PuebloWarriors.org

Senior Graduates Early, Off To The Marines

By Aubrey Medina & Dania Navarrette

Before Pueblo High School student Jacob Amado develops “senioritis” next semester, he has decided to graduate early and begin a five-year military commitment in the United States Marines Corp.

Amado, still 17, will earn his high school diploma at the end of this semester and head off to “boot camp” for three months in San Diego, Calif., next month.

“I have been committed to the military since the end of my sophomore year,” Amado said. “I had a feeling two years ago that I wouldn’t be able to stay focused in college, so my decision to serve my country has been a wise one. I don’t want to waste any time or money in college when I’m still not sure what life career I want to pursue.”

After boot camp and a brief break, Amado said he will then be stationed in Virginia for approximately five months before finding out his next assignment which could involve guarding American embassies around the world and a few years of infantry.

“Nothing is as hard as you might think it is,” Amado said, advising his peers that they should never abandon their dreams no matter how challenging they may seem to be.

Amado worked especially hard this past semester to complete his high school credits early.

“The moment I committed to a future in the military, I stayed focused on completing this [Pueblo High School] chapter of my life,” he said.

Amado said that he does plan to attend the district’s ceremony for December 2023 graduates at Catalina High School so that he could officially have “closure” to this part of his life.

Although he said he will miss his family, friends, dogs and the “comforts of home”, Amado is eager to venture to boot camp on January 8, 2024.

“There will always be something [in Tucson] to return to,” he said, “but this [military commitment] is the next chapter of my life.”

[Amado is the grandson of campus monitor Ms. Nellie Rivera.]

French Returns To Pueblo

By Saul Arias & Aubrey Garcia

Pueblo High School welcomes recent University of Arizona graduate Mr. Oliver Yizukoni as the new French teacher for the 2023-24 school year.

Yizukoni was born in Ghana, Africa, and graduated from Bolgatanga (aka “Big Boss Senior High School”). After 30 years in his native country, he came to the United States to complete his master’s degree in French and to begin a teaching career soon thereafter.

“Growing up in Ghana, I was able to learn multiple languages such as English, French, Twi, Talen, Dagbani and Grune,” said Yizukoni.

He first taught French to adults for nine years at the U of A before deciding to teach at the high school level. After four months into the school year, Yizukoni said that he loves his job, his students and has already made a commitment to stay as long as possible.

“I learned early on how much I loved teaching,” Yizukoni said. “When I was in the seventh and eighth grades, I really enjoyed helping my classmates with their work. I think I knew then how much I loved teaching.”

After several years of not having more than Spanish as a foreign language choice at Pueblo, Yizukoni said that he is glad to fill the “void”.

“I want my students to write and eventually speak fluent French,” Yizukoni said. “I wish my students the best as they learn a new language because I know how difficult it can be.”

Pueblo Class of 2024 Takes Group Photo!

By Kassandra Espinoza

On Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 2:30 p.m., the yearbook class organized and took a group picture for the Class of 2024, captured on the “Curly” Santa Cruz football field bleachers.

A senior in yearbook, Tatei Lopez, organized this event, posting an Instagram on the yearbook and student council pages to inform seniors where and what time the class picture would occur.

“I organized with our principal, Mr. Rosthenhausler, to set up the date and the time when everyone was mostly free for the class picture,” said yearbook editor-in-chief Sergio Lopez.

Unfortunately, many seniors did not show up for the photo shoot, which was not mandatory. Some seniors have reduced schedules and left school early, and some were not interested in participating.

Tatei Lopez said, “I think the picture should be made mandatory and be taken during school hours so we can have a bigger turn out of seniors.”

“Honestly, I don’t see why we should take another picture,” said Sergio Lopez. “In my opinion, the picture turned out great, and we can’t keep scheduling photo shoots for seniors who do not want to participate.”

He added that the senior group picture has been a Pueblo High School tradition for many years for yearbook classes because the photo allows students to unite and capture one of their last memories of high school.

Yearbook teacher/advisor Ms. Lacey Pratt said, “We took the senior picture to include in the 2024 yearbook, and we wanted to capture the spirit of this year’s seniors. It’s unfortunate that not every senior participated.”

A retake has not been discussed, Pratt said.

Is The ASVAB Worth Taking?

An Opinion By Emely Villanueva

Earlier this month, Pueblo High School seniors took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test (ASVAB). Some may ask what the ASVAB is and why students are required to take it. The ASVAB, although administered by the military, is a test that measures students’ strengths and weaknesses for potential future success in verbal, math, science, and technical, and spatial domains.

