previously mentioned ones. We’ve all been taking this test since grade school. Everyone should be used to this by now. My suggestion would be to study for it using the “Test-Taking Strategies” link on the school website as well as studying your notes in your classes. And of course, relax. No matter what grade you’re in or how important it is that you pass, always, always, ALWAYS relax. If you don’t, all of your efforts to prepare will be wasted. I speak from experience. Just remember. You can do this. I wouldn’t bother writing this to try to help if I didn’t believe that. Don’t let those dates creep up on you-because they’re closer than you think. Good luck, everyone. We’ve got a long semester ahead of us-but nothing we Monarchs can’t handle.
What is the NAEP? Victoria Blythe 2014 This January, some Manzano Seniors were called to a meeting about a test called the NAEP that they had been selected to take. Some students are still unaware as of what this test actually is. The NAEP is the National Assessment of Educational Progress. It is not like the SBA, DBA, ACT, or SAT because it is a non-mandatory assessment in Math and Reading that can be taken by non-college bound students. It started in 1969 and is the largest continuing assessment of what our nation’s students know and can do in core subjects. “MHS was informed that we were going to take the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in September 2012. However, the representative for the test sent the list of students on Jan. 7, 2013. The NAEP representative visited two weeks ago to verify student list,” said Sue Peters, Manzano administration member. Only 85 senior students are selected to take the test. The students that were selected to take the NAEP were selected randomly. The NAEP is a test that goes on the Nation’s Report Card. It helps educational leaders, like the President and Congress, think up ways to improve student learning in public schools. The test represents what all high school students in the United States have learned. Ms. Peters also stated, ”The NAEP is a great opportunity for Manzano to represent APS for this National test of proficiency in Reading and Math. Scores will be included in the Nation’s Report Card. At the informational meeting on 1/30, students were able to see how their 2011 peers in New Mexico compared with students across the Nation in Reading and Math.” The scores of the students who take the exam are anonymous and will be combined with the scores of all the other high schoolers across the country who will take the test. A student’s individual scores will not affect the student’s grades or academic records in any way. The chosen test takers will be asked about their reading and homework habits because those things are considered related to educational performance. Students taking the NAEP should take it seriously, but not stress over it. They do not have to study for it or prepare for it in any way, just try their best and remember the basics of what they learned in their Math and English classes in 11th grade. The NAEP is a 90-minute long assessment and will be taken on Wednesday, February 27th at 7:45 am in the library. “The NAEP a very important guideline to identify educational needs in the Nation,” said Ms. Peters. The general public will hear about the NAEP on the news when the reporters discuss what high school students learn and how much of it they use on tests like the NAEP.
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February 2013
School News
New Teacher Pulls Double Duty Hayne Arismendi 2014 Can you imagine being surrounded by high school students all day and college students all night? Well, for a new Manzano teacher this is her reality. This semester, Manzano welcomed CNM instructor Juliet Drazek to the staff. Mrs. Drazek teaches at both Manzano and Central New Mexico Community College (CNM). Mrs. Drazek started working the week of Jan 7, and she’s been teaching at CNM for 2 years. “I teach one class at CNM, and I teach an ESL (English second language) class here; I teach 3 reading classes and 2 ESL classes overall,” said Mrs. Drazek. There are many differences between the two jobs. Manzano
OP-ED: Put an End to Violence in Schools
Jessica Lantz 2016 It could happen at any second, any minute, any hour; anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Usually, we never expect it. We never see it coming. So when it does, what then? On January 5, 2013, a bomb threat was made against the Coronado Mall, and a partial evacuation occurred. MHS freshman, Nikole Bouma, and I were inside the entire time, and not once did we suspect something. When asked how she felt about being so close to something so extreme, Bouma replied with, “It was scary knowing something that big can happen when I have no clue what’s happening.” But that doesn’t come nearly as scary as the shootings of our nation’s past. April 20, 1999: Littleton, Colorado. