Category: Around Campus

Annual Fiesta De Los Guerreros Set For April 17, 2015

By Felicity Aguilar and America Cardenas

Fiesta Warriors Club 2015

Standing: Sponsor Adalberto Rodriguez, Carlos Jaimez & Enrique Rebolledo
Sitting: Diana Rodriguez, Angel Morales & Andrea Morales

Our Fiesta De Los Guerreros will be held on Friday, April 17, 2015; this annual event has been a tradition at Pueblo since 1957.

This is a free community event that will be held from 4:30-11:00 in the school patio and will feature bands such as Monarkas Del Norte and Los Aucentes De Sínaloa this year. These bands play mexican cumbías & most of our favorite norteño songs. A DJ will play hip hop music to satisfy everybody’s musical tastes. There will also be special performances by our feeder school’s folkloricos and mariachis. Check out the full entertainment schedule online.

“Planning for Fiesta de los Guerreros is year round,” said sponsor Adalberto Rodriguez, Pueblo’s Media Specialist. “It’s such a big event, that the day after Fiesta, we start planning for the next year’s.”

President of the Fiesta Warriors Club, junior Diana Rodriguez, said, “I really hope that more people attend this year’s Fiesta because it helps a lot of our clubs. Also, because of City of Tucson budget cuts, this year we’re going to have tables and not just booths for clubs to raise money.”

Vice president of the Fiesta Club, junior Carlos Jaimez, said, “Fiesta is one of the best events we have here at Pueblo. Clubs can fundraise and make a lot of money. Guests can buy food, play games, dance and have fun. It’s just an all around blast!”

Fiesta charges clubs a fee of ten percent of their night’s profits, and there is an annual competition for the best decorated booth & table. If the club wins first or second place, they do not have to pay the ten percent fee.

“The Science club has been the winner of the best decorated booths for the past four years.” said Rodriguez, “I cannot wait to see what clubs have in store for us this year.”

Fiesta welcomes over 1,000 people each year including, students, faculty, alumni and community members.

Visit www.fiestadelosguerreros.com for more details & follow them on Facebook.

MEChA Prepares For Chicago

By Emilio Grijalva and Aliah Luna

People gathering in Pueblo patio for 2015 Cesar Chavez March

This year Pueblo’s MEChA club members are getting ready to pack their bags to travel to Chicago on April 9-12, for a National MEChA conference, where they will be discussing social issues as well as meeting other students across the country.

The “MEChistas” are fundraising $4,000 to buy plane tickets to send all seven club members and two sponsors to attend the conference. By mid-March, the club had already raised $3,000 from carwashes and selling food at school events; they are asking for any donations. The district donated the rest of the money needed for this trip through Title 1 funds.

Co-president Yulissa Hurtado, a junior, said, “MEChA represents social justice and equality for everyone. I am really excited to be able to talk to other students around the country about a lot of different issues.”

This year’s sponsors, Ms. Jessica Mejia, Mr. Jesus Orduño and Ms. Sally Rusk are very proud of this year’s club members and wholeheartedly support the fervid efforts of their students.

“MEChA gives the students a voice and connects Pueblo with the community,” said Mejia.

On Saturday, March 28, MEChA hosted a fundraiser at Pueblo for Cesar Chavez’s birthday from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Food was served and a DJ played music to entertain the crowd. MEChA was able to raise more money for their trip to Chicago through entry fees.

Pueblo High School MEChistas

Earlier that day, MEChA members as well as other supporters and students in other Pueblo clubs walked from Pueblo to Rudy Garcia Park to bring awareness to social issues.

MEChA, which began in the late 1960s during the Chicano Rights Movement, is a student-run organization that focuses on social justice and community outreach.

New Monitor Adds More Safety to Pueblo

By Avae Velasquez

As of Tuesday, Feb. 24, staff and students welcomed a new monitor, Mr. Sean Jack, to the Pueblo community, giving our school more security after losing two monitors earlier this semester.

New Pueblo Monitor Sean Jack (Bottom)

Jack was born and raised in Tucson and graduated from Tucson High School in 2001. Around the same time, Jack joined the Air National Guard.

During his time in the Air National Guard, Jack served as a medic and traveled to countries such as Jamaica performing health and wellness checks. He was also deployed to Afghanistan in 2006.

Jack is currently attending the University of Phoenix as a business major and is pursuing a bachelor’s in business management. He hopes to later receive a master’s and to become an officer in the Air National Guard.

