Heritage Talon October 2023

Oct. 30, 2023

Rogers Heritage High School

Volume I, Issue I

The student forum of Heritage High School now BACK IN PRINT!

HHS Responds to SecurlyPass Gray & Perez Talon Staff

Construction professionals lay the cinder block for the Career Center expansion on Oct. 25.

Fraire

Career Education Is the Focus with Expansion Do & Salgado

sel mechanic shop, medical training facilities and construction trade facilTalon Staff ities,” Principal Chip Greenwell said.

Rogers School District is investThe orange fencing hides the ing in Career and Technical Educa- progress of the construction from tion (CTE) classes by expanding students, but the building should the Career Center at Heritage High be walkable and viewable at least School. by next year so that students can The Career Center, also known get a preview before choosing their as the CC building, has been under classes. construction since June. The expan“It should be open and ready to sion should be complete by April go before the next school year,” said 2024.

Jacob Morris, who teaches health“We are expanding the CC build- field classes and is the CTE departing to have classes like having a die- ment chair. “We are still working on

the individual classes that will be offered, but we should have a better understanding of that before class registration.”

The slate of classes that will be offered in the expanded CC building will vastly expand the CTE programs available to students within the entire district.

“We will have programs for medical students, automotive students, students interested in diesel mechanics, agricultural students, machine tool students and also for construction students,” Morris said.

Students at Rogers Heritage High School have a new system to handle hall passes.

The SecurlyPass system, commonly referred to as ePass by students and teachers, was introduced this year in an effort to decrease tardies and absences among students.

It was discovered by Brian Walker, a teacher on special assignment, after conducting research to address this issue.

He found that one of the best ways to mitigate high rates of students out of class was to use a check-in, check-out system.

Enter: ePass.

The ePass is a digital system that allows students to create passes and gives real-time data to administrators and teachers of which students are out of class, for how long, and where they are headed.

It also provides limits for problems recognized by admin and teachers over the years. Specifically, students can only create three passes in one day, and locations have caps on how many students can have passes at the same time.

ePass continued on p. 2

Bus Safety a Priority at RPS

Barstow

Talon Editor With Bus Safety Week in the rearview mirror, Heritage High switches gears to prioritize the safety of the students during their daily commutes. This annual event shines a spotlight on the importance of ensuring that school buses remain one of the safest modes of transportation for children.

Bus Safety Week raises awareness about the crucial measures and precautions necessary to ensure the safety of passengers and drivers on the roads. Scott Ennis, Transportation 2, was interviewed regarding the lengths taken to ensure safety on school buses.

“Every morning the buses have

to run through a 15 minute Pre-trip and check multiple things before going on their routes. Including checking the oil, tires, safety triangles, and seeing if there is a first aid kit and fire extinguisher. All of our buses have cameras and every bus driver in the district is certified in a class B license.” Enis said.

They also take special precautions in certain situations where they are needed.

“Not only that, but for our special needs buses there are two people, one driver, and one overseer to secure the students and stay with them. Evacuations with students are done and demonstrations are timed.”

Bringing Composting to HHS p. 4

Bus continued on p. 2

Salazar

Students load onto the buses behind the Commons after school on Oct. 26.

de Vera’s Tennis Legacy p. 7

Showdown on Dress Codes! p. 3

“I thought it was a really great opportunity to serve as a leader in a school setting.”

- Dr. Steven Weber in “Meet the Admin” p. 4

2

NEWS

ePass

“The hallways seem calmer,” said Kristie Daut, the English department chair.

To use ePass, students login to the app or website via Google with their RPS information. Then, they create a pass which is sent to the teacher for approval. After approval, their pass keeps track of how long the student was out of class. If a student is out for longer than 10 minutes the pass turns from green to yellow, flagging the student on the app.

Students can use an ePass for any reason they’d need to be out of class, from bathroom breaks, to going to the nurse, to bringing forms to the office.