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris open fire at Columbine High School, killing 13 people, themselves, and injuring 21 others. July 20, 2012: Aurora, Colorado. James Holmes took the lives of 12 people, and injured 58 during the premier of The Dark Night Rises. I’m positive these people never suspected it’d be their last day, or seeing the last breath of someone else’s life. It’s so random; so heartbreaking. We never see it coming. And the people at the Sandy Hook Elementary School didn’t either. Especially not the 20 children, nor their parents. We feel immune to these types of things, as if it could never happen to us. And when it does, we wonder why it did, and how it could have. “Mainly I think it will never happen to me. Why would it? On the other hand, when something like that happens, what’s to stop the same thing from happening to me?” said Manzano freshman, Sarah Gorrell. Mass shootings are one of our biggest safety problems. And as crazy as it sounds, a mass shooting doesn’t mean a mass amount of people were killed. For instance, take the mass shooting in Pittsburg on March 8 into consideration. A university assistant began shooting a psychiatric hospital, injuring 7 people, killing 1, and getting killed by police. I take it you hadn’t heard about that one. Or the shooting in Happy Valley, Oregon, December 11, 2012, at a shopping mall; taking 2 lives, injuring 1, and the shooter taking his own. But these are still mass shootings. Both killers intended to do more. To kill more. A mass shooting doesn’t mean dozens of people died, it’s the intentions of how many were supposed to be killed. What I don’t understand is how we can expect these kinds of things, find no surprise when they happen, yet never be prepared. We never seem to have a good enough lockdown, a safe enough campus, or safe enough students. So maybe we need to find another “solution.” Obviously our system isn’t working as it is, so why aren’t we finding other ways of protection? Why aren’t we practicing lockdowns that might actually work? If we need protection, why aren’t we searching for any? It’s not always schools that get attacked either. It’s anywhere. We aren’t looking at the source of these shootings, these horrific, tragic, heart wrenching mass shootings. Oh no, we’re looking at what’s happening, not what’s the problem. So what is the issue? What is the source of these appalling, yet no longer shocking, occurrences? We are. “We the people, of the United States of America,” are the problem. Yet no one wants to believe it. No one is willing to admit that. I understand that it’ll ruin the way we think of each other as a whole, as a society, but I don’t understand why we can’t accept the situation we have. I can’t fathom the reason we won’t accept the problem, and find a solution. Because our lives are being taken; by us. And it needs to stop. Now.
students and CNM students have a huge age difference; most students at CNM vary from ages 20-40, unlike Manzano where it’s all teenagers. “The students in high school are at a different place in their life than my adult students, so I think the biggest difference is motivation, but I do try to do different things in class so people can be interested in one thing, if not another,” said Mrs. Drazek. Another big difference is that CNM students pay for classes and/or their degree. They choose the classes they need or are interested in, but at Manzano students are placed in classes that they might not be of interest to them, so that makes high school students lack motivation in school. “CNM students are a little more focused and they see the connection between what they do in the classroom and how it’s going to help them, but high school students don’t quite connect some things I’m teaching to how it can help them in their life,” said Mrs. Drazek. Mrs. Drazek taught high school 13 years ago, before becoming a college instructor. Until recently, she also taught at Colorado for a business school and reading. This is her first time teaching ESL at the high school level. Mrs. Drazek only speaks English although she teaches an ESL class, but she thinks it’s better that way. “I don’t speak another language, but I think that’s helpful because I always have students that speak several different languages, so if I speak another language then it would be unfair to the other students, so it makes an equal plane field,” said Mrs. Drazek. Mrs. Drazek has already noticed Manzano’s use of
Freshman Hit By Car
technology and the role that plays in the classroom here.. “When I got here, the technology is pretty much mandatory, you get a laptop right away, even taking attendance is online, it was a little overwhelming in the beginning,” said Mrs. Drazek. A lot of classes at CNM have a couple of PCs and a lot of desks, but the learning is more paper and pencil based. “I’m impressed with the technology that’s in the classroom but I do have to get up to speed so I can be compatible with it, there’s also not much technology in my CNM classroom because I teach developmental reading” said Mrs. Drazek. According to Mrs. Drazek, she was hired a week before Christmas and did not have time to prepare. “I only got to see my classroom once before I got to start teaching here,” said Mrs. Drazek. Mrs. Drazek teaches only one class at CNM on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30pm-7:30pm. “My class there is less challenging because it’s an ESL class and I’m just introducing students to CNM, and helping them register for classes,” said Mrs. Drazek. There are many classes one can take at CNM and they have two locations. Both CNM locations offer night classes which allows her to work both jobs. “Montoya is my favorite campus because I literally live 5 minutes away, but this time I’m teaching at Main Campus and sometimes you don’t get to choose,” said Mrs. Drazek. Mrs. Drazek’s students should benefit from her college teaching experience and she is a welcome addition to the Manzano campus.
