The Student News Site of Vel Phillips Memorial

Sword & Shield
Spirit Day 2025
Spirit Day 2025
May 1, 2025
AP Exams 2025
AP Exams 2025
May 1, 2025
Prom 2025
Prom 2025
May 1, 2025
VPM Drama's "The Grown Ups" On May 9,1 0 and 13
VPM Drama’s “The Grown Ups” On May 9,1 0 and 13
May 1, 2025
School Parking Lot Now Valet-Only
School Parking Lot Now Valet-Only
April 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
Daredevil is Back! Born Again Review
Daredevil is Back! Born Again Review
April 1, 2025
Image attributed to Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures Announces Another Ninety Fast & Furious Films
April 1, 2025
"Blue mushroom 3 (Entoloma hochstetteri)" by little.tomato is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Common Side Effects: Halfway Through Review
March 1, 2025
Something Rotten Review
March 1, 2025
"Heart Eyes" Review: A Tropey, Fun Genre Mish-Mash
“Heart Eyes” Review: A Tropey, Fun Genre Mish-Mash
March 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
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
Grandmas in Outrage over Closed Joans
April 1, 2025
MMSD Keeps Schools Open After Black Hole
MMSD Keeps Schools Open After Black Hole
April 1, 2025
Official White House photo from Trump's first term
Trump’s Cabinet So Far
March 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
Israel-Hamas War Continues
Israel-Hamas War Continues
January 1, 2024
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
Elon Musk, head of DOGE
DOGE, Explained
March 1, 2025
President Trump at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before the inauguration.
Trump Inaugurated As 47th President, Issues Executive Orders
February 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 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
Image credit to matsuyuki
Yes, You Need A Trigger Warning For That
May 1, 2025
Original image attributed to Rawpixel
Top Ten Worst Things Of All Time
April 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
The Super Bowl LIX Logo
Eagles Fly High In Super Bowl LIX
March 1, 2025

Sword & Shield

Sword & Shield

The Student News Site of Vel Phillips Memorial
All content by Sophia Jiang
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
MMSD Climate Action Letter: Sign Now!

MMSD Climate Action Letter: Sign Now!

Sophia Jiang
October 26, 2023
2023 Autumn Playlist

2023 Autumn Playlist

Sophia Jiang
October 3, 2023
5 Reasons Why Autumn is the Best Season

5 Reasons Why Autumn is the Best Season

Sophia Jiang
October 3, 2023
11 VPM Seniors Named National Merit Scholar Semifinalists

11 VPM Seniors Named National Merit Scholar Semifinalists

Sophia Jiang
September 29, 2023
End of Semester Countdown!

End of Semester Countdown!

Sophia Jiang
January 14, 2023
Courtesy of Ruby Anderson

Vote on the MSG2TEENS Driving Safety Contest Winner!

Sophia Jiang and Anvika Annyapu
January 14, 2023
New Year's Crossword Puzzle 2023

New Year’s Crossword Puzzle 2023

Sophia Jiang
January 14, 2023
Your EICs Want to Wish You a Happy New Year!

Your EICs Want to Wish You a Happy New Year!

Sophia Jiang, Anvika Annyapu, and Olivia Zhu
January 14, 2023
Founder and CEO Ben Arnoldussen wearing his custom rings and necklaces. (Courtesy of Ben Arnoldussen)

Interview with Teen CEO and Founder of Calvagna Jewelry: Ben Arnoldussen

Sophia Jiang
November 13, 2022
Swifty Rates Taylor Swift’s Midnights Album (+3 AM Tracks)

Swifty Rates Taylor Swift’s Midnights Album (+3 AM Tracks)

Sophia Jiang
November 13, 2022
Join COSHA (Coalition of Student Health Advocates) in its next advocacy project: Nutritional Photovoice!

Join COSHA (Coalition of Student Health Advocates) in its next advocacy project: Nutritional Photovoice!

Sophia Jiang
November 6, 2022
Beneath Taylor Swift’s Anti-Hero’s Lyrics is a Deeper Message About Mental Health

Beneath Taylor Swift’s Anti-Hero’s Lyrics is a Deeper Message About Mental Health

Sophia Jiang
October 28, 2022
Lunchroom Worker Shortages in MMSD and their Impact on School Food Nutrition

Lunchroom Worker Shortages in MMSD and their Impact on School Food Nutrition

Sophia Jiang
October 28, 2022
Non-Swifty Rates Taylor Swift’s Midnights Songs

Non-Swifty Rates Taylor Swift’s Midnights Songs

Sophia Jiang
October 27, 2022
Best Quotes from Taylor Swift's Midnights Album

Best Quotes from Taylor Swift’s Midnights Album

Sophia Jiang
October 27, 2022
MMSD Board of Education Votes in Support of Specific Water Access Policy Language

MMSD Board of Education Votes in Support of Specific Water Access Policy Language

Sophia Jiang
October 9, 2022
2022 October Playlist

2022 October Playlist

Sophia Jiang
October 9, 2022
Memorial Tennis Girls Fight Hard at Conference

Memorial Tennis Girls Fight Hard at Conference

Sophia Jiang
October 8, 2022
Pumpkin Muffins

Best Costco Muffin Flavors, Ranked

Sophia Jiang
August 25, 2022
Spartan Athletes Answer: Describe your Sport in 5 Words!

Spartan Athletes Answer: Describe your Sport in 5 Words!

Sophia Jiang
August 25, 2022
Which is Better: Short or Long Videos?

Which is Better: Short or Long Videos?

Sophia Jiang and Vince Kim
August 25, 2022
Pens vs. Pencils: The Ultimate Writing Utensil Showdown

Pens vs. Pencils: The Ultimate Writing Utensil Showdown

Sophia Jiang and Elliot Weix
August 25, 2022
School Morning Item Checklist

School Morning Item Checklist

Sophia Jiang
August 25, 2022
2022 Back to School Playlist

2022 Back to School Playlist

Sophia Jiang
August 25, 2022
Proper Fueling: the Overlooked Factor in Athletic Performance and its Significance

Proper Fueling: the Overlooked Factor in Athletic Performance and its Significance

Sophia Jiang
August 25, 2022
Leisure Reading: Fantasy or Nonfiction?

Leisure Reading: Fantasy or Nonfiction?

Sophia Jiang and Anvika Annyapu
August 25, 2022
How to Adjust from Summer to School

How to Adjust from Summer to School

Sophia Jiang
August 25, 2022
From State to World: Roisin Willis Stuns Competition at the U20 World Championships

From State to World: Roisin Willis Stuns Competition at the U20 World Championships

Sophia Jiang
August 25, 2022
Join our Google Classroom!

Editor’s Note: Welcome from your Editors-in-Chief!

Sophia Jiang, Anvika Annyapu, and Olivia Zhu
August 25, 2022
2022 Back to School Wordsearch

2022 Back to School Wordsearch

Sophia Jiang
August 25, 2022
6 Tips on How to Limit Your Screen Time and Stay Productive

6 Tips on How to Limit Your Screen Time and Stay Productive

Sophia Jiang
August 25, 2022
Who was Vel Phillips?

Who was Vel Phillips?

Sophia Jiang
August 6, 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

Sophia Jiang
August 4, 2022
Why it is Crucial to Include Water Access in the District Policy

Why it is Crucial to Include Water Access in the District Policy

Sophia Jiang
August 4, 2022
Reminder all athletes: Fill out your physical/alternate year forms!

Reminder all athletes: Fill out your physical/alternate year forms!

Sophia Jiang
August 2, 2022
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