tHE pHoeniciaN Mission Early College High School

October 2008 Volume I - Edition 1

Horsing around
By: Irvin Rodriguez
“Bring a visual aid….”
The teacher never suspected a horse to arrive.
After lunch heads usually rest on tables and the
day slows down. This day was different.
Juniors Jamie Mendoza, Miguel Acosta and
Alonso Varela finished their presentation in
Terri Flickinger’s U.S. History class. As they
neared the end of their presentations, the boys
headed outside to show Flickinger the visual
aid required for their presentations.
Hooves clacking, the light brown horse
trotted outside of the portable. With mouths
MECHS students wide open, students stood in awe of the horse.
Junior Eddie Gardea brought La Banana from
challenge themselves Mendoza’s grandfather’s house.
Even Mrs. Flickinger decided to ride the
to go beyond a high horse and travel all the way from the parking
lot to the main office.
school education. “The ride brought back good memories,”
Flickinger said.
Page 2 “¡Ay, yo también quiero!” shouted junior
Andrea Magaña.
Magaña decided to join in the fun as well
and jumped right on the horse’s back after
Flickenger got off.
Magaña says, “It was biiig!” and confessed she
would like to put some Victoria Secret perfume
on La Banana because the horse smelled bad.
She also wanted to feed the horse some gum Photo: Irvin Rodriguez
because “it’s hungry” but no one would let her. U.S. history teacher Terri Flickinger rides La Banana outside Mission
“It was awesome!” students shouted. Early College High School.

Weenie Mobile
Victory
By: Jaime Mendoza

Greek Week The Weenie Mobile obliterated the competition,

leaving the other seven competitors eating their
culminates in dust. The winning team members were Alonso
Varela, Miguel Acosta, Juan Gomez, and Alan
performances by Ruiz (all juniors at MECHS).
On August 15th, the races took place down at
theater department. the student parking lot to celebrate Greek Week.
The competition consisted of two heats and four
Page 5 groups per heat.
The Weenie Mobile’s chances of victory
had dimmed after the devastating fall of team Photo: Jaime Mendoza
member Gardea. The injury happened around The Weenie Mobile fights to cross the finish line first.
8:30 a.m. Gardea and Varela were fooling Gardea’s leg and injured Varela’s hand. The race was full of excitement going into the
around racing down the hill next to the cafeteria. “It was so freaking cool but painful,” said final lap. The Party Animals, a team of freshmen
“[We] lost control and couldn’t steer,” said Varela. girls, were gaining.
Gardea. Gardea didn’t want attention from the nurse When asked about thoughts running through
According to eye witness junior Elizabeth and asked junior Eddie Rosales to fetch him their minds as they got closer to the finish,
Gonzalez, “when they were getting close to a bandage while he was trying to clean the Miguel Acosta said, “We pushed it till the
Coach Arvizu’s portable, the cart when out of wound. The nurse sent Gardea to the hospital end.”
control, but the cart just dragged him along as and Gardea received more than 20 stitches. Alan Ruiz said, “I was about to throw up.”
he tried to stop it.” Varela had to step in and take Gardea’s While Juan Gomez said, “Thank God we
They landed on the sand, but the chariot cut place. finished.”

