The Game of Home Entertainment

     August 29, 1997- Netflix was born; sixteen years later, this baby company would take down the largest entertainment provider Hollywood had at that point ever seen. After taking the throne, the king reigned supreme- with services like Hulu and HBO never coming close to bringing it down. However, on November 12, 2019, The Walt Disney Company- one of the largest entertainment corporations in the world -launched their own streaming service, Disney+, worldwide as a means of expanding their platform. Having taken the internet by storm, consumers are left with only one question- What does this mean for Netflix?

     Netflix had started out like any other company- small, gaining its ground, taking on an industry that eats companies like this alive. At the time, Blockbuster was the king that sat on the throne- dominating the home-video industry with billions in revenue. However, the founders of Netflix, Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings, invested in something that would not just forever change the industry, but be the start to the end of Blockbuster- the Internet. On April 14, 1998, Netflix launched the world’s first online video rental store- having the same buy-or-rent-with-a-late-fee system that Blockbuster used, but with the convenience of doing it from one’s own house. No more did people have to stand in lines on a Friday night as everyone glutted themselves into the store to get their movies for the weekend. It was the shot heard around the world for the industry- there was no going back.

     From there, Netflix thrived. From their release of the monthly subscription system that eliminated late fees, to their being able to turn down Blockbuster when they tried buying them out for $50million, to their new customer recommendations algorithm. Netflix had a few bumps, but they weren’t slowing down. Sixteen years after its birth, Netflix seized the throne from Blockbuster in 2013. Netflix from there reigned over the home-entertainment industry. Out of the students surveyed at Red Mountain, 67.9% currently use Netflix with 88.5% of them being satisfied with the streaming platform.

     However, every king has their mistakes. With shows like The Office- their most viewed show according to People Magazine -leaving their platform in 2021, their consumers aren’t happy. Netflix’s original television shows that have gained a staggering fan base- such as Stranger Things, Orange is the New Black, and Riverdale -have put Netflix into a reported debt of $3.5 billion according to Forbes reporter Stephanie Denning. And with every season of their television shows taking around a year to produce, this in itself could cause subscribers to lose interest in Netflix’s service. An already reported 11.5% of students surveyed at Red Mountain are not satisfied with the Netflix streaming platform.

However, with the launch of Disney Plus on November 12, 2019, those prior mistakes that Netflix has made might bring greater damage than once thought. Over the years, The Walt Disney Company has bought out other entertainment companies such as Hulu, ESPN, Marvel Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Fox, National Geographic, and ABC. All of these services except ABC are available on Disney Plus- and with Disney having a reported revenue of $22.45 billion just in 2016 alone according to Business Insider, funding original television shows will not be an issue.

Disney Plus has already created original shows for their platform themed around beloved franchises that Netflix simply cannot create. Shows set in the Star Wars Universe, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Disney Channel Universe, and even National Graphic Originals have already been produced and set in motion. And with the Internet and media already showing love for the Star Wars original The Mandalorian, the plot thickens in the battle for the throne.

And with those original shows almost guaranteeing to catch the eyes of fans comes the added benefits of pricing. Netflix offers three subscription plans according to Business Insider. The most basic plan is $8.99 a month which allows one account for one device, the next one up is the $12.99 plan in which two devices in HD are available, and the Premium plan is $15.99 a month which four devices can be streamed at once in HD/4K Ultra HD. However, Disney PLus offers prices that can very easily compete. Their basic plan- which offers regular Disney classics, originals, etc. -costs $6.99 per month, prices that Netflix had never at any time offered. While their Bundle Pack costs $12.99 per month which includes all or regular Disney Plus and gains consumers free access to Hulu and ESPN. Disney also offers a one time payment of $69.99 for a whole year of Disney Plus access.

Prices like those with content that Disney Plus offers means huge competition for other streaming services. Netflix’s long time rival Hulu had already been bought by The Walt Disney Company in 2017. And with other rivals such as Amazon Prime offering $8.99 per month and HBO Now offering $14.99 per month, the plot thickens for who is next to take the throne of the home entertainment industry. Out of the students surveyed at Red Mountain, 59% plan on purchasing their own subscription to the new service.

However, like the king rival Netflix has done, Disney Plus has made some moves that might be cause for concern regarding dissatisfaction with customers. The Hulu subscription that comes with the Disney Plus Bundle Pack is not ad free. If consumers really want ad free Hulu, then they need to purchase a separate subscription to Hulu for $11.99 per month on top of the $12.99 per month Bundle Pack. And even though Disney Plus will credit consumers $5.99 every month for doing this, the need for extra money spending and general inconvenient extra steps might be something that keeps subscribers from purchasing the Bundle Pack all together. Out of the students surveyed at Red Mountain, 41% stated that they will not be purchasing Disney Plus.

