New leadership embraces Hoover

Principal Tracey Makings

Mrs. Tracey Makings has been at Hoover for the past nine months, commencing her journey in January of this year. Her career path has been an outstanding combination of educator and leadership, spanning 23 years of teaching before her current role.

Principal Makings taught English, algebra, and physics which gave her an experience in finding her passion for education. What truly brings a bond between Hoover and Principal Makings is her early familiarity with the community growing up here with her dad and stepmom and having work experience here which brings her understanding and love for the community. The warm, friendly, and inviting spirit of the people at Hoover draws her closer to the students and the school population.

One of Principal Making’s challenges is assisting students to grasp that life changes as they grow and mature, but it’ll get better. She recognizes that students usually live in the here and now, but the transition from childhood to adulthood is huge! Getting students to recognize the change is difficult, but she approaches the difficult task with dedication and care. Her challenges can never compare to the joy she receives when engaging with students in cheerful conversations and serious matters. Her students’ voices are what matters. She loves meeting students, hearing their anecdotes, and forming connections.

Her mission is for Hoover to be recognized as the amazing place it truly is, with everyone in the community describing it that way. Looking forward, Principal Makings envisions Hoover growing in multiple and exciting ways such as new classes with students’ interests, celebrating wins in sports divisions, and ensuring students have an enjoyable experience throughout their academic journey to prove school is fun.

Principal Makings continuously aims to be full of humor, be real by never sugarcoating, and be hardworking by dedicating all her time to the Hoover campus. Her favorite quote, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” by Michael Jordan, captures the encouragement she desires her students embrace fearlessly in challenges. As Principal Makings embarks on this journey at Hoover, she is filled with excitement about her plans and keeps her door open, inviting students to stop by and get to know her better. With her dedication and spirit, she’s ready to make this year at Hoover special!

Mr. Charles De Freitas ~ Associate Principal

Mr. Charles De Freitas has been working at Herbert Hoover High School for a year and 3 months. His purpose here at Hoover is to provide a safe learning environment, but also to work with teachers and improve instructional practices. When he was in school, he was bullied by other students and even teachers. One teacher in particular made fun of him in front of class and that stuck with him. He knew from that day he wanted to become a better person than that teacher and wanted to make sure he had the ability to make a difference so that no other kid would have to go through something like that. Mr. De Freitas wanted to help out students who don’t have the privileges he had growing up and wants to make sure he can support students in any way possible, give them the power and help them thrive in life. What he likes most about Hoover are the students because he believes behind every person there is a different story and ahead of them there is a future they will create. One thing that motivates him to come to work is he wants to see all these students succeed no matter how their success looks because he came from a traditional family where they wanted him to be a doctor but he knows and believes that everyone has a different story and a different way of succeeding.

Mr. Joe Boertmann ~ Associate Principal

Mr. Joe Boertmann is an associate principal here at Hoover High School. He is originally from Los Angeles, he loves video games, and has two dogs that he takes swimming. He had wanted to be a teacher ever since elementary school. He was a band director for fifteen years and then went into administration. His favorite thing about working with students is all the possibilities because every student has endless possibilities. One of his favorite things about Hoover is the diversity and how connected the school is to the community that it serves. But one of his biggest challenges is balancing discipline. His great strength is never giving up and a quote he wanted to leave you with is

¨No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other’s worth.” ~ Robert Southery

Ms. Schultz is out on leave. We will feature her when she returns.

About the Contributors

Kenia Ortiz, Junior Editor

Kenia Ortiz is a Junior at Hoover High School. She was born at the spookiest yet coziest time of the year, October 6th. Like the season she was born in, the cold, crisp weather fall brings is her favorite. Outside school, Kenia spends her days listening to music, watching movies, and taking long walks. The Weeknd, Giveon, and The Internet band are her top artists. She’ll never tire of rewatching her favorite childhood movies, Madagascar and Cars. Her favorite meal is chicken alfredo and pink lemonade for any occasion. She despises slow walkers and loud talkers. She could come off as dull, but in all reality, she’s a tranquil and non-judgmental being who cherishes laughs and the petite things in life. She enjoys her independent time as an introvert although, pushes to be more out there by being additionally involved with the school. Kenia is part of Cardinals Interact, where they support their Cardinal family in every way possible. She plans to join clubs such as IMIN and Key Club. She adores the work of expressing her lens of the world through writing, especially with the opportunities her yearbook class brings. She aspires to graduate here at Hoover High, as it is traditional in her family, and at least four years in college, preferably SDSU, where she will strive for a career in the photography industry. Her biggest motivation is to be the first of her three siblings to attend and complete college for her mom, who she looks up to. Kenia desires improvement within herself, to acquire her full potential, and to find self-love for who she is. She truly believes the world could be better if we held love and basic respect for one another as a family. Today, she aims daily to own up to her beliefs, not only with care and love for her peers but understanding them as well.

Ema Morales, Junior Editor

Ema Morales is a teenage girl who was born in San Diego, CA. Her birthday is March 11th, and she's a Pisces. She's Mexican and loves going to Mexico to travel. She's the oldest of her siblings so has to set an example, and because of this, Ema has to learn many life skills and to be pretty independent at a young age. Ema loves traveling and living her best life. She is always down for an adventure or trying new things. Ema is all about keeping her peace and staying away from things that don't benefit her. She believes “change is inediviable” so just live love laugh.

Ema loves the color pink, it's literally her obsession. She loves the beach, Mexico, amusement parks, and going out. She loves to dance and party and loves Hispanic music but also enjoys sweet R&B. Ema believes everything happens for a reason and that God's timing is always right. Ema loves tulips and pink and white roses. She likes cats and baby dogs and baby animals in general. Ema is such a sweet soul but she can also be moody.

Judith Sanchez, Staff Writer

Judith Sanchez was born in San Diego California. She has five siblings and is a junior at Hoover High School. She is sixteen and is in the ALMA academy and is part of the class of 2025. In her free time, she likes to read books, watch movies and TV, watch tictoks, sleep, eat, cook, color her hair, and spend money. Judith's favorite color is blue, her favorite animal is a dog, and her favorite superhero is Iron Man and she loves Italian food. She doesn't have many goals right now but she does hope to graduate. Her biggest fear is drowning and she is scared of heights but likes roller coasters. She also is afraid of rats. She doesn't know what she will do in the future but hopes she makes a lot of money.

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The Cardinal

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New leadership embraces Hoover

The Cardinal