The Pueblo County Cheer and Dance team were honored to be selected for the Friday Nights Spirit Award. A representative from Channel 13 came down to present the award to the Cheer and Dance team. In the photos below you see our fantastic Cheer and Dance team posing and cheering for joy as they accept the Friday Nights Football award, representing County in a huge way!! Way to go girls!!!

Pueblo County Hornets face off against the Pueblo West Cyclones in the 19th Annual Pigskin Classic game. At halftime neither teams had yet to score a point so the Pueblo County Hornet Dance team took to the field with one of their best dances yet. The game ended with a score of 0-20 Pueblo County being the losing team. Good effort though, boys, way to give it your all. We will get them next time!!!

Photos by Taylor Anaya
Pueblo County Hornets take the Colorado State Fair Parade by storm. Pueblo County Rowdies started the parade off by greeting the crowd with cheers. The Hornet Dance Team followed with a dance routine full of spirit, and a parade full of County students came close behind yelling and screaming as loud as they could to show off the spirit of Pueblo County. GO HORNETS!

photos by Hailey Vigil
The class of 2022 is welcomed in the gym by teachers and staff, and from there are introduced to their scheduled classes. The exciting day starts off with a beautiful performance by Pueblo County's own dance team, and ends with learning their class song which begins the freshman's high school journey. Welcome class of 2022!

     On Friday Feb. 30 from 7:30 a.m.to 1:00 p.m., Pueblo County High School hosted a Raider Meet. A Raider Meet is where JROTC students compete against each other. At this meet schools from all around bring their Raider Teams to compete and see who has the best team. In competition, teams participate in a single rope bright, Humvee polls, tire flips, 5k run, a modified PT test involving timed push-ups and sit ups, and a litter carry.
     Due to complications in the past no other school had hosted a Raider Meet and the County High Raider Team wanted a change to showcase their skills. “It’s to show the dedication from the student athletes to the team because if we didn’t have the seven people we have, we wouldn’t have the drive or the ability to do what we do, it’s a beautiful thing,” says Zane Mestas, current Raider Team member. Our County team did well, Lance Burg, Raider team member, placed 3rd in the 5K-Individual. Burg said, “I’m proud of my teammates and myself, we accomplished a lot through teamwork.”
     According to LTC (R) Gordon R. Crawford, the team’s leader, “They did great!”

       On Feb. 8, teacher, Ms. Diana Tiffany-Hardy hosted the First Annual Where I am From Book Signing and Publishing Party at Pueblo County High School's Library. An invitation was distributed among all of her classes inviting students' parents to come in and see the work done in the classroom in preparation for this book. It was a chance "to celebrate our accomplishments, to celebrate our hard work and to have parents come in and experience what we do academically" says Tiffany-Hardy. Previously in the school year, students were asked to write a Where I am From poem and have it published in a book as a class set. For thirty minutes, everyone was welcomed in the library with cookies and lemonade while classmates got their copy signed by each other. "I thought it went really well, states Ms. Tiffany-Hardy.

     On Feb. 9 through Feb 10, Friday through Sat, was the State Championships for swim held at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center, Thorton, Colo. The Pueblo County’s Swim Team coached by Dan Radiff took 2nd at State as a team. Amanda Blickensderfer won two individual titles (100 fly and 100 breast)! The two relay teams won by Kandi Liberato, Lexa Musso, Amanda Bickensderfer and Anna Maurillo for the 200 medley and the 200-free awarded to Anna Maurillo, Juliann Krinsky, Amanda Blickensderfer, and Alexa Musso! Congratulations to the Girls Swim Team! 

              The Arts Academy at Pueblo County takes the stage to face a daunting challenge that has been affecting teens for years, teen depression and suicide. On Thursday, Jan. 25, the Arts Academy Students will perform “No One Hears Unless You Scream”, a production written by award- winning playwright Joey Maida, in front of the student body. This product was written after fifteen months of interviews with teenagers that have been struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide, which then helped develop this cutting edge one act play that focuses on the problems developed in the young minds of teens. Sixteen actors will take the stage with six technicians working behind the scenes.  It’s a "very experimental style, going in and out of the reality of what is facing teens," quoted play director Roxanne Pignanelli in the Pueblo Chieftain. This play is designed to give children a voice in their time where they feel like they have none. District 70 is committed to sharing this inspiring performance all throughout the District including: Pueblo West and Rye High School where it will be debuting soon. “This play must be seen and must be done now more than ever” Piganilli states in the Pueblo Chieftain.
 
            “A breathtaking performance that left me feeling feelings that opened my eyes up to what’s happening around me” said County Student Kenzie Palette after having front row seats at Pueblo County’s “No One Hears You Unless You Scream”. The play portrayed an interesting twist on the message that schools all over the world have been trying to get across to students for years. Sixteen peers (or actors) from our school took the stage where different scenes are acted out telling the story of the character’s problems: drug abuse, bullying, abusive relationships, problems that are quite common in real life. The way the play was formed and performed and the little details that just pieced the whole performance together really left the audience wanting more.