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The School Newspaper of Southwest Career and Technical Academy.

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

Working in the Student Success Office, Attendance Secretary Lordis Depiazza inputs a student’s absence excuse note. Students are required to bring an excuse note to the attendance office within three days of any absence. “Reminding students that being in school is important because it reflects towards your grades and being able to do any activities with the school,” Depiazza said. “[It] seems to get the students' attention about wanting to be in school.”
Student Success Office Working To Decrease Chronic Absenteeism Rate
The rate reached 13.8% last year
Janica Zamora, Staff Writer • October 17, 2025
Administration is pushing for less absences as part of the school’s improvement plan.
Arranging the fabric on the floor for a new project, senior Sapphyre-Ann Leung plans out her attire for the next deadline. With the recent closures, students now had limited resources and less margin for error with the fabric and materials they had in stock while trying to reach strict deadlines. “Joann’s had a lot of high-end fabric for our fashion competitions,” Leung said. “We couldn’t just buy ten yards of fabric from Hobby Lobby or Walmart. Since [Joann Fabrics] is no longer open, we have to buy items online, which is way more expensive.”
Local Fabric Shop Closures Strain Fashion Department Resources
Shutdowns drive up costs and limit creative options
Jon Escala, Staff Writer • October 15, 2025
Major fabric shop discontinuations are leaving the fashion department with higher costs, fewer options and new challenges for student projects.
Prizes include boba, an achievement medal with a luncheon and a special-edition cap and gown. Previously, there were no incentives given for ACT testing. “We know our students can achieve better ACT scores,” Community Partnership Coordinator Ryan Zaro said. “Their classes academically show us that they should be performing higher than what the ACT is telling us our students are performing at.”
ACT Incentives Aim to Increase Student Composite Scores
There are three different prize categories
Zelina Panissidi, News Editor • October 13, 2025
Juniors taking the ACT will have the opportunity to win prizes if their composite score is 21 or above.
To celebrate the Week of Respect, Student Council member Aldrich Razon hangs up a note card on a teacher’s door to recognize the staff member. Earlier in the week, students submitted more than 100 messages through a school-wide form. “By writing letters of appreciation, we hope teachers feel more connected to their students, and students feel the same way about their teachers,” Razon said. “It’s a simple way to build a stronger school community.”
StuCo Delivers Teacher Appreciation Notes
Student Council spreads gratitude during Week of Respect with handwritten notes to teachers
Kobe Delos Reyes, Staff Writer • October 13, 2025
As part of a new initiative for the Week of Respect, the Student Council collected over 100 appreciation messages from students and turned them into handwritten notes posted on teachers’ doors, aiming to strengthen community and lift spirits during a stressful season.
Practicing the basic skills of nursing, sophomore Natalia Yancey gets her heartbeat checked with a stethoscope. Sophomore nursing students reviewed skills from freshman year. “I’ve always wanted to be in the medical field; it’s been my dream forever,” Yancey said. “Doing [practice skills] so early on is not only an amazing opportunity, but it helps me to prepare for my future.”
Teaching Positions in Two CTE Programs, Special Education Remain Vacant
Administration currently hiring to fill in positions
DJ Madamba, Staff Writer • October 8, 2025
Programs Culinary and Nursing, as well as special education, face openings
Participating in an icebreaker activity, TSA members deliver randomly selected objects around the room to board members to score points. Students were divided into teams of four and raced to be the first to bring various items to board members scattered throughout the room. “It was a fun activity that let me meet new people that I wouldn't have otherwise,” senior Armando Aguilar said. “I'm glad that each meeting starts with something physically engaging before we get to actual tech content.”
CLUB PREVIEW: A LOOK INTO THE WEEK OF OCT. 6
TSA, Crochet Club and Amnesty International meet this week
Calahan Davis, Staff Writer • October 6, 2025
TSA prepares members for state competitions, Amnesty International plans a jeopardy game and Crochet Club will begin to teach members basic skills.
Students attending last year's ‘Homecoming Wrapped’ dance to current trending music. The 2026 theme is “Venetian Nights.”  “We want to create new experiences,” Student Body Vice President Ava Kamman said. “We have a really fun backdrop idea that I'm excited for people to do. It's interactive and it just lets people get creative. Hopefully by the end of the night, it'll create one kind of big art piece that people can take pictures with. I think it's going to be really, really cool.” Photo Credit: Oliver Rondez
Student Council to Host ‘Venetian Nights’ Homecoming
StuCo Plans to Have Culinary Make Food For The Dance
Celia Evangelista, Co-Activities Director • October 5, 2025
Tickets will be available from Sept. 29 through Oct. 10, or until they sell out.
