Dec. 17, 2025
Rogers Heritage High School
Volume III, Issue II
Heritage Students Give Back to the Rogers ACT Rogers Community this Giving Season Testing
Location Now at Heritage Pullen
Talon Editor-in-Chief
Bonilla
Student Council members gather after a successful victory in the 2025 annual food drive.
Barraza
Talon Reporter From giving blood, food and other items for people in need, Heritage has multiple ways to give back to the community so anybody can be a part of this common goal. This time of year is a time of gratitude
and giving back to the people who supported you though the year. Year after year, fellow faculty, teachers, students and more collectively hold events such as these that leave lasting impressions on the surrounding community. As of November 21 of 2025, Heritage had a food drive that not
only brought a victory for the school against Rogers High School, but also brought victory to the members of Rogers. Ramen noodles, canned food and feminine products were a majority of the items donated. This year alone gathered over 47,263
Drives continued on p. 2
Olive Street Park Destroyed for New Developments Cox & Henry
Talon Editor & Reporter The City of Rogers began remodeling as of 2025 on Fire Station 4, meaning that the nearby Olive Street Park has also undergone construction while adding new apartments. Rogers was granted 1.8 million dollars from the Walton Family Foundation, with the park expected to reopen in summer of 2027. Its return will behold new play areas, more shaded hangout spots, updated sports courts, and a better trail entrance aimed towards giving students and families a nicer place to spend their time. City leaders say the construction is a chance to give the neighborhood a safer, more useful park. Since Olive Street Park is a popular spot
ACT continued on p. 2
for a number of members in the surrounding community, the city plans to use the downtime to upgrade the space so it better fits what the community wants, although it has been noticed that half of the land is becoming grounds for apartments. Chase Hayre (11) said, “I was really upset when they took down the nets during Covid, me and my friends would play basketball mostly everyday.” Hayre holds a deep connection to the park and the way its soft green scenery cultivates everyone. To understand how the proposed changes affect those who grew up around the area, one student shared how deeply the park is tied deeply to his bond with family. Many believe the park plays a major role in bringing families
‘A Christmas Carol’ p. 3
For the first time in school history, Heritage has been declared as the official Rogers Public School testing center for the ACT, and along with this achievement, Heritage is using all resources possible to prepare students for testing. The ACT is an exam that prepares students for college with their scores being able to save them thousands of dollars in scholarships. For example, the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship is granting 15,000 dollars for students with an ACT score of 19 and above who plan to attend a four year institution. Even if college is not aligning with the present, ACT scores are valid for five years and can be used at any time during that period. This year, Heritage signed a contract with ACT to host the Rogers test here at campus for the foreseeable future. Having the test here not only provides convenience for Heritage students but also the feelings of security and familiarity
Olive Park continued on p. 2
Construction of new apartments at Olive Street Park in Rogers.
2025 Concludes In Energetic End p. 6
Pullen
Dance Team Qualifies for Nationals p. 7
“When we choose our words with care, we strengthen our relationships, promote understanding and create a community where everyone can thrive.” - Hailey Mason “President’s Influence” p. 4
2
NEWS
Dec. 17, 2025
ACT Workshop held for juniors in order to better prepare them.
