By Hector Juarez                                                

Q: What made you become a social studies teacher?

A:  I like the subject and I like helping students. 

Q: What would you do differently if you weren't a teacher? 

A: I would own my own sandwich shop.

Q: Would younger you believe that you would ever be a teacher? 

A: No, when I was younger I didn't want to become a teacher. 

Q: Where were you born?

A: I was born here in Salem, Oregon. 

Q: Do you ever think of teaching a different subject?

A: I wouldn't want to teach math or language arts. I would only teach social studies and electives.

Q: What was it like to work as a behavior specialist before teaching?

A: The stuff that I did was like the stuff I do now. I felt like I was helping the school and I felt like I was helping the kids do better. 

Q: What do you do in your free time? 

A: I hangout with my family playing board games. I also like to hike and ski.

By Alex Garcia Renteria

Q: What is the best part of your job, Mrs. Elena Anderson?

A: Solving students’ problems and working with kids is the best. I like working with them and connecting with them.

Q: What would your job be if you weren't a migrant specialist?

A: I would be an esthetician.

Q: What is an esthetician?

A: An esthetician is someone who works with skin care. 

Q: How long have you been working at Waldo?

A: I have worked at Waldo for five years.

Q: Have you ever worked at another school?

A: Yes, I worked at Lamb Elementary School for seven years, Houck for one year, and McKay for seven years.

By Teaghan Jennings

                      I love to camp at the coast 

                      Love the coast 

                      Ocean is a fun place to be 

                      Vacation at the coast  

                       Events that can take place at the coast 

                      The coast is the best place to be 

                      How happy the coast makes me 

                      Epic the coast is 

                    Catch some fish at the cost 

                    Ocean I love 

                   A place to go should be the coast 

                   Swimming you should go 

                   To the coast you should go

By Athena Henson

  Spirited Away was created in 2002, and it was an instant hit. Hayao Miyazaki created Spirited Away, and it was one of the highest grossing movies in Japanese history. It also won the Academy Award for best animation feature, and it was one of the greatest movies from the 2000s. Spirited Away was created without a script. That is not very unusual considering that Miyazaki has made movies before without a script. That’s the way he works.

The storyline is very interesting, and It had no slow parts where you are bored like in many movies. The animation is really pretty, and it reminds me a lot of a moving painting. The story line is really fun and enjoyable. One of my favorite parts is when Chihiro had to help the river spirit. That's my favorite part because of the way the water looks when it is flowing out of the bathtub.

Another one of my favorite parts was when Chihiro's parents got turned into pigs. Spirited Away was the first anime movie that I watched, and it is still one of the best anime movies that I have ever seen. Ponyo is a close second.

It is a two-hour long movie, so people who can’t sit still for long might have a hard time watching.Their creativity had no bounds when the creators made Spirited Away. They hand draw all the scenes, and if you look closely you can tell. They really did try their hardest to make Spirited Away perfect, and their efforts paid off. Spirited Away is considered one of the greatest films of all time. Why haven't you gone out and watched it yet? You can watch it for free on HBO Max.

By Matrin Hans

Q: What is your name?

A: Neikaman Fragrance Liwy is my name.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk/Pollap).

Q: What do you like to do?

A: I like to watch movies and I also like to play the ukulele with my family.

Q: What two fun facts about you?

A: I can twist my tongue and I can also make a lot of noise on my face. 

Q: Why did you come to the United States?

A: I came here for my parents’ medical purposes.

Q: Why did you come to work at Waldo Middle School?

A: I came to make use of my degree and I enjoy working with kids.

Q: Do you like Waldo?

A: So far it’s okay. The students have made the experience easy so far. 

Q: What is your favorite part about working at Waldo?

A: When I build connections with the student and create memories it makes me happy.

Q:  What did you do before coming here?

A: I was working as an administrative office assistant.

Q: What school or work did you do or went to before coming here?

A: I used to work at and go to school at the same time. It was the College of Micronesia-FSM National Campus.

By Helena Navarro

Weezer. You've probably heard of them before. Their music and influence has made them a walking meme for almost two decades. Some people absolutely hate Weezer, some Weezer fans even say they hate Weezer. But in my opinion, I don't understand how someone could hate Weezer as a whole. Sure, they've had their lows, their bad albums, even some absolute dumpster fire albums that would make the devil himself cry. But their highs make up for it. Weezer has some of the most amazing music out there, and for that reason they're my favorite band. Their debut self-titled album, “Weezer,” also known as “The Blue Album,” is almost unanimously acclaimed to be the best, but some people, like myself, would think otherwise.

Released in 1994, The Blue Album features great and iconic tracks like “Say it Ain’t So,”  “Buddy Holly,”  and “Undone (The Sweater Song)”. You may not know them by name, but the songs are so popular even among the new generation that you've probably heard them one way or another. Being their first album, The Blue Album is really radio friendly and almost all the songs have a feel-good vibe that puts everyone in a happy mood. With Rivers Cuomo on vocals and lead guitar, Patrick Wilson on drums, Matt Sharp on bass, and Brian Bell on rhythm guitar, The Blue Album was born. 

“Say it Ain’t So'' was the third and final single on The Blue Album. This song is one of the ones that Weezer is known for. It's an incredible song with incredible storytelling. In my opinion, this song is probably one of the best the band has ever released, and I might be biased because Weezer’s my favorite band, but personally i think it's one of the best songs to ever be released. The song is recognizable to anyone familiar enough with it just by the opening riff. The song is mostly about alcoholism and how it affected Cuomo’s life. The inspiration for the lyrics comes from his fear of alcoholism ruining his mother and step father’s marriage after he found a beer in the fridge. Cuomo’s biological father left the family when Cuomo was only four, and from then on he saw him very infrequently. With the lyrics, “Dear daddy”, he takes a jab at his biological father and continues to sing “I write you, in spite of years of silence.” 

Around the time of the song's release, Cuomo and his father had already reconciled. Despite being on such a happy album, the lyrics to this song are honestly really deep and one could even say they're dark. The theme of the song is a real one, talking about alcohol abuse and exploring Cuomo’s fears of it tearing his family apart. This song is one of my favorites of all time, and in a few ways I can relate to it, and I know a ton of other people can too. This song is amazing in so many ways, from Cuomo's vivid storytelling to the music video. If you haven't listened to this song before in full, I recommend you listen to it immediately. 

