So, what does theater class look like? It could be a room full of people with make-up on, props all over the floor, costumes on hangers, and actors practicing their lines to prepare for the next play. Or, it could look like a stage manager running around giving people orders on what they should do next. In reality, theater class looks like a regular class, only this class prepares its students to create fictional worlds where they get to pretend to be other people entirely, living in worlds that are either similar or very different from the one they live in every day.

Theater isn’t just about acting and dressing up; students also get to learn how to be social, learn new words, and meet new people who might end up being their friends later on. Being in theater can also help students overcome their fear of public speaking by teaching them how to get better at remembering their lines. Crane’s High School theater class will do all this, and more, for you. 

The teacher in charge of Crane’s theater class is Vanessa Velasco. Velasco always makes sure that her students are being supportive, positive, and fair with each other. In theater, it is important to get along in order to work together as a team. Velasco teaches theater students to be more extroverted and creative.  

“I hope that I can just help theater grow to be a better program," she said.

Velasco describes theater as a learning experience. 

“I would say that theater is making a story come to life. It's like watching a dream, fairytale, or ritual through visual art. It takes props, scenery, costumes, make-up and actors to make the story really come to life."

Velasco explained how theater is much more spiritual and fulfilling than social media ever could be.

"Unlike a movie or TikTok that you can keep (reshooting after your mistakes), in a play you have one opportunity to get it right.” 

This school year, Crane High School’s theater class will have a Mexican and horror-themed play during school on Halloween. The play will be based on  “La Llorona Told by Consuelo Chavez”.  

Velasco said that the play is sure to be interesting for the audience.

“(It's sure to be) a spooky play in October.”  

The reason Velasco chose this type of play is because she wants to show her culture. She is of Mexican descent. The reason why she chose to have the play in the month of October is that it’s when spooky season begins and “La Llorona” is based on a truly spooky story. 

So, if you're the type who likes to be center-stage and perform in front of a large audience, get with Velasco and discuss making theater a class a part of your school schedule. And even if you don’t like the spotlight, there’s a spot for you in theater as a set-builder!

Business class teaches students how to manage their money and helps them understand some of the basic skills in business. For example, to run a business students must learn to be organized and manage the daily operations of a business. Students also need to know how to produce a product and market the product by advertising it. These are some of the first steps to operating a successful business.

The teacher of Crane’s business class is John Chipman. He is always trying his best to get his students to understand the basics of business so that they can have a bright future. 

When asked what made him want to be a business teacher, he said, “I worked in the corporate business world for a long time—30 plus years. I am hoping to pass on some of the things I learned during that time.”

Chipman also teaches students the skills necessary for success in business. For example, you need to know people's wants, needs, and desires. He also teaches students how to organize, manage, produce, and market a business.

Chipman said that knowing what you are doing is key.

“Some of the key skills necessary for success in business are the ability to manage your finances, problem-solve, delegate, use appropriate time management, and cultivate your leadership skills.”

 

Chipman gives good advice in every lesson that he teaches. The only bad advice he could give a business owner is  to “...not to believe in yourself and not go into business.” 

According to Chipman, one of the biggest challenges faced by business owners today is “making how you market your business a big challenge.”

This is true, because many people starting up new businesses make things more complicated than they need to be. 

Katherine Mireles, sophomore, described business class as “a very interesting class that gives you information about managing a business.” 

According to Mireles, Chipman’s class provides you with the right information to succeed.

“Business management class gives you information about businesses and also teaches you the do’s and don'ts of running a business,” she said.     

Mireles said she’s learned a lot so far and hopes to learn even more in the future. 
   

“Something I have learned in business class is that we should never sell items too cheap nor too expensive and that we shouldn’t over produce supplies.”

If you are interested in succeeding in business, look into adding Chipman’s class to your schedule in the future. 

