Caddo Magnet High School
Michael Ilgenfritz, Principal April McCalister, Utopia Advisor
Artist Feature: Alexis Nuban, senior
MISSING HIGH SCHOOL?A Few Shows about Teens
Check out this list of 20 Teen TV Shows: https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/best-teen-tv-dramas-of-all-time/riverdale
by Abeer Algahim
Many TV shows and movies are set in high schools. These shows are a combination of drama and comedy. Most shows depict high school in many different ways, most of which are nothing like the real high school expertise, but a lot more entertaining. Freaks and Geeks is an american comedy show set in the 1980. At McKinley High, two different groups of teenagers, the Freaks and the Geeks. The show follows a brother and sister each belonging to one of the two groups. They deal with usual high school problems. This show is available on Netflix. Clone High is a Canadian- American, animated TV show. The show follows a group of teenagers who are a product of government experiments. The teenagers are clones of famous historical people, like Cleopatra, JFK, Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and more. These historical figures are juxtaposed as teenagers dealing with teen issues in the 20th century. This show is available on YouTube. The White Shadow is an American drama series. It's a feel good show about a former basketball player becoming a coach in a ethnically diverse inner-city high school. He helps turn the team into better basketball and school. He tries to support the students through thick and thin. Saved by the Bell is an American sitcom. This show is set in California in the ‘90s. The show focuses on the lives of six friends, as they make it through high school and their principal trying to keep them in check. The show is lighthearted. But is occasionally addresses tough subjects, like drug use, women rights and environmental issues. Hopefully this list will give you an idea about what you can watch when you miss Magnet while being quarantined. 
by Lindsey-Kathryn Bowen
E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is the biggest annual video game demo and conference in the world. This year, however, due to the threat of COVID-19, the companies that run the expo have decided to cancel it this year as they do not wish to put any of their attendees in harm's way. This has caused the gaming community to go into a slight uproar as the cancellation means some new games that were supposed to be released this year are now put on hold as the expo is a chance for game developers to share their demos with potential customers and allow them to beta test their software. This conference is also a chance for companies to advertise for any new items they may have in production and allows them to receive feedback from customers face to face. There has been discussion among the companies to hold an online event in June of this year to showcase industry news and announcements, but other than that fans will have to wait for 2021 to experience E3 normally. 
by Korey January
Since March 13, 2020, I have been out of school. Which, has been an interesting transition, but overall, not horrible. We’re on lockdown, so going out and going places outside of essential errands i.e., groceries, medicine, things along those lines. Prom and all of the senior-specific things I was looking forward to has been canceled, so on that front, I’m not too excited about that, but, overall, if I get to walk across the stage, I’ll be happy. My sleep schedule is all the way out of wack, so, I get up around 2 p.m. daily. I complete whatever needs to be completed, then I find myself either doing a random makeup look or finding something random to binge on one of the countless streaming services at my disposal. In retrospect, I regret complaining about having to always go to school, I miss it, honestly. The next time that I’ll be on any campus as a student, will be in college. So, that’s exciting (insert eye roll here). I honestly miss the routine, and monotony of school. One thing has remained consistent, my teachers, are still doing the most. One would think, “ School’s been suspended, so, obviously teachers are gonna slow down”. No. They have not. In fact, some have gotten worse, but it is ok, because, if you do the work, there is no reason why our grades should not get better (please picture me giving some major side-eye). Either way, I miss everyone and hope everyone is doing what they can to remain positive through this whole thing. 
On Friday March 13 -the last day of “real” school- Magnet High held its annual blood drive. Students of sixteen years or older were encouraged to participate and come out and donate. This blood drive was especially important to the city of Shreveport because of the Covid-19 virus. Due to the rise of Coronavirus and the rising panic across the United States, the majority of regular donors stopped donating. This means that the people who rely on donations from blood drives could be at a serious risk if there is not enough supplies. Blood centers are now encouraging able-bodies and healthy individuals to come out and donate, because there supplies were getting low. Each Magnet student who donated was endlessly thanked and given a free t-shirt for their donation. The blood drive went on throughout the entire day and dozens of students took the time out of their day to donate. If you weren’t able to donate this time, make a goal to visit your local blood donation center and donate blood. You could end up saving someone’s life someday.
by Yamileth Ledesma
By now you may have been told to practice social distancing . It is meant to help stop or slow down the spread of viruses or diseases. You should avoid being around large groups of people if you can and avoid being in public unless it is necessary. This may sound boring but if you think about it in a positive way, it is not that bad ! While you’re inside there are many things you can do to pass the time. Here are some examples:
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40 Things You can do when you are boredby Tiffany Robinson
by Jessican Guerra
Okay - so I know this is probably inapporpriate and a stupid article to write in a pandemic, BUT I’m right. You’re wrong. Shut up. People around the world have had their very lives uprooted by the virus that is sweeping the world. Everyday activities are becoming strange and foreign. I talked to a lamp yesterday that was crooked. Right now, people need a sense of normalcy. So what did I do? I bought the new Animal Crossing game! For those, like myself, who are unfamiliar with the Animal Crossing franchise - let me explain. Animal Crossing is a video game series that focuses on you, the player, arriving into a new town or area. These areas are filled with anthropomorphic animal characters who are your neighbors. Each is endowed with their own quirky personality, clothes, and dialogue. As of March 16, 2020 there are over 460 villagers you can have in your town and they are randomized so no two towns are the same. The game is famous for being extremely zen-mode and very chill. It has no objectives, no combat, no puzzle-solving, no gimmick. It literally is just a game where you check in daily to talk to your neighbors, water your garden, buy some clothes, and make your house your dream house. Everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING) is optional in this game. Don’t like your randomized villager? Ignore them till they move out. Don’t like that tree by your post office? Pick it up and move it somewhere else. Loathe bug catching and just want to build your dream home? That’s totally fine! The series is known for its ability to help people with their mental health. So why bring this up in a pandemic? Because right now, I think this is something that millions of people need in their lives. A sense of normalcy, routine, and positivity in a world that is increasingly anything but. Since John Bel Edwards put us under mandated quarantine I have been playing this game NONSTOP and it has been an amazing distraction to the outside world. I highly recommend it to anyone who’s feeling listless while stuck at home! 