The next song from The Blue Album that I want to talk about is “Only In Dreams”. This song is one of my favorites from The Blue Album, if not one of my favorites of all time. This song starts out slow, quiet and soft. It's 8 minutes long, having a 3 minute crescendo of 2 guitars, bass, and drums that builds up to an incredible guitar solo. Cuomo starts singing the lyrics, “You can't resist her, She's in your bones, She is your marrow, your ride home.” Just those opening lyrics give me goosebumps. This song talks about the narrator's desire to be with the girl of his dreams, and a dream he had about her. Though he's too scared to ask her out in real life, he can only dream about it, hence the name “Only In Dreams”. This song has such a great vibe to it, the lyrics are simple yet amazing, and the instrumentals, especially the guitar solo, are some of the best I've ever heard. This song's lyrics honestly make it seem like asking a girl to prom is the ballsiest you can do, yet they're still very beautiful. While there's not much to say about this song because of its minimal story and lyrics, it's still an amazing listen and I recommend it to anyone who has not heard it. Like most of the songs on this album, its lyrics give you a clear picture and story. It can be interpreted in many different ways for many different reasons for many different people. 

The next song I want to go over is “No One Else”. Now, this song has had a negative reception in recent years, for a few reasons, the main one being the obsessive nature of the song. Cuomo himself stated, 

"No One Else" is the jealous-obsessive a**hole in me freaking out my girlfriend and "The World Has Turned" is the same a**whole wondering why she's gone.”

- Rivers Cuomo, press kit for Weezer (The Blue Album)''. 

The song tells the story of a male character who's overly jealous and protective of his girlfriend. He obsesses over how she dresses up when she goes out, as seen in the lyrics, “I want a girl who will laugh for no one else. When I'm away she puts her makeup on the shelf, When I'm away she never leaves the house.” He talks about how she entertains other guys by laughing and talking with them. I can see why people would get mad at this song for its obsessive and toxic lyrics, but in my opinion I believe everyone will have that side to them in a relationship where they seemingly want to own their partner. They don't want anyone else but them, and when they talk to others it makes them feel angry, but I also believe that it is toxic behavior that needs to be controlled because it can get out of control easily, and lead to breakups and possibly worse. 

“No One Else” is seen as the first part to the song, “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here”, which is one of my favorite songs from The Blue Album, but as i've said before, almost every song from this album is one of my favorites. “No One Else” is also one of my favorites, it's one of the darker songs on the album in my opinion, at least in contrast to the more playful tracks such as “My Name is Jonas'' or “Surf Wax America. ” Honestly the song isn't for everyone, but it has a really nice beat and is a pretty good listen. 

Now, the second half of our character's story, “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here.”

 Cuomo stated, 

“...I'm tempted to think that our song "The World Has Turned and Left Me Here" is about the day my girlfriend left me. I remember that sad day; I picked up my guitar and spilled tears of grief over those four sad chords. But if I think very carefully, I also remember that a week later I met this new girl named Sonia (who speaks Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese) and forgot all about the first girl. But still, to this day, that song makes me sad, and it still rings true. So maybe it wasn't about what's-her-name after all. Maybe it's the sublimated tale of how my mom refused to suckle me one night in my infancy. Who am I to say that?”

– Rivers Cuomo, Chart Magazine, December 21, 1994.

The reason this song is one of my favorites is because of the emotion it conveys through the lyrics. The imagery and the metaphors are some of my favorite aspects of this song. My personal favorite lyrics are,

“I talked for hours to your wallet photograph

And you just listened

You laughed enchanted by intellect

Or maybe you didn't”

And the opening lyrics, 

“The world has turned and left me here

Just where I was before you appeared

And in your place, an empty space

Has filled the void behind my face”

In the story, this song is where our character's girlfriend leaves him.  It's the aftermath and shock of a breakup. From the song “No One Else”, we can tell that our character is somewhat sexist and controlling. The girlfriend leaves him because of his sexism and while the character knows she's in the right for that, he still is sad while he processes it. I love this song for the story it tells and the imagery it provides through the lyrics. The vibe of them is sad and almost angry but still remains light and the instrumentals are not necessarily slow or sad. 

The Blue Album is an amazing album that I would rate no less than a 10/10. It's pretty radio friendly and all of the tracks are solid and very good. My favorite songs ranked would have to be:

1. The World Has Turned and Left Me Here

2. Say it Ain’t So

3. In The Garage

4. Undone

5. No One Else

6. Only In Dreams

7. Buddy Holly

8. My Name is Jonas 

9. Surf Wax America

10. Holiday

The next album that Weezer released was called Pinkerton. When this album was released, reviews were mixed. Jeff Gordinier of Entertainment Weekly deemed Pinkerton "a collection of get-down party anthems for agoraphobics' '. Part of the reason for the backlash was because of the dark topics and themes the songs explored. There's so much more raw emotion on this album than on The Blue Album, it feels so much more human and you really get to see a part of Cuomo's thoughts and headspace during this time.

Cuomo had this to say about the album:

“There are some lyrics on the album that you might think are mean or sexist. I will feel genuinely bad if anyone feels hurt by my lyrics but I really wanted these songs to be an exploration of my "dark side" -- all the parts of myself that I was either afraid or embarrassed to think about before. So there's some pretty nasty stuff on there. You may be more willing to forgive the mean lyrics if you see them as passing low points in a larger story. And this album really is a story: the story of the last 2 years of my life. And as you're probably well aware, these have been two very weird years.”

- Rivers cuomo, Letter to the Weezer Fan Club, July 10, 1996

My personal favorite songs from this album are “The Good Life”, “Pink Triangle”, and “Tragic Girl”. This album is my favorite, and in my opinion, the absolute BEST Weezer album. The very first Weezer song I ever heard was Pink Triangle. I knew who Weezer was but I had never knowingly heard a Weezer song. Though after listening to Weezer, I realized that I had heard more than a few songs before. 

Starting with the song that was my introduction to Weezer, Pink Triangle. It was the third and final single and eighth track on Pinkerton. The story behind this song is pretty blatant and obvious if you listen to it, even if you don't know the meaning of a pink triangle. A pink triangle is now a symbol of pride for the gay community, previously used as a badge of shame in Nazi Germany in World War II. In this song, Cuomo sings about finding a girl who he imagines getting married and settling down with, hence the lyrics ``we were good as married in my mind, but married in my mind’s no good”. The story is actually a true one, as Cuomo had met a girl at his university whom he fell in love with. His feelings continued until he saw a pink triangle on her backpack, and he took it as a sign she was a lesbian. About a year and a half after the release of the album, it was found that the woman wasn't actually gay and instead just showing her support. 

This song opens with a xylophone and slide guitar, as well as including a xylophone in the outro. The rest of the instruments come in about 17 seconds into the song, as well as the opening lyrics, “When I'm stable long enough, I start to look around for love. See a sweet in floral print, my mind begins the arrangements,” with about a tempo of 118 beats per minute. The lyrics sometimes come off a bit annoying, the begging for a woman and almost not taking lesbians seriously, but it was kind of the main view on lesbians and the lgbtq community as a whole back then. Having this song and this album as my first real introduction to Weezer, I was surprised at the amount of passion and emotion on this album and this song. The crunchy production and the emotion is what makes this album the best, in my opinion. While Pink Triangle isn't my favorite song by Weezer or even my favorite from Pinkerton, it still has a special place in my heart as the song that made me fall in love with Weezer. It's a good and relatable song for a lot of people.  

