Manzano High SchoolThe Voice of the Monarchs

September 2014 Volume 55 Issue 1 Monarch Life

The Manzano campus has become a little more interesting. Freshman Benjamin Blewett is the first Monarch in decades to have a registered service dog.

A Labrador and poodle mix, Meatball is trained in mitigating learning and anger issues.

“Meatball is a very loving and cute dog. He can be really funny at times and is an overall great dog,” said Blewett. “Every person who sees Meatball falls in love with him. People like to pet him anytime they see him.”

Meatball was first trained as a puppy at the Assistance Dogs of the West. After months of training, Meatball became an official service dog and was later adopted in 2013.

“I feel very calm and relaxed around him, which helps me concentrate. I really enjoy having him around me during school,” said Blewett. “I love to pet him sometimes, though my favorite thing to do with Meatball is to give him hugs. It really helps me calm down.”

In addition to working as a service dog, Meatball loves to spend time outdoors playing in the grass.

“When I first met him, he happened to be tired and slept on my lap. After that, I knew we would make a great connection,” said Blewett. “We usually go to the park and play fetch, but sometimes we like to play out on the golf course.”

Meet Meatball:Manzano’s cutest MonarchShubham Chadha 2017

See Service Dog on page 4

Manzano students always hear about the football stars, track stars, baseball stars, and volleyball stars, but have you ever thought about a sport that MHS does not feature? Well, it’s time MHS takes a look at the world of archery.

Manzano has it’s very own star in our midst, and most probably don’t even know it. Junior Cassidy Cox has been in the archery world since she was 6 years old and has gone on to win gold at the Outdoor Nationals and rack up many honors that archers strive to achieve.

“My dad and my brother would go to the Archery Shoppe to practice for bow hunting season, and I would go with them when I was 11,” said Cassidy Cox. “I went to my first World Archery Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada which was my first big tournament.”

A majority of people do not think about archery as a sport, but as something you see Katniss Everdeen do in “The Hunger Games.” In reality, archery takes hard work and dedication.

“It is a sport that anyone can try,” said Cox. “You don’t have to be super tall or a fast runner, and there is more to it than just what you see in the movies.”

Archery can be as grueling mentally as it is physically.

“I try to make my scores better and better every time I shoot. At Outdoor Nationals

Manzano Junior Shoots To The Top

From left to right: Angel Armijo, Drake Sikelianos, Monty, Randy Bacdi, and Lea Casper entertain MHS student body at the first assembly of the 2014-2015 school year.

Bella Sisneros 2016 this summer, I didn’t shoot very high scores on day one,” said Cox. “So, on day two I told myself that I would shoot higher scores than I did the day before.”

Cox went on to shoot 70 points higher than her day one score.

“I’m proud of my performance at Outdoor Nationals,” said Cox. “I shot my personal best scores, tied a world record, and made it all the way through the elimination brackets to win the gold medal.”

Like any other athlete, there is an amount of nervous energy that occurs before a competition.

“I get nervous before national and international competitions because I am shooting with some of the best archers in the country or world,” said Cox.

But there are many exciting places that Cox gets to visit to pursue archery.

“The So Cal Showdown, which is an USA archer qualifier event, is held every year at the Olympic Training Center” said Cox.

The Manzano Community is still mourning the loss of former principal, Tim Whalen.

“He [Whalen] changed the whole dynamic of the community. From what I understand, Manzano used to be a dangerous place with a lack of discipline, and people were afraid to be on this campus, teachers and students alike,” said Robanne Harrison, MHS teacher.

The legacy that Whalen left at MHS is one that impacted not only the teachers here, but the students as well. One alumnus decided to come back to MHS to become an educator.

“There is a reason I decided to come back to work at

Manzano Community Mourns the Loss of Former PrincipalManzano,” said Josh Blondin, MHS graduate and current teacher. “This is the only place I will teach, and Tim Whalen had a lot to do with developing that culture. This is his legacy and now it is our responsibility to help carry on those same ideals within our community.”

One thing that Whalen also left behind were his famous “Whalenisms.”

“May I have your attention…please,” “We are now waiting...for you,” the classic “From the top of the Manzano Mountains,” and “I bleed purple” were some of the sayings that Whalen coined around campus.

“‘Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, it’s Friday morning, September 12, and we go to school at Manzano High

School. What could be better?’ That’s the way he would open up his announcements on the PA system,” said Harrison.

Whalen was not only caring but also motivational, and it showed in one of his famous “Whalenisms.”

“I always liked the one where he would say ‘pivot and proceed.’ What that means is that when things go bad you just don’t go belly up,

Blewett and his service dog, Meatball. Meatball is one of very few service dogs in APS.

See Tim Whalen on page 4

See Cassidy Cox on page 4

Bella Sisneros 2016

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Photo by: Bella Sisneros

Photo by: Marissa Dutchover

Photo by: Marrianna Zavala

Critics Corner2 PAW PRINT

September 2014

Yes, I’m one of those girls who like cheesy romance movies that have cliché story lines and impossible prince-like guys playing lead role. So, you can imagine my excitement when I saw the trailer for “If I Stay.” What caught my attention was the interesting new plot twist that was provided in the two minute clip.