Writing heartfelt messages, juniors Angel White and Aurora Parks make teacher appreciation cards. Members of Key Club were granted service hours for participating in the activity. “We were given supplies like markers and pencils to decorate our cards,” White said. “It was a fun way of being creative and working on something to show our support for our teachers.”
CLUB PREVIEW: A LOOK INTO THE WEEK OF SEPT. 29
NHS, Key Club and Psychology Club meet this week
Calahan Davis, Staff Writer • September 29, 2025
Key Club prepares for RTC, NHS plans to debate hypotheticals and Psych Club learns about color therapy.
Displaying information about colleges and future planning, the NextGrad digital board in the Upper C building draws students' attention. Junior Khyle Colloma previously used the display to explore college options and plan his next steps. “It’s nice to have everything right here to help me figure out what my next step should be,” Colloma said. “I really like having the materials and resources to be able to decide.”
NextGrad’s digital display brings college resources to campus
New Digital Board in Upper C Aims to Boost Student Planning
Kobe Delos Reyes, Staff Writer • September 29, 2025
A new digital screen in Upper C is part of a district-wide partnership with NextGrad to support college and career readiness.
Ready to start class, Music 121 teacher Michael Woxland reviews the course’s daily agenda. Woxland believes his degree in music history has made him a perfect candidate for teaching this class. “It marries my two favorite things: Music and History,” Woxland said. “I was excited to find out that NSU offered a Dual Enrollment option for this particular subject. I was happy to bring another elective to campus that could help students get college credit.”
Course Catalog Expands for 2026
Implementing new opportunities for students
John Pinili, Staff Writer • September 26, 2025
Dual enrollment Music 121 and several enterprise courses now offered.
Serving as a news anchor for the morning announcements, sophomore Avalon Triplett reads the script for the day’s episode. Video Production students recorded the announcements which were shown during third and fourth periods. “I feel proud of myself as everyone can see my work,” Triplett said. “It gives me a sense of accomplishment as it allows me to utilize my creative side that benefits the school.”
New Bell Schedule Implemented to Allow for Morning Announcements
Students and teachers adjust to the time change
DJ Madamba, Staff Writer • September 25, 2025
Administration added extra minutes to periods three and four to give teachers more time to show the morning announcements.
As students enter Journalism Foundations in Matthew LaPorte's classroom, they put their phones in the phone caddy. The phone caddy is placed in the front of the classroom on the whiteboard. “I feel like it’s unnecessary to completely ban self phones from school, but I feel like there are better regulations for having them on your person,” junior Jaidyn Eddington said.
School enforces phone ban in classrooms early
The phone ban law was passed by the Nevada Legislature
Gianna Barreras, Staff Writer • September 24, 2025
CCSD will now require schools to follow updated phone regulations beginning in the fall of 2026.
During PSC 101, senior Ava Nave focuses on completing her exam. The exam, previously given at the end of first semester, had now been scheduled for the first week of September. “All my worries were gone as soon as I opened the Google Form and looked at the first question,” Nave said. “The exam was extremely easy. I would even go as far as to say it was common sense.”
Civics Exam Administered to Seniors During New Testing Window
The exam is a graduation requirement for seniors
Janica Zamora, Staff Writer • September 23, 2025
On Sept. 4 and 5, seniors took the civics exam, which is modeled after the U.S. citizenship test, in their Political Science and American Government classes.
During lunch, freshman Austin Nowak buys a snack from the vending machine. Since the re-adoption of the CCSD guidelines, the vending machines have been restocked with healthier food options. “[The guidelines don’t] really affect me but it could affect different people,” Nowak said. “It’s all about opinions.”
Nutrition Guidelines policy changes up food sales
Restrictions will follow CCSD regulations
Leo Amend, Staff Writer • September 23, 2025
These guidelines have limited what clubs are allowed to sell for fundraising, as well as what can be sold in the vending machines and student store.
Leading the meeting for the annual senior trip, Student Council Adviser Michael Woxland goes into depth about the requirements for students to be able to attend. As a part of the Senior Class Board, Woxland has been helping to prepare the trip for seniors, set for early second semester. “Planning the senior trip is always a big undertaking,” Woxland said. “Though, it’s always a lot of fun to celebrate the senior class and their four years of hard work. I'm excited that it’s a little bit earlier this year. We’re doing it differently to hopefully make it as affordable and accessible to everybody in the class.”
Class of 2026 Meets to Discuss Senior Trip
Requirements and reminders for students looking to attend
Achilles Caranto, Standards and Practices Editor • September 22, 2025
An informational meeting was held to discuss the annual senior trip to Disneyland.
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