Middle School Drama Nite
Middle School Drama Nite’s audience definitely got their money’s worth. Held on the 16th and 17th of May, this year’s performance was a wonderful medley of song and dance, comedy, and outstanding special effects.
The evening began with the performance of “Popular,” a favorite from the musical Wicked. Andrea del Castillo portrayed Galinda, and Lisa Tetreau Boppel as Elphaba. The performance was nothing short of hilarious, and it truly livened up the atmosphere. The following act was another classic: . “Honey Bun” from the classic play South Pacific. Dressed in a timeless sailor costume, Madison Gale swung to the music, giving viewers a very lively and light introduction.
Finally, the night was topped off with The Lost Half Hour, a brief comedy about a young boy named Bobo, who, despite his best efforts, seems to misinterpret everything. In the end, however, Bobo’s good intentions prove to pay off as he is crowned king of all the land. The story was lighthearted and fun, and the audience agreed that the middle school students did a magnificent job in bringing their characters to life. The real wow-factor, however, came from the special effects.
This year the drama department decided to try something new and introduced a shadow curtain through which jungles, mountains, oceans, and fights with dragons were projected. Viewers were left in awe. However, all agreed that the dragon was by far the most ambitious and well-received element. The creature’s massive head with flashing red lights was constructed and controlled by the High School production class. Smoke filled the room as it made an appearance; not a person in the house was silent as gasps of awe filled the room.
All in all, those who attended agreed that everyone’s hard work was demonstrated through the amazing performances, and it truly made the night a memorable one.
The evening began with the performance of “Popular,” a favorite from the musical Wicked. Andrea del Castillo portrayed Galinda, and Lisa Tetreau Boppel as Elphaba. The performance was nothing short of hilarious, and it truly livened up the atmosphere. The following act was another classic: . “Honey Bun” from the classic play South Pacific. Dressed in a timeless sailor costume, Madison Gale swung to the music, giving viewers a very lively and light introduction.
Finally, the night was topped off with The Lost Half Hour, a brief comedy about a young boy named Bobo, who, despite his best efforts, seems to misinterpret everything. In the end, however, Bobo’s good intentions prove to pay off as he is crowned king of all the land. The story was lighthearted and fun, and the audience agreed that the middle school students did a magnificent job in bringing their characters to life. The real wow-factor, however, came from the special effects.
This year the drama department decided to try something new and introduced a shadow curtain through which jungles, mountains, oceans, and fights with dragons were projected. Viewers were left in awe. However, all agreed that the dragon was by far the most ambitious and well-received element. The creature’s massive head with flashing red lights was constructed and controlled by the High School production class. Smoke filled the room as it made an appearance; not a person in the house was silent as gasps of awe filled the room.
All in all, those who attended agreed that everyone’s hard work was demonstrated through the amazing performances, and it truly made the night a memorable one.
Miles for Smiles
Miles for Smiles has been a tradition at Colegio Maya for 3 years now. This is a fundraiser, organized by the NHS, in which large groups of people come together to support LAVOSI (Las Voces del Silencio), a school for the deaf.
This year’s Miles for Smiles was a bit different from the previous years. Before, this event lasted for one day; however, this year it was organized to be two days long. Saturday 26th was the usual: a marathon with sponsored runners running around the school’s field with bake sales and goodies to fill up your empty stomach after running. What was different this year, however, was that this run continued throughout the night. NHS even organized for some runners to spend the night at school.
The next day, Sunday 27th, a 5 km marathon was planned by NHS. Regardless of it being NHS’s first organized marathon, it was successful. CM students, teachers, parents, LAVOSI students, and even people outside of the Maya community, were there to participate in this run. After the 5K run, prizes were given to the winners from each category, as well as participation medals for everyone.
Lots of smiles and laughter could be heard on those two days, both from the helpers and the ones receiving the help. Miles for Smiles, as always, was successful, providing a day, or two, for the community to come together to raise donations and help LAVOSI.
This year’s Miles for Smiles was a bit different from the previous years. Before, this event lasted for one day; however, this year it was organized to be two days long. Saturday 26th was the usual: a marathon with sponsored runners running around the school’s field with bake sales and goodies to fill up your empty stomach after running. What was different this year, however, was that this run continued throughout the night. NHS even organized for some runners to spend the night at school.