Mia (Chloë Grace Moretz) is an average teenager, living the school life, and in love with her cello. Her life was based on a dream of pursuing her music career, and was about as normal as grass on a field, with her embarrassing but surprisingly laid back rocker parents and a little brother. She, of course, had her one best friend that seemed to have Mia’s best interest at heart, especially when it came to Adam (Jamie Blackley). He, on the other hand, had no similarities to the common life of an American teenager. He was cool, slick, wore leather jackets and skinny jeans, a lead singer of an alternative band, and occasionally wore guy-liner, unfortunately he didn’t ride a motorcycle, but a girl can wish. He was older, attractive, and caught the attention of the classically aspired, good girl Mia.

As Adam was passing by the music room one day, the smooth melody of a cello caught his attention and he was instantly captivated by Mia’s passion while playing her cello. He decided to take her out on a date and from then on, they were inseparable. Their love grew and she seemed to have her future planned out, then one snowy day, everything changed when she was in a car accident with her family, and she was forced to make a very difficult decision.

I sat in the theatre expecting a total chick flick, Nicholas Sparks status. To some, that’s exactly what it was, but not for me. It had me sitting in my chair with butterflies, as if I was the one falling in love for the first time. To me, that’s what

Kayla Vandever 2015

Should You Stay in the Theater or Read the Book?a good movie should make you feel. Not always butterflies, but you get my point (I hope). I loved Moretz’s performance. It’s been a beautiful sight to see former Hit Girl from “Kick Ass” turn into a very grown up, dramatic actress that did a phenomenal job with this character. I found myself relating to the character of Mia, which is always an awesome feeling and always a good compliment to the actress. Moretz proved she can act in dramatic films with great skill. She’s a true talent that Hollywood should be happy to have.

Jamie Blackley is a name to keep an eye on. He’s been around since 2008 playing small roles, but after playing a male lead role as the incredible Adam, he’s sure to rise up in the industry. I was pleased with the new kind of prince charming he portrayed in this film. Having experience in the rocker scene in real life, he made a superb Adam, suave with all the right things and even having pretty good vocals. He really shined his craft, and that’s gold.

This movie, which was based on a book by Gayle Forman, was not fast paced, and if you don’t like slow movies then “If I Stay” would be difficult to sit through. The plot definitely took its time to get from scene to scene, but I thought it worked fine. The future was unpredictable and it made the ride much more thrilling and captivating.

I watched this movie with the perspective of a film fan rather than a book fan; in other words, I didn’t read the book. I know, how could I? How could I watch a movie without reading the book first? Well, I did.

I enjoyed the movie and all that came along with it! It was dramatic, erratic, unique, and just lovely. I would recommend it to those who love romance with a hint of cheesy or those who like to watch out-of-body experiences.

Watch Mia choose her destiny. Will she go or will she stay? But the ultimate question is, will you watch the movie or not? Looks like decisions will be made.

 

Setting: Modern day, Oregon. The snow is powdering the ground, and a happy family of four decides to play hooky from school (and work) to drive up and see the grandparents. Her mother and father were punk rockers, both of them quirky, jubilant, and never quite minded breaking a few rules, ended up raising two children. Mia, the main character, is 17 at the time. Her brother Teddy is 7. Mia, Teddy, and their Mom and Dad are all blissfully unaware that this drive would so drastically change their lives. Mia falls asleep, and when she wakes, she’s lying in the snow. She looks around and discovers she is alone. Ambulances come, putting her parents in body bags. They also place Mia’s body on a stretcher, and she realizes that her spirit had exited her body upon the impact of the crash. Her father had crashed into an ongoing semi, which was going 60 miles an hour in the opposite direction.

As the novel progresses, Mia’s grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins, of all shapes, sizes, and personalities all await anxiously in the waiting room. Mia’s best friend and boyfriend eventually arrive, and she watches every stressful event that unfolds. She undergoes surgery again, and the guilt gnaws at her. How could she leave? There were over 20 people in that room all worried about HER.

This novel was definitely heart wrenching. You could feel the worry from her best friend as she would sit talking to her, as if she wasn’t comatose. The love was discernible as her boyfriend admits that is extremely selfish of him for wanting her to stay, but he has to cling to her because his love for her is stubborn and true. Her grandma pets her hand, and talks about her garden, and the things of recent. Knowing that Mia loves talking to her, loves hearing about her life, about the angels her grandma sees from time to time. “If only things could be changed, If only that truck hadn’t

been there” If only, if only... But there are only so many if only’s in life, and you can’t waste them on the past. Often, we lose sight of the small things in life. The way your father’s cologne smells, how slender your mothers fingers are, how small your sibling’s hand is in your own, the smell of pancakes and laughter on a Saturday morning. Savor those sounds, sights, and feelings because you will only experience them so many times in your life.

As I said, this book is truly beautiful. What would you do if your spirit was ripped away from you when your family’s car crashed? Mia’s life is played back to her in small fragments. All of them are the kind of beautiful we have all experienced, or maybe we are close to experiencing it. There is her hobby: music. She has her first love, and she has a family that loves her with all of their hearts. I was left in tears, the beauty of words, the beauty of the harmony and rhythm of love; it left me with tear stains on my cheek. The tears were out of pain, sorrow, love, and fear.

