The voice of Montezuma-Cortez High School
October 2015 418 S. Sligo Street, Cortez, CO 81321
Nunn Construction and Boomer pull it off Photo credit, Garrett Damron
Volume 16: Issue 1
S tudent F orum Students tell their thoughts
How do you like the new school? Opinion, page 5
*** College Push Editorial
Do all students want to go to college? Opinion, page 7
***
Student
Government Feature
Read bios of your class representative before you vote! Feature, pages 8-9
*** Sport highlights Fall sports
Boomer, owned by the same Nunn Construction Company that made the new M-CHS a reality, became the new freindly face on campus. M-CHS students and staff will miss Boomer and company, and wish them well on their future endevours. Boomer will be remebered forever in the hearts of students and staff. Look for boomer’s legacy in the annual 2015-16 M-CHS yearbook.
Coach expectations, team morale, scoreboards, and schedules. Sports, pages 12-13
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Panther Press
News
October 2015
Practicing on the new set
Theatre crew welcomes new auditorium Daniel Wagner, Editor-in-Chief
With the arrival of the new M-CHS tics are now set up so they don’t have school building, it is guaranteed that a to scream to the audience in the back. bigger auditorium will be made availTechnicians also have more tools able to the students and teachers of this to be creative within plays, includschool. For the theatre department, this ing an advanced soundboard and new bigger stage is a dream come true, as lights and equipment to set up stages. more opportunities than ever are now Michelle Hoy, an M-CHS junior being opened to both actors & techni- and tech manager, said that “not evcians. erything is completely broken,” within Mr. Sandner, manager and founder the new auditorium, and that she has of the M-CHS Theatre Department, is an easier time making sure “that everyexcited about all the additions that his thing goes down as planned.” students can use when on stage. “We had to get rid of a few extra “At the old school we had to hold resources from our last auditorium,” everything together with duct tape and Liam Photo credit Daniel Wagner said bailing wire,” O’Shields, a he said, “so junior and an here we’re assistant stage going to be manager, “inable to make cluding some things that are lumber and just going to tools, because be amazing now we have for people to replacements see.” with the new T h a t auditorium.” statement is The new auditorium provides a larger space than Mr. Sandno exaggera- ever before, so now actors have a larger area to ner said that tion. With a produce memorable perfomances. the mission new soundstatement for board, increased lighting, a larger stor- theatre is “to have a place where stuage space, and improved acoustics, the dents can safely learn to express themdepartment is more than prepared to selves and to come together and colmake each performance an unforget- laborate on ways to create art. With table experience. this new auditorium, the actors’ only The actors seem to be ecstatic limits are their imagination.” about this new auditorium, as the largFor students looking to sign up for er space and improved technology are theatre, there are now more ways than able to improve their skills and deliver ever to express yourself on this new more compelling performances to the stage. Photo credit: Daniel Wagner audience. Erica Cudkowicz, a senior and an actor in theatre, comments on how beneficial the backstage space is. “In the past, we couldn’t do much with our sets because we had to leave them on stage or have very small pieces,” she said, “but now we have enough room The new soundboard; theatre’s most to fully construct sets backstage.” advanced asset. The actors also like how the acous-
Shift to focus on feelings
Julia Damore-Rome, Lifestyle and Column Writer
Students and faculty at M-CHS are Senior Erica Cudkowicz says some being subjected to a new classroom teachers use “a scale of one to ten” practice: improving relationships to evaluate student’s moods. Senior through feelings. The administration Tristan Harris noticed that “teachers is promoting healthy student-teacher are more conscious of when I’m sad.” relationships to improve the school’s Students and faculty seem to be reatmosphere. sponding to this shift of feelings posiTeachers are incorporating diverse tively. Sophomore Lynda Lapaz said methods to extricate student’s feel- “it’s good to share feelings; although ings. Science teacher Mr. Ptaszynski, you may not be good at it, it’s a good said “I use weekly circle ups to check Photo credit Julia Damore-Rome thing to in with studo.” Prindents, the cipal Waygoal being man said to change the “stuthe culdent feedture of the back is that school.” the school “Mrs. Warenvironriner has a ment feels water temdifferent, perature more posisystem, tive.” Mrs. which assHiggins, es students the senior mood (cool guidance and flowy Students in Mr.Ptaszynski’s class participate in a counselor, weekly circle up where they share their feelings and m e a n s thinks that emotions. you’re do“students ing well and ice cold means you are are having their voice heard, more so sad),” said Regina Shuster, a sopho- they will want to stay in school.” more. Shuster also says that other This shift to focus on feelings seems teachers “go around the room asking to be implemented well and beneficial students to show thumbs up, thumbs to the student body. Hopefully this shift down, skip their turn, or skip and will continue to impact the school and comeback,” in regard to their feelings. students throughout the year.
