Focus – The Viking Vanguard

Climate Change and the Response

McKenna Zacher and Natalie Eychaner

May 17, 2019

The Green New Deal Resolution proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey Feb. 7 has resurrected the debate around climate change. This increase of conversation has also sparked students worldwide to strike for action on climate change, including one in Tacoma March 15 at Wright Park....

Student Expression Explored

McKenna Zacher, Natalie Eychaner, Parker Rosdahl, and Blaise McMacken

December 18, 2018

The music you listen on the way to school, the graphic on your shirt, the photographs on the wall. Expression is everywhere. It surrounds us and shapes our culture. But what would happen if it was taken away? Should all forms of art be accepted or do some go too far? This a topic of recent d...

Daffodil Tradition Continues

McKenna Zacher, Managing

October 25, 2018

Another year, another Daffodil selection night. This year, eight senior girls and their escorts took the stage, doing a walk down to the stage called the “promenade,” giving one-minute speeches and answering impromptu questions. These girls were seniors Kyla Stout, Morgan McCurdy...

Memes find new meanings

McKenna Zacher, Managing

May 29, 2018

In his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins described a meme as a “self-reproducing” cultural idea shared between organisms. Today, the word meme has transcended its original definition, becoming a dominant impact on American society. Many encounter some sort of meme every s...

Activism Goes Viral

Emily Van Bergeyk, Managing

April 6, 2018

To step into the public sphere in this day and age is to step into an ocean of technology. The American public is awash in smartphones, smartwatches, tablets; in blogs, posts, online forums. The tide of social media influence is inexorable and according to the 2016 Nielson Total Audience Report, American...

Social Media Influences Eating Disorders

Haley Keizur, Chief

April 6, 2018

Two likes. Refresh. Eight likes. Refresh. 16 likes. Pause. Refresh. 27 likes. And so the process goes. Studies show that people can get addicted to social media in a similar way they can get addicted to drugs or alcohol, as explained by Simon Sinek on Inside Quest; it triggers the release ...

Impact of Black History Month Explored

Andrew Flury, Staff

March 5, 2018

In honor of Black History Month, The Viking Vanguard examines different aspects of African-American culture and the way it has shaped the Puyallup School District. According to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, African-American students constitute 3.8 percent of the Puyallup Schoo...

Get involved in your community

Haley Keizur, Chief

December 21, 2017

Lights twinkle, presents overflow from beneath the crystalized pine tree, the scent of freshly-baked cookies wafts through the air. As metallic red wrapping paper is torn apart and beautifully-tied bows are carelessly tossed aside, succeeded by gleeful grins and laughs and bites are taken from soft,...

School shootings—Tragedy, Preparedness, an Uncertain Future

Emily Van Bergeyk, Managing

October 26, 2017

Las Vegas. Orlando. Virginia Tech. Sandy Hook Elementary School. These names, forever ingrained in America’s memory, represent the deadliest mass shootings in recent U.S. history. And names like these are appearing in the news more and more frequently. According to Gun Violence Archive, there ha...

Teacher uncovers mental health

Raquel Amato, Op-Ed/A&E Editor

October 11, 2017

Keeping yourself mentally well is a key factor in maintaining a healthy body. Health teacher Brian Grout talks about some ways to keep yourself mentally healthy throughout school and your personal life. One of the things Grout goes over is ways to deal with losses. No matter what the loss is, whether...