A Magical Musical Journey
Do schools no longer represent a safe environment for immigrant children?
Article written by Daviana Herrera Gonzalez
“Our schools aren’t safe, which is bad enough. On top of that our kids aren’t learning. Too many are dropping out of school and into street life...” The America We Deserve by Donald J. Trump, 2000.
What does it mean for a school to be “safe”? Is it how much law enforcement they have, or the area? Perhaps the enactment of the 14th Amendment which gives equal education to students regardless of their immigration status?
School safety is a demand that the U.S. government works tirelessly to satisfy. However, in its attempt to secure schools, it has deviated from its purpose, and instead fortified them against a nonexistant threat. January 20th marked an important decision made by the Trump administration regarding the matter: The rescinding of a policy protecting immigrants against arrests in "sensitive locations" This with the purpose of decreasing the rates of illegal immigrants in the United states by creating fear and a sense that there is no place where they should feel protected. Citizens and non-citizens alike have begun to question the level of protection students have against these decisions. In his book which was published 25 years ago, Donald Trump mentions his concern about sudents not attending school and having a poor lifestyle as consequence.
The only thing left to ask is: How will the decrease of undocumented students in schools better the remains of the American education system?
Photograph: Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror
communicated, the Superintendent sent out a letter to parents or published it in one of the newsletters, but they basically said that at all times, they will not allow ICE on campuses so that students have protection. The policy is that the school would contact the district lawyers and then they would let them know what the correct procedure was. But they would not allow ICE agents into the school to go into classrooms or to call down students to be taken from classrooms.
-There are these little red cards that talk about the rights an immigrant has when being questioned by an officer, given that Dobson has a majorly Hispanic student community do you believe teachers should be able to give those cards out? Would you support that?
C.M. : I would say that our district is more conservative, I don't know that our district would approve of that. Do I personally think that we should be allowed? It is a concern, so I do think, I mean we do work with organizations in the communities. We do have resources for our students. I know for example there is like a migrant program...but yes, I do think that we should be able to give those to students if that is a big concern.
Education is a right that regardless of citizenship, should be provided to those who reside in the nation. In order to adhere to their mission, schools around the United States must uphold the value of student safety which is fundamental for a functioning academic sy
If twenty five years ago the President had the same ideals, The only thing left to ask is: How will the decrease of undocumented students in schools better the remains of the American education system?
Photograph: Refugee Services Collaborative of Greater Cleveland
SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH MEAT MARKET VINTAGE GOODS
Article &
Vintage Appeal
by Penni Medlen
photos
Are you looking for a cool vintage spot where you can find everything from street wear, y2k, vintage, and even formal attire? If so, you're in luck! Meat Market Vintage Goods is located on Main Street in Downtown Mesa. I stopped in and talked with the co-owners and founders, Luke Buehler (22) & Jon Nguyen (23), for an exclusive interview. Below are their responses to our questions to get to know them better.
What made you want to start this business?
M: ”We always loved old clothing and fashion in general. From a young age, we both had people we looked up to, showing us what they thought was cool. As time went on, we developed our own sense of style. We curated enough stuff to want to do vintage flea markets for other small businesses, then… eventually we had enough to take on an opportunity to start a small shop. We love doing this everyday as a hobby so why not as a shop? It's like inviting people into your home. That's what I like the most.”
What inspires you the most?
M: “Personally, the 1 thing that inspires us the most at this current moment is probably old, turn-of-the-century workwear photos. As far as shop wise we get heavily inspired by shops all across the world. We especially get inspired by shops in NYC and Japan. That’s in our eyes, where it’s at as far as aesthetics go.”
What makes you most happy doing what you do
M: “What makes us most happy is the genuine connections that get sparked from being in the shop Seeing familiar faces on a day-to-day basis, knowing we must be doing something right.”
What are your goals?
M: “Our goals are to aspire to be running this shop in Downtown Mesa for as long as we possibly can. And as long as we’re both still kicking it (alive), it’ll remain., Jon does chain stitching, sewing, and has a family life. Luke has a band, and also draws on old corduroy pants (what is known as senior cords).”
