Administration – Page 4 – Pueblo High School

Memories Of A Class Of 2016 Warrior ~ Damaris Karely Ponce

Damaris Karely Ponce, graduated from Pueblo #7 in her class in 2016 with a 3.73 GPA. (She enrolled in 2012.) She was co-chair of the MEChA Club, a National Honor Society Member, Ivy League Tour Participant, TRiO Student & a member of our Swim Team. Damaris plans to continue her education to become an immigration lawyer.

Damaris read this reflection of her experience at Pueblo to our faculty & staff during their Back To School Meeting on August 1, 2016. You can play the audio clip to hear it in her own words.

Damaris Ponce Pueblo High School Reflection — Damaris Karely Ponce

I remember before Freshman year started, my mom was asked what high school I was going to. As soon as she told them that I was going to Pueblo their faces changed. They told her it was a horrible school and well… we all know what they all say. It didn’t scare me because I mean… I came from Mexico so let’s say I’ve seen worse schools. It didn’t take too long for me to discover that Pueblo was actually a really great school, with the best teachers and administration. I felt welcomed, and I received the help that I needed to accomplish my main goal which at the time, was to learn English. I will always feel thankful for the patience and respect that everyone showed me and other students in my situation. The people that think Pueblo is a bad school are the ones that are not part of Pueblo nor is informed of all the achievements we have made.

Damaris Ponce Pueblo High School Chicago MEChA Conference — Damaris At MEChA Conference in Chicago.

Teachers have this incredible ability to change the lives of their students in such amazing ways. I know for a fact you guys do change lives everyday. Before I was a student at Pueblo I’ve never seen teachers so passionate about helping students develop. It always amazed me the amount of personal hours you give to students. Because of my mom’s job and my stubbornness to not take the city bus I used to come really early to school sometimes. There were always teachers already in school ready to give tutoring to students. And if that wasn’t enough, some of you stay after school really late. People outside of Pueblo would say “well that is their job”, but I know, the students know, that those hours are not going to be paid. You clearly don’t know how to be selfish.

Damaris Ponce Pueblo High School White House Ivy League Tour — Damaris in front of the White House during her Ivy League Tour.

The thing that impacts students the most is that you believe in their dreams and most importantly in them. Students are being told that they can’t go to College because of their background so constantly they end up believing it. But here in Pueblo, teachers and administrators not only believe in the students, but encourage them to great lengths and to be the best person they can be. I am a survivor of Mr. Santa Cruz’s class. I will never forget when the year was about to end, he told us we were special because we didn’t give up and continued with the class. The other day, I saw a classmate and she told me she thought the classes at Pima were going to be easy compared to Mr. Santa Cruz’s class. He prepared us so well, we now feel confident about College. This is just one example. I know each of you prepared us and helped us in every way possible. I don’t know if Pueblo was a bad school before, but I do know that Pueblo is the best school right now.

Welcome Back, Mr. John Howe!

By Lauren Ahern and Nayeli Sanchez

As we near the end of this school year, it’s never too late to welcome back a former employee from Pueblo’s yesteryear. Mr. John Howe, a former Assistant Principal from the 2005-06 school year, has returned to Pueblo as a learning support coordinator.

Prior to being an Assistant Principal at Pueblo a decade ago, Howe worked at a number of schools all around Tucson as a Principal, Assistant Principal and as a middle school language arts and science teacher.

After a couple months off to try out a different career, Howe then decided to return to education.

“I reallymissed the school environment and working with students, faculty and staff,” Howe said.

As the Learning Support Coordinator (LSC), Howe said that his new position involves working with academic and discipline support. Howe also helps with peer mediations, strategizing how to improve students’ grades, and informing teachers about students’ specific needs.

Returning to Pueblo, Howe said, “Things haven’t changed here at Pueblo [since 2006], and that I’m happy to be back. Students are still courteous and respectful.”

Next year, Howe hopes to be back at the same job, although the position will be officially known as Multi-Tier System of Support (MTSS).

“I’ll be doing about the same things I’m doing now, which is ensuring the well-being of our students,” Howe said, “but I hope to be working with teachers more to reduce the number of referrals and to help teachers with classroom management strategies.”

Also, Howe is now managing all of the Youth On Their Own (YOTO) students.

“I really want to help students—and our staff—in any way possible,” he said. “I also like getting my share of exercise at this job, locating students and teachers in different classrooms across the campus. It’s a whole lot better than sitting at a desk all day.”

Warriors Receive Library Card, Access To Pima County Libraries

By Victor Garcia

New to Pueblo Magnet High School, librarian Ms. Marsha Jean Burrola issued library cards to Pueblo students on March 17, 2016.

Classes were invited to the library for four periods throughout the day, for a total of 10 classes. Burrola said that she had already been teaching research material to 12th graders, but wanted them to have access to more databases that Pima County public libraries can provide. By entering their card number and pin number, students gained an opportunity to have access to much more information.

Pueblo High School Librarian Marsha Jean Burrola

According to Burrola, about 170 Pueblo students received these cards, and about 70 thus far have signed up for the virtual library.

”I’d like for students to be aware of the resources available to them,” Burrola added.

She added that she was able to work with Mexican-American Studies Director Dr. Maria Figueroa and Pima Community Public Library (PCPL) in order to make the library card and virtual library a possibility at Pueblo. Normally, students under the age of 18 would need parent permission, but PCPL decided to give all students library cards in “real” time without parental permission. Students will be able to use these cards at any Pima County library as well as the internet.