ACT
from p. 1 get their needs and their goals just
makes testing more comfortable. Admin reports that they have seen “record numbers” in sign ups since the ACT has been provided here. “We have been working on creating a more robust ACT system in which we are supporting our students through the ACT development. We’ve done the mock ACT in years past, but we [have] adjusted [it],” said Assistant Principal Jayna Moffit. Moffit goes on to say that as of 2025, students have done the mock ACT with individual scores that students get back to see what improvements need to be made. They then attend one of the ACT workshops provided at Heritage to grow in the subjects they struggled in. “The Mock ACT is something that aligns directly to how we’re targeting specific support to them. We’re talking with them in their [one on one] conferences so that we can tar-
Drives
Fraire
donations, soaring over last year’s 36,000 donations collected. With this achievement comes the Samaritan House Food Drive Cup, a trophy awarded to the winner of the food drive between Heritage and Rogers, with Rogers only coming in at around 4,000 donations. “[This] will make an impact on thousands of families throughout our local area,” said STUCO secretary, Evinson Lopez (12). Heritage does its annual blood drive during the winter season. Students alike volunteer to donate blood organized by The Red Cross. Preparation includes eating carbs and other heavy foods, drinking lots of water and getting plenty of rest leading up to the day. These precautions ensure they are prepared to give a vital life fluid. Once drawn and collected, the blood proceeds and is sent to process centers for testing and the separation into red blood cells, plasma and platelets. With a donation as big as blood, students are shown to a relaxing lounge area that provides them with a number of snacks and refreshments to recover. This year alone, the community of Heritage reached a staggering 122 donations, leading to the ultimate defeat of Rogers, coming in at a nearing 116. “It felt so good to see so many people come to donate blood. It [really] feels like we’re making a difference,” said another member of STUCO, Christian Rubi (11). Along with the blood drive, opportunities like the annual coat drive and toy drive opens students to earning community service
for them,” said Moffit. These mock ACTs are a great way to prepare for the free ACT provided by Heritage in February, another way Heritage provides a path for success since the burden of paying for the test is relieved. Additionally, teachers who educate juniors have been specially trained at their own workshops to mend the ACT curriculum into the every day classwork. This is to make sure students are aware of the specific questions ACT focuses on. “[The workshop] talked specifically about math strategies, how to help students, a little bit of strategies [that are] on the ACT in general [and] a little bit about the types of questions [on the exam]. It was helpful for me since I’ll now know what types of questions [there are] to help prepare students because we’re going to get data from the mock ACT back,” said math teacher
THE TALON
Logan Siems. Many juniors have found that the workshops, mock ACT and ACT classwork has caused them to improve their score and overall feel better about the test itself. Samantha Camargo, a junior at Heritage, saw improvement in her first ACT score, to her mock ACT score. “When I first took it I got a decent score, and then on the mock ACT I saw a 2 point difference because of using the tips I learned in the workshops. I hope to see a bigger difference in the February test,” said Camargo. As more and more opportunities open up at Heritage, students are encouraged to use these new resources to better the path for their future.
Olive Park
from p. 1
together, highlighting more similarities than differences. Marques Watkins (11) said, “Me and my little brother were very competitive growing up and we always used to play basketball and tag and it was somewhere my dad could watch us grow up doing what we love.” Even though Rogers’ goal established for Olive Street Park is to modernize and utilize the land, several people still believe that turning half of this staple location into apartment complexes is unnecessary. “[The construction] ruins my memories to know that most of the park is now [going] to be apartments,” said Hayre. The new and improved urbanized area will provide citizens with safer equipment and new residential spaces following continuously growing population.
Editorial Staff Pullen, EIC Fraire Henry
Reporters Barraza Boyd Cox Hernandez Morales Lopez Moreno Perez Sanchez
from p. 1 hours. The coat drive, organized by the National Honors Society, collects lightly used coats and jackets for the dignity closet. The dignity closet is a resource for students that are in need of certain items or food with a referral. The drive will be going on December 1 though the 5. On the other hand, the toy drive is organized by LULAC, FCCLA and Educators Rising. Their mission is to collect toys for the Northwest
Arkansas Children’s Hospital, with the drive beginning on December 1 and going through the 12. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to bring whatever they can, given that anything is appreciated. “[The toy drive] gives students an opportunity to get community service and help their community and students in need,” said NHS sponsor, Deanna Reed.
Britney Winters, Adviser Chip Greenwell, Principal
Corrections
The Talon strives for accuracy in its reporting and will correct all matters of fact. As The Talon is a limited print publication, all corrections will be made on the website promptly and prominently. If you believe the paper has printed an error, please send an email to hhsjour@rpsar.net.
Opinion
The columnists’ opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff, Rogers Heritage High School or Rogers Public Schools.
Memberships
The Talon is an institutional member of the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association.
Student Press
Barraza
Students having their blood drawn during Heritage’s annual blood drive.
The Talon was created by students for students. It is a public forum for student expression, and all students are welcome to submit content, questions or letters for consideration to hhsjour@rpsar.net. The Talon is governed by the Arkansas Student Publications Act of 1995 (A.C.A. § 6-18).
FEATURES Dec. 17, 2025
THE TALON
3
R H H S T h e a t e r R e e n a c t s ‘ A C h r i s t m a s C a ro l ’
Theater students on stage during their winter play.
