Skip to Main Content
The School Newspaper of Downey High School

The Downey Legend

The School Newspaper of Downey High School

The Downey Legend

The School Newspaper of Downey High School

The Downey Legend

Mia Dixon-Slaughter

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Downey Legend, stepped into the world of journalism 3 years ago as a sophomore. After a great deal of persuasion from her two best friends, who were on staff at the time, Dixon-Slaughter submitted her application at the semester and was welcomed shortly after. “I love writing and always have,” Slaughter said, “but I’ve always stuck strictly to literature so branching out into a different style and type of writing has helped me develop as a writer.” Although writing essays and covering stories can be polar opposites, the writer adjusted without much trouble. During her time at The Downey Legend, she has covered numerous stories, fiddled with the camera, and established the newspaper’s credibility on social media. She is competent enough to know what it takes to have efficient deadlines; all Slaughter has to do now is to guide her staff in that direction.

 

If the writer is not covering stories happening around school, she is still somehow always somewhere on campus. Juggling AP classes, an ASB position, and her role in newspaper, Slaughter often finds herself with a hectic schedule. This being said, when genuine free time presents itself, she takes full advantage of it. “I love getting lost or ending up in places spontaneously because it feels so great to not have an agenda sometimes,” Dixon-Slaughter said. While the senior is busy getting ready for college and balancing out the rest of her responsibilities, she hopes to provide the staff with an exemplary example of the amount of greatness that can rise from commitment.

All content by Mia Dixon-Slaughter
On April 30, Downey High School’s ASB and Stop the Traffick club organize a Battle of the Sexes night rally to fundraise for sex trafficking awareness and introduce spring sports teams.  The man-leaders performed a routine along side the cheerleaders in order to see which sex dominated the cheer game.

Battles of the sexes

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
May 29, 2015
At the Downey High School gym on April 17, the Sadie’s DJ interacts with students attending the dance to get the crowd hyped up. “ The DJ was awesome, [I] love how he came down and hyped us up,” senior Destiny Ayala said.

It’s the ladies’ turn

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
May 6, 2015
5 Questions with Ayla Pruneda

5 Questions with Ayla Pruneda

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
March 11, 2015
On Feb. 23, in the north parking lot of Downey High School, Lorena Pedroza, 12, explains the pros of gas prices dropping. “I like having extra cash so I can spend on food,” Pedroza said.

Fill it up

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
February 25, 2015
Senior Dylan Moreno shares his passion for wrestling throughout his four years at Downey High School. “I use to play football but I stopped just to wrestle,” Dylan Moreno said.

Started from the bottom

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
February 11, 2015
5 Questions with Aryana Dantic

5 Questions with Aryana Dantic

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
February 10, 2015
On Jan.12, junior Nathan Anaya hugs his long time best friend, Dodger. “Dodger looks mean, but he is nice and is really good with people,” Anaya stated.

Animal love

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
January 28, 2015

Hunger strikes

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
December 16, 2014
On Sunday, Nov.16, from 5-7p.m., The Habit, located next to Downey High School, has its pre-opening to raise funds for school athletes. The restaurant was filled with longs lines to help, since all the money raised that night was donated to DHS.

Might become a habit

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
December 15, 2014
Arriving inside the theater on Thursday, Oct. 23, students sell candy for a dollar to help aid the young girls that are victims of sex trafficking. Club members sold sodas, candy bars, Skittles, and red licorice to help raise enough money to donate to the founders to rescue the young girls.

Stop the traffick!

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
November 12, 2014
On Oct. 8, in room C-114, Mr. Massey reviews graphing quadratic functions in standard form, with his Algebra II, for the next math lesson. “I’m most excited about officially being apart of the Downey family and continuing to improve as an educator,” Mr. Massey said.

Here to stay

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
October 29, 2014
On Thurs., May 2, during the annual Powderpuff game, Eduardo Munoz, 12 asks, his girlfriend Cynthia Villegas, 12, to prom. He surprised her during half time with the help of the boys who participated in cheer.

Prom?

