Red Ink Nov. 2019 Vol 12 Ed 2

eatonredink.com Nov. 15, 2019 Vol. 12 Ed. 2 114 Park Ave Eaton, CO 80615

Band Marches into History

Marching band takes ďŹ rst at state page 6-7

Photo courtesy by Natalie Dyer

a

2 redreport

November 15, 2019

Breaking new ground

Passage of both ballot items ensures new high school in 2022

abigailvondy newseditor After years of pushing for improvements in the RE-2 district, Eaton has finally taken the steps towards a brighter future. History was made during the election on November 5, which concluded with the passing of both ballot items-4D the Mill Levy Override, passed 51.20 to 48.80 percent, and 4E the bond for a new high school, passed 55.30 to 44.70 percent.

According to Superintendent Bridget Muse a new high school building was key to making this bond more appealing than any of the bonds from the past. With this new plan in place the current EHS freshmen will be the first to graduate from the new high school in 2023, if all goes as planned, the new school will be ready for students to move into during the 2022-23 school year.

“This plan is the largest scale project ever for our district.

It is a historic milestone in a community centered around our schools,” Muse said.

Many years have passed since the Eaton school district has seen such a large advancement. Social studies teacher Doug Preston said, “I went to high school here and very little has changed. The community is growing and other schools around us are providing better

atmospheres for students, so it was time for a change. The bond and Mill Levy will grant this change.”

Muse said the new plan is “strictly for the students.” The district wants all children to have a better educational environment that will prepare them for their futures.The new building will have a more advanced science program, better agriculture and woodshop departments, more advanced technology, and many more improvements that the high school is in need of. “This project is phase-one of a long term plan to keep delivering a high quality education to our students that prepares them for both college and career,” Muse said, “Positive learning environments with air conditioning, flexible furniture, and up-to-date technology will ensure our students have the same advantages provided to other students in our region.”

The 4E bond grants the school $128.5 million to go towards the construction of a new high school and renovations to all of the current schools. With the building of a new high school comes major changes to the elementary and middle school. Due to the increasing overcrowding in the current elementary school, the young students will be moved to the middle school, which

will be renovated to be more accommodating for smaller children.

The middle school will then be moved to the current high school which will receive updates that’ll ensure a better learning quality. BEES and Galeton will also receive renovations to provide the best educational environments possible for their students.

The 4D Mill Levy Override will provide the district with an extra $1.5 million annually of additional funds for mental health and safety, the attracting and retaining of high quality teachers and support staff, and funding the increased costs of operating and maintaining dis-

trict buildings.

All good things come with time, and principal Jay Tapia said this project will definitely take time. During the next few years, students and staff will need to overcome construction and renovations throughout the schools. “It’s going to be a lot of work, especially over the next few years as they actually do the work. That part is going to be really interesting. But once we get it all squared away and all the buildings are built and remodeled, I think it’s going to be just an exciting time,” he said.

Although some planning has already taken place and community members, teachers and

administrators have all given input on the new project, the school board will soon be meeting with designers to complete plans for each of the schools.

Muse said, “The first step is to start meeting with design advisory groups to design the new high school and renovations at EHS and EMS. We will need to develop construction calendars and plan how to deliver classes at EHS during the construction.”

Soon step one will be completed and before long, Eaton will have a completely new look, and no student will ever have to complain about air conditioning, overcrowded classrooms, or small hallways again.

November 15, 2019

redopinion 3

Opportunity to prove them wrong Special Olympics allows kids with disabilities to compete and win in true sporting events

Lyndsay Walsh Special Olympic participant leaps to the finish line as bystanders chear him on Six elementary kids from Eaton came to participate in Special Olympics track and field

lyndsaywalsh staffreporter

Kids with disabilities are looked down upon as inferior and are often denied the opportunity to play sports.This attitude towards kids with disabilities is what makes Special Olympics the most beneficial organization in society.

Special Olympics is an organization that gives kids of all disabilities the opportunity to participate in sports and activities that others often perceive as barriers for them.

I have been actively involved in the Down Syndrome community since first grade, and have developed a soft spot in my heart for kids with all kinds of disabilities. I have never viewed any of them as “disabled” and “less capable”. Just because they look different, sound different, learn differently, or walk differently doesn’t mean they can’t do what other people can do. They are just as capable of

running the 400-meter dash as a track star is. An action such as running might just take longer to complete, but they still complete the same task, and Special Olympics breaks this stereotype and promotes the able, creating an event--track and field, swimming, and bowling-sports that kids with disabilities can participate in.

Special Olympics adapts sports to the participants’ needs. Kids in wheelchairs are able to “run” by racing in their chairs to reach the finish line.

Kids with disabilities ranging from Cerebral Palsy and paralysis are able to participate in sports as well. Special Olympics allows all kids to feel confident about themselves, and every kid with a disability deserves the opportunity to participate in events that others can do on a regular basis.

I witnessed first hand the effects Special Olympics has on kids. I volunteered at Eaton

High School’s Special Olympics Track and Field Event 2019, and saw the excitement and joy on kids’ faces when they ran the events. When all of the kids lined up to start their races, their faces were overwhelmed with excitement.