Boyd
Talon Reporter Rogers Heritage High School kicked off the winter season with a powerful and spirited stage production of A Christmas Carol on November 14 and November 15, drawing in students, families and community members for a night of Victorian story-retelling and a
Boyd
heartfelt performance. The theater department, led by teacher Michael Schwartz, transformed the stage into Charles Dickens’ 19th-century London, following the timeless journey of Ebenezer Scrooge as he confronts his past, present and future. The production featured a full student cast, intricate costuming, and a mix of emotional drama and festive charm. Among the performers was
sophomore Jenna Mondragon, who took on the role of Mrs. Cratchit, the heart of the Cratchit family. For Mondragon, stepping into such a meaningful character was a highlight of her year. Though earlier productions like The Archie Christmas Radio Show and Eight Minutes Left had already helped sharpen her skills, Mondragon admitted that one moment in the show posed a unique challenge: the emotional scene where Mrs. Cratchit grieves the loss of her youngest child, Tiny Tim, played by sophomore James Harrod. This scene demanded a level of depth and authenticity she had never attempted before. “One scene I found very challenging to do was when Mrs. Cratchit is deeply and visibly distraught and upset at the death of her child,” Mondragon said in an email, “I had to figure out many ways on how to complete the act with lots of emotion that would touch the audience.” To prepare for the play, Mondragon embraced a method-acting
An Inside Look at In School Suspension Hernandez Talon Reporter
In-School Suspension (ISS) is an alternative disciplinary measure for students meant to be used in place of, or in tandem, with Out of School Suspension (OSS) for students violating rules stated in the district handbook and code of conduct. As per district policy, offenses that would warrant a given amount of days worth of ISS include truancy and/or skipping, possession and use of nicotine products, violations of the state-wide phone policy, fighting and possession of illicit substances. Truancy, or skipping, results in 3 days worth of ISS. Vaping or possession of nicotine and/or tobacco products results in 3 days worth of ISS if it is the first offense of a
student. A second offense of the district policy results in 5 days of ISS. Upon the third offense, a student will be sent to an IDH. An IDH, also known as an Interdisciplinary Hearing, is held at the Rogers Virtual Learning Center between the student, school administration and a separate third party, not paid by the district but rather the state, to overhear and decide the disciplinary measure for the student involved. An IDH can result in the third party being in favor of the student, meaning the student can return to campus, but if the third party sides with the school, they will choose whether a student will be placed at either the Crossroads or REAP campus depending on the severity of the offense. An IDH is not the expulsion of a student, but rather an opportunity for a student to be in a better suited environment. At a
hearing, it can be decided whether a student will remain at the alternative campus for the remainder of the school year or a complete 365 days. Students on their 4th violation of the new district and statewide phone policy will receive one day of ISS. However, upon the 5th violation of phone policy, a student will have to attend an IDH as per state law left up to interpretation to the school district. Engaging in fights or active use of illicit substances, such as marijuana, alcohol and more will result in what is referred to as “five and four.” Students who participate in either of the two above mentioned activities will receive 5 days of out of school suspension and, upon their return, will receive 4 days of ISS. A second offense will result in an IDH. “It is good to gain a better sense
of discipline. I would not want to be there,” said Miguel Guadarrama (10). ISS and student discipline on campus, acts as a buffer between a student and real world consequences. Should a student be caught in possession of marijuana, for example, the severity of punishment will depend on whether or not a student is on or off campus. Here, a student will receive the 5 days of out of school suspension and 4 days of ISS. If out in public, a student will most likely receive the max penalty for possession of a controlled substance. And, if this same student carries enough of the controlled substance, they will be charged with intent to sell. “It is not supposed to be a free day where you hang out with a supervisor. You are in trouble. You are being disciplined,” said Quinta Jones, ISS supervisor.
chills pierce even the thickest of coats, it causes a break through immune systems, leading to a cold. Other than the environmental factors that feed directly into catching a cold, things like mental and physical health play a major role in whether or not your body becomes a victim of any virus. Following the crisp winds typically comes a decrease in physical activity, irregular sleep patterns, and stress that leads to a weakened immune system. “I take cough drops every once in a while. I prioritize my health always, and so if I have to stay home from school, I definitely will,” said Isela Olvera (12). Needless to say, it is a factually important thing to put your health above certain routines put in place to maintain other things. It’s a given that school is for building teenage children into civilized adults with some strong knowledge to break into future education or jobs - yet to perform your best you need to feel your best. It is crucial that students and
teachers alike understand and know what they can do to prevent suffering from these aggravating sicknesses, which can be stopped in very simple ways. The number one, and most paramount caution that can be taken in steps of prevention is to practice proper hygiene. Washing hands, applying hand sanitizer, being aware of who you’re around and making sure you are taking care of your physical body can make a massive difference in how this glacial season affects you and your peers. Continually, keeping your health at its best also shows that you care for the ones around you, as we know that good health prevents the spread of any sicknesses and germs. Washing hands is monumentally effective being that our hands touch all the surfaces around us. “We go probably a lot longer than we realize without washing our hands. Being a nurse we are always keeping the office clean, so we do find it incredibly important to prioritize washing hands,” said nurse Hannah Hubbard.