Who wants to decide if they die? No one does. Death is beyond any of us, yet we all have a choice whether to stay or go. None of us really think about it until brought to our attention. Is it possible to stay when you feel you have no one? Is it possible to stay when such a monumental event, such a catastrophe has occurred and it can never be reversed? But, is it possible to stay if you find more love? Is it possible to stay when you have acceptance and friendship in your heart and in your mind? Is it possible to love those who have left you, left an imprint on your heart that you cannot replace, and have the hurt go away?Gayle Forman, I thank you for your beautiful words and characters, they have touched me deeply.

I recommend this book simply because it is a different way to think. It is a different way to think about the thing no one wants to think about; to ponder over life’s greatest mystery: death.

Jazzie Rioux 2016

Check out the sequel, “Where She Went,” and tweet us your thoughts!

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Critics Corner 3September 2014

PAW PRINT

“The Book Thief:” A Thought Provoking Novel For The Ages.

The story takes place in Nazi Germany 1939. Narrated by Death, it tells of a young German girl named Liesel Meminger who, after tragedy, goes to live with Hans and

Rosa Hubermann, her new foster parents.

She befriends her neighbor Rudy Steiner and becomes friends with Max Vandenburg, a Jew who the Hubermann’s hide in their basement. At first, Liesel does not know how to read, so Hans teaches her while she also attends school. Pretty soon, Liesel steals her first book, which leads to many more books being stolen, earning her the title of

I’ve heard that you’re supposed to have dessert before dinner, just in case you don’t make it through the meal. In this case I’m glad I didn’t, or the meal would have been even more mediocre. It started out great, with high expectations. The Thai Coffee (iced) was so sweet I thought a sugar packet was being dumped into my mouth with a bitter coffee aftertaste. The cream was slowly seeping down the glass, mixing with the coffee, making the impulse to chug it harder to ignore. There was no music playing, just the hum of TV voices in the red and gold room, golden figurines turned each and every direction to make sure the near empty place stayed peaceful. It wasn’t long until the steamed Veggie Dumplings arrived, all soft and warm and ready to disintegrate. Stuffed with vegetables and a hint of spice, they were gone just in time for the Pad Thai and Spicy Noodle Combos. If I had known that you could ask for how spicy you wanted something on a scale from 1-5, I would have asked for a 500. Although the wide, thin noodles were cooked to perfection, the Spicy Noodles weren’t spicy at all - but instead a little sweet. With a hint of ginger being the most prominent taste, the rest was neutral. The same goes for the Pad Thai, whose noodles were done fine but flavor was lacking. I was ready for dessert before the last bite. Green Tea Ice Cream and the Banana Chocolate Chip Rolls couldn’t come fast enough. Topped with coconut gelatin squares and a cherry, the pale, lime colored ice cream looked like paradise. The first spoonful was packed with so many different flavors, I couldn’t distinguish them. With a splash of green tea and lots of coconut flavor, I wish I had only gotten dessert. The Banana Chocolate Chip Rolls were still warm, with a sliced banana wrapped in flaky crisp breading and drizzled in melted chocolate chips. Melting in my mouth almost instantly, the sweetness nearly compared to that of the Thai Coffee. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed by Thai Vegan, but I will say that when I go back I’ll be having dessert first - just in case.

Stay for DessertJessica Lantz 2016

Thai Vegan3804 Central Ave SE 87108

(505) 200-2290

Allow This Book to Steal Your HeartRachel Martinez 2017 “The Book Thief.”

Hans is sent to war after trying to help another Jew. Signs of war start to become more prevalent as the civilians of Molching are continuously told to take cover in air raid shelters. The ending is very tragic, but leaves you with a sense of wholeness after reading about Liesel’s entire life story.

This novel includes a lot of violence and tragedy, but it is reflective of real life during that time period and helps give an in depth look into how life really was in Nazi Germany.

This was a moving novel that opened up my eyes. Never having read a historical fiction novel before, I was a bit skeptical, but I was soon immersed in the amazing writing of Zusak, feeling as though I really was in Nazi Germany in the early 40’s. It was historically accurate with nothing sugar-coated about that time period. Liesel’s story is not the kind that has you crying throughout the novel. Instead, the sadness of her story creeps up on you. I thoroughly enjoyed “The Book Thief” and would definitely read it again.

“Guardians of the Galaxy:” Hooked on a Feelin’Zane Alaniz 2015

Towards the end of February this year, a trailer was released for another Marvel superhero flick, “Guardians of the Galaxy.” I had no idea what it was about, only that it was an oddball of a concept, even for a comic book movie. So, when I heard that the preview had aired, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

I was addicted. For the remainder of the school year, and even into the summer, I watched that trailer multiple times a day, every day. “Hooked on a Feeling” echoed in my head almost to the point of madness. I generally enjoyed the movies that had already been released by Marvel Studios, but something about “Guardians” fascinated me.

The months had never been slower. Finally, one fateful day in August (the second one, specifically), I found myself waiting anxiously in the line leading to theater 13, my ticket stub suffocating under the unmerciful grip of my fist. My nerves like fireworks, the hairs on the back of my neck standing to attention with enough tension to make a soldier feel self-conscious, I took my seat. I peed a little as the lights dimmed, and I was thrown into a two-hour journey that can only be described as unforgettable.

