Project Hail Mary Review
Have you seen Project Hail Mary, the new sci-fi thriller movie that just came out on March 20, 2026? Well If you haven't, here is my review. Project Hail Mary is about Rylan Grace, a science teacher turned astronaut who wakes up from a coma with amnesia on a spaceship. He discovers he is on a mission to save the earth from deadly Astrophage, an organism destroying the sun. Grace encounters another ship and partners with an alien, nicknamed Rocky, whose planet is also suffering. Together, they work to understand Astrophage and find a solution.
In my opinion I feel that this is by far my favorite movie. It was super exciting and kept me interested the whole time. Another reason why I like this movie is because it's funny when it can be, but lets the big events and moments be serious and deep too. This movie has one of those stories that shares many things that humans go through, alone or with a friend. Project Hail Mary currently has a rating of 8.5/10 on IMDb. Project Hail Mary, is tracking for a massive $80 million+ domestic opening and over $144 million globally, The biggest launch of 2026 so far. The movie is considered an optimistic and hopeful film. A lot of the focus is on the relationship between Grace and Rocky and how their bond is unbreakable.
One of the best things about this movie is the main character, Ryland Grace. He is smart, funny and a problem-solver, and he never gives up, even when things get tough in space. The interaction between Grace and Rocky is very humorous and heartwarming, which shows true friendship to the story, and it makes the movie stand out. At first, it was kind of strange because they are both very different, and I thought that this movie was going to be boring. But they both became each other's best friends, and I really like that relationship. This made the movie really fun and interesting from other space movies I've seen in the past.
Overall this movie is genuinely one of the best films I have seen in a long time. It's such a fun movie to watch filled with emotion, and beautiful visuals with a fantastic storyline. It has a lot of heartwarming moments and an amazing friendship. It also has a lot of suspenseful problem-solving, and you learn a lot of things about space. So if you like movies with friendship, teamwork and surprises, then this movie is for you. In my opinion I believe everyone should watch this movie at least once. I cannot recommend this movie enough!
Kings Hockey Game Review
Have you ever watched a hockey game online or in person? Not many people know much about the sport. Hockey is a fast-paced sport that is on ice. There are 6 players on the ice per team, and it gets a bit chilly in the arena. The way to score is to get the hockey puck into the goal using a hockey stick or a “twig.” A hockey game has 3 periods, each period is 20 minutes. After every period there are 20 minute intermissions, where they clean the ice and have entertainment too. Hockey games are very fast and energetic.
On April 9th 2026, I went to the LA Kings game against the Vancouver Canucks at Crypto.com Arena in LA. When I went I didn't know what to expect. I had never even watched a hockey game on TV. As soon as I walked in, the game was full of energy and the crowd was full of cheers. I felt the excitement and liveliness of the arena. Before the game started, there was a big ceremony to show off all the players. There were lights everywhere, then all the hockey players came out, and everyone was shouting and cheering.
After that, the game started off by the referee dropping the puck for the faceoff, and then the game began. The game went by quickly, and it was full of fights even. When the LA Kings score, all you can hear is, “Go Kings Go! Go Kings Go!” Later on during breaks and intermissions you get a chance to win free things by scanning QR codes and playing games. They even put people who are dancing and cheering on the big screen in the middle.
During the game you are able to order food and drinks. I ordered popcorn, hot chocolate, and fries. The prices were a bit high, but the food was overall good. In the arena there are stores, restaurants, and even buffets. The store sells jerseys, hats, and other merchandise. The restaurants have different food items from McDonalds to Doritos after Dark. The two buffets at the Crypto.com Arena are the Lexus Club and the Yaamava’ Club by San Manuel. They are luxury style buffets with wide selections of food.
Overall I loved the game because they ended up winning and it was super fun and easy to understand. I would rate the game a 10/10, because it was a thrilling experience. I would love to go to another hockey game. I would recommend going to a hockey game to anyone who likes fast-paced and fun entertainment. You really get to engage and have fun!
By Emma Robles, April 19 2026
Over the decades, boxing has evolved and become a worldwide phenomenon. It became a global event that united people of all races through a shared passion. Introducing someone to the art of boxing can bring many positive benefits, but it can also bring negativity.
