VOL. 1 NO. 08 JUNE 2024 From the students of Arcadia High School By Ahva Ghazanfari As the academic year came to a close, many students and their families were organizing vacations to escape the Arizona heat. At Arcadia specifically, the spectrum of travel plans ranges from tropical getaways to journeys right here in our state. Students described their plans as exploring exotic places such as Costa Rica, the British Virgin Islands and Croatia – and those are just a few spots. One popular destination is Italy, with many students hoping to visit iconic historical landmarks and cities. Some Arcadians will travel to England; Mallory Yates, a rising senior, intends to visit some of her family in the countryside. Leaving the country presents opportunities to embark on exciting adventures and spend time at scenic locations, but some of the most favored places are right here in Arizona. The Grand Canyon is a widely popular attraction, of course, and some mentioned their excitement to see it in person despite having lived in this state for years. Sedona and its red rocks are also highly-visited among locals, and students shared plans for weekend getaways to the city to avoid the harsh weather here in Arcadia. Another notable summer travel location is California – its popularity seems to increase as the years go on. Many students are looking forward to celebrating Fourth of July on Mission Beach, biking down the boardwalk on Balboa Island, and surfing the waves in San Diego. Other popular destinations include different cities in Mexico, especially Rocky Point and Cabo San Lucas.  One great way to combat that inevitable summer boredom is to spend time at the movie theaters. This summer, there are a lot of new installations from famous franchises people know and love. For the whole family, two notable children’s movies are coming out in June and July. Inside Out 2 is a continuation of the first; this time with more complex emotions such as anxiety, envy, and embarrassment. The film is slated to be in theaters on June 14. In July, the Despicable Me series will continue with its fourth movie, being released on the third of the month. For action fans, Mad Max: Furiosa was released at the end of May. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, this new addition is a prequel to the rest of the Mad Max series. For fans of indie movies, independent film production company A24 also has new releases coming this summer. I Saw the TV Glow is a horror/drama where main character Owen investigates his classmate’s strange disappearance. This film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Janet Planet , which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, is releasing June 21; this will be the directorial debut of Annie Baker that explores the relationship between mothers and daughters. – Amelia Guzman  One of the best parts of summer is finding a comfy spot and plopping down with a cool drink and a good book. Reading is supposed to be fun, and during the school year it is possible to lose sight of that in a flurry of educational texts. Summer vacation is the perfect time to catch up on your reading goals with books that don’t make you hate the very thought of turning a page. Here are some of my top summer reads:  by Emily Henry This is a fun romantic comedy about two former best friends reconnecting on one last summer vacation. It’s an excellent choice for summer, because you won’t find yourself thinking at all while reading it.  by Madeline Miller Miller’s second book is a retelling of the witch Circe from Greek mythology. Incredibly witty and expertly written, Miller explores the themes of femininity and love.  by Barbara Kingsolver One of the most immediate attention catching books I’ve ever read. This book hits hard from the start and never lets up, leaving you with introspection that you don’t mind. It’s thought provoking and wildly invigorating.     by Chloe Benjamin Incredibly well written and brilliant all around. The story follows five Jewish siblings who visit a psychic and live out their fortunes. This is one for those who love ending a novel feeling like a new person – and maybe shed a few tears while reading it. – Maya Campbell What are Arcadia students up to this summer? 480.946.5076 4130 n marshall way • scottsdale art one gallery | foundation Representing students and local artists of Arizona since 1993 artonegalleryinc.com @artonegalleryinc Happy Birds by Jeremy Bruno • acrylic on canvas • 24” x 12” x 1” • $150