The School Newspaper of Southwest Career and Technical Academy.

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow
BREAKING NEWS: California Wildfires Bring Polluted Air to Las Vegas

BREAKING NEWS: California Wildfires Bring Polluted Air to Las Vegas

Adrienne Vera-Perez, Assistant Editor-in-Chief
September 11, 2024

Wednesday morning, several large wildfires originating in Southern California have pushed smoke, haze, and polluted air into Las Vegas. The air quality index has been determined to have a score of 166,...

Assistant Principal Cameron Roehm stands outside the cafeteria entrance handing out green temporary IDs to the students who forgot their IDs. This policy revamp was created due to last year's temporary ID weakening security measures causing it to be inefficient. “In the past, we did not see much success with the sticker IDs,” Roehm said. “With the new policy, [administration] is starting to notice a decrease in the sales of temporary IDs.”

New Temporary IDs Introduced as a Result of CCSD’s Updated Lanyard Policy

Mason Rafferty, Staff Writer
September 9, 2024
SWCTA introduces new lanyard policy and urges students to bring their lanyard daily.
At the start of class, a student places their phone inside a signal-blocking pouch, which will be sealed shut and can be opened again at the start of passing periods. Other measures were used in the past to limit phone usage, such as cell phone holders on classroom walls. “I actually think this new policy is an improvement from the old one,” Psychology 101 teacher Benjamin Lacombe said. “We are seeing kids now have anxiety if they don’t even have their phone next to them. Now, their phone is just right next to them, and it’s still sealed away.”

Staff Enforce New District-Wide Cell Phone Policy

Adrienne Vera-Perez, Assistant Editor-in-Chief
August 29, 2024
Students are now required to place their cell phones inside non-locking signal-blocking pouches during class time.
In preparation for the start of school, Student Council members meticulously paint back to school posters to hang up all around campus. Student Council has dedicated time and effort into raising school spirit. “The assembly is going to bring students together and show how much effort Student Council puts into our school,” junior Adalyn McShane said. “It gives students a break from the stress of school, and allows them to come back next week refreshed and happier.”

Student Council kicks off the year with back to school assembly

Kailie Sicolo, News Editor
August 22, 2024
The assembly will be held on August 23rd.
Celebrating Earth Week and Earth Day, Environmental Club is hosting a scavenger hunt today. The event is taking place within the quad, with groups and individuals searching for prizes. “Last year, we came up with the idea of a scavenger hunt because the Environmental 101 teacher made digital escape rooms for her students in her class. The hidden caches we have are stickers, bracelets, stamps, and little trinkets that revolve around Earth Day in the shape of trees,” Ruiz said.

ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB HOSTS SECOND EARTH DAY SCAVENGER HUNT

Ayma Malik and Travis McGinnis
April 24, 2024
Celebrating Earth Week and Earth Day, Environmental Club is hosting a scavenger hunt on April 24.
Posing for the crowd, senior Kyla Rodriguez models another students’ garment during the Fashion Forward event. “It was pretty stressful, especially with the time that we were given,” Rodriguez said. “With everything going on, we've had so many projects. My mind was going to so many different places, but I mainly put my focus on this, just preparing for it. I had to put 100% into it.”

Fashion Students Sweep ‘Fashion Forward’ Event

Achilles Caranto, Staff Writer
April 19, 2024
Students from the Fashion Design program have finished competing in the Fashion Forward event, with several placing highly as a finalist.
Photo Caption: Before the start of class, sophomore Connor Wiggins assists in setting up virtual reality headsets. Students have been engaging in VR-integrated learning. “We are working to integrate projects we’ve made with Unity, which is the game engine that we use,” Wiggins said. “Once it's into virtual reality, you can control every aspect of your 3D world as if it were really there.”

Virtual Reality Integration starts in Digital Game Curriculum

Calahan Davis, Staff Writer
April 19, 2024
Digital Game Design students can expect an increase in virtual reality involvement in the classroom.
Standing in line during lunch, juniors and seniors wait to buy their prom ticket. Tickets were sold at the banker’s window, with Student Council members positioned nearby to exchange receipts for physical tickets. “I was there for the first day that we were selling tickets so I’ve seen the line get somewhat long, but the system of them getting their receipt from the banker then going to us for their ticket was a simple process. It’s been going pretty fast and really efficiently,” StuCo member Mya Brown said.

‘CITY OF STARS’ PROM TO BE HELD AT STARBASE

Ayma Malik and Travis McGinnis
April 17, 2024
The event will be held on April 20.
Sitting with moderators Angela Ferrel-Zabala and Xochitl Gomez, Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on the importance of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. A week prior, it was revealed that background checks before purchasing a gun were improving and that the “gun show loophole”, a way people could acquire guns without a background check, could no longer be exploited. “It’s an important step that we needed to take,” Vice President Harris said.

Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Southwest CTA

Adrienne Vera-Perez, Staff Writer
April 16, 2024
Vice President Harris participated in a moderated conversation on campus in front of an audience composed of high school students, staff, and representatives from outside organizations.
Image by Sara Svensson from Pixabay

Vice President Kamala Harris to Speak at Southwest CTA

Adrienne Vera-Perez and Yaritzza Montenegro
April 12, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris will be visiting Southwest CTA.
During last year’s Coyote Coachella, performer Aerhann Casupang sings “Freaking Out the Neighborhood” by Mac DeMarco for the crowd. The event allowed him to share his talent with the school community. “I was a little nervous to perform at first,” Casupang said. “After a little I was not really nervous because my friends came to support [me].”

Stuco Dance Committee Hosts Coyote Coachella

Zelina Panissidi, Staff Writer
April 3, 2024
The event is to be held on April 4 from 2-4 p.m.
Relighting her candle, junior Kailie Sicolo prepares to take a picture during the NHS induction ceremony. Members enjoyed refreshments and utilized photo opportunities after the ceremony. “The induction ceremony made me feel proud of myself and it was nice to celebrate getting into the club with my friends,” Sicolo said. “I missed the first meeting because I was out of state for a field trip, so I’m excited to attend my first meeting as an inducted member.”

Club Preview: A look into the week of April 2

Kylie Dacquel, Staff Writer
April 2, 2024
NHS begins the process of board elections, Art Club makes felt creations, and Book Club discusses their book of the month.
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