After a month of organizing and three hours to set up, Pueblo’s Feminist Club held its 3rd annual Valentine’s Day Carnival.
This year, the Feminist Club hosted a lunchtime carnival with games and prizes that ranged from big to small. Each ticket was a mere 25 cents, and all money raised was donated to Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse.
“Not everybody attends club meetings regularly, but they like this event, so they all came out to help organize,” said Ms. Caroline Fioramonti, sponsor of the Feminist Club.
Warriors enjoyed all the games, including ping-pong, darts, and even wheelspins with small, medium, and large prizes redeemable with tickets won. There were also lots and lots of balloons!
“I was pretty impressed with how well our carnival turned out, and by the end of second lunch nearly all the prizes were gone,” said junior Jasmin Raygoza, a staff member of the carnival.
“I can’t wait for next year, when I’m a senior—the carnival will keep getting better with each new year,” Raygoza added.
Pueblo Hiking Club at Organ Pipe National Monument
Pueblo’s Hiking Club, sponsored by Mr. Ernesto Somoza, is off and running to new heights this year, as a record number of Warriors have joined—a total of approximately 50!—including about 10 adults, which include several teachers.
Last school year, 13 Hiking Club students participated in a Grand Canyon experience during spring break, which may have contributed to the high number of students joining this year, Somoza said. The trip was “very successful” and seemed to be an impetus for students wanting to join this school year.
Somoza plans to repeat this trip during spring break this March—due in part to the success of the club’s tax credit drive which raised more than $1,250. He added that he would love to take students to out-of-state hikes, including Yosemite in Central California and Arches National Park in Southern Utah—among other places. The more tax credit donations that the club receives, the more trips the club can partake in during the school year.
He added that only 10 students are able to participate in the Grand Canyon trip, and this participation is based on students’ generous tax dollars they donate to the club as well as their activeness in the club throughout the school year.
Mr. Ernesto Somoza (Left) with his sister Melissa Somoza at Humphrey’s Peak, the highest natural point in Arizona at 12,633 feet!
“The club has an excellent variety of students this year,” Somoza said. “They come with a variety of skill levels and with an enthusiasm to spend time in the outdoors.”Meetings take place in Mr. Somoza’s classroom (T-12) after school on the first Tuesday of each month. Club President Anette Durazo ensures that the club stay organized and helps approve hiking trips.
Durazo said, “Being in the Hiking Club has truly helped me become more outgoing. I love Arizona more than I did being. Going to Sedona last April really opened my eyes about seeing this great state. I love being outdoors a lot more now and appreciating nature.”
She added that the club’s next trip is scheduled for Feb. 10 to Colossal Caves, just east of Tucson.
“Even though I’m a native Tucsonan, I’ve never been to Colossal Caves,” Durazo said. “In fact, I’ve never been inside a real cave and looking forward to it.”
Senior Thai Kromrei, who has been a member of the Hiking Club for two years, said, “I’ve gotten to experience seeing Arizona. It’s such a beautiful and geographically diverse state. I want to see it all now, and thanks to Mr. Somoza, we are seeing a great chunk of it.”
The club was founded in the fall of 2015, Somoza’s first full school year.
The inception of the Hiking Club was the result of a conversation that Somoza had with (then) Assistant Principal Alma Carmona while attending a conference in Colorado. Somoza was talking to her about how he wanted to become more involved outside of the classroom. As a result of his over-zealous spirit, Carmona encouraged Somoza to become a Class of 2019 sponsor as well as the advisor of the newly-found Hiking Club.
“I hiked a lot during my college years, and I wanted students to experience what I enjoyed so much,” Somoza said.
He added that besides the Grand Canyon trip, Hiking Club members can expect other adventurous moments this semester—including the trip to Sedona and other small trips around the Tucson area.
“After I graduate, I plan to stay involved with the Hiking Club,” Durazo said. “Perhaps I could be a chaperone for high school students’ trips—to give me a chance to see more of Arizona and help promote a very worthy club.”
