Sports

Students have different motivations for trying out for soccer. Zoe Izaguirre, a 7th grader said, "What motivates me was that a lot of my friends and family told me I could do it, and several of my teammates made the team last year." Students had to be motivated because tryouts were challenging. 

Allison Sanchez, a 6th grader who tried out for the team, told us the tryout was challenging. She said, "For me, the most challenging part of tryouts was doing the sprinting drill." A sprinting drill is a short, high‑intensity run used during soccer tryouts to measure a player’s speed and acceleration. Coaches rely on these drills to evaluate how quickly athletes can explode off the line, change direction, and compete for the ball. Sanchez said, "I pushed through to the end because I knew the outcome of finishing and doing my best. I made the team!"

The soccer team needs contributions from everyone. Natasha Beck, an 8th grader, said, "I plan on contributing to the team by supporting all my teammates on and off the field. I don't want to bring to bring any negativity to the team ever." A positive attitude should help with the team's goals. 

Individual goals are also important for the team. Ximena Hernandez, the team manager, said, "Some goals I have set for myself this season are to win the state championship again and to motivate my teammates. I plan to achieve these goals by supporting my team, and making sure they are my top priority." 

As the sun set over the RSA field, the players walked off knowing they had given their best. No matter who made the team, everyone left feeling stronger, more confident, and proud of the hard work they put in.

Interviews

To learn more about the preparation behind the season, our journalism team interviewed players and coaches. Their insights show the dedication and skill-building happening on and off the field.

Student Life

A Career Marked by Student Success

When asked about a moment in her career, she’s most proud of, Loop doesn’t hesitate, she highlights the joy of seeing students succeed even after facing significant challenges. For her, every breakthrough, every moment of resilience, and every student victory makes the hard work worthwhile.

The Day-to-Day Role You Don’t Always See

Many students might assume administrators spend most of their time handling discipline or paperwork, but Loop offers a different perspective. Her primary mission is support. Whether she’s helping a student navigate obstacles, offering guidance to a teacher, or working with families, her focus is on building an environment where everyone can thrive.

A Message for Every Student

Above all, Loop wants each student to leave the school year knowing one thing: “You are valued, supported, and expected to do great things.”

It’s a message that reflects her belief in students’ potential and her commitment to uplifting them every day.

Looking Forward

Rather than aiming for major changes, Loop hopes to continue strengthening the school’s culture of safety, care, and support. Her vision is steady and student-centered: a school where everyone feels they belong.

State Competition

Our middle school students are actively preparing for the State Leadership Conference on March 23–27. From events like Emergency Situations to Foundations of Medical Terminology, they all share one major component: a test portion. Whether the event consists solely of an exam or includes a preliminary testing round before competition, every student must dedicate time to studying and reviewing key concepts of their events.

Let’s take a look at some of the students’ study strategies.

Studying Strategies

Our HOSA secretary, Janay de la Rosa, shared insight into how she is preparing for her Emergency Situations event. She reviews each required topic carefully, from the basics of CPR to proper body positioning during emergencies. As she studies, she writes down key points from her readings and creates her own practice questions based on the material.

Janay also uses AI tools to generate study guides, additional practice questions, and quizzes to test her understanding. After creating these materials, she consistently reviews them to reinforce what she has learned.

Our HOSA reporter, Sarah Quezada, has a few tricks up her sleeve as well. She focuses on breaking information into smaller sections to make it more manageable. Sarah studies a little each day instead of cramming, which helps her retain information more effectively. She also uses flashcards and practices with friends to quiz each other. By teaching and explaining concepts out loud, she strengthens her understanding and builds confidence for test day.

With dedication, organization, and strong study habits, our HOSA members are preparing to represent our school, RSA, with pride at the State Leadership Conference. We wish them the best of luck as they put their hard work to the test!

1. Be Active in Your Learning

Avoid simply re-reading your notes. Instead, engage with the material in different ways. Use flashcards, create study guides, or explain concepts out loud to someone else. Teaching what you’ve learned is one of the most effective ways to reinforce understanding.