Meadow Butler 2013 “Everyone thinks that it’s the quickest thing to do but you never know if it’s going to be you getting hit. You should value your life enough to follow a rule that seems stupid, but might save your life,” said Kaianna O’Neal, MHS Freshman. A few months ago, a car struck O’Neal while she was jaywalking. The average car is about 2,000lbs and is usually going 45mph. If the car hit a person, it could lead to concussions, fractures, internal bleeding, organ rupture, or worse: coma, brain damage, or death. “I was seriously injured. I had a brain bleed, a collapsed lung, a bruised lung, a broken nose, a broken leg, spinal fractures, a torn ligament in my neck and skull fractures,” said O’Neal. The average car needs 210ft to stop when going 35mph. But when going 55mph, the car needs 400ft to stop. “When I got hit by the car I was very distracted. I was eating a bag of Takis, talking to my BFF from across the street and texting someone from school. The first thing that crossed my mind that I can remember is, ‘who are all these people around me and why am I in the hospital’,” said O’Neal. Jaywalking is a big problem around the U.S. and many people contribute to it. “I jaywalk every day down at the university because it takes so much time to go out of the way to get to a crosswalk,” said Evan Stoor, MHS senior. In New Mexico, the city council’s public safety committee was trying to endorse a traffic code amendment that would change the fine for jaywalking from the current 25 dollars to 150 dollars. “Increasing the fine would increase public awareness of the severity of the offense and prompt more offenders to appear in court,” said Ann Yalman, Municipal Judge, in an interview by KOB News. Councilors denied the amendment and said they want police officers to focus on burglaries and drug-related crimes. “I don’t think there should be a punishment/fine for jaywalking because there is nothing wrong with crossing the street. People should look before they cross the street and if they don’t its their own fault,” said Kristi Fugatt, MHS senior. Jaywalking is a personal choice. It helps get across the street faster, but can have consequences such as getting hit by a car and ending up in the emergency room. “My advice to people who jaywalk is please look both ways before and pay as much attention as possible...It’s really easy to get hit if you are not paying attention. Now that I see how easy it is to get hit, I try to pay full attention when crossing the street, and I realize I jaywalk a lot less than I used to,” said O’Neal. New Mexico courts see about an average of one citation each month.
Kaianna O’Neal sustained a brain bleed, a collapsed lung, a bruised lung, a broken nose, a broken leg, spinal fractures, a torn ligament in her neck, and skull fractures after being hit jaywalking a few months ago. Photo courtesy of Kaianna O’Neal.
School News
PAW
Dear Leona
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February 2013 Do you have a problem? Leona is here to help! E-mail your dilemma to manzanopawprint@ gmail.com ATTN: Leona.
Dear Leona, I’m a senior this year and I’m having a really hard time keeping my grades up. I’m considering dropping out because school is too hard for me. I have a terrible habit of procrastinating and it shows in my grades. I’m forgetful of assignments, when they are due, and bringing materials to class. What should I do? -Struggling Senior Dear Struggling Senior, Don’t drop out! That is the worst thing to do. It will affect the rest of your life. Now don’t get me wrong, I have thought of dropping out as well but I know that if I stick it out, things will get better. I have four classes that I have to make up before I can graduate. I also forgot to turn in assignments and waited till the last minute to do them and if I couldn’t do them or forgot to, I skipped school. Now I have to take summer school my senior year of high school. But you can’t stay down, you need to get back up and keep trying. To help with assignments/ materials, get a planner or put a reminder on your phone so you wont forget. I can’t tell you how many times that has saved me. With procrastinating (and senioritis), you just need to have the willpower to do what needs to be done. You could try having a certain time in the day just to work on schoolwork. But don’t give up, you can always get out of the hole you’re in no matter how bleak the situation might seem. No one ever regrets getting an education but people do regret not getting an education. You’re worth it, your education is worth it. I wish you good luck and hope for the best. You’re not alone. -Love, Leona
Class President Photo Poll Annelise Mendez 2015
How close are you with Senate? “Really close, we are like a family!” What would you change about school? “All the trash, there’s always a lot. Trying to clean the campus.”
Jelissa Dandridge Freshman Class President
What is the most important part of Senate? “Giving the student body a voice.” What is your favorite part of Senate? “I like how we are able to change the school. Not big changes but little things that change the school. I am happy to take part in it.” When did you first want to get into Senate? “I did Senate in middle school, it wasn’t as good but I’ve always been interested in leadership.”
Abby Thomason Sophomore Class President
What would you change about school? “Right now we’re working on getting recycle bins put over the entire school.”
What is your favorite part of Senate? “Being able to be a part of the school, and being able to lead the school.”
What is your favorite part of Senate? “Waking up every morning to come here. We as students connect to the other students from different organizations.”