The next day, Sunday 27th, a 5 km marathon was planned by NHS. Regardless of it being NHS’s first organized marathon, it was successful. CM students, teachers, parents, LAVOSI students, and even people outside of the Maya community, were there to participate in this run. After the 5K run, prizes were given to the winners from each category, as well as participation medals for everyone.
Lots of smiles and laughter could be heard on those two days, both from the helpers and the ones receiving the help. Miles for Smiles, as always, was successful, providing a day, or two, for the community to come together to raise donations and help LAVOSI.
Clash of Colors
Many students were a bit worried about this year’s annual Clash of Colors with it being introduced as “Clash of Civilizations.” But, with the grand opening ceremony, everyone’s worries were wiped away and everyone’s minds were quickly set at ease. As per usual, the entrances were creative and entertaining. Multiple sources confirm that the Black Samurai’s had the best entrance but we’ll leave it at that. There were still four colors—Black, Blue, Green, and Red—the only difference was that every color was simply given a “civilization” and that some games were slightly modified while others were completely new.
Black-Samurai
Blue-Viking
Green-Maya
Red-Sparta
“We got spirit yes we do, we got spirit how bout’ you?” was heard throughout the day and spirits ran high. This year’s Clash of Civilizations included one more water game than usual—this left students drenched, but both games were thoroughly enjoyed. This year Ms. Lyttle, Ms. Wever, and Mr. Charlie were awarded with the “Madrina and Padrino of Clash of Civilization” awards.This was a very well deserved title for all.
Throughout the day different teams appeared on top on the scoreboard but in the end the Spartans came out on top, followed by the Mayas, the Vikings, and finally, the Samurais. The Samurai’s also received the Sportsmanship award. Clash of Colors is also a loved event because it provides the gateway towards Semana Santa, a well deserved break for students and teachers alike.
Once again, Clash of Civilizations was a huge success. I don’t know anyone who has attended and said that they didn’t enjoy themselves. It’s a Maya tradition and the simple fact that we get to participate in a school wide activity like this with kids from all grades is what makes it unique and special.
A huge thank you to the Senior Class of 2014 for being team leaders and for running such a wonderful Clash of Civilizations this year. We’re going to miss you guys!
Black-Samurai
Blue-Viking
Green-Maya
Red-Sparta
“We got spirit yes we do, we got spirit how bout’ you?” was heard throughout the day and spirits ran high. This year’s Clash of Civilizations included one more water game than usual—this left students drenched, but both games were thoroughly enjoyed. This year Ms. Lyttle, Ms. Wever, and Mr. Charlie were awarded with the “Madrina and Padrino of Clash of Civilization” awards.This was a very well deserved title for all.
Throughout the day different teams appeared on top on the scoreboard but in the end the Spartans came out on top, followed by the Mayas, the Vikings, and finally, the Samurais. The Samurai’s also received the Sportsmanship award. Clash of Colors is also a loved event because it provides the gateway towards Semana Santa, a well deserved break for students and teachers alike.
Once again, Clash of Civilizations was a huge success. I don’t know anyone who has attended and said that they didn’t enjoy themselves. It’s a Maya tradition and the simple fact that we get to participate in a school wide activity like this with kids from all grades is what makes it unique and special.
A huge thank you to the Senior Class of 2014 for being team leaders and for running such a wonderful Clash of Civilizations this year. We’re going to miss you guys!
Spirit Week
This year spirit week was a huge success with the vast majority participating everyday; the level of school spirit was truly remarkable. The themes this year were as follows: Monday- Pajama Day, Tuesday- Wacky Day, Wednesday- Animal Day, and Thursday-Nerd Day. It’s difficult to say which was more popular; all were met with enthusiasm.
Pajama day gave students and teachers the chance to show off their fabulous sleepwear, feeling cozy and relaxed throughout the busyness of the day. Tuesday was most certainly the chance to show off your creative and spontaneous side. Inside out clothes, mixed prints, crazy hair, and ridiculous layers were all utilized to catch everyone’s eye on Wacky day. Animal day saw a truly stunning variety of fauna. Those of us who expected a bunch of cats were pleasantly surprised to see deer, gorillas, dogs, butterflies and even pandas. The list goes on! Wednesday at Colegio Maya certainly put any zoo to shame. The final day of spirit week was Nerd Day, everyone’s favorite. Students and teachers adorned themselves with massive glasses, suspenders, pigtails, knee socks, and sweater vests to embrace their inner academic. The campus has never looked smarter!