Panther Press
News
03
2015-16 handbook brings new changes to M-CHS Julia Damore-Rome, Lifestyle and Column Writer
When inspecting the 2015-16 (i.e. pajamas) is no longer in effect. M-CHS student handbook, students, Kayla Kingery, a senior, said that faculty, administrators, and parents administration “doesn’t care about may have noticed some changes the dress code this year.” She also in school policy. Notable changes said that she observed “changes in within the handbook include the attitude about school pride,” in the new dress code, cell phone policy, new school. and behavioral repercussions. To enhance student interactivity Unlike previous years, students and promote learning with technolare able to wear hats in community ogy, cell phones, laptops, and other areas, but French teacher Mrs. Co- devices are becoming helpful tools peland said classPhoto credit Daniel Wagner in that “some rooms. [hat] rules The new are indischool has vidual to wireless the classfeatures room.” that proShe was vide free particularWI-FI to ly happy everyone to see the on camhat issue pus. Desks alleviated throughout because in the school the past it have slots in Mrs. Mott’s class utilize their cell phones as a was “det- Students to accomresource. rimental to modate cell class time.” Principal Dr.Wayman phones and other devices. believes that “students seem to The consequences for behavioral be happier wearing hats and past offenses have changed immensely seniors were bummed that they this year. In the past, minor becouldn’t wear hats.” Additionally, havioral infractions were met with the restriction on sleeping attire detention or Saturday school. This
year; however, behavior modifica- ciple Dr.Wayman wants to use this tion classes, and behavioral tickets, behavior class to help “support are being used to counter bad behav- students with whatever issues they ior. Behavioral tickets will be is- have at the time.” sued to students by teachers if their Hopefully these modifications Photo credit Daniel Wagner behavior becomes “chronic and persistent,’’ according to the 2015-16 handbook. The behavior modification class requires students to “attend a class during Students in Mrs. Allen’s class enjoy the new hat policy without fear. lunch or after school, where a reflective modi- will create a safer environment fication plan will be introduced.” that promotes learning, teaching, With a goal to “adjust thought pat- and a supportive administration at terns and decision making,” Prin- M-CHS.
04 Panther Press O 2015
Column
ctober
Damore-Romes M-CHS pursuing art
Julia Damore-Rome, Lifestyle/Column Writer
Art is prevalent in everything from politics to propaganda, graphic design to graffiti, and even museums to M-CHS! M-CHS is privileged to offer Art I- IV, AP art III, AP art IV, sculpture/jewelry, photography, and many others, all taught by both Ms. Bane and Mrs. Joe-Chandler. Students are optimistic and appreciative of the creative outlet art class offers them. Sophomore Katelynn Sweat said “art gives a visual insight into what the world is about.” Austin Wagner, a junior art student believes that “art is a way for people to express themselves without interacting with each other.” Mckenzy Greer, another student, finds art to be “a stress reliever.” Addition- Noah Porter displays a cardborad 3-D ally, art classes have been proven to fa- project for his sculpure/jewlery class taught by Mrs. Joe-Chandler. cilitate in student’s intellectual growth. Art classes heighten “literary and prob- that “art has a lot to do with culture, lem solving skills,’’ said Ms. Bane. and every culture has art.” Noah PorArt is a prominent and influential ter, a junior sculpture/jewelry student, cultural aspect of community collabo- said art “gives a community something ration. Sophomore Gavin Taylor said to rally behind and gives it an iden-
tity.” Art teacher Mrs. Joe-Chandler believes that “art brings people together and creates a unified community.” Lance Harrington, a freshman art I student, said “art inspires people to do something other than watch TV or play video games.” Art teacher Ms. Bane said “art changes people and people change the world.” In the upcoming months, I look forward to pursing and sharing the artistic side of Austin Wagner showcases his M-CHS. Until next bridge/ hand piece. time!
