By: Layla Rodriguez

To end off the school year, our Journalism Crew decided to choose one lucky teacher of the year… and we decided to shout out Mrs.Breiten! Mrs. Breiten has been a teacher here for many years, and is beloved by so many students. Her positive attitude and her bright smile brings such a welcoming vibe into this school and her classroom. 

Firstly, Mrs. Breiten asked if there was an experience working at PHS that stood out to her, and she replied “One experience that stood out to me the most was incorporating the PAL program into our district. I have had the privilege of seeing firsthand the impact that these student mentors have had on other students in our district.” Mrs.Breiten was very passionate about her PALS program and had many great experiences throughout her first year. 

Next, we asked Mrs.Breiten who was her biggest inspiration in becoming a teacher, and this is how she replied: “My mom has been and always will be my biggest inspiration. As an educator for over 30 years, she prioritized making her students feel safe, seen, and loved in her classroom. Even as a kindergarten teacher she was recognized by former students at highschool awards night for her compassion and for setting a high standard for the teachers who followed.” Mrs.Breiten was truly inspired by her mom, and it is safe to say that she has followed in her mothers footsteps and has created a bond with so many students at PHS. 

Lastly, we asked Mrs.Breiten what she is going to miss about teaching at PHS, and she said “I am going to miss my students so much! Many of them have made such an impact on me and they may never even realize it. I am also going to miss my co-workers! I’ve had several previous jobs before becoming a teacher, and believe me it is very rare to find co-workers who you truly love at both work and outside of school.” 

Overall Mrs.Breiten earned her spot as teacher of the year, and is loved by so many students at PHS. Her unconditional love and ability to care for each and every student will not be unrecognized, and will be in many of our hearts even when she is off pursuing her new career. We love you Mrs.Breiten, and are so thankful that we were able to spend time with you at PHS!

By: Layla Rodriguez

Our Pleasanton Eagle track team has been doing their best these past few meets, and it is going by super fast and the district meet is right around the corner! Our athletes have been working hard on the fields in this brutal weather in order to perform to the best of their abilities! Despite the past few meets being canceled the Eagles have still been working extremely hard in order to prepare for district, and the meets following. 

This past week at the Davenport meet there was some great news down at the pole vault pits. Freshman Pierson Pilgrim had an outstanding performance and was able to break his own personal record and jumped 14 feet, and 9 inches which set him up for first place! Pierson was asked how he was able to achieve his goals and his new personal record, he answered “I make sure to stay consistent in my practices and don’t goof around.” Junior, Layla Rodriguez also had an outstanding performance at this meet. She managed to jump 10 feet and 6 inches which broke her school record and personal record of 10 feet. Shout out to these athletes for breaking their personal records, and we hope to see them fly high again next week at district. 

Overall this season has been going well for the eagles and we are so proud of them for working so hard every day to achieve their goals. Come out and support them at their district meet which will be in Somerset on Wednesday April 2nd! Hope to see you there!

By: Layla Rodriguez

I carry the weight of what you took,

Trust once given,

Now cracked and shook.

Your silence echos,

Sharp and cold,

The story of hurt is too heavy to be told.

I long for you to feel the cost,

To see the damage,

To know what is lost.

But this time moves,

And still I stay

With broken pieces of yesterday.

I try to move,

I let it go,

But the shadows linger and always grow

The pain still haunts my soul,

A wound that time can’t seem to control.

The hurt you caused,

It never fades.

But I will not wait in empty shades,

There is nothing more to find,

Yet still I remain the broken mind.

-Soulful Scribbler

By: Layla Rodriguez

This season has been going well for the Lady Eagles basketball team. Our Lady Eagles have been soaring through district, almost at the end! As of right now the girls are sitting at 4th place in district, and are hoping to maintain this spot for the rest of the season in order to make it to the playoffs! This past week the ladies played Devine at home which sat them in 4th place. Right now the season is coming close to the end with only a couple games remaining which determine if these ladies can withhold their spot!

