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The School Newspaper of Southwest Career and Technical Academy.

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

All content by Kayla Thomas
PODCAST: Skin Care

PODCAST: Skin Care

As teenagers, our skin is constantly changing and today were going to talk about how to handle it.
LIFEHACKS: Curly Hair edition

LIFEHACKS: Curly Hair edition

Kayla Thomas
May 3, 2021
Curly hair can be hard to care for, but with these three tricks it will be easier.
With a beautiful water fountain sitting in the middle of the open-walled Urth Caffe, the ambiance changes from a luxury mall to a calming and earthy environment. Paintings of harvesters picking fresh fruits and vegetables line the walls, giving customers a visual representation of the sustainably harvested and natural ingredients used within their products. Rating:APhoto Credit: Kayla Thomas

Indulge in all Natural Coffee and Tea at ‘Urth Caffe’

Kayla Thomas
April 21, 2021
Urth Caffe is a cozy, nature-themed coffee shop with plenty of sustainable food and drink options.
Draw My Shadow: Abigail Humphrey

Draw My Shadow: Abigail Humphrey

Kayla Thomas
March 26, 2021
Sophomore Abigail Humphrey shares how she started editing videos.
PODCAST: SPRING BREAK DURING A PANDEMIC

PODCAST: SPRING BREAK DURING A PANDEMIC

Kayla Thomas and Kamryn Baldenebro
March 25, 2021
Spring break may ease students of all grades into hybrid learning, or it just might spark another lockdown.
Where Are They Now: Allyana Gorospe

Where Are They Now: Allyana Gorospe

Kayla Thomas
March 22, 2021
Take a look into the life of SWCTA graduate Allyana Gorospe.
Building the bridges to a covid-free world

Building the bridges to a covid-free world

The pandemic has adversely affected our country in a myriad of ways. Here, we go beyond the stats and numbers and zoom in on how each of us were impacted.
Keep Your Plants Alive With ‘Planta’

Keep Your Plants Alive With ‘Planta’

Kayla Thomas
March 18, 2021
An app that helps plant keepers care for their plants and learn new gardening skills.
LIFEHACKS: Piano Edition

LIFEHACKS: Piano Edition

Kayla Thomas
March 4, 2021
Here are three simple ways to advance your piano skills.
After junior Gabrielle Bagtas cold brews Butterfly Pea Flower tea, she pours it into a plastic cup. She focuses on adding the right amount of flavors to enhance the taste of the tea. “I really love changing up traditional and herbal teas into drinks that are more modern,” Bagtas said. “I think out of all the tea experiments I have done, I love making the color-changing tea.” Photo Credit: Gabrielle Bagtas

Making Life Beau-tea-ful: Meet Gabrielle Bagtas

Kayla Thomas
February 25, 2021
Experimenting with different flavors to create the perfect mix, junior Gabrielle Bagtas further expands her knowledge on the artistry of making tea.
Although there are plenty of options for college and in the workforce, teenagers are still learning what they truly want out of life. It will take time and a lot of self-analysis before they’re ready to take the next step. With their attention divided into academics, extracurriculars, their personal lives and enjoying their last few teenage years, there’s not always enough time to focus on their future goals. Photo Credit: Kayla Thomas

So Many Paths, So Little Time

Kayla Thomas
February 16, 2021
As teenagers who are still finding ourselves, it will be even more difficult after high school.
LIFEHACKS: Painting Hacks

LIFEHACKS: Painting Hacks

Kayla Thomas
February 12, 2021
Three useful tips and techniques to help artist's achieve the best painting.
Discover Fresh French Flavors at ‘Rosallie Le French Cafe’

Discover Fresh French Flavors at ‘Rosallie Le French Cafe’

Kayla Thomas
February 2, 2021
Eat savory sandwiches and quiches while sipping sweet tea or hot coffee at ‘Rosallie Le French Cafe.’
SPARK: Follow the Fashion Trends

SPARK: Follow the Fashion Trends

Kayla Thomas
January 21, 2021
Learn the newest trends to add to your wardrobe.
As the sky fills with bright colors from the new year’s firework celebration, people romanticized 2021. Eager to see the world match their fantasy, idealists are starting off the new year in a less than merry way. 
 Art Credit: Kayla Thomas

