editors-in-chief: Rafaelle Martis & Gideon Achampong
Lead Graphics Editor: Jadiell Encarnacion Santos
Lead Photographer: Haylee Murray
Embedded Files
Class of 2026 Congrats.movArt as Resistance
BY Karyl Luarca
Photo by karyl luarca
For decades, art has served as more than just decoration; the relationship between politics and art is multifaceted; it has been a voice for the unheard, an act of defiance, and a reflection of the world around us. Across history, challenging times call for political and social shifts, and artists step up to convey what cannot be said without punishment, whether it’s through murals, music, painting, or digital media. This form of protest is captured in accessible ways that spark change. They act as the voice challenging authority. Something to spark conversations and inspire actions. It becomes an alternate language, something that cannot be silenced easily. It is especially impactful through its ability to communicate in ways that are instantaneous and uniquely human. A single image can evoke deep-seated emotions like anger, hope, or solidarity. It impacts people on an emotional level, encouraging not only understanding but also to feel for those who are suffering.
Photo by karyl luarca
READ MORE ON ART AS RESISTANCE
READ MORE ON ART AS RESISTANCE
A modern example of protesting without words is the stencil artist Banksy; although their identity remains anonymous, they are prolific in their use of public spaces to share political messages. Their pieces often revolve around themes of war, displacement, and refugee crisis. Yet these works of art most often carry hope. Reinforcing the idea that hope prevails even in moments of struggle. And by strategically creating pieces in public spaces, it ensures that messages reach the everyday population, not just art collectors or critics. A strong example of this is the Girl with the Balloon. The original piece first appeared as a street mural in London. Initially, the message appears as something simple: a young girl reaching out towards a drifting red heart balloon. Yet, the message is portrayed without using explicit language. It communicated feelings of vulnerability, resilience, and the cost of political conflict. The balloon is most often interpreted as a symbol of hope, innocence, or freedom, but the distance suggests a loss or difficulty of holding onto it within a world of crisis and trouble. Beside the art piece, it reads “There is always hope,” suggesting that the loss of hope (the balloon) is only temporary.
Uniquely, in 2018, Childish Gambino created the song This is America as a depiction and critique of modern American society. The music video contains powerful messages that may often be overlooked. It is filled with sharp contrasts and deep meanings. As the video begins, it has an upbeat and almost playful dancing within an empty warehouse, which initially is meant to distract viewers. Suddenly, this cheerful attitude is interrupted by chaos and violence happening in the background. And these shifts in attitude are not meaningless; they highlight the desensitization towards serious issues like gun violence and racial injustice within society. The attention from these topics is often pulled away by entertainment and distractions. The lyrics themselves are fragmented and representative, reflecting the confusion and instability displayed visually. Instead of a clear-cut narrative, the songs create a feeling of unease, with viewers focusing on what is happening visually rather than listening to the song casually. It allows the viewers to experience these problems, challenging people to think about the relationship between violence, media, and racial inequality that is often hidden beneath facades of everyday entertainment.
Furthermore, an older example is Guernica by Pablo Picasso. It is a massive black-and-white painting created in 1937 as a response to the bombing of the town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. Picasso used distorted figures, broken shapes, and chaos within the painting to express the horrors and suffering caused by war rather than realistically displaying the event with realism. Viewers can see crying mothers, injured animals, and fragmented bodies, contributing to the feeling of pain and confusion evoked, and the lack of color only promoted a sense of somberness and made the scene feel all the more barren. This piece responds to a real historical event, responding to and criticizing the violence and destruction that comes with war, and was created with the intent of raising awareness on the cost of political conflict. Even today, it remains one of the most powerful visual protests against war.
All in all, it is undeniable that art is deeply rooted in society. Artists use their works and talent to fight for justice, challenge authority, and bring attention to issues of the unheard. How these pieces are portrayed creates a deeper connection with the public, as it allows them to not only see the art but to feel it as well. These pieces outlive their moments of creation as they capture lasting messages that exceed single events; they capture memory, resistance, and what makes us human. Political art not only brings awareness to relevant issues, but it also allows viewers to think of what we can become.
How to Prepare for the School Year
By Bandna B.