The characters, the humor, the visuals, the

oh-so-groovy soundtrack. Everything about “Guardians” blended together perfectly. Like a shake with every ingredient as well-balanced as possible - the ice cream, the cookie chunks, the whipped cream, and a little cherry on top - I was tremendously satisfied when it was all over, even though I wanted more.

I don’t want to go into too many details regarding the plot because the best way to experience the movie is the way I did: blind. Not literally, of course, that’s just stupid. The film begins with the abduction of Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) from Earth in the year 1988, immediately after his mother’s death. Twenty-six years later, he’s a thief and a “legendary outlaw” in a part of the galaxy mostly inhabited by technicolor aliens, perfect civilizations, and evil folks with deep voices.

Quill is cocky, sarcastic, and way in over his head. But more than anything else, he doesn’t work well with others, a characteristic shared by every other member on the team; Gamora (Zoe Saldana), the deadliest assassin in the galaxy; Drax (Dave Bautista), a man hellbent on avenging the murder of his wife and child; Rocket (Bradley Cooper), an angry bounty hunter/mercenary who happens to be a talking raccoon; and Groot (Vin Diesel), a talking tree who, in true Vin Diesel fashion, can only say one thing: “I am Groot.” Yeah,

it’s weird. But all of these bizarre o u t c a s t s , these losers s e a r c h i n g for a place they belong, find their home with each other. It’s sweet until you r e m e m b e r that they’re all either m e n t a l l y traumatized criminals or big, talking tree-creatures.

The soundtrack of “Guardians” is a living, breathing character in itself. “Awesome Mix, Vol. 1” made the difference between a good film and an amazing one, and the movie would have fallen apart without it. Thanks to “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone, the title sequence is one of the greatest to date. This is music some of our parents grew up with, which gives it a layer of nostalgia and comfort, even in this strange world. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that prices for cassette players on eBay spiked after the film’s release. I even have the album on repeat as I type this

just to keep the creative juices flowing.So, the story winds down and the credits

roll. Most of the audience leaves, but those who know better with Marvel films relax until the lights turn back on and the staff begins to clean up. I leave the theater shaking with excitement. My attempts to keep my cool (what little I have) are futile. Of all the thoughts racing through my head, one stood out most, and it keeps me grinning from ear to ear every time it pops back into my mind: “Guardians of the Galaxy” will be known as the defining space opera of our generation, and I’m just fine with that.

Lana Del Rey released her third studio album “Ultraviolence,” on July 13. Ever since it was released, I hardly listen to anything else. There is nothing that relates to me more than “Ultraviolence.” It’s not because I’m a huge fan, and obsessed with her, it’s more because every time she releases an album, I don’t think it can get any better, but she continues to prove me wrong.

“Ultraviolence” is a rush of waves on the West Coast beaches, tumbling into an L.A. Shore. Lana Del Rey’s music is the water tumbling and rolling, like a tide

getting bigger and bigger.“Ultraviolence” will be like

the California sand sticking to not only your body, but your mind and soul.

Del Rey’s dark, rich voice goes with her haunting, thrilling, and captivating lyrics. The combination of these flow together so well that they paint the perfect image of the stories within her songs - love stories that aren’t like the ones in fairy tales, but the thrilling and horror side that no one likes to talk about. It isn’t only about love, but feminism, power, money, and flaws.

A track on “Ultraviolence,” Black Beauty, describes

Lana Del Rey: “Ultraviolence”Alexandrea Macias 2015

how everything is black everywhere she looks, even her love interests, all except her heart.

Black Beauty always has me closing my eyes and taken back to a sweet dream of rain, black roses, and an imagery of acceptance, no matter your color. Black Beauty reminds me of me, and I’m sure relates to everyone who listens.

Del Rey doesn’t get all the credit, though. The album is so stellar because it was produced by Dan Auerbach of the killer band, The Black Keys.

“Ultraviolence” is so unique and different that

it’ll really connect to anyone, from the loved and heartbroken, to peaceful, damaged, and lost souls.

If you want to be taken to a California beach, and all you have are New Mexican mountains, or you want to be swept off your feet by a guy in a Chevy Malibu, and all you have is yourself and a city bus, or just taken away on a wild adventure beyond your dangerous daydreams, then, sweet reader, “Ultraviolence” is for you.

4 PAW PRINT

September 2014

School News

Manzano High School students may have had more confusion than usual this year settling into the routine of their classes due to a noticeable mix-up regarding student scheduling. With every new semester, it’s common to see a few errors here and there, but was there a bigger mistake made this year?

Although statistics on the amount of schedule changes made were unavailable, there may have been some confusion this year than previous years.

“From what I’ve heard from students, there were some errors made,” said Camille Gonzales, Language Arts Department Chair “In my department I think the biggest problem was unbalanced classes. In some classes there were 35 students and in another class there were 20.”

Schedule errors and changes not only effect class sizes but also student learning.

“Anytime we change students from one class to another, I think they do fall behind,” said Gonzales.

Arvis Vonner, Assistant Principal of Manzano High School, didn’t agree that there were any such problems concerning schedules this year.