In boxing, discipline is a priority; if you lack discipline, it can have serious consequences, not only in the ring, including your overall growth as a boxer. Without solid conditioning, succeeding in this sport becomes nearly impossible. Boxing involves heavy drills. Although footwork is key. My coach has always told me, “If someone doesn't have the correct footwork, there's no point in putting yourself in the ring. Boxing is all in the legs. Imagine yourself standing straight, no pivoting just throwing punches. You will not land a single one, and the force of the punch is weak. You need to make pivots to land punches, you need to slip to dodge punches. Your legs are the base, your arms are what are actually doing the damage. The same thing goes in life, you can build a base, and as it grows you're going to face problems, but you can dodge them. You can recover from them and move on. The same thing goes for boxing.”
You're going to need rest days. You're going to work hard, eat less, maintain a diet, and it does get frustrating. And that's a part of boxing that is always overlooked. You can maintain your figure and still see issues. Your confidence drops, and it often leads to overworking yourself. That is the exact point where discipline is required. You can pace yourself. Self-improvement is possible. What truly matters is your effort and long-term commitment. Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight boxer, once said, “ Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but doing it as you love it”. This quote captures the essence of true discipline. Having the ability to perform tasks you don't enjoy but complete them with energy, compassion, and focus is something that will train you for life outside of boxing.
There are days when boxing can make you afraid and doubt yourself. Before competitions or even light sparring. It makes you feel embarrassed if you lose or if there are people in the crowd watching you, you feel the guilt of letting them down. You start to self-sacrifice and spend days and nights training yourself, thinking about how you can improve, and sometimes those thoughts can consume you.
Boxing will profoundly transform anyone who gives it a try. Nothing is perfect, but you can make the best of it. From my experience, boxing made me confident, calmer, and happier. Boxing is one thing that will stay when everything else leaves. One of the favorite quotes that will always stick with me throughout my future boxing career is “At the end of the day, you can have all the talent in the world. But if you don't put in the work, nothing works. The engine doesn't start going. It's a car without gas." World-famous WBC Welterweight world Champion Ryan Garcia said this.
My dad always says “Your body's like a car, the engine is what's giving it life. If you put the wrong type of liquid into the engine, it won't work, and you'll damage the car. This is why we have to put the right liquid in and take care of the car because the car only has so many miles until it doesn't work anymore.” The car represents humans; we have a sacred body, it's a temple, God created us to take care of that body, not to destroy it. To feed it the right things, to make sure its figure is healthy, so we can live a long time. Don't damage your body or overwork yourself because you only have a certain amount of time with it. This is the most critical thing to know and remember as a boxer, because small words can have a bigger impact than anyone can imagine.
Finding my place with the Walter Boys
My Life with the Walter Boys is a show on Netflix. This show is a heartwarming and romantic experience, nicely capturing the journey of teenage girl Jakie Howard, played by actress Nikki Rodrigez. played Jackie has suffered a tragic loss and has moved in with the Walter family. This Walter family is a household of seven boys and one little girl. The story unfolds with touching moments of grief, growth, and joy, as Jackie learns to navigate her new life among the chaos and warmth of the Walter boys. The show's themes are family and friendship, and which makes it emotionally moving and uplifting.
What truly stands out in My Life with the Walter Boys is the chemistry among the cast and the authentic representation of blended family dynamics. The Walter Boys each bring their own unique personalities, creating moments of laughter, conflict, and camaraderie that felt genuine. The film's setting is kinda like a small town with a little bit of charm, while the soundtrack perfectly goes well with Jackie's journey. Sometimes it's pop for when someone is having a good time and sad songs for when something bad happened. After watching the show, I felt like I should try new things, be brave when things change, and remember the people who help. I also realized that starting over isn't so scary when you have good friends by your side.
Some facts that we probably didn't know about my life with the walter boys:
The show was filmed in Alberta, Canada. Another one is that some of the actors have never played as siblings in any other movie/show.
Many of the family photos in my life with the Walter boys were with actual childhood photos of the actors.
Some of the scripts were rewritten because it would fit better on the person who said the line.
Lastly, some of the actors that play as teenagers are actually full on adults, like in their 20’s.