The most popular song from Pinkerton is probably El Scorcho. It’s a good song, and one of the main tracks on the album, so I can see why most people would like it. I don't dislike it, but i dont think it's the best, though it's still a masterpiece. It's the first single from Pinkerton, and supposably the name came from a Del Taco sauce packet labeled “Del Scorcho ''. To me at least, the song's meaning is a bit unclear. It sounds like more of one of Weezer's sillier songs. While i struggle to see any real meaning behind the song, according to Genius, “Its premise is the struggle between confessing your feelings, waiting for the girl to do it, or simply doing nothing about it.Its premise is the struggle between confessing your feelings, waiting for the girl to do it, or simply doing nothing about it.” I can kinda see this in the lyrics,

 “How stupid is it? For all I know you want me too

And maybe you just don't know what to do

And maybe you're scared to say: 'I'm falling for you'”

It's a good song, I love it and enjoy it, but it's just not my favorite. There's nothing particularly wrong with it, I just never loved it like I did some others. The lines “cio-cio san” and “watching grunge leg-drop new jack” were taken from an essay of a classmate of Cuomo’s at Harvard University. So, while there's not much to say about this song, it is a good song and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. 

Though it changes sometimes, my personal favorite song from Pinkerton is Tragic Girl. It was recorded late in the production of Pinkerton and forgotten until work on the Pinkerton Deluxe album. It's only been performed twice on the Weezer Cruise in 2012. There's not a lot of information about this song, not a lot that I could find at least. Being on the deluxe album, it's most likely a lesser known song. Honestly, the way i interpret this song is as follows:

Our main character is in love with this girl. It's an abusive/manipulative relationship on both ends, though from the song it sounds like it comes from the girl more. They both are addicted to drugs of some sort, which i interpret though the lyrics,

 “You give me my pills and sing a strange song

And all my hurting goes away

Start to drift off with you beside me

I want to believe that you’re the one”

But I see how this could be interpreted in many different ways, maybe the “pills” are the girl herself. It could really be anything to any person.

He knows that the relationship isn't good for him, but he keeps going back to her. He wants more than this relationship and what he's getting isn't what he wants. But he doesn't have the guts to end it because the girl is hot. He leaves her, and we see this in the lyrics, 

“I try my darndest to be a bastard

I want you to think that I don’t care

But I feel sorry and you’re so pretty

You start to cry and I kiss your mouth”

 but the pain it causes her causes him even more. He feels bad for making her sad, and we can tell that he is really in love with her, or her looks, from the lyrics,

“When you kiss me and say you love me

It makes me feel so good

I want to break down and give in to you

I want to believe that you’re the one”

He wants so badly for this girl to be the one, but he knows deep down that she's not. He knows the relationship isn't good for him. But he keeps going back and fighting to be with this one girl.There is just so much emotion in this song and it's relatable for a lot of people. Maybe you haven't been through an abusive relationship, but everyone at one point has experienced heartbreak.

At first, it just sounds like your typical weezer song. It starts with guitar, then Cuomo’s voice, then drums, then you start to really hear the music. As you listen more, you can really interpret the story if you listen closely and analyze the lyrics. Some of the lyrics i really like are:

“You're a tragic girl

You lead a tragic life

I'm just meant to be

Your latest tragedy.”

When you listen, really listen, you can tell that our character is not in a happy situation. The line, “I'm just meant to be your latest tragedy” is my personal favorite. You can really feel the emotion in this song. Surprisingly, this song is not a hit. It was almost forgotten by the band itself, it was found on an unlabeled tape and only Cuomo remembered it. This song is only a b-side, released after the original release of Pinkerton. I really feel like if this song was to be released now, or maybe just on the original release of Pinkerton, it would've been a sure hit. This song is in my opinion, possibly the best Weezer song ever. 

Now, my other favorite song, The Good Life. Honestly, this song isn't that deep. It's about Cuomo's time at Harvard and how he had to have correctional surgery on his legs, leading him to feel distanced from his friends and his rockstar life. He wants to get back into partying, but he couldn't due to his brace. In the opening lyrics we can see how he views himself, 

“When I look in the mirror

I can't believe what I see

Tell me, who's that funky dude

Staring back at me?

Broken, beaten down

Can't even get around

Without an old man cane

I fall and hit the ground

Shivering in the cold

I'm bitter and alone”

After the surgery, Cuomo had to walk around with a cane and this made him feel really unhappy with his life. Rather than the longing and emotion we see in “Across The Sea '', which is the longing for just one girl, In this song Cuomo is just wanting to get back to The Good Life. There's really not a lot to say about this song, but it definitely is a good one. Anyone who has had something similar like a broken bone or an accident that made them unable to do certain things can relate, as can I. This is a very good song, but there's just not much depth to it. It's still one of my favorites, however, because of the vocals and instrumentals. 

I'll most likely make a separate article going over more Weezer albums, but this has been my review on Weezer's first two albums, The Blue Album and Pinkerton. Weezer is one of the greatest bands of all time, and they have a lot of really really good music. I 1000% recommend you listen to even just one song by them if you never have.

By Daniela Sanchez Maldonado

Three friends walk along an old worn down path.

“Are we sure that this path is safe?” Yasmin asks.

“I heard it’s haunted,” Ashley giggles out, trying to scare her already terrified friend.

“Ashley stop trying to scare Yasmin. She's already terrified,” Daniela says. She and Ashley laugh while Yasmin just stares at her friends.

As they walk, they see a HUGE mansion with broken windows. Suddenly the door swings open SLAM Daniela, Yasmin, and Ashley jump back “AHHHHHHH!!!” 

They scream all together. They look down to see what causes the door to open and there is… nothing behind the door. The group looks at each other, petrified

“Guys I think we should leave,” Yasmin whispers.

“Don't be such a baby Yasmin,” Ashley responds

“Yea, we should explore the house!!” Daniela says enthusiastically. 

“Are you sure about this? Yasmin asks as they step into the house. The house was as quiet as a tomb. The only sound they hear is the beating of their hearts in their chests. All of a sudden, the door slams shut behind them “SLAM!" 

When the group tries to open the door, it will not budge “Guys, the door won’t open!” Daniela says in a panicked tone. Then suddenly they hear a distinct growling. Their breaths quicken, and Daniela pulls out her flashlight 

“Hello, is someone there?!” Ashley yells out. No response. Slowly, the group tip toes towards the sound, as they approach a door the sound of growling gets louder 

“Guys we should go!” Yasmin shouts out panicked while glancing back and forth. “We’ll be fine, Yasmin,” Ashley retorts.

“Yeah, it’s probably nothing,” Daniela adds. Daniela grabs the door handle nervously, looking back at Ashley and Yasmin. Daniela twists the door handle, and a rancid smell fills their noses.