Photo Via Google Images
As the school year comes to an end and it starts to feel like summer break is right around the corner, the majority of people are thinking about constantly relaxing (I am too). At the same time, we have to face reality, so it's not a bad idea to at least think or plan what next year will look like for you! This will be a little guide to help you ease the transition from this year to the next. Heading on in with even a small plan can make everything feel like you have a great weight off of your shoulder. No matter the grade you are going into, there are a couple things everyone should keep in mind like:
READ MORE ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR
READ MORE ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR
Managing your time: even if you don’t keep a step by step schedule, having a loose one can help you immensely by giving you an easy outlet that can balance your social and academic life all in one.
Joining or keeping up with sports/clubs/activities: this is a great way to connect with new people and find something you are passionate about. I’ve noticed that with the amount of extracurriculars we offer at CHS, there is always something for everybody. If you are already in something, make sure you keep in contact with those people and make the most out of it!
Focusing on grades: be consistent with the work you do. Make sure that you work on keeping your GPA up and do the best you can. I know it can be hard, especially since schoolwork can feel heavier than expected in the beginning, but try your hardest!
Upcoming Freshman Advice
Going from middle school to high school can feel overwhelming and intimidating for some, but focus on yourself and remember that other people in your grade may be just as nervous as you, so don’t stress yourself out.
Tips:
Make new friends: it may feel awkward at first, but there are always people open to making new friends too! There is a larger variety of students in high school so you never know who you may end up being close friends with.
Start joining clubs: I know I mentioned it before, but it is even more important in your freshman year. Joining clubs or sports early on will help you build stronger bonds with others and give you greater amounts of opportunities in the future.
Build your GPA: your first year is really important in creating a foundation for you getting the highest GPA possible for yourself. Even though you won’t get your GPA till later on, it is extremely important so that you don’t regret your decisions later on.
Don’t stress about how people view you: Everyone is different in their own way, you will find the people for you. Focus on yourself and keep in mind that nobody has everything all figured out.
Upcoming Sophomore Year
After last year, I hope you understand how things work by now and that eases you into sophomore year. This year is going to be harder than you expected, but don’t feel like you need to give up, push yourself to keep going. The first marking period might feel like it is consuming you (from personal experience), it is perfectly fine to feel that way, you will get used to the workload eventually.
Tips:
Academically push yourself: The amount of time that you spend working will be longer. Make sure you keep working hard. If you feel like you need some assistance, there are always teachers and friends available to help you, so feel free to reach out!
Narrow down your activities: After trying out a bunch of different clubs and sports, try shortening the list of things you do instead of just sticking with activities you don’t truly enjoy.
Start community service: I truly recommend you jot down and begin doing community activities so that if you plan on applying for any programs, you are one step ahead in your process. Don’t do events solely for the sake of community service hours, but if there is something that interests you and is worth your time, go for it!
Enjoy your social life: This is a great year for socializing with others and hanging out with friends. Make sure you make the most out of the year before things start getting serious next year!
Upcoming Junior Year
This year can and will be a lot. That doesn’t mean you have to feel miserable every second of the way through it. Like I mentioned, if you plan your time well, you can still have plenty of time to do the things you love. There is more testing and studying than the previous years, but working hard can make your time pay off!
Tips:
Prepare for testing earlier than you may think: If you get a head start on it all, you can feel at ease when it all comes flooding in. This way, you won’t feel the need to cram in last minute study sessions.
Take breaks: Whether that “break” for you is doing a hobby you enjoy or hanging out with friends, it is good to take your mind off of all the academics you have to focus on 24/7.
Don’t overwhelm yourself: Being the number 1 ranked student or doing a lot of activities is not your main priority. If you fall short of your expectations, it is okay, reflect and focus on what matters to you.
Don’t procrastinate: The biggest mistake is procrastination during your junior year. Everything can pile up quickly, so if you miss something, make sure to make it up as soon as possible and catch up otherwise you can fall behind in an instant. This is not meant to scare you, but it is a huge slip up people make during this year!
Upcoming Senior Year
The final stretch! Everything goes by fast so enjoy your last moments of high school. Try not to fall into senioritis, not being able to graduate because of failed attendance would be a huge mistake! There are a lot of fun opportunities for seniors so take advantage of those!
Tips:
Deadlines and applications: Try to get those college applications in as soon as you can so you don’t start feeling like your personal statement wasn’t as good as it could’ve been or that you were rushing. Make sure you try getting as many scholarships as you can so that college will not be as big of a financial burden on you or your family.