I really like this show because if you know me I LOVE shows or movies that have 2 boys and 1 girl vice versa 2 girls and 1 boy. Either way I love it because it's the best thing I would ever watch. Some shows that are also like that that I love are "The summer i turned pretty, ginny and georgia, the vampire diaries, and never have i ever. I have watched all of them and I love them all. I recommend these books or shows and movies to people who like love triangles.
The History of Skateboarding
By Adrian Medina Jan. 18, 2026
Skateboarding started in California in the 1940s and early 1950s. This is when surfers wanted to keep enjoying skateboarding even when they were not in the ocean or when they did not have waves to surf on or the waves were not high. So they took roller skate wheels. Put them on wooden planks or wooden boards. This made a way to ride that people called ”sidewalk surfing.” The early skateboards were very simple. These simple skateboards helped create a new culture that was growing. Skateboarding was becoming popular and people were really getting into skateboarding.
In the 1960s skateboarding became really popular. This happened when companies started making skateboards and wheels with their brands on them. People began to have skateboarding contests. There were magazines about skateboarding that helped people learn about the sport. But the first time skateboarding was popular did not last long. Skateboarding had some problems with safety. The equipment was not very good so by the late 1960s people were not as interested in skateboarding anymore.
Skateboarding became really popular again in the 1970s. This happened when people invented polyurethane wheels. Polyurethane wheels are a kind of wheel that has a metal core and polyurethane resin around it. The polyurethane wheels allowed you to have more grip on your skateboard and have smoother rides. Before skateboard wheels were made of metal, clay, and or sometimes wood.
With these polyurethane wheels skaters could do sharper turns and more advanced tricks on their skateboards. People even built skateparks where people could go and practice. Some people started to do vertical skating which is when you skate on vertical surfaces. This was really popular in California especially when there was a drought and a lot of swimming pools were empty.
Then skateboarding hit the internet. The Z-Boys were a group of skaters who were good at skateboarding. They helped make skateboarding a fun and creative thing to do by revolutionizing skateboarding and they starred in The "Dogtown Articles" in Skateboarder Magazine and photography by Glen E. Friedman and Craig Stecyk highlighted their unique style. Skateboarding was also seen as a bit rebellious which made it appealing to a lot of people. The Z-Boys and other skaters, like them, made skateboarding what it is today.
In the 1980s and 1990s something new happened with skateboarding. Street skating became really popular. This meant that people were not just skating in skateparks and started to skate in cities and towns. They were skating in all sorts of places which made stairs and rails and ledges a new way to do tricks.
Skateboarding and music like punk rock and hip-hop became closely tied to each other. Even though skateboarding was not really accepted by a lot of people, the skateboarding community just kept getting bigger.
By the 2000s, skateboarding entered popular culture through video games, multimedia, and professional competitions. One of the most popular skateboarding video games of the time was Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater featuring of course legendary skater Tony Hawk. Tony Hawk also helped skating get more popular by inventing his own trick called the 900, which means doing 2.5 full spins. In 2021, skateboarding made its way to the Olympics, marking a major turning point. Today, skateboarding is known worldwide both as a sport and a form of art, continuing to grow while staying true to its roots.
For me skating has been a part of my life for a while. My mom, dad, some of my tios and my older cousins used to know how to skate too. For me I've been starting to get serious about skateboarding for about two years and I've taught some of my friends and younger cousins how to skate. Skating is a fun hobby and I have made some really good friends through it. If you want to start skating you should. It's a good way to pass the time or focus your mind on something else but just to let you know you will be falling a lot.
By Alexia Duran - Dec 8, 2025
Dia de los Muertos is a multi-day holiday that many people celebrate and love. From the decorations to the food, Dia de los Muertos is important because it's the day that our passed loved ones cross over to visit us. On Monday, November 3, 2025, Edgewood celebrated Dia de los Muertos by having director and choreographer Lucia Parra and four dancers perform for Edgewood. The performance was beautiful and so amazing.
Let's ask some Wildcats what they thought about it: Joecelyn Diaz (8th grade) said, “I thought it was very nice, and I loved all the dresses and the makeup.” Adrian Medina (7th grade) said, “It was really nice and very interesting, and I loved seeing all the culture.”