Eph Clyde presents a cardboad 3-D piece for Mrs. Joe -Chandler’s class.
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Panther Press
Student Forum
How do you like the new school?
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Bridgett Damron , Staff Reporter Photo credit Bridgett Damron
Leon Harvey, senior
Mahala Cotton, freshman
“I really like this school; it’s much bigger and it looks more like a college than a high school. It’s broken down more than the old one.”
“I like it a lot. I like the architecture of the school and the windows make it interesting to walk down the hallways; it’s not just bricks and you can see the view and it’s pretty.”
Sidnie Majors, sophomore “I really like the Ag shop. It’s much bigger and has better equipment.”
Eugina Begay, freshman “I like it a lot because it’s surrounded by nature and not a lot of buildings. I also like the dark room in our sculpting class. The windows are really big and you can see the nature.”
Press 06 Panther O 2015 ctober
S t a f f
E d i t o r i a l s
Opinion
What did you expect?
Daniel Wagner
M-CHS expects too much from our students in their disciplinary code. The terms for student behavior are too strict to be taken seriously. As an editor, I find that it is necessary to demand a change to behavior infractions. Our school administration expects students to “internalize society’s values” to work productively, according to the 2015-2016 student handbook. However, this expectation is easy for the staff to impose too harshly. If students follow a strict code of conduct, they will learn little about social values in school. If our students have learned anything about society in school, it’s that everybody is unique. The “values” that are addressed should teach students how to react in a variety of communities. Just using “society” will not teach the students how to properly behave. The behavior modification class is an unnecessary consequence for a behavior infraction. Students can’t be taught behaviors they already know. Proper class behav-
iors can be a better learning experience. The disciplinary code has taken immense steps to ensure that our students behave appropriately. Yet the rules are either too strict or unnecessary for the student body. The faculty should reestablish their expectations by observing how their students behave every day in school. If the expectations are too strict, we could reach a similar status to Carver Collegiate Academy in New Orleans, where the rubrics do little in changing students. Creating a diverse culture in school can allow students to be prepared for different communities. And productive punishments, such as response cost (imposing a “toll” on a student’s “bad” behavior), can positively affect student behavior. The staff believes that no major changes should be made to this code, but the students see otherwise. I believe the expectations should be reformed through observation and the consent of the students within M-CHS.
“... rubrics do little in changing students...”
Excused absences are a problem Garrett Damron There are many rules and regulations here at M-CHS, some of which could be considered unfair to students in the building. A particularly unfair and insensitive regulation ordinated by the school is the policy concerning excused absences for family events such as funerals, illnesses and other events. It is stated on page nine of this year’s handbook that semester grades shall be replaced with incompletes if a student misses more than five days in a particular class per semester. The student is then expected to make up class work in advisory at a rate of one half-hour to each hour of time absent, per class. To put this in perspective suppose that you take one week off of school to go hunting with your family in October. This means you have missed six periods of class five days in a row. Then in November you fall ill and miss three more days of classes. This means that you have missed three days (eighteen hours) of class over your five day limit. The school now expects nine hours of advisory to make up
for the 18 hours of classes you have missed, even though all of your absences have been excused. After the stress of being gone for multiple days, you are then expected to lose more time making up these assignments, not in the amount of time it would take to do these assignments, but at the half hour to one hour rate. The school isn’t completely tyrannical about their policies, however. According to the handbook, the student or parents of the student may appeal to the administrators to modify the rules of the handbook in their specific case. This seems unnecessary if the absence has already been notarized and approved by the school. I propose that this policy be modified to only require the work missed in the class, and not the extra hours in advisory. This would be more forgiving to students who can’t control what happens to both them and their lives outside of school. If one policy were to be changed in the handbook, I believe that this should be the one.
“... lose more time making up assignments...”