All in all, this year’s spirit week proved to be a very lively and successful experience.
Pajama day gave students and teachers the chance to show off their fabulous sleepwear, feeling cozy and relaxed throughout the busyness of the day. Tuesday was most certainly the chance to show off your creative and spontaneous side. Inside out clothes, mixed prints, crazy hair, and ridiculous layers were all utilized to catch everyone’s eye on Wacky day. Animal day saw a truly stunning variety of fauna. Those of us who expected a bunch of cats were pleasantly surprised to see deer, gorillas, dogs, butterflies and even pandas. The list goes on! Wednesday at Colegio Maya certainly put any zoo to shame. The final day of spirit week was Nerd Day, everyone’s favorite. Students and teachers adorned themselves with massive glasses, suspenders, pigtails, knee socks, and sweater vests to embrace their inner academic. The campus has never looked smarter!
All in all, this year’s spirit week proved to be a very lively and successful experience.
"Oh Lord Jesus, it's a Fire!"
As you may all know, this Wednesday 12th chaos ensued. During lunch, a large, black cloud seemed to emerge from the school. As students started whispering about what it could possibly be, teachers tried to control the situation. However, this was to no avail as demonstrated by the numerous photos and posts found on social media. Nonetheless, everyone was shuffled to their classes. While the teachers tried to keep the students under control and continue on with what had to be taught, they were completely and utterly distracted by the shadows of It.
Approximately 10 minutes later, Mr. Mendolia, Lidu, and Karla rushed into classrooms to inform us that we were to proceed to the field for safety. Still unsure of what was going on, everyone was still in a state of panic. We then spent the next half an hour lounging about and waiting for the explanation of It. However, teachers informed us that we would have an early release—this pretty much erased anyone’s questions about what was actually happening because we were so ecstatic about getting to go home early. The reactions on everyone’s faces when we heard came in waves. The younger students heard about it first. It was met with backpacks being thrown on the ground, and papers being thrown in the air. Slowly, the news trickled down to us older students—who were also extremely happy, but whose spirits were running too low (it’s 3rd quarter people) to show anything more than a smile.
The next hour was filled with badminton matches, conversing, eating, and frantic phone calls. Finally, one by one we all started to leave.
So what was It? I’m sure you all know—this school was on fire (cue Alicia Keys reference). Technically, the school wasn’t on fire. Actually, it was the empty lot next to school. And surprisingly enough the fire was set on purpose, but the wind resulted it in it getting a lot bigger of a problem than anticipated.
This is what some Maya students said online:
Approximately 10 minutes later, Mr. Mendolia, Lidu, and Karla rushed into classrooms to inform us that we were to proceed to the field for safety. Still unsure of what was going on, everyone was still in a state of panic. We then spent the next half an hour lounging about and waiting for the explanation of It. However, teachers informed us that we would have an early release—this pretty much erased anyone’s questions about what was actually happening because we were so ecstatic about getting to go home early. The reactions on everyone’s faces when we heard came in waves. The younger students heard about it first. It was met with backpacks being thrown on the ground, and papers being thrown in the air. Slowly, the news trickled down to us older students—who were also extremely happy, but whose spirits were running too low (it’s 3rd quarter people) to show anything more than a smile.
The next hour was filled with badminton matches, conversing, eating, and frantic phone calls. Finally, one by one we all started to leave.
So what was It? I’m sure you all know—this school was on fire (cue Alicia Keys reference). Technically, the school wasn’t on fire. Actually, it was the empty lot next to school. And surprisingly enough the fire was set on purpose, but the wind resulted it in it getting a lot bigger of a problem than anticipated.
This is what some Maya students said online:
Good Deeds Day
Good Deeds Day, initiated in 2007, is an annual celebration of good deeds. Shari Arison, initiator of Good Deeds Day, says, “I believe that if people will think good, speak good and do good, the circles of goodness will grow in the world. Good Deeds Day has become the leading day of giving and this year individuals, school children, students, soldiers and employees from many businesses are joining in for the 7th annual Good Deeds Day with the aim of doing a good deed for others.” Every single person can do something good, be it big or small, and these acts make the world we live in a happier place.