When did you first want to get into Senate? “I was registering and I saw a table that said “Join Senate” so I joined it to see how it was.”
Alex Thornhill Junior Class President
What would you change about school? “I want to clean up the bathrooms because they’re gross. There’s a gap between the administration and the students. I want to see if there is anything I can do to fix that.”
How close are you with Senate? “Even though I’m senior I stay on campus as much as I can so I can bond with other students and upperclassmen.”
Kirstie Lopez Senior Class President
What would you change about school? “I would change the energy level and attitude to something positive.”
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PAW
February 2013
Editorials
All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy
A Little Enthusiasm Goes a Long Way
Jahkairah Martin 20 Repeat, repeat, and repeat once more with no feeling. This is how Public Education now stands and it’s not helping anyone. School has changed dramatically from elementary to high school. Pats on the back were rewarded for the slightest achievements; we would go on field trips and have parties. Now, usually we go with out any type of recognition. Everyone had one class and one teacher that he or she could build a relationship with. Our seven teachers and seemingly endless number of classmates don’t share the same effect. In school, we were raised up having it easy. When we started middle and high school the party times ceased, and some can’t handle that. I believe it’s right to treat us like young adults, but don’t expect us to be completely serious all of the time. We can’t just press a button in our head to make us more mature. Who would want that anyway?
Parenting is Key
Taking all the life out of school has proved to result mainly with a numerous dropout rate. The National Center for Education Statistics web site states: “Over the last decade, between 347,000 and 544,000 tenth through twelfth graders have left school without completion.” I’m not saying that for all of these kids the reason they dropped out was because they couldn’t handle the newfound seriousness of school, but that was the problem for the majority. The outer most shell of education may come off boring but you can always find something fun for you. Amariah Bradley, a freshman at Manzano, said, “Since I have joined basketball I have kept on track a lot more. I even got an A on my Biology Exam in Mr. Miller’s class.” The only problem with Amariah’s statement is that sports aren’t an interest for everyone, and what happens then? High Schools could use a little zap of
Zoe Alam 2016 With the dropout rate at 35% and growing in New Mexico, the obvious question is posed: how do we improve our education systems? The solution? Not so simple… However, I personally believe one of the biggest issues facing our public schools is lack of parent involvement. In fact, 86% of the general public believes that parent support is one of the most important ways to improve schools. Numerous studies conducted have shown the beneficial results of parent involvement. When parents are involved in both their child’s life and the school, students have higher grades, test scores, graduation rates, better attendance rates and increased motivation and self-esteem. Students whose parents are involved have lower suspension rates, decreased use of drugs and alcohol and fewer instances of violent behavior. It is obvious that parent involvement is very beneficial itself, yet it is often overlooked as a “minor detail” in public education. It is apparent that the maintenance of the relationship between schools and parents declines with each grade level. Numerous parents become progressively less and less involved in their child’s life. By high school parents rarely get involved. A study showed that 41% of 9th-10th graders had parents who did not attend meetings with teacher, alongside the 47% of 11th-12th grade parents. When a parent has a child they take on a huge responsibility to provide and care for that child. If this statement holds true then why are so many parents neglecting the importance of parent involvement in their child’s school life? I recently heard about schools rewarding parents for showing up at the parent-teacher meetings. 70 public schools in Chicago, Illinois gave away $25 Walgreens “Balance Rewards” cards to parents who picked up their child’s report cards and attended the parent-teacher meetings. Since when do we have to reward
energy to bring back some excitement for students. More could be accomplished this way. I completely understand that we are treated with more seriousness because the teachers and other staff are trying to prepare us for real life, but can’t we have fun in life? Yes, you have to be mature for certain situations but some things you just have to experience and learn from. Such a big deal is made over the kid who doesn’t take anything seriously and maybe he’s just trying to savor his youth while in high school. Instead of taking fun out of school to prepare us, let us have our last our last bit of fun before we must become responsible because nine times out of ten if you take youth away early, people will try to reclaim it when they get older. Fun, youth, immaturity: these should be expressed while young. Keep calm, teach us what we need to know, but make sure to include some enthusiasm.