Heritage Cuts Through Seasonal Chill
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A person struggling with a cold attempts to relieve drainage.
Henry
Talon Editor Day to day, sicknesses like Influenza, Covid-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and a plethora of others have been affecting the students of Heritage High School with tough yet fightable battles. It comes as no surprise that with the winter season in session,
with chilly temperatures and runny noses, nearly everyone in sight is being affected in some form. Yet, the causes of these symptoms aren’t commonly known. The term “cold” has done nothing short of earning its title for a reason - viruses and bacteria flourish in cold and dry environments. Once the frost bitten air flows in and the wind
approach, imagining how she herself would react in such a devastating situation. ”I had to prepare emotionally for that scene by putting myself as her and how I would act if I had lost my own child.” The results, she said, were transformative. While the spotlight shone bright on individual, significant actors— Christmas of the past, played by Tielyr Boysen (12), Christmas of the present, played by Jaime Nunez (12) and Christmas of the future, played by technical theater student, Kenan Cook (9) — Mondragon made it clear that the production was a collective success. As the final curtain closed and applause filled the auditorium, it was clear that the classic message of A Christmas Carol, being compassion, reflection and the power of community was alive and well at Rogers Heritage High School. “I believe everyone, even new actors, were amazing, and I’m so proud of the performance they did for this semester’s play,” said Mondragon.
OPINION 4
Dec. 17, 2025
THE TALON
President’s Influence in Society Causes Division in School Pullen
leader is in office, we as a country look up to them not only with trust in their ability to lead our country, but also with trust in their ability to lead us as a society. I fully believe that our current role model is far from someone we should be imitating. The president has made many racist and sexist comments. For example, he said to CNN in 2023 that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country”. Additionally, he said in a previously unreleased recording made by Access Hollywood in 2005, “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p—-y. You can do anything.” And now his loyal followers are saying similar
things. As I walk the walkways or sit Talon Editor-in-Chief in class, I hear comments about Every student, no matter their wishing that immigrant students be race, background, gender, sexudeported, or that gay students lose ality or religion, should feel safe marital rights, or talking about how in school. While Heritage may be even though our president is a conphysically safe, anyone can attack victed felon, he’s still better than a you with words. I believe that since woman. This sense of fearlessness the shift in presidential office afis honestly surprising considering ter the election of 2024, there have people literally die for advocating been major changes that influence for these messages. Don’t get me discrimination that affects how stuwrong, either ideology comes with dents live their everyday lives, or a certain amount of fear since pereven just walking in the hallways. sonal threats are common no matter While this article is not meant what side of the aisle you fall on. to attack the president himself, his However, I believe that because influence on society is what I think there is a Republican in office, certhe real issue is. When a political tain right-swinging students feel a sense of power and say whatever comes to their minds without fear of backlash. This causes some students with opposing beliefs to remain silent in fear of what could happen. I have seen girls sit in class uncomfortably as boys laugh and make jokes about raping women. I have been told to my face that it is shocking that women have the right to vote. I have seen kids threaten to call ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) on other students or their parents simply just to scare them. I have been in class as boys say anti-semitic comments (prejudice remarks against Jews) or preach white supremacy as they put down the black community. “I think that having a leader who normalizes such rhetoric allows others to feel more comfortable with being racist. I believe that these people have always had these thoughts, but because of the leadership in this country they are getting increasingly confident in being more outspoken on their views,” said Marlee Brown (12). Jordan Laswell (11) thinks that Infographic having these ideas shared so openly Image depicting legal rights to keep in mind while interacting with ICE. at school affects her ability to learn
because of how distraught she feels. “Over time, people have gotten more comfortable with using slurs. They don’t care if it is offensive towards me or others, and they feel as though they can use those words in normal, everyday conversation. But instead of hearing their words, I hear the hate and racism, and it hurts,” said Laswell. This behavior is not what we as humans should be doing. This is not what Heritage stands for and frankly, acting this way is only going to make our school look worse. This is not about politics, this is about basic human respect. At the end of the day, we are all human and we are all at school simply trying to make it through the day. No matter your political or religious beliefs, we need to learn to accept people for who they are rather than trying to mold them into what we believe is right. You never know what someone is going through or what fears they go home to. Saying racist, sexist or homophobic “jokes” cause nothing but harm and shouldn’t be tolerated. While actions do define who you are as a person, that does not mean that you cannot change who that person is. Even though we have our own unique personalities and characteristics, we all have one thing in common: we are all Heritage students. School should be a place where we can grow as individuals, not just academically, but also in maturity. Rather than using school as a place to hate one another, we need to use school as a resource for growth and a safe space for us to learn who we truly are without fear of judgement. “When we choose our words with care, we strengthen our relationships, promote understanding and create a community where everyone can thrive,” said history teacher Hailey Mason.