A Magical
Band, orchestra and choir students traveled to California to learn from professionals in the entertainment industry. After a long day of traveling, the students enjoyed some jazz at the Soyara. Unfortunately, per the rules provided to the students by the Soyara, I was unable to obtain many photos of the performance. The next day, after a nice breakfast at the hotel, the students went to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. My favorite exhibit at the museum was the Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema. Later in the day, the band and choir went to The University of Southern California for music clinics. The student then ended the day on the Hollywood walk of fame after a nice dinner at Hard Rock Cafe. For the last day of the trip, the students got to enjoy a whole day at Disneyland, where they all had a magical day! The students finally got loaded on the bus and made their way back to Dobson to conclude the trip.
Musical Journey
Article & photos by Molly Williams
One student shared, “I thought the technique on some of the trumpets and saxophones were absolutely incredible. It was really neat to watch the fingers go back and forth on the keys and especially with how high the trumpets went, that was astounding.”
-Madison Fouty
Oscars Review: The 97th Academy Awards
Article written by Zamara Ducommun
The 97th Academy Awards were evolutionary, marking a shift in the industry with the rise of independent films best displayed by Anora’s sweeping success. Directed, edited, and produced by Sean Baker, the film dominated the night, winning in all three categories. To add to its triumph, it also took home Best Picture, bringing Baker’s total speeches to four.
Anora follows a young Brooklyn stripper who unexpectedly marries a wealthy Russian oligarch’s son, only to find herself entangled in a dangerous web of power, crime, and survival While some of its themes may not be for everyone, I found it to be hilarious and I was
entirely speechless by the end. You can still catch it in some theatres in the area.
The film’s lead, Anora, is played by Mikey Madison, known for her roles in Scream VI and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She arrived at the Oscars as a first-time nominee and left as the Best Lead Actress winner—a well-deserved victory.
If Anora was the indie darling of the night, Emilia Pérez was the ugly stepsister. Starring Zoe Saldaña, an odd blend of action, musical, and courtroom drama tells the story of a lost lawyer who is hired by a feared cartel leader not for legal defense, but to help him transition into the woman he has always wanted to be. While the film was praised for its ambition, it faced backlash with many critics arguing that it perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Despite its buzz, Emilia Pérez only secured two wins out of its many nominations: Best Supporting Actress – Zoe Saldaña and Best Original Song for “El Mal”. Now streaming on Netflix, Emilia Pérez has sparked intense debate, and I can’t recommend it due to its problematic take on trans representation.
Photograph: IMdb
Photograph: IMdb
Best Documentary Winner – No Other Lan
The night’s host, Conan O’Brien, brought his sharp humor and selfaware satire, making the show efreshing. From poking fun at Hollywood egos to acknowledging he Oscars' history of snubbing great films, he struck the perfect balance. It’s safe to say he’ll be nvited back
This gripping documentary follows the harrowing realities of Palestinian life und Israeli occupation. Created by a team of Palestinian AND Israeli filmmakers, the film offers an unfiltered, firsthand loo at the ongoing struggles in the region. Emotional, urgent, and deeply personal, No Other Land is the most deserving winner.
SINGING
PRAISE
Article written by Zamara Ducommun
My favorite movie of 2024, was Sing Sing. To have purpose is seemingly an easy thing. But it’s rare to see purpose executed and displayed so perfectly.
Sing Sing is one of the most driven and purposeful movies I’ve ever seen Every single element is natural, most likely because of the casting of the real absolutely incredible men in this program. Led by the astounding Clarence Maclin. He's Infectious, if he was smiling I was smiling if he was sad I was sobbing right there with him. It’s insane to me how little he’s been nominated for this season. Colman Domingo is a powerhouse who is finally starting to get his flowers. A beautiful human being who’s really cementing himself as a Great. His moments of loss are spilled out for everyone to see and it brought many tears to my eyes. I couldn’t stop crying. How can someone watch this and not think it deserves ten folds of praise?
Sing Sing transcends traditional storytelling, it advocates for change. It’s the most impactful movie of the year and I hope the RTA program will grow and inspire those who are incarcerated to live in art
If you have HBO Max please watch it, though it was robbed from the Oscars, it deserves to be seen by everyone.