Very recently, on March 10th, Maya celebrated the Good Deeds Day. During the last period, the entire school, students and teachers alike, gathered at the field for some activities. First, we got in a humongous circle and were handed out stickers that read “Día De Las Buenas Obras” as well as “Living the Spirit & The Maya Way” wristbands. Mr. Hupp then told us to talk to the person beside us and tell them one thing that would put on a smile on their face for the rest of the day.
Finally, we broke off into smaller circles, which were divided by grades, to do different activities. For example, in my circle, we did an activity where we would look down and, in the count of three, look up to look at someone in the circle. If we made eye contact with anyone, both of us would die. The ‘dead’ people would then proceed to a different circle to do a different activity.
Even though it was a short time, these small activities united the school as a whole, and of course, inspired each and every one of us to make a positive change in the world.
Very recently, on March 10th, Maya celebrated the Good Deeds Day. During the last period, the entire school, students and teachers alike, gathered at the field for some activities. First, we got in a humongous circle and were handed out stickers that read “Día De Las Buenas Obras” as well as “Living the Spirit & The Maya Way” wristbands. Mr. Hupp then told us to talk to the person beside us and tell them one thing that would put on a smile on their face for the rest of the day.
Finally, we broke off into smaller circles, which were divided by grades, to do different activities. For example, in my circle, we did an activity where we would look down and, in the count of three, look up to look at someone in the circle. If we made eye contact with anyone, both of us would die. The ‘dead’ people would then proceed to a different circle to do a different activity.
Even though it was a short time, these small activities united the school as a whole, and of course, inspired each and every one of us to make a positive change in the world.
Warrior Night
Having been canceled the week prior, Warrior Night was long anticipated. Hosted and carefully planned by high school STUCO, most would agree that their hard work showed. Following a Hunger Games theme, adrenaline was running high all night long. Students grades 9-12 attended, and each was given a free t-shirt to wear
The evening began with a gathering in the MPR where each grade competed head to head in quick, difficult, and hilarious challenges. Among them were: a soda chugging competition, chubby bunny (everyone’s favorite), a “banana ping-pong” relay, and a sock grabbing/wrestling match. One member from each grade was chosen to compete, and the results were largely varied; everyone won at least something.
Later, a new game of “Catch the Spirits” was introduced, in which the students were divided into two groups: spirits and warriors. Warriors roamed the school in search of several hidden balls that needed to be brought back to the gym for points. However, each had a name taped to their back that, and if removed by a spirit, turned them into spirits as well. Once captured, students would report to the front desk where they would tell Mrs. Yerkes that they were out, after which she would announce this over the intercom, really adding to the tension and adrenaline of the Hunger Games theme. The general consensus was that the game was “extremely challenging but a good change.”After two rounds and an hour of free time, a dinner of hot dogs, chips, and soda was served, after which a bonfire was started. Most went home feeling absolutely exhausted, but closer as a community. STUCO’s planning truly paid off. It was a great evening.
The evening began with a gathering in the MPR where each grade competed head to head in quick, difficult, and hilarious challenges. Among them were: a soda chugging competition, chubby bunny (everyone’s favorite), a “banana ping-pong” relay, and a sock grabbing/wrestling match. One member from each grade was chosen to compete, and the results were largely varied; everyone won at least something.
Later, a new game of “Catch the Spirits” was introduced, in which the students were divided into two groups: spirits and warriors. Warriors roamed the school in search of several hidden balls that needed to be brought back to the gym for points. However, each had a name taped to their back that, and if removed by a spirit, turned them into spirits as well. Once captured, students would report to the front desk where they would tell Mrs. Yerkes that they were out, after which she would announce this over the intercom, really adding to the tension and adrenaline of the Hunger Games theme. The general consensus was that the game was “extremely challenging but a good change.”After two rounds and an hour of free time, a dinner of hot dogs, chips, and soda was served, after which a bonfire was started. Most went home feeling absolutely exhausted, but closer as a community. STUCO’s planning truly paid off. It was a great evening.
Choir and Band Performances
On March 3 and 4 the choir and band performed in lunchtime concerts.
The choir performance, on March 3, consisted of the 8th grade Choir and were joined by the High School Choir. It took place on the 2nd floor of the secondary building. Several songs were sung, including “Vuelie” (from the Frozen soundtrack) and “Just The Way You Are” (my personal favorite).