“Students don’t realize what goes into running a school and trying to make student’s schedules fit in with the sections that we have,” said Vonner “There has to be some arranging along with it.”

Vonner wasn’t surprised that there have been numerous complaints about mix-ups in classes.

“The majority of students are having problems because they didn’t fill out

their course requests appropriately,” said Vonner.

Some students are put in classes, mostly elective classes, because the schedule card was not filled out

“If they [students] had just done what we had told them to do in the beginning, they wouldn’t have these problems,” said Vonner.

With a little over 1,800 students, mistakes are bound to happen, but there were also a large amount of students without any problems at all.

Others, however, had trouble throughout the entire process. Sophomore Sam Hoffman was fortunate enough to go without a hitch in his agenda, but he saw the struggle that his friends had.

“I hope it will be better next year as many of my friends had severe schedule errors,” said Hoffman.

Junior, and part-time Manzano High School student, Nikolai Rasinski expressed some difficulties trying to register for his classes.

“I wasn’t registered for zero-hour marching band,” said Rasinski “And that’s my only class at MHS.”

Senior Mari Garcia wasn’t impressed with the scheduling process either.

“It made me quite frustrated, considering I had to come to the school multiple times to get it resolved at the end of my junior year and the beginning of my senior year,” said Garcia.

Schedule changes were projected to be finished by the end of the third full week of school.

Lillian Deiterman 2016The Chaos of Schedules

Check out the editorial The New Groove:SYNGERY and the School Year on page 6

Meatball is not only a wonderful service dog, but he’s also very playful around other students. Meatball loves to entertain and meet new people.

“The kids all love the dog, he’s very well trained,” said Gloria Trujillo, Manzano teacher. “He’s overall wonderful dog and the students love to see him everyday.”

The use of anxiety and stress trained dogs is still a fairly new concept in Albuquerque Public Schools. Training services for dogs were primarily used for assisting the blind rather than to relieve stress related issues.

The idea of using service dogs to assist students with anxiety is a first for APS, and more so for Manzano.

“Using service dogs for stress is a relatively new idea, and definitely something that I never seen in my career as a Manzano teacher,” said Trujillo. “I think this is a start for us and other schools to introduce stress and anxiety service dogs into the classroom environment.”

Meatball is very playful and fun to have around. Like any other student, Meatball is a proud member of the Monarch family.

Service Dog

Mini Monarch

Hadley, Mrs. Hurst’s daughter, sports Cameron McMahan’s jersey. Hadley is MHS’s #1 fan!

Along with the excitement of visiting places all over the country, Cox has goals that she would like to achieve in her career.

“I want to keep getting better, and I also hope to someday be on the US Archery Team,” said Cox.

Cassidy Cox

you just walk around and keep going,” said Harrison.

It is evident by the memorial in the front of Manzano that many across the campus and the community have felt the loss of Whalen. His legacy will live on through Manzano Pride.

“The thing that everyone should know about Tim Whalen is that he inspired school spirit,” said Blondin.

Tim Whalen

If you would like to place an advertisement, please contact the Paw Print at mhsnewspaperads@gmail.com, or stop by K117.

Send your Monarch Pride photos to manzanopawprint@gmail.com

Photo by: Isaac CanoThe memorial constructed for Mr. Whalen by the Class of 2006 on Lomas Blvd.

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Photo by: Bella Sisneros

Upcoming Volleyball Schedule

Varsity: Sept. 30MHS vs. SHS, 6:30 p.m. @ SHS

JV: Sept. 30MHS vs. SHS, 5:30 p.m. @ SHS

C-Team: Sept. 30MHS vs. SHS, 4:30 p.m. @ SHS

5SportsSeptember 2014

PAW PRINT

FRESHMAN SOPHOMORE JUNIOR SENIORMiguel Gutierrez

How long have you been playing soccer?Nine years.

What made you want to play soccer?I wanted to play soccer because I love teamwork and running.

What is your favorite part about being in this sport?My favorite part about it is being a part of something and sharing it with your team.

Kayleigh Bolin

How long have you been playing volleyball?I have been playing volleyball for three years.

What made you want to play volleyball?I joined volleyball because a lot of my friends played, and I wanted to try it out.

What is your favorite part about being on the volleyball team?I love the relationship I have with my team. They are like my sisters, and I just love the game.

How long have you been cheering?I have been in cheerleading for about eight years altogether and four years at Manzano.

What made you want to try out for the cheer squad?I liked the idea of being able to do back handsprings and flying.

What is your favorite part of cheerleading?My favorite part of being in cheer is that I am able to have a bunch of sisters, and we are all able to bond as a family.

Kirsten HicksJordan Byrd

How long have you been playing football and track?I have been in football since I was 7 and running track since I was 4.

What made you want to join football and track?I joined because I love to run and have fun.

What is your favorite part of playing football and running track?Football is fun because I love to make touchdowns and for track I like to compete with other kids.

