Celebrations: A Note from the Editor-in-Chief
Celebrations and rituals are what make cultures unique. They provide comfort and the glue to our identities. At Patriot, as we keep building a Warrior culture filled with high expectations, healthy social interactions, a safe campus, celebrations of diversity and an inclusive student body, we continue to create a place of shared identity and a place where everyone belongs.
In this issue, we celebrate all that is Patriot through articles in The Advocate like Celebrating Our Roots by Viviana Marroquin and Madison McGarvey in which they highlight students from many different cultures and the rituals and celebrations that make them unique.
Read Grief and the Holidays, a powerful piece by Sterling Hubbell in which she opens up about grief and the celebration of love. Zoe Anderson reminds us that voting as a right is something to celebrate in her piece 2024 Presidential Election: Living Through History.
We are excited to have doubled the number of Teacher Focus articles in The Spotlight section highlighting staff and programs on campus. We have also added an Arts & Media section where we will be showcasing student work. In this issue, Damien Topete, chosen by Ms. Sanzberro, showcases his drawing skills in a series of drawings. Outstanding Graphic Design student, Gissell Rodriguez, chosen by Mr. Reed, also showcases her talents. Read their beginnings and advice to other artists.
In The Bench section, we celebrate our Patriot fall sports programs recapping their seasons, Valeria Sandate takes us inside the huddle of PHS Boys Basketball, and we read about a strong club on campus, Boys’ Volleyball, and a smaller one, Beyblade Club.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue. During the holiday break, the Journalism Club wishes all of Patriot staff and student body a restful and meaningful time with your families, friends and communities. We look forward to coming back to our PHS community in January!
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Giselle Kendall
Editor-in-Chief
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Want to be a part of our team? Listen for announcements for our club’s meeting dates and times.
Why is Student Voice Important on Campus?
A message from the Presidents…
As a community at Patriot High School, we all have our differences. From student to staff, we uphold different perspectives, exhibit different personalities, and cultural beliefs. Journalism is important because it allows us to share these different parts of ourselves with each other. Furthermore, it puts to light pressing issues that aren't typically discussed in an academic setting. Student voices are important to our school community because we are what make up the campus. Through journalism, we can spread awareness and build connections, thus empowering our PHS campus.
At the end of the day, no teacher, staff member, or student can know exactly what each person’s struggles are, but if we are able to speak out about what affects us not only inside and outside the classroom, maybe we can get through each day easier. Through journalism, our staff will be able to read the issues that students may have questions about, and together, create a more comfortable learning environment. In a general sense, when students feel comfortable in an environment, they are more likely to express themselves. PHS can benefit from learning about students' opinions and viewpoints, and vice versa, because it would allow us as a school to adapt and overcome problems as a whole. Our goal overall is to uplift every student and staff member on this campus and to let them know that whatever they have experienced or what they are going through, their feelings are valid and they are not alone.
You are not alone at Patriot High School.
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Evelyn Flores
Londyn Workman
Co-Presidents