Since we have not had many interviews this season for the Lady Eagles, we have decided to interview the one and only Fin Dog! Finley Hilburn is a senior and the captain of the Basketball team. We asked Finley a few questions and here are some responses… The first question we asked is: “What is it like being a team captain?” Finley said “Ever since I was little I wanted to be a captain one day because I thought it would be the coolest thing ever. I can safely say after getting the privilege of being theme captain for our team is one of the greatest things I have ever gotten to do.” This quote shows the love that Finley has had for basketball and the will to be a team captain ever since she was a little girl. The team loves her being a captain and all agree that she brings so much positivity to the team. Having a teammate and a leader like Finley has helped the team excel so much. She also discusses her love for basketball and how she has been playing ever since she was a little girl. She states “I have always loved basketball and it is all because of my dad. We would always watch games together and talk about the players.” Finely is so dedicated to the sport and this stems from the love for the sport and bond she built with her dad making her the amazing player she is today. 

Overall the ladies are so blessed to have a captain as great as Finley and that they have done so well this season so far! With these last few games our Lady Eagles need all of the support they can get in order to withhold their spot in district to advance to the next round.

Pop Culture: New York Fashion Week 

by: Layla Rodriguez 

This month we are focusing on the one and only New York Fashion week! There were so many different looks and new styles being introduced that many love, here are some of the favorites! 

Ralph Lauren 

Firstly we have Ralph Lauren. She brought a whole new meaning to style. Her main outfit featured a whole Jean look with some pops of color shown in the accessories. She was going for a chick hippie cowgirl kind of look and she definitely nailed it! This was one of our more simple but favorite looks this week.

Alessandra Ambrosio 

Next we have Alessandra Ambrosio and she looked absolutely stunning! She featured a red jumpsuit with a butterfly cut neckline and white undertones fading into a flowy bottom. No accessories needed, this piece was a real show stopper!!  

Grace Ling 

Lastly we have Grace Ling, with this one of a kind line that had many jaws on the floor. This dress features a vine of thorns wrapped around her body with a few birds coming off of the vine. The all silver look is really eye-catching as well as its unique design! This line emphasizes being delicate, yet dangerous and brings so many new possibilities to the table. 

Overall this New York fashion week was a huge success! Our journalism crew loved seeing the unique outfits and the creative people behind them. If you liked this month’s Pop Culture segment, come back next month for the next hot topic! 

The Poll: Spooky or Feel Good Fall Movies

by: Layla Rodriguez

For this month’s Poll, we have decided on the topic spooky, or feel-good movies during the Halloween season… and we have our results! It turns out that the students of PHS favor the spooky movies over the sentimental ones for the fall season. Thank you to everyone who participates in our monthly polls, come back next month for more!

Spooky but Sweet: Boomallow Brownies

by: Layla Rodriguez

For this month’s Sweet Treat we have chosen Boomallow Brownies! This treat is amazing to share at a spooky party or with friends and family. It consists of a gooey yummy brownie with a cute little ghost marshmallow on top. 

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup of sugar
• ¾ cup flour
• ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Marshmallows 
• White chocolate chips 
• Milk chocolate chips

How to bake:

Firstly start by preheating the oven to 325 degrees, then line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper and set that aside. Second you’re going to need a medium mixing bowl, and in the bowl combine sugar, flour, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, salt, and chocolate chips. After this you will need a large mixing bowl and in this bowl you will combine the eggs, oil, water, and vanilla extract. Once everything is mixed in its separate bowls you then are going to slowly add the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix gradually until smooth. After the batter is done, lightly butter your pan over the parchment paper and pour in the mix. Once the mix is in the pan put it in the oven for 40 minutes. Once this is brownies are done baking you’re going to take them out of the oven and let them cool while you prepare the ghosts! To prepare the ghosts you start by melting your desired amount of white chocolate for 30 second increments until fully melted. Then melt the milk chocolate the same way. After it is all melted add the white chocolate to the top of the brownie put the marshmallow on top, add a little face with the milk chocolate, then you’re done! Let them dry then enjoy with family and friends!