Upcoming Football Schedule

Varsity: Oct. 4MHS vs. Mayfield, 1 p.m. @ Mayfield

JV: Sept. 29 MHS vs. HHS, 4: 15 p.m. @ Wilson

Freshmen: Sept. 30MHS vs. HHS, 4: 15 p.m. @ Wilson

Sports highlights: Manzano athletes

Upcoming Soccer Schedule

GirlsVarsity: Sept. 30,

MHS vs. EHS, 4:30 p.m. @ MHSBoys

Varsity: Oct. 2MHS vs. SHS, 3:30 p.m. @ EHS

JV: Oct. 7MHS vs. AHA, 5 p.m. @ MHS

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6 PAW PRINT

September 2014Editorials

The band was blaring. The cheerleaders were cheering. Excitement was running rampant through the air, but something was missing. As I was looking around our crowded gym, I suddenly found myself questioning why all the football players were spread about the student sections and not together as a team to be introduced.

I thought, maybe, they would all run onto the basketball court as a symbol of unity, but that never happened. In fact, football was never even introduced, along with volleyball, soccer, cross country and the many other fall sports.

This disappointed me and many others I talked to. I always loved hearing all of our athlete’s names and hearing their number or what position they play. The great thing about having sports introduced at assemblies was that, even if you couldn’t make it out to their games you could still show your support by cheering them on in the assemblies. Also, you could hear everyone’s name

and when you saw them around campus, you could wish them luck for their next game.

Many were also tiffed that the cheerleaders and Majestix got a proper introduction and were allowed to perform, yet they were the only sports to have been introduced at the assembly.

Jennifer Huynh-Arnold, Manzano’s Activities Director, spoke to me about the changes for the assemblies. She said that assemblies were now going to be focused on getting students into school spirit and informing everyone about issues throughout the school or major announcements. This will make assemblies shorter so students don’t miss too much instructional time.

As for sports, they will now have pep rallies at lunch, where all the

athletes will still be introduced and honored. Yet, this doesn’t seem as appealing as hearing the entire student body scream when your name is announced or seeing the small competitions throughout the classes put on by the sport. Sure, the sports will have more time, but not

everyone eats lunch in The Plaza, and out of the students who do, who will honestly pay their full attention to that sport?

Sports are a huge deal in high school. Much of our purple pride comes from these sports, and taking away their tiny shred of acknowledgment has slightly upset several athletes.

A great compromise would be to allow

sports back into assemblies but only allow them five minutes each to introduce their teams. If it’s a time issue, this will only add 20 to 25 extra minutes of extreme school spirit. We probably wouldn’t be able to see as many small class competitions, but I would much rather be able to cheer for all my teams and athletes at an assembly than see students at lunch give hard working athletes half their attention.

“Sports” Assemblies Madi$on LaBerge 2016

Most people are very open to new things for better situations, things to better their environment, like their house or even their school. Who wouldn’t want a better environment in school, whether it’s the little things or bigger things that could affect everyone? Unless it’s a new scheduling system that happens to leave most of the student body in a frenzy.

Every student, teacher, and administrator expects the first day of school to be a little chaotic, yet this year, for some, it was an anxiety attack. A good majority of Manzano’s student body had holes in their schedules or another schedule fault due to the new student system, SYNERGY by EDUPOINT.

The system SYNERGY is supposed to be a new, efficient, and affordable way to manage student, school and district data. It keeps track of everything from emergency contacts, enrollments, fees, and even scheduling. When installing this system, something went wrong and just happened to scramble everyone’s schedule, something almost completely out of anyone’s hands.

It happens right? That is understandable, but the way it was taken care of could have been different. During registration, there were lines outside of a room in D Hall where the counselors helped students. Unfortunately, the

SYNERGY and the New School YearRheana White 2015

counselors go home at 2:30 p.m. and the lines were still long. Administration had to tell people to come back the next day.

Even going through all the hassle a week before school started didn’t help. On the first day of school we were all aware of most of the student body having to go to the student center or the library to get their scheduling problems taken care of.

Personally, going through the whole two weeks of not knowing what my schedule was going to be like in the end was a complete mess. The first three days of school were more chaotic than usual and trying to get the attention of a counselor was even harder.

Instead of having to play musical chairs in the library, or trying to catch your counselor, this whole situation could have been taken care of a little more effectively.

Maybe the district, or whomever chooses to make new decisions, could have done this sooner. We could have had registration a week earlier with more time to fix schedules and try to eliminate as much confusion as possible, but this was one of those situations where it was out of human hands and we relied a little too much on technology to fix things.

Beginning in early 2016, the SAT will be drastically different from the form it is in now. No longer will students be required to write an essay, fret over the deduction of a quarter point for each wrong answer, or worry about some of the more complex words used in the current version of the test. These changes are apparently being made to better fit the average high school curriculum and make the test more accessible.

But in doing so, don’t they hurt the validity of the scores? I mean, this test is one of the main methods used by a majority of colleges to determine if a student is college ready. If the test becomes easier(as the changes seem to be doing), a high score now will mean less when it is the result of the new test. Schools will quickly adapt to this situation and adjust their SAT score requirements accordingly.

The most notable changes include: no longer requiring an essay, doing away with the deduction of a quarter point for each wrong answer, and lessening the complexity of the words used. The old 1600 point scoring scale is also making a return in this version.

However, these more “accessible”

Lowering Our Standards: New SATAbby Thomason 2015 changes are perhaps not the best idea. The

point of this assessment is not to make it as accessible as possible. It’s purpose is to evaluate students, sort them into intellectual categories, and then allow admissions officers to determine if the student’s intellectual category will mesh well with the school they have applied to. Nowhere is accessibility a part of this process. The SAT is for the benefit of universities, not for the students themselves.