What’s right and wrong about Public Education? Ask the experts, the students! The Paw Print staff explores their solutions for education. parents for being…well, parents? It is often believed that parents in difficult situations such as low income, or being a single parent cannot take the time, energy, and effort out to be involved in their child’s school life. Although this may be partially true, parents can still be involved without spending crucial time away from work. Parents can be involved in their child’s school life at home by the guidance and support they can provide. It’s sad to think about how many parents have no idea their child is struggling in school. Of course those meetings with teachers are important, but so is the involvement of the parent at home. You don’t have to be a second teacher, it is true that even parents don’t know everything, but at least be involved enough to recognize what’s actually going on in school and provide a support system of encouragement and advocacy. More heavily involved parents, such as those committed souls who volunteer at the fundraiser booths and booster meetings benefit their child even more. However, any involvement counts in the school life of your child. Many also may argue that as kids grow older, parent involvement becomes less crucial. However, at junior high and high school levels parent involvement is probably more important to children’s success as kids begin to explore their independence. Instead of our public school stressing over the challenges the education systems face and pondering over options for a solution, they should provide parents with the information and resources to be the “change” that their child desperately needs in their lives.
School is No Place For Favorites
Jessica Lantz 2016 We all have our favorites. Favorite band, favorite brother, favorite sister; we pick and choose everything. But being yourself is your thing, and shouldn’t affect someone else’s life. So why is favoritism so obvious, so normal, in the classroom? It’s bad enough when it seems like a teacher doesn’t like you, but it’s worse when they choose certain people who can and cannot do things. When teachers favorite a certain group, certain “type” of people, it takes away what school is about, and what we even go to school for. That shouldn’t be happening in a learning environment; teacher to student. Kids come to school to learn and get an education, in the best environment possible. That’s what the word ‘school’ is all about, right? Well if that’s the case, why do some rules vary with a certain clique of students? Why are there certain rules not enforced upon every student? I constantly hear my friends stating that this teacher and that teacher let “preppy kids” listen to music during class, or only let “the preps” wear hats in class. They only let the rich kids use their cell phones during instruction time. Why is that? Why is it that I can get yelled at because I didn’t
take my beanie off, but the girl behind me in Miss Me jeans and Hollister jacket didn’t? That I’ll do every assignment, take every note, and not get all the points, while the nicely dressed boy in back sleeps and gets full credit. It’s not fair to me, nor to anyone else. However, it isn’t the favoritism that’s the worst problem. It’s what the favoritism is about. No longer is it a teacher’s pet that’s the favorite. It’s a certain group of people. It’s almost as if some teachers are trying to relive their high school life through someone else. Maybe someone they wish they had been, or possibly because they got the same treatment. But school isn’t about what you’re wearing or who you hang out with. It’s about what you know, what you learn, and how you use it. Same goes for teachers. Teachers are supposed to teach us what we need to know, no matter our beliefs, ethnicity, looks, whether were rich or poor- no matter what. It shouldn’t matter that one person can’t afford the newest phone while the group in the back all has matching cases. When we’re in the classroom, we’re equal in a teacher’s eyes. At least, we should be.
Cloie Logan 2013 An alarming nationwide education trend is the reduction of recess at younger ages. Recess is highly beneficial to education and it is slowly slipping from in between the fingers of children around the country. Elementary schools have been cutting recess time more and more to accommodate for longer time in the classroom. What is a six-year-old to do when he has to sit for longer and longer in a classroom, with only 15 or 20 minutes for recess? It isn’t enough time, especially for kids this age who need to play. There is no recess in middle school- no real break of any kind unless you count the measly 30-minute lunch period or perhaps P.E. Middle schoolers are still bordering on that same age where they need recreation time. Other countries like the Netherlands have modified their school systems to add in an extra one-hour recess, and they have some of the highest education standards in the world. They understand that children need time to expel their energy outside of the classroom in order to focus well inside the classroom. Additionally, recess could keep more kids in school. If children go through our current systemlittle recreation time and lots of sitting in hard desks for long hours- it’s no surprise that by high school they are ready to drop out. Not having recess puts a lens over the school experience: in school, there’s no time for play. It isn’t fun anymore. It loses its appeal. Recess brings back that appeal, that school isn’t just work work work for twelve years. It is for those reasons that a new system should be implemented, factoring playtime back into the lives of children. We need time to decompress; learning takes a lot of effort at times. Even extending high schoolers’ lunches wouldn’t be a bad idea. It’s been said that if you work hard in high school, you can play in college. Why is it we only get to play after the point when we really need it? It just doesn’t make sense. Some students won’t even make it to college. We can’t keep telling them to play at home or wait until college. Playtime is a crucial part of child growth, and it isn’t just for home. Some children don’t get the opportunity to play outside school because of family responsibilities or family troubles or simply because they don’t have anyone to play with. Many people don’t seem to understand this. So what if the day is longer? The children aren’t being forced to sit in a desk for longer, they are being allowed a chance to play. They made child labor laws for a reason, and they should carry over to school. Children have a lot of energy and making them sit in desks for hours without release is just cruel. Moreover, school should teach about play, not just work. Play is an important part of life, and if children don’t learn or aren’t allowed to learn of its importance, it may be detrimental to the rest of their school career. Kids should just be able to be kids, and that means playing too, not just working.