2. Plan Your Study Sessions

Consistency beats cramming. Break your studying into smaller, manageable sessions over time instead of trying to learn everything in one night. Creating a study schedule can help you stay organized and reduce stress before exams.

3. Take Better Notes

Effective note-taking can make a huge difference in understanding and retaining information. Highlight key points, rewrite important concepts in your own words, and review your notes regularly. This process helps your brain process and remember the material more effectively.

4. Control Your Habits

Minimize distractions during study sessions and prioritize healthy routines. This includes getting enough sleep, eating well, and taking short breaks when needed. Good habits support focus, memory, and overall academic performance.

5. Engage in Class

Participate actively in your lessons. Pay attention, ask questions, and take advantage of extra activities or projects. Maintaining a positive mindset and showing curiosity about the material can make learning more meaningful and enjoyable.

6. Reflect and Set Goals

Take a few minutes each week to reflect on your progress. Identify areas where you’ve improved and areas that still need work. Setting small, achievable goals can keep you motivated and help you measure your growth over time.

By following these strategies, you can strengthen your understanding, improve your grades, and finish the school year on a high note. Remember, growth takes time, but with consistent effort and focus, you can leave this year smarter and more confident than ever.

Commitment matters because it helps people reach their goals. When you stay committed, you learn patience and perseverance. You also build confidence because you prove to yourself that you can handle challenges. People who are committed are often trusted more because others know they can count on them.

Commitment isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. It helps you become stronger, more responsible, and more successful in the long run. Whether it’s school, sports, or personal goals, staying committed shows that you believe in yourself and what you’re working toward. And when you keep going, even when it’s tough, that’s when real growth happens.

Renata Gallegos

L’Amour develops the idea of exploration throughout the text by expressing a particular viewpoint and persuading people to adopt his position.

First, L’Amour develops the idea of exploration by expressing a particular viewpoint. The text argues that humanity should continue exploring indefinitely. One detail L’Amour uses is that humanity has a natural desire to explore. This matters because without exploration, we would remain stuck in the past. This affects the reader by being persuasive and creating an effective argument.

Second, L’Amour develops the idea of exploration by persuading people to support his position. For example, the text states, “The mind of man [is not] bound by any limit at all.” Another detail L’Amour uses is that humanity wants to reach frontiers beyond its current limits. This matters because the farther humanity explores, the more we learn. This creates an infinite cycle of learning and discovery. The effect on the reader is an emotional appeal to our sense of curiosity.

In conclusion, L’Amour builds the idea of exploration by persuading people of his position. He argues for his viewpoint and encourages readers to continue progressing through exploration.

Sofia Zepeda

L’Amour develops the idea of exploration throughout the text by using logical arguments based on reason and evidence as well as persuasive techniques.

First, L’Amour develops the central idea of exploration by using logical arguments supported by reasons and evidence. For example, the author argues that humanity is driven to explore the unknown. He claims that humans must continue innovating, and this matters because exploration allows us to discover new resources and potentially new forms of life. The effect on the reader is that it persuades them to accept L’Amour’s logical reasoning.

Second, L’Amour develops the main idea of exploration by using persuasive techniques. For instance, he asks, “One might ask why outer space, when so much remains to be done here.” This rhetorical question reinforces the idea that the Eternal Frontier is important because it advances human development. The effect on the reader is that it convinces them that exploring space will lead to continued progress for humanity.

In conclusion, the author advances the main point about exploration by using persuasive techniques. First, he builds an argument through logical reasoning. Then, he strengthens the central idea by using effective persuasive strategies.

Miguel and Crystal's Interview

Did you feel intimidated when you heard anothe group performing the same song as you?

Angel had been playing guitar for a while now, and I [Crystal] had been singing for about two years, so I feel like we weren't intimidated. They were a skilled group, but we felt very confident in our ability to perform.

Did you practice? If so, for how long?

Yes, we did practice, but it was only for about fifteen minutes during a scheduled rehearsal.

What inspired you to sign up?

