La Joya Community HigH SCHooLmarCH 11, 2011 VoLume Viii, iSSue ViaVondaLe, aZ

Eye of the LoboThe Award-Winning Newspaper of

Lobo Den helps students in need with necessitiesBy Adam Johnson

Juniors Valentina Ramirez (left) and Rosalba Camacho are among those members of NHS who work on the clothing closet. Photo by Ana Peralta

Varsity softball ready for another great season

New season, new outlook, and new head coach.

Varsity softball is back and this year’s team looks to return to the playoffs and hopefully win the state championship.

According to Coach Geoff Johnson, last year was a breakout season for the team. With most of last year’s team still intact, he hopes to build on that, especially with the seniors.

“Our seniors are bringing hard work and leadership,” he said.

Senior Nancy Cloud expects the absolute best from her teammates.

“I expect my teammates to work hard and bring a lot of dedication and passion,” she said. Cloud also hopes her teammates keep each other up and encourage each other to do everything to the best of their abilities.

Junior Myleena Torres said that as a pitcher, she puts all her trust in her teammates to make the play every opportunity they get.

“I have basic standards to my own game too; always play my best and put my team in position to win,” she said.

Johnson said that Torres is one of greatest strengths the team has because of her ability to be extremely consistent as a pitcher.

“Our outfield is great too with seniors Mariah Hojonacki, Alexis Gonzales, Anhelica Jurado and Genesis Tapia playing for us,” Johnson said.

“We all definitely need some work, but we’ll definitely be successful,” Torres added.

The team had a record of 1-1 as of press time.

By Jose Guzman

Although they take the tests in high school, not many students understand the requirements for all the AIMS tests needed for graduation.

High school students take the AIMS in their sophomore year.

In order to graduate, they have to meet or exceed on their reading, writing and math AIMS tests.

Though students also take the science AIMS test, they do not need to pass it in order to graduate at this time.

According to school

counselor Dawn Bellingham, if you fail the AIMS your sophomore year, you have the opportunity to retake them two times each during your junior and senior years.

Bellingham’s advice for doing well on your AIMS is to try your best to attend school every day, do your homework, ask for help when needed and visit the AIMS website to take a look at the practice test.

“On the day of AIMS, students should have slept well, be present, eat a good breakfast and take their time. It is not a timed test,” Bellingham said.

Math teacher Stephanie

Huckins believes students need to succeed in class and study in order to meet the standards of AIMS. If students pay attention in class and try to understand what they are learning daily, it is most likely they will succeed on the AIMS, she said.

Huckins said students shouldn’t complain about AIMS because it is required and students should just take it and move on.

“Don’t stress and get good sleep,” she said.

Junior Jasmine Padilla already took the AIMS tests. In her opinion, the tests are pretty easy except for the math one.

“Students should remember that even the smartest students have failed, so relax and trust yourself,” she said.

Padilla agrees with Bellingham and said students should study before the tests even though they think they know most of it.

Students this year took the reading and writing AIMS on March 1 and 2.

The math AIMS test is scheduled for April 5, also for sophomores, as well as juniors or seniors who need to retake. The following day, freshmen and sophomores will be taking the science AIMS which is obligatory to take, but not too pass.

AIMS can be stressful time for high school studentsBy Veronica Sanchez

News Story

Sports Story

News Story

La Joya’s Clothing Closet has a new identity.

It is now the Lobo Den. This new name was chosen make it more appealing to all students on campus and to remove the stereotype that it is only for students in need.

This year, the Lobo Den has been used effectively to help students in need around the district. It has even been awarded Service Project of the Year from the West Valley NHS this year.

Students in NHS and the Art Club have been working hard to keep the Den running smoothly.

Senior Osla Martinez is one of those students putting in many hours helping organize the Den. She has high goals for it and wants to see other students get involved and use it themselves.

“My goals for the Lobo Den are to make it grow within the school so that many students can benefit from this wonderful idea, and mainly to expand it throughout the district,” Martinez said.

She is very proud that the Den has helped many students recently and that some students are coming to exchange their clothes, which is the overall idea of the Lobo Den.

She believes that with the name change, hopefully even more students will start coming and exchanging.

“I believe if the change makes people more comfortable about going to the Clothing Closet, then it

will most definitely make a difference,” Martinez said.

Junior Jose Guzman also is hopeful students will come now that there is a more appealing name. He has been working in the Den for a year.

“I expect, and hope, that this change gets more people coming to check the Den out and start exchanging,” Guzman said.

NHS club sponsor Hope Loveland has been a part of

the Lobo Den since it began and wants to see students really take over leadership in it.

“As the NHS sponsor, I help foster leadership for the students to drive this project,” she said.

Currently, the Lobo Den is open Tuesdays and Thursdays before and after school in room 1421. The Den is accepting clothing, hangers, and toiletry items as well.

Page 2Eye of the Lobo

Mimi’s Cafe is great place to grab a bite to eat

The smell of cuisines from everywhere lured me in.