The first edition of The Phoenician

Eight students establish our
school’s newspaper
The staff welcomes you to the first edition We hope you enjoy reading the first issue of Eight students established this newspaper and
of The Phoenician, the Mission Early College The Phoenician. should be commended for their vision and hard
High School student newspaper. We are very work. I am proud of this team and their dedica-
First Movie Night proud of this student publication. Josue Cardoza tion to Mission Early College High School.
Roberto Ceballos
a big success for Our goal is to report and photograph interest- Juan Gomez Jean L. Schlitzkus, Adviser
ing events and people here at MECHS. The The Phoenician
moviegoers and clubs. newly established journalism program is also
Elizabeth Gonzalez,
Hazael Luis
designed to teach students about journalistic
Page 7 ethics and the importance of responsible jour- Jaime Mendoza
nalism in a democracy. Gloria Michaud
Irvin Rodriguez
 tHE pHoeniciaN 2
Hiring teachers
By: Josua Cardoza
Within the coming months, potential staff
members will be interviewed in hopes of being
added to the teaching roster.
Next year’s addition of 125 students to our
small campus brings a need to hire new instruc-
tors.
Interviewing for the job is an informal affair.
Algebra teacher Andrew Waxman says, “I came
in and [Dr. Armando Aguirre] asked about my
teaching philosophy, described the idea of the
school, and asked questions to see if I could be
flexible in my position.”
Making educated decisions is important, to be
sure, because the individuals we hire must be
capable of teaching our unique students.
“I think Dr. Aguirre’s criteria and method for
selecting employees is highly effective. The
people currently holding such positions are
well-liked and good at what they do,” says ju-
nior Zyanya Dickey. “Dr. Aguirre’s ability to
evaluate and select viable individuals is effec-
tive, and in the best interest of the students.”
Aguirre says that before an interview, appli-
cant’s degrees and transcripts are evaluated.
Once credentials are established, the interview
determines if the candidate will fit in to our cur-
rent population.
This year, MECHS welcomed several new
faculty members: Nora Cuvelier teaches physics,
Terri Flickinger teaches U.S. history, Diana Lara
teaches biology, Beth Leffler teaches theater
and dance and Jean Schlitzkus teaches speech
and journalism.
Why MECHS?
By: Elizabeth Gonzalez
As for the students, every one of us knows
why we’re here. I was curious to see why, of all
the schools in El Paso, these teachers decided to
come to MECHS.
There are as many differences as there are
similarities in the MECHS staff.
Three randomly chosen teachers were asked
to analyze their own teaching styles, experiences
and their students.
English teacher Nellie Ugarte, the first teacher
ever hired at MECHS, knew she “wanted to
participate” in this newly–founded program.
All MECHS teachers had to build programs
from the ground up; more than teachers, they
are pioneers.
Nellie Ugarte, physical education teacher Darzi
Arvizu, and speech and journalism teacher Jean
Schlitzkus were asked several questions about
MECHS and their accomplishments here.
These teachers graduated from various
universities including New Mexico State
University, New Mexico University, the
University of Texas at El Paso and the University
of Texas in Austin. Their degrees vary, however,
going from one end of the court to the other.
On September 15th and 16th 338 Mechs members were polled for this survey
Biology teacher Diana Lara prepares handouts for her classes.
Ugarte obtained a Bachelor of Arts and a
Master’s of Education degree. It’s evident that
she knew she wanted to become a teacher since
the beginning of her education. Unlike Mrs.
Ugarte, Ms. Schlitzkus earned a Bachelor of
Science in TV and Film and later was certified
to become a teacher. Like Ms. Schlitzkus, Ms.
Arvizu became a teacher but majored in a
different area—in Sports Administration.
So what do these teachers have in common?
They’re all co-workers! Whatever their
background education or life experiences, they
all enjoy their time at MECHS.
Each of these teachers was persuaded to join
the MECHS team by a presentation given by
Principal Dr. Armando Aguirre.
After her first three weeks at MECHS, Ms.
Schlitzkus admits that her new job is actually “a
lot more fun than I thought it was going to be.”
According to Ms. Arvizu she is “building a
program” and has more freedom to work with
the students versus worrying solely about
TEKS.
October 2008
Beyond
freshman
By: Jaime Mendoza
“Structure must be taught,” according to
junior English teacher Nellie Ugarte.
In a regular college setting, students have
higher structure and maturity levels. “They
go out and read the chapter before coming to
class,” according to freshmen BCIS teacher
Angie Haro.
College professors don’t go looking for
students to turn in their homework and projects.
Professors also don’t have “binder checks” for
their class. They expect students to take good
notes.
Haro says that college is more lecture based;
the instructor fills in the blanks, rather than
doing so much work in class to insure that
students understand the subject.
At MECHS, students are exposed right away
to college-level material and higher-level
thinking.
Students here are “going beyond being a [high
school] freshman,” says Haro.
Because of this major transition, students
sometimes don’t know how to act.
“Mentally you’re in college but physically
you are still young,” says math teacher Frank
Photo: Jean Schlitzkus Savina, head of the math department.
This quick change in some cases makes the
teachers modify their lesson plans to cover
more in class so students understand the subject
better.
Because of the higher level of thought at
MECHS, Savina says, “I have to post problems
that are a bit more challenging, especially in
math.”
The good part is that teachers are willing
to be flexible and help with any students’
difficulties.
But sometimes, Savina says, “This is college
On a different note, these teachers have their
and you’re acting high school-ish right now!”
individual teaching styles.
Mrs. Ugarte relies more on books, discussion,
written assignments, and less on technology.
Of course, Ms. Arvizu does not rely heavily
on a textbook. “I teach through doing” Arvizu
claims when asked about her teaching style.
Technology-based methods of teaching are
used by Ms. Schlitzkus including PowerPoint
presentations, video clips and internet
websites.
“There is so much hope for our country and
community because the students are leaders,”
Mrs. Ugarte responded when asked what she
has learned from her students.
With her hands running through her hair,
Ms. Schlitzkus answered the same question by
simply saying, “a lot in three weeks!”
These three teachers have different teaching
styles, personalities and education, but they all
have the same expectations from us—students
should succeed at MECHS and in life.
have the same expectation from us, to thrive
through life.
Photo: Jaime Mendoza
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See Mrs. Flick in portable 17 for more information.
 tHE pHoeniciaN 3
October 2008