As they look up, a figure with a large mouth, pale skin, and cloudy eyes sits in front of them eating what looks like a dead deer. The group freezes in horror. Slowly, the creature snaps its head toward the group and lets out a piercing shriek.

“Guys, be quiet. Its eyes are cloudy so it's probably blind,” Daniela whispers.

“Okay,” Ashley whispers in response. The group moves away from the door slowly.

The group tiptoes to the door when … 

“Cough.”  Daniela and Ashley snap their heads towards Yasmin and their eyes widen as the creature comes racing out of the room. The girls let out a scream of terror, and run up the stairs quickly. Daniela opens a door and rushes Ashley and Yasmin inside.

“Stay quiet. I don’t think it knows where we are,” Ashley whispers. Ashley looks at Yasmin. “We have to get out of here,” Daniela replies. 

The creature seems to have calmed down, so the group slowly make their way out of the room and tiptoes down the stairs.

The group walks past where the creature was last slowing their pace, making sure to not make any noise. Yasmin glances around the room nervously. As they reach the door the creature comes crawling out of what looks to be a kitchen. The group freezes in fear, not daring to make a single noise. Yasmin looks at Daniela in fear. Ashley raises her hand to her mouth, signaling to not make any noise. 

As the creature crawls out of the kitchen and up the stairs, Ashley opens the front door carefully trying to not make a single noise. She looks at Daniela and Yasmin, and signals for them to get out quietly.

  As Daniela and Yasmin walk out, loud steps come from the stairs the creature had previously gone up. This time, instead of freezing, the group of girls looks at each other and grabs whatever they could use to protect themselves, ready to attack if necessary.

  Ashley, Yasmin, and Daniela huddle close to each other and slowly back out of the door. They hope and pray that the creature will not sense them leaving, and just as they make it out the door there is a “SNAP.” A twig snaps under Yasmin’s feet.

Yasmin looks at Daniela and Ashley. “I think we might have to fight this thing guys,” Yasmin says in horror. 

Ashley tightens her grip around the pot she picked up, raising it, ready for the worst. As the creature creeps forward, Daniela quietly goes behind it and smacks it in the head “THWACK.” The creature drops to the ground with a loud thud and the girls take off running down the same path they came from, not daring to look back. 

The creature lets out a deafening screech that causes the girls to jump, all the feelings of safety suddenly gone. As the creature gets louder, the girls run off the path hoping to lose the angered creature. The girls can feel their breaths quicken, adrenaline pumping through their veins. The girls have not heard the creature's ugly snarls in a while, so they quickly hide behind a tree. 

“Are you guys okay?” Yasmin asks quickly. “Yeah, I think I'm okay,” Ashley responds. Daniela nods in agreement.

The creatures growling can be heard from around the corner. The girls look at each other and start running again. The creature snaps its head towards the group of girls and starts running. As the girls are running they come to a deadend. There is nowhere for them to go. They are on the edge of a cliff, and the creature is right in front of them. 

“I think this is the end, guys” Yasmin says as she huddles closer to Daniela and Ashley.

THE END

By Ileana Gutierrez Saldana

 Q: On a scale of one to ten, how much do you like Waldo and why?

 A:  I would say a ten because one of the students said “you are the first latina in Waldo” which made me feel understandable and good.

 Q: What do you teach?

 A: I am a math teacher. Before that I worked in the office as a school office specialist and instructional assistant like Mrs. Garcia.

 Q: What is your favorite thing about Waldo?

A: Celebrating cultures is my favorite thing. 

Q: Why did you choose Waldo as a school to work in?

A: When  I graduated from college there were two connections with the program. The schools were Waldo and Valor from Woodburn. 

Q: How was your first day at Waldo?

A: Around the pandemic I felt like a typical student coming back from summer break not knowing what to do and just feeling nervous.

Q:Who inspired you to  become a teacher?

A: Ms. Bolliger was my inspiration. She was an English language development teacher.

Q: What are some challenges of working as a dual language teacher? 

A: It is difficult because there aren't that many dual language teachers that graduated from college. It feels weird to begin with only that dual  language teacher, at least in math. Part of it feels that you carry the dual language math title as an individual. But then I remember that I am not alone. I have amazing students, colleagues, and parents who help.

By Padience Harris

Q: What do you do at Waldo?

A: My title is instructional  assistant, but I help out in general in the classrooms. Sometimes it changes to classrooms, lunch supervision, bus duty, medical assistant, and translating.

Q: Why did you decide to work at Waldo?

A: Waldo had an opportunity. I took it and I am enjoying it. Before Waldo, I was at North High School and Claggett Creek Middle School.

Q: How long have you worked at Waldo?

A: I've worked at Waldo for four years. I was at Claggett Creek for four years and at North High School for two years.

Q: What made you decide to join the Multicultural Committee?
A: It was just mainly curiosity. I didn't grow up in a diverse school. I was curious to see and learn about different cultures.

Q: How do you think Waldo does with regard to representing other cultures?

A: I'd give Waldo a solid eight or nine out of ten because of the different visual representation. Seeing all the cultural decorations is cool. There are also many diverse teachers and staff helping with representation.

Q: If you could work any other job, would you?

A: I don't think I'd switch jobs\positions because I'm happy where I'm at. I say that because I work two jobs. I work for the school and as a wildland firefighter in the summer.

Q. Why'd you become a wildland firefighter?

A: I needed a summer job and a coworker at Claggett introduced me to opportunities as a wildland firefighter. 

Q:  What do you do as a wildland firefighter?

A: My job is to observe, report, and control wildfires.

By Helena Navarro

Juneteenth, otherwise known as Freedom Day, is a holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It specifically marks the day that soldiers arrived in Texas to announce that President Abraham Lincoln emancipated all slaves in the state. For many, Juneteenth is a day of remembrance. It represents the end of slavery and the beginning of an era of freedom and opportunity.

The history of Juneteenth is rooted in the aftermath of the Civil War. The Emancipation Proclamation had been issued two and a half years before Juneteenth, though it was not right away enforced in Texas, where slavery continued as usual. It was not until Union General Gordan Granger arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865, that the news of slavery being abolished finally reached Texas. Juneteenth became a significant holiday for many African Americans across the country. As a result of this, June 19th became known as Juneteenth and is celebrated by African Americans across the country as a day of freedom and liberation. 

It provides a chance to remember the struggles and triumphs of their ancestors to celebrate the journey towards freedom and equality. It's the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. The holiday has taken on more and more importance in recent years, as talks about racism and inequality have become more prominent in national discourse. 

  Juneteenth brings into view the relationship between individual identity and societal expectations. Society plays a huge role in shaping personal identity through its social norms and practices and often impacts how people see themselves and how others see them. Society, for black Americans, has often tried to limit opportunities, create walls, and promote a narrative that reinforces systematic inequalities. 