Panther Press Opinion
The college push
College fair returns to M-CHS Story and photo credit Garrett Damron, Editor
Garrett Damron, Editor
There is a college fair every plied that the school should proyear at M-CHS. The idea is to vide these questions, and it would introduce students to the college make it easier to talk to the varirepresentatives and learn more ous representatives from each colabout each college and develop lege. Representatives from the collegconnections. Teachers at M-CHS enjoy the es found it extremely important to college fair every year. It is “help- make these connections with high ful to recommend colleges to stu- school students.”It starts the prodents that you have information cess to acquiring new students,” said Katie on,” said Mrs. Watson, a Joe-Chandler, an representaM-CHS art teachtive from er. However, she the Unibelieves that it versity of would be more Wyoming. beneficial to stuWatson dents if each added that grade attended the every year fair separately, so college that more colleges fairs recruit could be visited enough by more students students to with fewer inrefill the terruptions and graduating shorter lines. class. Students have The colmixed opinions Wyoming University attends over 100 fair on the fair, how- college fairs nationwide annually, just lege to establish communications with highMever. Some stu- school students. Freshmen Clayton that dents found the Yoder and Ryker Lancaster-Milligan CHS hosts every year information was pick up information to review. provides invery helpful to make future decisions, but others formation for over thirty colleges found that while there was infor- in and outside of Colorado so that mation at each booth, it was hard students can plan for their future. to uncover. “It would be helpful Some colleges that attended the to have questions to think about fair this year included Colorado before the fair,” said Riley Birch, State University, Colorado Unian M-CHS sophomore. He im- versity, and Fort Lewis.
Panther Press 2014-2015 Staff Editors Daniel Wagner Garrett Damron
Staff Reporters Julia Damore-rome Bridgett Damron
Sportswriter
Louis Gonzales
Here at M-CHS college is the number one priority for its students. We see it daily, between posters and announcements. Yearly we have people from colleges around the country come to talk to us. In this school, college is pushed so hard that it seems that no other options are given to us, and we are treated as though we will fail ourselves if we don’t go to college. Last year, as many students remember, every Friday Dr. Jason Wayman would go on the announcements and describe a job to us. He would speak of annual pay the job typically offers, the education level required, and the growth rate of new openings every year. All of the occupations that were mentioned over the course of the year required some sort of secondary schooling after high school. This constant reminder that college is the best option students became annoying, because many students don’t want to go to college, or can’t because of grades, finances, family, or some combination of these things.
Why are so many organizations that also help young people succeed overlooked by the school board and the staff here at the high school? Why is Job Corps, Peace Corps, and the military glanced over so much that many students aren’t even aware of their existence? I think that it is because the whole of the school staff are college graduates, who are happy with their lives. The people managing the students automatically are “pushing” us toward following in their footsteps, even if we do not wish to follow them. I do not believe that college is a horrible idea for young people wishing to step out into the real world, but I do believe that other options need to be addressed. It is the faculties duty to guide us in the right direction for our own future success, even if college is not the correct path. We need to be given options as students, because if we are not given and presented with these options, we as people will fail, and that only means that the school board already has.
“... many students don’t want to go to college or can’t because of grades...”
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S t a f f
E d i t o r i a l s
Press 08 Panther O 2015 ctober
Presi
Gabe Pendergast (Senior)
As a senior candidate, Gabe has an innate sense of leadership that he feels is necessary to take on the role of president. He plans to listen to students of all grade levels and solve their issues with a variety of plans. Gabe has future plans for the military and college after high school, so this experience should help greatly.
Brianne Alexander (Senior)
Natasha “Skye” Cole (Senior
Judy Ha (Senior) Driven by her ideals, leadership and communication skills, and four years of experience in student government, Judy chose to be president so that she could make the senior year be the best one yet. By connecting with her fellow students at M-CHS, she will challenge herself by leading an entire community of unique individuals, and then using all her experience to build upon her character and become a better leader in the future.
Inspired by her friends and fellow classmates, Brianne wants to take the role of vice president to make this school year more memorable for her and the rest of the seniors. Her major plan is to increase funding for senior events, such as dances and even a senior trip near the end of the year, and make sure that both her voice and the voices of the seniors are heard.
