The Student News Site of Vel Phillips Memorial

Espada y Escudo
2025 Senior Honors Convocation Overview
June 1, 2025
Thoughts On The Grown-Ups
Thoughts On The Grown-Ups
June 1, 2025
2025 Demonstration of Learning Preview
2025 Demonstration of Learning Preview
June 1, 2025
AP Test Review
June 1, 2025
AP Testing 2025: A New Era of Digital Exams
AP Testing 2025: A New Era of Digital Exams
June 1, 2025
Black History Month: 10 Hidden Figures in African American History
Black History Month: 10 Hidden Figures in African American History
February 1, 2025
Lewis Howard Latimer
Black History Month Spotlight: Lewis Howard Latimer
February 5, 2024
Check out the Special Edition Senior June Issue!!
June 1, 2023
Seniors!! Don't miss out...
Seniors!! Don’t miss out…
May 14, 2023
Some Things to Know about the Construction
Some Things to Know about the Construction
August 26, 2022
Some Things to Know about the Construction
Some Things to Know about the Construction
August 26, 2022
Who was Vel Phillips?
Who was Vel Phillips?
August 6, 2022
Students: Vote Here for Your Favorite VPM shirt!
Students: Vote Here for Your Favorite VPM shirt!
August 1, 2022
The Construction Saga Continues
The Construction Saga Continues
October 1, 2023
Spartan News, Episode 2
September 18, 2023
Spartan News, Episode 1: Welcome back Spartans!
September 11, 2023
Spartan News, Episode 0 (Freshmen Episode!)
September 1, 2023
Spartan News, Episode 24
April 5, 2023
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (No Spoilers!)
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (No Spoilers!)
June 1, 2025
Image credit to Colby Gutierrez-Kraybill
Summer Reading Recommendations
June 1, 2025
Thoughts On The Grown-Ups
Thoughts On The Grown-Ups
June 1, 2025
Image credit to Michael Coghlan
The Trials and the Purpose of Blame
June 1, 2025
Daredevil is Back! Born Again Review
Daredevil is Back! Born Again Review
April 1, 2025
Top 3 Summer Tik Tok Food Trends
Top 3 Summer Tik Tok Food Trends
August 25, 2022
Pumpkin Muffins
Best Costco Muffin Flavors, Ranked
August 25, 2022
5 Simple Snacks for Student Athletes to Eat Before, Between, or After a Sports Activity
5 Simple Snacks for Student Athletes to Eat Before, Between, or After a Sports Activity
August 4, 2022
7 St. Patrick's Day Facts You May Not Know
7 St. Patrick’s Day Facts You May Not Know
March 1, 2024
History of Halloween!!
History of Halloween!!
October 1, 2023
Musk vs. Zuck
Musk vs. Zuck
August 31, 2023
Holodomor: How Stalin Starved Ukraine to Death
Holodomor: How Stalin Starved Ukraine to Death
August 25, 2022
Who was Vel Phillips?
Who was Vel Phillips?
August 6, 2022
Pop Stars Are Taking Over The Summer
Pop Stars Are Taking Over The Summer
September 1, 2024
Back And Better Than Ever: The Diary of Alicia Keys 20
Back And Better Than Ever: The Diary of Alicia Keys 20
December 1, 2023
2023 Autumn Playlist
2023 Autumn Playlist
October 3, 2023
My *Correct* Ranking of SZA’s SOS
February 27, 2023
Rihanna is Back: and Controversial?
Rihanna is Back: and Controversial?
February 27, 2023
2022 October Playlist
2022 October Playlist
October 9, 2022
2022 Back to School Playlist
2022 Back to School Playlist
August 25, 2022
Leo XIV Elected As New Pope
June 1, 2025
PBS, NPR Under Threat As Trump Cuts Continue
PBS, NPR Under Threat As Trump Cuts Continue
June 1, 2025
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building, connected to the White House, in which DOGE operates
Elon Musk Leaves Trump Administration and DOGE
June 1, 2025
Image attributed to Kevin Hutchinson
Ron Johnson’s Brain Hits Corner of Skull Perfectly In Highly Anticipated Event
April 1, 2025
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
Democrats Unveil “H.E.L.P. U.S.” Bill
April 1, 2025
Leo XIV Elected As New Pope
June 1, 2025
Sao Paulo Race Clinches Max Verstappen F1 Championship
December 1, 2024
Liam Payne's Death
Liam Payne’s Death
November 1, 2024
France Bans All Soup to Prevent Mona Lisa Damage
France Bans All Soup to Prevent Mona Lisa Damage
April 1, 2024
COP28: Moving Towards Renewable Energy
COP28: Moving Towards Renewable Energy
January 1, 2024
PBS, NPR Under Threat As Trump Cuts Continue
PBS, NPR Under Threat As Trump Cuts Continue
June 1, 2025
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building, connected to the White House, in which DOGE operates
Elon Musk Leaves Trump Administration and DOGE
June 1, 2025
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
Democrats Unveil “H.E.L.P. U.S.” Bill
April 1, 2025
Official White House photo from Trump's first term
Trump’s Cabinet So Far
March 1, 2025
A cargo ship.
What Are Tariffs, And Why Is Trump Using Them?
March 1, 2025
MMSD Keeps Schools Open After Black Hole
MMSD Keeps Schools Open After Black Hole
April 1, 2025
Abundant Life Christian School Shooting
Abundant Life Christian School Shooting
January 1, 2025
The 2024 Electoral College results
2024 Election Recap
December 1, 2024
Election Day Info
Election Day Info
November 1, 2024
Now Boarding: Bus Rapid Transit Begins
Now Boarding: Bus Rapid Transit Begins
October 1, 2024
Is Nuclear Energy The Future For America?
Is Nuclear Energy The Future For America?
December 1, 2024
Redbox Bankruptcy, Whats Next?
Redbox Bankruptcy, Whats Next?
December 1, 2024
A cargo port.
Dock Workers Strike
November 1, 2024
104-Year-Old Sky Diver Breaks Record
104-Year-Old Sky Diver Breaks Record
March 1, 2024
Signing Elf Allows Deaf Girl to Meet Santa for the First Time
Signing Elf Allows Deaf Girl to Meet Santa for the First Time
January 1, 2024
Image credit to Watts
Goldfish, A.I., and Propagated Lies
June 1, 2025
Image credit to Michael Coghlan
The Trials and the Purpose of Blame
June 1, 2025
Image credit to Luke Addison
My Disappointment is Immeasurable and My Day is Ruined
May 1, 2025
Steve’s Lava Chicken Song of the Year
May 1, 2025
Image credit to Tim Swinson
Are YA Dystopias Even Dystopias?
May 1, 2025
Formula One Mid Season Update
June 1, 2025
Redbull Drama Strikes Again
May 1, 2025
VPM Spring Sports
May 1, 2025
F1 is Back! Is this WIlliams year?
April 1, 2025
How to Make the Perfect March Madness Bracket
How to Make the Perfect March Madness Bracket
April 1, 2025