These changes also do not aid disadvantaged students whose performance is affected by outside factors. Some don’t have the resources needed to pay for expensive test prep courses or books. They may not have the time to spend months in advance studying due to sick family members or the need to make a living for their family. Many can’t access the free materials provided online. The new standardized test will still not allow for accommodations for these issues, leaving much of the data the same as before.

The alterations to the SAT were created with good intentions, but ultimately the realistic effects of them were not properly considered.

This Month’s Feature Comic by Blair Alexander

Photo by: Marrianna Zavala

What are your thoughts about this change? Tweet us and let your opinion be heard!@MHSPawPrint

7EditorialsSeptember 2014

PAW PRINT

What Do Grades Actually Measure?Slate Gunter 2016

I’ve spent my entire life in Alaska surrounded by gigantic snowcapped mountains, so naturally my first impression of New Mexico was that it was scorching hot.

New Mexico and Alaska have so many differences; the mountains in Alaska are always covered with snow, even in the summer. The first snow of the year is called termination dust and usually arrives near the end of September. The heat in Anchorage is mild and usually reaches a staggering height of 70 degrees (what a heat wave)!

During the summer months, we average around 20 hours of daylight, and in the winter we can only manage roughly four or five hours (more or less). During the nine months of winter, many Alaskans develop Seasonal Affective Disorder where people become depressed due to the lack of light and

cabin fever. Individuals become rather restless but are unable to leave their house because of the extreme winter temperatures.

Though weather is a rather obvious difference, there are some variations between Alaskans and New Mexicans that are less evident. I have recently learned that a common question asked by New Mexicans is “red or green?” in reference to chile. In Alaska, we find ourselves asking “salmon or halibut?” in reference to fish. We also eat fewer vegetables and fruit due to the fact that they are so pricey.

The people here in New Mexico are very nice, while in Alaska some people tend to be as bitter as the winter season. Everyone in New Mexico that I’ve encountered has been nothing but kind, curious, and inviting while Alaskans try to shut out people like the chilly wind storms

that occur in fall. Residents of New Mexico are courteous and thoughtful.

Though it isn’t fair to say all Alaskans are rude and curt, it could be said that people’s behavior and manners change with seasons, as breakup arrives. Breakup is our spring; it’s when the snow melts and usually occurs mid-April. The ground is soggy and the air smells of dirt and trash. People’s moods start to improve the more the snow melts, and as the days get longer and lighter, people are able to finally get out and stretch their legs.

New Mexico is definitely not Alaska, and there are so many differences and it’s going to take a lot of getting used to, but in time I will adjust. Something tells me it’s not going to be difficult to get used to life in the Land of Enchantment.

Looking for New Mexico: An Alaskan’s PerspectiveCharlytte Ryder 2016

Most people these days use Facebook, and a fair amount have the app on their phone. In this day and age, most people talk less and less in person, and Messenger brings people closer together while being far apart.

People with the app know that Facebook wants them to download the new messenger, and most people don’t really like it.

For this article, Messenger underwent rigorous tests. It does ask for a lot, that’s not a lie, but it isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. The app functions great, and for people who can’t afford a plan, it turns your non-phone product into a phone. By asking for your number, contacts can call you or text you through Facebook.

Messenger feels almost like a ripoff, shouldn’t they have found a way to keep it in? Couldn’t they have kept messaging

Don’t Shoot the MessengerRobert Gonzales 2017 Conflict in the Middle East isn’t a

breaking news story to most Americans. Ever since we were children, we’ve heard stories of supposed bad men doing bad things while our pristine G.I. Joes served up Americanized democratic justice in the form of bombs and bullets, but this is different. America isn’t involved, and the question presented to us is “should we be?”

In my opinion, no. The violence between the Palestinians and Israelis isn’t an American problem. Yes, the death toll on Gaza Strip has risen to more than two hundred by last reports, and yes, ISIS (a terrorist group attributed to beheading an American reporter) is killing innocent people, and yes, what is happening is wrong. However, it’s my opinion that American troops need to stay in America.That sounds harsh, but it’s the truth.

If America isn’t supposed to be the world police, then we don’t need to interfere in international affairs that have nothing to do with our own politics. Some may talk about morality, and that getting involved would be the right thing to do, but is taking the moral high ground worth risking American lives? Are the religious disagreements worth putting soldiers mental health at risk? Worth raising the debt in a country who’s already drowning in it?

Not in my eyes.Let’s look at the facts: the last time

we got involved in the Middle East we ended up in a war that lasted nearly two decades, 350,000 soldiers were killed by violence and $4.4 trillion were spent. That’s trillion, with a T. Until there are threats to American soil or the general public it’s not Americas problem, we just can’t afford to get involved.

Crisis with ISISAlex LeCompte 2015

in the normal Facebook app? But the easiest way to get past that is the same way most people get past a movie based on a book that was nothing like the book

(or any Michael Bay reboot movie, you suck Michael).

Just think of Messenger as a separate entity. Facebook feels that way. One of the first things people may have noticed was that it isn’t called Facebook Messenger, it’s just Messenger. That is exactly what it is, a communications app.