Lyrically, "Utopia" goes into Scott's personal experiences, exploring themes of fame, success, and the more difficult aspects of relationships. The nature of the lyrics adds a layer of depth to the album, providing listeners with a look into the artist's mind. The album also features collaborations with a range of talented artists, making the project more interesting to listen to. Drake, 21 Savage, and Playboi Carti all make an appearance on the record. 

The best song in the album is "Meltdown," which highlights Scott’s talent for blending dynamic and mesmerizing beats. The song is an adrenaline-fueled journey through Scott's specific style, made by heavy bass, autotuned vocals, and loud electronic elements. The track captures the good things of modern hip-hop, keeping a high-energy vibe that's characteristic of Scott's music. It's proof of his ability to make an addictive sound that reaches a wide audience and gives him a top place in the rap world. 

Another amazing song on the album is "Fe!n," an amazing track that displays the artist's signature blend of beautiful melodies and vivid storytelling. The vibe is relaxing and atmospheric, creating an amazing experience. Scott's lyrics go into personal struggles, showing a life that can connect with listeners. The song stands as a test of Scott's evolution as an artist, showing his ability to make emotionally inspired music that leaves a lasting impact.

I really enjoyed Travis Scott's "Utopia" album for its vibes and beats. The blends of various musical genres show Scott’s skills as an artist. The tracks have a unique energy that keeps the listener hooked, and the storytelling within the lyrics is interesting, making it an album I can listen to on repeat. Overall, "Utopia" is a 9/10, making it an amazing project by Scott.

Imagine you're in the mood for Mexican food. You go to a restaurant and sit down. When the waitress approaches you, she seems friendly enough, but there's one small problem: she’s speaking Spanish, and you don’t know a single word. You feel awkward and embarrassed.

Thankfully, Crane High School has an elective that can help students learn to speak Spanish from the beginner-level all the way up to conversing in sophisticated sentences. 

The Spanish class begins by teaching students the alphabet and how to count in Spanish. Next, students are taught how to greet one another and say goodbye in a number of ways. This leads students to opening the first set of doors to becoming bilingual. 

At the end of the year, students should know how to speak and write fluently in Spanish. And once a student reaches this point, he or she is able to know what almost everyone in Crane is talking about at any time. 

Now, imagine returning to that same Mexican restaurant from before, only this time you’re able to speak Spanish. The same waitress approaches you again, only this time you’re able to have a nice conversation, and then you can even order your food in Spanish! 

Vanessa Velasco, CHS Spanish teacher, explained why she teaches Spanish class. 

“I love the language and the culture," she said. “I wanted to teach language because it's fun and interesting. It is very important to be able to speak well.”

When asked why she wanted to learn to speak Spanish, she said that she wanted to be able to communicate with her loved ones.

“I wanted to speak to my grandma, who only speaks Spanish.”

While she had been able to speak Spanish as a child, she explained that it wasn’t until later on that she was able to speak Spanish fluently.

“I started speaking Spanish in high school fluently; it was my first language, but then I never used it in elementary and middle school and forgot most of the words. I understood the language and just never used it. Just like everything else, to be good at something you have to practice.” 

Through her years of teaching at CHS, Velasco has made an impact by helping students.

“This is my second year teaching,” she said. “It's been better this year. The first year was really hard, but I am feeling more at home and love seeing my students from last year as they grow up."

Whether it comes to speaking to your relatives or ordering food, learning to speak Spanish is a valuable asset for anyone—but especially people living in Crane where the Hispanic population is the overwhelming majority demographic. Not only that, but taking Spanish class will teach you to understand the Hispanic culture, and that, too, is a very valuable skill!

If you want to know more, find Velasco or Patty Rizo and ask them about taking Spanish!

First Priority is a Christian-based community that educates students about Jesus and the Gospel, allowing students to learn about Jesus, share what they learn, and eat and hang out.

Cristal Gomez, a sophomore, attends First Priority regularly. She explained a typical meeting on Wednesday.

“We sit down and eat and talk about Jesus," she said. "I find the program to be very helpful with people who are trying to get closer to Jesus and don’t know where to start."