New Year, Old Problems

Kayla Thomas
January 14, 2021
It’s difficult to see the bright side when people are surrounded by the same issues - unemployment, eviction notices, stressful online learning, and limited social engagement.
Smiles were on everyone’s faces as we shared laughs and conversations during last year's Christmas party, completely unaware of the wave of disease to come. It was the last bit of normalcy before returning to our homes, and remaining secluded there for almost the entirety of 2020.
Photo Credit: Kayla Thomas

A Socially Distanced Christmas

Kayla Thomas
December 3, 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic is dampening the holiday season.
Through the computers on their desks, students in Kelly's AP Human Geography class start a new unit about culture. Students, such as sophomore Gia Choong, are learning about all the different cultures of the world. “I’m definitely the most interested in learning about religion,” Choong said. “I’m not theistic at all, however, I’d love to learn more about the role it plays in different cultures and how that translates to the idea of secularism in different governments.”
Photo Credit: Kayla Thomas

Students Study Cultural Diffusion, Assimilation, Globalization in AP Human Geography

Kayla Thomas
December 1, 2020
Kelly’s AP HUG class learns about the various influences among human and cultural attributes.
PODCAST: Girls’ Safety: The Dangers of Las Vegas

PODCAST: Girls’ Safety: The Dangers of Las Vegas

Listen to firsthand experiences, escape tactics, how violent counters happen, common ploys criminals use and ways to be aware of the environment in this episode.
Get a Taste of Earth at 'Feng Cha Teahouse'

Get a Taste of Earth at ‘Feng Cha Teahouse’

Kayla Thomas
November 5, 2020
A comfy cafe serving items with raw ingredients derived from the Earth.
Masks aren’t political

Masks aren’t political

Kayla Thomas
October 21, 2020
Despite all the proof scientists and doctors have, people still refuse to wear masks. Somehow politics beat the facts, which leads to the root of anti-mask protests.
As he reads through the Integumentary System Chapter of Egan’s Fundamentals of Respiratory Care, sophomore Juan Valdez-Sanchez sits at his desk to understand what organs are a part of the Integumentary System.  Students must read through this textbook, take notes, and complete lessons within The Applied Educational Systems program to develop a complete understanding of all subtopics covered in the unit. “I would define anatomy as the study of an organism and its body parts,” Valdez-Sanchez said. “As for physiology, it is the study of the body parts of an organism and its function.” Photo Credit: Juan Valdez-Sanchez

Respiratory students study systems within the body

Kayla Thomas
October 20, 2020
Respiratory Therapy students are going into the second unit of the year: anatomy and physiology, and focusing on the location and functions of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems along with diseases, disorders, and conditions of the body.
Sitting on the examination table inside the doctor’s office, Bianca Kingham gets an x-ray done on both her legs. The diaphysis of the shin bone on her left leg broke off from the epiphysis of the bone, leaving the remainder of the part connected to the Femur jagged. “I constantly had to switch a [medical] boot between both legs,” Kingham said.

Pivoting Paths: Meet Bianca Kingham

Kayla Thomas
October 15, 2020
After talented basketball athlete, Bianca Kingham had been badly injured, she changed her career focus to the medical field and began volunteering.
PODCAST: Staying fit this school year

PODCAST: Staying fit this school year

In this episode, find out about different types of exercises, ways to manage your fitness and school, and more.
INFOGRAPHIC: Importance of 'Suicide Prevention Month'

INFOGRAPHIC: Importance of ‘Suicide Prevention Month’

Kayla Thomas
September 19, 2020
Here are five facts about suicide and depression in teens to help spread awareness.
Leaning over the edge of an air balloon, floating at about 2,000 feet above the ground, Sabol takes in the aerial view of the sunset. Although Sabol has taken a break from  traveling around the world, it was moments like these that Sabol treasures most. “[This was] my first ever hot air balloon ride in Luxor, Egypt.” Sabol said.  Photo Credit: Cathy Sabol

A virtual welcome back for English teacher Cathy Sabol

Kayla Thomas
September 18, 2020
Sabol returns to Southwest CTA for her 26th year of teaching English.