Heritage Talon May 2024

Appreciating Teachers for More Than a Week

Seniors Try Out Grad Speeches

Portal

Talon Staff

As the end of the school year approaches, 2024 Seniors have the opportunity to try out and speak for their graduating class.

Mary Parker and Chip Greenwell held tryouts at the RHHS library from 4-5 pm on April 16 & 17. Many students presented their speeches and were congratulated for their outstanding accomplishments and struggles that brought them to where they are today.

During the first week of May, students and staff will be celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week, which is a week dedicated to showing appreciation to the Heritage Staff for all their hard work, dedication, and impact on the school.

“I try to have a connection with my students, but it’s hard sometimes because kids’ situations are really sad, but I try to figure out what’s going on with them. I didn’t plan on becoming a teacher, but when I went to graduate school, I did some teaching to earn money towards tuition and decided that I

liked it. With my dad being a teacher, he was encouraging and happy to see me become a teacher,” said Sharon Fanning, Heritage science teacher.

Teacher Appreciation Week is a special week for teachers. It’s a week where you can give gifts or do something generous for your teacher to show how much they mean to you. Some ideas include writing them a nice note or letter to tell them how much you appreciate them, buying them a small giftlike a mug, and being on your best behavior.

“A teacher I think I have a good connection with and improves my day is Ms. Cervantes because

HHS Safely Watches Eclipse

Castanon Talon Staff

On April 8, Heritage students and faculty gathered outside around the school to watch the solar eclipse, but with that fun came the possibility of inflicting permanent damage to their eyes. To look at the solar eclipse without damaging your eyes, you need glasses specifically made for looking at the eclipse.

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education supplied Heritage High School with eclipse glasses so that students and faculty could enjoy this rare occurrence in the safest manner possible.

“It’s pretty cool because we

don’t have to buy our own,” said Nathan Telles (9).

Before Heritage High School released students to look at the solar eclipse, students were shown a video showing how to safely look at the solar eclipse and properly wear the eclipse glasses. The video also gave background knowledge about the eclipse.

“It makes me feel happy that they supplied us with glasses because it gives people the opportunity to see the solar eclipse,” said Isabella Eck (9).

The next solar eclipse that will take place in the United States is in August of 2044, which is why taking this opportunity to view this eclipse was so important to many people.

I like math. Some ways a student shows appreciation to their teacher is to write a letter a card and write about how much they impacted your school year. I do think teacher appreciation week is needed,” said Lamar Perkins (9).

However, students aren’t the only ones showing appreciation. During teacher appreciation week, there will be different treats each day for the teachers, including things like a Sonic drink or a homecooked meal for lunch.

Although it may not get the recognition it deserves, Teacher Appreciation Week is still viewed as an important part of the Heritage culture.

“Lo hice por representar las familias hispanas, para todos quienes no saben muy bien el inglés pero cada día se esfuerzan a emprender” [I did it to represent the Hispanic families, who don’t really know English well, but try their best everyday to learn] said Marjory Valeria Hernandez, an upcoming graduate of HHS.

Students and Staff members are beyond excited to find out who will be chosen to congratulate and speak about their experiences on May 17.

“I believe that every student has something unique to say about their last 4 years at HHS, I love to hear what their experiences were as well as be able to allow every graduating class to have their own moment with the people they started off with, we have been trying to open up more opportunities for bilingual students to try out because no matter your master in English language is you will always have a story to tell,” said Parker.

Salazar

Students at Heritage admiring the solar eclipse on April 8.

Lopez

Phycisal Science teacher Sharon Fanning works hard to ensure proper attendance her class on April 22. Keeping up-todate records is one of the many job requirements for teachers.

Lopez Talon Staff

Anxiety Builds as AP Exams Approach

Leon & Salgado Talon Staff

Heritage High School Advanced Placement students should be prepared for the upcoming AP exams that are taking place on April 6-16, students should make room to study at school and at home, people need to pass their exams to receive college credits by organizing their time wisely, and studying a couple hours each day.

Most AP teachers strongly encourage students to study for their exams in order to pass.