In the meantime, Jack has committed to being a part of the Pueblo staff. Although it is only his first two weeks, he had some positive feedback to give the El Guerrero staff.

“So far, Pueblo seems like a good school,” Jack said. “I haven’t run into any serious problems, and the staff and students seem nice and are really easy to talk to.”

Pueblo Community Reacts Negatively to ‘Fox’ Song

By Xamantha Williams

On Monday, Feb. 16, the song, “What Does the Fox Say”, has been repeatedly played on Pueblo’s KWXL radio station between passing periods in hopes that students and faculty members will get tired of hearing the song—thus, donating money to student council, who is striving to raise $1,500.

The money that student council raises will help fund spirit assemblies, school dances, supplies to promote clubs and sports teams, activities during lunches, teacher appreciation events, and money to send students to leadership conferences and other events, student council advisor Ms. Kari Warner said.

by Dominic Garcia

As of Friday, Feb. 20, student council has raised $245.

Student council president Jorge Ruiz, a senior, said, “A lot of people don’t realize that this money is to benefit the entire school—not just student council.” He added, “We want to continue this fundraiser, but a lot of the commotion has caused student council to abandon the event.”

Senior class president and a member of student council, Maria Louisa Vega, said, “We’re disappointed in how some of our students are reacting. Their behavior has been less than professional. Having food thrown at us at lunch and threatening some of my club’s members has been disgraceful and shameful.”

Vega added, “The money that we are asking for will help the entire student body. I can’t believe that even one of my teachers verbalized her disapproval of the fundraiser—threatening to obliterate the speakers in her classroom.”

Student council advisor Ms. Kari Warner said that administration has been as supportive as possible.

Mr. Frank Rosthenhausler, assistant principal, said, “I love the song and the idea—but not the students’ negative reactions.”

Assistant Principal Ms. Alma Carmona-Alday said, “I think that the Pueblo community should continue to donate in order for student council to attain its goal.”

Despite student council’s good intentions, many students and some faculty members have reacted adversely from hearing the 2013 song  “What Does the Fox Say”, a song from a Norwegian singing duo named Ylvis.

“The song is highly irritating, and student council knew people would get tired of it,” said junior
Yasmine Saenz.

“Annoying is an understatement!” said auto teacher Ms. Marie Little.

Senior Ricardo Manjarrez said, “Instead of aiming to irritate students into giving money, I feel they could’ve broadcasted a message to positively influence our students.”

Some students reacted even stronger.

“Other students have been bullying student council members because of this fundraiser,” said senior Destiny Felix, a member of student council. “This is not true Warrior spirit.”

Felix added, “This first week was a hard week for all of us. Students at Pueblo really need to change their mind-set in order to improve our school.”

However, some teachers and students feel that opposition to this event has been hyperbolized.

“It’s a fundraising strategy and a fun way to raise money for the whole school,” said junior Daniel Motley. “It kind of makes you want to donate to stop the song from being played.”

Photography teacher Ms. Emma Tarazon said, “On Monday, the first day of the fundraiser, hearing the song over and over was really annoying, but the song actually grew on me, and then I looked forward to hearing the song.”

Graphic arts and printing teacher Mr. Pete Pederson said, “At first, I felt like we were the hostages of the radio. Then, when I found out it was a fundraiser of student council, I thought it was a pretty cool idea. Now that students are bullying student council members, I feel upset that our students are trying to squash student council’s First Amendment rights.”

Radio teacher Ms. Sarah Wilson said that she is disappointed at how strongly opposed students and even teachers are to this fundraiser. “With so many horrible events occurring around the world right now—like the 21 men who were publicly executed by ISIS last week—I can’t believe that some people at Pueblo are giving this issue so much energy and attention.”

Ms. Warner added that the fundraiser will continue until further notice.

‘I Am Me’ Supports LGBT Students, Invites All

By Nayeli Sanchez and Avae Velasquez

Manuel & Kia

A club for the LGBT (and the straight community) is thriving here at Pueblo Magnet High School this school year; the “I Am Me Project” has more than 20 members and supersedes the PRISM Club.

A few teachers noticed that some students’ were struggling with personal frustrations. This is when Ms. Amy Kijewski (world history teacher) and Ms. Sarah Wilson (radio teacher) decided to sponsor the “I Am Me” Project.