Set up your future: 10 years may feel far from now but setting up some sort of timeline and discovering what you want your career to be is crucial for the years ahead.
Wrap up your high school experience: Make sure you get all your finishing credits done and any extra classes you may need. As I mentioned before, don’t let your GPA crash!
Make lasting memories: you won't get this time back so make sure you value it and don't take it for granted. Cherish the little things and spend this year having fun with the people you love!
To wrap this up, I would like to say that high school is not meant to be gloomy, you are meant to enjoy it! It can be hard, but so is everything else in life. There will be ups and downs, in the end, it's about the experiences you made and the people you meet along the way. Graduation is the final wave goodbye after growing and learning throughout all these years, moving onto your own distinct path. You don’t need to be perfectly ready, just bring in a strong mindset and the rest will follow.
Phone Ban
Phone Ban
Problem Solver or Provocator
Problem Solver or Provocator
We all stroll into school with a phone in our pockets or bags. Even if we use it or not, we all have one. Why wouldn’t we? It keeps us connected to our digital lives and helps us keep up on social media. That, and they also serve as our protection. Phones can serve many purposes, and because of those purposes, we’ve all grown pretty attached to our devices.
But despite all of that, we know what’s to come next year. They’re going to draw a line a little too far and straight up ban phones from school. Now, we can see this from two perspectives. We, the students, have grown dependent on our phones. Some of us unironically can’t go a day without listening to music, me included! Not to mention some of us are on them essentially the entire da
Photo by evan kieras
On the other hand, we use our phones for a reason. We stay connected, and we have the ability to communicate with our peers and parents at any time, anywhere. They also serve as something to do during downtime, such as the lunch period if you don’t eat lunch. Phones are key conveniences throughout the day.
Now, to judge the phone ban, we first need to see both sides in their entirety. Phones have pros and cons; both children and adults know and accept that. Phones can be the cause of fights, but also friendships. If you see someone playing a game you like on their phone, you may be more prone to speaking to them now that you have something in common. However, phones also cause conflicts. People taking pictures of others or recording others is something unavoidable, repercussions or not. It’ll still happen.
Photo by evan kieras
For that reason, they want the phones gone. Another reason could be the lack of attention paid in school nowadays. Students tend to turn directly to their phones when a teacher’s lesson bores them. Who wouldn’t? You have a cure to boredom in your pocket at all times. But that is a stereotypical assumption. Some students stay vigilant — many students, actually. It isn’t a rare thing for a student to pay attention to even the most exhausting lessons.
That brings me to my main point: the phone ban affects all students. Yes, some students pay more attention to their phones than their teachers. But what about the percentage of students who don’t? Not every student uses their phone to goof off; some may require their phones.
That brings me to my next point. What will students who require their phones do? Some students have to contact their parents, and how will they do that without their phones? What about students who stay after school for clubs? How will they contact their parents to come pick them up? Walking is possible, yes, but what about students who live extraordinarily far away?
So many unanswered questions. However, there’s still some good within the decision. Many people will have no choice but to grow more social and make friends rather than going on their phones. They’ll also grow less dependent on their phones and start searching for hobbies that’ll cure boredom during idle time.
Perhaps more students will pick up art and writing. That would be the case, except for one glaring issue: why ban phones when students still have Chromebooks? It’s not like banning phones will stop students from going online. Little will change with the phone ban besides making students agitated.
With the rule, they’d only be provoking the students. The desired effects of the ban, in all honesty, will likely be ineffective. No matter how you look at it, there are positives and negatives on both sides of the coin. People will be angry no matter what they decide to do.
I personally believe that this rule is unnecessary; however, I can see why they wish to implement it. It’s an answer to some problems, albeit the cause of further problems, and it doesn’t truly solve everything. Still, the problems it does solve are understandable concerns for the school. However, the ban itself may create even deeper frustrations among students in the long run.
100 YEARS OF CARTERET SPORTS
100 YEARS OF CARTERET SPORTS
by samantha woode
All photos courtesy of Ms. Cunha, Athletic Director of CHS
Every sport has its own stage, whether it’s the court, field, track, or alley. No matter the setting, it’s the athlete’s job to show up and perform. This year marks 100 years of Carteret High School, and for a century, this is what it has meant to be a Rambler. It means working hard, uplifting those around you, and inspiring others. Through the wins and losses, Carteret’s community has always rallied behind its athletes and will continue to do so. Because when students put on white and blue, they choose to represent something bigger than the program, they represent their town.