Along with the music, the senior class had a bake sale with many different foods: kimbap, brownies, and other goodies to tempt us.
On Tuesday, there was the band performance. It took place on the grass near the secondary building. There were cushions laid out, and it was a nice, sunny day which added to the ambience of the day. Out of all the performances, my favorite was the last song which was called “Imperium.” There was also food again, this time supplied by NHS.
I personally enjoyed the performances (and the food). I look forward to the next one!
That’s all for this edition’s "Campus Happenings." Coming up soon is Warrior Night, which is Thursday this week, March 13th.
The choir performance, on March 3, consisted of the 8th grade Choir and were joined by the High School Choir. It took place on the 2nd floor of the secondary building. Several songs were sung, including “Vuelie” (from the Frozen soundtrack) and “Just The Way You Are” (my personal favorite).
Along with the music, the senior class had a bake sale with many different foods: kimbap, brownies, and other goodies to tempt us.
On Tuesday, there was the band performance. It took place on the grass near the secondary building. There were cushions laid out, and it was a nice, sunny day which added to the ambience of the day. Out of all the performances, my favorite was the last song which was called “Imperium.” There was also food again, this time supplied by NHS.
I personally enjoyed the performances (and the food). I look forward to the next one!
That’s all for this edition’s "Campus Happenings." Coming up soon is Warrior Night, which is Thursday this week, March 13th.
BINGO Night
This past Friday was Colegio Maya’s second BINGO Night, hosted by the middle school and high school STUCO. Many students and teachers attended this fun event, some with their families and others with their friends, in order to test their luck and win the wonderful prizes donated by the Maya community and companies. Some of the prizes were a backpack, coffee maker, set of cups, toaster, bicycle, television, DVD player, cellphone, gift card, and even a rabbit. There was also a bake sale where snacks and refreshments were being sold to fill up your stomach while biting your nails and cracking your knuckles, waiting for the numbers to be called.
Let’s remember that this event was a fundraiser for TECHO; all expenses gained on Friday night will be donated to this organization. TECHO is an association in Latin America that takes action in order to decrease poverty in the countries; to mention a few Argentina, Brazil, Haiti, Chile, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, and of course, Guatemala. Colegio Maya, being a school that likes to help and give to the community, organizes many community services and fundraisers, BINGO Night being one of them. BINGO Night was very successful last year, and I believe that this year was a success as well.
Let’s remember that this event was a fundraiser for TECHO; all expenses gained on Friday night will be donated to this organization. TECHO is an association in Latin America that takes action in order to decrease poverty in the countries; to mention a few Argentina, Brazil, Haiti, Chile, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, and of course, Guatemala. Colegio Maya, being a school that likes to help and give to the community, organizes many community services and fundraisers, BINGO Night being one of them. BINGO Night was very successful last year, and I believe that this year was a success as well.
Ms. Kathy Z. Price
10. That was the number of times Ms. Kathy Price’s award winning book "The Bourbon Street Musicians” was rejected. Ms. Price, using herself as an example, encouraged us to never give up and keep at it. With a loveable and an eccentric personality, Ms. Kathy Z. Price charmed her way into our hearts.
She gave us lots of helpful advice, and I’ll share some with you, especially for those who are aspiring writers.
And those are a few helpful tips for those who like writing and may want to pursue it as a career. One of the most important things I got out of this is to never give up. Many writers, from J.K. Rowling to Kathy Z. Price were rejected before they finally managed to get published. When they finally did, they made it! Even if you don’t aspire to be a writer, I really do believe that this is advice that applies to everyone. If you truly have something you love and want to pursue, no matter how hard it gets, keep going.
She gave us lots of helpful advice, and I’ll share some with you, especially for those who are aspiring writers.
- Practice makes perfect. The more you write, the better you will get. Ms. Price recommends keeping a journal to keep track of daily events. Even if it's very bland, writing more will get you into the habit of it and start your creative juices flowing.
- The best and easiest inspiration is your life. Whenever she encountered writing block, one of the things she would do was to check her journal for inspiration. Little details that she had forgotten would sometimes spark new ideas. Many writers go even further and carry a notepad to scribble down things they see or hear as they happen.