Students Advocate for Vape Detectors on Campus Pullen
Talon Editor-in-chief Do you ever walk into the bathroom and immediately get hit with a wave of smoke? For many students this is a daily occurrence. Fischer LaPlant (10) and Isaiah Valdez (10) took it upon themselves to make change. They are proposing that the district implement detectors in the bathrooms to prevent smoke gatherings during school. “I think it is very important that this [gets implemented]. For one it is not just a problem for me, but for many other students including students that smoke, [thus making it] not a safe space. It makes people uncomfortable [in general but also] for people who used to smoke [because] It gives them triggers. It can [also] cause migraines and [it affects] people [who] have asthma,” said LaPlant. After interviewing over 30 students and staff members, LaPlant and Valdez came up with their action plan. “Our first step of action is to talk to Mr. Greenwell. We are hoping he sides with us along like all the oth-
er students and teachers have. Our next step would be to talk to the school board and hopefully install detectors in all restrooms at Heritage,” said Valdez. After a reportedly very successful meeting with Principal Chip Greenwell, their next goal is to move forward with creating a task force that works with administration on fixing this issue. “I love when students advocate for [themselves and] the school. [This] task force will look at all the information to solve the problem,” said Greenwell. The task force has already begun meeting as of December 12. In the meeting they discussed next steps and identified specific areas of improvement. While the issue of vapes on campus has been previously discussed in The Talon before in last year’s edition, it is important to continue to use the rights of the press until this issue is as close to solved as possible. If you feel strongly towards or against this idea, please fill out the petition using the QR code shown below or go to tinyurl.com/ hhsvapesurvey.
QR Code QR code for student and teacher input regarding possible vape detectors on campus.
THE TALON
Dec. 17, 2025
OPINION
5
Are Staff Being Too Harsh with Punishments? Boyd
Talon Reporter This school year, students have perceived a rapid uptick in disciplinary actions taken by teachers and administrators. Are the punishments getting too harsh, or are staff simply enforcing rules that have always been there? School discipline is nothing new. Every student knows that actions have consequences—whether it’s showing up late to class, forgetting a hall pass or breaking the phone rule. But lately, students have begun to feel that even small mistakes can lead to outsized punishments. A growing number of students have received lunch detentions for minor infractions, such as having a phone visible between classes or being in the process of getting prepared with materials after the bell rings instead of before. Yaretzy Padilla (11) believes that the recent disciplinary shift has gone too far. She describes punishments as “getting too
unfair,” especially with the “new laws being passed around” and an increased push to control student behavior. While she personally hasn’t been on the receiving end of these stricter consequences, she’s witnessed friends get punished harshly for situations she feels were misunderstood or blown out of proportion. Inconsistency in rule enforcement is a major cause of students’ frustration. “Why make rules if you’re not going to remind us about them and then get mad when they’re broken?” said Padilla. Some rules are emphasized constantly while others fade into the background—until suddenly, a student is punished for breaking a rule they didn’t realize was being enforced. The “Bell to Bell, No Cell” law is new this year and has been a challenge for everyone. Teachers are instructed to write referrals if a phone is seen or used during class time. While this law was put in place to limit distractions and promote
engagement, many students feel it is excessive. Students have reported being written up for checking the time or responding to an urgent text from a parent. Supporters of the current discipline system argue that the rules are necessary to maintain order and ensure that learning comes first. They believe stricter enforcement helps create consistency across classrooms and discourages repeated rule-breaking. Without consequences, they say, some students might take advantage of leniency and disrupt the learning environment for others. One of these supporters who wishes to remain anonymous added that without stronger or more consistent action, classroom disruptions will continue. “When no one gets any consequences, everything just keeps happening,” they said. “Teachers shouldn’t let students walk all over them.” It’s a fair point—discipline plays an important role in shaping responsibility. But the question
Field Trips Affect Students’ Work Load Sanchez
ners and club gatherings. However, a number of other students are Talon Reporter excited for field trips. After a long Students around the cam- year of a lack of field trips, many pus look forward to out of school students believe we have gotten events including silly hangouts with more this school year. But how does friends, sports events, birthday din- this affect our students?