Vice-Pre
Leland Belone (Senior)
Raquel Lucero (Senior) Raquel’s ambitions tell her that taking the position of vice president will allow her to make a change and become a true leader. She will speak on the behalf of every grade level, presenting issues to the administration so they may be resolved, and she will devote much time into volunteer services for the school, such as decorating and recycling.
Stevee Brenner (Senior)
Watch for candidate speeches this week during advisory (Wednesday). Each candidate will do their best to win your vote.
With her strong integrity and responsibility, Stevee chose to be secretary so that she could voice the concerns of students towards the administration. Her connections with classmates and the administration will allow her to push the more important issues into focus, which teaches her how to create long lasting relationships and use her experience to be successful after high school. Laurel Chappell (Senior)
Photo credits: Daniel Wagner, Editor-in-chief Image source: www.aoc.gov
Following in her sister’s footsteps, Laurel wants to run for treasurer so that she can properly manage what items the student government spends their money on. Her plan is to get input on what the seniors would like to see happen this year and create a big enough budget so that this year can be enjoyable for her class.
Secre
Trea
CHAIN OF COMMAND: M-C
Panther Press
ident
r) With her slogan “Go big or go home,” Nata- Nicole Shock (Sophomore) sha wants to be president so that she may share the goals of other like-minded students and have the voice and decisions of the students be heard. She wants seniors to leave their mark on 2016 by making sure that school activities reflects the seniors’ attitude, and she hopes that every student in M-CHS will voice their opinions and create changes that will last for years.
resident
Katelyn Bancroft (Senior)
As vice president of his sophomore year, Leland finds it best that he should run for office again within the new school campus. He wants to contribute to his fellow students by providing plans for a senior trip or senior day, thus creating a new tradition for the senior class. With plans to become an Advocacy Officer after high school, Leland will definitely gain experience from this position.
etary
asurer
With a determination to lead, Nicole wants to become president so that she can voice the opinions of the minority. She intends to prove that her position is important for other students to follow, and plans to give a voice to the “invisible” students of M-CHS so that they can have input on what issues must be solved.
Madison Mahaffey (Junior)
YuanYuan Chen (Senior)
CHS STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Danae Thompson (Sophomore)
Feature
09
As a natural problem solver, Danae runs for president in the hopes that she can lead the entire sophomore class and solve any issues it comes across. She wants to be the senior voice of 2018, and she will listen to whatever issues the sophomore class has and resolve it to the best of her ability.
Andria Battle (Junior) With both confidence and a passion for the community, Katelyn chose to be vice president so that she could become part of the leading role within student government and become more involved with the students. She will listen to whatever changes the student body might need and plan to get more students involved with student government activities.
Madison’s interest in politics has inspired her to run for secretary, where she will learn more about government and get more involved with the students at M-CHS. She plans to be a frim representative for juniors, and will organize records and documents to guide M-CHS in future decisions.
YuanYuan’s determination and intelligence has led to take on the role of senior treasurer, where her skill in math can be used to the best of it’s ability. She plans to take a career in economics at a university, so this experience should help to develop her talents significantly.
Andria plans to become vice president so that she can work well with the junior president to accomplish more for the school environment. With her innate leadership qualities, she plans to take input from her own peers and become an excellent representative for the senior class of 2017.
Watch for candidate speeches this week during advisory (Wednesday). Each candidate will do their best to win your vote.
Press 10Panther O 2015
Feature
ctober
Photo credits Galilea Chadborn, yearbook staff
The Pep Rally
The dance team shows their moves.
The M-CHS Band plays pep rally music at the assembly as students find their seats.
Student goverments representatives present Principal Dr. Wayman and Superintendant Carter with awards while thanking them for the beautiful new school.
HOMECOMING The Game
Panthers huddle up to strategize plays.
The cheerleaders pump up the crowd.
The cheerleaders, aided by the senior class (on the right) challenege the juniors and the dance team (on the left) to a dance off....senior win!
The fighting panthers in the middle of a play, at the homecoming game.
Austin Bayles and Laurel Chappell are crowned the Homecoming King and Queen!
The M-CHS marching panthers perform one of their many spectacular routines during the halftime show.
WEEK
Panther Press
The Parade
The M-CHS Band plays the school song while maching down Main Street in the parade, held on Thursday, Oct. 1
The Spirit Week
Feature
11
Roinne Dennison and Courtney Haddix in the roaring 20s.