Other students feel that there are flaws in the system and are bothered by the process of completing an online form when the wireless connection can sometimes be unreliable.

“It works but maybe enforce it more and make sure every teacher knows how to use it,” said Rylan Eberhardy (11).

“I think that the ePass system is not living up to its full potential because students and teachers are confused on how to use it and some teachers don’t enforce it as much as they should. A possible solution to this problem could be to have a “cheat sheet” or guide of all the basics on how to use this new system, or any new systems, so teachers can reflect back on it whenever they are confused,” said Jessie Varnell (10) Walker expected that it would take time for everyone to learn how to use the e-Pass, but he believes that efficiency and accessibility will only increase as students and teachers get used to it.

Oct. 30, 2023

THE TALON from p. 1

“I think it’s new for everyone so when you implement something that’s new and it’s a process driven initiative, I think there’s [a period of] growth,” Walker said. “Students are growing and utilizing it, and teachers are having to grow to learn how to use it for the best practice for them.”

Developing a practice that works in the classroom is exactly what Daut has done for her College Composition students. She has placed a chromebook at the front of her room for students to accept and end their pass on their own to prevent disruptions during her teaching.

Daut finds this to be very helpful and encourages other teachers to find what works best for their students, to ensure that everyone stays dedicated to the process.

“I just think all offices and teachers have to use it consistently or it’s not going to work,” she said.

Before ePass, many teachers said they had difficulties keeping their students in class and out of

trouble. However, with ePass, they said students have recognized the consequences of staying out for too long and have done their best to keep their times low and their breaks to a minimum.

The e-hallpass system has been helpful for both students and teachers. Students are able to go where they are needed while also missing less class. Teachers will feel comfortable letting students go with the knowledge that they can keep track of the time they’re gone and that other teachers are looking out for their students.

Despite the differing opinions, Heritage High School will continue to use the Securlypass system in hopes of keeping their current report on students being at school.

Heritage High School teachers and students will continue to grow and adapt to the new system over time and students will begin to reap the benefits of being timely and present in class and learn the importance of being timely and present in class.

Barstow Gray

Ledbetter

A student waits for her teacher to approve her hallpass so that she can go to the bathroom. This wait time is often a typical part of the ePass routine.

Howard

Angeline Garcia (11) researches her topic for her semi-finals round on Oct. 7.

Debate Qualifies for State Talon Staff

The Heritage debate team competed at Bentonville High School and qualified 5 percent of the overall team for state during the first weekend in October.

Student leaders competed at the tournament in Bentonville and did particularly well progressing through the rounds in International Public Debate (IPDA).

“My experience was pretty good,” said Cecily Campbell (9).

“It wasn’t as bad as I was thinking, it was actually pretty fun.”

Howard, EIC Ledbetter Manes

Reporters

Bus

Amaro, Brace, Moore & Sanchez

Editorial Staff

Tate Hernandez (11) placed first in varsity IPDA overall and was the third place speaker. Angeline Garcia (11) placed number two overall in varsity IPDA and was the sixth place speaker. Campbell was the number one speaker in novice IPDA. “Debate tournaments can get really tense. Being able to handle my anxiety well helped me get to where I got,” Hernandez said.

There are four more qualifying tournaments before the championships in March and April. Heritage will host its own online tournament during the first weekend of December.

from p. 1

Extreme lengths and measures are taken to guarantee bus safety.

Not only that but the drivers themselves take great care of the kids and make sure everyone is safe at all times. However, students are the ones riding the bus, therefore they should be heard as well.

“Throughout my experience of taking the bus since freshman year, I have never felt unsafe riding the bus, sure it’s loud at times but I always feel at ease, our bus drivers are always direct and concise in regards to the bus procedures, and they always make sure I get home on time.” Zaid Aguayo (11) said.

With the teachers helping after school every day to make sure students don’t miss their bus, it’s evident that Heritage values bus safety.