Sports Recap

by: Alex Richter and Layla Rodriguez

The tennis season concluded with thrilling matches, standout performances, and fierce competition, highlighted by Colton Sexton and Jace Warner who made it extremely far during this season! The eagle tennis team had a 1-10 loss after making it very far in matches and tournaments during this season. Way to go Eagle Tennis! 

Bowling tryouts kicked off at PHS this October, marking the start of a promising new season as new students showcase their skills and determination for the team. With a mix of returning players and fresh faces, the season is looking exciting for bowling’s second year.

Now for Volleyball… This volleyball season has been very successful and working very hard this season. Our Lady Eagles have been working at trying to achieve the best that they can, and these past few weeks they have taken the win against Carizzo, and Uvalde, but taken a loss to Floresville, Pearsall, and  Devine. A big round of applause to the Lady Eagles volleyball team for fighting so hard this season, it’s sad to say it has come to an end. Sadly the Eagles did not qualify for playoffs this year, but put up a good fight. Thank you to all for coming out and supporting our Lady Eagles!

JROTC

by: Emily Breier

The Eagle Battalion’s competition season is underway, with strong leadership and incredible united individuals there is a thriving season ahead. Having practice Monday through Thursday there has been a tremendous improvement in every single person. The JROTC is a very homey environment and all together safe place.

We interviewed 2nd second Lieutenant Darian Delgado and he had many positive things to say about the program. He says “My favorite thing about the JROTC would be the people in the program. You really become a true family and team.” This is something that is key for a healthy environment. Often students don’t have a place like this. The JROTC program offers this to many people, this environment is what leads to such good scores.

The First drill meet competition has happened with all teams placing in the top ten, as well as the Raider team thriving in their competitions this season. They have all earned their scores by hard work and dedication. Each and every team deserves the placing that they desperately hoped for. We wish the JROTC eagle battalion the best of luck for the rest of the season! 

By: Layla Rodriguez and Jolenne Woodlee

For this month’s Athlete of the Month article, we wanted to switch it up and choose a cheerleader, therefore we have thoughtfully selected Joyce Reyna! Joyce is outgoing, kind, hardworking, and loved by many at PHS! This year, Joyce competes in cheer and powerlifting, which she loves! She states, “I tried to cheer out for the first time when I was nine because it seemed fun, and I have stuck with it ever since. Technically, I was on the varsity cheer team in 6th grade at Brooks Academy, and that was where I learned to love cheer because I got to experience so many different things.” As you can tell, Joyce is very dedicated to her sports and has put in hard work since a young age. 

Joyce is also a very amazing student, which is very impressive considering she also participates in sports! We asked Joyce how she manages all of these tasks and she said “I try to finish most of my work in class and do homework when I have free time, but if I have work left I stay up late to finish it or do it on the bus if necessary for away games.”. She sure is a dedicated and hard worker!

Overall we are so happy that we were able to focus on Joyce for this month’s athlete spotlights and we wish her a great year! Come and support our Pleasanton Eagles this year, Pride Pride!

By: Layla Rodriguez

For this month’s poll, we have posted a very controversial topic…students could choose their favorite content platform: Instagram Reels, TikTok, or Youtube Shorts. Our results were very surprising considering YouTube Shorts only got one vote… come on PHS! That being said, Shorts are out of the running. It was very close between TikTok and Instagram Reels with Instagram Reels taking the win for first place!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @phsthequill for more polls and updates!

By: Layla Rodriguez

For this month’s advice column, our topic is how to stay busy and productive during the summer. Summer can get pretty boring, and it is easy to lay around all day in bed, but it is important to stay productive and moving! There are so many things to do to stay active, and not just exercise; there are many other fun activities to do as well.

During the summer it can be challenging to stay active when you could be laying in bed sleeping all day, but you can still be active while having fun. Some ways to have fun while staying active are: swimming, making crafts, journaling, and spending time with friends and family! Staying active is so important because it will help you stay happy and healthy. Technology has negative affects on your brain 

By doing all of these things this will help you to stay productive and active throughout the summer and allow for a healthy transition into the school year. Many people find it best to lay around all summer but in reality that is a very unhealthy habit, and it is important to motivate yourself and make sure you stay active as much as possible!  

