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’.”

Mr. Carpenter: ‘Building’ Relationships, Chiseling Character

By Esmeralda Almazan & Iraith Arce

For the past month, Mr. Mike Carpenter has been Pueblo’s newest campus monitor, replacing Ms. Vickie Bellay who retired at the end of August.

If he looks familiar to some students, he should—as Carpenter has been coaching Pueblo’s junior varsity football team for the past three years, although he boasts 29 years of football and baseball coaching experience. He can also boast about his JV football Warriors experiencing a very successful (6-2) season.

“I’ve been building relationships with students for a long time as a coach,” Carpenter said, “so my approach to being a security monitor is the same—we’re all like one, big team.”

He said that interacts with students to guide them to create a safer place. By focusing on an inclusive environment, Carpenter said that he can easily connect with students.

“I don’t want to blow my whistle in students’ faces,” he said. “I don’t want to interact negatively with students, and I’ve found that using words works better to motivate them to get to class.”

Carpenter said that he uses the skills he learned during his 24-year military career to become a better coach and now a monitor.

“I was a Resource Protection Officer in the military as well as a security police officer for the Arizona National Guard—and this has made me alert and observant,” he said. “I’m here [at Pueblo] to protect people and to keep everybody safe.”

He added, “My favorite part of being a monitor at Pueblo is being able to interact with students. I can easily make their days better with a simple, ‘Hey, how are you?’”

Although Carpenter did not graduate from PHS, he has family connections to Pueblo. His father graduated from PHS in 1969, and his wife was a Class of 1998 Warrior.

Baxter: Wally The Warrior’s Greatest Rival

By Jose Nagore & Julian Tellez

Baxter, a two and a half-year-old Boston Terrier, has become a “regular” at Pueblo with his owner, teacher Ms. Christina Benitez, making students and teachers smile throughout the day.

Baxter was adopted by Benitez back in 2021 and can be found roaming around Pueblo, mainly within Benitez’s Credit Recovery classroom, Room 254.

“I love Baxter!” said math teacher Ms. Rhesa Olsen, whose classroom is adjacent to Benitez’ room. “He is adorable and very comforting!”

According to Benitez, Baxter was at first “smuggled” into Pueblo, but admin liked the idea of Baxter improving morale at Pueblo and allowed him to keep returning. Baxter has been helping students stay positive during his “visits” ever since.

“I like it when Baxter is in the classroom,” said junior Skylese Grajeda, a student in Benitez’ classroom. “He really makes me feel relaxed in the classroom.”

Benitez lost her previous dog after 12 years.

She said, “I felt lonely without a companion, and I kept going to animal shelters to find a new pet. It wasn’t until I went to Animal Kingdom that I found Baxter. He licked my leg, and I felt like Baxter chose me to adopt him.”

Benitez hopes that Baxter will stay with her throughout the rest of her teaching career.

Medhi Wins December 2023 ‘Bake-Off’

By Desiree Noriega

Once again, Pueblo High School’s faculty had an opportunity to boast their delectable creations; last quarter, the competition was “chips and salsa”, and this time around, on Dec. 14, faculty members showcased their favorite baked goods in the “December Bake-Off”.

This contest’s winner, journalism teacher Mr. Rana Medhi, entered his “pineapple upside-down cheesecake” dessert.

“Not to sound overly confident, but I knew I’d win,” Medhi said. “This dessert is a family recipe that has been passed down through the generations. It wins at every competition.”

Math teacher Ms. Taylor Pacheco, said, “I think Mr. Medhi’s dessert should not have won for having to replace the whipped cream.”

Pacheco’s dessert, “Oreo Balls”, won second place.

Third-place winner, librarian Ms. Marsha-Jean Burrola, said, “I’ve seen better days.”

Burrola’s dessert was truffles.

MTTS Coordinator, Ms. Brenda Levinson-McCune, organized this event, although she said that it was Ms. Karla Martinez’ (assistant principal) idea to have a faculty “Bake-Off” before the end of the semester.

“This contest was to celebrate the holidays, but it was a bit of a struggle with everybody so busy with the end of the semester and preparing for Christmas,” Levinson-McCune said.

She added that she will continue these food competitions next semester.

“I’d like to organize at least two more contests this school year,” she said. “I would like to have themed contests, but I’m still brainstorming ideas for future events like this.”

