By Ahva Ghazanfari Nola Williams, an ambitious senior at Arcadia High, is gearing up for tennis season this month. The three-year captain of the girls’ varsity team has contributed to the school’s success in the sport and has been playing for upwards of 10 years. At the end of the day, tennis is an individual sport. I grew up playing in tournaments, so it was just me, myself and I. But when I got to high school, it was so fun to be part of a team and know that win or lose, you’re going to have friends with you. I’m pretty disciplined when it comes to both my academics and whatever else I’m focused on at the time. During tennis season, I’m really dedicated to doing the best I can and trying to motivate my teammates to do the same. It’s worked out pretty well for us; we’ve won the section three times and been state runners-up and semifinalists. I’m proud of our accomplishments! It’s hard to find a balance between homework and practice, so I make sure to allocate time for my responsibilities while also making sure there’s time for fun. The community. I’ve gone to eight different schools in my life, and Arcadia is the one that I’ve gotten to feel the most at home in. I got comfortable quickly, and I’m so grateful to everyone who greeted me with open arms. I will be attending Northwestern University to major in journalism with a minor in economics in Fall 2024. Spending a week abroad with some of your best friends sounds almost too good to be true. Arcadia High makes this possible by offering opportunities for students to travel during the school year. A few trips happen annually at Arcadia, one being the Battered Suitcases Travel Club trip, which is sponsored and run by AP English teacher Kimberly Mayorga. For the past four years, this club has picked a location, like Ireland and England, to go abroad. This year’s trip will take place during spring break when Ms. Mayorga and her students travel to Italy. On these trips, students further their education by visiting museums and points of interest inspired by writers like Percy Shelley, Oscar Wilde and William Wordsworth. “Anything from studies done on Shakespeare to Harry Potter; we try to explore many possibilities,” Ms. Mayorga said. The Italy trip will include visiting the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but also places that focus more on celebrating writers. All of the trips center around Western literary traditions. Such traditions greatly influence the topics studied and books read in the Arcadia English Department. What’s more, these trips let students connect with their peers and the world around them on a deeper level – one outside of the classroom. – Amelia Guzman Whether a library is really of quality, has a vast supply of books, and is comfortable to be in is only possible if there is an efficient librarian who enjoys what they do. Shawn Huffman, Arcadia High’s librarian, deserves immeasurable respect for the amount of observation and effort he puts toward his work. Mr. Huffman has two degrees in history and English, a minor in earth science, and two master’s degrees in educational fields. He was a coach at Arcadia before he started teaching in 2002. With experience teaching English, history, and social studies at another school, Mr. Huffman is a well-rounded, qualified individual. He has been the librarian since 2015. To him, the library is a “house of information.” He believes it is for anyone, for any purpose: books, a quiet space, conversations. Being Arcadia’s librarian includes researching and understanding what books to stock based on trends in young adult fiction, organizing and cataloging them, and showing up for students utilizing the library as a resource. Mr. Huffman emphasized that the most difficult part of his job is the recent emphasis on book censorship in schools and libraries across the country. Nevertheless, he has put much attention toward inclusion, mentioning that he wants the library to be accessible to everyone as long as they respect the space. His mindset on learning and forming relationships is truly inspiring and insightful. – Georgia Ebbert Senior Spotlight: Girls varsity tennis captain Nola Williams VOL. 1 NO. 03 FEBRUARY 2024 Nola Williams Shawn Huffman From the students of Arcadia High School 480.946.5076 4130 n marshall way • scottsdale art one gallery | foundation Representing students and local artists of Arizona since 1993 artonegalleryinc.com @artonegalleryinc See Coleman Charters in a Live Art Demonstration at Art One! During the Gold Palette ArtWalk: Western Week • Thursday, February 1 • 6:30-9pm Showing at Art One for a few years, Coleman Charters works with paper collage and acrylics to create his western-theme paintings. Habanero Hackamore by Coleman Charters • mixed media on canvas • 60” x 36” x 1.50” • $850