During this past week, the focus was on educating both students and the community about bus safety measures, from responsible bus behavior to driver awareness. It was a week dedicated to reaffirming the commitment to protecting the well being of Arkansas students who ride the bus.

Thank you to these members of The Hertiage yearbook staff for their assistance on the paper!

Fraire Salazar Sickels Tallmadge

Amaro Brace Castanon Coleman Do Easter Fitzpatrick Gaona Hernandez Isbell Jones Kiahd Leon Lopez Macquinn Mason

Mendez Moomtin Moore Morales Mulcare Newberry Orellana Perez Portal Pullen 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).

OPINION Oct. 30, 2023

THE TALON

3

Opinion Showdown: Should Schools Have Dress Codes?

Pullen

No!

Talon Reporter School dress codes perpetuate sexism against women, constraining their freedom of expression and reinforcing gender bias in many ways.

According to a report released in 2022 by the Government Accountability Office, 90 percent of dress codes prohibit clothing items typically associated with girls, meaning dress code policies are unfairly targeted towards women’s clothing and have become a constant issue within the school environment.

“I’ve been dress-coded at least once every year,” said Myriam Cano (11). “I would definitely agree that the dress code is sexist. I feel like they sexualize women’s bodies a lot more than men.”

The official Rogers dress code states that students are prohibited from wearing clothing that exposes the underwear, buttocks or the chest.

While this doesn’t specifically say anything directly pointed towards women’s clothing, when was the last time you saw a crop top or mini skirt in the men’s section? The dress code can be a good regulation for clothing that is offensive or harmful. However, the majority of the rules are targeted towards clothes that women wear and thus adding to the level of unfairness for female students.

“The dress code is extremely sexist,” said Angelina Garcia (11). “I’ve only been dress-coded by male teachers. It makes me feel uncomfortable because why are teachers looking at my clothing and over-sexualizing it?”

Garcia has never received a dress code violation from a female teacher, and she believes this is emblematic of the issue.

“I feel like allowing male teachers to dress code females over something so little as a bra strap showing or a spaghetti strap seems extreme and weird and a very inappropriate view to have on students, more specifically, women,” Garcia said.

The dress code on the district page never says anything about showing your shoulders or wearing thin straps.

So why do women constantly get in trouble or get told to cover up? Is it possible the real issue here is the teachers abusing their power of authority and dress coding students for issues not mentioned in the hand book?

“You know, I do think that it’s an unfortunate system where girls get dress-coded more often than boys,” said Christhian Saavedra, Heritage’s Student Success Coordinator.

“I don’t have data to support that [females get dress-coded more than males,] but if you were asking my opinion I would say that it might trend more towards females,” said Brian Walker, a teacher on special assignment.

With even our school’s own staff agreeing that the dress code is targeted towards women, what else is needed to make a change?

Dress codes make women feel ashamed for the body they are given at birth; they are scared that expressing their own style could get them in trouble by male teachers oversexualizing their outfits and bodies. Sexism is a broader and more deeper issue. However, we can start the change by making people of Heritage more aware of the sexism behind the school dress codes.

Macquinn

Yes!

Talon Reporter

A well-maintained dress code isn’t just about appearance; it’s a powerful tool that promotes respect, professionalism, and a cohesive atmosphere.

Dress codes have always been a big controversy and while the

“I think the dress code is very misogynistic and sexist specifically when it comes to sports wear.

I feel it’s not appropriate that men can show off half of their body when women can’t even show off their shoulders or thighs without it being a problem.”

“I feel like we need dress code rules for our school. I think it helps us focus on our studies more than just looking at each other’s clothing.”

Joel Jimenez (9)

majority of students dislike dress codes, it has been proven to be the best option as far as clothing in school. Dress codes create more of a professional environment, increase productivity, and foster respect for yourself and others.

“I think it’s all going back to if a student is wearing something that can affect the ability for students to learn. Like wearing inappropriate branding or drugs or alcohol imaging. If it’s gonna create distractions for students to learn, then I’ll have an issue.

