CAMPUS
Pescaterritory: Aztecs
Breaking Sound Barriers
by Dylan Aubry Page Editor
In the age of Soundcloud, when it seems like anyone
can become a musician, local rappers are everywhere.
Local rock bands, however, are not so common. That’s
where homegrown Coachella Valley rock and roll band
Pescaterritory comes into play. The band features four
guys who met through Indio music program AMP
(Academy of Musical Performance) and eventually
formed the band: bassist Gavin Lopez, drummer Nick
Willman, guitarist Jason Zembo, and singer Aidan
Schaeffer. “[Our music draws from the] sounds of
classic rock, all the while adding a modern and fresh
feel,” Zembo says, describing the unique sound of
Pescaterritory’s music, which—while seemingly
familiar—manages to maintain a fresh style. He clarifies
how important it was to “sound different from the
music that has already been made,” saying that the group
wants to make sure Pescaterritory don’t sound like any
old rock band. The group has found success playing
shows around the Valley, even getting the opportunity to
play at the Whiskey a Go Go in West Hollywood.
Playing on the stage that has hosted legends like Van
Halen, Mötley Crüe, and AC/DC, Zembo says, was “just
bewildering.” However, the prestigious gigs and growing
success aren’t why Zembo and his bandmates keep
playing. Zembo says that his favorite part of the band
was simply “everything… from the music to each of the
members. I love it all." He and his fellow musicians are
especially close, a connection he calls “a very special
magic that we can’t explain.”
Even from seeing them goof
off on their official Instagram,
@pescaterritory, it is evident
that there is real chemistry
among the bandmates. If
you’re interested in giving them
a listen and supporting Palm
Desert’s own rising stars,
Pescaterritory’s music is on
Apple Music and Spotify.
3
Meet Mr. Martinez, the New Teacher
Capturing Hearts and Minds
by Samantha Schuessler, Staff Writer
Many students have come to know Mr.
Martinez as a math teacher who began
teaching Math 3 and Math 2 Honors at Palm
Desert this year. He came to PDHS hoping
to create an innovative, fun, and
communicative classroom where everyone is
excited to learn and ask questions. Notably,
Mr. Martinez takes a new approach to
classroom activities, eschewing the use of
traditional worksheets and developing new
ways to get students to think independently.
“I’ll add problems in [worksheets] that make
you think so that you’re not just solving
problems,” he says. Some of his preferred
teaching methods include asking students to
“create your own problem” or describe ‘You got this Kim. I believe in you. I will
“what problems mean.” He also likes to help you,’ and it just makes me feel happier.”
incorporate activities like puzzles, Tiana Muehr, a freshman in Math II Honors,
whiteboards, and Desmos. He hopes that by agrees, saying that “he really connects to the
having these different activities he’ll keep students.” Though it may seem like Mr.
students engaged and create a sense of Martinez was always a math expert, when he
community, something Mr. Martinez values was in high school, he hated math. That all
deeply. “I have experienced what it's like to ended when a college professor helped him
struggle in math and what it’s like to really gain a love for math. With this
enjoy math,” he explains. In his classroom, encouragement, he went on from College of
he wants everyone to feel comfortable the Desert to UCLA and then Stanford.
making mistakes, taking risks, and trying new Outside of school, Mr. Martinez likes to do
ideas. According to him, math is “like when photography, draw, go to the movies, or
you play asport; it’s normal during practice watch Netflix. He just started doing portraits
to make mistakes, and then when you go to a using colored pencils. He is also interested in
game you try the best you can. Just like in taking more college classes in subjects such
class, you try the best you can to do well on as physics and chemistry. Though it may
a test or quiz.” The effects of these efforts seem strange, he believes that studying these
are not lost on his students. Junior Kimberly topics will make him a better math teacher,
Garcia, who has Mr. Martinez for Math III, teaching him how math can be applied so he
thinks that his teaching style stands out can help students with varying interests.
because of the different activities included
in lessons. ”He always makes me feel like I'm
worth a lot more,” she says. “He tells me,