Gomez said that the group is a great place to expand on one's faith.

"First Priority is the perfect opportunity to grow closer to Christ."

Kaden Hargrove, a sophomore, is also a regular at First Priority.

“Getting closer to Jesus means a lot to me," he said. "I think it’s very thoughtful that this program is taking its own time to come to our school and do this for us!"

Aubrey Torres, a freshman, said that the student-led group is a great place to learn more about what it means to be a Christian.

“This is such a beautiful, fun opportunity to have, especially during school hours," she said. "It's the first year the school has done something like this, and I love it."

Torres said that she believes the program will be very successful.

"I feel that It will bring more people closer to Jesus and possibly even help students form new, healthier friendships," she said. "I'm super excited to see where this goes throughout the year!” 

Chris Farrell, pastor of the First Baptist Church here in Crane, is a volunteer leader at First Priority.

“I really just want to share the hope of Jesus," he said. "First Priority is a student-led club where they get to share and meet every Wednesday. We have lunch, share a passage from the Bible, and learn how all of life applies to Jesus."

Farrell said the program has been a hit so far.

"It’s been very successful; we have had good responses from the students, but we all hope to see more students attend.” 

Randy Unruh, the rural and elementary director of the Permian Basin, said that he wants students to learn how to share the Gospel with one another.

"My goal is to get the students in Crane to talk to others about Jesus Christ and serve the community and churches."

Unruh said that First Priority allows students to come and hang out, but that while having fun, students learn to lead other students by modeling a Christian lifestyle. 

"This helps them understand more about Jesus and how to serve God," he said. 

Unruh said that his hope is that more and more students start showing up to First Priority each week.

"If you are looking to join, just show up,” he said. “We are here every Wednesday for high school, and Tuesday for middle school. We welcome everyone with open arms.” 

Morgan Hall is very familiar with these feelings. She is the cosmetology instructor at Crane High School. She had a lot to say about her life's journey into her teaching position at CHS.

“I did not think I would be a teacher," she said. "I graduated in 2011 and wanted to be a businesswoman in retail, and maybe own a salon and bed and breakfast."

You know what they say? When we tell people our plans, God laughs. 

"I have been in cosmetology for 10 years now," she said.

Students at CHS have also found a home in cosmo. Maria Sanchez, a senior who is also a cosmo student, likes to make people feel confident in their own skin.

"I feel good about myself when I do my hair and makeup, so I want to make other people feel good and confident about themselves as well."

Hall is not only a cosmetology teacher, but she does cosmo as a side job, too. She teaches during the week and makes people feel beautiful on the weekends. 

Although teaching isn't what she initially planned to do, Hall said she's happy with where she's at in life.

"Cosmetology was not my career choice," she said. “However, I still enjoy it.”

Hall said that her main goal as a teacher is to prepare her students for a career outside of high school.

"This is a life career," she said. "Since they are investing time and money into this now, they need to understand that it can actually make them money once they leave the classroom and head out into the real world."

Hall said that there are a lot of steps to acquiring a cosmo certificate and completing a satisfactory grade in her class.

"If you are in dual credit or college courses, there is nobody holding your hands," she said. "If you are failing or behind, they won’t check up on you or wait for you. You need to think of this as a technical school, not a high school course, so you can prepare yourself for what the world offers."

The good thing about cosmetology is that you can make money as well.

Hall said that a good rule of thumb for a student starting to charge for her services is to make the fee small, at least initially.

"You don't need to charge too much at first," Hall said. "If you charge a small amount and gradually increase the fee once your skills have gotten better, you are likely to have customers who will keep coming back time and time again."

Each student is given a list of tasks that they must complete to get their cosmo certificate.

"Since I am in the senior class, I am given a paper that has a lot of tasks that need to be finished by the end of the month," said Sanchez. "For example, the paper will have about 250 tasks that range from coloring hair, manicures, pedicures, etc. For every task I complete, I will get a signature. The amount of signatures determines my grade."