Mimi’s Café is a little bistro-like restaurant. Recently, I was there with family and friends not only enjoying the food, but also the atmosphere.

As soon as you walk to the entrance, the greeter opens the door and welcomes you in. They immediately sat us in one of the many areas in the restaurant. It was decorated with a variety of things, from a New Orleans vibe to a back wood cabin.

Mimi’s is for a family of any type. It could be either a sweet new couple with a few kids to a happily married couple that have been together longer then I have been around.

As soon as we sat down at our table, we were welcomed by the waitress. Right away she took our orders for drinks and the appetizer.

For an appetizer, we ate fried cheese. It is cheese

covered with breading, sitting on top of a plate of marina sauce. As I ate it, I realized that there was a garlic taste which didn’t belong.

Then we ordered our food and it arrived quickly. I had ordered crispy parmesan crusted chicken. It was delicious. It was breaded

chicken with homemade marinara along with spaghetti. The chicken was moist and cooked perfectly.

My friend had a seafood fettuccine. It included fettuccine noodles with alfredo sauce, scallops, shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach. It was excellent, other than it

Restaurant ReviewBy Savannah Greenough

One of the many dishes you can order at Mimi’s is the steak with salad. Photo by Savannah Greenough

had to many mushrooms for my particular taste.

My other friend ordered from the Fresh ‘n’ Fit menu. That is part of the menu that is for people trying to eat healthy. She ordered a petite filet. It was a broiled, 5 oz center cut tenderloin severed with asparagus and baby greens with a balsamic

dressing over the top. It was fantastic, although there wasn’t much seasoning on the steak.

To end the night we had two desserts. We had the triple chocolate brownie and the petite cinnamon beignets. The brownie was served with vanilla ice-cream and chocolate and caramel sauce. It was moist and good. The beignets were pastries filled with cream and covered in cinnamon and powered sugar. I didn’t like it.

At Mimi’s, most of the main dishes cost about $8 or $9. Everything was at a reasonable price. Any average student would be able to afford it.

Everything thing there was delicious and the employers were so polite.

You can go there either for breakfast, lunch or dinner. There is so much to please your taste buds.

There are many different locations near La Joya, including one in Goodyear on Dysart Road, in Glendale on Bell Road, and in Phoenix near Metro Center Mall.

Throughout high school, there are many things to do, resulting in many memories being made. Building friendships, playing on sports teams, or belonging to clubs are all ways to make great high school memories. But one of the most memorable events for most students in high school is usually their school prom.

I believe attending a prom is a great thing for all high schoolers to try. When people talk about high school, prom is a subject that always comes up. Often adults will happily reminisce of the good times they had at their proms years later.

I am a junior and I would enjoy going to it next year. I feel every student should attend prom at least once during their high school years. After all, we are only in high school for four years. We students should make the most of these events and moments while we can. The last thing you want is to

leave school with regrets.Most people who

disapprove of prom have never even given it a shot. They tend to focus on how much the night costs. They feel dinners, dresses, tux rentals, and occasional rented limos are over the top. But it all depends on your attitude towards it. I feel you should not judge an event unless you give it a try yourself. There is nothing wrong with paying extra for a very special one-time event that will give you memories to last a lifetime. Sometimes it is O.K. to splurge.

Another great thing about it is that you can go with whomever you want. You don’t have to stay away if you don’t have a special date. You could go with your boyfriend or girlfriend, with a group of friends, or even by yourself. The whole point is to just have a good time with your friends and classmates.

If you have not given it a shot, what is holding you back?

Dodge Theatre Phoenix* The Pink Floyd ExperienceSaturday March 26, 2011 8 p.m. *Janet Jackson - Number Ones, Up Close and Personal World Tour Friday April 8, 2011 8 p.m.

*Aaron LewisSaturday April 9, 20118 p.m.

*Arcade FireWednesday April 4, 20117 p.m.

For ticket information, call (602) 379-2888 or visit livenation.com

U.S. Airways Center:*Virgin Mobile Presents the Monster Ball Tour Starring: Lady Gaga Saturday March 26, 2011 8 p.m.

*Rod Stewart / Stevie Nicks - Heart and Soul Friday April 15, 2011 7:30 p.m. * Lil Wayne: I’m still music tour 2011 Tuesday April 19, 2011 7 p.m.

For ticket information, call (602) 379-7800 or visit usairwayscenter.com

Jobing.com Arena*Freestyle Motocross: Nuclear CowboyzSaturday, April 9, 2011 7:30 p.m.

*Kenny ChesneySunday May 1, 2011, 7 p.m. For ticket information, call 623-772-3800 or visit www.jobingarena.com

University of Phoenix Stadium

*Music as A Weapon 5 with Disturbed and KornFriday March 11, 2011 7 p.m. For ticket information, call (602) 379-0102 or visit azcardinals.com

Give prom a chanceOpinion StoryBy Adam Johnson

Lil Wayne will be performing with Young Money on April 19 at the U.S. Airways Center.

Valley preparing for multiple events

Eye of the LoboPage 3

The track team this year has hit the ground running.