RHA Instagram
Bus full of students gathered for RHA trip to Ohio and Indiana in 2023.
Many students tend to enjoy leaving school for educational trips since they provide a more memorable and hands-on experience, allowing for an improved learning experience. Field trips also show students a real world connection with their learning. Jessie Varnell (12) believes that field trips benefit her. “I remember when we were younger we would always go to Crystal Bridges which is really cool. Being able to be exposed to culture and things outside of what you could get rather than just seeing pictures of stuff in your classroom, is really cool to see it in person because you get a whole different experience and a whole different feeling,” said Varnell. Field trips are not just an excuse to leave school and enjoy your day outside of class. It can also serve to connect your learning with your environment and relate your learning to real life. But how could field trips hurt our students? Many believe that being on too many field trips can cause mass amounts of stress to our classmates. Rogers Honors Academy has recently taken a trip to Min-
“Crumblin’ Puns” By Luis Arevalo Flores
remains: where is the line between consistency and over-enforcement? When every small slip results in a detention or referral, students may start to feel more policed than supported. Instead of learning from mistakes, many say they feel discouraged, anxious or disconnected from school life. There’s also concern about how these punishments affect students’ records. A single referral might not seem like a big deal, but repeated write-ups can add up quickly, potentially impacting eligibility for activities or even college applications. Some students argue that the system lacks flexibility, and that context—like intent or frequency—isn’t always taken into account. As an alternative, Padilla suggests approaches like counseling and one-on-one conversations— methods that would help students learn from mistakes without feeling labeled or defeated—while still maintaining boundaries so students don’t take advantage of leniency.
nesota and Iowa, and a previous trip to Chicago. Several students involved in RHA were taken on both of these trips. America Ruiz (12), a student attending both trips said, “It’s inevitable to not get behind by missing a few days or even one. You get caught up in what you’re doing that you don’t get the time to do school work. It’s good to communicate with your teachers.” If you believe you have taken too many field trips in a short amount of time, communication with your teachers can provide many benefits. Teachers may provide extra time to your due dates and more, eventually benefitting students alike. Communication before a field trip is ultimately something necessary if you are wanting to stay on track. Overall, field trips seem to be pretty harmless, yet they can cause a student to be off track. However this can be fixed with some preparation before a trip outside of school. At Heritage, we have very understanding teachers, so communication with them can influence our workload after field trips.
ENTERTAINMENT 6
Dec. 17, 2025
THE TALON
Students React to the Final Season of ‘Stranger Things’
Morales Lopez Talon Reporter
On July 15, 2016 Stranger Things was released, making it one of the most popular original Netflix shows. With the release of the show, its creation led to a fandom full of people from different places of the world. With the show becoming so popular, viewers globally joined in on the viewing of Stranger Things. Seeing that the new season of this
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Iconic logo of the well renowned hit series ‘Stranger Things.’