Facebook felt that all the new tech was too much for the normal app, so they made another one. You don’t get any “People You May Know’s” or “Recommended” notifications, unless you look for them.

Eventually everyone will stop thinking of it as a part of Facebook. It’s like a phone that

Alas, grades have been cherished and esteemed to such an extent that, naively, we misinterpret letters for intelligence under a cultural facade. We must challenge our assumptions - what do these symbols really gauge? How can we properly quantify something so utterly indefinite and unreckonable?

People who earn good grades may argue resentfully, “Well of course grades measure

intelligence?!” Indeed they do to a shallow outlook, but by that interpretation, cleverness is parallel to conformity and performance - and that doesn’t harmonize with its definition.

In all visibility, grades are merely portrayals of one’s tendency to endeavor. In fact, they only serve as mirrors relevant to your work value-system, not how intellectually gifted you are. We should quit with our alphabetical narcissism and become perceptive enough to understand

nobody calls to sell life insurance through. As for the people who find it intrusive, it’s no worse than what your actual communications do, so there’s no reason to worry. “Access to the microphone, for text to speech, access to contacts?! Is Facebook Illuminati? I’m seeing lots of triangles.” No (well, maybe but that isn’t the point), it gives you a list of friends AND contacts that you can talk to, broadening your antisocial horizons.

It does seem suspicious they want access to so many things, but not one of them is for anything unnecessary. In summation,

Messenger is Facebook’s latest attempt to bring better service to their customers. Even if it costs a little extra storage space, you can do so much more with what little it asks, and it’s executed so well.

that grades don’t evaluate anything other than our work aptitude. Stating, “grades estimate intelligence” is analogous to saying “age determines maturity.”

On the contrary, what is intelligence? Does a global answer exist? It’s so diverse, socially dependent, and vague that it’s inevitably questionable. Frankly, intelligence is in the eye of the beholder. For example, we - Western civilization - overvalue intellect. We infer, that to become enlightened, there is a demand

of unprecedented intelligence. People can become so infatuated with their own theories and miss the point of everything.

To get back to the matter at hand, how can we fix the unfixable? The learner’s objective should be to grasp the information given. What are we learning if all we strive to do is test well? If we can eliminate the pedestal that grades have been put on and abolish the competitive edge, there is a chance for authentic and captivating learning.

These are personal opinions of the

student journalists, not those of the

Paw Print or Manzano High

School.

8 September 2014

PAW PRINT

2014-2015 Paw Print Staff

Adviser: Tiffany Carpenter Phone: 505-559-5904 ext. 23401 E-mail : manzanopawprint@gmail.com

To submit a correction, suggestion, or letter to the Editor, Please Email the Paw Print at manzanopawprint@gmail.com

Susanna BlancoCheyenne BrayIsaac CanoMax ChavezLillian DeitermanCassandra DunlapMarissa Dutchover

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Rachel MartinezLuisa Pennington Charlytte Ryder James SnyderAbigail ThomasonJasmyne TranRheana White

Students

EDITORS:Editor-in-Chief: Zane AlanizJunior Editor-in-Chief and School News: Bella SisnerosSchool News: Shubham ChadhaCritics’ Corner: Kayla Vandever & Jazzie RiouxEditorials: Cerridwen Stucky & Madison LaBergePhoto: Annelise Mendez & Marrianna ZavalaSports: Rachel Boston

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@MHSPawPrint

Every single thing that has ever existed has had a beginning. All the people we’ve known, all the things that we’ve owned, and everything else all started somewhere.

Not all beginnings are good. The first draft of this article was complete rubbish. This draft might be just as bad, but it’s the one that got printed, so oh well. I’m starting my senior year off on the completely wrong foot, too (don’t procrastinate, kids).

The thing is, this first six weeks is the last beginning in public school I’m gonna get (hopefully), and that’s a bizarre feeling. I’ve been through eleven years of education, all of it building up to this final nine months of stress and anxiety.

When I came into Journalism my freshman year, I never expected that my name would be the one next to the “Editor-in-Chief” title. The main reason I signed

InZane in the Membrane: The FirstZane Alaniz, Editor-in-Chief up for the class was to one up my older brother (who

graduated the year before). Now I’m here, and I guess I’ve done what I set out to achieve three years ago, although I care more about writing and the paper than the original goal. Either way, eat it, Max.

When we’re given a fresh start, we can choose to either ignore it and throw it away or take full advantage of it and improve on everything that we messed up before. A good chunk of us do the latter, but the others still need to learn how, even if it means learning the hard way.

This is the first issue of the Paw Print for the 2014-15 school year, and the entire staff is excited to put our first paper out for you, whoever you may be, with your own story and your own beginning. We do what we do to bring information and entertainment to the student body of Manzano, and we aim to do it with quality, integrity, and something else that’s positive and cool-sounding.

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful school year. Unfortunately, everything that has a beginning also has an end, and sometimes that end is abrupt and unexpec-

(And there you have it.)

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STAFF:

Homecoming High Court 2014

King and Queen

First Prince and Princess

Second Prince and Princess

Minh Le and Riley Hand

Spenser Gomez-Nelson and Lea Casper

Drake Sikelianos and Genevive Aragon