Category: Special Features

Senior spotlight: Christopher the barber

Senior spotlight: Christopher the barber

By Hugo M. Like many seniors his age, Christopher C. is currently working to achieve his aspiration: becoming a barber. Chris said, “I want to become a barber to make a living off of it, and because I have friends who are barbers who have also inspired me to become one.” For instance, currently, Chris is working toward his goal by advertising around the school, putting up multiple flyers, and he already has had several clients. “I’ve had a bunch of clients. I’ve probably had like about 20?, but, um, but it’s a good experience like

Special feature: An unforgettable CATS poetry slam experience

Special feature: An unforgettable CATS poetry slam experience

Poetry is a timeless art and speak volumes in just a few verses. Students had the opportunity to express themselves in the CATS poetry slam, which took place on March 21 at the Diego Rivera library. The CATS slam, which comes from the “Get Lit” curriculum, showcased our school community’s diverse voices and talents.  Below, senior students shared what they enjoyed about the CATS slam hosted by English teacher Mr. Benny Martinez and the difficulties they overcame. Some students also provided the poems they wrote. Photos by Daniel Z. Students Responses Senior, Stephanie M. said, “I

Leadership students tour New York and Washington D.C. over spring break

Leadership students tour New York and Washington D.C. over spring break

By Heyli G. Ms. Ramos’ Leadership class went on a field trip to Washington D.C. and New York for Spring Break. Ms. Ramos, a Leadership and Algebra 2 teacher, shared that she planned this field trip because she likes to travel, and when she found out that the school had some available funds for the field trip and that the field trip could be far away. She found out around 8 days before the field trip was going to take place that the field trip was allowed in the first place. She said, “So for me

Ms. Suarez given ‘Outstanding Teacher’ award and $10,000 prize

Ms. Suarez given ‘Outstanding Teacher’ award and $10,000 prize

By Gehenna N. “I feel so honored.” That’s what science teacher Ms. Michelle Suarez said when she was nominated for and given the award called “the Carlston Outstanding Teachers Of America” award. She was nominated by a former student of hers called Celeste G. who graduated back in 2018.  This award is only given to four teachers and Ms. Suarez was the youngest teacher to win it. “I feel so humbled and intimidated,” she shared. This is because teachers who have been nominated for the award have taught at least 20 to 30 years in their

Explainer: What is chess? Who plays chess?

Explainer: What is chess? Who plays chess?

By Ernesto H. Brief History of chess Chess is one of the oldest and most popular board games in the world. Two players are required, and the board game has a checkered pattern with specifically designed pieces of contrasting colors, mostly known as white and black. The objective of the game is to capture the opponent’s king by checkmate.  There are many ways to end a game of chess. According to Britannica.com, the game ends when a player puts the opposing player’s king in a position that cannot avoid capture which is checkmate, and gets taken

Mr. Monteon: Advisor for the Class of 2024

Mr. Monteon: Advisor for the Class of 2024

By Heyli G. Mr. Monteon is a graphic design teacher and most students will have him for at least one year out of their four years of high school. What most people don’t know, however, is that he is the senior advisor for the class of 2024 and it’s his first time being a class advisor.   Let’s take a look at his duties and responsibilities. Mr. Monteon goes with the flow when managing the senior class of 2024. He shared that, because there is no handbook or guide for how to do this, “This is

Special feature: The challenges emergent bilingual and undocumented students face when applying to college

Special feature: The challenges emergent bilingual and undocumented students face when applying to college

By Gehenna N. Editor’s Note: Some of the interviews below were conducted in Spanish and translated for uniformity What struggles do emergent bilingual and undocumented students who are applying to college face?Beyond the difficulty of coming to a new country, these students face additional challenges. Luis N., an emergent bilingual senior, shared his personal difficulties in speaking English confidently. “Sometimes I can’t put my thoughts together and speak the language correctly without stuttering,” he said. “This is why I opted to do community college first for two years to prepare myself better in the language and

A “bittersweet” farewell to Mr. Romo

A “bittersweet” farewell to Mr. Romo

By Journalism 2 students: Xiomara A., Heyli G., Axel G., Salvador G., Ernesto H., Gehenna N., Omar R., Hector S. After six years of being at CATS and nine years at Diego Rivera Learning Complex, Mr. Rafael Romo is leaving. Mr. Romo, who was the senior site coordinator at the complex for the ACE initiative, said it was a “really hard decision to leave.” He explained that it wasn’t something he decided overnight. “For about 2 years it’s something that I’ve wanted to look for the next step for me so that I can grow professionally

CATS is a fashion runway

CATS is a fashion runway

By Gehenna N. In an institution known for its emphasis on communication and technology, being able to communicate through clothes is key. The school hallways reveal a unique interplay of ideas – where fashion becomes more than just fabric; it’s a language of its own.  Everyone needs a way to express themselves, and a group of seniors sure know how. Everyone has their own story, but these three students have something in common: fashion Misa O. has liked fashion since they were a kid. “I would always dress up in crazy stuff when I was little,”

The absence of Black History Month representation at CATS

The absence of Black History Month representation at CATS

By Gehenna N. Ms. Maria Salcido teaches African American History during the fall semester. As a teacher of Latinx identity, she takes her role seriously. “Ideally, I think people should be able to teach their own history,” she said. “But if someone is going to teach history that’s not theirs, they have to approach it with respect and that is something I was very conscious about when teaching Black History as a non-Black person.” She said she wanted to expose to her students the Black history content that she had the opportunity to learn. The question

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