By: Allison Collins 

 

“Back to School” season can be exciting for some. It brings the opportunity of meeting new friends, trying new classes, ect. For others, it can be the start of another year of bullying. Bullying affects many students, in fact, 1 in 5 students aged 12-18 are/ have been bullied in the past school year. 

Bullying comes in many different forms. One of the more common forms of bullying comes from verbal bullying. Verbal bullying can range from gossiping about the person, talking badly about them to their peers, to making up rumors. Actions like those cause students to feel uncomfortable in their school environment and can lead to them not wanting to come to school.

Not only can it affect the student’s education & school performance it can affect their mental health. People who experience bullying have a higher chance of experiencing things like depression & anxiety. Some of these symptoms can last up to 40 years after the original bullying took place.

One might pose the question: what causes someone to turn into a bully? Most of the time, the bully themselves is experiencing some type of negativity. Internally, they may struggle with issues like lack of self-esteem, wanting to have control of others, or they themselves feel outcasted. Externally, the bully is getting either bullied at home or someplace else. In fact, bullies are nearly twice as likely to experience depression and anxiety themselves. 

So, how do you stop the cycle? How can you help? Encourage healthy social skills. Teach kids to be nice to one another. Even if someone isn’t being nice to you, you never know what that person can be going through privately. This school year, the student council partnered with the “Dude. Be Nice” project. This project’s mission is to get people to treat themselves and others. You can stop by the PHS Library and order your own “Dude. Be Nice” t-shirt to support the cause!

By: Carol

In the world of student-athletes, there are those who stand out not only for their exceptional skills on the court but also for their dedication to academics and their ability to balance the demands of both worlds. One such outstanding individual is Kiley Wiechering, a name that has become synonymous with excellence in both sports and academics at Pleasanton High School. 

Kiley’s journey as an athlete began at a young age when she discovered her passion for sports, especially volleyball. Growing up in a family that valued athletics and education, Kiley was encouraged to explore her interests. She tried her hand at various sports, from softball to track and basketball, but ultimately found her main calling in the world of volleyball. Since the young age of about five Kiley could be found on a volleyball court. “ It’s my calm space” siad Kiley. 

As Kiley progressed through her volleyball career, her talent continued to shine. She joined our high school’s varsity team and quickly became a standout player. Her incredible work ethic, determination, and leadership skills earned her the respect of her coaches and teammates. 

Her performances on the court were nothing short of spectacular. She consistently led her team in scoring and demonstrated her versatility and ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Her dedication to the sport was unwavering, as she often spent extra hours practicing and refining her skills.

While Kiley’s love for volleyball was undeniable, she understood the importance of a well-rounded education. From an early age, she excelled in the classroom, consistently earning top grades and demonstrating a thirst for knowledge. Kiley’s dedication to academics never wavered, even as her volleyball career began to take off. She managed to strike a balance between her sports commitments and her studies, a feat that many find incredibly challenging. 

Kiley is undoubtedly a standout athlete at Pleasanton High School. Kiley’s athletic career serves as a testament to the power of passion, hard work, and dedication in achieving one’s goals. As she continues to shine both on and off the court, there is no doubt that Kiley’s dedication, work ethic, and ability to persevere in the face of challenges make her a role model for upcoming athletes.

PHS is beyond lucky to have a Student athlete like Kiley. All of us here in the PHS journalism staff would like to wish Kiley and the rest of her team good luck for the rest of their 2023 volleyball season.

 

By: Leighlah Silva and Kendall Zuniga 

 

 

Welcome back to PHS! A new school year means new students in our monthly student spotlight. This month, the Quill staff have chosen senior Stephen West to shed some green and white light upon. Though quiet to the school’s eye, Stephen makes noise with the varsity football team every Friday night whether it’s being in the game or on the sidelines cheering for his fellow teammates on getting a touchdown. In his free time, Stephen continues to play football from 4 to 7 p.m. after school. Participating in sports has brought many friends and opportunities into Stephen’s life over the last 4 years of his high school career, and continues to be an experience he admires greatly. He has shown a lot of “Eagle Pride” within his fellow peers over the years and he is excited to finish off his football career with the Pleasanton Eagle Varsity Football team.  

After high school, Stephen plans on attending A&M Kingsville University. He is uncertain what subject he wants to major in. Nonetheless, we know that no matter what he will be successful and the timing will come when he decides what he wants to major in. Stephen is highly talented both in and out of the classroom. He has an amazing future ahead of him. The Journalism staff are filled with gratitude for the golden opportunity to become acquainted with more knowledge about Stephen West. We wish him the best of luck for the amazing future he has ahead of him! Pride, Pride!

 

By: Alex Richter

To begin our round of Teacher Spotlights for the 23-24 school year, I recently had the opportunity to interview Mrs. Garcia, a new teacher at PHS. She currently teaches English III with juniors and AP English III LANG.