“Because it’s really hard, the way that they design it, it’s supposed to be about half the kids who take the exam fail, trying to get into the top half, and if you’re

not in the top half which is pretty hard to do then it makes it a lot tougher for one to get a passing grade and to save that money,” said Josua Neago, the AP Human Geography and AP Government teacher.

Students need to make sure that they put their study mindset on prior to the exams. It is important that they do because if one passes their exam then they get college credits off their shoulders. It is very important to organize time, it may be useful to get school work done at school, try to engage in the AP class, go home, and make space to study. Two hours every night can lead to a great outcome.

Several students have many resources they used to pass their last years’ exams.

“I passed my AP exam by paying attention in class, I studied vocabulary on Quizlet and definition review sheet provided by our teachers,” said Jacob Brooks (11). It is very important to try and study because it leads to a great outcome of comprehension. Prior AP students used many methods, they dedicated time of their days to go over units, lessons, flashcards, etc. Students can review docs that teachers have provided, they can watch youtube videos to recap, they can study flashcards on quizlet, and they can even play kahoot. Most students that took studying into consideration scored well. Just prioritizing on reviewing past content can pay off future credits that one has to take in college.

HHS Multicultural Night Promotes Inclusion

Mendez Talon Staff

Heritage High School hosted the Family Cultural Night on April 12 to show the Heritage students the numberless cultural performances, food, dance performances, and live music.

Family Cultural Night happened on April 12, 2024. This was a special night for the ones who are interested in celebrating peers’ cultural activities. The event has taken lots of preparation involving many people with different cultural backgrounds.

“A few things that we have done to prepare for this night is to

promote the event through flyers and our social media and communicating with our heritage students,” said Bani Lopez, Spanish teacher at Heritage.

Before the moment had come, Lopez had collected volunteers to help create the event. Later on, she spread the word to our local community to experience this event. Including working with the community members to get the event organized and planned.

As the event is taking place, with food trucks, live performances, live music, and food from restaurants and organizers. Teachers and staff watched as many enjoyed the event and had

the ability to experience multiple cultures in one building.

“I thought it was really interesting and fun, I liked to see everyone represent their culture and I liked the dances; they were so mesmerizing. And the food was so good. I could eat the hibachi like every single day,” said Rilynn Sellers (9).

Students also received attendance recovery for the amount of time spent at the cultural night. The event was previously rescheduled due to weather concerns. However, the marketing and advertising made the anticipation spike and the night was worth the wait.

Students Celebrate Eclipse and Near-Totality

Manes Talon Staff

On April 8, students at Heritage got to experience a total solar eclipse during 5th hour, where all students and faculty got to go outside for an hour and watch the moon cross in front of the sun. In our area we were in the 98% of totality range, our maximum level of the eclipse lasted over a minute and tinted the sky a gray-blue.

The teachers who got to bring their students out enjoyed it.

“I thought it was really cool that we got to take all the students outside for it and get to experi-

ence it together with them it was almost like a tailgate which was cool,” said Meagan Johnson, head of Heritages A.V.I.D program and head soccer coach for the women’s team.

Kyle Moix, AP history teacher, enjoyed it with his students, but still felt it was a little underwhelming.

“The difference between 99% and 100% is night and day, literally. But I heard that 99% is really no different from 50%. But if you’re in totality then it was pretty sweet,’’ said Moix.

A student who went out of town and into the range of totality felt that it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment

and felt bad for the people who didn’t get to experience it.

“I enjoyed the eclipse, the sky getting dark, and the ring around the moon from the sun looked awesome. It was a fun experience and the fact that it won’t happen again for another 20-something years is crazy to me. I know [Rogers] didn’t get as cool of a look at it as we did, but it was definitely worth the anticipation from our side of it,” said Alekzander Patton (9).

The next total eclipse that will be visible in Arkansas won’t be until April 12, 2045, and it will also pass over the Caribbean and South America.

