Although there are a number of clubs dedicated to specific ethnicities, like SPICE club, Black Student Union, Asian Student Union, and Spanish club, DV still lacks an organization that focuses on understanding diverse back grounds, which is where the Teen Diversity Dialogue kicks in.
“The world we live in is only going to become more diverse and varied,” said Belinda Chiu. “It becomes increasingly important that we learn about ourselves, our neighbors, our communities, and our world.”
In a community with a growing amount of diversity and unique cultural backgrounds, the Teen Diversity Dialogues aims to bring students together who normally would not have gotten the chance to know each other.
“There are so many people at DV, sometimes it feels like I only really know about where I come from and where my friends come from,” said Bengladeshi freshman Arpita Kundu.
Although the discussion groups are small in comparison to the number of people in high school and the Ahwatukee community, sharing experiences gives a better view of other people and teaches students that every story is a different one.
“ The Teen Diversity Dialogue was a great experience for me!” said Natalee Homa, a highschooler who was involved in Diversity Dialogue the first session. “I got to meet new people and express how I felt as well as listen to how others felt on specific topics.”
Because the program aims to give highschoolers a much more in depth understanding of other people’s views, the conversations held by the students are strictly confidential outside of the dialogue.
“We want to provide a safe place for the teens to discuss whatever they like without fear of it going elsewhere, “said Kathy Dietz, Human Relations Commissioner.
“ The good parts about the dialogues were how easy it was to get along with everyone there and discuss topics without feeling like you were being judged,” said Homa.
The last session of Teen Diversity Dialogues had a total of nine students from around different schools in the Tempe District, and those who lead the program are looking to get the word out about it.
“It sounds like something I’d really like to do,” said Angelique Cappo. “A lot of the people I know come from different backgrounds and It just sounds like it would be a cool way to get to know those backgrounds and be a little bit more open minded.”

Angelique Cappo is considering joinging the Teen Diversity Dialogues.

“It is never easy to get back into the routines of school,” said Maddie Spencer, a freshman, “But I refuse to let a couple weeks of break affect my performance in school.” Many students return with high hopes for the second semester. Some say that their grades from the previous year are what pushes them to be better than ever before.

However, some students say that the change in pace from the relaxed break back to school madness is more difficult than expected. “I never find myself easily getting out of break-mode and back into school mode,” said Mickey Melosi, a junior, “I just try to focus only on my schoolwork for a couple of weeks without any distractions from my friends.” Undoubtedly, friends and family can sometimes become unavoidable distractions.

But whether the change back into routine comes easily or with a bit of struggle, it seems that the stress is unavoidable. Many people find themselves overwhelmed by the workloads that classes burden them with. “Going from having nothing to do, to having three papers instantly seems outrageous,” said Madison Lange, a junior, “Nothing is worse than the initial stress that school puts on you.”

For most, a break from school is a necessity that comes far too infrequently. But after too much relaxation and too little studying, a break can increase the levels of stress that inflict when work picks up again. Everyone handles stress in differently, but hopefully in the end, everyone can find their own way to cope with the stresses of balancing school and extra curriculars successfully and peacefully.

“Every New Year’s Eve, I do the exact same thing,” said freshman Brooke Nyberg, “I always spend a little time with my family because my mom makes a really nice dinner and then everyone goes their separate ways; that’s when I go to a friends house.” Many people spend the time with only friends, but some choose to split the time evenly.

Some students, however, are relieved of the choice between family and friends due to untimely travels. “This year, my family and I are spending Christmas and New Year’s Eve in England,” said Kennedy Maling, a freshman, “I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a while and I am really excited to spend it with my family.” For those traveling around the country and even around the globe, the entire holiday season, including New Year’s Eve will be a different experience than what they may be used to.

For most, plans have yet to be decided and finalized. “I don’t know what I’m going to do on New Year’s yet,” said junior Madison Lange, “But whatever I end up doing is definitely going to be fun.” Some may plan parties with friends or movies with the family for the night that comes once every year.

When it comes to big holidays, one’s goal is to spend those special days with those who matter the most. Whether attending parties, watching movies on the couch with family, or traveling around the world, be sure that when the ball drops and the fireworks fly in New York City, London, or Phoenix that you are with the people that make you happy.