In addition to her teaching, she also coaches high school girl’s basketball and track. She has always been accomplished in studying English since her school days, and her fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Smith, played a significant role in inspiring her. Mrs. Smith was not only a fantastic teacher but also an excellent supporter who attended Mrs. Garcia’s games, which made her look up to her even more. In high school, Mrs. Garcia enjoyed her English II class, where she read many great books. Initially, she wanted to become a coach, but her advisor suggested teaching as a more marketable career option. This is her fifth year of teaching, but she hasn’t taught at this level before. At first, teaching at a higher level was a bit challenging, but after collaborating with her colleagues, she feels confident about the upcoming year. Although she was confident in her math skills, Mrs. Garcia chose to teach English as it was her natural strength and her favorite subject. She also shared that Mr. Roberson, her math teacher, helped her develop a love for math. 

As a Pleasanton High School alumn, Mrs.Garcia is a great addition to our teaching staff. Make sure to give her a friendly welcome when walking down the 400 hallway this year!

By: Carol

For the high school cross country team, the start of the season marks the beginning of a journey filled with sweat, tears, and unrelenting determination. Theirs is a sport that celebrates the human spirit’s capacity for endurance and resilience. Whether they’re racing against the clock or supporting their teammates, these young athletes are bound by a common love for cross country running and a shared goal of personal and collective growth. As they lace up their running shoes and set off on this season’s adventure, they are a shining example of the power of passion, teamwork, and the indomitable spirit of high school sports.

Cross country is often referred to as a “team sport disguised as an individual sport,” and the camaraderie among the athletes is unparalleled. The bond formed through countless hours of training and shared experiences is one of the team’s greatest strengths. Whether it’s motivating each other during grueling hill sprints or cheering on their teammates during races, this unity is what sets them apart. The athletes on the Pleasanton high school team understand that the journey to success is paved with hard work and dedication. They’ve spent the off-season building their strength, improving their speed, and fine-tuning their running techniques in preparation for the upcoming races. 

Kassidy Vickers is a current senior on the team and gave the journalism staff an inside scoop of the team this year saying “ Our first meet was tougher than expected but we all made it through and were there for each other and I’m excited to see how our team progresses.”

All cross country stats can be found on the cross country instagram and/or facebook page. We are so proud of our cross country team and wish them nothing but success for the rest of their season.

 

By: Carol

With the cool breeze of fall gently ushering in a new beginning, the excitement is palpable as the high school tennis team readies itself for a brand-new season. As the tennis courts come to life with the sound of rackets and the thud of tennis balls, the team embarks on a journey filled with dedication, camaraderie and victory. 

For the athletes on the high school tennis team, tennis is more than just a sport—it’s a tight-knit community of individuals bound by a common passion. As the season begins, the players are not merely teammates; they’re family. The camaraderie built through countless hours of practice and shared victories and defeats is what sets this team apart. Senior Evelynn Caraway said, “ When we play matches two times a week and have practice almost every day the team is more like family and even though we lost many seniors last year our team bond is stronger than ever.”

Behind every successful team is a coach with a well-thought-out strategy. Coach Everett, with years of experience and a deep love for the game, has devised a practice that focuses on refining each player’s skills. From perfecting their serves to working on their volleys, the team is prepared to face any challenge that comes their way. As Coach Evertt puts it, “Success is not just about winning matches, but about growing as individuals and as a team. My goal is to develop both as players and as people.”

The high school tennis team eagerly anticipates the fierce competition that awaits them. As the schedule unfolds, they will face rival schools and neighboring districts, putting their skills to the test. The thrill of competition is what drives these athletes to push their limits and strive for victory. 

                                                                                                               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!

 

By: Libby Sanchez & Jaelyn Morales

Maria Huezo, a student who gives nothing short of her best. Through the years, she has never turned in an assignment until she was 100% sure it was her best work, and all the hard work has definitely paid off. Her grades have exceeded the average students, and she has maintained her position as the number one ranked student in Pleasanton High School’s Class of 2023. The most humble classmate has earned her title as the Valedictorian, and her peers are beyond honored to celebrate it with her. 

Maria is planning on attending Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas beginning this fall. “My family didn’t want me to go far, and I didn’t want to go too far either. It’s close to home, and I look forward to being there with my friends in a new environment,” Maria said. She plans on majoring in biology, and eventually going into medical school to obtain her license in order to become a general surgeon in her future. “I’m signing myself up for 12 more years of school, but I think I have a good chance at this goal,” she states. Someone as hardworking as Maria, there is no doubt in the world she will eventually get her goal. In high school, Maria has excelled at helping her classmates in their studies, in band, and just been an amazing friend to her peers. It should come as no surprise that she will one day be saving lives the way she wants, caring for others is one of Maria’s best traits. Not only doing the best for herself, but making sure those around her are doing their best as well, and if she can help, she will.

