By Ahva Ghazanfari and Amelia Guzman A rcadia juniors and seniors are looking for ways to make our voices heard, especially with college on the horizon. What started as just an idea became a reality when a few of us with a shared passion got together and put pen to paper. We, the writers of the Titan Times page, are an ambitious group of Arcadia High School students looking to share our writing skills and interact with our community on a larger scale. Writing for Arcadia News is one way we plan to foster these hopes, especially since our school doesn’t have its own paper…yet. Informing the community about ongoing events at Arcadia and highlighting some of the school’s finest students and teachers is our aim, while also using this opportunity as a platform to share our opinions and insight with the larger community! TEST SCORES: TO SUBMIT OR NOT SUBMIT? By Ahva Ghazanfari Now that the semester is coming to a close and college applications are wrapping up for most seniors, colleges’ test- optional policies have become a circulating topic for all high schoolers. Colleges recognize that not all students are in positions that favor test-taking, so many of them have made submitting standardized test scores (like the SAT or ACT) optional. Fundamentally, these policies aim to create a more inclusive and fair admissions process that considers the whole student beyond just a number. So, what does Arcadia think about test-optional admissions that theoretically reduce applicants’ stress levels? Brianna Moy, a senior at Arcadia High, said she won’t be submitting scores in her applications. Additionally, she agrees that some of the pressure with test-taking has been lifted since score submissions are no longer required. “I think it’s good,” she said. “It allows students to showcase their other abilities and talents, and [show] that test scores aren’t everything.” Karen Treon and Jennifer Steen, Arcadia’s College and Career Advisors, have some thoughts, too. They describe how many factors contribute to whether students decide to submit scores or not. Socioeconomic status, access to preparation methods, scores, and specific schools of interest play huge roles in determining what a student should present to colleges. Schools being test-optional “opens up avenues for strong students who don’t have access to preparation classes or coaching that can lead to higher scores. I think that’s great,” Ms. Treon said. But while it may seem so, the college application process isn’t stress-free sunshine and rainbows just because score submissions aren’t required. “In theory, test-optional seems like it should alleviate [test anxiety], and in practice, it doesn’t,” Dr. Steen adds. “Students still stress over how they did on the test, and now they also worry about whether their score is good enough to submit.” It’s almost as if a layer of stress has been added through test-optional colleges. Nevertheless, most people agree that the benefits outweigh the costs, but whether a student submits their test scores depends entirely on their situation. WINTER FASHION TRENDS (ARIZONA’S VERSION) By Maya Campbell It’s that time of year again. The weather is changing, leaves are falling, Starbucks has released its holiday menu, and the people of Arizona are once again struggling with the same question: “How can I participate in the winter fashion trends?” Colored tights appear all over the runways but are much too thick and perhaps gaudy for everyday wear. Trench coats are popping up in new and exciting ways, and the red leather one you saw in Vogue is to die for, but there’s a high of 70 degrees this week. You’re feeling left out of being fashionable in your everyday clothes – but you don’t have to! Year in and year out, there’s one winter staple that’s perfect for Arizona weather and has never, and will never, be out of style. This, of course, is the black leather boot. Chic and fashionable, styling any look with a pair of quality black boots will automatically make it look better and, more importantly, make your outfit more wintery! Black leather boots come in all lengths and styles, depending on what you like best. Square toes are in right now, but if your heart loves a point, those black boots will be in every department store. It doesn’t matter what style, black boots are IN. For a standard black boot, you can go with the Dolce Vita Flin Knee-High Boot. Or, if you’re looking for an ankle boot, Jeffery Campbell’s Geist Square Toe Boot is another option. And so, this holiday season, the best thing you can do for your wardrobe is to buy a pair of boots. WHAT IS THE “TITAN TIMES,” ANYWAY? Amelia Guzman, Ahva Ghazanfari and Maya Campbell. Editor’s Note: Arcadia High student Ahva Ghazanfari approached Arcadia News to gain some perspective on how a local newspaper operates, with the hope of resurrecting the school newspaper, which they have named the Titan Times. We are so excited to help Ahva’s vision come true. Introducing the first edition of the Titan Times! VOL. 1 NO. 01 DECEMBER 2023 Bridge at Rio Tera Farsetti, Venice by Stephanie Bucholz • mixed media on panel • 78” x 24” x 1.25” • $1500 480.946.5076 4130 n marshall way • scottsdale art one gallery | foundation Representing students and local artists of Arizona since 1993 artonegalleryinc.com @artonegalleryinc

Wishing you and yours a beautiful holiday season and a happy new year! Heather, a resident of Arcadia who takes immense pride in her hometown, brings a wealth of local expertise that is incredibly valuable to her clients. Specializing in the neighborhoods of Arcadia, the Biltmore/Camelback Corridor, and Paradise Valley. Heather’s affiliation with CMN & Associates along with Launch Powered by Compass, provides her clients with access to an exceptional range of services and global networks. Let Heather’s extensive experience and unwavering professionalism, once again empower your real estate journey. Led by three co-founders of Launch Real Estate, Cahal, MacLean, and Newcombe exclusively bring the power of Compass’ Private Client Network to Arizona resulting in $8.4+ billion in sales so far in 2023 . (602) 214-5169 • AreaSuccess.com • Heather@AreaSuccess.com