MECHS versus CECHS

Filling MECHS
with music Joshua Brewer
Soaring Phoenix and voyaging Eagles are
here to stay!
Houston’s Challenge Early College High
School is a program that gives students the
unique opportunity to take college classes
along with regular high school curriculum.
CECHS has programs that promote a highly
By: Roberto Ceballos
Brewer’s musical way of life started around rigorous academic environment ensuring that
the age of 16 when he first started to play students earn a high school diploma as well
as an Associates of Arts degree.
Music is unleashed by a music teacher guitar. He became very inspired by the fact Sound familiar? Both MECHS and CECHS
providing us with musical enlightenment in that music is challenging. are incredible schools that are becoming
our school. He listens to various types of music genres.
“I like to listen [to everything] from Baroque Wikipedia Commons - Public Domain legends across Texas. Early college high
MECHS music and choir teacher Joshua
Brewer sat down with The Phoenician to talk songs to modern Pop music” said Brewer.
Challenge Early College High School schools are popping up all over our state.
He enjoyed music so much that he learned When asked about early colleges versus
about his life as a musician and teacher. traditional high schools, MECHS Principal
“Students are the best, teachers are great” more instruments in order to expand his
musical knowledge. “I also play the trumpet, Dr. Armando Aguirre said, “Everyone else
said Brewer referring to MECHS. CECHS offers:
gets vanilla!”
Although Brewer has such a great knowledge percussion, keyboard, and alto sax,”says Dragon Dance Club
What are differences and similarities
of music, he continues Brewer. School Spirit Club
Once he knew how between MECHS and CECHS?
to learn about music International Thespian Society
to play a variety of Challenge Early College High School
in many ways. Gay-Straight Alliances
instruments, he found Principal Justin Fuentes describes CECHS
“The learning of Spoken Word
music never ends,” “Students [at MECHS] himself ready to Radio Club
as “a small school with big ideas.”
Mission and Challenge students choose
said Brewer. compose music. Art Club
“I have composed from a variety of fields for their Associates
“I learn music by
teaching because you
are the best, teachers classical pieces, rock
Fellowship of Christian Students
Travel Club
of Arts degree. Students can select from a
songs, experimental wide range of disciplines including: criminal
learn more by teaching Female Confidence Club
justice, business, psychology, nursing, and
than by ‘learning.’ I
get to practice playing
are great” songs, and currently am
working on techno-pop MECHS offers:
many more. Although the schools offer
style music.” similar degree plans, CECHS students are
instruments as I teach Chess Club
When it comes to required to complete a five year program.
my students as well.” Fantasy Football
music, Mr. Brewer is the Another difference between Mission and
Mr. Joshua Brewer campus expert.
Science Bowl
Friday Music Café,
Challenge involves clubs and organizations
(see sidebar).
Book Club
Mission and Challenge are both opening
Literary Anthology
doors to extraordinary possibilities.
Chrysalis
Even though the schools are associated
Super SAC
with different community colleges, they
Environmental Club
share common goals: higher education for
Spanish Honor Society
the youth becoming the building blocks of an
amazing future!

