Winter Break – Pueblo High School

Pueblo’s Christmas 2023 Wishlist

Compiled by Ariana Garcia and Leia Ortega

Each holiday season, El Guerrero journalists ask random students/faculty and staff to answer the question: What do you want for Christmas this year? Here is the list for Christmas ’23:

Ana Cubillas, senior: “I want a car to drive every day.”

Manny Rivera, senior: “I would love a Spider Man 2 and GTA 6.”

Fabian Lopez, senior: “All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth.”

Israel Valencia, junior: “I really would like to have 3Ds with Pokemon X.”

Marc Anthony Escobedo, senior: “Love to have some Chick-Fil-A and straight A’s.”

Kendahl McCarthy, sophomore: “Some new sewing needles would be great!”

Jorge Parra, junior: “I’d love a huge hug.”

Mouse Saenz, sophomore: “I’d love to have some crochet yarn and maybe some different sized hooks.”

Marsha Jean Burrola, PHS librarian: “I would love to have those two scratches on my car to be fixed.”

Prisilla Garcia, senior: “I’d love to live in a mansion.”

Jorge Ramirez, senior: “A partridge in a pear tree.”

Azul Frias, sophomore: “I’d love to have some ‘Hello Kitty’ pajama pants.”

Antonia Calvillo, senior: “I want a blanket that can cover seven people.”

Bryan Melendez, junior: “I want a new jacket and socks.”

Mr. Rana Medhi, journalism teacher: “I want Santa Claus to shave his beard; hairy people scary me.”

Brisa Bautista, senior: “I want a hippopotamus.”

Josette Moreno, freshman: “I really want some Lego flowers or gift cards.”

Francesca Duran, senior: “For Christmas, I really want a stuffed black bear.”

Ms. Gonzalez, teacher: “I’d like any gift my partner gives me because they are always super thoughtful.”

Linkon Carillo, sophomore: “I’d love to have ‘Zelda, Tears of the Kingdom’.”

Dylan Mendez, senior: “I want a 10-piece McNuggets meal!”

Kaz Detwiler, sophomore: “I really need a new sketchbook and new art supplies.”

Daisy Talavera: “Money, clothes, a Stanley cup and a new iphone case.”

Adelina Grijalva: “I’d love to have some Legos and new airpods.”

Jazlynne Fernandez: “Levi jean—specifically 501’s—would be awesome!”

Oscar Miranda: “I’d really like to see our JV basketball team to win a game.”

Paola Salazar: “I want a Kevin Alvarez jersey.”

Frida Bustamante: “For Christmas, I’d like to have some new makeup, books and shoes.”

Xristan Berry: “I want LED light strips.”

Desiree Noriega, sophomore: “I want a new Ariat jacket.”

Gaddiel “Vez” Chavez: “I’d love some Nike red championship ‘Dunks’.”

Warriors’ Christmas 2022 Wish List

Compiled by Victoria Cazares

Every year, El Guerrero asks the Warrior Family for their Christmas wish list; this is this season’s list—and, like most lists in recent years, most want clothes and/or electronics.

Juju Ballesteros (junior): “I’d like to have some Chicken McNuggets from McDonald’s.”

Ms. Claudia Valenzuela (Drop-Out Intervention Specialist): “I want health and prosperity in the New Year.”

Ms. Wilma Amaro (science teacher): “I would love better electricity for Pueblo and to rid the world of gun violence.”

Ms. Susie Ugalde-Vazquez (administrative secretary): “I want to pay all of my bills or some perfume.”

Illianna Valenzuela (senior): “I want money for college.”

Isaiah Sotelo (senior): “I want money to buy clothes.”

Eve Woods (senior): “I want a new car.”

Adrian Perez (senior): “I want new shoes.”

Alicia Santa Cruz (sophomore): “I want Gucci shoes, a GMC single cab—all black, leveled, 5% tint, with a pink interior.”

Natalie Salazar (sophomore): “The only thing I want for Christmas are Burberry shoes.”

Christopher Santa Cruz (junior): “I want Melo shoes.”

Haley Tarazon (sophomore): “I want Takis.”

David Hernandez (junior): “I want Yanis shoes.”

Beatriz Villalva (sophomore): “I want money for clothes.”

Virgio Roiles (sophomore): “I want beanies.”

Abelardo Tovar (junior): “I want money for video games.”