However, the game is set, and the competition has been started. Netflix has already retaliated by signing a deal with children’s television producer Nickelodeon. The deal allows Netflix to produce original animated films and in partnership with Nickelodeon to be broadcasted on their service. Currently, Disney Plus is approaching their first month of publicity. And so far the service has gained extreme attention from fans and the media. Only time will tell who will ultimately rule the home entertainment industry. Both have their strong suits and their downfalls. But one thing is certain, there can only be one king.

(featured photo courtesy of techradar.com)

Why Standardized Testing?

Taking standardized tests tend to cause the students to become stressed with over studying and over working in order to perform well. Standardized testing is a time where students from schools everywhere during multiple times of the year tend to become more stressed, so is there any importance of taking them just to show a simple score. 

     “I don’t think that it’s an effective way to determine every students knowledge,” junior Alicia Lamon said. “There are many factors that affect someone’s test scores.”

    Many students tend to perform different on standardized tests because of stress or anxiety levels. This can cause them to not perform as well as they probably could even if they know everything about the topic being tested. 

     “A main purpose of taking standardized tests is to have something to rank schools with,” freshman Ethan Gomez said. 

     Schools are given ranks based off of how well their schools tests on certain exams. However, some students could bring the scores down if they usually perform badly on standardized tests, so the school could be better at teaching and it’s just the state testing that brings their name down. 

     “Standardized testing helps improve grades by extra credit,” junior Alaura Goodsell said. “It strengthens the knowledge of the subjects being taught.”

     Some teachers will put in the scores for the test as extra credit, which can help boost up their percentage. Having the tests will bring more knowledge to the student then they originally thought. 

     “These tests help you see how far you’ve grown,” junior Aiyana Phillips said. “It shows where you might need improvement as well.”

     Having standardized tests gives the students and teachers an overall idea of how far you have come, but also where you might need to pay more attention.

(Featured Photo Courtesy of Nchole Yeo/Flickr)

The Horrors of Dress Code

     As the semester comes to an end, the dress code becomes more and more strict. Everyday, students at school have to worry about dress code which prevents particularly girls from expressing their personal style.

     “I believe that if my shoulders showing is distracting to the boys,” said sophomore Abby Roy, “then cat ears and tails that some students wear should be against dress code because it is distracting to my learning.”

     Abby Roy makes a valid point in saying so because the dress code prohibits any items of clothing that could be distracting towards students learning.

     “As a male, I feel like the dress code rules barely apply to me, It seems like I am invisible to anyone looking to dress code students,” Said junior, Aidan Current.

     Males never have to worry about dress code whereas us females are constantly worrying about it, even if the smallest sliver of our stomachs are showing. Dress code is understandable to a point but both females and males should be able to wear tank tops or other pieces of clothing not only to express style, but also as the climate gets hotter. 

     “I don’t only wear tank tops and crop tops because I like how they look,” said sophomore Samantha Eagan, “but also because I live in Arizona and it’s very hot here.”

     The temperature in Arizona can get well over 100 degrees and asking students to be completely covered everywhere can be too much to ask sometimes. Skin is the largest organ on our bodies and it’s impossible to ask every student to cover up. 

     “I feel like the school needs to get a better idea of what they feel is too revealing for students to wear,” Says Junior Ronald Feitzinger. 

     Fashion is fashion and students will wear what interests. Certain clothing items aren’t just worn because of the trends going around social media but also as a spark of confidence. Modesty is important in our learning environment, yet so is expression. Overall students and staff opinions will vary on this subject and there is most likely no hope in changing the dress code’s strict rules but we can at least show our concerns as students attending High School. 

(Featured photo courtesy of google images.)

Clubs Out of the Spotlight

Studying, learning to drive, working and applying to colleges can make high school overwhelming. Clubs are a way for students to escape the stress. Red Mountain offers numerous club opportunities for students, and the majority of them receive the attention and recognition that they deserve. However, there are several clubs that go under the radar and unfortunately get almost no acknowledgement. Many of the clubs on campus bring gratifaction, serve as learning opportunities and can even unlock a passion.

