After 14 years, Ms. Sarah Wilson, continues to improve the only high school radio show in Tucson—KWXL 98.7, at Pueblo Magnet High School.
As Pueblo’s broadcast journalism teacher, Wilson gives students an opportunity to experience what it truly feels like to work at a professional radio station.
“This school year, we were finally able to get some new iMacs,” Wilson said. “This allows me to have more students working on production at a time. I can. I can hold all of my students accountable.”
On Nov. 18, the entire radio staff will participate in a “retreat”, an opportunity for all of the students in the radio program to get better acquainted with their fellow peers.
In the past, Wilson said that this retreat has helped students to bond with one another from other classes because they rarely have time together, unless it’s after school.
One of the biggest dreams that radio anticipates is to one day be able to live stream a Pueblo sporting event over the radio.
Wilson said, “This live-streaming is going to be a group effort between journalism, TV broadcast, and web design and will allow all of our programs to unite and work together. If we can make that happen, we can do anything. The sky is the limit with our communications programs.”
After a quarter century, journalism teacher Mr. Rana Medhi continues to teach beginning and advanced journalism at Pueblo Magnet High School. He was specifically hired in 1992 to rejuvenate the program.
From 1988 until Medhi was hired in 1992, Pueblo did not have a journalism program.
“I was shocked to learn that a high school did not have a journalism program when I interviewed for this job a million years ago,” Medhi said. “At that time in public schools, especially in T.U.S.D., all high schools had a newspaper department.”
Over the years, Medhi said that he has seen an improvement not only in his program but also students commitment for his journalism programs.
“Student participation has increased a great deal over the years,” Medhi said. “Only four students enrolled in the program my first year. The next year, I had more than 40 students involved in journalism. That figure has stayed at about that number over the past 20 years, but I also could and would love to teach 100 students the craft and art of journalism.”
Lauren Ahern, 2016-2017 Editor-in-Chief, with Advisor Mr. Medhi
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Medhi took “a break” from teaching journalism at Pueblo to earn his master’s in education administration. Since 2002, however, he has continuously taught two levels of journalism.
“[Advancements in] technology have made it easier for us to create our newspapers and make them pieces of art,” Medhi said. “The graphics are becoming easier to learn all of the time, and students love this aspect of journalism. Not only are the articles interesting, but their layout is creative.”
Most of students’ stories are posted on the school’s official website; by the end of the school year, students will write an average of 150 stories. And at the end of the year, a hard copy has been a tradition and definitely an expectation, which focuses teacher retirements, spring sports programs and, overwhelmingly, senior-related articles.
Efforts are currently happening to assign specific curricula to students. For example, one or two students could be in charge of all magnet-related stories; another one or two students could cover all science stories. Medhi said that all facets of school life should be reported.
“Our goal is to not leave anybody out of our stories,” he added. “All members of the Pueblo community are unique, hard-working and vital to the Pueblo family.”
Editor-in-chief Lauren Ahern, a senior, has been a devoted member of the journalism program for three years and has great visions for 2016-17.
As the school year begins, Ms. Jalyn Wheatly, our school’s new global issues and U.S. history instructor, begins her first year as a teacher here at Pueblo.
Wheatly originally majored in news broadcasting, but then decided to go back and earn her teaching degree.
“I learned that I really liked teaching better than news broadcasting,” said Wheatly. “I like working with students hands-on and feel that I was meant to be a teacher.”
Thus far early in this school year, Wheatly said that she truly loves working with high school students and feels comfortable in Pueblo’s environment.
“I really like working with young adults, especially the freshmen here,” she said. “I am also receiving a lot of support from the staff, and that definitely contributes to why I love Pueblo so much so early in my time here.”
As the 2016-17 school year begins, Pueblo gives warm welcomes to the many new teachers and staff who are ready to become a part of the Warrior family.
On the list of official new teachers is Ms. Melissa Espindola, who graduated from the University of Arizona last May and is now a full-time chemistry teacher here at Pueblo.
Last year, Espindola was a student-teacher for the entire year with veteran science teacher Ms.Wilma Amaro, which was part of her master’s degree program fulfillment.
Ms. Espindola (center) teaches a lesson on mixtures by making ice cream
“Pueblo gave me so much, so I stayed here to give back,” said Espindola.
Already in this school year, Espindola said that she has enjoyed getting to know her students and their interests.
Espindola said that she finds chemistry interesting because she feels that, “the world should know it in a molecular level.”
She paused and added, “I am happy to be at Pueblo! Although my job is very tiring, it’s simultaneously very rewarding.”
Former biology teacher Mr. William Richards joins the administrative staff as the new magnet coordinator following in the position of Ms. Laura Gallegos who retired last school year.
The magnet coordinator is responsible for recruiting students to Pueblo from other areas of Tucson in an effort to balance the ethnicities at Pueblo.
“One thing that I’m going to try to do is have more communication with magnet and culturally relevant teachers so that we can work together to be more effective with our magnet plan,” said Richards.
He added that thus far he enjoys the challenge of this new position and feels confident that within time he will make a colossal difference at Pueblo.
“I miss teaching and the bonds with my students,” said Richards. “However, I feel that I can make just as much of an impact outside of the classroom and put Pueblo on the map regarding its magnet status.”
Many of us know Mr. Mario Matanza as Pueblo’s girls’ volleyball coach, but this year he is also the school’s new communication liaison.
He was offered the job by our principal Dr. Augustine Romero and gladly accepted this position.
“I felt that I was perfect for the job,” Matanza said. “It’s vital to keep the communication between parents and the students and faculty open at all times.”
He explained that his new job primarily consists of trying to engage our community—especially the parents—in school activities.
Matanza explained that many students do not take full advantage of the opportunities that are offered to them.
“My advice to all students is to explore all of the opportunities that are available to you here at Pueblo,” Matanza said. “There are excellent resources that will help all students in any situation.”