Editorial Staff

Barstow Fraire

Howard, EIC

Gray Ledbetter Manes Pullen Salazar Tallmadge

Reporters

Amaro

Brace

Castanon

Coleman

Do

Fitzpatrick

Gaona

Hernandez Isbell

Jones

Kiahd

Leon Lopez

Macquinn

Mason

Mendez

Moomtin

Moore

Morales

Mulcare

Newberry

Orellana

Perez Portal Salgado

Sanchez Sandbergen Sellers Sparling

Kristen Coppola, Adviser Chip Greenwell, Principal

Corrections

The Talon strives for accuracy in its reporting and will correct all matters of fact. As The Talon is a limited print publication, all corrections will be made on the website promptly and prominently. If you believe the paper has printed an error, please send an email to hhsjour@rpsar.net.

Opinion

The columnists’ opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff, Rogers Heritage High School or Rogers Public Schools.

Memberships

The Talon is an institutional member of the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association.

Student Press

The Talon was created by students for students. It is a public forum for student expression, and all students are welcome to submit content, questions or letters for consideration to hhsjour@rpsar.net. The Talon is governed by the Arkansas Student Publications Act of 1995 (A.C.A. § 6-18).

Salazar

Latin Students show culture through dance at the student multicultural night on April 12.

SPORTS

May 7, 2024

Douglas Races for Degree

For the last four years Sage Douglas (12), a track athlete, has represented Rogers Heritage High School with outstanding performances and academic achievements.

Douglas did not participate in track during her years at Oakdale Middle School, but in her freshman year, she made the team and became a thrower. Junior year, Douglas made 9th place at state and has made Heritage history by being the 3rd overall for girls’ shot put.

“I’ve really enjoyed being in track and feel like I’ve made a lot of progress since freshman year. I wish I had known about it in Middle school so that I could have been ahead then from when I started. If that makes sense. But I feel good and the achievements I’ve made and that the program will continue to grow and be better,” said Douglas.

As she continues to improve and find success in track and field Douglas stays on top of her academic side having a 4.2 GPA and graduating with distinguished honors. She is also in 11 different clubs, some of which are RHA, DECA, ACC, Co-President of FCA, and she is President of NHS. Douglas is also a part of Heritage’s marching band and wind ensemble. She is the low reeds section leader and the only tenor in the wind ensemble for this season.

“Sage is an awesome person and really involved with all her activities on the campus, a great kid who manages all those different thiwngs and comes to practice every day focused and ready. She just has a great personality and I’ve enjoyed getting to know her through her senior year,” said Coach Rathke.

With track season almost over and the rest of the school year, Douglas has represented Heritage High School proudly and is committed to the University of Central Arkansas!

Track Records Are Broken

Moore Talon Staff

Throughout March and April, the HHS Track team has worked diligently and demonstrated countless accomplishments at their meets this season.

Athletes in Track and Field have worked hard during offseason and during season at practices and meets to accomplish their goals and exceed expectations.

Nine indoor and outdoor school records were broken this season by Ella Fosse (11), Bruce Payerli (11), Riley Sebolt (10), Maysie Church (10), Gabrielle Cuuchia (10), and Izzy Ulepich (12).

These athletes have made sure they are well prepared to compete by putting in extra effort in practices and on their own time.

“Trying hard at practice, going out of my way to run extra, and just staying as healthy as I can,” said Fosse.

Goodson Leaves Her Mark

Coleman Talon Staff

Senior #17 Brooklyn Goodson is wrapping up her final soccer season at Heritage High School.

After four seasons on the team, Goodson has left her mark on girls’ soccer with leadership on and off the field, focus, and positivity.

“The best thing about Brooklyn physically and mentally is she creates a calm presence on the field. When she has the ball at her feet she’s not freaking out, she stays calm,” said head Coach Megan Johnson.

Goodson is a crucial part of the girls’ soccer team on and off of the field. She is a supportive teammate and boosts those around her with her high spirit. Goodson has mastered being a relaxed but victorious player. She attributes her success to those around her.

“I want to thank all my teammates and all the coaches that have helped me throughout the years. All of that made me become a better player,” said Brooklyn Goodson (12).