Photograph: Oscars
Photograph: AP
Art Seal Deal
Article Written by Max Reyes
The Fine Arts Seal of Proficiency is awarded to high school graduates who complete an Arizona Fine Arts Pathway. This pathway is designed for any student who wishes to participate in a more rigorous art experience. The requirements to receive the award include:
4 full years of Fine Arts Courses, 2 of the 4 years must be in 1 concentrated medium, A grade of “B” or better in all art coursework,
80 hours of community service in the arts,
Senior capstone public art exhibition of 8 thematic artworks, Student website highlighting the capstone experience.
Students also work with a mentor teacher to help guide them through the process of building our portfolios.
I am working on earning my art seal with a focus on digital photography. I started working on my art seal during winter break. Balancing work, schoolwork, clubs, choreographing, and trying to take my photos wasn’t an easy task It was a lot of time management, but no matter how tired I was, I stayed up, painted my face, and took my photos and I wouldn’t stop until I was satisfied.
Ms. Colombo has been my mentor for 3 long years, she has taught me everything I know and provided feedback so my photographs are perfect. I would then edit my photos during my class with Colombo or come in during my free hours and ask how I can improve and what my next steps are
What is great about the art seal is that a student can be involved in multiple art focused extracurriculars and it all counts toward the requirements. I completed my 80 hours of service mostly through theatre. I have been able to continue my artistic growth in theater by painting sets, creating choreo, or performing in musicals and plays.
Article & PHOTOS by Max Reyes C
Spring is here!! Easter is around the corner and family events are coming up. Spring is a beautiful time of the year where the weather is just right! I say now is when we can enjoy fruit outside with our friends and family without the sun blaring in our faces or butts freezing. A super cute and fun way to enjoy fruit is to make a fruit basket!! It’s an easy process with simple tools! You will need skewers, cookie cutters of your choice, a knife, and any fruits!
Rainbow Fruit Kabob Instructions
Step 1
Cut your base in half. You can use the other half of the base to cut out fun shapes!
Step 3
Use your cookie cutters on the fruit
Step 2
Peel and cut the remaining fruit
Step 4
Put your fruit on the skewer. Make as many as you’d like.
Dobson Alum Makes It to Madness
Article From SkylAr Greenwell
March Madness is a term that evokes excitement, anticipation, and a sense of unity for millions of basketball fans across the United States. On statista.com, they mention, “During the 2024 edition of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, the average TV viewership in the United States stood at 9.86 million viewers” (statista editors). Just in the last year, there was a 3% jump in viewership.
March Madness became the first official NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in 1939. Originally, the tournament was between just eight teams. Over the years, as the sport has gained popularity, the number of teams participating in March Madness has grown to 68 March Madness is more than just a basketball tournament, it's also known as the annual "bracket challenge". A tradition where people try to correctly predict the outcomes of all the games, from the first round to the championship. This tradition becomes a part of the event’s charm.
This year's tournament has a special connection to Dobson. Mickey McConnell is a 2007 Dobson graduate and now the associate head coach of the Saint Mary’s Gaels from Moraga, California. Mickey played for Saint Mary’s from 2011-2019. After his professional career overseas, he went back to the school as an assistant coach. The Gaels won the West Coast Conference for the regular season. The team took on the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first round of the March Madness tournament and made it to the second round.
Photograph:
Throwback
Images of Mickey McConnell from his senior year at Dobson High School in 2007
Join us for an unforgettable evening in Olympus! Ticket prices are currentlysetat$70untilApril25th,andwillincreaseto$75fromApril 28thtoMay2nd.Ticketsmustbepurchasedinadvance.Therewillbeno ticketsalesatthedoor.
*Pleasenotethatallstudentfeesmustbepaidinadvancetopurchaseaticket.Guest formsmustbesubmittedbyApril29th.Beawarethatallsalesarefinalandnorefunds willbeissued.
Soul Body Art Club Greets Olympus!
Soul Body Art Club invites you to get a henna tattoo for prom!
Appointments available after school on:
Wednesday, April 30th
Thursday May 1st
A permission slip is required to get a tattoo. You can grab a permission slip from B208. Scan the code to schedule your appointment.