By:Layla Rodriguez

This season our Pleasanton Eagle Track team has gotten off to an amazing start! Our athletes work so hard every day to hold their place in every meet. Every day is a learning experience and they gain new aspects of the sport each day. Our latest meets have been going really well for the Eagles, and we have been maintaining a high place on the leader board at every meet.

For this month’s interview we have chose to interview the girls relay team consisting of Megan Mayse, Cianna Acevedo, Alex Baldaras, and Scarlet Travis. This amazing group of girls managed to break the school record, and here is what they have to say “We are so proud that we were able to break the record, and we were so thankful for all of the support and encouragement from our friends and family. We would also like to thank our coaches for pushing us so hard every day at practice.” As you can tell these girls put in the work this season and are so passionate about what they do. Our boys have also been competing very well and have accomplished so much, a shout out to Jayden Palacious for breaking the record for the boys 100 meter dash. 

We are very proud of our Program as a whole and we hope to continue to grow and progress. Our athletes are so great full for all of the love and support, and they will continue to thrive with y’all’s support! Our athletes  really appreciate and encourage you to come out and support our Pleasanton Track Program! 

By: Layla Rodriguez
For this month’s advice column, we will discuss how to cope with the stress from schoolwork and how to stay motivated. School can be very stressful at times, especially towards the end of the year when the workload is doubled. It becomes very difficult to stay motivated and get all of your work done, and even more difficult is you are constantly stressed. 

When school starts to become the most stressful is when your work starts to pile up, a great solution to that is to always make sure you utilize your class time, set aside special time outside of school each day dedicated to finishing extra work, and make sure you use any spare time in class to complete work from other classes if needed. By doing these few simple things, it will definitely help to lighten your workload. That being said, the less work you have, the less you have to stress about getting it done. Just doing those simple things is so important for your mental state and can bring down stress levels just like that! Stress has lots of negative effects on teens, such as: breakouts, headaches, anxiety, depression, lack of sleep, and poor academic performance; that’s why it is important to keep your stress levels as low as possible.

Now we will cover the different ways to stay motivated! I get it, school work is boring, but it has to be done in order to stay successful. Doing your work and staying motivated also impacts your stress levels. Some great ways to stay motivated while in school or doing homework are: listening to music, taking brain breaks every so often, rewarding yourself, and making specific times for doing work. All of these are great ways to motivate yourself, and you always have to remember that you are doing it for a great reason; to be successful!

After reading this article hopefully you have learned some new tips and tricks to stay stress free and motivated! Let’s see you put these ideas into action!

This basketball season is slowly coming to an end and it is safe to say that we have fought very hard this season. Our lady eagles are sitting at 5th place in district, and our boys are at 6th as of right now. Here are some of the scores from our boys’ most recent games: Carrizo Springs 51-52 (loss), Devine 41-65 (win), Somerset 30-39 (loss), Pearsall 53-63 (win), and lastly Floresville 45-54 (loss). Time for the girls: Pearsall 28-36 (win), Floresville 36-61 (loss), Uvalde 30-47 (loss), Carrizo 42-37 (win). Way to fight Pleasanton Eagles!

Our Lady Eagles were very close to making it to the playoffs, and here are some words to wrap up the season from one of our Lady Eagles Tanner McDougal- “We have had a very good season considering how many of our starters graduated last year. We have had to rebuild our line up but I feel that we have done a great job of coming together and working as a team.” As you can see our players worked very hard to rebuild their team and try their best to fight this season.

Overall our basketball program has definitely had lots of rebuilding to do this season and worked very hard and came very far this season. They may not have won every game, but they always put in their best effort to connect and rebuild the teams on both girl’s and boy’s sides.