Sanchez said that the most difficult part of being in cosmo isn't the actual task of putting on makeup and doing people's hair, but in learning how to feel good on the inside.

"The most difficult part of cosmo is being confident in myself enough to know that I know what I am doing and finish whatever task I was assigned."

Esmerelda Mendoza, a senior in cosmo, said that the days and hours in cosmo can get to be pretty long.

"At the moment, we are preparing for a practical test, which is hands-on, where we practice packing our bags and make sure everything is sanitized, organized and labeled," she explained.

It seems that most students in Hall's cosmo class really enjoy learning the tricks of the trade, and even though the hours are many and the work can get hard, they get a lot out of what they're doing and can't wait to take their skills out into the real world.

If you’re interested in pursuing cosmo, see Hall today!

Culinary teacher Renea Garza actually attended three colleges!

"I got my associate's degree at South Plains College to become a legal secretary," she said. 

Just like Clarkson, she also transferred to Texas Tech after two years. 

"I then went to Texas Tech for only one semester because I thought making money was more important," she said. 

Garza later finished up at yet another college to get her bachelor's degree.

Colleges all over the world are all very different. Although many people stick to one college and attend all four years, some people choose to keep an open mind and try out different colleges that may be best for them.

Patty Rizo, CHS Spanish teacher, said that she actually attended a college out-of-state.

"I attended Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina my freshman year of college."

Rizo said she was kind of afraid at first.

"This experience was a very scary, yet rewarding experience. I was blessed to join the volleyball team and met some of the best friends on that team." 

Something all these teachers have in common is that they all explored different colleges, and all got their taste of what the college experience was really like. 

Rizo attended Odessa College and finished her degree at UT Permian Basin. 

"This experience was much less stressful for me," she said. "At OC and UTPB, I had a great tribe of friends who attended classes with me."

Rizo went on to provide advice for all the graduating seniors this year, as well as for the juniors who are beginning to make college plans for later on.

"As a former student from Crane High School, college is something that you start thinking about towards your junior and senior year," she said. "It's also good to start planning your future ahead of time; if you feel like it's something that you will end up pursuing in the long run, or even just doing it for a short period of time, start thinking about it today!"

Regardless of what college you decide to attend, or if you decide not to attend college at all, make sure that you've done your research on what each school is about. If you can't find one that suits you, and decide that entering a career is more up your alley, then always move into the next chapter of your life with all of the facts at your disposal.

The game started off like any other, 0-0, before Tyson Brents, quarterback, scored the first touchdown against the Bucks, starting the game off strong for the Crane Golden Cranes. 

The Cranes played exceptionally well, scoring touchdown-after-touchdown, making plays that stopped the Bucks in their tracks.

Alpine was able to manage a touchdown, followed by an extra point, but their points were few and far between.

Kevin Iniguez, senior, thinks the team started off slow and weren't communicating until they went into halftime. 

“Entering the third quarter, we started communicating, which got us the win.”

Coach Trevor Davis said there were some new team goals put into place, which helped the boys enter the game ready to be physical and be ready for new challenges.

“We are starting to fire on all cylinders,” he said. “We are getting there.”

Iniguez said that Alpine made some plays that could have got to the Golden Cranes.

“But we fixed it during the game,” he said, “and overall, we all played wellas a team.¨ 

The Golden Cranes will move on to Tornillo Friday. Another win against Tornillo will put the Golden Cranes one step closer to winning district.

Come out and support the Crane Golden Crane varsity football team as they go up against the Tornillo Coyotes Friday! 

Form a picture in your mind of 28 bands, and a small 3A band overtakes them all, winning first in 3A and fourth overall. Well, that is exactly what the Crane High School band accomplished this Saturday.

The band traveled all the way to San Angelo. Although the competition was a practice one, the band treated it like the real deal. 