“I could tell this year that many kids were in desperate need of [an LGBT club], so it didn’t make sense to not be involved and initiate this club,” said Wilson.

Although the “I Am Me” Project is less than a semester old, sponsors and club members have established many goals and objectives. They want to promote their new acronym, ASKE (Advocacy Support Knowledge Empowerment) as a way for students to feel comfortable and let them know that they have a safe place on campus.

“One of our goals is to give students support and to educate the staff on how to deal with homophobia in the class room,” said Kijewski.

Another goal for this project is to encourage these students to take control so it may be more of a student driven club, Kijewski.

Junior Kia Guedes, the club’s president, said, “Because ‘I Am Me’ is an up and coming club, we have to build a foundation and promote our organization in a way that doesn’t offend anybody and is welcoming to all.”

A way that this club is trying to promote themselves is by hosting the first ever high school Gay Pride Day.

“Holding this Gay Pride Day would let others know that we exist,” Guedes said. “We really want others to know that LGBTQ students are not alone.”

She added that a date has not been set, and no details have been ironed out yet, but it is the hope of club members and sponsors that this event occurs before the end of the school year.

“I Am Me” vice president Manuel Navarro, a sophomore, said, “I wanted to be involved in this club because I knew what other students who felt different were going through.”

Club leaders and sponsors want the Pueblo community to know that all are welcome to attend future “I Am Me” meetings—regardless of a person’s sexual orientation.

“I can’t stress enough that it’s a club for everyone and anyone,” sponsor Sarah Wilson said. “It is certainly a good place for some people who have questions about who they are.”

The “I Am Me” Project meets on Thursdays in Room 100 at 3:30 p.m.

Say ‘Cheese’! Warriors Enjoy Benefits of Photography Class

By Holly Pogue

Iram Arce interviews Annalisa Verdugo

Pueblo offers many electives to its more than 1,500 students, and one of the most integral branches of the communication magnet program is photography, which provides students beginning and advanced classes.

Sophomore Jacqueline Guerrero wholeheartedly believes that students should enroll in photography classes in the future because of the many benefits the program offers; she attests to how beginning photography has helped her in numerous ways.

“This class truly has prepared me to be more professional and to interact with others,” Guerrero said. “I’ve really learned how to express myself better.”

She said that she enjoys how teacher Ms. Emma Tarazon gives her and her peers opportunities to go out of the classroom and take pictures—not just randomly but specifically for Tarazon’s assignments.

“Sometimes she [Ms. Tarazon] wants very precise pictures,” Guerrero said. “Everything we do is for a purpose. We are being prepared to be advanced photo students, and I intend to stick to this program hopefully all four years of high school.”

Felicity Aguilar interviewing Ms. Tarazon

Students use the Macs frequently—learning an array of photography editing skills, including restoring old photographs and learning how to remove unwanted objects in pictures to make them more aesthetic.

Guerrero said that she has also enjoyed learning how to use different cameras, including film cameras and learning how to develop pictures “the old-school” way.

“I really encourage other students to enroll in this program because photography will help them to become better people,” Guerrero affirmed. “You’ll learn how to view the world in a different way and be more positive, which is always a good thing.”

Another student, Analise Verdugo, who transferred to Pueblo from Cienega High School last semester, said that she is glad that she enrolled in photography because she is not only having fun but also learning a lot of strategies about photography.

Verdugo said, “I really enjoy the days when we students are allowed to go outside—to take a break from being cooped up inside of a classroom—and learning new techniques about photography, including lighting and shadows. And, who doesn’t like taking pictures? This is such a great class!”

Despite having some mixed classes of beginning and advanced photography students, teacher Ms. Emma Tarazon has observed improvements with her first-year students.

She said, “Despite the agonizing challenges of teaching two totally different groups of students at once, I’ve had to somehow make it work like a lot of electives teachers at Pueblo.” She paused and added, “It’s not fair for the advanced students to be with beginning students, although there are opportunities for job-shadowing, which is a valid way to teach beginning students and reinforce what my experienced photography students already know.”

One student, sophomore Kimberly Teran, said that she enjoys her beginning photography so much that she is considering a career as a photographer.

“Ms. Tarazon has truly been helpful and has taught me so much in a short period of time regarding photography,” Teran said. “This is one of the very few classes I’ve had at Pueblo that has been both fun and academically rewarding.”