Ms. Connors Gets ‘Artsy’ At Pueblo

By Saul Arias & Aubrey Garcia

Pueblo High School welcomes Ms. Margaret Connors as a part of its community starting the new school year as a visual arts teacher.

Connors may be a new Warrior, but she has been teaching for 21 years, initiating her career as a private art and fitness teacher at her home studio.

She continued her teaching career at Valencia Middle School for five years.

Besides instilling her love of art to her students, Connors said that she plans to help them apply for colleges and to help them earn scholarships.

“From the very beginning [at Pueblo], I feel that this is my community, and I feel like I’m a part of it all,” Connors said. “I hope to be here for a while.”

She added, “I’ve always loved teaching, and I know that this chapter of my teaching career will be wonderful.”

Art Students Awarded Scholarships

The Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild’s Annual Art Scholarship Competition awards scholarships to high school seniors who:
1) will attend college in the fall of 2019, and
2) plan to pursue a career in art, art education, or an art related-field.

Pueblo students submitted artworks and were judged on the following criteria: sense of design, composition, and technical skill, originality, handling of materials, presentation and visual expression/impact.

Congratulation to Class of 2019 Seniors Alejandra Flores & Rohan Ather for winning $500 Merit Scholarships! Here they are posing next to their winning art piece.

Alejandra Flores
Rohan Ather

Pueblo MEChA Honors 43 Mexican Victims

By Sabrina Parra and Anais Salais

Display of support for 43 Missing from Ayotzinapa

On Thursday, Nov. 20, Pueblo Magnet High School’s very own MEChA Club demonstrated their support and respect to the 43 students who vanished on Sept. 26 in Guerrero, Mexico.

The 43 students were on their way to protest the lack of funding in their school when they were stopped by policemen and were said to be taken. Their whereabouts are still unknown, and the investigation on these students has been on going ever since.

Pueblo’s MEChA students decided to participate and take a stand in these demonstrations to inform the Pueblo community of the situation happening in Mexico.

Damaris Ponce, a member of MEChA, said, “A lot of people didn’t know about what was happening in Mexico and we wanted them to know that we cared and to show Mexico that we are supporting their cause.”

Yajaira Ceballos, MEChA. Co-chair said, “It hurts me to see what they’re going through, someone shouldn’t be punished for wanting to make a difference. We want them to see that we care and that we want to help them make a difference.”

The displays included 43 ribbons, posters hung on teachers’ doors, and 43 chairs laid out in the patio with the pictures of the students.

43 Chairs for the missing from Ayotzinapa

“The pictures and displays were a way to humanize the students and to show that this could have happened to anybody fighting for their rights,” said teacher and MEChA. Co-counselor Jessica Mejia.

Demonstrations were not just held at Pueblo but globally, including support from countries such as Argentina. The demonstrations were purposely held on Nov. 20 because it is the same day of the Mexican Revolution. (The Mexican Revolution brought the overthrow of dictator José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori after 35 years of rule. In 1920 General Álvaro Obregón became the new president.)

“This event has been a lot like starting a new revolution for Mexico and putting pressure on the Mexican government to change and take back their country,” said Mejia.

Although MEChA and other protesters around the world brought attention to this situation in Mexico, the support towards this cause and the search for the students does not end here.

Display of support for 43 Missing from Ayotzinapa

“This is a continuing issue and the people protesting are not going to rest until the 43 students are found and their family receives some closure,” said teacher and MEChA Co-counselor Mr. Jesus Orduño.

MEChA encourages the Pueblo community to follow along with the story in Mexico and to continue showing their support for the families.

“MEChA is about seeking social justice and we have a lot more in store for this year. We meet every Friday, and our door is always open to new members,” said Orduño.

Display of support for 43 Missing from Ayotzinapa

Art Students Awarded

Three of our talented Pueblo Student Artists have been recognized and honored for their artistic excellence.

Christiane Valenzuela, Class of 2011, has been selected as a recipient for the prestigious and highly competitive Pima County Youth Scholarship Award 2011, for her portfolio submission in the Visual Art category. Christiane will attend the Annual Crystal Apple Award ceremony May 6 to receive her Pima County Youth Art Award for $1,200 based on the merit of her artistic excellence.

Christiane Valenzuela presents her award winning portfolio

Nadia Ayon, Class of 2011, has been selected for the Award of Honor Scholarship to the college of her choice by the judges of the 2011 Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild (SAWG) Art Scholarship Competition. Nadia will receive her $750 award at the Annual SAWG Art Scholarship Awards Reception and Ceremony.

Title of award winning ink drawing: Melding the Eye, Hand, and Heart

Nadia Ayon with her award winning piece

Jorge Ramirez, Class of 2013, exhibiting participant in the Joel D. Valdez Main Library High School Art Invitational was selected to receive the Best of Mixed/Other Media Award. Jorge was presented with a gift card to Barnes and Noble at the Artist reception held on April 16.

Title of award winning construction paper assemblage: Ilusión/Illusion

Jorge Ramirez's award winning art piece

Cristiane & Nadia are enrolled in Mrs. Dolores Carrion’s AP Studio Art Drawing Class and Jorge is in Beginning Art.

Congratulations to all of them!

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