ACROSS DOWN

1. Sport played during lunch time at
the basketball court
5. Laptop brand that juniors have
6. PE teacher
8. Color of trees and grass and
bushes
10. Laptop brand that freshmen and
sophomores have
11. Another place to eat at besides
MECHS
12. The number of classifications
14. School district
15. What every MECHS student has
16. Most played instrument
Photo: Roberto Ceballos
Music teacher Joshua Brewer continues his music education alongside 18. MECHS transportation
his students. 19. Mission Early College High
School
1. What this school doesn’t have
2. What MECHS students are waiting
for on the empty space
3. Music teacher
4. The environment in MECHS
7. What teachers assign
9. Friday is called what for sopho-
mores and juniors?
13. The classrooms at MECHS are...
17. What most people listen to
Answers on back page!
2 Story & photos by:
Irvin Rodriguez
Party

Junior Holly Jimenez and her sister, sophomore Michelle Jime-

nez, celebrated a Quincerñera and a Sweet 16 party on the
same night at the Mission Valley Ballroom.

The day of the big party, the girls awakened early in the morning
to make preparations for a day of laughter, tears, and unforget-
table memories.

After a photo session at Photo Pros, the court made their way
to the church in a limousine. The limo ride was filled with every-
thing from Las Mulas De Moreno to Reggeton, making the ride
unforgettable.

The court finally arrived at the church. The Jimenez family

gathered and Mrs. Jimenez shared touching memories of her
beloved daughters’ childhoods. Tears streaming, Michelle and
Holly listened to their mother share precious moments.

Around nine o’clock the court made their elaborate entrance.

The quinceñera confesses being “nervous and anxious.” Then
everything smoothly transitioned into the waltz with their father.

The night was filled with dances including “El Tejanito” and “Mi
Carrito.” “Les quedo chido,” said junior Karla Jimenez.

Once the fun-dance finished, the party begins with Norteñas (the
quinceñera’s favorite). People began to fill the dance floor with a
contagious dancing spirit that spread throughout the whole room
like a raging fire. The party lasted until 1:00 a.m.

“Que te parece… fine, fine, fine, very good, very good, very good,
very, very, very, very, goooood!” exclaimed one partygoer.
 Passionate
about soccer
By: Hazael Luis

W
doing?”
hat do you think you’re

“It was all yours!” spectators shout.

Students that are into this sport rarely

use this language when a player is
about to score a goal and misses.

“I take each game like a

championship and play with all my
skills,” says sophomore Paul García.

Greek Theater
Most people started to play
soccer at a young age and have
developed their skills since.
Soccer can be introduced in
different ways. Players enjoy fBy: Gloria Machaud
having fun with their friends and Ancient plays that capture the culture and art that thrived centuries ago in Greece
showing what they know. were recreated by theater students from Mission Early College High School.

