April 25th
Vol. 2, Issue #12
Vol. 2, Issue #12
In This Issue:
By Gabby F
On April 10, during seminar, Stuttgart High School was honored to receive a visit from Colonel Kelley E. Greene. Colonel Greene grew up in a military family, with her father and multiple other members of her family having served before her. This includes her aunt, PFC Anne P. Knight, a 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion member. The 6888 was the first and only all-Black female unit that was deployed overseas during World War II. The women served in the US and Europe, sorting and routing mail for American service members and civilians. They worked shifts 7 days a week, processing an average of 65,000 pieces of mail per shift.
Colonel Greene shared the story of her aunt and the 6888 to the students of Stuttgart, sharing pictures and stories. Having initially been in talks to come in February, Colonel Greene could finally educate the students on this historic battalion.
Just last year, a movie by Tyler Perry was released, sharing the story of the battalion and the women under the command of Major Charity Adams, played by acclaimed actress Kerry Washington. Colonel Greene shared information about the movie, such as certain inaccuracies, stating that things needed to be changed a bit for television. She also mentioned that this was only one of the stories of the women in the 6888. However, each woman had their own stories.
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was inducted into the Army Women’s Hall of Fame on March 15, 2016, and continues to inspire women everywhere.
Image and information courtesy of The Orlando Times and Army Women's Foundation.
By Julia M
Hayden Jones, a rising actress in SHS’s sophomore class, attended drama fest a few weeks ago, where she had an incredible time and learned a lot about theatre. When interviewed about this week-long event, she rated the overall accommodations an eight and a half out of ten. When asked if she felt that they had enough time to practice, she said “Yes, actually, they gave us a lot of time throughout the days with our production groups.” However, when asked about having enough study time, she answered, “No, we definitely could have used more time.” While Hayden was a bit behind on her school work upon her return, she definitely enjoyed the experience, saying that in the end, their performance was great and that, while the content was not hard, “it helped us develop ourselves and our acting abilities.”
There were not very many representatives of Stuttgart High School at drama fest this year, and although students have to miss a week of school, it is a great learning experience for young people wanting to develop their acting skills and abilities. If interested, contact Mrs. Bagnaschi for more information about how to apply for next year, and get the experience of a lifetime.
By Julia M
In honor of both the end of national poetry month and prom, I’ve composed a Shakespearean sonnet to remind everyone that being single and not going to prom is okay. I hope you enjoy.
“Prom is coming up!” They shout out and yell
“Get your tickets now, before they sell out!”
What if I have no date, who do I tell?
My heart aches, filled with sorrow and with clout.
Alas, do not be worried! There is still
One option more; you go to the track meet,
Watch runners race in circles from the hill,
The collision of the floor and their cleats
Besides, prom is overpriced anyways.
So much money just to dance and to eat.
And yes, the decorations will amaze,
But you can still do this at the track meet.
Go, support the team! Drown out your sorrow
Support your school, not MotorWorld, tomorrow.
By Tadek N
Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and the first from the Americas, passed away in 2025 at the age of 88. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he rose from humble beginnings to become a spiritual leader known globally for his compassion, humility, and commitment to social justice. Elected in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Francis broke many conventions such as choosing simplicity over opulence, speaking openly on climate change, economic inequality, and the need for a more inclusive Church. His papacy was marked by a pastoral tone that emphasized mercy over judgment, and his efforts to bring the Church closer to the marginalized won him admiration across religious and secular lines alike.
Throughout his tenure, Pope Francis sought to reconcile tradition with the needs of the modern world. He encouraged dialogue between faiths, extended a welcoming hand to LGBTQ+ individuals, and worked tirelessly for peace amid growing global tensions. His encyclicals(letters from the pope to religious officials) underscored his belief in the shared responsibility of humanity toward the planet and each other. Though not without controversy or criticism, his legacy endures as one of bridge-building, reform, and deep moral conviction. Pope Francis leaves behind a Church forever shaped by his warmth, courage, and unwavering focus on the Gospel’s call to love.
Image and all information courtesy of Vatican News
By Gabby F
Sabrina Carpenter has taken the pop industry by storm. The release of her song ‘Espresso’ a year ago catapulted her into even greater fame than she previously had, and the release of her album Short n’ Sweet has expanded her fan base, sent her on a worldwide tour, and won her two Grammy awards.
Over spring break, I took a short trip with my family to Zurich, Switzerland to attend the Sabrina Carpenter Short n’ Sweet tour. I was given the tickets for my birthday. The overall production of the concert was truly fantastic. It was themed to incorporate different decades such as the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The set could be compared to a lifesize dollhouse. My favorite part of the concert was the surprise song. It truly felt like a party, and I was able to hear my favorite deluxe track, ‘Bad Reviews’. The tour has faced controversy over it being a bit risque, however it was truly an amazing show. I have been a Sabrina fan for years, so seeing her in concert was in truth a full circle moment.
Image courtesy of Ticketmaster CH Blog
By Julia M
From now on, when anyone asks me where they should go for spring break, I tell them to go to Morocco. Morocco is a beautiful country, filled with enough developed infrastructure to easily support the tourism industry and so much vibrant culture. While in Morocco, my family and I went to Marrakech, the sixth largest city in Morocco, and stayed there for a total of two days. There were many stores and markets where I learned so much about Moroccan culture. I also went to a smaller city, Rissani, which was less tourism-driven and where I truly appreciated the acculturation that occurs in the United States and how much globalization has spread western culture.
Afterwards, we explored Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, where many famous movies were filmed, including Gladiator and Indiana Jones. However, the city where most movies are filmed, called the Hollywood of Africa, is Ouarzazate. The next stop on our journey was the Todras Gorge, where there were so many beautiful rock faces and cliffs perfect for rock climbing. This was one of my favorite locations of the entire trip. Here, we saw how Berber rugs were made, and the different characteristics of the rugs depending on the tribe. The Dades Valley, which we saw the day after, was a gorgeous place where we stayed near beautiful mountain formations with weathered rocks in the shapes of ginormous monkey fingers. Next, we saw the High Atlas Mountains in addition to the Small Atlas Mountains, where we were awe-struck by the beautiful complexity of the mountains. That same day, we rode camels through the Sahara Desert at sunset towards a camp in the desert, called Erg Chebbi, where we spent the night under the beautiful, shining stars. There we saw the highest dunes of the Sahara in all of Morocco.
While we did spend lots of time in the car, the drive was paced with small breaks in beautiful places, where we took lots of pictures in front of gorges and valleys and mountains. We probably spent a total of ten hours in the car, but we drove across many different terrains and climates and experienced a wide variety of culture. I greatly enjoyed this trip and definitely recommend that everyone go to Morocco.
Image courtesy of Jules Verne