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
June 3, 2014
On Thurs, Mar. 20, the Downey Vikes play their fourth game of the season against the Paramount Pirates, with senior Christos Meletis winning his match 7-5.  Meletis won all his matches  6-0.

Downey Vs. Paramount

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
April 4, 2014

The 2014 Oscars

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
March 10, 2014
On Wed., Feb. 12, Roberto Astorga, 12, heads for the goal during the game against Dominguez High School. Downey took the win with a final score of 4 to 0.

Downey vs. Dominguez

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
February 24, 2014
The Hollywood Palladium hosts indie rock band, Young the Giant on Friday, Feb. 7.  A total of ten Downey High School students attended the show.

Play ‘til the night isn’t young

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
February 21, 2014

Her

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
January 23, 2014
           On Nov. 8, Preston Medina, 11, looks through his Vine to see how many people have posted new videos, near the bell tower. Vine was founded in June of 2012 by Dom Hofmann, Rus Yusupov, and Colin Kroll.

It only takes 6 seconds

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
November 15, 2013
On Tuesday, Oct. 15, during the water polo game versus Warren, the cheer team pumps the boys up to encourage them to win. The team beat Warren with a final score of 8 to 12.

The rivalry in the water

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
November 13, 2013
On Friday, October 4, the movie Gravity came out in local theaters. The thriller film follows astronauts stuck in space working together to survive.

Sucking audiences into space

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
October 18, 2013
The sequel to horror film Insidious was released into theaters on Friday, Sept. 13. People stood in line for hours to get the questions answered that arose at the ending of the first part of the movie.

Chapter 2 of horror

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
October 4, 2013
Too anxious to wait, seniors Yaritza Figueroa and Brenda Aguyo open their cap and gown packages with friends, at the lunch tables, during B lunch on, June 4, in order to try on their caps and tassel.   “ I’ve been waiting four years for this!” Figueroa said.

Breaking tradition

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
June 14, 2013
After the Memorial Day tribute concluded at the Downey Cemetery on May 27, Anthony Munoz puts up a peace sign as he kneels by the grave of his uncle, Gabino Munoz, to remember and acknowledge his legacy. Gabino Munoz was wounded in action in Germany during WWII, and received a Purple Heart.

The honorable memories

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
June 4, 2013
At the 2013 Dance Review, the ROP Dance 2 team performs “Missy Beat,” which was choreographed by senior Cassie Garcia.

Dance your heart out

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
May 21, 2013
On April 17-21, Downey Jazz Choir took a trip to New York for an opportunity to learn from professional instructors. “Everyone there taught us something,” Jose Padilla, 12, said. “We learned different techniques on how to sing, swing, and work with other groups.”

New York, New York

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
May 21, 2013
On Friday, May 10, at the Krikorian Theatre, Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 American novel is released, portraying the lives of those who lived during the Roaring 1920s. Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, and Joel Edgerton star in this film along with other familiar names.

Great Gatsby

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
May 20, 2013
During The World of Dance Tour at the L.A. Convention Center on April 6, Cassandra Garcia, 12, won first place for her hip-hop dance routine. “It felt amazing while performing,” Garcia said, “We put so many hours to practice and it paid off.”

Dancing to first place

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
April 19, 2013
Five Questions with Parisa Geshti

Five Questions with Parisa Geshti

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
March 29, 2013

Bad girls on break

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
March 27, 2013
At the start of 2012, the app Four Pictures One Word became known throughout the student body at Downey High. This app not only caught the attention of students but also teachers such as Miss Piho.

Addicted to words

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
March 15, 2013
On Janurary 22, Spanish teacher, Ms. Richelle Mercure, holds a flamenco pose in her classroom: R-6,to express her passion for Latin dance. “When I teach and see my students dance, it is so meaningful to me,” Mercure said, “ because I remember how important dance was when I was their age.”

Dancing the dream

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
March 1, 2013
From Jan. 28 to Feb. 8, students and staff members of Downey High donate jeans to help aid homeless teens in America. Their goal was to beat last year’s record of collecting 2,055 jeans.

Denim donations

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
February 14, 2013
Load More Stories
Activate Search
Mia Dixon-Slaughter