The ASVAB, first introduced in 1968 and adopted by all branches of the military in 1976, is used to rank the best categories for occupational and academic success in the military. This, however, does not mean that students are signing up to be in the military. The ASVAB can help with placing students in the different military branches. Here at Pueblo High School, College and Career Center director Dr. Avila is hoping that the test will help seniors further expand their career exploration. The better students’ ASVAB results are, the broader students’ career options become available.

The ASVAB is currently offered at 14,000 schools and Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) nationwide. The test is offered, developed, and maintained by the Defense Department. The ASVAB has two scores. One score determines if students are eligible to join the military; students will need to score 31 to enlist; the second score, “a line score”, determines a student’s job eligibility in 10 different categories. The ASVAB also helps students with their test-taking skills by using critical thinking skills and common test skills of answering every question as they have a 25% chance of getting the answer correct.

The ASVAB helps seniors explore not only career options but also steers them in a direction they didn’t know they could have. Many Pueblo students are often lost after graduating high school. They feel lost in the sense that they feel a college or university is not an option for them. The ASVAB, however, opens new options for them as now they feel a new path has opened. Joining the military can give students a sense of belonging and accomplishing a goal for themselves and their country after completing high school.

Although, many students find it “stupid” or “useless” to take the ASVAB, requiring seniors to take the test should not make them feel that it is a punishment. Instead, students should keep an open mind about ASVAB because it offers students another opportunity for test taking skills. It opens opportunities to students considering the military and preparing these students for this path with their ASVAB results. Pueblo wants to open newer opportunities to students in career opportunities and military options.

In fact, many countries require their students to serve from one to four years, and they all require some version of a military test to place them in the corresponding branch of government. Here in the United States, the ASVAB helps students realize their strengths and weaknesses which helps them within their futures. The ASVAB also helps Pueblo’s overall “grade”; currently, Pueblo earned a “B” for the first time in its history, so students should feel the need to take the test as a duty to give back to their community.

If students are interested in taking the ASVAB, and if they missed the original testing date, there will be other opportunities to take the test in the spring. Please support your Pueblo community and yourself by taking the ASVAB. Students should see Mr. Avila or their counselor for more information.

Mrs. Herrera: Back ‘Home’ To Teach

By Briana Barreda

“It feels really good to be back at Pueblo,” said Ms. Estefania Herrera, a 2011 Pueblo graduate who has returned to her alma mater to teach ELD (Levels 3 & 5) after teaching junior English at Desert View for five years.

Although she misses her Desert View students, Herrera said that she was ready for a change.

“I always planned to return to Pueblo,” she said. “My high school years at Pueblo were the best, and every time I walk down the halls, I am flooded with nothing but awesome, fun memories.”

Herrera said that Pueblo life was much different a dozen years ago.

“I’m disappointed that so many high school students live on their phones,” she said. “Few students even had phones when I attended Pueblo, and we [students] communicated better with one another. I have definitely seen a decline in adolescent social skills, and that’s sad to me.”

One of Herrera’s objectives is to instill in her students that education is the key to success.

“The more you learn, the better you understand the world around you,” she said. “Today, college is no longer an option—it’s a necessity to make a living. Students need to be mindful of their teachers and learn as much as they can from them.”

Last month, Herrera married Leonardo, her fiancé of several years.

“I’m happily married, I’m back at Pueblo, and I have the best students ever,” she said. “So, yeah, I’m very happy, and I hope that is contagious to my students. I can only hope that they have as much fun as I did during high school.”

Although Herrera plans to be a teacher for several more years, she would like to earn a master’s degree—perhaps in education or another field.

“I think we need younger principals,” she said. “I think students are able to connect with younger administrators better than older ones who might be slightly out of touch with this generation.”

For now, however, Herrera is still elated to be back home and in her own classroom.

“It’s [my classroom] really all mine,” she said. “And this Class of ’11 Warrior is teaching future graduating Warriors. What could be better and more fulfilling?”

Mr. McCauley Joins Pueblo Math Department

By Jenna Twaje

Among the nearly two dozen new teachers and staff members joining the Pueblo High School family this year, math teacher Mr. Collin McCauley is enthusiastic about sharing his love of his subject to students.

“I’ve always been good at math—ever since I can remember,” McCauley said. “As a first-year teacher, I’m hoping to help my students reach their full potential.”

Even after just a few months at Pueblo, McCauley said that being a part of the Warrior community makes him feel at home.

“This is definitely a school with a lot of culture,” he said.

McCauley said that he was influenced by his own math teachers growing up.

“These [math] teachers were true role models in my life,” he said.

McCauley said that he is looking forward to being the head coach of Pueblo’s JV basketball team.

“With my love of sports, I want to create an environment that is safe and fun and help the team reach their full potential,” McCauley said.

He added, “I want to feel like everything I do at Pueblo is important to my students and team members.”