             The buttery smell of popcorn fills the audience, and eagerly awaiting students sit in their cars, set up chairs, and face the big screen on Movie Night.

             After raising money through different activities, and having extra money from shirts, Student Council held the first movie night showing “Remember the Titans” on a 50 x 50 foot screen.

             Student body vice president Hayley Schwartz said it was a good first effort, but hopes for a bigger audience next time.

            “It actually went really well. The screen was … HUGE,” she said. “We didn’t have a ton of people there because there was a U of A, ASU game, but next time we’re expecting a huge turn out.”

            As students got up and down from their seats and cars, student council directed them where to go, and showed guests where to get popcorn, water, and other movie night snacks.

            Teacher Mrs. Crystal McKenna, who helped run move night, said that maybe there weren’t as many students because not enough students knew about the event.

            “Next time we hope to be able to advertise a little bit more,” she said. “We were a little bit limited on getting approval from the district ahead of time, so we hope to advertise more and get people more interested in it.”

            McKenna said inviting more people is the key.

            “Maybe we can invite more of the community, and the middle schools and stuff like that; make it more of a community drive instead of just Desert Vista.”

            McKenna discussed that advertising throughout the community and getting sponsors could help the school raise more money for future movie nights. This first time the school lost more money than they spent.

“It was insane. People are crazy,” senior Brooklynn Rydman says, “everyone was obviously really tired, and really irritable. They were taking it out on [the workers].” Rydman was working as a volunteer at the mall during midnight madness.

The security guards slowly cracked open one of the entrances, at first letting in only a couple people at a time to prevent injuries. Eager shoppers were pressed against the glass, sticking their hands through the doors as guards yelled for the few that had entered to not run. The shoppers ignored and continued to sprint through the mall. As if realizing that the people weren’t going to back off, the guards eventually just opened the entrance and the people with their pockets stuffed with cash stampeded into the food court.

According to others who attended the event, it didn’t quite live up to its notorious name of “madness.”

“I didn’t expect it; I thought it was going to be a lot crazier,” freshman Halie Johnson said. “Some [of the lines outside of stores] were really long, like Victoria’s Secret, but others weren’t as long.”

As advertized, there were plenty of reasons for the long lines. The sales were ridiculous; some stores, such as New York & Company, were offering 50% off for anything in the store. Sales like that only come around once a year, and the Chandler Fashion Center celebrated with great enthusiasm—and it showed as shoppers exited the mall with smiles on their faces, and their hands full.

The club has partnered with AZ Adoption and Foster Care to bring Christmas gifts to less fortunate families. Visit http://www.childcrisis.org/aafc/index.html to learn more about their organization and their movement.

“We hope to give a family in need an amazing holiday.’ said Latin Club sponsor and Latin teacher Sarah Palumbo.

Everyone can participate in this project, not only the Latin Club. Anyone can donate gifts, and anyone can offer to help with the gift-wrapping.  Gifts that have been donated in the past has been from anywhere from gift cards to bikes that look like motorcycles.

After all the gifts have been donated than Latin Club has a huge wrapping party at one of their meetings than they deliver it to the organization.

“Many have been blessed with a house, jobs and clothes. It only makes sense that we try to help those in need,” said Palumbo.

By:Lotus Rogers

Staff writer

Almost everyone here in Ahwatukee,  probably gets enough to eat everyday and is part of their everyday life style: eat a bowl of cereal with some orange juice, snack on a couple chips before lunch which consists of salad and a cup of pasta, then snack on another handful of chips and maybe a granola bar,  then at last, come home and chow down on dad’s famous steak and baby-back ribs, complete with a cone of chocolate ice cream for desert.  Hungry? Students don’t know half of the agonizing pain of true hunger. Skipping a donut at breakfast doesn’t count. Not eating desert doesn’t cut it either. When living in a country full of McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Safeway’s, almost every 5 blocks, saying,  “I’m starving” is not an option.