A leader like Maria is inspired by those around her, and those inspirations are none other than her older brother, Juan Huezo, a Class of 2022 graduate, and our very own world history teacher, Ms. Infante. Juan, who just graduated last year, has always been a constant presence throughout Maria’s life, and as soon as she entered high school, the two were inseparable, even combining friend groups. It’s no surprise that Maria has chosen her brother as one of her inspirations, he’s always motivated her to do her best and give nothing less. “He’s one of the most hardworking people I know, I guess it just made me want to work harder, to match him in a way. He always does his best, and that’s all I ever try to do. I don’t know if I would have been as motivated to fight for my rank if it weren’t for him,” said the Valedictorian. Maria is lucky to have him, even as she closes this chapter of her life! “I hope she continues to strive, she’s smart and genuine, she can get anywhere in life,” stated Juan. Along with her brother, a fellow PHS teacher has also played a very important factor in Maria’s succeeding title as Valedictorian. “Ms. Infante was my teacher sophomore year, but it feels like she’s been my teacher every year. Even after sophomore year, she still found time to stop and talk, ask me how I am, how my education is going, just showing that she still cares. It really made a difference and it pushed me to do better, so I am really grateful for her presence these last few years,” Maria says. Pleasanton High School is lucky to have teachers like Mrs. Infante pushing students to be better, and even more lucky to have students like Maria who follow in the footsteps of such amazing role models. “There’s a quote by Malcolm X that fits Maria perfectly, and it says “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” It is a clear precedent that shows she can accomplish anything the future has in store for her. Maria, you are truly a gifted person, it has been a privilege and an honor to see you flourish and grow into the person you have become,” stated Ms. Infante. 

Maria has a bright future ahead of her, one in which the graduating Class of 2023 will hear about and think “Wow. I went to high school with her.” To Maria, and the rest of the Class of 2023, we wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors, never stop striving for better!

By: Libby Sanchez and Jaelyn Morales

As the 2022-2023 school year is coming to an end, the senior class is preparing themselves to graduate and start the next chapter of their lives. Even though most of us don’t wanna grow up, these last 4 years have prepared us to go out into the world and strive for success. On May 26th, 2023, at 8pm, the senior class will gather for one more goodbye. It’s hard not to find it all a little bittersweet and while our class has had many ups and downs, Long story short, we survived! 

For the class of 23 favorites, the seniors voted in favor of silver and green as the class colors, the white rose as the class flower, and “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift as the class song. These past 4 years might’ve been happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time, but they were also years full of many joyous memories with friends and family. There are five seniors graduating from the journalism class and staff editors on the Quill graduating are as follows: Editor in Chief- Libby Sanchez, Copy Editor- Jaelyn Morales, Photo Editor- Noah Ramos, and Managing Editor- Brian Avery. We are all going to miss journalism very much, but not as much as we are going to miss Mrs. Minniear who has been an amazing role model. 

As a class, we all gave our “blood”, sweat, and tears for this moment and survived the Great War. I want to wish every single person in our class the best of luck in their future endeavors and with whatever path they choose to follow. Congratulations Class of 2023, “Long live the walls we crashed through. I had the time of my life, with you” and lastly I want to remind everyone that Taylor Swift was right, “You’re on your own kid.”

By: Jaelyn Morales

The Pleasanton Girls Golf Team has had an amazing season, but unfortunately it has come to an end. Looking back on the season, the lady eagles have had many accomplishments such as placing 3rd at the Jourdanton Tournament and individual Sadie Mcada, placing 3rd at the Uvalde Pre-District tournament and 5th at the Uvalde Tournament. Sadie also received 1st Team All-District Awards. 

“My favorite part about this season was the overnight trip to Uvalde when the whole golf team played Uno and walked across the street to Stripes,” Mcada quoted. “I also really loved figuring out my game and being somewhat confident with it.” When asked what she’ll miss the most, Sadie Mcada quoted, “I’m going to miss the whole golf tournament day when I just get to have a day walking around the outdoors while competing for something bigger and getting the opportunity to advance such as regionals and state.” Congratulations Lady Eagles on a wonderful season and good luck Sadie on your future endeavors.  Pride! Pride!

By: Kassidy Vickers

On March 2nd, the Eagle Track Team had their third meet of the year on their own turf. Both the Varsity girls and boys dominated the meet with many gold medals and overall team wins. The girls ended with a total of 264.5 team points and the guys had 199. The female first place gold medalists were Alex Balderas- 200m dash, Ciarah Garcia- 400m dash, Kassidy Vickers- 3200m run, Megan Mayse- 300m hurdles, 4x100m relay (Mary Martinez, Kennedy Miller, Angel Tucker, Alex Balderas), 4x200m relay (Alex Balderas, Kiley Wiechring, Angel Tucker, Megan Mayse), Kennedy Miller- Long Jump, Victoria Veale- Spot Put and Discus, Ciarah Garcia- triple jump, Kiley Wieching- high jump, and Layla Rodriguez- pole vault. The male first place gold medalist were Brian Jones- 100m dash, Sean Ramos- 400m dash, long jump, and triple jump, Mason Little- 300m hurdles, 4x100m relay (Timothy Klein, Bryan Jones, Daniel Coronado, Sean Ramos), Evan Guardiola- discus, and Alvaro Sanchez- pole vault. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans for this home meet and it ended early.

Following this great win, the eagles track team traveled to Somerset to compete in the Detmer relays on March 9th. The varsity girls team came in second while the boys came in 4th. The gold medalist for the girls included Ciarah Garcia in triple jump and Kiley Wiechring in high jump. For the male team, the gold medalists included Sean Ramos- 400m dash and the 4x400m relay team (Sean Ramos, Daniel Coronado, Timothy Klein, Jayden Palacios). While this meet did not see as many gold medals, everyone still did amazing and worked really hard.
On March 23, coming off of spring break, the Pleasanton Eagles track team traveled to La Vernia. All of the Eagles tried their best and did so many amazing things.