- Based on the last one, she gave us some ideas for writer’s block and we all shared what we do. One idea was to keep writing, no matter what it was, a bit each hour. Another was to sit around with no distractions and just think. Mine was to procrastinate a bit and then while thinking of the topic, go to sleep. This has actually worked for me a lot because when I wake up, I don’t have a definite idea, but I just know what to write. Looking at your daily journal, if you have one, is also a good source of ideas. Another recommendation was to go outside and walk to get your mind started.
- Dealing with deadlines is hard for many writers, and the best thing is to pace yourself. Ms. Price admitted to struggling with this herself, even once missing a deadline for a competition (she gave it in the next time and actually won!). In this case, the best advice is the one I gave for procrastination: Just Do It!
And those are a few helpful tips for those who like writing and may want to pursue it as a career. One of the most important things I got out of this is to never give up. Many writers, from J.K. Rowling to Kathy Z. Price were rejected before they finally managed to get published. When they finally did, they made it! Even if you don’t aspire to be a writer, I really do believe that this is advice that applies to everyone. If you truly have something you love and want to pursue, no matter how hard it gets, keep going.
Ramiro Alfaro: It’s Not a Sacrifice, It’s an Investment
On Wednesday February 12, secondary students were fortunate enough to receive what most are calling “the best speech ever given at Colegio Maya.” Mr. Ramiro Alfaro of Spectrum, developer of Oakland Mall, came to speak about the importance of setting goals—both professionally and personally. Among his extreme athleticism, he is also an out-of-the-box thinker and successful business strategist.
The students were nothing less than astonished as Mr. Alfaro projected photos of his desert races and spoke about them with unparalleled passion. “Life without goals”, he claimed, “will be very limited.” If you truly wish to fill your years on this earth with genuine life, you must test yourself. With tests, come “sacrifices” as some say. Alfaro, on the other hand, introduced a new perspective. He looks at the things we must leave behind as investments as opposed to losses. In setting a goal, he claims you must acknowledge that there will be things you can no longer do: staying out late, taking one too many breaks, watching too much television, etc. However, it is all for a greater good in the end. In investing yourself into your goal 100%, the satisfaction of the outcome will most assuredly be better than any of the petty things you were compelled to turn down to reach it, beyond compare.
After asking around, most agree that this speech was inspiring not because of the greatness of Mr. Alfaro’s achievements, but because of his down to earth demeanor. Students claim that he was spectacularly ordinary in terms of his background, which gives them the desire and hope to strive to be great someday.
Pain, claimed Ramiro, is only temporary. It means nothing when compared to being able to say “I did it.” He concluded with photos of his journey through the star-rich Gobi desert at night, and collective gasps of awe filled the room. This, he claimed, is what it feels like to do what you thought was impossible. Every student walked away from the PAFA that day with a goal in mind; according to the listeners, having this speaker was beyond a privilege.
The students were nothing less than astonished as Mr. Alfaro projected photos of his desert races and spoke about them with unparalleled passion. “Life without goals”, he claimed, “will be very limited.” If you truly wish to fill your years on this earth with genuine life, you must test yourself. With tests, come “sacrifices” as some say. Alfaro, on the other hand, introduced a new perspective. He looks at the things we must leave behind as investments as opposed to losses. In setting a goal, he claims you must acknowledge that there will be things you can no longer do: staying out late, taking one too many breaks, watching too much television, etc. However, it is all for a greater good in the end. In investing yourself into your goal 100%, the satisfaction of the outcome will most assuredly be better than any of the petty things you were compelled to turn down to reach it, beyond compare.
After asking around, most agree that this speech was inspiring not because of the greatness of Mr. Alfaro’s achievements, but because of his down to earth demeanor. Students claim that he was spectacularly ordinary in terms of his background, which gives them the desire and hope to strive to be great someday.
Pain, claimed Ramiro, is only temporary. It means nothing when compared to being able to say “I did it.” He concluded with photos of his journey through the star-rich Gobi desert at night, and collective gasps of awe filled the room. This, he claimed, is what it feels like to do what you thought was impossible. Every student walked away from the PAFA that day with a goal in mind; according to the listeners, having this speaker was beyond a privilege.