prominent show has such a large following, many people have mixed feelings about season 5 because it will be Stranger Things’ eminent ending. “I really like Stranger Things because I feel like not a lot of people understand how it’s thoughtfully made. It’s like a puzzle each episode with [directors] putting hidden things in the show that will later make sense the further you watch it. My favorite season has to be sea-
son 3 since I love the vibes and in that season; it is where everyone is together and united. This show is very impactful because it is different. I would watch it every day with my family in 2019 when I was 10, I am now 17,” said Oriana Bojorquez (11). For most, Stranger Things is a very impactful show with nostalgia painted all over, but over time the beloved fan-favorite holds its
grip tight on a number of watchers. Along with the heavy memories, from time to time when a new season is announced, many find a way to go back and reminisce about the positive energy and unique atmosphere from the past seasons. Rightfully so, Stranger Things stood out from the rest of the shows coming out the same year because there was something different about it every season. Joselyn Albarran (12) said, “I feel like after watching Stranger Things I felt more drawn to that type of genre, like Sci-Fi. In general, the show was pretty nostalgic, especially when I first watched the first season when I was like 8 and I am now 17. For me what really drew me in was the music. The music in Stranger Things is like one of the main things in the show that completes it for me, especially since the music makes me feel like I’m being taken back to their timeline, (Music Supervisors) definitely cooked up with the playlist.” The music, storyline and work put into this spectacularly, well put-together show is what makes many people, including Bojorquez and Albarran, feel what they have expressed. With every replay, every new viewer and every season, fans alike are continuing to connect with the release of the very last season in sight.
2025 Concludes In An Energetic End Henry
Talon Editor From inescapable memes like ‘67’ all the way to the new “performative” lifestyle, Heritage High School students are following along to all of them in excitement just anticipating what’s to come. Starting off the year strong, people alike engaged in a new term titled “brainrot,” ranging from made up words to interestingly made dances. The reasoning behind these made up trends aren’t definitive, but it is worth noting that they are what they’ve become mainly due to the major increase in social media usage. For lots of reasons, screen time has hit an all time high, promoting the hilariously absurd memes that plaster our “for you pages.” With the uprise of these videos, it’s also cultivating a new and almost unseen culture of our generation - a culture that prioritizes mental health while also promoting unserious hilarity. These kinds of things are seen mostly through modern day humor, where today it is sensitive to how jokes could affect somebody, but also being able to take something unserious and transform it into something people can have a laugh about. In recent times though, social media has also called for a lot of change. Public figures like Greta Thunberg, an enviromental activist, use the easily accessible apps to spread their views in hopes of causing a change in the way the world is currently going. In relation to change, people are
A student photographed holding a necklace that reads ‘2025’ from New Years celebration.
switching to clothing to bring them confidence. Although visual appeal can boost self esteem, in reality, confidence comes from within. A common example of this is if you happen to be trying on clothes and you come across a piece that makes you feel happy, but instead of purchasing it, you put it back in fear of judgement. The best way to combat this is rather than focusing on what others think, focus on staying true to yourself instead. Most celebrities these days wear “wild” outfits with lots of people not necessarily understanding what it is or why they’re wearing it, but those are the same celebrities that
are most confident. They walk the world, worry free, knowing their own inner beauty. Despite social media being used for creating and amplifying people’s voices, it also harnesses an underground side of communities. This year has been nothing short of transformative for everyone, including the influence it has on topics like fashion. “I feel like fashion has such an impact on society because it allows people to be more confident in themselves and how the outside world perceives them,” said Fischer LaPlant (10). All in all, social media is truly
Henry
an umbrella for all different kinds of apps that give creators globally a platform to formulate change. Maximizing the use of social media may not be something lots of students necessarily did this year, but there is always a next. “I honestly love social media. I love being able to see all these different cultures and things people are experiencing. I think it’s a great way of communicating and showing people what’s happening in the world,” said Montana Price (11).
SPORTS THE TALON
Dec. 17, 2025
Heritage Dance Team Qualifies for Nationals
Heritage competition dance team competes at state competition for a spot at nationals.
Moreno
Talon Reporter The Rogers Heritage High School Competition Dance Team has qualified for nationals following their state competition at Alma, a long awaited journey after enduring much training. The Heritage Dance Team is a former state champion team in their 2023 dance season, after losing state champion last year to Greenwood High School. This season, the team made it their mission to prevail and showcase their hard working ability for a victory in the game day category.