A week later on March 30, the Eagles traveled to Randolph to compete in the Randolph Invitational meet. Unfortunately, the track team faced more problems with the weather and field events were canceled. However, the running event still continued on and there were many great athletes who gave it their all even through the unpredictable weather.

Our Pleasanton Eagles track team had an amazing experience as the varsity women’s 4x400m relay team (Megan Mayse, Mary Martines, Angel Tucker, Ciarah Garcia), and the males 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay (Sean Ramos, Daniel Coronado, Timothy Klein, Jayden Palacios) teams made it to the Texas Relays through their hard work and exceptional times. The guys 4×400 really showed off their talents with being placed 3rd overall at this huge event. The women’s 4×400 also did astounding and received a personal best time.

Senior Angel Tucker is one of the incredible women that is on the 4x400m relay team. She also competes in the 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay, high jump, and discus. For Angel, what has been the most rewarding is all of the hard work that she has put into track. She says, “Especially not giving up no matter how hard the workout is. Now it finally paid off and I’m headed to Our Lady of the Lake for track.” That is absolutely remarkable for Angel and we want to congratulate and hope for the best as she continues her track career into college. Her goals for this season is to make it to regionals in the 4x400m relay and to constantly be improving. We wish her the best of luck as she continues this season and we know that she will be able to achieve great things.

The Pleasanton Lady Eagles also have two new coaches this season, Coach Foster and Coach Leal. This year will make it Coach Fosters 6th year coaching. From Coach Foster’s perspective, the season has been going great and she said, “We have a great group of girls who really work hard and want to get better each day and it’s been a really fun and exciting journey so far and I think it’s still only the beginning for the girls track program.” That is such great news and we wish her luck as she guides our athletes to success.

The Pleasanton journalism staff would also like to wish our Pleasanton Eagles track team the best of luck as they head into district on April 12th and 13th. We hope to see lots of athletes continue on their season and advance to area. Pride, Pride!

By: Letizia Perrino

The tennis season has come to an end, and the team has achieved great results during the last month. 

On March 2nd Pleasanton high school hosted their second home tournament and various members of the team had great results, placing in every category. Mixed doubles team, boys doubles team and Boys singles got first place, Girls singles got second place and Girls doubles team got third place.

On March the 9th the team played the Madison tournament, and had great results, the girls doubles team got first place in the B draw, the boys doubles team got second place in the B draw and the mixed doubles team got third place in the main draw.

On March 24th and 25th the team played the Pre-District tournament in Uvalde and the results were great, the team placed third overall thanks to the athletes’ great results. 

On March 29th and 30th the varsity team played the District tournament and the number 1 boys doubles placed second and qualified for the regional tournament.  The boys played the tournament on April 11th and 12th in San Antonio, and lost to LaVernia 6-0 6-1 

After speaking with the head coach Everett he said that he is really happy with the results that the team achieved this year and he was really proud of the athletes that qualified for regionals. The team will keep practicing even if the season is over because he is looking forward to great seasons next year.  

After speaking with one of the players, Farah Standley she said that she is happy about the results she made during this season and she loved playing with the team, she is going to miss all the seniors. Farah is a sophomore and she has been on the varsity team since her freshman year and she can’t wait for next season to start. She hopes to improve her results and play even better than this year. 

By: Farah Standley

The Pleasanton Baseball Team has been doing exceptionally well! With an overall record of 19 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties, as well as a 9-0 record in District, the boys are really showing what they can do on the field. This team has been working very hard to get better and further in the playoffs than they ever have before. They have 3 games left until Playoffs, and you can bet they are getting more and more pumped with every game that goes by. 

Tanner Hollis, a 4 year letter and 3 year starter for our Eagles, generously shared his feelings about himself and the season. “My favorite thing about Pleasanton Baseball is the fanbase we have”, he noted, “Our fans make the atmosphere amazing, and that’s something I love to play in.” Tanner has been an amazing addition to the great group of athletes we have, and always gets everyone pumped up and ready to play. As an athlete, he has many personal goals, and according to him, one would be, “To be a role model for incoming players and young kids so that way they know what to do when they get here”. Having a lot of seniors on the team can be confusing, leadership wise, but he says it actually helps a lot because they all have relatively the same ideals. He feels great about the season so far, as they have never been undefeated in District, and they are well on their way to accomplishing that. Many people around school know that Tanner is taking his career to the next level and playing college baseball for McMurry University. “I’m looking forward to the atmosphere and competition that college baseball offers,” he said, “There is nothing like it.” Good luck, baseball!

By: Ariana Johnson

On March 10th, both bands performed at the Pleasanton Performing Arts Center for UIL. The Symphonic Band got a 2 in concert and a 2 in sight reading. The Wind Ensemble got a 1 in concert and a 1 in sight reading. Mr. Solis is extremely proud of the Wind Ensemble and is pleased with the progress the Symphonic band has made throughout this year. He also stated, “They are a young group and I am very confident that they will quickly be at a 1st Division level. The band as a whole is extremely talented and we are very pleased with their hard work this year.” Great job to both bands.