Girls get dress-coded more often than boys, but I know that students communicate through clothes. Personally, that’s why I dress how I do,” said Christhian Saavedra, Heritage Student Success Coordinator.

With students becoming more relaxed and trends changing, more and more types of clothing start to become acceptable in today’s standards. This type of dress is wildly inappropriate. While not everyone sees this as a problem, a learning environment should not be this relaxed on dress code. Many students, including myself, agree with this statement.

“I think dress codes can be whack but I don’t think students should come to school with their cleavage out or their pants sagging down to the floor,” said Leslie Rodrigues (10).

Dress codes are fundamental for a proper education and cause less distractions within the school environment. While some students believe in the spirit of free dressing, I believe that there should be limitations put back in place to have some sense of order in our schools dress code. Not having these limitations is a major problem because students are not dressing with self-respect. Dressing outside of school is not the same as dressing in school.

Abigail Moseley (12)

“I don’t think it’s a problem just because of the fact that guys can be held responsible for where they look and if girls are wearing revealing clothing.”

“It should have a few changes; I feel like it is biased towards women.”

Sadie Dark (9)

Tyler McFann (10)

FEATURES 4

Oct. 30, 2023

THE TALON

Developing photographers join teen Dr. Weber mentorship program at Crystal Bridges Manes, Howard & Fitzpatrick Meet the Admin:

Coleman & Mendez

Talon Staff

This year, there are four new administrators in the main office of Heritage High School. The Talon will be doing profiles of each of the new principals in our print issues, starting with Assistant Principal Dr. Steven Weber. ***

A quarter of the way through the new school year, Weber is settling into his role and appreciating the rich community that Heritage provides.

“I got the opportunity to interview for the job this summer. I had heard about Heritage and heard about the students, teachers and traditions, and I thought that was a good fit for where I was in my career with my skills,” Weber said. “I thought it was a really great opportunity to serve as a leader in a school setting.”

Weber has years of practical experience as well as his doctorate in education.

“I’ve been a leader in schools, school districts and at two state departments of education, so I’ve had a lot of leadership jobs but this one gave me the opportunity to get back close with students and teachers in a school,” he said. “I was excited for the opportunity to work closely with students and teachers, instead of at a district level.”

Weber also has an interesting life outside of school with lots of hobbies and a deep love for the University of Arkansas.

“I enjoy riding a bike on the greenway, and I enjoy going to Razorback baseball games, and other Razorback games, but Razorback baseball is the one I enjoy the most,” Weber said.

He also is married and has children, both grown.

“I have a wife named Mariah, and we have two children, Brayden and Brook,” he said. “Brayden is 27 and Brook is 21. We have a daughter-in-law and a grandson. My daughter is a senior at the University of Arkansas. I grew up in Springdale and played basketball for Springdale highschool, so I used to play on this campus when it was the Rogers Mounties.”

He grew up in NWA but moved away for about a decade.

“I started working as a teacher in West Memphis Arkansas, and I got a job as an assistant principal. Then, eventually I moved to North Carolina for twelve years. So, we spent 12 years in North Carolina and raised our kids there and I had different jobs in education.”Weber said.

He had many previous jobs in education but he wanted a change and wanted to work closer to the students.

“I’ve worked at the Arkansas Department of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as a social studies curriculum coordinator. This job gives me the opportunity to work with curriculum, instruction, teaching, learning, and supporting the goals of the school,” he said.

Heritage High School is excited to have Dr. Weber on the team and is hopeful for all that he has to offer.

as a commercial photographer, then soon became the first woman to become chief photographer.

Leibovitz still contributes to Vanity Fair and Vogue, and is considered one of the most influential photographers of our generation.