I completely agree with both of these students. I personally thought the performance was amazing and the decorations added a beautiful touch. Dia de los Muertos isn't meant to be filled with sadness and grief over past loved ones; it's meant to be a vibrant celebration of life and death. People who celebrate Dia de los Muertos honor and respect their past loved ones. Many people even build altars with a picture of their passed loved ones with their favorite food, colors, and hobbies. The movie Coco is a great way to show the culture of Dia de los Muertos. With all the colors, food, and decorations that are used during Dia de los Muertos, there are many symbols of the holiday, like the marigold flower, sugar skulls, and pan de muerto. Marigolds are the flower of the dead, where the bright orange color helps guide our loved ones to cross over. Calaveras, known as sugar skulls, are meant to represent the soul of a family that has passed. Pan de muerto is a sweet bread shaped like bones and is eaten throughout the holiday.
Overall, Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful celebration that many people love to celebrate as a way to remember their past loved ones and celebrate them.
By Jocelyn Diaz - Dec 10, 2025
Who just released their fourth studio album? If you guessed singer, songwriter and producer Daniel Caesar, you're right! Son of Spergy made its debut on October 24, 2025. This is his highest charting album, ranking number 4 on the top 200 chart. Millions of fans are listening and even making Tik Tok trends to his songs on the album.
Daniel Caesar was born on April 15, 1995 in Toronto, Ontario, being the second oldest to three other boys. Caesar grew up in the suburbs of Oshawa. He was raised in an Adventist Christian home. The church belonged to his father, and because of that he was very involved in the church. Almost every Sunday he would perform at the church and sing. This heavenly world influenced his love for not only all music but especially gospel and soul music.
Daniel didn't have it easy because when he was only 17 years old, he left home to pursue his dreams of being a singer. All he had to rely on was talent and his experience from singing in his father’s church. In fact, at times he was homeless, and he had to work multiple jobs to not only support himself but also to fund his studio time. All that hard work paid off because in 2014 he released his first EP, also known as an extended play, called Praise Break. This EP was so good that it landed on Rolling Stone’s list of 20 Best R&B Albums of 2014.
This success inspired him to make another EP in 2015 called Pilgrims Paradise. Caesar career took off when the single "Get You¨ was released in 2016 and when his debut full-length album Freudian was released in 2017. His debut album earned him two Grammy nominations and the title "Significant R&B artist.¨ The following year, he earned a Grammy for ¨Best R&B Performance¨ for the song ¨Best Part.¨ After Cesar blew up, he then made three more studio albums including the latest Son of Spergy.
This may be surprising, but the album Son of Spergy was inspired by his parents. He wanted this album to reconcile with them. He also wanted to reflect on his own life after turning 30. Fun fact, the name ¨Spergy¨ in the title was actually his father’s nickname. As we can expect, the album was really personal to Caesar. These songs also really reflect the realization that Caesar is becoming similar to his father as he is approaching the same age his father was when he was born. This album also really reflects his Christianity and his role that he had as a gospel singer when he was younger.
Personally, I think that Son of Spergy is one of his best albums. I don't know about you, but listening to Daniel Cesar is the best part of my day. Not only does this album have a lot of depth, but the lyrics in the songs are so powerful and meaningful. It's almost like he has superpowers when he sings. Alexia Duran (8th grade) says, ¨I thought it was very elegant, and I really loved all the songs. I feel like it really touched my heart, and I loved all the songs.¨ Ashlynn Cardoza (8th grade) says, ¨I thought some of the songs on the album were very good. I really liked the songs 'Baby Blue' and 'Who Knows.'" In conclusion, I think that the album Son of Spergy was very good and many others can agree with me.
Halloween
By Sophia Cordon - Dec 9, 2025
Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31. It's where kids and families go out at night trick or treating. On Halloween you're supposed to dress up, and you can be anything you want. You can be someone from a movie or show. The rules are every time you go to a house that is giving out candy, you must say, "Trick or treat," so they can give you candy. If you don't, then the houses are not supposed to give you any.
Here at Edgewood we have our own traditions. Like every year the day before Halloween, the school always has a haunted maze where families can go to and kids pay $5 to get in the maze. And it's pretty scary. On Halloween, students are not allowed to wear a mask at school for safety reasons. Many teachers dress up too and have a costume contest. At lunch they do a little performance for the students, and the students vote which department of teachers was the best.