The team has a lot of good prospects this year and is working hard at becoming the best.

This year’s team has new people, but head coaches Amanda Ramirez and Chris Tierney are coaching these new athletes to the best of their abilities.

Track is a sport that requires a lot of hard work and determination.

This year’s team has

started out as one of the smallest groups (about fifty runners) that La Joya has

Track is back with new people and high hopes

Sports storyBy Vicktor Russell

had in the last couple of years.

“This year’s team has a

lot of potential,” Ramirez said.

Tierney agreed.

“This young group is eager to develop their skills,” he said.

Because there is a large amount of new people, many of whom have never participated in track before, Tierney expects them to be “open minded and to do their best.”

One of the top runners this year is sophomore Taryn Crossman. Ramirez said she is a “beast” and runs everything.

Junior Jose Madrigal is also expected to do well in long distance races such as the mile and the two mile.

Seniors Angel Diaz and Cameron Allen are also expected to win medals in mid and long distance.

With all the new stuff going on, Tierney was also happy because he got a new whistle and can now be heard with it.

Senior Tyrell Thompson attempts his long jump during practice. Photo by Vicktor Russell

Coaches Tierney and Ramirez say this year’s group has a lot of potential

La Joya baseball season is now here!

Coach John Jacobs is impressed with his players this year.

“The team looked much more improved since last year,” he said.

Jacobs’s expectations for the team are to improve from last year and to have a successful season.

He and the team have the same thoughts on the season. Both coach and team want to win.

They also hope to make it to playoffs unlike last year.

After a losing season, the Lobos are looking forward to improving their stats, wins, and ranking in the state.

“The senior group should help us this year,” Jacobs said.

Freshman Alex Montoya said,” Coach Jacobs pushes us hard because of how their reputation has been shown throughout the years and is looking forward to becoming a playoff team or a championship team.”

Junior Alejandro Gonzalez is looking forward to start the season right and to bring home a trophy this year.

Jacobs is ready to lead his team this season better than what they did last year. He believes it a new start for this team.

Who says seniors are the only ones who are supposed to be thinking about their future?

The class of 2012, also known as the juniors, should be thinking about and making decisions concerning their education this year as well.

Counselor Shawn Vandernaalt thinks that by the end of this school year, juniors should have a good idea of what career and education they want to have after high school. Juniors, if you are not sure yet of what specific career you want, or what colleges or universities you want to attend, you should start talking to your counselor and go into the career center. They can help you get what you want and usually it is free.

“Life after high school is coming quick, juniors,” Vandernaalt said.

Vandernaalt thinks juniors should be going into the career center every single week and meeting with colleges.

“The career center is where all the magic happens,” he stated.

The graduation requirements for the class of 2012 are four years of math, four years of English,

three years of science, a total of 22 credits overall and passing of all AIMS tests. Juniors who do not meet these requirements yet should start taking action now and take care of it during summer school so when senior year comes around they can graduate and not have to worry about it.

“If you take care of it now, then you can have more brain space available for senior year,” Vandernaalt said.

Although juniors cannot yet apply for colleges or universities and can only get on their mailing lists, they should start applying for the millions of scholarships that are out there. Sure, they can wait until senior year to do it, but it is better to start preparing things so senior year can go more smoothly.

The SAT or ACT are something juniors should start taking because colleges and universities require you to take them before going to their schools. Concerning the SAT, Vandernaalt thinks it is best for juniors to take them this semester so if they are not satisfied with their scores they can retake it again senior year.

Junior Valentina Ramirez is one of the few that has started studying for this

important test. To prepare herself for

senior year, she has chosen to take mostly AP classes because the tests those classes offer can get you free college credits. She thinks juniors should not slack off this year and lower their GPA; instead they should be trying to raise it.

“They should not slack off this year just because they think they have one more year to slack off,” she stated.

Ramirez said juniors should also start thinking about college and looking for scholarship opportunities.

Junior Esmeralda Negrete is also starting to prepare for life after high school. She is currently looking for scholarship opportunities and is going to start doing community service.

“I’ve also been looking for colleges I want to attend,” she added.

Negrete believes juniors should start doing community service as well and prepare for the senior paper. She believes it is best to do it in summer school so juniors don’t catch senioritis next year and that they should also take their SAT this semester and start saving money for college so senior year can go along smoothly.

College-prep advice for juniors News storyBy Helen Carbajal

Baseball expects to improve their team this season

Sports storyBy Keith Jones

Team and coach want a chance to reach playoffs

Varsity Baseball Schedule

3/22 Ironwood-Home

3/23 Tolleson-Away

3/25 Westview-Home

3/29 Chavez-Away

3/30 Ironwood-Home

4/5 Cenntennial-Away

Game times at 3:45 p.m. unless noted

4/6 Millenium-Away

4/8 Ironwood-Away

4/12 Tolleson-Home

4/15 Westview- Away

4/19 Chavez-Home

4/21 Westwood-Away

4/26 Centennial-Home

4/27 Millenium-Home

3/11-16 Tournament