Espada y Escudo

Espada y Escudo

The Student News Site of Vel Phillips Memorial
All content by Max Knight

June Editor’s Note – Congrats On Making It Through The Year!

Max Knight
June 1, 2025

2025 Senior Honors Convocation Overview

Max Knight
June 1, 2025
"Heart Eyes" Review: A Tropey, Fun Genre Mish-Mash

“Heart Eyes” Review: A Tropey, Fun Genre Mish-Mash

Max Knight
March 1, 2025

February Editor’s Note – Welcome to Second Semester!

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
February 1, 2025
"Cast of Emilia Perez at TIFF 2024 the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (cropped)" by Frank Sun is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Emilia Perez and the Limits of Awards Ceremonies

Max Knight
February 1, 2025

Getting to Know The Cast of “Something Rotten”

Max Knight
February 1, 2025
The 10 Best Movies of 2024

The 10 Best Movies of 2024

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
January 1, 2025
Ranking My First Semester Classes - Senior Year Edition

Ranking My First Semester Classes – Senior Year Edition

Max Knight
January 1, 2025
Adapted from official stills on arcane.com.

Arcane Season 2 Review: A Beautifully Imperfect Tapestry of Love and War

Max Knight
December 1, 2024
Smile 2 Made Me Pull A Muscle In Fear

Smile 2 Made Me Pull A Muscle In Fear

Max Knight
November 1, 2024
The Cast of Lend Me A Tenor (from left to right), Daniel Mueller, Nylah Kleiss, Lars McKillop, Zane Yeazel, Benjamin Thom, Marguerite Penning, Mable Miller, Varnika Arianathan.

Getting to Know the Cast of Lend Me A Tenor!