"I love seeing all the focus and determination on all of their faces," said Sara Hill, band director. "The band did so well, earning the award for best brass, woodwind, and percussion."

Not everything went flawlessly, however. 

"Unfortunately, there was a miscalculation with the points for woodwind and brass, so in reality, we got the best percussion only."

Sally Gutierrez, freshman and percussionist said she thought they could do better but was pleased overall.

“My expectations were greater, as I thought we would win best brass of wood wind. But I'm glad we got the percussion because we tried so hard.”

Individually, Gutierrez noticed some things that she needs to work on personally. 

“I could've been better prepared. Before I felt a little nervous because it was a big stadium and I didn't wanna make a mistake. I was feeling pretty confident because I practiced in the places I wasn't so good at. I was proud of the band. I think the band was also proud.”

When the scores were announced, the band was very happy and ecstatic. Cheers could be heard a mile away!

Maria Sanchez, senior and drum major said she was very proud of their performance, and also noted things she and the rest of the band can tweak.

“The band was greater than what I expected. I could've been better prepared. We had learned the salute that morning. I was nervous because I didn't want to mess up anyone. Also, I felt a lot of pressure since I had so many people depending on me, and the way I conducted. Afterward, I felt relieved and happy. I was so proud of the band kids and their concentration.”

The CHS band will now look forward to area and state. Come on out and support your might Crane Golden Crane band!

The parade started at S. Katherine Street at 2:30 p.m. By the time it began, the sidewalks were packed with many people waiting to see the wonderfully decorated cars and smiling faces of those riding atop them. The first thing they saw was the CMS and CHS twirlers and band students. 

Then, behind the band students, there was Deb's Darlings, the tiny twirlers-in-training. Following that, there were cars driving with students and teachers throwing a lot of candy. The people participating in the parade were delighted to be able to see many kids having fun picking up candy and families enjoying spending time together in the parade. The parade ended on 7th Street at around 3 p.m.

Omar Murguia, a freshman, said, "The parade was wonderful. What I enjoyed the most was the band playing and being able to spend time with my family.”

Katherine Mireles, sophomore, was asked to describe the parade. She said, "Once I heard the band play, I knew the parade was going to be amazing. There were a lot of decorated cars with students from Crane throwing candy. My younger siblings were fascinated by the amount of candies and toys being thrown. I would say the parade was really fun and majestic."

While people were sad that the fun was over, the good thing is that this is an annual event. Who knows? Maybe next year's parade will be even longer, with even more candy and fun than this year's! A girl can dream, can't she?

Married? how long? Not married

How long have you been in education? This is my tenth year in education.

Where were you before Crane? I was in San Antonio, at San Antonio Cole (Fort Sam Houston ISD).

What do you do for fun? I like spending time with my daughters (watching movies) and spending time with my friends.

How many siblings do you have? I have three: two brothers and one sister.

Children? Grandchildren? I have two daughters and no grandchildren.

What is one of your hidden talents? I have none, sadly!

What would students be surprised to find out about you? I was both a crime scene tech and a police officer. My favorite thing to do as both was to attend autopsies.

Do you have any pets? My daughter and I have a dog, Lucy. She is our baby.

If you won the lottery and gave up working in education what would you do? Go back to working in law enforcement. 

What inspires you? My daughters.

What is your dream vacation? I would love to go to Italy.

What are your trapped-on-an-island books and movies?  Books: Any VC Andrews books. Movies: Any sports movies.

El Ave News staff writer

The Crane Golden Crane JV football team faced the Ropesville Eagles Thursday, suffering a hard-fought loss, 14-6.

Adam McGuire, a sophomore, said before the game that he was pretty confident.

"I feel pretty good, even though it´s a team we have never played. I believe that we have a good chance."

McGuire mentioned that the team is learning how to better talk to each other, and that is translating to better play on the field.

"Our team has grown to have better communication," he said.

Jacob Bejarano, sophomore, was also asked about the game against the Ealges, to which he claimed to be very confident about how it would all play out.