143 million children worldwide, don’t get enough to eat everyday. That is millions of children sitting in their homes or in the streets with their stomachs aching and praying for at least a crumb of food to slip down their throat. They would do anything for a plate of warm, buttery toast, a bowl of chicken noodle soup, or a glass of cool lemonade. Us in Ahwatukee have easy access to food when ever we want. But in other countries or even across America, it would be lucky to get an apple for a day.
Luckily, Casandra Undhagen is ready to make a difference on the world hunger level. This freshman at DV, is leading the high school student ministry at Mountain Park Community Church, as well as the community to help an organization called One Meal One Day.

This is a Compassion International organization that invites anyone to skip a meal for one day. But why would students want to volunteer to say no to the tasty fuel that they chow down constantly 24/7? The money that  would have been used to buy a chicken fillet, or mac and cheese, goes to One Meal One Day to feed a child. To  feel hunger, means a child doesn’t have to.

“One Meal One Day is a chance for people like me, who have more than enough, to be able to give to those who have nothing. It is an opportunity to show act of love towards strangers.” said Undhagen. This is a chance for students to give back and have appreciation for what they have.

Students here and from the high school ministry, are working hard to raise awareness to the project. They will be selling bracelets for a dollar and shirts for $20, as well as walking around with jugs for change. Anything that is contributed will go towards feeding a child. The actual day of One Meal One Day is on November 9th. On this day, simply skip lunch, and the money that would have been spent buying lunch or a portion of a grocery bill, can be handed to anyone collecting donations for the cause.

“The outcome of this, I honestly don’t know. I feel that some people are really going to get involved and step up to the plate. While some others will probably ignore all of it and continue living in their zone of comfort.” explained Undhagen, who is trying to predict the outcome of the event. “Hopefully everyone will want to make a change in these kids lives.”

Although a fair percentage of students practice a Christian religion, there are also others that have different religions such as Mormon, Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic or Atheist.  But this program at the school is open to all beliefs.

“The reason I am doing this is because I feel God is calling me to love these strangers recklessly.You definitely don’t have to be a christian or have religion to feed those who are starving,” said Undhagen. “You only need the motivation and love, wherever that comes from.”

The over all goal of One Meal One Day team is not only to get at least $10,000 in donations, but also to raise awareness about many children are dying of starvation, and that there is a way we can help.

“A goal for me is to show people what God can really do in their lives.” said Undhagen. “People might question you for your actions, but the important thing is to have your mind set on the good thing that you are doing.”

For more information about how to get involved go to the One Meal One Day website: www.onemealoneday.org/

Posters advertised it all week and clubs readied booths and prizes in anticipation, but the Homecoming carnival wasn’t as popular in comparison to the dance or the homecoming game.

“A lot of clubs participated and we all had a lot of fun,” said Mrs. Maggie Fountain, who was in charge of the carnival.  “We held it before the game, that way students could go to that and then to the game. It worked and we had a better turnout than last year and than we expected.”

As clubs lined up each fundraising booth for their in fun events, many fell short of reaching their goals. The Sophomore Student Council’s Bring Your Own Banana fundraiser (BYOB) was one of those groups.

“Not as many people as we thought would bought ice cream,” said sophomore Vice President Michelle Abunaja. “Student council was expecting to raise more money at the carnival.”

Selling ice cream banana sundaes, with a dollar discount to anyone who brought their own banana started out as a great idea. They set up booths with high hopes for the night, but only one person brought their own banana.

“I had fun but I thought it would be really big, like Altadena’s carnival,” said Freshman Karissa Yamaguchi. “It was smaller than I expected.”

So what gives? Why are other homecoming events more popular than the carnival?

“I was oblivious,” said student Colin Fussker. “I didn’t pay attention to the announcements so I didn’t know there would be a carnival. I probably wouldn’t have gone if I knew about it. I have a lot more fun at football games than carnivals, so I just went to the game.”

“There is something about a carnival that makes highschool students think its more for little kids,” said Fountain.

Some booths on the other hand got a lot of love.

“Facepainting went pretty well! A lot of people came to get a thunderbolt, mostly for the game,” said Freshman Student Council member Jordan Rydman. ”Those face paintings took a long time, though. If anything I think we could have charged a little more.”

“I did the pumpkin smash for DECCA, and there was a good amount of people, ”said student Jacob Halaby. “I actually had a really good time. There wasn’t one moment where I wasn’t bored. “