VOL. 3 NO. 7 MAY 2026 From the students of Arcadia High School By Ana Redzic With finals fast approaching, Arcadia Titans were keen on a chance to escape their hectic everyday lives and enjoy a week off school. Here’s what a few of our students did to enjoy their spring break vacation. Everyone was eager to avoid the unexpected heat wave we received mid-March, and many had exotic travel destinations. “I was lucky enough to visit Venice, Florence, and Rome!” senior Sophia Elena Mignacca said. “It was my first trip to Italy, though I’d love many more to continue connecting to my Italian roots.” Sophomore Samantha Gagnon, overhearing this conversation, jumped in enthusiastically, saying, “I went to Paris with my mom and her friend! It was the most amazing experience of my entire life. I ate everything there was to try and visited Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre.” “My favorite part of my trip was the amount of art that was available to see,” Sophia said. “I always make it a point to see new museums any time I travel, but the antiquity and scale of the art in Italy blew me away.” Others chose destinations closer to home. Senior Kassandra Gonzalez visited Rocky Point, Mexico with family and a few friends. “We spent time at the beach, got some very much needed massages, visited the Malecon, and probably spent too much money on food,” she added with a laugh. Every student needs rest, and spring break gives the whole school the perfect opportunity to release their daily stresses and immerse themselves in new cultures and experiences. A WAY FOR STUDENTS TO GROW CLOSER When the current sponsor of the Arcadia Garden Club, Mr. Matthew Mauk, began to work at AHS five years ago, the Garden Club did not exist. These days, however, the club is prospering, with 40 members and the ability to produce 350 bags of produce on average every year. Our garden club is so successful that it is difficult to imagine what the campus would be like without it. It’s become an integral part of core classes, such as biology, where students grow sunflower seeds in the class as part of an experiment, then transfer the flowers into the garden where they’re displayed for all to see. Speaking of making things prettier, the garden also plays a role in Arcadia’s art classes. Students have created amazing mosaics for the garden’s bricks and have also used its plants as references for their art. Beyond that, it also adds vibrancy and atmosphere to the campus with beautiful plants growing all year round. The Arcadia Garden Club hosts fall and spring planting events that students always look forward to. The club also hosts a harvest lunch twice a year – a sort of potluck where students can take home the produce they grew and prepare it to be eaten the next day with their fellow students. The students run a big part of the garden, which is something that Mr. Mauk loves about it. “The most satisfying thing about having been involved with the garden here at Arcadia is watching students go through the process of helping to plant things in the ground, then harvesting them, and then taking them home, creating a meal out of that, and sharing that on Instagram or sharing with their friends,” he said. Having a place on campus that creates food for students and staff to take home to their families is something incredible for everyone on campus. This unique and amazing thing is getting better every year because of all the help from the school administration, PTO, students, and from generous family donations as well as seed donations from Berridge Nurseries. As the garden grows, the strength of the community will grow right alongside it. – Hutch Corey Contact ads@Arcadianews.com or 602.840.6379 REACH 45,000 POTENTIAL PATIENTS OR CLIENTS... The Arcadia News Health & Wellness Guide is the perfect way to promote your practice or business to the affluent, educated and health-minded readers of the Arcadia News . JULY 2026 DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY 6/15 A Directory of local providers A Directory of local providers A SPRING BREAK FOR THE BOOKS