Sophomore José Cabrera says, “I feel Greek Drama is a theatrical tradition that flourished in ancient Greece between
that every time I play I learn new skills 600 and 200 BC. On August 20th, MECHS theater students brought back three
from other players.” of the greatest plays in all of dramatic literature expressing universal themes
and emotions. Theater and dance director Beth Leffler sponsored the Greek
Freshmen Adrian Hurtado, Daniel
performances. Leffler said, “The excitement of performing brought out the best
Fernandez, Heber Luis, Luis Paez,
sophomores Paul García, Carlo in everyone!”
Terrazas, José Cabrera, Luis Diaz,
juniors Hector Perez, Miguel Acosta, Actors and dancers draped in white silk sheets memorized prologues from “The
and Juan Gomez are some MECHS Birds,” “Oedipus Rex,” and “Antigone” while bodies spiraled into organic shapes
soccer players. and tragic, yet suspenseful music held the audience spellbound. Three basic Greek
dramatic structures captured the audience—prose, lyric and dance.
Different styles are played around the
world and here on campus. Street soccer
Students’ preparation consisted of studying classical Greek theater and playwrights.
is fun for some players and others prefer
The students had only two weeks to rehearse before the big day. Rehearsals took
field soccer but still respect them.
place during their class.
Soccer is a type of language that
students use to communicate and Junior Irma Gomez said, “I loved my toga I wore for the performance and it was
socialize. Sometimes, players see a great experience to be in a play.”
other players as brothers. Other times,
opponents are seen as actual enemies in Classes were rotated throughout the day, giving most a chance to see the plays.
the game. While watching the second play, Junior Olivia Silvas said, “Oh I thought they
were awesome, the lead actor [sophomore Julissa Soto] was really good!”
“It depends on the players in order
for me to take a game seriously,” says
freshman Heber Luis. The performances were a hit and left the crowd with the urge to see more. The
scenes are only a mere taste of plays to come.
Luis believes some players are not
competitive enough to take soccer
seriously. Like him, soccer players like
competition. It gives them movement,
style, and a fun competitive game.

A soccer intramural did take place the

first nine weeks. The Power Rangers
were victorious.
 tHE pHoeniciaN 6
October 2008

New cafeteria
on the horizon
By: Roberto Ceballos
It’s lunch time here at MECHS! Oh no wait! In addition, MECHS junior Jimmy Chavez
The lunch line is too long… argues that the cafeteria service is good.
Students say the lunch lines at MECHS are “The service is good [and the] ladies are nice
too long. to students,” said Chavez.
There have been many issues here at MECHS Students have been waiting for a new cafeteria
related to the cafeteria. Currently we are using for awhile and seem to be getting impatient.
a portable as a cafeteria. Since the number of Aguirre says that they have been trying to get
students has dramatically increased since the a new cafeteria for 2 years.
school’s opening, a single portable is a problem
during lunch.
“I’m probably more frustrated than you guys
are,” claims MECHS Principal Dr. Armando
Aguirre.
The cafeteria has become really crowded
during lunch. Many students prefer not to eat in
the cafeteria portable.
According to Dr. Aguirre, construction on a
new cafeteria is set to begin by December 31st.
Unfortunately, that deadline might have to be
extended. This project is still in the planning
Photos: Roberto Ceballos
stages. Students are looking forward to a larger cafeteria.
Even though our cafeteria may seem very
small, the quality of the food and the furnishings Inside the cafeteria portable.
are pretty good.

