Pueblo High School

Seven Warriors To Play Collegiate Sports

By América Cárdenas and Avae Velasquez

Pueblo Magnet High School hosted the first annual student athlete signing ceremony on Friday, January 15. Seven of our Warriors announced their schools of interest or their choices of where they will be attending college in the fall.

Among these Warriors, only one senior, Vanessa Molina, officially signed. She committed to attending Central Arizona College to play softball.

“The student athletes had the choice of signing at the college, their home, or here at Pueblo,” said Assistant Principal Frank Rosthenhausler. “Vanessa Molina decided to sign here at her high school and wanted to give the opportunity to her fellow student athletes.”

Three of her fellow softball teammates, Vanessa Duarte, Alizea Corday, and Sierra Gaskill, committed to attend Phoenix College and signed the next day, January 16.

“I am extremely proud of the girls’ commitment on and off the field,” said first year high school softball coach Curtis Ruiz. “It makes coaching worth every minute especially when you get to see the players you have had for years finally achieve their dreams of playing ball at the next level.”

Senior Frankie Gomez was also apart of the celebration, and he expressed three schools of interest for baseball. Gomez is still undecided as to where he would like to attend college in the fall.

“I would like to thank God and my family for the amazing opportunities and support they have giving me over the years.” Gomez said. “I still haven’t committed to which college I’ll attend. It’s going to be a difficult decision.”

Jasiah Booth and Justin Pledger have both received offers to play football at the collegiate level.

Booth said that he is also undecided about where he will attend college but has narrowed the choice between Arizona Christian University, Jacksonville University, and three community colleges: Glendale, Mesa, and Scottsdale.

Pledger has the two choices of attending Pima and Eastern College.

Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Brandon Sanders said, “Our student athletes deserve the best. This ceremony was very successful, and I hope this will become an annual event for our Pueblo students.”

Pueblo Cheer, Start Packing Your Bags for California!

By Avae Velazquez

The Warriors Cheer Team participated in two competitions in mid-November and qualified to compete at both the state and national levels, making Pueblo history in the process as the first time the club/sport has made it to Nationals in cheer.

On November 14, 2015 the Warriors traveled to Grand Canyon University for the AIA State Qualifier competition and placed 3rd among 24 teams.

Warrior Cheer at State Qualifiers finish 3rd out of 24.

“I knew my team had it in them. We dedicated so many hours to perfecting our routine that I would have been surprised if we hadn’t placed in the Top Three. I cannot wait to go back in January to represent my school,” said Senior Jovanna Jimenez.

The AIA State Competition will be held at Grand Canyon University on Saturday, January 23, 2016 and where the Warriors will compete for the state title.

Last month, on November 21, the team competed once again at Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear, AZ (west of Phoenix). They qualified to compete at Nationals which is held in Anaheim, CA from March 18-20, 2016.

“I am so proud to say my cheer squad will have the opportunity to represent Pueblo at the national level, being the first team of any sport in school history to do so,” said senior Lupita Ortiz.

The Cheer Boosters set up a “GoFundMe” account so Pueblo students, faculty, staff and community members could donate money so the team can make the trip. Pueblo cheer wants to challenge all teachers and staff members to donate ten dollars in support.

The link is: https://www.gofundme.com/pueblo

Stay Out Of The Hallways, Get To Class!

By Xamantha Williams

Student traffic in the halls and excessive tardiness have always been a colossal problems at Pueblo, but these problems escalated to new disturbing levels this school year—due in part to a lack of security. Administrators and faculty here at Pueblo have been working diligently to resolve these issues throughout this first semester.

Monitors, too, are doing all that they can to ensure that students make it to their classes on time, but because we are short-handed two monitors at the moment, tardies are becoming excessive this school year. Currently, Pueblo has just four monitors, the least amount in recent years.

Ms. Nora Monge, one of Pueblo’s monitors, said, “It’s so important for students to be on time to school and their classes. Tardiness definitely negatively affects grades, and being tardy shows a lack of responsibility and a lack of respect. Many students truly need to do a better job of getting to class on time. There shouldn’t be anybody roaming the hallways.” She paused and said, “Quiet hallways mean that students are learning in their classrooms.”

Teachers, too, are becoming increasingly extremely frustrated about the abundance of tardies.

“Students need to treat school like it’s a job,” said Mr. Pete Pederson, who teaches graphic design and yearbook.” He paused and added, “When I was in high school, nobody was late. Students just weren’t. Over the years, unfortunately, students have become very lax about tardiness.”

While some students are excused for being absent and tardy, many others do not get excused which sometimes leaves the tardy as an absence.

“Students need to know the rules of this school and take responsibility for their own actions and their own learning,” said attendance clerk and office manager Ms. Rosalie Sinteral.

Most students at Pueblo want their peers to be in class during class time and use their passing periods wisely and responsibly.

Senior Marissa Padilla said, “It’s so frustrating when you’re in the hallway, and you see people standing and talking in the middle of a walkway while trying to get to class. I know how attendance is important and I try to always be on time.”