Halloween is a scary night. Some people don't go out trick or treating, and that's okay. A lot of people just stay home and watch scary movies, bake cookies, carve pumpkins, and jump scare each other.
Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a major celebration from ancient history. It was celebrated at the end of the harvest season and the start of winter. The evening before, October 31st, became known as ‘’All Hallows Eve,’’ which was later shortened to ‘’Halloween.’’ Some ancient traditions were lighting bonfires and wearing costumes (often animal skin) to ward off evil spirits.
Here are some other interesting facts about Halloween: The most popular costumes of 2025 are the KPop Demon Hunters. The most popular candies that people eat and pass out are M&M's, Snickers, Hershey's milk chocolate, Reese’s Peanut butter cups and Kit Kats.
Let’s ask some of our Edgewood Middle Schoolers what their Halloween traditions are:
Naomi Martinez (8th grade) said, ’’I slept over at my friend's house, went trick or treating and baked cookies.¨
Ashlynn Carboza (8th grade) said, ‘’I went to the park and then I went trick or treating with my old soccer team.’’
Audree Zendejas (8th grade) said, ‘’I got home to get ready and then I went trick or treating.’’
Adreena Ibanez (8th grade) said. ‘’My friends came over and we hung out. We went trick or treating, and then we came back, and they sang happy birthday to me.’’
My tradition is every year I go to my tia’s house, and my cousins and I pass out candy for an hour. Then my brothers, my cousins and I all go out trick or treating to get candy for ourselves.
Starting My Band
By Angelique Aguilar - Nov 21, 2025
I've always wanted to start a band with my friends, so that we can show our love for music. But we also just want to have some fun working on music but also seriously learn music. Now that we started our own band, we are working on it to get better. It wasn't all because of my friends, but also because I was really interested in music and learning an instrument. I'm currently working on playing the electric bass. Some of the songs I'm learning are simple beginner songs such as ¨Sympathy for the Devil¨ by Rolling Stones, ¨Batman Theme¨, and ¨Another One Bites The Dust¨ by Queen. I'm planning on learning cooler and more upbeat songs by my favorite bands like Tool, Rage Against the Machines, Deftones, System of a down, Radiohead, Alice and Chains, Smashing Pumpkins and plenty more of my most favorite bands, also including some of my friends' favorite songs and bands.
I was thinking about starting a band while watching a movie, and it had this high school band of girls. So I got inspired by them and I asked my friends if they would like to join. They said yes, but I also got inspired because I kept seeing videos on my “for you” page about starting bands with friends. So I sent this to one of my closest friends that plays the drums. She said we actually should start a band, and I thought about it and said yeah. I asked her if she wanted to start one with me, and she said yes too. Next, I was getting ideas of names and instruments that I could play.
It happened during the beginning of the school year. So now we are working toward actually playing together. We are making new songs and also playing popular cover songs to practice. It's just my two friends and I, but I'm thinking of adding more people to my band. But first I want to see how it is with three people. If we need more, we´ll see who we can ask. Also our band is an indie, grunge, rock band and our style of the band is like a garage band, so we will be practicing and the sound is possibly going to sound like a couple of our favorite bands like Nirvana, Deftones, Green Day, and others from the '90s.
I've always been a fan of guitar and learning how to play. Now I have one that I got for my birthday, but we haven't practiced yet because I’m still learning how to play. My friends are practicing too to get better. So soon we are going to meet and practice together as a group.
Our band’s name is Broken Current, but we might possibly change the name soon. We're still thinking of names. The current name is just a thought, so it's not really the name just yet. I really liked the idea of starting a band together with friends and getting together to make music we enjoy. They say music can improve memory, boost plant growth and is a universal language that brings people together and cultures.
One friend Elena Lopez (7th grade) said that they feel it'll be cool because I can teach her. Jasmin Becerra (7th grade) says ¨I think it's cool because not a lot of people do it nowadays, and it gives off a '90s vibe.¨ Ava Pichardo (7th grade) says, ¨It will be really cool and is unique because most people don't play instruments and don't start bands.¨ English teacher Mr. Miller says, ¨Be sure to have fun.¨ And History teacher Mr. O´Leary says, ¨It needs to be appreciated more, and it's really cool that you're starting a band - to know you're a musician who listens to the music.¨
Our band members are Camila, Spencer, myself, and maybe my other friend Soleil. I'm the bassist, Camila is the drummer, and Spencer is the guitarist. We still don't have a singer, but one of us might be the singer while we are still looking for a singer. We might add my other friend Soleil who's going to play the electric guitar. My friend, who is the drummer, is barely getting back into it since she hasn't played or practiced in a while. The same with the guitarist, because now he's practicing. Also the same thing with my other friend that might get the electric guitar who said that she was going to ask her mom if she can get one for Christmas because she wants to be in our band.