I [Crystal] was initially planning on signing up, but I wanted to find someone to do it with me. When I heard from my friend that Miguel wanted to do it, but he was too scared to perform alone, I asked if he wanted to perform together.

Creative Writing

Small words can also make a difference. Encouraging words like, "You can do it!" or "Always stay positive!" can make someone feel confident and determined. While negative words can hurt someone deeply. I have learned to be more careful with what I say because words can stay with people longer than actions. In the end, small things matter more than we realize.

They shape our relationships, our habits, and our character. Big impacts don't always come from big moments. Sometimes they come from the little things we do everyday.

The Secret People of Hawaii

In Hawaii, you will see many small figures that people call Menehune. In Hawaiian tradition, many ancient structures are believed to be creations of the Menehune. These short mythological people were said to live in the forests and were known as excellent craftsmen. Some of the structures they are credited with building still stand today. Although we know very little about them, there are a few details that appear in Hawaiian stories. For example, they were said to have lived in Hawaii before the Polynesian settlers arrived. They also had favorite foods, which were bananas, or mai‘a, and fish.

The Evil Eye

Have you ever seen someone wearing a necklace with a blue eye on it? Have you ever heard the term “evil eye” and felt confused? I did too, so I looked into it, and here is what I found. Many people believe that when someone looks at another person with jealousy or bad intentions, it can curse them. To protect themselves, people created amulets designed to block these harmful glares.

Surprisingly, this belief has been around for about 5,000 years. It appears in many cultures, including the Middle East, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean. Necklaces and bracelets with the blue eye symbol are very common, but they are not the only ways people protect themselves. Different cultures have their own traditions. In some parts of Asia, children would have their faces darkened with soot, especially around the eyes, to avoid attracting attention from harmful spirits. In other traditions, people ate alone or only with close family, because they believed that when a person opens their mouth, their soul is more vulnerable to being taken by the evil eye.

Out of the blue, a tap hit the back of my seat. “Sorry,” someone said. I turned just enough to see Nadiya. Sunlight from the window caught the side of her face, and for a second I completely lost my train of thought.

“It’s fine,” I said.

She settled back, and the noise of the bus filled the space between us again. A few minutes passed.

“Did you finish the vocab thing?” she asked.

“Kind of,” I replied.

She made a small sound, half a laugh, half a sigh, and nodded like that was exactly what she expected. We didn’t say anything else. We didn’t need to. We talked like people who had already agreed on most things a long time ago.

The bus began to slow near our stop. Before the brakes fully engaged, she was already up, backpack slung over one shoulder.

The bus halted. I grabbed my things, backpack, lunchbox, and saxophone.

School passed in fragments: lockers slamming, teachers talking, my name written neatly on a worksheet as if it still meant something. In math class, Mrs. Khan filled the board with equations I could solve before she even finished writing them. I kept my hands folded on my desk anyway. The thing is, no one noticed. That might’ve been the worst part.

At the end of the day, I gathered my materials and followed the horde of students out of the class as if gravity were pulling us all in the same direction. Outside, the air felt heavier than it had that morning. I thought about the bus. I thought about home. I thought about how tomorrow would probably look exactly the same.

I didn’t know it was the last normal day.

I just knew I felt tired in a way sleep didn’t fix.

The Enduring Flower

by Caden Carreon

Jenifer said yes to the invitation but asked if Khloe could come too.
Later, Khloe quietly told her, “Go. They clearly don't want me there.”

“Are you sure?” Jenifer asked.

“Yes,” Khloe insisted.

So Jenifer turned back to her friends and said, “Okay, I’ll go to the sleepover.” They got into the car and drove off, leaving Khloe behind.

Even then, Jenifer said, “If you want Khloe to come, I don’t have to go.”
But Khloe still told her, “Go, it’s okay,” even though inside she didn’t want Jenifer to leave.

That night, alone at home, Khloe’s hurt feelings took over—and she began planning her revenge.