I know it’s natural to favor one thing over another, but in some cases it’s just unfair, particularly when it involves a person’s future. Maybe the kid throwing paper across the room isn’t the easiest to deal with. Or the girl who sits quietly and does nothing but read frustrates you; but we’re still equal. Just because some people are easier to deal with doesn’t mean that you should only relate to them. Figure out how to make the learning process refer to everyone, not just whom you prefer. Don’t plan out what you want to teach us because the richest girl won’t care anyways, but by what works for every student in class. Help us, and we’ll help you. Teach us equally, treat us equally, and it will work better for everyone.
Editorials
PAW
No High School For Old Books
February 2013
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Zane Alaniz 2016 Textbooks are to learning what flash drives are to downloading - They help us easily retain information for later use. We rely on them for doing work and studying. Why, then, are the textbooks available at most of our schools so mind numbingly dull and revolting to read? If we had something more interesting for us to read, doing class/homework wouldn’t be such a daunting task. Overall grades as well as the genuine desire to come to school for something other than sociality would improve significantly. Most of us students should be familiar with the numerous amount of textbooks there are for the numerous amount of classes we take. There’s a lot of information to take in, especially considering each book has about 400+ pages filled to the margins with important data and such. Most of said data are crucial to passing tests. The problem is, most of these textbooks are a tad outdated or just awkwardly written; few books have any content that will catch the eye and keep students interested enough to retain knowledge rather than just blow off the whole thing. Our current Physics textbook is a good example of what a book shouldn’t be. It gives give a wee bit of information regarding important scientists’ contributions and makes jokes that would make Mr. Ferns cringe, but that’s about the extent of its usefulness. It offers close to no clarification so most kids are fuzzy for most of the topics when test time comes ‘round. The math books are at least able to clearly teach a lesson that will be retained, but even my teacher says they’re dumb sometimes. But lo and behold, I have found a diamond amongst coal: the Psychology book. The things that make it so groovy are the colorful vocabulary and the visuals that make one exclaim “by Odin’s crusty beard, what could this be?” and to top it all off (aren’t you excited? No? Go away), the author actually includes real life situations that make everything feel more relatable and practical. It keeps you wanting to know what this scenario of a girl who has several mental disorders could possibly be leading too, though I suppose that’s up to personal preference (I find it rather fascinating). Though I understand that not all subjects can exactly have examples like that, I think the school should invest in textbooks written more along the lines of the Psychology one. This could raise students’ passion for education because they actually care for once. Of course, you could say we can’t just replace all textbooks to make them student-friendly. Not all at once, at least. But allow me to retort (if you’re reading this, you have no choice. Aha!) This kind of change would take time. When it’s time to choose textbooks, maybe students should have the opportunity to input. We are the ones reading them, aren’t we? Baby steps, you know? Inadequate textbooks are just minor issues in terms of everything wrong with the school system, but improving them would bring us that little bit closer to an ideal education. If we young rebel ruffian hipsters, or whatever the blazes we are, can somehow become more interested in learning, then next thing you know we may actually have somethin’ good going for us. Wouldn’t that be a nice change?
Spend Wisely
Victoria Blythe 2014 There are a lot of things that could and/or should be changed about public schools today. Some people might change the schedule, others might not like the teacher’s methods of teaching, but what I would change is how the school district prioritizes their money. Last year my school was flooded with new Promethean boards(they are like smart boards, but bigger).If the school district can spend so much money on electronics that are not completely necessary, why can’t they buy things that are needed? Of course, I am not the only person this issue has bothered. Marguerite Roza, author of “ Educational Economics: Where do School Funds Go?”, touched on the issue of school spending too. “District budgeting and accounting practices make it incredibly difficult to identify detailed spending practices,” she said. This promoted me to take a look at my school district’s spending patterns online. I read that 21% of the district’s money goes to staff salaries, supplies, custodial needs, utilities, student transportation, and instructional materials. About 1/8 of the general spending money goes to maintenance, but be sure to keep in mind other items in the general spending category are items like teacher salaries and other needed things. When you throw a little item such as maintenance into a category with more important things, like school transportation, of course it will be ignored. The solution to this problem is to spend way less money on electronics (which goes under the category “School Supplies” along with new textbooks, but we do not see those very often) and spend more money on making school a likeable place by putting locks on bathroom stalls and things like that. Technology is important, but only once our basic needs (such as bathroom privacy) have been met. A lot of people might argue that we need to keep up with technology and that it is for the benefit of the students. I know that the students would benefit from having nicer bathrooms, good classrooms, and clean hallways too. Fancy electronics might make it easier for the teachers to do their lessons, but they are not what the students need most. The people who decide how to spend the district’s money should visit some of the schools that they are making decisions for and talk to the students, the people who are being affected. If they did this it would be easier for them to prioritize and budget, two things that are needed and important. Maintenance and school needs should be put first and then use money on extra things like Promethean boards, ipads, and Mac computers. This would go a long way and maybe make the students want to come to school. There are a bunch of things that need to and should be improved, maybe if the people in charge focused on some of those things, school would be more pleasant.