Pueblo High School Crowded Hallways — Crowded hallways during passing period

Padilla added, “Students need to remember why they are here at Pueblo.”

Bacalia To Begin New Chapter on January 4, 2016

By Lauren Ahern and Nayeli Sanchez

After two and a half years of being an assistant principal at Pueblo, Mr. Joel Bacalia has accepted a job at University High School, which he will officially start, full-time, on January 4, 2016.

Pueblo Joel Bacalia Olivia Gonzalez Jorge Romero — Mr. Joel Bacalia with Olivia Gonzalez & Jorge Romero

Bacalia said that one of the reasons why he is accepting this assignment is because of proximity to his wife and children.

He added that he has already been transitioning to University High School for the past several weeks. Eventually at UHS, Bacalia will be in charge of curriculum and instruction, which is what he has been his assignment and duties at Pueblo since the fall of 2013.

His other responsibilities at UHS will include completing teacher evaluations, supervision duties, leading and teaming with the counseling department, and helping to promote the school.

Though he has only been at Pueblo for two and a half years, Bacalia will miss many teachers, staff members and students.

At the last spirit assembly, on Friday, December 4, 2015, Bacalia realized that, “these [members of the Pueblo community] are my people”. He expressed that making a decision to accept the position at University High School was not an easy one.

Bacalia hopes that after he leaves Pueblo, his legacy will be for students, teachers and staff members to think back and say that he was “a good part of their day”. If that doesn’t work, then Bacalia hopes that he is remembered for his “beard and colored pants”, he added.

“I really do believe in the theory, ‘Once a Warrior, always a Warrior’,” Bacalia asserted.

TRIO Helps Students With Collegiate Futures

By Xamantha Williams

Among all of the great resources this school has to offer, one of the greatest is Mr. Carlos Gonzales, Jr., who is Pueblo’s Trio Educational Talent Search Program Coordinator.

Trio Carlos Gonzales Pueblo — TRiO Program Coordinator Carlos Gonzales (right) with Iram Arce.

Gonzales is here on campus as a college advisor for Trio students three days out of the school week; he can be found either in the College and Career Center or in the library. TRIO is not an acronym and actually stands for the word “Three”, which represents the three parts of the TRIO program: Upward Bound, Education and Student Support Services. Gonzales said that he specializes in the second program.

Gonzales said, “I definitely like to get to know my students starting from their freshman year up until their senior year because I feel it takes a long time to develop a real relationship with a student.”

He focuses on preparing students for applying for colleges, looking for scholarships, and helping students to choose the best college for them.

One of the many students who appreciate Gonzales is sophomore Iram Arce, who said, “Mr. Gonzales keeps me motivated no matter how challenging things may seem. So far, he has helped me open more doors to my future. I’m so lucky to have such an amazing person who does such an amazing job in this program.”

‘Legend’ Themes Dominate Spirit Week

By Kenya Acosta and América Cárdenas

Folklorico Los Guerreros De Pueblo Perform At Spirit Assembly

Spirit week, Nov. 30 through Dec. 4, featured the following themes: Monday was Legends of Myths and Tales; Tuesday was Legends of the Screen, Wednesday was Legends of Arcade, and Thursday was Legends of Music. Friday’s theme, Lost in Time, definitely was an original way to end this spirit week.

Last Friday, freshmen were sporting their disco gear inspired by the 1970’s music genre. Sophomores wore their hippy clothes, inspired by the 1960’s. Juniors showed off their neon to represent the 1980’s. Lastly, but not least, our seniors boasted the famous greaser-inspired look from the 1950’s.

The assembly was initiated with a rocked-out version of The Star Spangled Banner performed by three members of the guitar club.

Winter sports teams were spotlighted during the assembly, as well as several academic clubs, including Anatomy and the Anime Club.

The Mr. Pueblo Warrior Pageant contestants revealed their escorts for the upcoming pageant early next semester.

Senior Sal Varela, who is a participant in the Mr. Pueblo Warrior Pageant, revealed that his escort will be senior Pamela Soto.

“I’m ecstatic about being part of this event,” Varela said., “even though I know that I’m going to win because I’m beautiful.”

Folklorico dancers also graced the assembly, dressed in their complete costumes.

Another highlight of the assembly was announcing our Warrior seniors who have been accepted to the University of Arizona.

Class or 2016 Seniors Accepted To The University Of Arizona

One of those students was Jovanna Jiminez. She said, “I’ve known for a while that I was accepted to the U of A, but the recognition that I received at the assembly was really exciting and at last made it official.”

During the first and last 20 minutes, many students saw a drone hovering around Lever Gym—all courtesy of Mr. Ernesto Somoza and his Communication Media Technology class. Two students in the class, Andrew Romero, freshman, and Luis Castanada, sophomore, trained after school to fly the drone from 3:30 to 6 p.m. for an entire week, leading up to the assembly.

“The drone is now used to take videos and pictures,” Somoza said. “Currently, students are creating a video that will be used in an effort as a recruiting tool for future Pueblo students.”

The assembly ended with our Pueblo band performing “Chop Suey”, and Color Guard danced, successfully ending another highly-spirited assembly.