Kendall Concord looking good in the years of great conflict in the 50s.
The future farmers of america club ride their horses down Main Street in the parade.
The Navajo club shows off there work in the parade.
Jessie Barrlow and Ally Orton hippying it up in the 70s.
Journey Noyes in the era of tremendous population growth during the 80s.
The M-CHS football team gather together and show their panther spirit while lining up for the homecoming parade.
M-CHS dancers show off their pride on Friday pride-day.
Press 12 Panther O 2015
Sports
ctober
Coaches push athletes
Louis Gonzales, Sports Writer
This year our M-CHS coaches have great expectations for our fall sports teams. From football to cheer, golf to cross country, and everything in between, we’re all looking forward to a victorious first part of the year. “So far this season is looking good,” said Scott Conklin, M-CHS football coach, “right now we’re still settling into our new offenses and defenses and building our teamwork. We lost a lot of great seniors to graduation last year, but we gained a lot of good underclassmen this year.” He also said that some players to really look out for are Josh Ramos, junior [who is also noted in cross country], Tanner Desrosiers, junior, Cordell Ridings, senior, Austin Bayles, senior, and Coby Baer, junior. “The team looks good, we have a lot of girls in volleyball this year. This season we’re working to do well, and hoping to go to regionals,” said volleyball coach Andie Pickens. “I can’t say that any specific girls are standing out more than the rest, the whole team is equally amazing.” She did say, however, that the two that are currently leading in stats are Laurel Chappell, senior, and Kristin Pierce, senior. “This season our cross country team is fairly young and inexperienced, but so far we’re already seeing large improvement. Compared to the areas around us, our M-CHS cross country program is small, so we’re really trying to build a strong group of returning runners. One of the ultimate goals this year is to advance students from regionals and into the state competitions, and right now we have three boys with a good shot of doing that.” said cross country coach Paul Koops. The spotlight runners are Josh Ramos, junior, Sonny Boren, sophomore, Brendan Quinonez, senior, Ben Castillo-Calvil-
lo, freshman, Emma Thissen, sophomore, Rachel Zetts, senior, Julia Damore-Rome, senior, Judy Ha, senior, Regina Schuster, sophomore, Erica Wilson, freshman, and Corinne Damore-Rome, freshman. “This year we’re looking to see team growth, with everyone learning to work and win as a team”, said soccer coach Sean Fitzgerald. “We have a lot of less experienced sophomore and freshman in the team willing to work hard and learn, but we lost a lot of really good seniors, guys who had been playing from a young age. Also, the team is a little smaller this year, just one or two positions less than last year.” He said that the two players to look out for are Andrew Layman and Manuel Martinez. “I would have to say that the team this year is a lot different than last year. We are a little smaller but I feel like we have 10 times more heart this year!”, said M-CHS Cheer Coach Emily Martin. “The girls have really stepped up; their skills have just blossomed over the summer and the beginning of the season.” She said that competition for cheer is crazy. The Panthers compete against over 40 squads and it’s one of the most competive divisions in Colorado. “We brought in a choreographer and gymnastics coach this year to help with competition and the girls have put everything into this routine this year. I really feel like if we continue on the path we are on we will do much better than previous years!” She said that the girls all have their parts where they shine. This season is shaping up to be a good one for the M-CHS Panthers.
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Scoreboard Update
Panther Press
The Lady Panthers Softball play against Cedaredge, final score 17-6 (loss).