It seems that almost every teenager today in the 21st century is on his or her phone for hours each day—playing video games or exploring social media. However, communications media technology teacher Mr. Ernesto Somoza is changing pastimes for many of our Pueblo Warriors. He is the sponsor/adviser of the schools hiking club.
When Somoza initiated this club two years ago, only a handful of students committed to being in the hiking club. But, through the word of mouth and some promotion, the hiking club has more than 30 Pueblo students.
This school year, Somoza is planning to take the club to new levels—including a trip to the Grand Canyon in the spring.
During this past summer, Somoza was already researching trips to Tumamoc Hill, Sabino Canyon, the Tucson Mountains—among other locations in Southern Arizona.
“Arizona is a hiker’s paradise,” Somoza said. “Even around Tucson, there are wonders to be explored for the average hiker. I look forward to experiencing these local treasures sometime this school year.”
The Hiking Club meets every first Tuesday of the month, and they hike once a month.
“Right now we’re planning a trip to the Grand Canyon which will be for about 10 students,” Somoza said. “We’ll be spending a couple days there! This will be happening sometime in the spring, although I haven’t set a definite date yet.”
He added that there is still room in the club for any students still interested in joining the Hiking Club. Somoza said that students do not need any experience hiking because there are several levels of hikers in the club.
“I will make accommodations for all levels of hikers,” Somoza said.
Please see Mr. Ernesto Somoza in Room T-12 after school every first Tuesday of the month if you are interested or curious about the club.
On the morning of the eve of Veterans Day, November 10, 2016, Ms. Marie Little’s Automotive SkillsUSA Club members, along with the Pride of Pueblo (band) and our cheerleading team performed a flag-raising ceremony to honor those who serve and have served our country.
Specifically, the following were honored: our Davis-Monthan airmen currently serving here in Tucson, and all of the veterans in our community. This event also paid homage to the Marine Corps’ 241st birthday.
Later that day, just before the end of seventh period, Ms. Marie Little’s Auto Club retired Pueblo’s flag back to her auto classroom. The old American flag will be placed into a box and attached will be the names of former auto students currently serving in the military.
Then, on Monday, Nov. 14, before first period, the new flags (U.S., Arizona and P.O.W.) were raised by students in the Pueblo Auto Club.
Little said, “After a few years of wear and tear, the flags desperately needed to be replaced to keep Pueblo to the highest standards of respect and dignity.” She paused and added, “I’m very proud of my students taking charge and conducting themselves with genuine care and the utmost respect for the people who were honoring.”
One of the students involved in this patriotic ritual, senior Gabriel Palomino, said, “It’s an honor to be part of the flag’s retirement, especially after knowing that it had been flying over Pueblo’s grounds for a long time. The flag means more than a piece of cloth to me; it represents our country and all of its glory, its struggles, triumphs and perseverance.”
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.
Top 10 Finalists from Season 4 of Pueblo's The Voice
The Fiesta Warriors Club hosted Season 4 of “The Voice” at Pueblo Magnet High School on Friday, March 6. The first round of this competition was the Elimination Show. About 25 participants showed up to perform a 1-2 minute song; afterwards, judges selected the top 10 finalists.
After the top 10 finalists were picked, one contestant was picked by audience members who will come back and compete with all the other contestants.
According to many of this year’s participants, the contest this year was challenging because of all of the talent. In the end, only 10 will advance to the second and final round which will be held on Friday, March 27.
The finalists will be the following students: Jaciana Fimbres, Yasmine Durazo, Julissa Dominguez, Belinda Arvizu, Destiny Olea, Selisa Bravo, Gabriel Salazar, Perla Lopez, Santos Barbosa and Esmeralda Gallego.
According to Mr. Adalberto Rodriguez, who sponsors this event, the show was a success in the first round. Tickets sold for $5.00, and according to Rodriguez, if audience members keep their ticket stub from the first performance, they will be admitted free to the March 27 show.