The band has Taste of Band this Saturday, April 22nd. It’s an event where sections get together and choose a style of food and the band members of that section bring in a food that goes with the style and they also have on theme decorations and costumes. It starts at 5 pm in the High School Cafeteria, the tickets are $10 and available from any band member.

Next, the Mighty Eagle Band will be performing in the Fiesta Flambeau Illuminated Night Parade in San Antonio on Saturday, April 29th. The band also has the High School Spring Band Concert on May 8th at 7 pm at the Performing Arts Center. The High School Jazz Band and Percussion Ensemble Concert will be on May 9th at 7 pm. The Pleasanton Band also has 15 students that have advanced to the state solo and ensemble contest on May 19th in Austin.

By: Myame Lara

On March 3rd, the Pleasanton High School Business Professionals of America, BPA, began their 4-day State Leadership Conference held in Dallas, Texas. Attending members included: Seniors, Michaela Anguiano, Bennack Conroy, Elynore Hernandez, Gage Pawelek, Alexis Ramos, and Stefon Torres, Juniors, Alexandria Balderas, and Delanie De La Fuente, Sophomores, Lauren Miles, and Jadyn Swan, and Freshman, Maribel Cerrillo, Tanner McDougal, Adyson Pawelek, Isabella Trapp, Genieve Turner, and Sophie Zeng, along with an advisor, Janie Olivarri.  

At the BPA State Leadership Conference, members are given the opportunity to further develop their leadership skills, and personal and professional development, and explore careers-related competencies. In the duration of their four-day trip to Dallas, The Pleasanton BPA club attended a series of events and activities. On day four of their trip, they attended the awards ceremony, which revealed those who will be attending the National Conference in Anaheim, California, April 26th- 30th.

Pleasanton High School BPA brought home three National Qualifiers which included: Alexis Ramos-1st Presentation Individual, Jadyn Swan-2nd Economic Research, and Lauren Miles-4th Fundamental Word Processing. At the State Leadership Conference, three of Pleasanton High School BPA members received alternate awards of which including Stefon Torres- 5th Health Leadership Topics, Michaela Anguiano- 6th Administrative Support Research, and Delanie De La Fuente- 7th Prepared Speech. Members Jadyn Swan and Lauren Miles are both first-time BPA competitors. In order to prepare for the National Conference, the Pleasanton BPA has been fundraising for their trip, and is currently almost at their goal of $4,000! Along with that, they are gathering paperwork, reviewing material, and reserving equipment. During the duration of the PHS BPA will compete, attend workshops, listen to speakers, sight-see, and may even have the chance to visit Disneyland. 

Mrs. Olivarri quotes, “Sending students out into the world knowing they have the skills needed to be successful after high school makes me happy and fills my cup every year.”  Pleasanton High School is very proud of the outstanding results we’ve received this BPA season, and are very excited about the outcome of the National Conference! Pride, Pride!

Teacher Spotlight

By: Alexandra Garcia

For April, we wanted to highlight the bright and kind-hearted teacher Mrs. Novosad. A teacher of 4 years here at PHS, Before becoming a wonderful teacher at Pleasanton she graduated from Cy-Fair High School and went to Texas A&M in College Station, where she received her teaching degree. 

Mrs. Novosad currently teaches seniors English IV and AP Literature and Composition, as well as having sophomore and junior English tutoring classes. Although those subjects can be difficult she continues to be a facilitator of learning, she tries to give opportunities to her students to discover literature and critical thinking skills on their own.  

She says she became inspired by “Working in Pleasanton ISD for 12 years as a substitute teacher back when there was an intermediate campus. I fell in love with the community, the students, and the support from parents.” Mrs. Novosad says her favorite part of teaching is seeing the creativity and different perspectives of her students. 

Being very dedicated to her teaching job these few years she continues working here and is motivated by the laughter and the feeling of being a part of a group here. She also states how much she loves how her coworkers keep her laughing and how they all push each other to be better teachers for the school and students. As we can all tell, she is a delightful teacher and co-worker.

Mrs. Novosad says “ I enjoy the inspiring conversations with my students. It is so cool to see the plans my students have for their future as they have their whole lives ahead of them. The best is yet to come!”

Some huge roles in teaching are maintaining your work-life and home-life balance, and understanding the students. Mrs. Novosad nails the job! She displays her support and encouragement with positivity to uplift her students motivation. Making her students feel as if they can accomplish anything and comfortable with trying. 

As for her home life, she says some hobbies of hers are spending time in the mountains hiking, and climbing. Also, she enjoys growing vegetables and gardening. 

Mrs. Novosad is a huge inspiration to many students and her wonderful co-workers. 

PHS is so thankful to have a wonderful teacher such as herself. 

We wish the absolute best for the extraordinary teacher Mrs. Novosad.