"I´m honestly nervous; it feels weird going against a team I knew nothing about."

The Golden Cranes played well against Ropesville. Even though the Crane JV lost, they fought hard until the last whistle blew.

"After the game, I was disappointed," said Bejarano. "I felt like we could´ve done more to better impact the game's outcome."

When Brayson Newberry, a sophomore, was asked about how he felt after the game, he said some of the flags were not warranted.

"I feel like we should´ve won the game, but there were some questionable calls."

McGuire attributed the loss, at least in part, to a lack of communication that he felt should've been better since they have been communicating better as a team lately.

The JV is now 5-2. Come out next home game to support the JV boys and their quest to improve upon their already stellar record.

Our Crane Lady Birds fought fiercely against the Presidio Lady Blue Devils and lost in four sets, 1-3.

The game started off well, with the Lady Birds winning the first set, although not by much. 

The Lady Birds played fiercely in the second set, but soon the Lady Blue Devils got the upper hand, putting the Lady Birds in a whole world of trouble and eventually sealing the deal on the second set. The Lady Blue Devils won the third set and then, after a good fight, put the Lady Birds away in the fourth. 

Our Lady Birds will play again Saturday and hopefully rebound from Tuesday’s loss.

Spider-Man 2 is a sequel from Spider-Man PS4 and Spider-Man: Miles Morales. This game lets you customize your Spider-Man, and the map is two times larger than the previous Spider-Man games. 

This game allows the player to customize Spider-Man in multiple ways, from suits to colors.

Spider-Man 2 is an open-world game allowing you to swing around the map and help people with crimes and other stuff. 

Spider-Man 2 introduces a new feature with web-swinging, which allows the player to glide around a bit. This new feature allows the player to get to his/her destination faster. There will also be new gadgets to use when fighting villains.

Spider-Man 2 introduces the ability to switch between Peter and Miles. Even when you are done with the story mode, you’ll be able to swing around, help civilians, and stop criminals from breaking into houses You'll also be able to help stop car chases and such.

Spider-Man 2 also brings a whole bunch of new villains into the picture, like Kraven the Hunter, Venom, and Sandman. This game showcases updated looks for all of the old characters like Peter, Miles, MJ, and Black Cat.

Spider-Man 2 also features more fighting moves and finishers. Peter Parker is also going to get the symbiote, which will bring out most of the new moves for the game. Spider-Man 2 will keep some of the old mechanics—like the fighting, swinging, and the gadgets—but the new additions are sure to please. 

This game lets you customize the symbiote for Peter. You will be able to choose between different types of suits. They will be from cartoons to video games, all the way to movies. This feature also comes to the main suits. They will range from comics, cartoons, games, and movies.

In short, I say that the video game is definitely worth your time. If I had to rate it, I would say that it is a 5 out of 5 Golden Cranes.

Jolee Seabourn, FFA teacher

“Invincible because I want to be able to talk a lot of crap and not get hurt.”

Cristian Velasco, junior

¨Fly, so I can go to far places faster and have access to bigger opportunities and further transportation.”

Adam McGuire, sophomore

“Fly, so I won't have to get a car, and I can save money.”

Clarissa Velasco, junior

“I would rather be invisible so I don't have to wait in lines.”

Jose Aranda, junior 

“I would rather be able to fly so I can fulfill my dreams of being Batman.”

Gracin Huertas, sophomore

“I would rather be able to fly so I can get to places quicker.”

Lily Espino, sophomore

“I would fly so I could see a lot of things.”

Miguel Angel, senior

“I would be invisible because I could get away with things without paying.”

Zachary Almon, sophomore

“Be invisible so I can avoid situations.”

Shauna Scott, senior

“Invisible so I can see people's true colors.”

Denise Bolanos, junior 

“Invisible because imagine how goofy you look flying.”

Jacob Townsend, freshman

“Be invisible so I can be good at hide-and-seek.”