When she got home, Khloe made a plan. She would sneak into Jenifer’s castle and steal her most expensive jewelry so she could become richer than Jenifer.
Later that night, Khloe slipped past the castle guards and headed straight for Jenifer’s room. She grabbed pearls, rubies, gold, and diamonds, then rushed outside before anyone noticed. Once she reached the road, she called an Uber to pick her up and take her home.

The next day, Khloe chose her most expensive outfit from her closet, put on all the jewelry she had stolen, and strutted into Unicorn Prep Middle School.
Jenifer spotted her immediately and ran to her, crying.

Khloe asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jenifer wiped her eyes. “Someone snuck into my castle last night and stole all my jewelry!”

Jenifer paused, squinted, and looked Khloe up and down. “Where did you get all that jewelry?”

Khloe quickly made up a lie. “My grandma gave it to me.”

But Jenifer didn’t believe her. All of her jewelry had a small J engraved on it—and now she could clearly see the same J on every piece Khloe was wearing.

“So,” Jenifer said slowly, “how come the jewelry you’re wearing has a J on it… when you don’t even have a J in your name?”

Khloe froze. She had run out of excuses. Finally, she lowered her head and whispered, “I’m sorry, Jenifer. I was the one who snuck into your castle. I stole your jewelry.”

Jenifer couldn't believe what she heard, she felt like if she was on fire with anger and then she said, "why did you do it?"

Khloe said, "I did it because you are rich and I'm poor, and I wanted to have a rich lifestyle just like you and your friends."

"You should have just told me you felt that way." Jenifer said.

"I wanted to but your friends didn't invite me to the sleepover because I was poor and I thought you didn't want to be friends anymore." Khloe said.

"Well now I don't want to be friends at all." Jenifer said.

Khloe laughed and said, " you're lying right?"

"No l am not what kind of best friend would steal and lie to their best friend!"

"I am truly sorry Jenifer." Khloe said.

"I accept your apology but I still don't want to be friends." Jenifer exclaimed. Even though you did a very small thing, like stealing my jewelry, this made a really big argument and showed me your true colors. That's why I don't want to be friends anymore."

Khloe ran off crying with regretful tears of what she did. This story shows that even the smallest things can make a big impact on someone. 

February 27th 5:54 PM 

I hate how you went to the meeting today. You aren't even in the club. It's even worse that you were with her. You knew I hated her. I hated how beautiful she was, knowing I'd never look like that. I hated how much you talked about her. I hated how you looked at me from time to time during the meeting, thinking I wouldn't notice.

February 28th 5:56 PM

I hate how you talk. It made me hate myself. “You're a loose cannon.” I’m sorry. “You’re too childish.” I tried to stop. I did.

March 1st 5:58 PM 

I hate how you laugh. I hate how childish and carefree it sounds. I hate that it almost makes me smile too. I hate it. I hate how you smile as if you don't even remember how you treated me, or how much it hurt me

March 2nd 6:01 PM 

I hate your face. I hate your pretty freckles. I hate your smile lines. I hate how I could get lost in your eyes. I hate how you pretended to enjoy my company.

March 3rd 8:54 PM

I hate that I stayed long after I felt nothing, throughout every insult, every curse. I hate that you being mad was the only way you’d pay attention to me. I hate how I yearned for that attention.

As soon as I came up with the idea of taking the baby bird there, we rushed to the store. During the car ride, the bird was making all kinds of noises and cries. I just assumed it missed its mother, like all kinds of animals do. Once we arrived at the store, we rushed to the workers and asked them to aid the bird. They agreed and quickly took the bird to the back of the store, where all of the magic happens.

While they were working on the bird, we decided to take a stroll around the store and picked out things the bird would need. Once the bird was ready and returned to us, I felt the most amount of adoration and fondness. The baby bird was wrapped up in a tiny blanket, sleeping calmly. The moment I laid my eyes on the sleeping bird, I felt as if the weight on my shoulders had lifted, leaving me with a sense of tranquility and peace.

Once we got everything taken care of, we left the store with the composure that everything was now under control. When we were driving back home, the sunset looked so majestic, almost like the ending to a perfect movie. We were thinking of ideas to name the bird, and then the greatest idea came to mind. Since my mom technically saved the bird, I decided to name it Jane, short for Jaine, my mom’s name.