What’s right and wrong about Public Education? Ask the experts, the students! The Paw Print staff explores their solutions for education.
Relationships Matter!
Slate Gunter 2016 Public education is in need of improvement, but how should we improve it? This is a very delicate topic since there are so many ways you can go about this, that’s why I put my brain into deep reflection to finally come to a surmise. Back in the day, I went to San Antonito Elementary and Roosevelt Middle School; what’s great about these two schools is that since they’re in the mountains there aren’t as many kids that go to these schools compared to any of the schools in town; kids get more one on one time, everyone gets to know each other well, etc. Altogether, they were both great schools in many facets but one thing stood out to me most -- I always obtained a personal connection with the majority of teachers I had. On the first day of high school, you’re on your own... bottom line. There’s no more pampering that you get from teachers in middle school, kids sooner or later will have to teach themselves self discipline in order to succeed. But see, there’s a inequality between actually caring for your students and not caring with the excuse of students needing to take care of themselves. In all honesty, I think this endemic was materialized from the lack of a personal relationship between the student and the teacher. Having a fair quantity of knowledge for one another is definitely beneficial and valuable, you’re usually comfortable and content with whoever you’re with. If you don’t even know your teacher’s first name and it’s the second semester of the year, there’s evidently a communication problem that lies beneath. If you haven’t caught my drift yet, my point is that learning can be so much easier and more fun when everyone in the classroom knows each other well. So you’re asking yourself, how do we fix this? We need to get more schools built, more classrooms built, hire more teachers, and so on. The bottom line is, we can’t have schools that are this populated. Seriously, 2,000 kids in one school?! You may think I’m crazy, but I’m just a mountain kid!
Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Nikole Bouma 2016 There are many ways we could improve our public education system. There are many people who are trying many different things to make the system better. However, New Mexico is ranked at the very bottom of school rating: 35th according to KRQE. I strongly believe a way to improve our system is “everything starts at home.” Kids are strongly influenced by their parents and parents become their role models. A child needs a safe and loving environment for them to successfully learn. According to Linda Hinkle from Livestrong “Parent involvement not only positively affects student achievement, it contributes to higher quality education and better performance of schools overall.” Without parent involvement the child gets lost in the shuffle. The child, therefore, will struggle through school and chances are not attend a secondary school. When parents are involved, not only does the student benefit, but the school succeeds. The schools will provide higher test scores and higher enrollment into secondary schools. With this type of involvement the student has a positive attitude and their behavior is better, and attend school regularly. That’s why I believe parent involvement could be our answer in improving education. I realize not every child is privileged to have parent involvement, so a member or Big Brother Big Sister could be our answer. If the school could recognize or identify these students at an early age and appoint them a mentor or Big Brother Big Sister who will follow them through their school years. According to data from Dartmouth college: “Hours spent together are often the child’s most eagerly anticipated time of the week, the big sibling must be reliable, enthusiastic, and committed to the relationship.” They also go on to explain whether a child has a low self esteem, or economically disadvantaged or just wants attention, the kids all benefit from spending time with a big brother or sister. Big Brother and Sister clubs are already up and running like McDowell High School in North Carolina. High School students became mentors to middle school kids. According to the website the club has been very successful. Maybe we could use this existing model instead of pouring more money into something that’s not working. I believe this program would benefit the students, the school system, and our state.