Tech-no!
Many laptop problems preventable
By: Hazael Luis
Brontok!! A massive virus attacks laptop
users! Viral attacks and other problems often
invade laptops here at Mission Early College
High School.
Freshmen use their laptops more often than
do sophomores and juniors. These students start
installing software like games and chat rooms.
“I just use it for games, music, homework,” says
freshman Heber Luis.
Dells are the most widely used brand at this
school. Some juniors still use Hewlett Packard.
MECHS principal Dr. Armando Aguirre says,
“It wasn’t as good as the other one,” suggesting
that HP was might not have been the best choice
initially.
Almost every HP laptop on campus has
had problems. According to Dr. Aguirre, the
warranty process the school had with HP was
limited, inefficient and time consuming.
BCIS teacher Angelica Haro says HP laptops
are not a very good tool to use. These laptops
are more sensitive and have to be taken good
care of.
Unfortunately, laptops are not always treated
with care. “People mistreat their laptops,” says
Haro.
After the first year with HP, the school decided
to go with Dell. Dell offered a better warranty
Start walking, drivers!
Story & photos: Juan Gomez
and price as well.
Laptops are a great advantage to those students
who like technology as well to those who don’t.
Those who access the internet often feel a lot of
freedom. Games, music, and other applications
are available to laptop users at this campus.
Restriction on the internet is a problem for
many students in the school. Students have
little access to entertaining sites on the internet.
However, students still manage to manipulate
the internet using “backdoor” proxies and other
web pages that confuse the filtration the school
has put in place.
Students don’t know that by circumventing
the system, they are creating more restrictions
for themselves. The students are providing the
district with the information needed to block and
deny internet access to sites not permitted by the
district through the internet access at school.
Some recommendations made from MECHS
instructional technologist Veronica Macias
include: taking care with laptops, cleaning
laptops and avoiding certain websites due to the
risk of viruses.
Macias really wants students to take advantage
of the technological tools provided. However,
“Students shouldn’t abuse their privileges with
the laptops,” says Dr. Aguirre.
Got space?
Teachers and students remain flexible
By: Josua Cardoza
Currently the only plans to provide additional
Music teacher Josh Brewer, athletics coach
space for existing classes is a grassy area
Darci Arvizu and other instructors at MECHS
designated to be used by the physical education
stress over a lack of classroom space.
students.
Growing concerns over space constraints, its
impact on the well-being of the students and the
effectiveness of teaching have provoked staff
members to raise questions to MECHS Principal
Dr. Armando Aguirre.
“During some class periods I have too large
“Lack of space
a number of students in this cramped space,
and I feel that it is detrimental to their health,”
certainly begins to
says Coach Darci Arvizu. Arvizu occasionally impair progress...
conducts her physical education classes within
the inadequate confines of a portable. you’re in [class]
Brewer also suffers from insufficient space.
He feels the situation will only degenerate as practicing guitar
time passes and extra instruments are added to
his room. Brewer says, “It certainly is a major and your elbow
issue that needs to be addressed.”
“Lack of space certainly begins to impair is bumping
progress,” remarks junior Josh Gonzalez.
“You’re in here practicing guitar and your
someone else.”
elbow is bumping someone else.”
Arvizu understands she will not be given a Josh Gonzalez
traditional gym facility.
Dr. Aguirre says the planned cafeteria building
will not double as a gym and is not to be used
for any such purposes.

A Ford Focus, a 3000 GT Mitsubishi, and
a Chrysler Sebring are all student driven
cars, now being parked in the new student
parking lot down by the basketball court
area.
The drivers of all these cars are walking
further to get to class. The new parking lot
positioned in front of the basketball courts.
Students like Miguel Acosta feel that
because of motorcycles “something chaotic
might occur.”
On the other hand, math teacher Frank
Savina says, “Man up!!!” When Savina
attended UTEP, he had to park farther than
our students.
On the other hand, nurse Brissette, the
parking monitor, mentioned that moving
student parking was necessary because,
eventually, the student drivers would
outnumber faculty and staff drivers.
Brissette mentioned that the new student
parking area was a good choice because it
was unoccupied and is closer than normal
EPCC student parking.
When asked about choices for future
parking, Brissette said, “the ditch” is out
of the question because it is a designated
“water catch” area.
Some students like junior Jimmy Chavez
say parking in the basketball courts lot is a
good idea because, simply, they “must park
somewhere.” Chavez doesn’t think that the
motorcycles are a threat “because they are
far, and don’t come close.”
Other students like Miguel Acosta say that
the new student parking lot is not such a
good idea because “at lunch time, you have
people playing soccer, and the ball might
damage their cars.” He also mentioned that
since he has to drive uphill, his car’s engine
gets forced more and he loses gas.
Brissette also mentioned that MECHS is
in the process of developing a contract for
driving students. The contract will outline
expected driving behavior due to several
incidents reported.

