The Spectacle
UPDATE: INSERT
Oct. 7, 2010
Transfer Students Increase Enrollment by Katie Salas Reporter There are more than 20 new students attending Mesa Vista Middle and High School this year, including seventh graders who did not attend Ojo Caliente Elementary or El Rito elementary for sixth grade last year. In the middle school alone there are 17 new students; in the high school, seven. “I think the new students add diversity to Mesa Vista. Each individual has a lot to contribute; they come together with new ideas and ways of thinking. The old students are exposed to new things. ...it’s definitely a good thing,” teacher Victor Jaramillo said. Last year there were 211 students attending Mesa Vista Middle and High School. This year, there are 219 attending. The seventh grade class alone has 50 students — making it the largest class in the school. Twenty-four students total have transferred from Mesa Vista to other districts since the 09-10 school year. photo by Katie Salas “Over here the classes are smaller which makes it easier to learn and the teachers are pretty Look here: Freshmen Reanna Martinez and Monica Varela cool. I like it. So far it is fun,” eighth grader, Dean- look at animal cells in science class. Varela is one of about gelo Padilla said. 20 new students at Mesa Vista Middle and High School The new students at Mesa Vista have differ- this year. ent reasons for changing schools. Their reasons vary “I miss L.A. and the beach. (I didn’t like) leaving from not liking their previous school to a change in pa- all my friends and having to make new ones... I like the rental living arrangements. Spanish teacher,” freshman Maxwell Pena said. “I changed schools be In addition to missing their home town cause I wanted to see how it many, such as Padilla, said they miss their friends was in a public school. I heard I think the new the most. Others say they like Mesa Vista better Mesa Vista was a really good students add diversity and don’t miss much from their old school. school... I went to the Rock to Mesa Vista. Each “Over here the teachers teach better. They Christian Academy. It’s a priindividual has a lot to pay attention to the students, probably cause vate school,” freshman Angel there are less kids. At my last school they just contribute; they come Archuleta said. handed you a paper and didn’t explain. You’re together with new New students are also just supposed to do it,” freshman Monica Varela ideas and new ways of adjusting to differences that said. come with being at a new thinking... Overall, most of the new students like atschool. Most said the class siz- — teacher Victor Jaramillo tending Mesa Vista and like the teachers. All of es are smaller and easier. Those the new students have made Mesa Vista’s popucoming from out of district lation increase by more than 5 percent compared also say they have to wake up earlier to get to their busses on time or their ride to get to to last year. school on time. Several say they like the one-on-one time with the teachers and the clubs offered here.
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The Spectacle
BREAKING NEWS
Oct. 7, 2010
Co-Principal Resign s from Mesa Vista Spectacle staff Special REPORT After only three months into the school year, one principal has resigned. Mesa Vista Middle and High School started the school year with three principals, working together to lead the district schools. In a mary-go-round type of arrangment each principal was here only every other day. Co-Principal Ben Trujillo, however, won’t be com-
ing back. Spectacle staff members attempted to reach the Superintendent and other administrators before press time, but were not successful. We hope to report more news soon - as details about any administrative changes and other hiring efforts are announced. “Mr.Trujillo and I got along and worked well together,” substitute
teacher Mary Richardson said. In related news, the Espanola School District also lost a principal recently, as Espanola Middle School Principal Maxine Abeyta resigned on Sept. 24, according to the Rio Grande Sun. “I think that anytime you lose an experienced administrator it will affect you negatively,” Mesa Vista history teacher Thomas Vigil said.
Homecoming Evolves: Votes to Determine Royalty Spectacle staff Special REPORT For more than two decades, probably longer, Mesa Vista’s homecoming candidates have raised money to determine the king and queen. On Oct. 6, Principal Lillian Griego informed the candidates that this would no longer be the deciding factor. Student voting will now be the process by which royalty are elected. Some students object to this change in tradition. “It’s not fair to the candidates from last year. They raised so much money and now no one has to raise anything. Also, the juniors this year are left without the help of half the
money that is raised and will now have to cope with raising all the money for prom, homecoming and graduation on their own,” 2009 homecoming queen, junior Samantha Terrazas said. Staff began discussing this change at a faculty meeting in September. Teachers recommended the change to lighten the load on the community, which is asked to support homecoming candidates from all grades for raffles, bake sales, donations and other fund raisers. This way, the junior class will raise funds as a group instead of the responsibility of raising funds for Homecoming and Prom being on just the two
Hunting Contest Artwork. Poetry, Short stories, personal essays, etc.
-Must be school approriate -Must be original work (no tracing, copying, or plagiarism -Turn entries into the librarian -DEADLINE is Nov. 18 *Winner gets a free powerade and work published in school magazine.*
candidates from each grade. Also, the community can support one group instead of several. Some students worry the elections will be unfair due to a wide difference in class sizes by grade. For example, the senior class has only about 22 students while the junior class has more like 42 students. If all the students in each grade vote for their respective candidates, the biggest class is most likely to win. “I think it makes it harder for us to win, but it will be easier because we won’t have to do as much work (like fund raising),” sophomore Alicia Dominguez said.
Save Money
Pre-Order your 2010-11 Yearbook NOW!!! Order before Feb.14
NOW $25 will be $35 then $45 later You can order in the school library or send a check to “Mesa Vista Yearbook 2011” to PO Box 50, Ojo Caliente, NM 87549