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Author: Elena Paces-Wiles

Senior Column

I failed, and it was the best thing I ever did

May 30, 2024May 28, 2024 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment

Dear 12-year-old Elena, There’s never been a goal you couldn’t meet as long as you worked hard enough. That’s what you thought, anyway.  I got a five by cramming 20 …

I failed, and it was the best thing I ever did Read More
Alumni

Alumni Spotlight: Jaden Jules

April 23, 2024April 23, 2024 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - 1 Comment

If someone told 18-year-old Jaden Jules (‘17) that he would work for one of the nation’s largest finance companies, he probably would have laughed. Jules is a publicist for Dow …

Alumni Spotlight: Jaden Jules Read More
News

Durham Tech Comes to Riverside

March 1, 2024March 1, 2024 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment

Juniors Phoebe Gainey and Sara Reina work in Janel Thompson’s English 112 class. They are taking this Durham Tech course at Riverside as part of the Pirate Promise program. Photo …

Durham Tech Comes to Riverside Read More
News / Translations

¿Atención Médica o Homicidio?

February 14, 2024March 5, 2024 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment

Depende a quien le preguntes. Independientemente, las futuras madres tienen menos tiempo para decidir. Con 16 años, 5 semanas de embarazo y completamente en conflicto, la estudiante Leilani Provencio se …

¿Atención Médica o Homicidio? Read More
News

Murder or Healthcare?

February 13, 2024February 13, 2024 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment

It depends who you ask. Regardless, prospective mothers have less time to decide. 16 years old, 5 weeks along and completely conflicted, when senior Leilani Provencio realized she was pregnant, …

Murder or Healthcare? Read More
Multimedia / Sports

Photo Gallery: Pirates Win February 9 Basketball Game 50-48 against Jordan

February 12, 2024February 12, 2024 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment
Photo Gallery: Pirates Win February 9 Basketball Game 50-48 against Jordan Read More
Education / News

Photo gallery: January 31 teacher protest

February 1, 2024February 1, 2024 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment
Photo gallery: January 31 teacher protest Read More
Opinion

Fights, scandal, allegiances: high school or city council?

October 6, 2023October 13, 2023 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment

From an alleged punch thrown to a campaign scandal to inflammatory speeches, it’s shocking that Durham’s City Council finds time to get anything done at all.  On September 21, I …

Fights, scandal, allegiances: high school or city council? Read More
Culture

The River Becomes the Swamp

April 20, 2023June 2, 2023 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - 1 Comment

Shrek: The Musical Opens on April 20 Ogres are like onions: they have a lot of layers. And Riverside’s production of Shrek: the Musical does, too. The Riverside auditorium will …

The River Becomes the Swamp Read More
Opinion

Northgate’s future must be about affordable housing not profit

March 18, 2023January 14, 2024 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment

This story was originally published by the Triangle Tribune. Located in the heart of Durham, Northgate mall has always served as a social hub. But as developers plan to tear …

Northgate’s future must be about affordable housing not profit Read More
Culture / Multimedia

Photo Gallery: Music In Our Schools Month Concert

March 6, 2023March 6, 2023 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - 1 Comment

On March 2, all of Riverside’s music departments performed in a concert for music in our schools month. Beginning orchestra performed Acidic by Tyler Arcari. Intermediate orchestra performed Follow the …

Photo Gallery: Music In Our Schools Month Concert Read More
Culture

When Northgate’s fate went south

February 26, 2023January 14, 2024 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - 1 Comment

As a historic mall sits empty, developers and residents debate its future. Children grip ice cream cones piled high with chocolate, vanilla, and sprinkles. A sparkly pink display shines in …

When Northgate’s fate went south Read More
Translations

Cuando el destino de Northgate se fue al sur

February 7, 2023February 10, 2023 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment

Mientras un centro comercial histórico se encuentra vacío, los desarrolladores y los residentes debaten su futuro Por: Elena Paces-Wiles Traducido Por: William Rodriguez Ayala y Osmara Rodriguez Aimerich Dibujos Por: …

Cuando el destino de Northgate se fue al sur Read More
Culture

Annual orchestra concert honors students who have passed

December 9, 2022January 14, 2024 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment

Music filled the Riverside auditorium on Friday night for the seventh-annual Ailyn Maldonado Scholarship Benefit Concert.  Beginners and experienced student musicians took the opportunity to showcase their work in a …

Annual orchestra concert honors students who have passed Read More
News

“Every day builds on the next”: Q&A with new assistant principal Darryl Bradshaw

November 17, 2022November 16, 2022 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment

Where did you work before joining the Riverside administrative team? I was at Brogden Middle school. I was the coordinator of the Innovative Partnership Grant for about 3 months. Before …

“Every day builds on the next”: Q&A with new assistant principal Darryl Bradshaw Read More
News

Early Opportunities Create Unlevel Playing Field

January 10, 2022January 14, 2024 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - 1 Comment

Sophomore Izaiah Jackson will have already completed eight AP classes by the end of the school year. He is one of a handful of sophomores taking AP English III —a …

Early Opportunities Create Unlevel Playing Field Read More
Culture / News

Meet CLAUDE, the “multitalented” service dog

November 5, 2021January 9, 2022 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - 1 Comment

For Spanish teacher Elizabeth Wagner, a service dog is a gateway to independence, but its positive impacts extend throughout the whole school community. When Wagner and her service dog, CLAUDE, …

Meet CLAUDE, the “multitalented” service dog Read More
News

Two paths, same destination

September 24, 2021 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment

There is more than one way for Riverside students to get ahead in college even before graduating high school. Many high schoolers know about Advanced Placement (AP) courses. They’ve been …

Two paths, same destination Read More
News

Dos caminos, mismo destino

September 24, 2021November 15, 2021 - by Elena Paces-Wiles - Leave a Comment

Traducido por Roselyn Alvarez-Pedraza Hay más de una manera que los estudiantes de Riverside pueden asistir a una universidad antes de que se gradúen de la preparatoria. Muchas preparatorias saben …

Dos caminos, mismo destino Read More
The Calm Before The Storm Riverside graduate Kyle Church wins national championship Stephanie Diaz-Mendoza's legacy extends beyond state titles Sometimes showing up matters more than sitting out Las paredes encaladas de los pasillos de Riverside están cubiertas con obras de arte de estudiantes de los años 90 y principios de los 2000. Covering the whitewashed walls of Riverside’s hallways are pieces of student art from the 1990s and early 2000s. After the flood Después de la inundación: el camino hacia la recuperación De Jamaica y Filipinas a Durham: El numera de maestras in ternasonates que están lliendo a Riverside está subiendo

Recent Posts

  • The Calm Before The Storm
  • Riverside graduate Kyle Church wins national championship
  • Stephanie Diaz-Mendoza’s legacy extends beyond state titles
  • Face off: FOMO vs JOMO
  • Atrapado en el pasado
  • Popular
  • Comments
  • Tags

A Special Lottery: How I got World Cup Tickets

November 15, 2022November 15, 2022

The last dinosaur

May 10, 2018October 11, 2018

Football Photo Gallery: Riverside 28, Orange 26 (9/20/19)

September 30, 2019February 5, 2020

Living to Tell the Story

January 11, 2019

Riverside-Northern football game ends with gunfire in parking lot

October 8, 2021October 8, 2021

eli besch - From Jamaica and The Philippines to Durham: A growing number of international teachers are finding their way to Riverside

Follow me at @el.i2222

eli besch - How Riverside Athletes Navigate the Changing College Recruiting System

Follow me at @el.i2222

eli besch - Después de la inundación: el camino hacia la recuperación

Follow me at @el.i2222

Eli Besch - Fish Club brings marine science to Riverside

BRO ITS NOT THAT COLD. THE AC:

James - Q&A with volleyball coach Michael Hodge

Really insightful interview with Coach Hodge! I loved reading about Coach Hodge's coaching philosophy and his approach to developing players…

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The Pirates’ Hook is Riverside High School’s award-winning, bilingual student newspaper. The Hook is entirely self-funded and has been run by students for its entire twenty-nine year history. Our number one priority is providing accurate, unbiased information for our diverse community.

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