Although Goodson has been playing soccer since she was four, she does not plan to continue sports in college.

Nevertheless, she still intends on going to college at the University of Arkansas to major in Food Nutrition and Health.

“We’re going to miss her positivity on the team. She’s always so positive. She’s never negative,” said Hallee Ball (12).

Goodson and the Lady War Eagles will go into the final game against Rogers on April 30 with a record of 3-2-2 and being 6th in conference. The girls soccer state tournament will begin May 9.

Boys Soccer Preps for State

Morales Talon Staff

In the final games of the season, the War Eagle boys soccer lost to Har-Ber 0-1 but beat Fayetteville 3-1 with a “hat trick” from Carter Ligi, qualifying the team for state.

Without the win against Fayetteville, they would’ve been in the same situation as last year where a victory against Rogers High would’ve been necessary to qualify for the state tournament. That 2023 game ended in heartbreak with a tie at home.

This year, the Rogers Mounties beat the War Eagles 6-1 in the final conference game, but the boys are still determined to make a comeback at state. They won’t let this loss dampen their spirits.

“That game was a very tough game for us, however, I think it was a big lesson for us. We’ll take that game as a way for us to become better going into this tournament,” said Jesse Martinez, center attacking midfielder.

“They shouldn’t let this loss get in their heads before state. We just need to practice and get our heads back in the game and remember just because we qualified for state doesn’t mean the race is over. It’s only begun,” said Wayne Levering, assistant coach for Heritage boys varsity soccer.

The boys have been working tirelessly all year, off-season and on-season, to get to the position that they are at now, so they are determined to try their best at state, regardless of the statistics.

“We are very excited to be at state this year. We have been preparing these past couple days and will continue in the coming days, so we will be ready to play our first game on Thursday against Cabot. We have been working really hard all season and will continue to work hard, ” said Martinez.

The boys will travel to their state tournament, which begins on May 9, and battle it out on the field with other schools in 6A West.

Fosse broke the outdoor 300IH school record with 45.27, the outdoor 100HH school record with 15.66, and the indoor school record for 400M with 60.79.

Payerli broke the outdoor school record for 300IH with an outstanding 38.71, the outdoor school record for 110HH with 14.63, the indoor school record for 200M with 22.52, and the indoor school record for 60HH with 8.49.

Fosse, Sebolt, Church, and Cuccia broke the indoor Girls 4x400 Relay school record with 4:20.34. Ulepich broke the indoor school record for shot put with 36-00.75.

War Eagle Track and Field continues to prove themselves and stay motivated at every meet and practice. There is always room for improvement, so they put in a considerable amount of effort to do better and succeed in their sport.

“I look at people who are better than me and I want to be them,” said Payerli.

Salazar

Heritage track athlete ties his shoes in preparation for his next competition.

Coleman

Goodson handles the ball during the April 19 match against Fort Smith Northside High School. The War Eagles and Bears tied 1-1.

Amaro Talon Staff

Heritage Wraps-Up Outdoor Season, Breaks School Records

FEATURES

Project Graduation Trip Honors Senior Class

Concerts Heat Up the Summer

As the summer season approaches, the Walmart AMP has many concerts in store that Heritage students are already preparing to attend.

Popular music artists like Maggie Rogers, 21 Savage, Tate McRae, Niall Horan, and more are coming to Rogers’ very own amphitheater. Since its establishment in 2014, the Walmart AMP has been a musical hotspot in NWA.

Heritage students seem to be mostly excited about rap artist 21 Savage touring here on May 18.

“I’m really excited to see the 21 Savage concert, it’s going to be a wonderful experience,” said Leo Mejia (10). “Redrum is my favorite song.”

While concerts can be a wonderful experience, it is important to know safety precautions to be able to fully and safely enjoy the experience. Here is what some students have to share for safety advice.

On April 18, Heritage High School celebrated their seniors with a day trip to Camp War Eagle, consisting of various activities, competitions and games that the seniors could participate in to make memories, win prizes and spend time with classmates before bidding farewell and starting the next chapter of their lives.