Burrola stated that she wished that more students understood how being a part of this process could potentially help them with their academics. She also said that students should feel that they had to be a part of this program just because their teachers wanted them to have these opportunities.

“The opportunities to gain so much more information should be reward enough,” she said.

Burrola would love to offer our students more chances to sign up.

“I would love to continue this process [of getting more students signed up for this library card] in the fall,” Burrola said.

Welcome, Mr. Montaño!

By Lauren Ahern and Nayeli Sanchez

This semester, Pueblo has gained a new assistant principal, Mr. David Montaño, after Mr. Joel Bacalia accepted a position at University High School. Although the school year is half over, Montaño said that he is very excited to be a “whole part” of Pueblo in 2016.

Although Montaño was born in California, he has lived in Tucson for nearly 45 years and attended the University of Arizona, earning his degree in social studies. His professional career has been very eclectic; he has taught at Maxwell Middle School as well as Naylor (K-8) as a social studies teacher. His focus shifted to administration, which led him to Cholla High School, Palo Verde High School, Rincon High School, Secrist Middle School… and now Pueblo.

New Assistant Principal David Montaño Talking To Pueblo Students At Lunch — New Assistant Principal David Montaño talking to Pueblo students at lunch

“Oh, it’s [Pueblo] beautiful!” said Montaño. “Pueblo is such a wonderful family. Once I got here, I felt accepted, and I wasn’t nervous at all.”

Montaño’s responsibilities and duties as an assistant principal include freshman discipline (with last names beginning with “M” through “Z”), developing and improving curriculum, summer school, testing and data.

He added that his professional responsibility is to support students and especially our teachers. Above all, Montaño wholeheartedly wants to help students to believe that they can change to make the school a better place.

“We are all unique, and we should all have self-confidence. We make a difference in someone’s life,” he said.

Montaño believes that he will be at Pueblo for “a long time”, and he hopes that his legacy will be to have known in his heart that he helped students to believe that they truly can achieve their dreams.

Stay Out Of The Hallways, Get To Class!

By Xamantha Williams

Student traffic in the halls and excessive tardiness have always been a colossal problems at Pueblo, but these problems escalated to new disturbing levels this school year—due in part to a lack of security. Administrators and faculty here at Pueblo have been working diligently to resolve these issues throughout this first semester.

Monitors, too, are doing all that they can to ensure that students make it to their classes on time, but because we are short-handed two monitors at the moment, tardies are becoming excessive this school year. Currently, Pueblo has just four monitors, the least amount in recent years.

Ms. Nora Monge, one of Pueblo’s monitors, said, “It’s so important for students to be on time to school and their classes. Tardiness definitely negatively affects grades, and being tardy shows a lack of responsibility and a lack of respect. Many students truly need to do a better job of getting to class on time. There shouldn’t be anybody roaming the hallways.” She paused and said, “Quiet hallways mean that students are learning in their classrooms.”

Teachers, too, are becoming increasingly extremely frustrated about the abundance of tardies.

“Students need to treat school like it’s a job,” said Mr. Pete Pederson, who teaches graphic design and yearbook.” He paused and added, “When I was in high school, nobody was late. Students just weren’t. Over the years, unfortunately, students have become very lax about tardiness.”

While some students are excused for being absent and tardy, many others do not get excused which sometimes leaves the tardy as an absence.

“Students need to know the rules of this school and take responsibility for their own actions and their own learning,” said attendance clerk and office manager Ms. Rosalie Sinteral.

Most students at Pueblo want their peers to be in class during class time and use their passing periods wisely and responsibly.

Senior Marissa Padilla said, “It’s so frustrating when you’re in the hallway, and you see people standing and talking in the middle of a walkway while trying to get to class. I know how attendance is important and I try to always be on time.”

Pueblo High School Crowded Hallways — Crowded hallways during passing period

Padilla added, “Students need to remember why they are here at Pueblo.”

Bacalia To Begin New Chapter on January 4, 2016

By Lauren Ahern and Nayeli Sanchez

After two and a half years of being an assistant principal at Pueblo, Mr. Joel Bacalia has accepted a job at University High School, which he will officially start, full-time, on January 4, 2016.

Pueblo Joel Bacalia Olivia Gonzalez Jorge Romero — Mr. Joel Bacalia with Olivia Gonzalez & Jorge Romero

Bacalia said that one of the reasons why he is accepting this assignment is because of proximity to his wife and children.

He added that he has already been transitioning to University High School for the past several weeks. Eventually at UHS, Bacalia will be in charge of curriculum and instruction, which is what he has been his assignment and duties at Pueblo since the fall of 2013.

His other responsibilities at UHS will include completing teacher evaluations, supervision duties, leading and teaming with the counseling department, and helping to promote the school.

Though he has only been at Pueblo for two and a half years, Bacalia will miss many teachers, staff members and students.

At the last spirit assembly, on Friday, December 4, 2015, Bacalia realized that, “these [members of the Pueblo community] are my people”. He expressed that making a decision to accept the position at University High School was not an easy one.

Bacalia hopes that after he leaves Pueblo, his legacy will be for students, teachers and staff members to think back and say that he was “a good part of their day”. If that doesn’t work, then Bacalia hopes that he is remembered for his “beard and colored pants”, he added.

“I really do believe in the theory, ‘Once a Warrior, always a Warrior’,” Bacalia asserted.