In the end, we agreed we would keep the bird until it learned how to spread its wings and fly. That is a memory I will never forget. I still think about this experience to this day and surely will keep remembering it.

Upon reaching the library, they faced an immediate problem: there were thousands of books towering above them. As they scanned the massive bookshelves, a sudden shadow darted across the aisles, knocking a few heavy books to the floor. Hearts pounding, the boys drew their wands as quickly as they could.

After a tense moment of seeing nothing, they returned to their search. Shortly after, another book tumbled from a high shelf. Cautiously, they went to pick it up and realized, to their massive relief, that it was the exact book they had been looking for!

They quietly scurried back to their dormitory. Just as they arrived, Harry noticed a strange, shadowy figure lurking in the corner of the room.

"Ron, do you see that?" Harry whispered, trembling.

Ron and Harry exchanged a terrified glance. Without hesitation, they raised their wands and unleashed every spell they knew hexes, stunning spells, and freezing charms but to no avail. The figure remained completely unfazed.

Lily noticed a symbol on the box an owl holding a lightning bolt so we ran to the basement archives to see if we could find it anywhere else. It turned out it belonged to a guy named Dr. Thorne, who was a teacher here a hundred years ago until he suddenly disappeared in the middle of class. The papers weren’t even normal maps; they showed that there are giant copper wires hidden inside the school walls right now!

As soon as Asher touched the glowing ball, a secret door in the wall creaked open, and we found a diary that said, “The bridge is open.” We totally freaked out because we realized our school is actually a giant machine and we just turned it on.

They targeted parents who were naïve, vulnerable, or unlikely to fight back. The Lab, officially a psychological research facility, had been operating since 1953. Now, in 1981, it remained completely unknown to the outside world. It tested on children as young as six months old. To ordinary people, the researchers would seem insane, but behind the walls lurked something even darker. The scientists truly believed some children were born with abilities capable of breaking the laws of physics and the universe. Their experiments were excruciating—methods Mary soon learned to fear.

There were small rooms called “shafts,” painted yellow but empty except for an EEG helmet, a table, and a chair. One entire wall was a one-way mirror. Mary remembered the smell of must and blood under fluorescent lights that made her nauseous. She knew these people were dangerous, but she waited patiently until she was older and smarter before attempting anything. She felt weak, trapped, and suffocated.

One day, while walking down a hallway, she encountered an older, creepy-looking man she had never seen before. He grabbed her roughly—so hard she almost vomited—and forced a pill into her mouth. “Shh,” he whispered. She didn’t understand, but she knew something was terribly wrong.

The next day she woke up in a mental state she had never experienced, as though she were observing life from outside her own body. She tried to ignore the feeling, but nothing helped. Later, she learned the man was a janitor who had been forcing minors to take illegal supplements he stole from the Lab’s abandoned storage room. He was arrested and sentenced to ten years in prison.

Still, Mary felt something was missing. She believed if she could just get to the file cabinets, she would finally understand everything. But the files were heavily guarded—tall, muscular men and cameras everywhere. And she was only nine. Her only advantage was her ability to manipulate people’s minds and consciousnesses…and her ability to move objects with her mind.

She decided she would try, no matter how long it took. The Lab was hiding something darker, she could feel it. She wasn’t allowed to speak to anyone—communication “disrupted the isolation process”—so she battled her thoughts alone. Finally, she wrote her escape plan on a piece of paper:

1. Break cameras

2. Turn off alarms

3. Blind the men

4. Run

5. Get to the file room

She was nervous but determined.

Mary waited until everyone was asleep. The halls were silent…until—

Bang!

A loud crash echoed. Cameras shattered. Guards scrambled. Alarms screamed. She wasn’t sure she would make it, but somehow she did. She shut off the alarms, manipulated the guards, and sprinted to the file room. The first cabinet was labeled “1953.” As she opened it, she heard Dr. Aven—the owner of the Lab.