Through the mentorship class, called Beyond the Lens, teens get a once-in-a-lifetime experience During Leibovitz’s mentorship class, Beyond The Lens, teens had

a once and a lifetime experience to learn about photography. ParticTalon Staff ipants in the mentorship program This fall, Heritage students get their work displayed in the stuare receiving the opportunity to dio at Crystal Bridges. develop their photography skills “We learned about all the difas a part of a mentorship program ferent lightings to capture difoffered through Crystal Bridges ferent emotions. We also learned taught by Annie Leibovitz. about the angles of a camera to Leibovitz is most known for make someone look very domher celebrity portraits. She was inant or feminine,” said Isabel hired by Rolling Stone magazine Salazar (12).

Beyond the Lens is one of the many programs Leibovitz has taught. This mentorship program is designed for anyone of any skill level. In the program teens will learn everything from using a camera to how to display and network their art. The program contains two meetings with their mentors, submission of art, showcase, and the final exhibition. Teens will discover new tips and tricks to make them a more successful artist.

“It’s showing us the right way to take photos, the right ways to be in the industry,” said Shelbie Whitson (12).

The artwork created by the teens involved in the mentorship program will be displayed in the museum on Salazar January 28. The last day the exhibition “Annie Leibotitvz at Work” Annie Leibovitz speaks to teens in front of her exhibit at Crystal Bridges on is open is until January 29.

Sept. 16.

New Club Promotes Composting at Heritage

Ledbetter

Members of Friends of the Earth make a poster for their table at club fair on Oct. 6. Sarah Davis (9), Mackenzie Burkhart (11), Ella Siwiec (9), Stella Decker (11), Melissa Holtby (12) and Fiona Pearce (11) advocate for composting and other sustainability efforts to protect the environment.

Ledbetter & Castanon Talon Staff

After noticing a lack of sustainability efforts during lunch, Fiona Pearch (11) founded Friends of the Earth to address the issue by composting.

Students at Heritage are allowed to choose where they eat. Many, with teacher permission, choose to eat with their friends in their favorite classes. Since Friends of the Earth wants to bring compost to the cafeteria, they are putting bins in the classrooms with the most students at lunch.

“At my old school we had a compost club in the cafeteria. I liked that we had the option to keep more

waste out of the landfill, so when I transferred here and we didn’t have anything like that I thought it would be a good idea to bring composting to HHS,” Pearce said.

Students in Friends of the Earth will be getting community service hours for every meeting they go to and for all projects they participate in. Pearce keeps records of when each person goes so no one loses track. They sign in every meeting and they have all their information on Google Classroom.

The Google Classroom is controlled by the sponsor, David Schlesinger, who teaches science.

Pearce has also created a Remind for people in the club. She lets them know if they are having meetings,

when meetings are, and any updates about the club.

“Fiona Pearce came up to me one day with the interest of starting a club and asked if I would be willing to be her sponsor for a club, and I loved seeing her take such an initiative and being excited about compost so I happily accepted,” Schlesinger said.

You can find signs of the club in some classrooms and around the school making a difference not only on school grounds but within the community as a whole. It may seem like it’s only making a small difference, but Pearce and her club feel confident that a little sustainability will go a long way.

Friends of the Earth meets after school on Thursdays in E110.

Oct. 30, 2023

THE TALON

FEATURES

5

Heritage Students Embrace Layers and Fall Fashion Trends

Kiahd & Leon Talon Staff

As the fall season is approaching, students need to prepare for the cool weather. Several students have been interviewed about their choices on clothing to wear during the harvest season and have provided useful tips to give additional help to those who struggle with seasonal wardrobe.

“Plaid, jeans and different shades of brown,” said Jennifer Lopez (9). Shades of brown are often seen as seasonal during autumn.

Most students chose to wear hoodies over jackets so they can be warm and stylish while comfortable. Girls like to wear different shades of fall colors like browns, orange and yellow. Plaid is an excellent choice because it is the official print of fall and it is easily

paired with a variety of clothing.

Boys like to dress in baggy style jeans and pair it with sweaters or hoodies that are a mixture of warm and cool toned colors.