Eli Lopez (Business Office Manager): “I want items that will help me with my card collection.”

Jessica Navarrete (senior): “I want a new hat.”

Alexis Rivera (senior): “I want a cow.”

Leo Duarte (senior): “I want lots of Ramen.”

Goya Ruiz (Campus Monitor): “I want a Corvette.”

America Cazares (freshman): “I want new basketball shoes.”

Lariyah Jackson (senior): “I want a kiss from my crush.”

Ms. Meg Tully (Assistant Principal): “I want time with my family and my staff.”

Mr. Miguel Sandoval (Athletic Director): “I want Jordan 4s psg, size 13.”

Paul Lopaur (sophomore): “I want new shoes.”

Brianna Reyna (sophomore): “I want Dutch Bros.”

Nicole Martinez (senior): “I want a new phone.”

Carole Martinez (senior): “I want a bag and two boyfriends.”

Juan Luna (senior): “I want a 2018 RT Ram.”

Leslie Burgos (senior): “I want Jorge.”

Alan Munoz (junior): “I want Pokémon cards.”

Juan Valdez (junior): “I want a girlfriend.”

Luis Ramirez (junior): “I want 100 dollars.”

Andres Chavez (junior): “I want a computer for school.”

Alan Salazar (junior): “I want the Fortnite Battle Pass.”

Ms. Lacey Pratt (yearbook/psychology teacher): “I want my husband to give me free time from my kids.”

Mia Garcia (sophomore): “I want a new necklace.”

Ms. Laura Niverson (language arts teacher): “I want a new puppy.”

Victoria Cazares (senior): “I want money for the Europe trip.”

Ivana Vecerra (sophomore): “I want a new phone.”

Kamila Vazquez (freshman): “I want my family to be happy and new clothes as well.”

Zoey Rosthenhausler (junior): “I want black Nike 270s.”

Annah Gutierrez (junior): “I want makeup, new shoes/dunks, and air pods.”

Amaya Cortez-Guzman (freshman): “I want makeup, lightning McQueen crocs, and fuzzy socks.”

Alandra Montoya (sophomore): “I want new stuffed animals.”

Jazmin Ahumada (senior): “I want Jordan 4s.”

Milo Murphy (freshman): “I want new pencils.”

Mariana Gastelum (sophomore): “I want Jordan shoes.”

Joselynn Madrid (freshman): “I want a new iPhone.”

Ariana Romero (senior): “I want a new ring and a turtle.”

Katherine Durazo (senior): “For Christmas, I want to be healthy.”

Natalia Arteaga (senior): “I want a new puppy and to be with my family for Christmas.”

Esmeralda Macias (senior): “I want a charm for Christmas.”

Brianna Sierra (senior): “I want money for Christmas and more sleep.”

Yulissa Celaya (freshman): “I want new perfume.”

Brianna Portillo (freshman): “I want jewelry.”

Marco Hernandez (freshman): “I want a new phone.”

Nicole Corrales (senior): “I want a Chanel perfume.”

Elian Moreira (senior): “I want a new apple watch.”

Sadie Avalos (senior): “I want cute Uggs.”

Johnny Fuentes (senior): “I want an Apple watch.”

David Medina (senior): “I want Jordan 1’s.”

Favian Moreno (senior): “I want more clothes.”

Isabel Hernandez (senior): “I want money.”

Maria Garcia (senior): “I want shoes.”

Arianna Flores (senior): “I want more money.”

Alessa Lopez (senior): “I want new earbuds and a Waffle House gift card of $20.”

Ximena Arvizu (senior): “I want everyone to be happy.”

Jazmyne Garcia (senior): “I want more makeup.”

Sydney Grandberry (sunior): “I want Air pods.”

Robert Escalante (senior): “I want to go to an NBA game.”

Isaiah Coleman (senior): “I want for Santa to be real.”

Monica Martir (senior): “I want my first car.”

Prisilla Garcia (junior): “I want my mom to be happy.”

Giselle Beltran (sophomore): “I want a car.”

Ms. Karla Martinez (Assistant Principal): “I want students to go to class.”

Dr. Mario Reyes (In-School Intervention teacher): “I want a 2023 Dodge Ram.”