Heart pounding, she hid and held her breath. Aven was notorious for brutally punishing children who disobeyed. If he found her, he could end her life with the ease of crushing glass. She accidentally knocked over a box of old books. Aven tensed but convinced himself it was the wind and left. Mary seized the chance. She pulled the exit lever and ran.

Without cameras or alarms, she could escape—but she knew if she left, they would find her and kill her. Terrified, she ducked into a nearby shaft.

It belonged to another boy.

“I’m in danger,” she whispered. “Please don’t tell anyone I’m here.”

“I could get caught too,” he whispered back.

“It’s okay. You won’t even know I’m here. Just for the night.”

He agreed.

Morning came. Mary slipped out quietly and returned to her shaft. Relieved—until Aven knocked.

“Oh, honey. I’m not mad. What you did was impressive.”

Mary froze. He knew.

“How do you know it was me? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said.

“Don’t be foolish. Cameras aren’t the only eyes here. We have minds—minds that shape reality. Didn’t Pops teach you that?”

Mary stayed silent. He grew angry and kicked down the door. He grabbed her. She fought. He insisted. She bit him hard enough to draw blood. He screamed, dropped her, and she crawled toward the fire exit. She tried to throw him with her mind—but only managed to shove him three inches. Not enough.

He dragged her to the “sensory room”—bright, colorful, cheerful, completely wrong for what was about to happen. Mary was nine. Brave, yes. But Aven was stronger. He treated her like an object—something he created. Her shaved head, her wired brain, her sewn-bright eyes. But her heart? He could never take that.

She remembered her training: “Bottle up your feelings. Channel them. Destroy them.”

She exhaled deeply, opened the door, and noticed no guards nearby. She rushed to the medical station, grabbing a syringe filled with high-potency sedatives. Then she searched for Aven—who was already looking for her.

She found him first.

She screamed, lunged, and stabbed him with the needle.

“What is this?! What is this?!” Aven shouted.

She grinned. “Now you’ll know how it feels.”

He yanked the needle out before the full dose entered, but he grew dizzy, stumbling. He collapsed against a railing as his eyes rolled back. “Security…” he whispered, barely audible.

Twelve seconds later, two guards and a psychologist arrived. They pulled Mary back as the psychologist scribbled notes.

“Now?” asked the guards.

“Yes,” the woman replied.

“No! No! You can’t do this!” Mary screamed.

A nurse revived Aven with an emergency injection. He staggered toward them as Mary manipulated the guards’ minds. Aven aimed a gun at her.

“Look what you’ve done. You disgust me.”

“Oh, I disgust YOU?” Mary snapped. “You’re a monster.”

“So you can control them… but not me? Why, honey?”

“I—I don’t know,” Mary stammered.

“And you used the injection on me but not them? You’re a joke. I mean—”

Before he finished, Mary bolted. The guards chased her. She sprinted toward freedom, but Aven called out:

“Wait! You really want to leave, Pops? Remember when I brought you in? You were just a little duckling.”

She stopped. Tears fell.

“I—I…” she whispered.

“Turn around, dear. You can always come back home.”

She turned.

Two days later, the army advanced toward the battlefield. Near the city, thousands of Romans awaited. The Spartan leader roared, “This is where we hold them! Where they die! We are Sparta!” Kratos charged in, fighting fiercely—until he lowered his guard. A Roman shoved him off a cliff, but Kratos managed to cling to the edge. A mysterious soldier struck down the Roman attacker, and Kratos realized who it was.

“Deimos!” he exclaimed.
“Hello, old friend,” Deimos replied, pulling him up.

Side by side, they fought bravely. Kratos remembered how Deimos had been the only one who spoke to him, defended him, and treated him like a brother. But as Deimos rested, exhausted, a Roman archer shot him in the back.

“Deimos, no!” Kratos cried. Holding him close, he heard Deimos whisper, “Brother, I will always be with you.”

Enraged, Kratos rose. “My vengeance ends now.” With only twenty‑five Spartans left against fifty Romans, he cut down every enemy in his path. When the battle ended, the Spartans burned the city to ashes.