![With the AISD rank and GPA discrepancies, some students had significant changes to their stats. College and career counselor Camille Nix worked with students to appeal their college decisions if they got rejected from schools depending on their previous stats before getting updated. Students worked with Nix to update schools on their new stats in order to fully get their appropriate decisions. “Those who already were accepted [won’t be affected], but it could factor in if a student appeals their initial decision,” Principal Andy Baxa said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/53674616658_18d367e00f_o-1200x676.jpg)
![Junior Mia Milicevic practices her forehand at tennis practice with the WJ girls tennis team. “Sometimes I don’t like [tennis] because you’re alone but most of the time, I do like it for that reason because it really is just you out there. I do experience being part of a team at WJ but in tournaments and when I’m playing outside of school, I like that rush when I win a point because I did it all by myself, Milicevic said. (Courtesy Mia Milicevic)](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/c54807e1-6ab6-4b0b-9c65-bfa256bc7587.jpg)
![The Jaguar student section sits down while the girls basketball team plays in the Great Eight game at the Denver Coliseum against Valor Christian High School Feb. 29. Many students who participated in the boys basketball student section prior to the girls basketball game left before half-time. I think it [the student section] plays a huge role because we actually had a decent crowd at a ranch game. I think that was the only time we had like a student section. And the energy was just awesome, varsity pointing and shooting guard Brooke Harding ‘25 said. I dont expect much from them [the Golden Boys] at all. But the fact that they left at the Elite Eight game when they were already there is honestly mind blowing to me.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_7517-e1716250578550-900x1200.jpeg)
![BACKGROUND IN THE BUSINESS: Dressed by junior designer Kaitlyn Gerrie, senior Chamila Muñoz took to the “Dreamland” runway this past weekend. While it was her first time participating in the McCallum fashion show, Muñoz isn’t new to the modeling world.
I modeled here and there when I was a lot younger, maybe five or six [years old] for some jewelry brands and small businesses, but not much in recent years,” Muñoz said.
Muñoz had hoped to participate in last year’s show but couldn’t due to scheduling conflicts. For her senior year, though, she couldn’t let the opportunity pass her by.
“It’s [modeling] something I haven’t done in a while so I was excited to step out of my comfort zone in a way,” Muñoz said. “I always love trying new things and being able to show off designs of my schoolmates is such an honor.”
The preparation process for the show was hectic, leaving the final reveal of Gerrie’s design until days before the show, but the moment Muñoz tried on the outfit, all the stress for both designer and model melted away.
“I didn’t get to try on my outfit until the day before, but the look on Kaitlyn’s face when she saw what she had worked so hard to make actually on a model was just so special,” Muñoz said. “I know it meant so much to her. But then she handed me a blindfold and told me I’d be walking with it on, so that was pretty wild.”
Caption by Francie Wilhelm.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/53535098892_130167352f_o-1200x800.jpg)
Many girls share high school memories of quiet chattering, secret stares, and trying hard not to laugh for silly things while the teacher is talking. However, The ‘Girl Up Club’ is a place for high school girls to share their ideas to build the world into a more beautiful and just place.
Girl Up Clubs are special because they provide a platform for young women to come together and support gender justice and girls’ empowerment. The club creates a supportive community where members can engage in discussion, organize events, and work towards making a positive impact in their local communities and beyond. By becoming a member of ‘Girl Up Club’, students have the opportunity to enhance their voices, develop leadership skills, and contribute to meaningful changes in the world. The Girl Up Club at Piscataway High School meets every Friday after school.
“Girl Up is a club focuses on helping not just girls in our community, but girls around the world as well,” said Danika Carranza, president of the PHS Girl Up Club. “Organizing events is a really fun way to make everyone connected more.”
“The Girl Up Club is currently working on a project to put up signs like little notes on bathrooms and Locker room mirrors, both girls and boys locker rooms and bathrooms,” said Mahi, member of Girl Up club. “We are doing this project for women’s history month to encourage everyone and make everyone feel better.”
“I want to help make the Girl Up Club a big success at PHS, because I think that issues around girls are really important,” said Niti, Event Coordinator of PHS Girl Up Club. “Also one of the club’s biggest goals is to raise money for girls around the world.”
“This year we did ’The Girls’ Night’ event, which is something we have never done before and I think that is really fun way to make everyone connected little more,” said Danika Carranza, president of the PHS Girl Up Club. “I saw lots of people who have never spoken before with me at that event and I think it could help our community just connect with one another and meet new people that they probably had not met before.”
“Students can get involved with Girl Up’s most recent project (little posters on the mirrors), just by seeing them,” said Gracy, member of PHS Girl Up club.
“I think Girl Up benefits not just girls but also guys,” said Gracy, a member of Girl Up club. “Both girls and guys needed to be treated equal[ly]… and guys need to see that girls want equality.”
“A Lot of people, like in school and out of school kid of look down on Girl Up Club, because they find that being feminist or empowering women kind of embarrassing,” said Mahi, member of PHS Girl Up Club. “I think for the most part Girl Up is very well supported by teachers and people throughout the school and also by students.”
“What inspired me to join Girl Up was when I learned that Girl Up creates events and hosts meetings that are always working towards helping and appreciating women,“ said Shania Tewarson, a member of PHS Girl Up Club. “I think that’s really inspiring seeing people help others and that is why I joined Girl Up.”
This story was originally published on The Chieftain on May 8, 2024.