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Record Continued from page 1 a bowler’s mental part of the game is not prepared, it may throw off the physical part of the game, as well. Much practice is needed in order to stay at the top of one’s game in any sport. In Vargas’ case, she practices outside of when she is not with her team. She does so by simply going bowling with her Opa (her grandfather.) When spending time with her grandfather, he encourages her to practice as much as she can. “Even on the days when I’m sick of bowling,” said Vargas. Vargas’ coaches, teammates, family, and friends, have all supported her throughout her bowling career. But Vargas says that she would dedicate her entire bowling career to her grandfather. Overall to celebrate, Vargas kept it fun and simple by going to Wendy’s with her best friends who also bowl. She thanked her coaches for everything they have done for her through the ups and downs of the season.
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Students and Staff
February 2013
Mr. Romero He said: 1. I think it’s fall (because she loves the month of September, which coincides with her birthday ironically) 2. Her favorite actor is the dude from The Fast and Furious (Paul Walker). I’m not sure it’s because of his acting skills though. 3. I’d say she’d want to be something fierce like Tony the Tiger. 4. It was probably proposing to her after we hiked the La Luz trail. We hiked all the way to the top and before we sat to eat lunch, I told her I wanted a pic of us and the city in the background. So, we set the camera on a timer and right before it took the pic I got on one knee and proposed. So, we have an awesome picture of that moment. Top that one, fellas! 5. Her favorite holiday is probably either Thanksgiving or Christmas because of the family time.
Which guy knows his girl best?
Mrs. Romero Her Answers: 1. Fall because there’s a lot going on and it’s not too hot or too cold. 2.Kate Winslet 3. The bee from Cheerios. 4.The way he proposed! 5.The Fourth of July because we have barbeques and go swimming; it’s fun.
Questions: 1. What is her favorite season? 2. What is her favorite Actor/Actress 3.What cereal box character would she be? 4. What is the most romantic thing you have done for her? 5. What is her favorite holiday? Bold indicates correct answers.
Anthony Maestas
*Experience has paid off! The married couple knows each other better than the high school couple. Mr. Romero got two out of five correct while Anthony only got one out of five correct.
Felice Mora Her answers: 1. I like summer because I don’t like the cold. 2. Channing Tatum. 3. The Lucky Charms guy. 4. I had a cheer competition one time and he wrote me a letter of encouragement. I carry it in my ID. 5. Thanksgiving because I get to eat.
He said: 1. Fall because of hunting season. 2. That guy from She’s the Man. (Channing Tatum) 3.Tony the Tiger 4. I don’t really do anything romantic. 5. April Fool’s Day.
Clogan’s Monthly Musing: New Years’ Resolutions Cloie Logan 2013 This year, I have resolved to come out of my comfort zone more. I’m going to be on my own in a new state in approximately six months, and I need the practice. It hasn’t been going very well so far. At the All State concerts, I saw this boy—a violist I think, who was simply wonderful. He had so much spirit in the way he played, and I could tell that he was a fantastic musician. I aimed to tell him so, but when I saw him in the lobby, I couldn’t bring myself to. And then we made eye contact and I didn’t do anything and then it was too late to say anything or else it would have just been super awkward. So I didn’t. I have resolved to begin with baby steps. Smiling and making eye contact with strangers, speaking my mind in conversation instead of keeping things to myself, then slowly leading into actually talking to and/ or complimenting strangers. You know, making friends. A lot can be said for taking things slow. It’s not always the best idea to rush into things—they take time. You won’t master a foreign language in a night, a week, or even a year. (No matter what those pop-up ads say). You can’t always build a solid, lasting relationship off of a casual hookup. It just doesn’t usually work that way. A lot of people give up on their new years’ resolutions around January or February, and one of the main reasons (besides laziness) is the fact that people aren’t seeing the instant results they wanted. Resolution: Lose weight. After going to the gym religiously three out of seven days of the week and eating a tad healthier
than before, the end of January brings a discouraging surprise. You’ve only lost 5 pounds. Or maybe less. Or worse- you’ve gained weight. Discouraging indeed. You start slacking off at the gym, eating fast food again, and we’re back where we started. The instant results aren’t coming, and so we give up. We forget that these things happen in baby steps. The first month might be hard, and maybe not so good. However, the only way to go from here is up. It’s a bit like getting into a cold swimming pool. It’s much more comfortable to ease into it bit by bit than to just jump in, slapping the water
with hoots and hollers. Plus, you’re less likely to want to get out right away due to the time it then takes your body to adjust to the temperature. I may have chickened out of talking to that violist, but I have resolved to stop being such a coward about such little things, bit by bit. Thinking back, what bad really could have come of it? It was a compliment; people like compliments. I was just too nervous to put myself out there and take the risk. No matter what your new years’ resolution, don’t try to accomplish it all at once. That’s why you have all year to do it—to take the time to go through all of the baby steps in the process.
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