For people who are told by society that they are lesser for something such as their skin color that they have no control over, the challenge is to resist societal pressure and define their own identity in their way. One way people do this is to embrace communal efforts that support and celebrate black culture, such as the Juneteenth celebrations. These events offer a platform for individuals to appreciate the contributions of black Americans to American history and culture and to draw inspiration from those who have persevered in the face of adversity. 

Juneteenth and its history is a reminder of the significant progress that has been made toward racial equality, but it also highlights the ongoing struggle for civil rights in America. It makes obvious the need for individuals to engage with their own identities and to advocate for the rights of oppressed communities. Through these efforts, people can help to shape a more equitable society that values diversity and promotes inclusion. 

Juneteenth is often celebrated through events like speeches, parades, educational events, family gatherings and picnics, and festivals. Only in 2021 did it become a federal holiday, but it has been celebrated in the US since 1867. 

Though Juneteenth is an important holiday and is becoming more widely recognized across the United States, its history is not often taught in schools. This is an example of how American history education can be lacking when it comes to the perspectives of Black people. The role of education is critical in shaping individual identities and perspectives, particularly on issues related to race and ethnicity. However, a persistent question remains whether or not schools do a good job of teaching American history from the perspective of black Americans. 

The answer is complex and context-dependent, but for the most part, the teaching of American history through the lens of the black experience has been inconsistent. In general, American history education in schools tends to focus on the experiences and accomplishments of white Americans. This often leads to a distorted and incomplete understanding of the country's past. For example, while students may learn about the Civil Rights Movement and figures like Martin Luther King Jr the systemic nature of racism and its impact on Black people throughout history is not always emphasized. 

While progress has been made to incorporate a more comprehensive perspective on American history, a lot remains to be done. The history of black Americans and their contributions to American history and society have been put aside in many areas of the curriculum, leading to an incomplete understanding of American history and past. I feel like if we teach American history through the experiences and contributions of black Americans it can help to give people a more accurate comprehensive understanding of American history.

Something interesting to note is that many people didn't know about Juneteenth until more recent years. It picked up popularity and gained more traction after the death of George Floyd, an African American man who was murdered by a white police officer. I did not know of the existence of this holiday until I heard about it from social media. The awareness of the newer generation about global and societal issues has shaped the way a lot of people see things such as how we treat these issues and POC. People are becoming more and more involved in social issues like racism and discrimination against groups of people such as the LGBTQ community and of course, racist acts against POC. 

I think it's a good thing that people have started to spread awareness of such issues because even though slavery has been abolished and most people don't have the same racist views they had say 80 years ago, many hate crimes and racist acts are still seen today. Not just against black people, but many races. I've heard the argument that you can't be racist to white people, but in my opinion that isn't true. A recent case of this being argued that I've seen has been “black-only events,” like conventions or restaurants. They make the argument that they don't feel safe around white people because of their “white violence.” 

I feel that this is segregation at its most obvious. If the roles were switched, I guarantee most people would be upset at this. A white-only space because white people don't feel safe against black people is racism and segregation, as is a black-only space. I feel like most people excuse this behavior because as a majority, white people have not faced the same racism that black people have had to face. I think that that's a valid point, but it still doesn't change the fact that if we keep those views then it'd just be segregation in a different way.

  I, as a Hispanic person, have not faced any discrimination or racism, and I feel like this is because I'm pretty much white passing; I've noticed that most POC individuals who are white-passing don't face the racism that people with darker skin might face. Maybe this is because most people who do have racist views only judge by skin color. I think this might have something more to do with the psychology of it all, and how quick people are to judge off of appearances. 

In conclusion, Juneteenth represents a significant moment in American history and the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality. The holiday provides an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of enslaved individuals and their fight for freedom. It also serves as a reminder of the progress made and the work that still needs to be done to ensure equality. If we as a society can get rid of all of the stereotypes and stigma around black Americans and POC in general, I think we can grow to make the world a safe and better place for all races. This may take some work, but if we keep up this awareness and  Overall, Juneteenth is an important and meaningful holiday that deserves recognition and celebration.

By Jason Jones

While she did not always plan to become a journalist, Salem Reporter writer Rachel Alexander knew from an early age that she wanted to be involved in shaping policies. She did become involved with journalism while in high school, and although Whitman College did not offer journalism as a major she did continue writing there for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin while also taking classes. She covered smaller communities around the city, and learned a lot about the work.

“It was a great environment to learn about journalism,” Alexander said, “because there were a lot of stories that weren’t being covered.”

Alexander spoke with Waldo journalism students this month about her coverage of education, law enforcement, and other topics for publications throughout the Pacific Northwest. Beyond reporting, she has also written opinion pieces for publications including The Guardian. She caught students' attention when she told them that she had once been suspended from school for a week after the administration believed she made threats to shoot up her school.

“I should have started with that as the lead,” Alexander joked.

Students did ask what that was about, and Alexander explained she was in a dark place regarding bullying at her school but she never planned to shoot up her school. She did need professional intervention, she acknowledged, but the school’s approach to the situation was immediately punitive rather than helpful. Mental health advocacy is a topic that interests Alexander to this day.

Regarding Waldo specifically, Alexander showed students an article that she wrote last year covering fights and assaults that had been increasingly problematic. Alexander has also recently helped to shed light on the overheated classrooms at Waldo this spring. These are just two examples of the many important topics that Alexander and her Salem Reporter colleagues cover for our community.

“We’re a very small team,” Alexander said. “We all do a bit of everything.”

Following her presentation, students and staff shared notes about what they recalled from Alexander’s visit. While some were inspired to delve further into journalism, others had different ideas.

“I will be honest,” said student Daniela Sanchez Maldonado. “This presentation made me less interested in pursuing journalism.”

It may not be for everyone, but Alexander enjoys her work and students enjoyed learning about it. Middle school is a time for discovery; thanks to Alexander’s visit Waldo students had a chance to discover a little bit more about the ins and outs of life of a journalist.

By Ezran Crain

Tyler The Creator is a fascinating and complex figure in the world of modern music. Born in 1991 in Los Angeles, California, Tyler Okonma (better known by his stage name, Tyler The Creator) has been a prominent figure in the music industry since the early 2010s. As both an artist and a producer, Tyler The Creator has made a name for himself through his unique style, innovative approach, and controversial subject matter.

Tyler The Creator first gained widespread attention with the release of his debut mixtape, "Bastard," in 2009. The mixtape was a critical success, with many praising Tyler's raw lyrical ability and production skills. However, it was also controversial due to its graphic and violent content.

Despite the controversy surrounding his music, Tyler The Creator quickly became a rising star in the hip-hop world. He founded the collective Odd Future, which included fellow musicians and producers such as Frank Ocean and Earl Sweatshirt. Together. They gained a loyal fanbase through their rebellious attitude and DIY ethos.