Max Knight
November 1, 2024
"Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice-06550" by Harald Krichel is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

BeetleJuice, BeetleJuice. Fun or Flop?

Ben Thom and Max Knight
October 1, 2024
"Francis Ford Coppola dirigiendo" by Guillermo Tomoyose is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Megalopolis: An Egomaniacal Disaster

Max Knight
October 1, 2024
Second Assassination Attempt Against Trump At Florida Golf Club

Second Assassination Attempt Against Trump At Florida Golf Club

Max Knight, Editor in chief
October 1, 2024
2024 Homecoming Schedule + Spirit Week Themes!

2024 Homecoming Schedule + Spirit Week Themes!

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
September 9, 2024
2024 Spartan Football Themes and Schedule

2024 Spartan Football Themes and Schedule

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
September 1, 2024
September Editor's Note: Welcome To The New School Year, Spartans!

September Editor’s Note: Welcome To The New School Year, Spartans!

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
September 1, 2024
How to Start High School Off Right: Advice from a senior to freshmen

How to Start High School Off Right: Advice from a senior to freshmen

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
September 1, 2024
"Robert Downey, Jr." by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0."File:Deadpool 2 Japan Premiere Red Carpet Ryan Reynolds (cropped).jpg" by Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Deadpool and Wolverine, RDJ, And The Empty Void Of Cameo Culture

Max Knight
September 1, 2024
Abigail!

Abigail!

Max Knight, Opinion’s Editor
May 1, 2024
What Should Win and What Will Win At This Year's Oscars

What Should Win and What Will Win At This Year’s Oscars

Max Knight
March 1, 2024

Getting to Know the Cast of The Addams Family

Max Knight, Opinion’s Editor
February 1, 2024
From Complete Comedies to Atomic Bombs: Top Ten Movies of 2023

From Complete Comedies to Atomic Bombs: Top Ten Movies of 2023

Max Knight, Opinion’s Editor
January 1, 2024
Into the Future: 10 Movies to Look Out for in 2024

Into the Future: 10 Movies to Look Out for in 2024

Max Knight, Opinion’s Editor
January 1, 2024
Reviewing My First Semester Classes - Junior Year

Reviewing My First Semester Classes – Junior Year

Max Knight
January 1, 2024
January Editor's Note: Happy New Year!

January Editor’s Note: Happy New Year!

Max Knight
January 1, 2024
MMSD Director of Assessments Tim Peterson

“It does not describe you as a person and as a learner,” A Conversation on Standardized Testing with MMSD Director of Assessments Tim Peterson

Max Knight
December 1, 2023
A Complete WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strike Recap, and What It Means For The Future of the Industry

A Complete WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strike Recap, and What It Means For The Future of the Industry

Max Knight
December 1, 2023
Two Student Editors Discuss Inspiration, the Writing Process, and How to Deal With Writer's Block

Two Student Editors Discuss Inspiration, the Writing Process, and How to Deal With Writer’s Block

Max Knight and Sophia Jiang
December 1, 2023
A Colassal Canvas of American Greed - Killers of the Flower Moon Review

A Colassal Canvas of American Greed – Killers of the Flower Moon Review

Max Knight
November 1, 2023
An adaptation of the following works:"Halloween decoration" by Free Flower is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse."Halloween Decorations" by www.metaphoricalplatypus.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse."Halloween decorations." by MIKI Yoshihito. (#mikiyoshihito) is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse."Halloween Decorations" by www.metaphoricalplatypus.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

The Definitive Halloween Decoration Ranking

Max Knight
October 1, 2023
6 Horror Movies, New and Old, to Set The Season With

6 Horror Movies, New and Old, to Set The Season With

Max Knight, Opinion’s Editor
September 30, 2023
A Haunting in Venice: Rows by on Vibes Alone

A Haunting in Venice: Rows by on Vibes Alone

Max Knight
September 30, 2023
AI in Art

AI in Art

Max Knight
August 30, 2023

The Movies of Summer 2023: What’s Worth Watching and What’s Not

Max Knight
August 30, 2023

A Review of Scream 6 (Minor Spoilers)

Max Knight
March 31, 2023

A 95th Academy Rewards Review: An (Occasional) Success

Max Knight
March 31, 2023
Review of Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania: Too Big for Its Own Good

Review of Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania: Too Big for Its Own Good

Max Knight
February 27, 2023

Review of Avatar: The Way of Water

Max Knight
February 3, 2023
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