I Love to Read Month
It’s February, and for Colegio Maya that means it’s the time for reading—well, to celebrate the love for reading. The traditional Book Fair, which took place last week, was a great kickoff. The goal for this month is, of course, to motivate the students to read more often. So in order to get you started reading, here are some of our favorite books: The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, Room by Emma Donoghue, What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, and the Harry Potter series.
Reading is not only a good way to gain knowledge, but it’s also a way of entertainment—if you read the right books, that is. There are endless amounts of books to be read, so get started!
Reading is not only a good way to gain knowledge, but it’s also a way of entertainment—if you read the right books, that is. There are endless amounts of books to be read, so get started!
Piccolo Gularte: An Inspiration to Us All
On Wednesday January 29, Colegio Maya students were lucky enough to receive a truly inspirational speech from famous Guatemalan cyclist Piccolo Gularte. A family man living his dream, Mr. Gularte proved to be an absolute role model to us all. When listening to him speak, one immediately notices his passion, his kindness, and his strong will. The theme of his talk, that was consistently reiterated, was perseverance. He described it as importance of having and sticking to a goal of any kind, and it was something that he could not stress enough. In a touching speech about his upbringing and road to success, he admitted that in any challenge, there will be failure. However, it is vital that you continue. If you do not have the will to try, goals are worthless. Many were overcome with realization when Piccolo declared that you do not need a medal to be a winner, you simply need to cross the finish line so that you can say 'I did it'. The only failure is quitting. Even with an extremely busy schedule, training is a priority for athletes like himself. Between family and work, there is barely time to relax, but he has somehow found a way to juggle it all. He was even so generous as to bring and demonstrate the use of his professional equipment. Several lucky students were fortunate enough to ride his personal bike, and each was clearly fascinated. Happy, determined, and healthy, Piccolo Gularte truly lives life to the fullest. We can all learn a thing or two from such an amazing human being.
Let's Talk About Us...
The Maya Gazette? What? Our school has a newspaper?—These are probably some of the thoughts that are running through your minds right now. Well, yes, we do, and we are beyond excited. Since this is our first official "edition" of the Maya Gazette, we, the newspaper staff, wanted to give you all a run down of how this is going to work. This whole idea came about, out of a love and a passion for writing. Having noticed that Maya, unlike most other High Schools, didn't have a newspaper, we decided to start one. After almost a year of struggling to get the idea approved, here we are. We've designed a school newspaper that we hope will be your place to find out what's happening around campus, catch up on sports stats, read some interesting articles, and lots, lots more. Our newspaper is divided into 7 sections:
1. Home: This is where you will find the headliners of each issue. Here is where we will feature the most important/interesting news on campus.
2. Campus Happenings: Here you'll find out what's going on around school. Events, news, and anything else relating to CM and High School.
3. Sports: The place for all things sports related. We'll be doing athlete profiles, posting schedules and pictures, and updating you on stats/scores.
4. Editorials: This tab happens to be our favorite, each month we'll be picking a theme, and our staff will write articles pertaining to the designated theme. We know we're going to have a lot of fun writing these articles and we hope you will enjoy them as much as we do.
5. Ask M: This is our advice column. If you have any problems, questions or concerns, this is the place to go. Submit your entry and we will do our best to answer your question and/or provide a solution to help you out in any way we can.
6. Calendar: This is just the school calendar; it's updated on a regular basis, and will keep you in the loop.
7. Lunch Menu: We think this one speaks for itself.
Yours truly,
The Newspaper Staff
1. Home: This is where you will find the headliners of each issue. Here is where we will feature the most important/interesting news on campus.
2. Campus Happenings: Here you'll find out what's going on around school. Events, news, and anything else relating to CM and High School.
3. Sports: The place for all things sports related. We'll be doing athlete profiles, posting schedules and pictures, and updating you on stats/scores.
4. Editorials: This tab happens to be our favorite, each month we'll be picking a theme, and our staff will write articles pertaining to the designated theme. We know we're going to have a lot of fun writing these articles and we hope you will enjoy them as much as we do.
5. Ask M: This is our advice column. If you have any problems, questions or concerns, this is the place to go. Submit your entry and we will do our best to answer your question and/or provide a solution to help you out in any way we can.
6. Calendar: This is just the school calendar; it's updated on a regular basis, and will keep you in the loop.
7. Lunch Menu: We think this one speaks for itself.
Yours truly,
The Newspaper Staff