One of Tyler The Creator's defining features as an artist is his constantly evolving style. His early work was characterized by a gritty, lo-fi sound, with heavy use of sampling and distorted beats. However, as his career progressed, Tyler began incorporating more melodic elements into his music, as well as experimenting with jazz and funk influences.

Tyler The Creator's most recent album, "IGOR," was released in 2019 to critical acclaim. The album marks a departure from his previous work, as Tyler moves away from rapping and focuses more on singing and producing. The album's storyline follows Tyler's journey through heartbreak and self-discovery, and the production is lush, complex, and layered.

Beyond his music, Tyler The Creator is known for his fashion sense and his work as a visual artist. He has collaborated with major fashion brands such as Converse and Lacoste and has designed clothing and merchandise for his music releases. Additionally, Tyler has directed music videos and television shows, and has created his animated series, "The Jellies!"

In conclusion, Tyler The Creator is a visionary artist who has left an indelible mark on the music industry. His unique style, controversial subject matter, and constantly evolving approach to music have made him one of the most respected and influential figures in hip-hop today. Despite the criticism he has faced over the years, Tyler The Creator continues to push boundaries and defy expectations, and his fans eagerly anticipate what he will do next.

By Fabian Sanchez Ojeda

Mad Max Fury Road is a movie that I think is really underrated and I don't hear very much about it. I think that the movie is a really great movie and should be acknowledged more.

One reason that I think it's really awesome is that this movie has a lot of crazy cars and a lot of work and thought put into them. Each one is very different from every other one and crazy. 

One of my favorite cars from the movie is the Buzzards Excavator. It's a car that I really like because it's a truck strapped with a saw in the front and sprinkled with spikes everywhere and also has a excavator strapped to the back. It's a very crazy vehicle. 

Another great addition is the polecat cars. These cars are basically a car with a long pole in the back and there are people on the pole that swing and jump onto other cars.

Another great thing about the movie are the characters. There are characters like Immortan Joe and the rock rider leader that run their own gangs or civilizations, and there are others like Slit and Nux that work for them. One of my favorite characters is the doof warrior because he plays a guitar that shoots fire while being strapped to the doof wagon and commingles with drummers in the back. 

Some of the main characters are Mad Max and Furiosa. Furiosa’s goal is to escape from the citadel while taking Immortan Joe's wives because they are in a jail cell. They need to escape to a safe place,

Max got caught by Joe's warriors and is being used as a blood bag, but eventually he escapes and teams up with Furiosa.

The movie is set in a desert with colonies spread out and far, far away. It is a never ending giant sandstorm filled with tornadoes and thunderstorms. I would recommend watching the movie and would rate it a 8/10.

By Teaghan Jennings

Let’s go outside 

                           Eat outside 

                          Talk outside 

                         Sing outside  

                        Go outside 

                       One fun thing to do outside is go camping 

                     Once you could go outside 

                   Umbrella is what you can use outside         

                  Think outside 

                 Sleep outside  

                I love outside 

             Dream outside  

            Easy it is to go outside

By Tasha Langimeo

Mrs. Kaili is a behavior cadre here at Waldo Middle School. She helps students regulate their emotions whether they are feeling sad or any other negative emotions. Her favorite thing to do here at Waldo is to get to know students, and her least favorite thing to do at her job is waking up early.

Mrs. Kaili chose to work here at Waldo because she loves middle schoolers. She thinks we should all get to know each other and become good humans. If she wasn’t a behavior cadre she would have been an artist. 

She likes this school because she has a lot of nice co-workers, and Waldo has a good community where people take care of each other. Mrs. Kaili’s favorite hobbies are painting, gardening, hiking, reading, and making trouble for her kids. Her favorite place to travel is Sydney, Australia, but she also loves going to visit family in Hawaii.           

      By Athena Henson

What would you say if you were told by the government that you had to fight to the death against teens from other states? If you won, then you would bring home great rewards? Challenging, horrifying, or both?

The Hunger Games is a movie series that was originally a book that was made into a movie. They didn't change too many things; they kept it as much like the book as possible. I am not that big a fan of the things they did change.

SPOILER ALERT! When Rue dies in the book, District 11 doesn't rebel like in the movie. They just send Katniss bread. The way Katniss knows that the bread is from District 11 is because of the type of grain. However, in the movie they riot. 

Katniss assumed that they were going to give it to Rue then she died, so instead of taking the bread back they gave it to her. This leads to her saying thank you to District 11, so they know that she knows that they gave her the bread. 

In the movie, she does the three-finger salute. This leads to them rioting because Rue was so little. I would say they could have rioted because we only know what happens from Katniss's point of view, but they would have said something after the games.

The other change they made is they gave Thresh a way to die. That might not make sense, but in the book, they (meaning Katniss and Peeta) don’t say how he dies. The only way that they know Thresh died is because they saw his face in the sky. The reason Katniss doesn't know when he died is that there was a thunderstorm and they didn't hear the cannon. Katniss and Peeta assumed that Marvel killed him. 

In the movie, they had to provide a way that he died, so they had the killer dogs maul him. It’s not a significant change. It is possible that Thresh was killed by the dogs, but not very likely. Katniss doesn't know when the dogs were unleashed, but we assume that it was near dusk because of when they came after Katniss and Peeta. The dogs could have killed Thresh and then departed, and then chased Peetah, Marvel, and Katniss to the middle where they then fought.

In conclusion, I think that the movie was pretty good compared to the book. What I hate the most about some movies that were made from books is that they change so much stuff, like in the School for Good and Evil where they kept almost nothing the same. In The Hunger Games though, they kept most stuff similar and some of the cast looked like what the book described. The only character that looks nothing like what the book describes was Peeta, but it still works. In all, I give it a four out of five. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

By Kateryna Bass

       It's a misconception that teachers have no life outside their jobs, you'd be surprised at what teachers are up to in their free time. Mr Nelson is a regular science teacher who many of us had for science, but he's much more than a science teacher. He’s also an actor! 

Having spent a majority of his childhood in Los Angeles, Paul Nelson grew up around actors. It was something he later found very enjoyable and it was somewhere that he belonged. Nelson didn't step on stage until his 20s, after an incident in 6th grade where he passed out in front of his school while singing a Christmas song. It took him a long time to show himself on stage again. However, after scoring his first role in 1990, he never looked back and has been acting for 33 years. He has been on stage several times, including roles in Jesus Christ Superstar, How to Survive the Apocalypse, Burning Man, The Rocketeer, Elvis Has Left the Building, and more!

       Nelson left LA at 26 for university and started his career as a teacher soon after. Trying to find acting roles while also being a teacher can be challenging, and other times even impossible because acting requires you to have a free schedule. Many actors actually work side jobs such as a waiter or bartender in order to keep their schedule open, he said. Despite the restrictions teaching has on acting, Nelson still finds time for roles. In fact, he has a Shakespeare performance coming up in July at Keizer Homegrown Theater!