October 2008
Munching out at Movie Night
By: Elizabeth Gonzalez
Movies outside – such an old concept but
what happens when this idea is altered by the
MECHS staff and students?
When you combine a movie, friends, and
(of course) some grub an exceptional outcome
occurs.
More than 200 students plus their family and
friends attended the first ever MECHS movie
night on August 22nd.
Movie Night was all about screening a movie
outside at the MdP campus with clubs serving
treats and friends hanging out.
As staff and students arrived they saw many
booths and immediately were overcome with
hunger. Before the movie started, they all
gathered around the booths and bought their
snacks.
Everyone knows what it feels like watching a
movie with friends, but have you ever stopped
to think what it’s like to give out the food you
unconsciously eat during the movie?
Many of the MECHS students that are
involved in clubs know what it feels like to
be under stress and have a line of customers
waiting impatiently for their food.
NHS, BPA, Leadership, and Science Bowl set
up stands and with the help of the members ran
their booths.
Movies under the stars
MECHS Movie Night was a hit with students, staff, family and friends.
Special to The Phoenician
Mrs. Flickinger takes students to historic
Concordia Cemetary
Story by: Felicia Garcia
As the NHS president, I was there early
enough to make sure the stand was set up and
people showed up to previously set times. For
most MECHS vendors it wasn’t as stressful as
my situation.
Business is all about negotiation and strategy.
“We ended up selling more because of [my]
negotiation” stated Ivette Lopez, after helping
in both BPA and NHS booths.
Most of the vendors had a good time serving
others for their clubs, as well as taking pride in
it at the same time.
According to Cristina Lara “it was fun
walking around asking people if they wanted
to buy something”. Some were promoting their
goods by taking the product to the costumers
to avoid them the fatigue of walking up to the
booths and missing the movie.
In order to get attention others yelled “buy one
get one free!”
Not everyone was there to watch the movie or
was even remotely interested in the film.
According to Jaime Mendoza, “[people] went
to spend time with friends… people were just
chilling,” Obviously for Jaime movie night was
more of a socializing event than the concept of
an outdoors cinema.
When asked “would you do it again?” Ninety
percent of the student body responded “yes!”
tHE pHoeniciaN 7
Elizabeth Gonzalez waits on moviegoers at MECHS first Movie Night.
Story & photos by:
Juan Gomez
Movie night started with people chatting,
eating chips, and lying down.
On a white sheet and with a powerful
projector, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” premiered
as the first MECHS movie shown outside the
MDP campus. It was a great success. This was
the first time that the three classifications of
students got together to watch a movie outside.
Many of the students like junior Alan Ruiz,
freshman Skye Ugarte, and junior Robert Vina-
Marrufo said “no” when asked whether they had
ever seen a movie outside. On the other hand,
according to Dr. Aguirre, it had been nearly
30 years since he had seen a movie outside.
Aguirre talked about his trips to the drive-in
movie theaters.
Journeying back in time
A flurry of gunshots fired left and
right! Andy ended up with a gag rubber
chicken on her lap, just as one of the
shotguns fired. Next, the “Shady Ladies”
made their rounds and the gunslingers
began bickering over “their woman.”
Brief commercial breaks were taken
in between smack-talk to raffle off
historical items with enough sparks to
peak everyone’s interest. Then, floozy
Beula, John Wesley Hardin’s latest and
final fling, wreaked havoc in a drunken
haze. Beula ended up sitting on the can
in the can for a fifty dollar charge. The
doom-fated Hardin received word of this
indiscretion and heatedly exchanged his
two cents with Constable John Selman.
The dispute ended with Hardin staring
into the darkening sky. Later, after the
reenactment ended, those who were not
frightened easily decided to take a quick
ghost tour throughout the most haunted
places in the cemetery. The tour started a
few yards away from (the real) Hardin’s
Photo: Jaime Mendoza
According to Aguirre, he drove his car and
put a portable speaker inside his car to hear the
movie. He also mentioned that they would sit
on the hood or the roof of their cars during the
heat of summer.
Alejandra Enriquez, the sister of junior Karina
Enriquez, said that she had seen a movie outside
“on a computer with my boyfriend.”
Parents also accompanied students to the
movie screening. Monica Flores’ mother,
Rosario Flores, mentioned that she had never
seen a movie outside.
To complement the movie, a large number of
snacks and drinks were sold at the event, turning
out to be a great fundraiser for the clubs in our
school.
grave near the buried Buffalo Soldiers.
We passed the infant nursery on our way
to a shroud of trees clustered together
ominously near the highway. There it
was reported that a womanly apparition
was running. Near those very same trees,
boots belonging to (possibly) Constable
John Selman, appeared to be resting
contently on the browned grass.
After continuing to an area dubbed the
most holy and satanic, we made our
way towards the eerie crypt located
near the Gateway West entrance. As
the night drew to a close and blackness
enveloped us, we paid a brief visit to
Cynthia in her crib. Strangely, my new
batteries were reduced to half-strength
just a few minutes before we arrived
at her plot. Our last stop before our
nighttime escapade drew to a close was
at the Chinese cemetery. All in all, it
was a great experience to relive El Paso’s
history, even if it was but a shadow in
time.
 MOCK
TRIAL
Plans are underway to
begin a Mock Trial team
here at MECHS. A team
of 9 students will soon be
preparing for the grueling
competition in February.
All high school teams in
Texas receive the same
court case that is either
criminal or civil in nature.
Teams work with their
sponsor and local attorneys
to learn how to argue the
case in competition. The
preparation is intense and
the competition is fierce.
Americas, Cathedral,
Coronado, and Home
Schoolers are usually
among the top teams.
MECHS wants to break the
top 6 in our inaugural year.

