art art one one gallery | foundation gallery | foundation 480.946.5076 . 4130 n marshall way . scottsdale . artonegalleryinc.com . @artonegalleryinc Pineapple Pie by Lyndell Palermo • mixed media on canvas • 20” x 20” x 1.50” • $250 Representing students and local artists of Arizona since 1993 Dear Class of 2025, This month will be the one in which hundreds of Arcadia students have our “last first day” of school, beginning a year of our lives that we have been told will be the best one yet. Though many of us plan on attending college next fall, there is something to be said about the bittersweet feeling of going into senior year. It is the beginning of the end of a chapter of our youth – graduating high school seems to symbolize the start of one’s adult life. In the past four years, friends have come and gone, assignments have been completed, and we have undoubtedly been shaped into the people we are today because of the experiences we had. Our community at Arcadia is unlike any other, and this year will be a testament to that. Class of 2025, we have waited for our turn to be the top of the food chain, to be the oldest students walking the campus. We have watched with excitement and anticipation as past seniors have gone through their last year at Arcadia. We celebrated with them as they walked across the graduation stage, tossed their caps in the air, and said goodbye to the people and places they called home for the past four years. As we move through our final year of high school, we may find ourselves feeling overwhelmed. Instead of letting this dictate our actions, let us remember how we looked up to our peers with admiration. We have waited for this year for as long as we can remember. Class of 2025, let us enjoy every minute of it! – Ahva Ghazanfari HEY INCOMING FRESHMEN! School is right around the corner, and for many, it’s the very first day of high school. This experience is something of a legend to the large mass of incoming freshmen starting each fall. Students are given advice from teachers, parents, siblings and friends, so it can be hard to know who to listen to. As a rising senior, I’m here to help. The very best piece of advice I can give to you is to get involved on campus. Whether that may be with athletics, clubs (like Arcadia newspaper club!), or theater, getting involved is a great way to make friends and get excited about going to school. Be open to meeting new people. High school has been known to mold lifelong friendships, and being open to making new friends is important. You might meet people that you wouldn’t think you would get along with, only to then become best friends with them a couple months later. Something a lot of freshmen struggle with is not asking for help. Whether it’s needed on an assignment, or if you’re just worried about something in general, asking for help is a great way to solve your problems. Arcadia’s teachers are more than willing to help, and they know how daunting your freshman year can be, so don’t be afraid to ask. Your first year of high school can be stressful, but it can also be a lot of fun if you welcome it. High school is not as scary as everyone makes it out to be, so don’t go in fearing the worst. – Amelia Guzman BACK TO SCHOOL BASICS With the introduction of a new school year, the need for new supplies also begins. Most teens are no longer given a school supply list. Instead, they are often handed a syllabus and given the first week of school to collect supplies. Some necessities are required regardless of what the syllabus states. A sturdy backpack for all your textbooks and notes, as well as a water bottle, are things every student should have. Jansport or Herschel are tried and true backpack options. With how warm it gets in Arizona, insulated water bottles such as Stanley’s, Owalas, and Hydro Flasks are all good options. Five Star notebooks are a go-to, along with G2 0.5 pilot pens for note taking. Additionally, if you’re in an advanced math class, you’ll likely need a TI-82 graphing calculator. While these can cost a pretty penny, they can be found at discounted prices at back- to-school sales. Investing in products like calculators and a solid backpack allows your student to keep them for a long time, possibly well into their college years. Lastly, mechanical pencils, highlighters and Sharpies are frequently used writing utensils in the high school curriculum. Grabbing some of these items ensures your teen is ready for their first day. – Maya Campbell A Letter to the Class of 2025 A Letter to the Class of 2025 VOL. 1 NO. 10 AUGUST 2024 From the students of Arcadia High School