Keeping The Holidays Close To Home

By Yesenia Ybarra

The spread of Coronavirus has increased rapidly in Pima County and throughout Arizona in the past several weeks, and this “second wave” is expected to bring even greater numbers of cases—even higher than the astronomical rates throughout last summer.

As of Dec. 7, there have been 46,000+ confirmed cases in Pima County, which has a population of 1.1 million; more than 730 people in the Tucson metropolitan area have died as a result.

In Maricopa County (including the Phoenix metropolitan area), the number of COVID-19 cases have surpassed 228,000 confirmed cases with more than 4,000 deaths.

Arizona’s Coronavirus cases are nearing 337,000, with nearly 7,000 deaths in the past nine months.

Health experts urged people to stay home during the Thanksgiving holiday and to keep gatherings at a “minimum”; many ignored those warnings, which explains the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases. With Christmas and New Year’s approaching quickly, the same warnings have been echoed—this time even louder.

In her recent first State of the City address, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero stated, “After consulting with public health experts and local hospitals, we have determined that additional steps are necessary to control the surge of COVID-19 case.”

Earlier this month, the Tucson City Council announced a curfew for the city of Tucson—urging residents to stay home between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. at least until Dec. 23.

It will be up to Arizona residents to heed this advice. It is everybody’s responsibility to take Coronavirus seriously.

Hospitals are at near-maximum capacity with COVID-19 patients, and during the flu season, which affects thousands of Arizonans every year during this time, hospitals need to have room for them. Also, there are thousands of residents in Arizona with serious health conditions, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, that need regular health care. If hospitals are maxed-out with COVID-19 patients, then those with other serious diseases will be in jeopardy.

Doctors are going to be determining which patients die and which patients live, a most disturbing decision. If we all take responsibility for our own safety, then we could minimize the future spread of COVID-19.

We’ve all been educated about how to stay safe in this era of COVID-19, but here are some reminders as we approach the holiday season:

(1) Wear masks at all times in public places; ensure these masks completely cover the nose and mouth;

(2) Keep at least six feet away from people;

(3) Wash hands for at least 20 seconds as often as possible;

(4) Keep gatherings at a minimum, and wear masks around people who do not live with you;

(5) Avoid touching the face.

It’s important that we all stay safe this holiday season. With promising vaccines in the horizon, our situation is not permanent.

Our upcoming holiday/winter break is a great time for people to become creative and to start projects that have been on your bucket list for a while. Maybe it’s time to clean out that cluttered closet or garage or to paint your bedroom a different color… Before the pandemic, people complained they didn’t have enough time to get everything done.

Maybe it’s time to get everything done.

Winter Break 2018-2019

by Alina Cuen and Evan Maharry

Winter break is a long awaited time off from school as well as a time when holidays are celebrated and memories with family to be forged. Our Warriors just returned from their two-week vacation, embracing the cool weather and even experiencing snow for the first time in eight years. Already, the Pueblo community has made lasting warm memories of the break.

The ushering in of the new year has allowed many students and staff members to reflect on times recently passed.

Ms. Kathryn Gunnels, assistant principal, who took this time to visit her mothers and sisters.

“In St. Louis, the weather wasn’t as bad there as I had thought it would be,” Gunnels said. “But we got stuck in a blizzard in Albuquerque. So husband and I talked in the car and read books while the freeway was closed.”

Gunnels was not the only one who had a dramatic or bizarre story to tell. Junior Arsenio Castillo traveled to San Antonio, Texas, where he visited his sister.

“A tornado was a couple miles away and almost hit us,” Castillo said. “This tornado was a big shock, but I’m glad that we were okay. Being obliterated by a tornado would have ruined Christmas.”

Our Warriors gathered lots of memories on Christmas morning. Gifts ranged from the small, like the slippers that junior Carmen Membrila received…or the large, such as sophomore Karolina Bracamonte’s new phone.

Membrila had received a grand gift that she will not ever forget; she was given the opportunity to go to London to walk in the New Year’s parade from her recognition in a Cheer camp. She and another junior student, Mia Carpenter, who was also recognized for her talents at a Cheer camp, traveled together and enjoyed the cultural differences.

She said, “The whole week that I was in London was so much fun! Those days were such a new experience for me and really opened my eyes to travel more. Truly, I’ll never forget the amazing experience I had.”

Now that we’ve been in the new semester for a few weeks, many of us are looking forward to spring break and the memories that we Warriors will find there.