More information will

follow as the team comes
together. All students are
invited to the courthouse
in February to watch
us compete. See Mrs.
Flickinger in portable 17 if
this interests you.

Environmentally On an Environmental Mission

By: Crystal Mendoza

The MECHS Environmental Club was started

last year with the help of students who are determined
to make the world a better place for us to live. Our
goal is to educate the student body on how they can live
their lives greener and make the world around them
a better place to live for everyone. By educating each
other first within ourselves, we can expand by letting
other people know of our causes. Not only are we recy-
cling, but helping increase the amount of plants around
campus to make our school full of
Not only does the environmental club care about
the environment, but we also care about the animals
that are possibly endangered. We are looking forward
to a greener, better year at MECHS and if anyone is in-
terested in joining, don’t be afraid to stop by, the earth
could always use another volunteer to keep it clean.
Our plans for this year are to keep up weekly
with recycling and making a difference in the way
people view the environment. Throughout this year, we
will be selling candy to help fundraise. We are possibly
looking at spring planting to increase the variety of foli-
age around the school. With the help of our advisors,
Mrs. Lara and Ms. Mendez, our officers who hold their
positions to a new standard, and the rest of our group,
we can fulfill all of our goals this year.
Throughout the year, we will be presenting the
Phoenician with informative articles of including our
latest news, and the new ways we can become greener.
Be on the lookout for our articles!

ACROSS: 1. soccer 2. HP 6. Arvizu 8. brown 10. Dell 11. EPCC 12. three 14. SISD 15. laptops 16. guitar 18. buses 19. MECHS
DOWN: 1. sports 2. cafeteria 3. Brewer 4. desert 7. homework 9. flexible Fridays 13. portables 17. music