While most programs don’t start with immediate success, Carteret caught on quickly. In the early years of Carteret athletics, there were no girls’ interscholastic, so from the 1920s through the 1940s, girls were limited to cheerleading, or “yell squads.” The dominant sports during this time were football, baseball, and basketball. In football, the Thanksgiving Day rivalry with Perth Amboy High School officially began in 1927, and the state championships came soon after. The team won its first state title in 1929 and went on to win seven more between 1931 and 1941. The program also achieved three consecutive titles in 1940, 1941, and 1942, the only time in school history something like that has ever been achieved.
Basketball followed with championships in 1930, 1932, 1934, and 1945, while baseball earned titles in 1930, 1931, 1940, and 1948. A major contributor to this success was Carteret athlete Joseph “Ducky” Medwick. A three-sport athlete, Medwick earned All-State honors in baseball, basketball, and football at Carteret High. After graduating, he went on to play Major League Baseball, earning the Triple Crown and later being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1968.
While it seemed like Carteret Athletics’ “golden era” had passed, success continued to emerge from its programs. From the 1950s through the 1970s, Carteret football earned three more state titles. However, during this era, the spotlight shifted from football and baseball to basketball. The Rambler basketball program became a powerhouse, securing five state championships during its peak. This success carried over to the indoor track and field team, which won a state championship in 1973.
Success during this time wasn’t limited to championships. In 1972, Title IX went into effect. It prohibited sex-based discrimination in schools, requiring the expansion of varsity programs for girls. At Carteret High, this introduced girls’ basketball, softball, and track and field. This shift helped build a stronger community, increase participation, and set a standard for girls’ athletics at Carteret High School.
The 1980s were one of the quietest periods in Carteret’s 100-year history of athletics. While there were a few championships during this time, none left a lasting mark. One notable name to come from Carteret during this era was Keith Hughes. A member of the Class of ‘86, Hughes was the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,742 points. He earned New Jersey Player of the Year honors and received national recognition as a McDonald’s All-American in 1986. He went on to play two seasons at Syracuse, followed by two seasons at Rutgers, before being drafted 47th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 1991 NBA Draft.
Jason Worilds was a standout athlete during this time. He was a starting defensive lineman and a fullback for the Rambler football team, while also performing great in track and field. He became the first player in Carteret High School history to earn First-Team All-State honors in consecutive seasons. As a highly ranked recruit, he went on to play at Georgia Tech before being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, where he played five seasons.
In the modern era of Rambler sports, each program reflects equality, excellence, and new beginnings. Sam Kamara, a Class of 2016 defensive lineman, was another professional athlete to come out of Carteret football. He earned First-Team All-Conference honors, and then went on to play at Stony Brook University. His talent earned him a spot on the professional level where he then signed with the Chicago Bears. Now, Kamara plays for the Cleveland Browns. In a school that once had limited opportunities for female athletes, new programs such as flag football and girls wrestling have
been introduced. Success continued as teams started to rack up their division championships. The girls’ basketball team won back-to-back division championships after not winning one in 22 years. The volleyball team also made history, winning its first division championship one year after creating the program. Jaelyn Villalongo became the first female wrestler in school history to place at the NJSIAA state tournament, finishing sixth. In addition to the success of the girls’ programs, the baseball and football teams both won division titles in 2023. Three years later, the boys’ bowling team added another division championship to their banner.
Carteret athletics continues to build on its legacy. With the addition of new sports, the programs continue to add to its story. As athletes find their identity each time they put on their jersey, the standard stays the same, no matter the era: “Rambler Pride”. This community is something special to be a part of, and as Carteret celebrates 100 years of athletics, the town’s legacy will continue to remain strong.
High School/Teen Stereotypes ON TV
High School/Teen Stereotypes ON TV
BY Naysha Rivas
Throughout the years, TV shows and movies have continued developing as they’ve been able to tell multiple stories. A very common audience these shows are about and try to market to, are teenagers. However, like teens themselves, they’ve been getting a bad reputation for a plethora of reasons. When it comes to these kinds of shows and movies, there tends to be things such as weird slang, questionable main characters, unusual bullying tactics, and popular girls. These become common tropes or stereotypes that anyone can expect when they watch media as such. Let’s discuss!
Page updated
Report abuse