        Acting is worth picking up as a hobby, Nelson said, if you like to work with activities that deal with artistic forms such as design and patterns. Acting is not only fun, but it also teaches many valuable skills like communication, public speaking, listening, improvisation, teamwork and memorization. Nelson also describes it to be a great stress relieving activity. 

You don't need any experience to start acting, however in order to get started you will need to do some research to find a local theater company that is right for you. Finding your local theater can be as simple as looking them up on Facebook. Some local theaters in Salem include Pentacle Theatre, Brush Creek Playhouse, Keizer Homegrown Theater: Home (super local), Spotlight Community Theatre, and Enlightened Theatrics. After you’ve found a local theater, sign up for an audition! You can even work backstage with props or audition for a background character to get a feel for the environment first.        

     If you don't like to be in front of an audience, Nelson said, voice acting might interest you. It is also another form of acting, however it doesn't require speaking in front of an audience; you simply read lines off a script through a microphone! This audio is then inputted into animation or uploaded as an audiobook, depending what the script is for. Nelson has completed nine audio books including The Jungle Book and Wizard of Oz.

If you're getting serious about acting, getting a union card is a must. A union card is a document signed by an employee that authorizes a union to negotiate employment terms and conditions on behalf of said employee. They often charge a one time initiation fee, so if you’re not interested in doing this full-time then it may not be worth it. In order to get a union card (also known as a SAG card) you need to have said at least one line on screen, whether it's on a commercial or even a gameshow. Having an SAG card is useful because it makes more likely to be invited for auditions and you are taken more seriously by directors overall. On average, union actors make $27.67 an hour in the United States, but being a regular in the cast amounts to higher pay.

       Acting may not be for everyone, but it can become a lifelong hobby or even a career for those patient and determined enough. Huge thanks to Mr. Nelson who took the time to share his passion with our class this spring!

By Linette Garibay Maravilla

  Natanael Cano is one of the most known “Corridos Tumbados” artists with 25.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He was born on March 27, 2001, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Natanael started his music career in 2018. He was inspired by “Ariel Camacho” who was also a big Mexican music artist. 

         Natanael started by teaching himself how to play guitar around the age of 13, and with time he started progressing and started getting into composing songs of his own around the age of 15-16 then posting them on YouTube. At the age of 16, Natanael dropped out of high school to take his music career more seriously. 

 The first song he released on YouTube was “el de los lentes gucci”  which he released on July 9, 2018. That song got him much recognition. At the very young age of 18, Natanael Cano got signed to a label called “Rancho Humilde” and shortly after he got signed, he released “el de la codeina” . This helped him get to where he is now. Natanael released his first album “Todo es diferente” two years after he got signed with Rancho Humilde. 

Many thanks to Ms. Daniels and several journalism students (Athena, Helena, and Kateryna) for creating our first Mustangs Mirror Scavenger Hunt. Read carefully, choose wisely, and you could win a free 2022-23 Waldo Yearbook!

Contest ends at 4 pm on Monday, June 12. Four free yearbooks will be distributed to winners following the conclusion of this contest. Odds of winning depend on the number of correct entries submitted by Waldo Mustangs. 🐴

By Helena Navarro

Spring is here with summer fast approaching, and the warmer seasons obviously bring the heat. Many people use air conditioning or some type of cooling system in their homes to cool down during the heat. At Waldo, however, there is no air conditioning or cooling system that I know of. I've heard that there's some type of system in the cafeteria or the main gathering places, but in classrooms there is absolutely nothing.

Multiple complaints from staff and students have been made, yet nothing has been done by the district to help this problem. Some teachers will have fans on or windows open, but it does little to help when 15 to 30 people are all gathered in a small room with the lights on and all the body heat. 

In classrooms, the temperature has been known to get up to over 85 degrees at times. Not only does this heat affect us physically, making us overheat and sweat a lot, but it can affect our focus on classes and grades. The heat causes distractions from our school work, and makes it harder to get the assignments done. One of the causes for the problem regarding lack of air conditioning is the fact that many buildings within Salem-Keizer Public Schools, including Waldo, were built in the mid-1900s. Not only that, but additionally Waldo was made for around 800 kids. Currently we have over 1,100 students. 

There have been things done by our school to help us, such as supplying large fans in the hallways and in some classrooms, but it isonly during passing periods that we get a short break from the heat. Even then, you're rushing to your next class in a four-minute time frame while getting pushed into other sweaty kids and lost in large groups. 

One reason that the district doesn't just install air conditioning is the cost. Not only would they be putting air conditioning in middle schools, but elementary schools and high schools, too. This change could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, if not close to possibly a billion. But as inflation goes up and prices rise, I think they should take care of the issue before millions turn into billions. 

They should have addressed this issue years ago, because now the prices are just going to continue to go up. With all the funding that schools like Straub receive, they should be able to at least start putting air conditioning into schools in less fortunate areas. We need at least some kind of heat prevention in schools. 

Editor’s note: Although Waldo Middle School does have a ventilation system and adequate heat during the colder months, air conditioning is limited to only a few places throughout the building. A meeting to discuss what may be done in terms of mitigating excessive heat is scheduled for Wednesday, June 7. Representatives from Waldo staff, Waldo administration, and the school district are scheduled to participate. 

By Teaghan Jennings

                     Buy some chowder  

                    Earn some chowder  

                   Stay for some chowder 

                  Talk about chowder  

                 Come get some chowder  

               Here's some chowder  

             Oh, I love chowder 

           Why you should love chowder 

           Delicious 

          Enjoying  

        Race to go get some chowder 

      I love chowder 

     Note that this chowder is the best 

     Once you take a bite you will love it

By Ileana Gutierrez Saldana

Marco Cardenas, also known as Mc Magic, is a musical artist who sings hip hop/latin music/pop music. He is well known by many of us hispanics that like Spanglish music. I really enjoy his songs because I find them relatable and heartwarming. 

If you enjoy Spanglish music such as Ms. Krazie and SPM, then you are most likely going to enjoy MC Magic as well. The songs are very catchy and nice and just similar to other hip hop Spanglish music. Marco Cardenas was born in June of 1970 in Nogales, Mexico. Right now he is 52 years old. The Mc Magic group is NB Ridaz.

 I started listening to this band when one of my friends recommend it, and also it was very popular on Tik Tok. I decided to listen to them and I just really liked them, so I would put them on while doing school work or pretty much anything. One of my favorite songs by MC Magic is  Lies, which talks about a love relationship that came to an end and a guy trying to get her back but she does not want to because she doesn't trust him anymore. I also really enjoy Lost in Love. I like the beat.