By: Layla Rodriguez

This year’s 2023-2024 basketball season has begun. Our Pleasanton Eagle Basketball program has gotten off to a strong start. Our teams are very new and are starting to gel together and play more smoothly. We may not have won many games so far this season, but our teams are definitely growing stronger as one. Here are some words from our girl’s head coach, Coach G “My favorite part about being a basketball coach is watching the team improve. The season is very long, and our girls work hard to get better and better throughout the season so it is great to see their improvement.” Coach G is a very dedicated coach, and he loves to see his team work together as a whole to improve and dominate throughout the season.

Our basketball season has yet to start district, but here are some results from some scrimmages- Boys Basketball:  Pleasanton vs Foxtech 4-24 (win) Pleasanton vs Highland 43-35 (loss) Pleasanton vs Kings 54-40 (loss) Girls Basketball: Pleasanton vs Orange Grove 30-39 (loss) Pleasanton vs John F. Kenedy 27-61 (win) Pleasanton vs Marion 35-33 (loss). Though we may not have won every game we sure did make a great effort to keep the scores close and barely fall to the opponents. Our ladies and gentlemen put in lots of hard work each day at practice. Here is what a day at practice looks like for the girls and boys according to Coach G- “We usually start with conditioning, then we move into some shooting. After shooting we incorporate some basic skills and drills, and we finish off on working on our game plan and plays to use on our next opponent. That sounds like a lot of work! 

It’s great to see that our Eagle Basketball Program is off to a great start and working very hard each day to be the best we can be! It’s greatly appreciated to come out and support our basketball program this year and show them some love.

By: Layla Rodriguez

For this month’s amazing staff member at PHS we have selected our counselor Mrs.Read for our staff spotlight! Mrs.Read is one of our new councilors this year, she was formerly a counselor at our elementary. Mrs.Read first started out teaching reading interventions at the elementary and later realized her true passion. She says “I had groups of about 10 students every class period. They all wanted to tell me stories about their lives. Some stories were fun and enjoyable to hear about, others were sad and made me wonder if the student would be okay that day. As this happened day after day, I thought how wonderful it would be if this was my actual job and I could spend time helping students all day instead of listening for 5 minutes then cutting them off to work on reading.” As you can see she started out small and quickly noticed her love for helping others, and wanted to take it a step further and be able to be there for them full time. This was when she became a full-on counselor at the elementary school.

Along with Mrs.Read came her very fun, and outgoing personality, and her true passion for helping others in what she does. Here are some words from Mrs.Read: “The best part about my job is helping students in any way I can and getting to visit with them all the time. The students here at high school are fun, outgoing, kind, and want to do their best all the time. I really enjoy helping them all on their little journeys in life.” This really shows just how much she has a love and passion for taking care of her students. Mrs.Read is also a very positive role model and an all-around great person to be around! Here are some of her words of inspiration “Stay happy, healthy, and strong. The enemy will try to beat you down, so get up every day, set your mind straight, and say Jesus you got this!” Overall we are so very grateful that we have gained her as a new staff member at our campus, and that she will continue to bring smiles to our faces!

                                                                                                               By: Layla Rodriguez                                                                                             
Our lady eagles definitely started out their season by “diggin’ deep”, and fighting for every win! At our Edgewood tournament the eagles managed to place third overall. The next game quickly arose and the eagles dominated against South Side, capturing that win in just three sets. The following weekend they had another opportunity to dominate, and the first day of the tournament they made it to the winners bracket, the eagles had some long hard fights, and ended up in fourth place. Way to start off the season ladies!

 Some words from Head Coach Alyssa Bunch- “ I am very proud of our girls so far this season, we got off to a great start, and with lots of work and team building we will continue to grow as the season progresses.” Words from Addi Crowther- “ Our season is going pretty good so far, we had a little bit of a rocky start but we are now starting to progress. With lots of hard work and practice we will continue to grow together.” Both of these ladies are heading in the right direction and are definitely building our team! Our program is going to strive to get better and better as the season goes on; these ladies will work together at building a strong team!

Shout out to our JV and Freshman teams for starting off a great season and winning both South Side games, as well as our YWLA games! We would love it if you would come and support our ladies throughout this season! Pride, pride!