By: Farah Standley

 

National Autism Awareness Month takes place during the month of April. It was created to raise awareness and help to encourage change in schools and communities. Some symptoms of Autism are finding it hard to understand what others are thinking or feeling, not getting social “rules” or “cues”, anxiety about social situations, finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be alone, acting blunt, rude, or uninterested in other people unintentionally, finding it hard to express how you feel, taking things very literally or not picking up sarcasm, and not liking change or trying new things especially when it comes to schedule. An interesting fact is that women tend to hide it better. They show fewer signs, hide their feelings more, and seem to cope better.

During Autism Awareness Month, people thank and show appreciation for people in their lives who have Autism. On April 2, various buildings, homes, and communities are lit up blue to support. Fundraisers and walks are held throughout the month to raise money or show support as well. It is so important that we promote kindness and equality for people who live with Autism. People also engage in hands-on activities from home, reading books about Autism, or simply joining the conversation online. We all need to come together to put an end to the bullying of children and adults with Autism. Happy Autism Awareness Month!

By: Brian Avery

Welcome to the second last month of the 22-23 school year! For this month’s poll, we asked you three separate questions!

For the first question, we asked about your thoughts coming towards the end of the school year on a scale of 1-5, one being not ready for the year to end and five was get me out of here!  The number most chosen was a tie between 3 and 5, with 4 coming in third, 1 in 4th, and 2 in last! I think we can all agree when we say this year has been like no other!

Next, we asked about your experiences at Prom! Here are some of the things people had to say about Prom!

• I talked to friends and danced.
• I was a chaperone where I got to see all my students dressed to the nine’s! It was super fun!
• Spent time with my friends
• Not much, danced a little
• Danced all night
• Hang out with friends
• I went with my friends, and we had a blast.
• Talked to my friends
• I danced and had fun with my senior friends before they graduate.

We here at the Quill hope everyone who went had a blast!!

Finally, we asked for questions to featured in next month’s advice column, the last one of the school year!

• How do you sign up for duel credit?
• What are some fun things to do during the summer if you have NO MONEY and you have no TRANSPORTATION?

Thank you for the questions, and see you in next month’s article!!

By: May Smith

 

Aries – This is the time to enact change in your life. You are full of motivation and inspiration, ready to make fresh starts. What is holding you back from the success and happiness you crave? It’s time to take a risk and free yourself.

 

Taurus – you might experience some changes in your career. You can experience a sense of unreliability or dissatisfaction with your current job or working environment. It’s crucial to stick to your principles and take into account exploring new opportunities in keeping with your values and goals.

 

Gemini – a month of creativity, self-expression and exploration. Now is a great time to pursue your interests and seize new opportunities. This month, Gemini, you may see some positive changes in your career.

 

Cancer – you may face obstacles related to arrests or delays in your career. It’s crucial that you keep your focus on your goals and trust that the hard work you’ve put in will pay off in the end. This is a good time to focus on building a solid financial foundation for the future.

 

Leo – there may be some positive changes in your career. You may have the chance to demonstrate your skills and abilities, which could lead to fresh job offers or promotions. Be cautious with your money, but don’t be afraid to provide you some well-deserved favors or experiences.

 

Virgo – your career may require a little extra effort and focus. You can feel overworked or frustrated by your workload, but resist giving up. To maximize your output, be focused on your goals and assign priority to your activities. 

 

Libra – you might experience some positive changes in your career. You may have the chance to demonstrate your skills and abilities, which could lead to fresh job offers or promotions.

 

Scorpio – your career may require a little extra effort and focus. You might need to fight off certain arrest-related obstacles or battles, but do not submit. Financially speaking, now is a good time to review your spending plan and look for ways to save money. This is a good time to invest in your future, whether that means saving money for retirement or starting a new business.

 

Sagittarius – you might see some beneficial developments in your career. You might get the chance to demonstrate your abilities, which might result in employment offers or promotions. To accomplish your goals, trust your gut and take measured risks.

 

Capricorn – You might notice some good developments in your career this month. You might have the opportunity to showcase your talents and abilities, which might result in job offers from new companies or promotions. Whether you want to start a new business or save money for retirement, now is the perfect time to invest in your future.

 

Aquarius – This month, Aquarius, you may need to put in a little more work and focus on your career. Don’t give up despite any obstacles or setbacks you may encounter. To increase your productivity, keep an eye on your goals and order your work.

 

Pisces – your career may undergo a few positive changes. You may have the chance to demonstrate your skills and abilities, which could lead to fresh job offers or promotions. Trust your intuition and take calculated risks to accomplish your goals.

By: Alex Richter

On a dull, cloudy Sunday afternoon, an egg hunt takes place. As opposed to last year’s egg hunt, Toby was gloomy as his best friend Mark had moved away. Normally, Toby and Mark would be excited to watch as his little sister hunted eggs, and occasionally they would pitch in if she couldn’t reach one or failed to find one. This year, he didn’t want or feel the need to worry about helping the younger kids.

“Toby!”, his sister, Lani called.

“Yeah?”

“We can’t reach this one,” she said, looking at her best friend. Toby looked at them with hazy eyes, signaling that he was not getting it for them. Both of the children had looked at Toby, yet their strong gaze did not change his mind.