I find the songs catchy, and there are definitely a few that stand out a lot more than others because people find them relatable. I really like listening to those songs because I like the lyrics and I find the songs to be mesmerizing.  These are some links for my favorite MC Magic songs:

Lies by MC Magic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JW7S1av1a4 

Lost in love by MC Magic/ NB Ridaz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpwZBm8eY3Q 

Runaway by MC Magic/ NB Ridaz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTVD2i71dzg 

By Kateryna Bass

           Нервы (Nerves) is a popular Ukrainian pop-rock band formed during the year 2010 and led by Evgeniy Milkovsky. After the end of his solo career, he created a band with three other members that would hopefully yield the results his previous career didn't. Original members of the group were Milkovskiy (vocals, guitar), Dmitry Dudka (bass guitar), Anton Nizhenko (drums), and Vlad Zaychenko (guitar, backing vocals).

       The band quickly gained popularity in Ukraine and started to grow a devoted fan base that would reach beyond Eastern Europe. After their popularity skyrocketed, Milkovsky began directing their first music videos including "Глупая" ("Foolish Girl") and several others. In 2012 the band was nominated for their first award by Muz-TV, a Russian music TV channel running since 1996, for the “Breakout of the Year” award. Following their achievement they continued to tour broadly throughout Ukraine, Belarus and Russia writing more songs and music videos. They won another award the following year for “Band of the Year” by ZD Awards in 2013.

        In 2014 The beloved group temporarily disbanded, just 4 years after the start of their band. Guitarist Dudka permanently left the group and the situation escalated when the band separated from their producer, ‘kruzheva music’. Fortunately for the band, they found a new producer a year later and together the three began making music again. After the band's long-awaited reunion in 2015, they released a third album, “Третье дыханиe” (“third breath”) with 13 tracks. They released their 4th album “Костёр” (“Campfire”) in 2016 but that wasn’t before 2 more members left the group, Zaychenko, and Nizhenko. Without their guitar player and drumist, Milkovskiy was left by himself. Many thought the band was done, and fans were devastated; that was until the appearance of three new members.

      In 2017 the group entered a new era, the band consisted of four new members: Roman Bulakhov (lead guitarist, backing vocals), Evgeny Trukhin (bass guitar), Aleksey Bochkaryov (drums), and our beloved group leader Evgeniy Milkovsky. The band was nominated for many more Russian music awards like “The best pop-rock Band” (Russian Music Box), “The Best Russian Band” (Kids’ Choice Awards), and “The best music band” (OOPS Choice Awards). They were also nominated for the 2020 Music Choice Awards for “Best Up and Coming Artists”. Not to mention they’ve even been featured on several Spotify playlists such as “New Music Friday” and “Hot New Hip Hop”. Their new music featured a blend of emo and indie-rock effects, with Milkovskiy’s heartfelt vocals holding everything together.

         Nervy is still making music today, their most recent album was released in 2021 titled “7” with 21 songs. The members have remained the same throughout the years and have since broken their pattern of losing and gaining people. Today the band combines several other musical elements such as pop, R&B, and hip-hop creating a unique blend; it's difficult to place Nervy in a single category. Today their lyrics still focus on themes like self-reflection and they have cited American artists like Drake, Bryson Tyler, and Anderson Paak to be their inspiration. Their hit song "Кофе мой друг" ("Coffee, My Friend") is a good example of the powerful lyrics; Milkovski sings about the pain in a breakup and how he leans on his morning cup of coffee to get him through the day. The lyrics are heart-rending and relatable, and many listeners have found comfort in the song's message.

        They've released 7 albums throughout the years but their best-selling album continues to be their very first one, “ВСЁ ЧТО ВОКРУГ” (“All that’s Around”) (2012) The album sold over 24,520 copies when it was first released and it's one of my favorites as well. My favorite song from this album is the very first track which is self-titled “Нервы” and I love this song so much due to its catchy nature, it reminds me a lot of the music by Nirvana. 

       Some of their most famous songs include "Батареи" ("Batteries"), "Ветром стать" ("Become the Wind"), “Курим” (“Smoking”) and “Бей моё сердце” (“Beat my Heart”). Some of their recent singles are “Втомився” (“Tired”),  Не Верь, Не Бойся (“Dont believe, Don't be afraid”), and Всё Будет Хорошо (Cover Version) (“Everything will be alright’). I would definitely recommend this band to someone who listens to Nirvana and other alternative rock artists.

       In the summer of 2022, The Stars responded to Ukraine's crisis by participating in a big charity tour alongside other artists like FACE, Ivan Dorn, and BAH.ROMA in support of Ukraine. The artists were united by a mutual desire to provide extra help as well as protest against the Russian invasion. The musicians combined the profits received from the tour to help Ukrainians affected by the war. The funds were used to treat victims, help provide medical equipment, doctors, volunteer camps, and also address specific families who need help and much more. The charity tour ‘STAND WITH UKRAINE’ took place here in the U.S. and was created as a way to gather communities and create change altogether.

       Overall, Nervy has been a beloved Ukrainian rock band for almost 14 years. I do not doubt that they will continue making music throughout the 21st Century. The deep lyrics and catchy guitar riffs have gained recognition all over the world, winning them many well-deserved awards. I don’t think I will ever stop listening to them, and after reading about the group’s entire story, you should check out their actual music too. 

By Ezriella McCall 

Q: At what age did you start doing makeup?            

A: I was in seventh grade.

Q: What is your favorite makeup brand?

A: Probably Tart & Mac. 

Q: What made you want to do the makeup club?

A: Students were requesting it.

Q: What do you enjoy most about the makeup club?

A: Probably seeing the girls happy. 

Q: What's your favorite makeup step? 

A: Probably concealer.

By Hector Juarez and  Moises Mosqueda

     Woodburn is a fun place to go when you have nothing to do. We like to go to McDonalds and get the 10-piece chicken nugget meal. We also like to go to the Woodburn Outlet Mall and walk around stores. Some great stores include Nike, Levis, and Adidas. When we are done looking at all the stores, we like to go to the arcade and play with our friends. After we are done, we go get Auntie Anne's.   

Woodburn is a nice place to be since it’s comfortable and you can get anything you want. If you like museums, then Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is nearby. It has a lot of planes and spaceships.  The facility includes Wings & Waves, which has a lot of water slides and a big pool.

    The annual Bauman's Harvest Festival is a fun place to go with your family. There is a corn maze, a zip line, and amazing donuts. You can pick pumpkins and apples and they have a tractor ride. Another cool place near Woodburn is Bullwinkile’s in Wilsonville. It is a theme park with an arcade, a golf course, laser tag, and go karts. Check out Woodburn and the surrounding area for many fun things that will catch your fancy. 

These are the seventh grade volleyball players for 2022-2023.
Unfortunately, no volleyball coaches attended the final meeting to approve sports photos this spring so their photo was accidentally omitted from our yearbook.  Here's their photo now, though. Their season was full of victories and fond memories. Have a great summer, everyone!