DeSoto Eagle Eye

Well congrats are in order for the choral department, which participated in the District solo and Ensemble Saturday February 6, 2010 and won first place division ratings. The students include: Emmanuel Allen, Johnny Brantley, Rollins Gilmore, Twyla Hawkins, Taylor Johnigan, Alexandria Jones, Tu’Kevia Jones, Racquel McBay, Chalay Moore, Jeremy Shedd, Ke’Asha Stanley, Audrey Tillis, Kortnie Walker, Atteona Ware, Fredrick Williams, Breanna Wright, Jessica Burroughs, Andrew Cooper, Issac Jenkins, Aaron Spencer. These students will be traveling to Austin in May to participate at the state level.

Organized by Kathy Goad, Peer Assistance and Leadership (PALs) is a mentor program present on campus that has partnered with Big Brothers and Big Sisters to travel to local grade schools to interact and mentor children. PALs is comprised of seniors who completed a certain amount of community service hours, and followed all the standards to be a part of the program.

The purpose of the program is to inspire children into achieving the highest potential and provide them with the ability to gain confidence and self esteem. “Children encouraged to succeed,” said Ms. Goad, PALs instructor. “When we help them with academics, it usually improves test scores.” Goad believes by having a PAL, young children get a chance to have a friend, if they are in need.

PALs are assigned to students who are believed to work well with. Counselors of the school the students attend, Goad, and other instructors choose the particular pairs of PALs. Students who are involved with PALs have to connect on a deep level in order to fulfill the purpose of being in the program.

“Some students open up more but we just have to keep working with them,” said senior Lee Darius Robertson. “We talk, get to know each other, and express being a role model to the younger students.”

Students active in PALs attend numerous field trips pertaining to the learning atmosphere of PALs. By the end of the year, students have learned how to connect with younger children. Both the students involved in PALs, and the younger children in which PALs assist, make friends that sometimes may last a lifetime.

Written By: Celeste Arrendondo Staff Writer

Behind every great athlete is a supportive responsible athletic trainer. Athletic trainers have a job, which consists of caring for all hurt or injured athletes. Athletes today would constantly be in pain or hurt if not for the athletic trainers in the world.

Although the job may seem easy and something one could do in your sleep, its really not. “We are responsible for making sure all athletes are in good physical and mental health, and making sure they are properly hydrated,” said Anthony Green, sophomore.

While some athletic trainers  may appear to do nothing and look at it as a way to skip gym class others value their position with honor and dignity. ”I really do value my position as an athletic train and I take to heart everything I learn and do,” said senior Takayla Jackson. Jackson has been an athletic trainer since freshman year and has plans to continue with a career in the healthcare industry.

Athletic trainers are dedicated individuals who help others on a daily basis and must have compassion. The trainers are trained to care and look after our athletes as if they were in a real hospital. It takes motivation, dedication and the will to empower others to shine also, and that’s what athletic trainers are taught from beginning to end.

Written By: Asa Woodberry Co editor-in-chief

Fly like an Eagle, means a whole new world for some students. This is the first year for the aviation program. It’s giving students not only the chance to become pilots in the future, but to also fly planes now.
“Our first day they put us in the cock pit of the techno (student plane), and allowed us to fly it, it was natural, thrilling, and deceitful.” Said senior Irvin Marroquin.
The aviation program offers the students a vast amount of opportunties. Many of the students enrolled in aviation, plan on attending schooling for aviation.
“I’ve always had a strong attraction to planes and how they work, it’s always been a goal of mine, to follow through to become a pilot, which aviation allows me to do” said Senior Irvin Marroquin.
Aviation, many associate it with just flying but it’s everything dealing with planes. The program offers both flying and mechanical training for all students.
“The goal of aviation is to set up future pilots and mechanics for their future careers, and to give more minorities an opportune to pursue their dreams.” Irvin Marroquin
Aviation is in its first year in the district, not many schools have programs like this. Aviation is taught by Michael Johnson whose had his wings since 1987 and has been teaching for 10 years, this is his first year teaching high school.
Aviation is among many programs at this school but it is unique to the sky.

Written by: Austin Jenkins, Co editor-in-chief