Walking away from the situation, Toby thought it best to head home, he still had felt gloomy. Once he had arrived, he knocked on the door, finding it locked.

“Yes, oh, what’s the matter with you?”, his mum had asked him politely. 

“Mum…I can’t seem to do anything without him, I just feel distressed.”, he says with his British accent seeming crackly due to the sadness in his voice.

“Toby, please go back out there and supervise the other children.”

Toby sighs, “Yes, mum,”

Starting his way back to the woods, Toby sighed and kicked a nearby rock. He saw a flash of a white figure woosh by him, yet he didn’t see anything clearly that would have caused that, unless it was the stone he had kicked. Toby decided to run back into the woods and begin to search for the mysterious being, he intended to find it.

“Hello?” Toby called out into the woods.

“Hi, Toby.”

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, he turns and sees a figure similar to his best friend. Except for a few crucial differences, he was too tall. Mark was tall, but this figure was much taller than Mark was. He was black and white, like a monochrome filter split down the middle of his body. The dark side looked like a gloomy creature, but the other side looked like a happy creature. It’s like something from a dream. 

Who is this? Why does he look like this? This isn’t Mark…I don’t think. 

“Mark?” Toby asks the creature. “How are you here? What-”

Before Toby could finish the sentence, the creature had teleported away. He felt a smile creep onto his face as he felt that wherever the creature was, he liked him. Toby realized at that moment that the mysterious creature wore a pair of Easter Bunny ears on its head. Easter was one of his favorite holidays, so the bunny ears made him happy. He closed his eyes and leaned on the tree behind him, lost in thought, no longer filled with the gloom and sadness that he had felt earlier.

“Toby…”

Toby heard the voice, yet he thought it was a part of his imagination. As he was still far too distracted to think rationally, he thought.

“Toby,”

Toby opened his eyes to find his sister in front of him, she had her eyes closed and looked like she was ready to shout at him.

“Toby!,” Lani shouts at him, “Who are you talking to?”

“No one,” Toby says, thinking about Mark and the strange creature. Maybe he was trying to cheer Toby up, he thought.

“Uhh…Yeah…Sure.”, Lani responds.

“Did you and your friends ever get that egg?”, Toby says, distracting her.

“Pfft, It’s not like you can reach it,” 

“I’ll try!”, Toby says. “Kids, leave this to the professional.” he says, rushing over to the group who had yet to reach the egg.

“Yeah right,”

Mark was watching his best friend make amends with his sister, and a sweet feeling hit him. The figure makes eye contact with Toby, yet Toby looks away and climbs the tall tree. Now that he knew that Toby would be okay on his own, he decided it best to leave soon. Smiling, he decided to not think about when or if he’d come back to the small town. 

Meanwhile, Toby retrieved the egg and climbed down, thinking of who was the strange creature that he’d seen today. Toby gave the egg to his sister, and noticed that the rain began to clear up and the sun shone down onto the woods and town where they’d stood. He walked into the gloom towards the creature, but stayed about 10 feet away from him. Toby noticed that it started raining, and as soon as it did, Mark disappeared, and Toby did not know when or if he’d see him again. 

Well, now I would hope that Mark will always be with me wherever I go; and at least he’s not dead, I know he’s okay. I hope he takes care of himself and visits me soon. I wasn’t planning on doing anything near that this Easter, but wow that was a cool experience to have. Huh, I guess I hunted for something after all. 

By: Libby Sanchez

The Pleasanton Women’s Soccer Varsity Team continues to fight through their district season, making their record 6-0-1. On January 31st, the girls hosted Hondo here at home for the district opener and made sure they knew who’s field they were on, taking the 5-0 win. It was quite the way to start district, and the girls were determined to keep the energy up. On February 3rd, the Eagles hosted Pearsall, a first year team. Taking charge was a no-given and the Varsity girls won 13-0, with nearly every player on the field getting a goal, including long-time defender Grace Keylich. Coach Joseph relented and decided to give the center back defender her time to shine, and she did not disappoint. Though this was a great game, they didn’t let this boost their ego too much before their big game the next week. On February 7th, both teams traveled to play against our longest and biggest rival, the Uvalde Lobos. “This game is one we look forward to every season, we haven’t been able to beat them yet, but we’re always close and we’re gonna work hard to win this game,” said senior, Grace Keylich. JV played first at 5pm, and unfortunately fell short by one goal that slipped through. As for varsity, early on in the first half Slayde Huggins got a break-away over the Lobo’s goalie and scored the first goal of the game. Putting us in the lead over Uvalde 1-0. Later in the first half, Uvalde was able to tie it up to 1-1 where it stayed for a majority of the game. Both teams fought to beat the other and midway through the second half, only one team gained the lead. One of two freshmen to make the varsity team, Emerie Lopez scored the game winning goal against the hardest team in our district. The girls were able to hold their own the rest of the game, playing phenomenal defense to bring home the win they’ve worked so hard for. The only other freshmen on the varsity team, Kathrin Banda, played her first full 80 minute varsity game, and did not let her team down with her performance. She stood her ground on the defensive line the entire time, not letting the Lobos deter her even as one of the youngest on the team. “It was a feeling like no other to beat this team, the rivalry tension has been here all four years of high school for me, and finally beating them is worthy of a celebration,” said senior, Brylee Miller. Days later on February 10th, the Eagles hosted Floresville as a new opponent. This time, the senior and freshman duo of Slayde Huggins and Emerie Lopez switched timing, and Emerie scored the first goal, and Slayde scored the game winning goal. Somewhere in between Floresville was able to sneak one in, but our girls came out on top once again, setting the final score 2-1. As for JV, it was a tough game and they came short 2-0, but are working hard to get them next time. On February 14th, both teams spent the holiday in long, tough matches against Somerset. Both games ended in a tie of 0-0, and the determination to not let that happen again has been showing at their practices since then. The following Friday, the varsity team traveled to Poteet for a 5pm game. The girls won with a final score of 10-0, continuing to dominate through district. The next week, they went back to face off against Hondo for the second time this season, ultimately starting the official countdown to playoffs. Emerie Lopez once again scored the winning goal that brought the final score to 1-0. On February 26th, Pearsall traveled to us for the second time, and the game ended with yet another win for our varsity girls, with a final score of 9-0. As of now, both teams are pushing it to their limits, training to go up against Uvalde for the second time this season on March 3rd here at home. Though proud of beating them last time, the girls plan to go into Friday’s game with a “down one mentality” and beat the Lobos on our home field this time. It’s a game nobody wants to miss, the adrenaline always runs high for both players and fans. We wish the best of luck to the Pleasanton Women’s Soccer Team on securing their first place district title!