“I usually just wear baggy pants and a gray sweater,” said Abraham Baldarrama (10). Majority of the students recommended wearing Uggs as a shoe option.

They are a great choice and go with many outfits.

This is a really popular clothing combination that many students wear regardless of the weather, but overall it is really comfortable to wear during autumn. Fall weather is generally cooler than summer so wearing outfits that cover up more is something to consider while choosing an outfit. These are the classics of fall and are the most popular Kiahd choices by students at Heritage Uggs are popular among students for their warmth and style. Many students High School. also opt for sweatpants to stay casual and cozy.

The Soundtrack of the Halls Orellana & Lopez Talon Staff

Over the course of a couple weeks, countless interviews have been held to discover the music taste flowing through our hallways. We heard a lot of Heritage students with similar interests.

They told us about Daniel Caesar, Tyler the Creator, Peso Pluma, Lana Del Rey, Danny Lux and more.

Each student was asked three questions: (1) What is your top artist? (2) What is your top song? and (3) What is a song you recommend?

“My top artist is Tyler the Creator and Frank Ocean, and my favorite song currently is ‘Novacane,’ by Frank Ocean,” said Orellana Yesenia Martinez (9). “ A song I Students frequently wear their headphones in the halls. We asked them what recommend is ‘Cool with You’ by

NewJeans.”

“My top listen right now is ‘Tiroteo’ by Marc Segui,” said Jesus Rodriguez (9). “My top creator is Kanye West, and a song I would recommend to anyone is ‘Love’ by Keyshia Cole.”

We compiled all of the recommendations into a Spotify playlist to capture the sound of our school.

Scan the QR code below to listen!

they’re listening to between classes.

13 Spooky Scary Movies to Watch on Halloween

Hernandez

Talon Reporter

4. Alien

speeding train during a zombie outbreak in South Korea.

In deep space a crew on a spaceship investigates a distress call from 8. The Curse of Franken1. Halloween an alien vessel. The terror begins stein Six-year-old Michael kills his sis- when the crew encounters a nest of A scientist who reanimates a ter and was locked away for 15 years eggs.An organism from inside the deceased body makes Frankenstein, and escapes and returns for his next egg attacks the crew. resulting muder and mayhem. This is victims.

5. The Texas Chain Saw perfect for old-school horror fans.

2. The Shining

Massacre

In an isolated hotel Jack and his After a detour to a family’s old family stay at Jack’s son, Danny, who farmhouse they find a crazed, muris plagued by psychic premonition. derous outcast living next door that Jack discovers the dark secrets of the attacks them one by one. hotel and transforms into a homicidal 6. Evil Dead 2 maniac, terrorizing his family.

Ash Willams battles horrifying 3. The Blair Witch Project demons at a secluded cabin in the Students travel to a small town to woods. film a documentary about the Blair witch, a legendary local murderer, 7. Train to Busan A man and daughter and othand lose their way in the woods, hearer passengers become trapped on a ing horrific noises.

11. Final Destination

Alex and other survivors have briefly cheated death, but will not be able to evade their fate for very long. One by one these fugitives from fate fall victim to the grim reaper.

12. The House of the Devil

After exploring the sinister-seeming house Samantha soon comes to realize that her employers are hiding Teenagers fall prey to Freddy a horrifying secret and have plans to Krueger in their dreams. When killed use her, dead or alive. in their dreams, they are killed in their 13. FRIDAY The 13th reality.

Young people Jack, Alice, Bill, 10. Scream Marcie and Ned pay a little heed to A masked, knife-weilding mathe old-timers. Then they find themniac stalks high school students and selves stalked by a brutal killer. As kills them. This is a great movie for they’re slashed, shot and stabbed fans of slashers who appreciate comthe counselors struggle to stay alive mentary on the horror genre. against a merciless opponent.