The school helped raise money for Project Graduation so there would be no cost for seniors since the goal is to celebrate seniors and to have the opportunity to bond with each other before graduation.

“Project Graduation has raised about $20,000. That has been done through a variety of means: parent donations, business donations, selling senior signs, and other fundraising events,” said Chip Greenwell, Heritage Principal.

Heritage carried out the

long-lasting tradition of providing seniors with one final field trip to celebrate how far they’ve come and the journey they are about to begin.

“Project Graduation has been around for three years,” said Amber Tallmadge, the lead coordinator of Project Graduation.

HHS had selected Camp War Eagle is that students went there last year.

“Camp War Eagle was selected because my understanding is that the students who went last year really enjoyed it and shared that it is a great location to celebrate graduation,” said Greenwell.

Seniors left the school at 8 a.m. Seniors went into the main gym and had breakfast before getting on buses to take them to Camp War Eagle. After the thirty-minute bus ride to Camp War Eagle the team there made announcements to all the seniors about the rules, schedule and where to get snacks and drinks. Then before everyone went off to

do their activities the seniors took a group photo, which was uploaded on the Heritage Instagram. There were many activities including gaga ball, volleyball, soccer, basketball, skateboarding, rock climbing, zip-lining, fishing, laser tag, pickleball and even a bouncy house.

“It was pretty fun. There were a lot of activities to do and we were very well-fed. I’m very happy that I did that instead of school and I’m very thankful for all the people who put it together. There was fishing, mini golf, laser tag and sports like basketball, soccer and skating. [I was] just enjoying a day with my friends and having a great day and enjoying life,” said Oliver Marr (12).

There were also prizes seniors were able to win, like mini-fridges, microwaves, an iPad, gift cards, and speakers. When it was time to leave Camp War Eagle everyone was handed an envelope with $20 and coupons for fast food places.

“When I went to Lana last year (in the Lawn pit) it was really crowded, really hot because it was early August, overwhelming, stressful, and a lot to deal with. When you go to concerts I’d say to bring (or buy) water, go with people you know if you are able to, and wear something comfortable,” said Brandon Sanchez (10).

At the AMP there is the general admission lawn section and sometimes a general admission pit section. In sections like these, they tend to be packed with people jumping, dancing, screaming, etc. With all of this body heat, it is very easy to get overheated and many people tend to pass out in these conditions. So it’s key to stay hydrated especially since the venue is outside. It also is important to watch your surroundings as people are constantly moving around.

With all this being said, concerts are an amazing way to spend your summer and the AMP provides many opportunities to do just that.

Heritage Performs Time-Bending Play “A Simpler Time”

On April 5, Heritage High School’s theater came together and performed their student-made production of “A Simpler Time” by Jonathan Dorf to an audience full of supporters.

A Simpler Time is a comedy about time-traveling. The play was performed in the school’s auditorium at 6:00 pm and was open to the public for 5 dollars per person.

“A Simpler Time is about three best friends, one of them made a time machine, and they search for a simpler time in society. Long story short, there isn’t a simpler time,” said Ashley Flesher (11).

We first meet our three teenagers as one is complaining about the current era and how awful it is. Fortunately, her friend Marley reveals she has created a time machine because of the amount of stress this

era was causing her. The teens then use the time machine to travel to different times, trying to find the simplest one. The first one is the medieval times when a young girl’s parents believed her to be a witch due to her refusal to marry a much older lord. They then travel to see the founding fathers but they find that time to be sexist and unequal. Hoping to find peace in good honest work, they head to the industrial revolution. However, the workers are incredibly mistreated and try many different methods to get a break on weekends, even faking death! By this point, the time machine has begun to wear out and a malfunction occurs when they try to fix it. The malfunction sends them to the future with a family that lives in a dystopian society where nature is fake! The family’s son is aware of all this and tries to make his clueless family see that it isn’t real. In desperation, he turns off

the nature simulation which leads to him being taken away for violating the rules. The last place they try to find simplicity is in an alternate universe. In this alternate universe, we see a mother trying to convince her daughter to go on a hike with her but the daughter is too busy playing a video game to care. The mom is worried that her daughter will turn out unsociable and friendless. This exact situation repeats itself but each time the mother in the last timeline is now the child complaining about hiking. In the end, the teenagers resolve that although there isn’t a simpler time and the best thing they can do is enjoy the current time to the fullest!