New Tool For Seniors: ‘FAFSA Night’

By Jonathan Redondo & Emely Villanueva

This year, Dr. Manuel Avila (Pueblo’s College and Career Readiness Coordinator), along with some assistance, is hosting weekly FAFSA and “College Nights”. He hosts workshops every Wednesday after school in the Special Projects room to inform and educate seniors about scholarships opportunities and to help them create an “FSA” identification in order to fill out the requirements for FAFSA.

There are multiple topics to be covered within these meetings, including the following topics: college and university applications; to learn scholarship programs; scholarships for DACA and undocumented students; upcoming scholarships; and creating an FSA ID account.

Avila said, “Even though some students or parents might not have a social security number or anything of the sort, there are many ways for students to complete something like FAFSA that can help with going to college or university.”

Creating an FSA ID account is a crucial step to filling out FAFSA, which is one of Pueblo’s graduation requirements. The FSA ID account is the account in which you will access the FAFSA application. Starting this year both the parent and student will need one of these accounts.

“Parents’ jobs are much easier this year since FAFSA goes directly through their social security ID to their taxes,” said Avila.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is an application for students to receive aid from the government to fund their college or university. FAFSA rewards students who meet the requirements that demonstrate financial need to attend a college or university.

Avila stated, “My focus is to get all the students that I can, to create an FSA ID to complete FAFSA to help them graduate and find a career in their post-secondary education.”

In past years, FAFSA would open Oct. 1, but now it is opening Dec. 31. The FAFSA application is opening later this year because there have been many changes that the government wants to implement to make FAFSA shorter. FAFSA used to require students to fill out 103 questions but this year they have shortened it, and some applicants can answer as little as 18 questions on this new form.

“This is why FAFSA will go directly into your parents’ taxes instead of you doing it yourself. Because of the later open date and new changes in the system, it will be easier for students and parents,” he added.

This new form also involves the parents more in the application process. To fill out your FAFSA, the student will need to fill out around 45 questions, and then the student must invite their parent to also fill out a separate questionnaire and enter their tax information directly from the IRS.

From then, the parent will have 40 days to complete and submit the application, or the student will have to redo their own application.

Although Avila focuses on the process of FAFSA, these workshops are also if you need help with college or scholarship applications. He added that he is happy to help any student fill out any application for a post-secondary education as it fits with one of his principles of getting 99.99 percent of the senior class to have a post-secondary course.

Avila said, “Students should be checking deadlines for priority and regular decision application to make sure they are getting their application in on time.”

December 2023 Grads: On Their Way

By Briana L. Barreda

On Tuesday, Dec. 19, more than a dozen Pueblo High School students earned their secondary education diploma, and most attended a graduation ceremony the same day—held at Catalina High School, along with more than 100 other students from across TUSD.

Congratulations to the following December graduates:

Bryssa Alcantar; Jacob Amado; Angel Avalos Dorame; Kara Bertsch; Daritza Bravo Zavala; Moses Carpintero Sainz; Mariana Heredia; Krystal Hidalgo-Enriquez; Adrian Perez; Esteven Ruiz Hong; Steven Redondo; Jaime Rivera; Nathaly Salazar; and Senida Santiago.

Kara Bertsch

Most of these students needed an extra semester to fulfill credit requirements, and a few, like Kara Bertsch, graduated a semester early.

Bertsch said that she has saved enough money to live on her own and to attend college and eventually join the military.

“College is my ultimate goal, and so is serving my country in the military,” said Bertsch. “I decided to graduate a semester early because I feel mature enough to do so.”

Bertsch describes her three and half years at Pueblo as “exciting” and “fun”. She enjoyed her participation in sports, including swim and football as well as being part of Student Council and enrolling in AP classes.

“My experience here all of my four years went really well, considering all the positive experiences and opportunities I have gained,” Bertsch said.

Despite an amazing high school experience, Bertsch said that she has also endured some hard times and acknowledges Mr. Abel Escalante for support and encouragement.

“I thank Mr. Escalante for being there for me during my toughest times and encouraging me to meet my goals and graduate early,” Bertsch said.

As a Pueblo senior graduating early, Bertsch would like to give advice to her fellow Warriors struggling with challenges.

“I want to let everybody know that high school is important for you before going into the real world, so it is very important to finish strong. You’re almost there.”