9. A Nightmare on Elm Street

6

SPECIAL COVERAGE

Oct. 30, 2023

THE TALON

UNDER PRESSURE Photos by Fraire, Story by Howard

One-twenty over 80.

Heritage students learned that this is the ideal blood pressure in the class Foundations of Healthcare, taught by Jacob Morris.

Most students who take this class are interested in a career in medicine, like being a doctor or nurse.

This class’s purpose is to teach students the basic material they will need to advance in the medical field. The class is open to any student in Heritage, no matter their grade.

Students in Foundations of Healthcare started the Vital Signs unit with learning how to measure and record vital signs, temperature, respirations, apical pulse, and finally, blood pressure.

“I learned how to take somebody’s blood pressure.

I’m planning on being a nurse so I’ll apply this to my patients,” said Bayleigh Joe (11).

“We are learning how to take blood pressure and pulse and then we learned about the history [of healthcare]. I plan to go into the medical field, so whatever I learn here I can use there,”said Presley Atkins (9).

Heritage offers many classes that are hands-on learning. For example, the shop classes in the CC building, the medical classes, etc. These classes are extremely beneficial and are heavily recommended throughout the school.

“I would recommend this class to somebody else. I feel pretty confident in the class. Everything seems pretty self-explanatory and easy to understand,” Joe said.

Atkins believes the class helped her get a quick look into her future and verified that she wants to follow through with a career in the medical field.

“I would definitely recommend this class to someone else. I am happy I took this class because it is giving me insight to what I will do in the future.

This class makes me feel better about the future,” Atkins said.

Heritage offers various hands-on learning opportunities and classes around campus that many students urge are extremely beneficial. Students retain 75% of information when they use hands-on learning. If anyone is unsure about there future or what they want to do, hands-on classes are there to provide a glimpse into what it would be like to work in that profession.

Students in Foundations of Healthcare plan to continue to perfect their skills and knowledge on the subject over the next few weeks to obtain their goal of a complete understanding of vital signs.

Jacob Morris demonstrates by measuring the blood pressure of Isaiah Guerrero (12) on Oct. 27. Foundations of Healthcare is a prerequisite for many of the health classes offered in Heritage High School’s Career and Technical Education department.

SPORTS THE TALON

Oct. 30, 2023

7

de Vera Leaves Her Legacy With State Championship Sellers & Tallmadge Talon Staff

On Oct. 10, Stella de Vera (12) and the girls tennis team won the 6A state tournament for singles and teams, respectively, at home in front of fans.

After getting second place last year, de Vera returned with a focus on practice and was determined to win, especially at home as this was the first time Heritage hosted the state tournament in a decade.

As the no. 1 seed after the conference tournament, de Vera received a bye in the first game.

In the second round, de Vera won against Mary Claire Wooldridge from Conway (6-1,6-0), advancing to the semi-finals. The next day, de Vera competed against Evie Sandlin from Fayetteville and qualified for finals after winning 6-0, 6-1.

In the final match against Caroline Jones from North Little Rock, de Vera won the first set 6-3. However, Jones kept her focus and forced a third set after winning the second 6-4.

With the pressure of potentially repeating the outcome of the 2022 Salazar state tournament and falling short Stella de Vera (12) plays in the championship singles match at Heritage High during finals, de Vera drew confiSchool on Oct. 10. dence from her cheering teammates

Dingle Shines Thrice as Bright Isbell & Newberry Talon Staff

Amere Dingle (12) has proven to be a formidable triple threat for the War Eagles, showcasing exceptional skills in a diverse range of athletic pursuits, including football, cheerleading and basketball.

“He is a good example, leadership-wise, and has the ability to play hard and not give up, which rubs off on his teammates. That’s a compliment to him and a complement to his team,” Coach Tom Olsen said.

This football season Dingle has rushed for more than 300 yards, scoring 6 touchdowns with 60 carries.

Dingle is a star athlete, not only for RHHS football, but for the cheer and basketball teams, too. His dedication to the game and passion for winning has been an inspiration to his teammates. He continues to do so by showing that hard work and commitment pays off.