Model UN, sponsored by Mr. Brimhall, focuses on real world issues from different perspectives. The club holds conferences where the students represent different countries from around the world, and perform in the debate from their country’s perspective. For some, joining the Model UN just means that they will have an impressive transcript, yet for the majority of the participants, Model UN is an opportunity to understand the world and see beyond their own country.

“Most of us, because we’re busy people, don’t always consider what’s going on in the outside world,” Mr. Brimhall said. “It’s not that people are just willfully ignorant, it’s just we—live in our own neighborhood so to speak.”

By participating in Model UN, one is able to have their eyes open and can see the world in a broader light. The club teaches more than just debate and research from other viewpoints— Model UN also teaches teamwork. As a major part of the debate competitions is to work with other countries in order to come to a conclusion on the topic. The diplomacy that is required of the students teaches them that big problems take long periods of time to resolve, and as a result of this the students need to work together to reach that solution. It allows students to experience other cultures and perspectives of several different nations.

The opportunity to learn about other cultures and people is not just limited to just Model UN, as Red Mountain also features Anime Club. The Anime Club, sponsored by Mr. Egan, centers around discussing and critiquing the Anime artstyle. Several students on campus have shown interest in art and drawing, and Anime Club is one of the many ways for students to express their creativity. Anime Club helps one to expand their knowledge of Japanese culture and language.

“Students join to share a common interest in Japanese culture and anime,” Mr. Egan said. “Joining Anime Club will expand your knowledge of Japanese culture, anime, and art. We also have students teaching others to read and speak Japanese.”

For those who are interested in art or anime, the Anime Club is a great way to not only expand your knowledge on the artform, but also to just have a place to relax, meet new people, and explore the many different anime productions. The Anime Club also has fun participating in Red Mountain’s festivities, so much so that one year at Tailgate, the club participants drew caricatures for the children attending. Anime Club meets every Monday in room 809 during lunch. For those who join, they not only delve in the opportunity to explore their creativity, but they also become part of a family of students that they can explore with.

Red Mountain’s Future Farmers of America Club (FFA), sponsored by Ms. St. John, focuses on developing students’ potential and career success through agricultural education. FFA teaches students valuable agricultural skills ranging from taking care of animals to growing successful crops. The club does not solely focus of farming, as the students participate in numerous hours of community service not just on campus but around the Valley. The club does regular volunteer work for the Mountain Bridge Housing Community.

“FFA works all of their holiday events doing the set up, work and also the tear down,” Ms. St. John states. “We also do other things such as a monthly service project which can include things like Feed My Starving Children, dog shelters, livestock boarding facilities and more.”

The wonderful services the students perform for the community forms a small family between FFA members. Students can feel lost sometimes, and FFA is available on campus to provide a place to belong. Many students join the club for the experiences, but they end up with open doors to many different fields ranging from farming to fashion. Students can get something more than just open doors and experiences; they get to join a family. FFA focuses on farming and animal care skills, but under the surface there is a family that learns, grows  and communicates together.

Red Mountain offers many club opportunities for students, and though some may be larger than others, every club on campus can make a difference on a student’s life. Students on campus can find a club that can not only help them with their career paths, but also make them feel safe and welcome; sometimes they just need to look beyond the spotlight.

“Are You Still Watching?” Recent Survey Reveals Popular Netflix Shows

     Relaxing on a comfy sofa with heavy eyelids while binge watching Netflix is a common past time for many. “The Office”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “The Fosters”, Stranger Things”, “Breaking Bad” and “American Horror Story” are just some of the most popular shows on Netflix right now . A survey was conducted of around 110 students to see which Netlfix shows are the most popular. “The Office” came in first place with 14.9 percent of students saying that was their favorite show.

“The Office is funny and very entertaining to me,” sophomore William Walzer said.

“My favorite  character is Dwight because other than his seriousness he is very funny and he could be really relatable sometimes,” sophomore Emily Yaritza Meja Alejo said.

“I enjoy watching The Walking Dead,” sophomore Kevin Santos said. “I started watching the show since I was little and grew up with it.”

In general, people enjoy watching different shows because of their ow personal taste in genre. Watching a show is a great way to make memories and spend time with family and friends. 

(Featured Photo By Alondra Jacinto)

Work Smart, Study Smart: Tips From Seniors

Flashing screens and blaring music from headphones often accompany students as they cram every last bit information the night before a test. Many seniors have a lot of advice about studying, especially about specific strategies that they have noticed helped them excel academically throughout their high school career.