There were many moments during the play where the crowd laughed out loud. All of the joy created was from the wonderful cast of actors from Heritage’s theater program. Many of the actors plan to continue to act in the future.

“I’m planning on taking Theatre 3 and I also want to do the TheaterSquared Shakespeare Academy again,” said Flesher. Her cast member also intends to continue acting.

“I do see myself continuing to act in the future, even if it is just a small-town play because I love putting on a show for everyone and bringing people happiness,” said Morgan Overcash (10).

Part of the reason these actors want to get more experience in acting is because of the environment created while they prepare.

“The best part was on opening night when our time machine started falling apart. It was okay though since the time machine was meant to look like it was made of junk,” said Overcash.

Without a doubt, “A Simpler Time” was greatly executed by Heritage’s theater department and its group of excellent actors.

Pullen & Gillum Talon Staff

Salazar

Principal Chip Greenwell informs seniors of the day plan as they wait for buses to Camp War Eagle to arrive.

Hernandez Talon Staff

Perez Talon Staff

The Rise of Black Music

Newberry Talon Staff

Black music has had a profound and transformative impact on the music industry, shaping its landscape and influencing countless genres.

From the soulful sound of jazz to the rhythmic beat of hip-hop, black music has changed the ways we create, consume, and appreciate music. Black music is constantly breaking down racial barriers and expanding cultural boundaries.

“I think it’s great, I think it has a lot of rhythm. It starts with the drums of Africa and has been built up to the United States and around the world to really influence every other musical style,” said Akau Anyieth, science teacher and sponsor for the Black Student Association.

Black musicians have injected a rich amount of influences into the mainstream, inspiring generations of artists and listeners alike.

”It’s a way for black artists to

use their voice to eject or speak their opinion,” said Lilly Malloy (10).

The rise of black-owned record labels and the rise of independent platforms have empowered black artists to control their own narratives and amplify their voices.

Beyonce’s newest album “Cowboy Carter’’ has recently broken records with hit singles like “Texas Hold’ Em,” which made history by becoming the first country single by a black woman to top the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Beyonce also owns her own record label. The globalization of black music has created a cultural exchange and promoted understanding by creating a shared musical language that brings people together across continents.

Black music has challenged societal normalities, addressing issues of race, equality, and social injustice, making it a powerful force for change and fostering a collective awareness. Its enduring style of music continues to shape the music industry, ensuring that black voices continue to inspire.

Club Highlight: Esports

Every month, Heritage High School has “Club Friday,” where students can choose a club to attend during Advisory period in hopes of expanding interest in the various clubs and organizations at Heritage.

One such club is Esports.

“[Esports are like] traditional sports. For instance, basketball and football. It’s school teams competing against other schools. It’s video games,” said Coach Bobby Thompson, who also teaches computer science.

The Esports club is one of the many clubs offered at Heritage. Esports are a form of competition through video games. There are many different video games students can choose from like NBA 2k24 and Fifa. They even have the opportunity to compete in state tournaments against other schools.

“Majority of people like video games. It’s accessible to anyone, you don’t have to be tall or strong. You can get better quickly with practice,” Thompson said.

Listen on Spotify by scanning the QR code!

Playlist Features -

The Weeknd, Sza, Drake, Kanye West, Snoop Dog, Frank Ocean, Outkast, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Mariah Carey and More!

Will Met Gala Disappoint?

On the first Monday of May, or May 6, The Met Gala will be taking place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and will feature over 400 years worth of fashion evolution to raise money for the museum.