He is a great player, a great leader, and a great student on and off the court. He is always offering words

and a the crowd of Heritage students, which grew as school was dismissed.

The pressure was on in the final set, but de Vera played phenomenally. Each ball she hit was calculated and intentional. Ultimately, de Vera prevailed. She won the third set 6-2, clenching the state championship. This was the first individual state championship for tennis that Heritage has had since 2011*.

“Considering I’ve been playing since I was four, winning state justified all the work I’ve put in and was a way to show my achievements in tennis to my coaches and family,” de Vera said. “I’m a fourth generation tennis player on my dad’s side, and I felt like I had to win to honor my ancestors.”

The singles victories by de Vera contributed to the seven team points earned by HHS girls tennis, resulting in their co-state championship with Bentonville High School.

After being selected as an allstate athlete, de Vera competed and won the overall individual tennis championship, again defeating Jones in finals after splitting sets, with a score of 6-1, 2-6, 6-3. She ended her high school tennis career as the conference, state, and overall champion for all of Arkansas.

“Coaching Stella has been amazing,” Coach Taylor Tinsley said. “She is the type of person and athlete that every coach wants to have on their team. She is a great leader and teammate and does everything the right way.”

After a successful senior season, de Vera has begun to consider whether she will continue to play tennis in college.

“I would like to play college tennis at an art school,” she said. “I want to major in industrial design and be a famous athletic footwear or clothing designer for name brand athletic sportswear companies.

Playing tennis while studying art would be a dream.”

of encouragement to his teammates and helping them to strive for excellence. He is the type of player that is willing to put in the extra effort to help his team succeed.

He is a good example to his teammates and others of what it takes to be successful. He has an evident impact on his teammates and peers.

“I met him the summer before my sophomore year. He came and we were all wondering where this kid came from. We knew he came from Southside and he’s been through some things but he pushed through. He’s faced a lot of adversity, especially when we played Southside, they were talking mad crazy, but that didn’t stop him and he still pushed forward,” Jovany Garcia (12) said.

“He’s a dawg. He’s brought into all sports. He’s a great teammate, and a great leader. He keeps us on track and keeps us motivated,” Max Howard (11) said.

You can see Dingle in action Ketkeorasmy (The Heritage archive) next on Nov. 15 for competitive Amere Dingle (12) speaks to the students during a pep rally to encourage them cheer and on the court on Dec. 7 at to come support the War Eagles at the first home football game on Aug. 25. the first home basketball game.

8

PHOTO ESSAY

Oct. 30, 2023

THE TALON

A Spooky Season at Heritage Photos and Story by Mulcare

As the leaves start to turn orange, and the chilly mornings begin to near, it can only mean one thing. Halloween is near!

With the pumpkin carvings and pie, the spooky haunted houses, the scrumptious candy, and the multitude of costumes that are worn each year, students at Heritage High School are looking forward to this holiday season.

At

Heritage

High

School,

students are eagerly counting down the days to this thrilling holiday celebration.

“I’m super stoked to go out with my friends; we’re planning to hit up a couple haunted houses and possibly a pumpkin patch,” said Ryan Swope (11). “I also can’t wait for the loads of candy that’ll last me months.”

The

Heritage

staff

helped

to prepare the school for the upcoming holiday by planting little

decorations

around

the

school. These decorations add a thrilling mood and excitement as well as a very good school spirit.

No pun intended. The garden wasn’t necessarily intentionally decorated for Halloween, but the plants were a perfect pumpkin orange, making extra festive by itself.

“Ryan and I are definitely ‘tping’ a house, most likely our friend Jacob’s. He isn’t gonna be too happy about it but it’ll be worth it in the end,” said Jared Kim (11).

To say the least, it’s clear that these students and staff are prepared and excited for this holiday season. The school spirit brings us all together in hopes of celebration and treats.