“I like reviewing what I learned in class a little bit every day in order to avoid cramming in a bunch of information the night before,” senior Emmely Rocha said. “Being in AP classes can get overwhelming and I feel like it is important to keep information flowing in your head. I have gone through this stress that occurs the night before and I have noticed that I don’t see or get the results that I wanted. Of course, there’s times when it feels difficult but it really does pay off.”

Repeating phrases or ideas over an extended period of time is an effective technique that students can utilize as they study. Simply remembering and recalling certain concepts, words or phrases enables the mind to retain the information better.

“With flash cards, I make how many I need and then study them whenever I get the chance throughout the week,” senior Courtney Crook said. “Sometimes I even have people test me. I usually use whiteboards for math because I can get more practice that way.”

There has been an increase in the amount of teachers hosting games of Kahoot! and Quizlet Live the day before a test to get students thinking about what may be on it.

“The study tool that helps me most is Quizlet,” senior Ixchel Espinoza said. “I use Google to search for a topic that I need to study, and find the Quizlet set that works best for me. It’s a beneficial and amazing resource that has helped me succeed in classes that require lots of memorization, understanding and usage such as French and Anatomy.”

Some studying techniques may work well for one person and not at all for another, and there are a plethora of other ways to study. Drawing simple images, re-writing information or creating mnemonics are all common techniques. Some can argue that procrastination and cramming are both easier than studying hard, however full effort and dedication bring results that make it all worth it.

(Featured Photo Courtesy of Courtney Crook)

 

Why Take Welding?

Welding students are either surrounded by flying sparks and burning torches or in the classroom studying the welding process.

“Welding is the joining of two materials at the molten stage,” former Red Mountain student Josh Martin said. “To replicate the chemical composition of both pieces in order to build all sorts of things such as; vehicle chassis’s, tables, grills and other projects.”

It has many unique aspects that some students may not understand. The skill of welding can be applied in many real-world applications such as: Welding in the automotive industry, in the architecture industry and smaller things as simple as fence repairs and household repairs.

Welding teaches students how to use power tools and machines, such as drills, saws and welders. Students would have the knowledge to make simple metal repairs on grills, some tools, gates and fences. If a students works their way up through all the levels of welding they will be certified welders which opens up job opportunities.

“I would definitely recommend someone take all four years of welding,” sophomore Garrett Barnes said. “After your second year if you pass the state assessment a sticker will be added to your diploma stating that you are CTE certified which will give anybody looking for a career in the technical arts an advantage when looking for a job.”

With job opportunities there is potential to earn money after high school. If a student works their way through all four levels of welding and gets their certifications they are almost guaranteed a job in that field. A beginner Welder annual salary ranges from $35,000 to $45,000 and a Master Welder annual salary can exceed $100,000.

“I want to be a welder after I get out of school,” senior Jordan Cantowine said. “As a beginning welder I could make anywhere from $50 to $100 an hour.”

Some students choose to take welding for the experience. Along with learning how to design and build things out of metal, students learn to work in teams, develop leadership and communication skill through group projects.

“I have gained a multitude of skills in welding,” Barnes said. “That being how to weld, how to cut using varying methods and how to operate a robotic plasma cam.”

For more information visit http://www.mpsaz.org/rmhs/staff/dxhurst or visit Room 340.

(Featured Photo By Philip Hicks)

What’s For Lunch?

Lunch is a very important part of the day for students. They get to talk to their friends, eat, text on their phones, seek tutoring help, work on homework and go to club meetings.

During first quarter, lunch was an hour and this quarter it is 48 minutes. Lunch got reduced because there were behavioral issues during the last ten minutes of lunch.       

“I love lunch because it gives us a break and lets us relax, but the hour lunch was so much better last quarter,” junior Laci Jett said. “I had more time to eat and hang out with my friends.”

Last quarter, the 100s hallways were off limits so there would be less garbage, less messing around and less noise inside. This quarter, every hallway is off limits, but there are many new benches and tables that are placed outside to accommodate eating areas. Garbage is still a big problem on campus during lunch because students leave it on the ground and on tables everywhere outside and in the cafeteria and patio.

“Sometimes I’m the one who makes the mess, but I always pick it up, and if it’s not my garbage then I still pick it up and throw it away,” Jett said. “That’s just the right thing to do.”

This year, tutoring is offered at lunch, before and after school on Tues. and Thurs., as well as after school on Wed.

Some club meetings are held during lunch. If students don’t have time for after school clubs, many are held during lunch, such as: culinary, diversity, FCA, photo and design, art and Student Council.  