The Met Gala has been quite successful in previous years, averaging 8 figure sums, but some fans don’t believe that last year’s attendees kept with the theme and it caused the Met Gala to receive a lot of criticism. This year, the theme is “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakened Fashion” and the dress code is “The Garden of Time”. The hope and expectation is that the attendees will come with floral and botanical-themed styles, but some say they will be let down like last year.

“I hope that this year they follow the theme because every year they don’t follow it,” said Tony Interiano (11).

This year, the Met Gala will be held to a high standard and people are looking forward to seeing some of their favorite artists, celebrities, actors and more. The hosts this year are Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, Chris Hemsworth, and Bad Bunny.

The Met Gala is a way to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art costume. Last year the Met Gala made almost 22 million dollars for the museum. Some Heritage students want to see some Latin faces this year at the Met Gala, including Peso Pluma because of his recent rise to fame in the music industry.

“I really want Karol G and Natanael Cano to go to the Met Gala,” said Andrea Valladares(9).

People are very excited for the Met Gala and we can only hope for a great turnout with the theme and atmosphere. especially with the pressure of being able to go with the theme this year with all the people wanting a great event.

Heritage is a place that strives to foster creativity and independence. One of the ways they do this is by clubs.

“Student-created clubs are so important to our school community. These are opportunities for all of our students to find areas that interest them and are additional ways that they connect with their peers, teachers, and Heritage High School community as a whole. There are dozens of student-created clubs, with options for just about everyone,” said Chip Greenwell, Principal of Heritage High School.

Club Friday is a great way for students to participate in their school community and explore different potential interests through various clubs. Students can adapt new skills and meet new people. Club Friday allows students to step outside of the stress of school to do something that interests them. All in all, students at Heritage High School are encouraged to explore the clubs available to better prepare them for life outside of highschool and explore common interests.

Salazar

E-sport members practice their skills during a meeting on February 28.

Sanchez Talon Staff

Moomtin

Talon Staff

Collage by Newberry

A collage shows album covers of some of the most influential Black music artists today.

VOGUE Taiwan

Billie Eilish waves on the red carpet at the Met Gala on Sept. 13, 2021. The theme that year was “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.”

OPINION

May 7, 2024

TALON

Autism Awarness Month Informs, Brings Controversy

April was Autism Awareness Month, a time dedicated to illuminating the diverse experiences of autistic individuals, promoting acceptance and advocating for inclusion. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, it manifests in vari-

ous ways, impacting social interaction, communication, and behavior. However, it’s disheartening to witness how Autism has become trivialized and misconstrued, becoming the butt of jokes or stereotyped in a way that doesn’t shed serious light upon it.

This normalization that we have created undermines the complexity of autism, neglecting the diverse

spectrum of experiences and characteristics within the autistic community. It’s vital to recognize that not everyone with autism presents the same way, and each person deserves understanding, support, and respect.

People don’t understand that it’s not just a “trend”. Unfortunately, the challenges faced by individuals with autism are often overlooked by society. The daily struggle of navigating a world that isn’t always accommodating to their unique needs can be incredibly daunting. It’s crucial to realize that autism isn’t a “phase” or a new “thing” , it’s a fundamental aspect of a person’s identity that shapes almost every aspect of their life. Acknowledging the real difficulties faced by individuals with autism is essential for fostering a genuine understanding and creating a more inclusive society.

“Living with autism is very draining, especially without having support. What’s easy for neurotypical people takes a lot of preparation for me. Even just going to school is hard with all the bright lights, loud noises, and socializing. I also do this thing called ‘masking’ where you copy social cues of other people to fit in better. It’s very draining to constantly have to copy and second guess what you’re doing all day long,” said Jaela Parks (10).

While yes, we have specialized classrooms, many schools still

lack adequate accommodations for the sensory sensitivities and social challenges presented with autism. As said, bright lights, loud noises, and overwhelming social interactions can create significant barriers for learning and participation for these students.

We need to prioritize the creation of sensory-friendly environments throughout our school, including quiet rooms, calming sensory areas, and help to minimize sensory overload in classrooms and common areas. As schools strive to address these challenges we have insight from Rogers Public Schools Administrators.