“After all the practice and training that we did, I definitely did feel confident that we were going to win state,” said Bianca Andrade, a junior at Heritage and dancer of the team. Symphony Lockard, the competition team’s coach, was determined to turn her team into champions once more, and took it upon herself to push the team into shape with hard training and discipline. Over the course of various hardships, training and many competitions, they were ready to take on state. Bianca later continued, “but there was still that slight chance that we wouldn’t [win], so it was hard to hear when we got announced sec-
Heritage Basketball Shoots for Successful 2025 Season Perez
Talon Reporter The time for basketball has arrived and is in full affect, with the team being thrilled to dominate this season. The team has a lot of promising players, with the main three being Skye Davenport, Carter Cox and Gabe Arroyo. Last year was also a good year for the team, despite records not being a product of their full potential, but in the fact that a few players got sent off to play college basketball. Unfortunately, student Chase Hayre was off the first week due to injury and came back the second week, hitting a clutch three pointer in the fourth quarter on his return. “There were some guys that played hard and things didn’t work out sometimes, but all in all it was a pretty successful year. We sent a couple kids off to play college so in the end, looking back, it was a successful year,” said Coach Tom Olsen. The chemistry on the court has improved since last year, fitting together like pieces in a puzzle. Players alike have put their physicali-
ond.” The team was announced as the runner-up for the state competition. It was a heartbreak for every Heritage student and staff who watched, as everyone held high hopes in the Lady Talons becoming the state champions. “We do not see State Runner Up as a loss. We are extremely proud of our performance on Saturday. The girls gave everything they had on the floor, and I couldn’t ask for anything more as their coach,” said Coach Lockard. While the loss of the championship title was a heartbreak, the dancers had a great season and have yet to be finished. While their state
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Moreno competitions are over, the dancers are headed to nationals to compete one last time before the complete end of the season. The competition along with their time going to be spent at Disney World will be a positive uplifting experience for the team. “The Heritage Dancers have brought home a state trophy for 4 years in a row. That is not something most programs can say. We are proud to bring a positive spotlight to the Heritage High School Campus, and so grateful for our awesome community who came to support us at the state competition,” said Coach Lockard at the end of her statement.
ty and mentality to the test, being able to rebound each other’s shots well and working together to really move the ball on the court and score. Junior guard Jay Golden has also said his three point shot has a positive impact on the team. “We are all able to do our own thing. We are all able to rebound, shoot the ball, move on the court. It’s just a really solid team with a lot of pieces that fit together to be good,” said Golden. The non conference season schedule is looking pretty good in Olsen’s eyes, as he sees it as a good setup for the conference season. He has a lot of trust in his players and is going to be prioritizing the months of January and February to qualify for state. “I think we look pretty good. We got a lot of good players out there, a good coach [too],” said Chase Hayre (10). All in all, the team appears to be really solid with good team chemistry, highly skilled players and an amazing coach. The team truly has the potential of taking advantage of the season and making it far in conMoorman ference, ultimately making it to the Heritage boys basketball students attempts and completes a basket. state tournament in Little Rock.
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PHOTO ESSAY
Dec. 17, 2025
THE TALON
T c i s s reats for T a l C h e t S s e e a i z s on of A Co ll
ipes by Boyd and Barraza c e R d n a s o t o h P Cinnamon Streusel Cake
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Streusel: 1. Combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. 2. Add butter; stir with a fork until crumbly. Set aside. Cake: 1. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a stand mixer, beat sugar and butter until fluffy (3 min). Scrape bowl. 2. On low speed, beat in eggs. Gradually mix in flour mixture and milk. 3. Add sour cream and vanilla; beat for 30 seconds. 4. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Spread streusel evenly over the top, pressing lightly. 5. Bake 40-50 minutes until a toothpick comes out
clean. Cool completely (about 30 min) before serving. Ingredients
Directions 1. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves). 2. In a separate bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and molasses until creamy. 3. Beat in the egg and vanilla for 2 minutes. 4. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix lightly until combined; the dough will be thick. 5. Divide the dough in half, wrap each half tightly in plastic wrap to form a disc, and chill for 3 hours. 6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. 7. On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough discs to 1/4-inch thickness. 8. Cut into shapes and place them 1 inch apart on the baking sheets. 9. Bake for 9-10 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. 10. Baking time varies with size (longer for crunchier cookies). 11. Cool cookies on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to the fridge to cool completely before decorating. Ingredients 3 and ½ cups all purpose flour (spooned and leveled) 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt 1 tbsp ground ginger & 1 tbsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground allspice ½ tsp ground cloves 10 tbsps unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 3/4 packed light or dark brown sugar 2/3 cup unsulphured or dark molasses (do not use blackstrap) 1 large egg, at room temperature 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Streusel Topping: 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ½ cup unsalted butter, softened Cake: 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 1 ½ cups white sugar 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 3 large eggs ¾ cup milk 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Gingerbread Cookies