(Featured Photo By Amelia Velazquez)

Bilingual Benefits

Students aiming for a Mesa Public Schools Scholastic Diploma must select a language course and spend a total of two years learning it. Some students have concerns about what they will gain from learning another language.

Spanish Teacher Alex Muñoz grew up in Southeast Arizona, has been teaching for 21 years and has first hand experience on learning a second language at a young age      

“Around the age of four, I learned English but my family moved to Mexico and I would forget English,” Sr. Muñoz said. “I had to learn English about seven different times.”

His background helped him understand that learning a new language can be difficult.

“In my opinion it is best to learn at least two languages because it opens up a new world for you and comes with many opportunities,” Sr. Muñoz said. “I think it’s important for everyone to learn a second language.”

Another teacher’s view on being bilingual is Herr Cole. Born in New York, Herr Cole spent a total of two years in Germany before moving back to America to get his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and Master of Arts in German at Arizona State University. Herr Cole enjoyed his time in Germany so much that he would love for everyone to travel to a foreign country     

“We have an exchange program with a school in Hamburg, Germany. The students come to America in February while Red Mountain students go to Germany for a month during the summer,’’ Herr. Cole said. “For taking German class you qualify to be a foreign exchange student in Germany and enjoy the culture you are learning in its original origin.’’

Traveling to a foreign country is an opportunity offered in many of Red Mountain’s language programs. Taking Spanish gives students the chance to visit places in Latin America such as Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador and Spain. These trips provide outlets for students who are learning a language to create memories and friends in a new place beyond the class.

Some students whose second language is English are compelled to learn and focus their abilities in the English language in order to have a greater chance to succeed in education, work and social activities.

“Being fluent in English is sometimes more rewarded in society to me than it is to be fluent in your first language because in my case my native language doesn’t come with as much opportunities compared to other languages like Spanish or French,” junior and bilingual student Ka’i Emerson said. “It would be nice if my native language [Diné] was more appreciated and preserved like other languages.”

Junior Manny Hernandez recalls spending more time learning english rather than his native language.

“If I didn’t focus on being fluent in English I wouldn’t have been able to fit in to make friends,” Hernandez said. “It would be nice for students to learn a second language so that future students may have someone to talk instead of  feeling pressured and alone like I did. At the end of the day it is your choice to learn another language, but to just to write it off because it seems boring or hard is a little insensitive to others that had no choice but to learn English.”

Everyone’s reason and decision for learning a foreign language will vary, but being open to different perspectives is very honorable to both bilingual and monolingual individuals. For more information about the world language programs visit http://www.mpsaz.org/rmhs/academics/worldlanguagesdept/.

(Featured Photo By Adontee’a Phillips)

 

Self Expression Meets Dress Code

Fashion is often used as an outlet for expression. Most people make thoughtful decisions regarding what they wear each morning while others simply do not put as much energy into these choices because to them, clothes are clothes. Fashion can be a creative art form for those who wish it to be one.

“To me, fashion is a way for people to express themselves and their individuality,” junior Laura Rivera said. “It is a way for people to show their creativity.”

High school is the time when teenagers are trying to figure out who they are as people and who they want to be in the future. Students are always finding ways to express themselves and get a message out into the world, fashion helps with that.

“Fashion is something that means a lot to me because I feel like I’m able to make a statement without having to say anything,” sophomore Isabella Dominguez said. “I have a very outgoing personality and I like my clothes to reflect that through stylish outfits and vibrant colors.”

Dress codes are sets of rules that are set in place in schools to keep the self-expression at a level which is appropriate. For some, the rules aren’t strict enough. When it comes to dress code, everyone seems to have a strong opinion.

“In my opinion I think dress code could be a lot harsher,” freshman Makayla Place said. “I see a lot of students coming to school out of dress code and nobody says anything. The system should be stricter.”

“I feel like boys have it a lot easier,” sophomore Rosalyn Craft said. “There are more rules that girls have to follow with dress code.”

Skirts and dresses have to fall one inch past the fingertips. Shoulders, backs, chests and midriffs must be covered at all times. For the boys, they must keep graphics on their shirts school appropriate and their jeans must sit no lower than the waist.

“I don’t think dress code is fair because guys don’t get dress coded for muscle tees where you can see their whole chest and side,” junior Savannah McFarlin said. “But if a girl wears a shirt where you can see her shoulders she gets sent to the office for ‘distracting’ others.”

For more information on the dress code, visit http://www.mpsaz.org/rmhs/files/red_mountain_handbook_18-19.pdf.

(Featured Photo By Brooklyn Smith)