Mr. Contreras Travels To France

Our Mariachi Aztlan Director, Johnny Contreras, had the pleasure of attending the 23rd Annual “Les Escales” Music Festival in Saint Nazaire, France, whose theme this year was “World & Tucson Music”.

Promoters of the event came to Tucson to scout bands for the festival and  really wanted a Mariachi to represent the culture that has been built in Tucson.  An invitation was extended to Mariachi Luz de Luna which Mr. Contreras is a part of.

Here are some newspaper clippings featuring Mariachi Luz de Luna & video below:

Front page of Ouest-France Newspaper

Translation:
Mariachi Luz de Luna opened, the 22nd Festival Les Escales in Saint-Nazaire, France last night.  Leading away the many spectators to the five stages where no less than 33 concerts will be offered by tomorrow night.

Our Mariachi Aztlan Director

Translation:
Mariachi Luz de Luna, strolling in, opened the festival and guided the public to the different stages.

Way to represent Tucson and Pueblo Johnny!

Mariachi Aztlan Performs At Arizona State Capitol

This past Monday, March 4 Pueblo’s Mariachi Aztlan performed at our Arizona State Capital. Three performances were given, one to Secretary of State Ken Bennett and Senators Bradley and Lopez, one on the mall between the House and Senate and the third was at the opening of senate meeting.

Pueblo's Mariachi Aztlan Performs At Arizona State Capitol

Pueblo students with Secretary Bennett and Senators Bradley and Lopez.

This is the first time a student group has been invited to perform for a senate meeting. The students received a standing ovation by all the senators. The House plans to extend an invitation in the future and the comments from everyone were of the highest compliment.

Secretary Bennett, Senators Bradley & Lopez And Teachers

Fine Arts Teachers with Secretary Bennett and the Senators.

We are so proud of our Mariachi representing our school at the local, state and national level!

Audrey Diaz Named To FEA Honor Society

Audrey Diaz, sophomore at Pueblo Magnet High School, has been named to the Future Educators Association’s 2012-13 Honor Society . She is the first Pueblo student to be named to the this national organization’s Honor Society.

Audrey Diaz named to Future Educators Association Honor Society.

Audrey is in the Education Professions class and participates in work-based learning at Hollinger Elementary School.  For more information see the F.E.A. website.

Congratulations to Audrey on this award and for representing Pueblo at the national level.

Warrior Band Members Honored

Congratulations to musicians Mia Enos, Alfonso Gutierrez, and Saul Melendez for a  job well done at the Southwest Honor Band held on January 10-12 at the University of Arizona.  All three made the Honor Symphonic Band and performed with over 60 other very talented high school musicians from around the state.

Saul Melendez, Mia Enos & Alfonso Gutierrez Honored (From Left to Right)

Top honors go to Saul Melendez who was the top tenor saxophone player in the Symphonic Band and Mia Enos who performed so well that she was offered a scholarship to attend the U of A School of Music in the Fall! 

These same three musicians will move on to the auditions for the Arizona Music Educators Association South Central Regional Honor Band next weekend at the U of A’s School of Music. 

Pueblo is proud of these very talented members of our Warrior Band and wish them well as they continue to represent our school across Arizona!

[Courtesy of Band Director Luis Fisher]

Syncardia Opens Doors To Pueblo JTED Biotechnology Students

JTED Advanced Biotechnology students enrolled in Dr. Andrew Lettes’ class at Pueblo Magnet High School received a unique opportunity this fall to tour SynCardia Systems, Inc.

SynCardia, founded and located in Tucson, is the only company in the world that manufactures the temporary Total Artificial Heart. Syncardia medical engineer Jon DeDiego let students hold an artificial heart, explained the science behind how the device was developed and works, and described how the implant device has helped save more than 1,100 patients from around the world who were dying from end-stage biventricular heart failure and needed the bridge to transplant device while waiting for a donor heart. Students then toured the factory where the Total Artificial Hearts are made, and saw the facility where the pumps, which drive the devices, are manufactured and tested.

Class of 2013 Senior Annette Lopez says she didn’t have any idea that a company like Syncardia was operating a few miles from her neighborhood. She was planning to focus on oncology after pursuing her nursing degree at Grand Canyon University, but says that this fieldtrip opened her eyes to another option she may choose.

Lopez says her JTED Biotechnology class is a lot more fun than her traditional classes because hands-on learning is much more exciting than just reading out of a book. “If you go to Pueblo, you’ll regret it if you don’t take Dr. Lettes’ class – he’s a great teacher,” says Lopez. “It’s not easy, but it’s very rewarding in the end.”

Letters To Sandy Hook Elementary School

Table setup for anyone wishing to write a letter to Sandy Hook Elementary

Early Childhood & Education Professions students setup a table during during both lunches for anyone wishing to write a sympathy letter to Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Letters to Sandy Hook Elementary School

The entire Pueblo Family sends our deepest condolences to the families and communities affected by this tragedy.