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P a n t h e r s w i n a n dLouislGonzales, o s e Sports Writer
Everyone loves to win. Students at
Louis Gonzales, Sports Writer M-CHS love to see the Panthers beat the
Schedules and events
Sports
competition, but sometimes competition can dampen players spirits, and losses can discourage even the best. “When we win, obviously heads are up and there’s a lot of excitement and energy in the group,” said Sean Fitzgerald, M-CHS soccer coach. Coach Fitzgerald also added “with losses, players can get a little less willing to go out on the field. Their heads are down, and they start getting a bit angry at each other. Their performance at practice can go down a little after a loss as well, and it can go up with wins.” “With wins morale goes up and the team really works together, getting better. They get to see their hard work pay off,” said M-CHS Football Coach Scott Conklin. “Practices are positive and they develop an extra ‘pop’. Overall, the team morale is always pretty high. What losses mainly do are highlight areas where work needs focused on. When we’re losing our determination goes up, and when we’re winning our energy goes up,” added Coach Conklin. “There isn’t a whole lot of effect when we lose,” said Trena Walker, M-CHS boys tennis coach. Coach Walker added,“our players know that we aren’t the same size as other schools’ tennis programs, MCHS’s program is smaller with much less players. The only time we really mind is when we lose to a team that is similar to us, teams that we should be competing against. Then usually after a loss the boys get sort of grouchy and a little down, but they can bounce right back from it. With losses it can go either way: they could want to give up, or they could be more determined than ever. When we win our energy is boosted, especially after beating a larger team.” M-CHS Panthers are strong in spirit and skill and have the power to beat their opponents if they put forth the effort and remain positive.
All action photos credit McCully Imagery
Panthers Football play against the Aspen Patriots. with a 29-12 finish (loss).
Dance and the M-CHS Marching Panthers perform at our first home game! courtesy photo
The golf team along with Luke Gross compete at the Cortez tournament.
Cross country practices outside the new highschool (Photo credit Julia Damore-Rome)
Press 14 Panther O 2015 Culinary arts smash and mix Building Spotlight
ctober
Bridgett Damron, Staff Reporter “It’s definitely state of the art with very nice commercial kitchen equipment. We haven’t been able to really utilize the kitchen to its fullest yet, but I look forward to it,” said Mrs. Kanto McPherson, M-CHS consumer science teacher.
Photo credit Katellyn bancroft
Art program loves their courtyard
The art room has a lot of new equipment as well. “ We have got new portfolio containers, sculpting tables, and a photography lab. We are also looking forward to making jewelry and developing film,” said Mrs. JoeChandler, M-CHS art teacher.
The students are having fun in the class learning to use all of the new equipment.
“I’m looking forward to the soup and coffee cup fundraiser. We will make the cups and bowls, then the culinary arts students will fill them and finally we will sell them,” said Liz Hughes, freshman.
“I like the new classroom much better than the old one,” said Tebrie Sanders, a sophomore.
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Panther Press
M a k i n g Besides intellectual enrichment, high school is an opportune time to discover your interests and passions. Getting involved in clubs, programs, and sports is a great way to do this. Many students are deprived of great experiences because they are oblivious to the opportunities available at M-CHS. There are 16 sports offered at M-CHS: some are strictly gender specific, some are co-ed. Sports are vital in instilling teamwork, good sportsmanship, cooperation, and communication. Mr. Koops, the track & field and cross country coach finds that “personal, social, and academic benefits” are open to athletes. He also believes that sports are “microcosms
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of society;” he thinks that by “improving our high school community we make society better.” Playing sports in high school can help students acquire healthy habits for life, like eating well and exercising. Also, sports are “stress relievers”, and great opportunities to “meet new friends” said Kyle Talley, a sophomore track and cross country runner. Additionally, joining a team allows you to travel throughout Colorado, as well as other neighboring states. Athletic director Mrs. Hall believes that joining extracurriculars instills “responsibility, time management, and the promotion of school spirit and involvement.” Studies have shown that there is a correlation between a student’s involvement outside of class and
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Julia Damore-Rome, Lifestyle and Colum Writer
their grades. Judy Ha, a senior veteran of band, cross-country, track, swim, upward bound, and student government, believes that joining programs “socially builds really good friendships” and contributes to “the larger school community.” Furthermore, clubs and extracurricular activities help students discover their interests and develop skills that can be utilized in high school, higher education, and the workplace. It may not seem like it, but time flies by, so maximize time in high school by getting involved in clubs, sports, and programs. These are beneficial, enjoyable opportunities that may positively impact life experiences.
Photo credit Katelyn Bancroft
Photo credit Julia Damore-Rome
The impulsive improviser club does an impromptu show in the commons for students during lunch. The M-CHS cross country team does a series of warm up exercises on the lawn of the new high school before they embark on a five to six mile run through the streets, allyways, and trails of Cortez.
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