Another great reason for this band is so I can enjoy time with my friends and play our favorite songs. We’ll get the opportunity to learn how to make songs and play an actual instrument, because we want to be unique and bring back that type of '90s and 2000s bands that kids started back then with their friends. We hope to be a garage band that can play grunge, rock and indie music.
🅸🆃 🅾🅽🅻🆈 🅶🅴🆃🆂 🆂🆃🆁🅰🅽🅶🅴🆁
By Mariah Ortiz-Nolasco - Feb 2, 2026
Stranger Things is a show on Netflix where a group of kids and adults in the 1980s discover a secret government lab, a supernatural scary underworld dimension, monsters, and more things you can't even imagine. This show starts with a little boy named Will Byers who goes missing, and his family and friends desperately looking for him. Before Will goes missing, he is playing Dungeons & Dragons with his friends Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair and Dustin Henderson.
Will's mom Joyce does talks to police officer Jim Hopper and find out her son is missing, and everybody goes looking for him. When his friends go looking for Will in the rain, they cross upon a mysterious little girl around their age named Eleven. And the mystery and adventure only grows from there.
In my opinion of Stranger Things, I LOVE it because it is about monsters, mysteries, romance, and supernatural powers. It's just everything I love mixed into one show. Other fans like the show because of the adrenaline and action. Stranger Things is also popular because of its expert blend of 1980s nostalgia, supernatural horror, and its heartfelt coming-of-age drama. Stranger Things started on July 15, 2016 and ended on December 31, 2025.
Some things you might not know about Stranger Things is that before the current title, the show was known as Montauk and set in New York. And the Upside Down was originally going to be called “The Nether.”
How Does Music Influence a Person's Mood and Productivity?
By Angelique A Canchola - Feb 17, 2026
Does music ever make you just want to get up, dance or just sing your lungs out? Do you wonder how music makes you do that and influences your mood a certain way? Well, it's a very scientific question and a good question because I've always wondered how music makes us do that.
According to Sdkcpa.com, music in general significantly impacts mood by releasing dopamine, reducing stress, and creating positive emotions. Music also boosts productivity by improving focus, motivation, and creativity. Music also influences a person’s mood by triggering the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which increase pleasure and reduce stress. These make the body calmer than tenser.
But things also depend on the type of music you’re listening to. Let’s say you’re listening to heavy hard rock metal. This will increase your mood by providing a healthy, cathartic outlet for anger, stress, and frustration, boosting the mood to make you feel more enraged and increasing your BP (blood pressure.) But with other genres of music, they can have different effects on you. Let's say if you listen to something more general like pop which is more upbeat, this can still increase your BP, but it will settle more and make you feel more joy and more activity and productivity. Classical music makes you feel calm and relaxed and also makes you more focused by lowering stress hormones like cortisol, reducing heart rate and blood pressure, and releasing mood-boosting dopamine to make you more focused, calmed, and relaxed. So this type of music is really good for studying.
I have interviewed a couple of people and asked them, "What type of music do you like, and in what way does it influence your mood?” Personally, I say I like 90s metal, so it influences me by making me more focused on getting stuff done like homework or cleaning. Elena Lopez (7th grade) says she likes to listen to soft music or indie, and it influences her mood by making her calm and relaxed. Ava Pichardo (7th grade) says she likes alternative indie music, which influences her mood by making her feel pumped up and excited to do things. English teacher Mr. Miller says he likes rock n roll, but that he usually listens to certain genres of music that matches his mood. So for example, if he's happy, he´ll listen to happy music. And student Deli Saenz (6th grade) says she likes rap, which influences her mood by making her feel pumped up.
In conclusion there are multiple ways that different music can influence your mood and productivity with a different genres of music.