 By: Brian Avery

 

The last two months have been full of action for the Men’s Soccer Team, with two games almost every week. The Varsity team has played in two tournaments, and 12 since we left off in the last article, and the JV has played in 5 games since then. 

We pick up in the first tournament Varsity played in, which was at Ingleside. The Varsity won their first two games of the tournament, but lost the third game, which placed them in a game battling for third, which they won, securing a trophy. After that, on 11/10, both teams played Memorial High School, and unfortunately, the JV lost 1-3 and Varsity tied 3-3. Shortly after, the Varsity participated in their home tournament, but were unable to secure a top 3 ranking, as they won their first game but lost the other two. From there, the JV and Varsity went on to play Foxtech, where JV won 1-0 and Varsity tied 1-1. After that game, both teams played Eagle Pass, where JV (Missing), while Varsity lost 1-3. Next, both teams played JFK, JV winning 3-1 and Varsity tied 2-2. Next, both teams played Gonzales, with JV (missing) and Varsity won 2-1. Next, both teams played Hondo, where both teams lost 0-1. Then the Varsity played Persall in Persall’s first ever high school soccer game and the Eagles won 9-0. Both teams played Uvalde, where JV 1-0 and Varsity 2-0. Varsity lost to Floresville 0-1, won against Somerset 2-0, beat Poteet 8-0, and tied Hondo 2-2. 

The program held their Senior Night, honoring the Seniors of the program, which includes Stefon Torres, Morgan Garcia, Adriano Guitierrez, Sergio Banda, Brian Avery, Toby Bird, Timothy Klein, Donovan Alaniz and Alex Cabrerra. The Varsity team played Persall that night, winning 8-0. 

We got in contact with JV captain Louis Manzanares and Varsity captain Timothy Klein. When asked about the team’s improvements, both captains said that their respective teams were improving on communication and passing, but they still struggle with communicating. As Tim said “We struggle with communication and talking in certain games, and just showing up ready to play as well.” Tim went on to say that they struggled to clean up the little things, from passing in practice to showing up, ready to play and focused in, with Louis saying similar things. When asked what was going better than expected, Louis said communication once again, “The attitude has changed a lot, which improves the ease of communication and teamwork between them.” Tim mentioned that he was impressed with some individuals’ drive and work ethic, and how they’ve become better because of it.

Good luck to both teams!!

By: Farah Standley

 

The Pleasanton women’s basketball team ended their season round 1 in the playoffs, with an overall record of 16-21, and District record of 7-5. The Eagles had a fulfilling season, having lots of seniors on the team, and we are extremely proud of their determination and hard work. Though the season was cut semi-short, the girls made the playoffs, put up a fight against some really tough teams, and went out with their heads held high. When asked about the end of the season, Senior Captain, Mary Martinez stated, “It was a bittersweet feeling, because it was my senior year, but I’m glad that I won’t have to run 5’s anymore at practices”. With so many seniors on the team, there were a lot of team goals and accomplishments, and according to Mary, one of the goals of the team was to go further in the playoffs than the previous years, and one of the team’s favorite accomplishments was almost beating the #1 team in the District, Somerset. Mary’s favorite personal accomplishment of basketball was surpassing a former PHS athlete’s stealing record. Her favorite thing about the game of basketball is making new friends and simply playing the game. Mary has no certain favorite memory from high school basketball, because it was all amazing, but she says the rides home were always fun, as they always had fun together even after a loss. As for after high school, she intends to major in kinesiology/education to someday become a teacher-coach and to possibly continue her love for basketball and join a college basketball team as a walk-on athlete. Goodbye for now, Pleasanton Women’s Basketball. We are excited to see what you have in store for next year.