“Trying to actually understand what autism is and what it is not- as well as the fact that it is a true spectrum and not all autism presents the same, we need more awareness. People may hear about autism but they don’t exactly know what it is. The more people that know and advocate the better.” said Courtney Garcia, Rogers Public School Administrator (Reagan Elementary).

In line with Courtney Garcia’s insight, it’s evident that while awareness about autism exists, there’s a pressing need for deeper understanding. It’s high time we prioritize the creation of truly inclusive environments to ensure that schools provide the support of the diverse needs of students on the spectrum.

Menstruation Products Should Be More Readily Available in Bathrooms, Regulation Enforced in Arkansas Schools

readily available to students.

Can you take a second and imagine how it would feel to start your period for the first time, or unexpectedly, and you go into the bathroom to grab a tampon from the dispenser, only to discover that they are completely empty?

At Heritage High School, girls can expect nothing more than an empty dispenser in the bathrooms. While the counseling office and the nurses’ office have tampons available to students in need of them, there still needs to be tampons in the bathrooms for reasons like anxiety, accessibility, and emergencies and the ones that are provided aren’t great quality.

“I think that if we want to make sure kids feel safe and belong in school, we have to create access to simple things like menstrual products. I do believe that there is a law in place now that Arkansas public schools and open chartered schools are to have free menstrual products available to students,” said Ashlye Pool, administrator.

Arkansas Act 933 says that schools, K-12, and local boards of education are required to provide period products in restrooms of Title 1 schools at no cost to students. Arkansas Act 933 allows public schools and open-enrollment public charter schools to use the funding to provide period products at no charge.

Yet the Heritage bathrooms still lack menstrual products that are

“No one likes dealing with their period, especially if it happens unexpectedly in public. People who menstruate, especially those who are young, should have a safety net. [Tampons] are [accessible to lowincome families], but they’re not at the same time. I know the nurse and the counselors’ office have period products that students can just take, but for one, not everyone knows about that, and two, they might feel uncomfortable or embarrassed doing so,” said Tate Hernandez (11).

Even when products are stocked in the bathrooms, they are comparable to the quality of sandpaper. While there are underlying issues, like funding, behind the lack of tampons and poor quality of the ones provided, there still needs to be more funding or more regulation done to improve this.

“I think that we should have free period products in school bathrooms. There are a lot of girls that get their period unexpectedly and it would be great to have that resource. I have noticed that there are rarely any period products in the dispensaries, and even when there are some, it’s super cheap,” said Angelina Garcia (11).

However, accessibility in schools isn’t the only concern. There are also concerns that low-income families don’t have enough accessibility either. Tampons should be federally regulated like other toiletries.

“I think period products should be free for everyone. A decent-sized

box of products is about $9-$13. Some people say that free products would be too expensive for the government or that they’re a luxury. Toilet paper and hand soaps are federally regulated, so period products can be too. And they’re not a luxury,” Hernandez said.

Tampons are expensive on their own, with inflation, COVID, and other individual family issues, the price of them has only gone up. Students should not have to worry about whether or not they have basic necessities, like tampons or pads.

“I do not think that menstrual products are easily accessible to low-income families, especially with the rising price of groceries in recent years. I think that the lowest quality of products is an accessible option, but I do not know if that is necessarily right or fair for a per-

son who biologically cannot control their cycle. These products are also not covered through government support because they have to be refilled regularly, which makes them expensive. But if families are struggling to afford them on their own...Make it make sense?” Pool said.

Even with the efforts of staff and other officials, periods are still a touchy subject and not entirely acceptable to talk about, so it makes it challenging, but still not impossible.

“There is still a lot of work to do when it comes to stuff like this. Periods are not a socially acceptable thing to talk about in general, so that makes it more difficult to communicate and raise awareness on where to locate these products across campus,” Pool said.

NARA & DVIDS Public Domain Archive Students from Johnson Primary School march for Autism Awareness Month at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina on April 4, 2014. Howard

The tampon dispenser in the Heritage bathroom is empty during school hours.

Howard Talon Staff

Barstow Talon Staff