by Reece Maguire
Everyone is aware that the Covid-19 virus is sweeping the globe at a rapid pace. Additionally, the United States has declared a national emergency and almost every public event/facility has been shut down. This includes schools, gyms, movie theaters, concerns, and dining in restaurants, which are scheduled to be closed for at least thirty days. These sudden changes have caused a widespread panic among US citizens that has quickly gotten out of hands. People are making rash and frankly not rational decisions during this crisis and are behaving in unruly ways. During these difficult times, it is of utmost importance that we band together, not go against each other like participants in the Hunger Games. If you have done or are currently conducting any of the following behaviors, stop what you're doing and reevaluate your life.
by Abeer Algahim
College is a huge expense. Most Americans don’t pay off their student loans until their 40’s, but budgeting can make paying for college less stressful. Being smart about spending, analyzing what purchases are absolutely necessary and which are wastes, can save you thousands of dollars, and companies understand this. Many companies offer multiple discounts for students. Here are some of the most useful discounts. Retail stores
by Lindsey-Kathryn Bowen
Quarantine has definitely been an interesting experience for many people across the world. Everyone stuck at home is trying new, inventive ways to keep themselves from boredom and some of these ideas have come out pretty wacky. New games, fun challenges, and even some different takes on indoor sports have been spreading all over social media. We are all just trying to help each other find enjoyable ways to keep ourselves busy and happy during this trying time and this is exactly what a local artist from Mandeville, Louisiana is doing. Sarah Mayer Clostio designed some Louisiana themed coloring pages for children and adults alike to complete since activities have been limited due to the quarantine. Clostio knows there is not much to be done in this time of confusion and panic, but she thought she could help a little bit by providing a fun, engaging activity for those around her. She took to her Facebook page and gave the public a link to her website where the free printable coloring pages can be found. There are 12 pages in all and some of them include magnolia flowers, alligators, a crawfish, snowcones, a New Orleans style house, a Mardi Gras mask, and an Egret. The only thing Clostio wants in return is that if you do fill out the pages, please share them with her so she can see how everyone is using them. She is one of the people trying to make everyone’s lives a bit calmer and easier in this difficult time and many people are thankful for her generosity. Her website is https://www.sarahclostioartistry.com/freebies for anyone interested in her coloring pages! 
by Jessica Guerra
A golden ticket, a passport to anywhere, a visa of dreams - a ticket. There is a part of me that wants to say South Korea, Scotland, or even Peru. This part, however, is overshadowed by a much deeper wish. With a ticket to go anywhere in the world, I would go 750 miles south to Monterrey in Mexico. It was in Monterrey that I last saw my grandmother. It was the last place anyone’s seen her. We visited once when I was small and chickens cluck around her yard. She let me care for the newly born chicks. She even helped six year old me try to smuggle one into the car when we were leaving. Her name was Blanca. She was my dad’s mother. Yet, that’s all I know about her. Dad never talks about her. He doesn’t want to see her. I understand that. I just want to know if she's okay. I know she wasn’t a nice mother. She drank, cursed, beat, and slept with whoever she wanted. I know she caused endless torment to my dad. I know this, yet when I conjure her in my mind she is old and can’t walk down the porch to greet us properly. She wheezes carrying a chicken and I know she is ill, but her smile is brighter than the sun that silhouettes her. No one has seen or heard her since I was six. No neighbors, no family, no friends. She vanished. I see her every now and then. I’ll catch a glimpse of the tattered photo my dad hides in the fire box - a youthful face surrounded by children. I hear her when my dad comes home tired and can’t find the right words in English. I see the sadness in his eyes. It was his choice to shut her out, but I know he regrets it. He wants to find her too. I know he does - even if he won’t say it. He’s never told me her birthday, but I’m pretty sure it’s in December. That’s when he gets especially touchy on the subject. I try not to overstep my bounds, but I want to help. I just want a wisp of the truth of what happened. I want to hear what she has to say. I want to see if they can forgive one another. However, I don’t think this is about what I want. I don’t even think it’s about what they want. I think it’s about numbness and having to feel it. I think it’s about pride and the regret that is saddled with it. I think it’s about a tragedy written long before I came into the picture. Even still, I have this deep urge to know. Maybe it’s because I’m afraid of making the same mistakes. Maybe it’s because I can’t stand seeing him in misery by himself. Whatever the reason, I have to be a part of it. I have to fix it. I want to help him. I want to help her. With a ticket to go anywhere in the world - I’d want to look for her. I’d want to find her. I’d want to understand. |
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