They were high fiving each other, clapping for their teammates, and grinning ear to ear.

It’s not every day that these kids get to run in a race with hundreds of people watching them and cheering for them.

Special Olympics organizes an event, such as track and field, allows participants to run, jump and throw, and then rewards them first, second, third, and fourth place because it is a true sporting event. This element of ranking and placing winners of each event adds another level of elation for kids.

Just seeing a kid receive a ribbon that they wouldn’t normally be awarded gives me goosebumps and makes me believe

in the society we are living in today.

Special Olympics creates a day that kids with disabilities can’t wait for because they know that they are the stars and center of attention. They are no longer seen as “less capable”, but instead seen as equals and able to do anything thrown at them.

This event is not just a day to pose, and pretend that every disabled child is equal and can compete in sports. It is a day for them to BE equal because they ARE equal. The kids are competing in a true track and field competition, and not a mock one to make it SEEM like they are equal and able.

The Special Olympics name might come off as an olympic structured event made for the “special,” but it is truly a real sports competition where kids are given the platform and equity to compete by themselves.

Society still carries a stigma that people with disabilities always need assistance and can’t do anything that “normal” people can do. This attitude of the disabled being “abnormal” is completely wrong. These kids should be looked at as

“normal” because they ARE. Nothing truly stops these kids from doing sports, but, unfortunately, there are few opportunities that allow the disabled to shine. Special Olympics is an organization that stands out among others for this reason. It gives kids the opportunity to feel like they are somebody and they can do what others can do. Whether a kid has Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or another intellectual disability, they deserve an outlet through sports and activities that grants a time for them to shine and be equal.

Lyndsay Walsh

Titus, a 5th grader at BEES, crosses the finish line

Lyndsay Walsh Robert Smith, a student at Benjamin Eaton Elementary school, smiles for the camera

4 redspotlight November 15, 2019

Jurassic

Ink

Looking back at Homecoming past

60 years ago in 1959,Debbie

Ottoson was crowned Homecoming queen.

Her crowning was sealed with a kiss from her date that night.

30 years ago

Backtracking 50 years

in 1969, Miss Dianne Markley was crowned Homecoming queen. She was joined by attendants Lora White, Kim Nelson, Carolyn Shaefer, Deanna Geisick, Doris Stromberg, and Mary Hood.

in 1989,

Randy Reeman and Shonda Goble were crowned Homecoming king and queen.

During halftime at the Homecoming game, fireworks were set off on the football field.

In 1999, Homecoming King, Jesse

Florez, and Queen, Hilary Anderson, posed for a picture before the dance. They were crowned during halftime at the homecoming game.

redspotlight November 15, 2019 5

Th rough the eyes of a n artist Meet one of the artists at EHS and and her goals for the future.

Kaitlyn Walsh

ing late. Just be open to being critiqued, but don’t let anything stop you,” Daniels said. In Dans one of her framed iels eyes, in elementary photos continues to school students are given disappear from the 5 steps to becoming an artist according to Aria Daniels a task to complete, and walls of Coffee House they are given positive Ten24, a young artist 1. You need to commit and put in years of effort. feedback when they hopes to move forward 2. You need to be understanding. There are always going to be people turn it into their teacher. to pursue her passion judging your art, so don't let yourself become your worst critic.

As children advance in of art as a career. Aria school, they begin to get Daniels (22) has a love 3. Make art that you would want to see. Don't try to cater to others constructive criticism for creating. Daniels, because there is no passion in that. and are turned away who has been an as4. Find out what art means to you, and let it speak through you. from area of expertise. piring artist since she Don't force anything because art is anything but uniform.

Daniels advises that if could hold a pen, said, you are interested in “For forever. I don’t 5. Practice, practice, practice. I know it is really cliche, but that's reart, go for it, but just be have a date or anyally the only way to get better. open to comments from thing. I think since I others. was two or three, and look at something bigger than me and see how it can Once you can accept criI just never stopped. I just reach others. It’s kind of a coping skill whenever I am tique from other people, Daniels said, art kind of went with it.” has tons of career choices. Some of the career

Coffee House 1024 is Eaton’s new stressed.” local coffee shop, and they reached out to Art is an interpretational form of communication ac- choices include commercial artist, graphic Daniels through conversations at her church cording to Daniels. An observer of a work of art can designer, art teacher, and many other occupaabout creating paintings to hang on the walls enjoy or dislike a work that they see. Daniels said, “I tions. Daniels is hoping to pursue art as her of the vintage building. Daniels took the op- kind of hope that whenever people look at my less uni- professional career by becoming a “full time portunity to take a bigger step on her journey form pieces that it doesn’t stress them out, and it let’s artist, like a freelance artist” and commissioning her work to the community. Daniels said, of becoming an artist, and she began putting them think.”

Can anybody become an artist? For Daniels “ I want to sell my own work and make my the paintbrush to the canvas. Daniels said, “They asked me to prepare some pieces for the answer is yes. “It’s never too late for anyone to start own hours. I want to be self employed. It’s the grand opening, and as soon as they start- art. A lot of people are kind of against other artists start- just hard to find places to do that because there are art shows and coned selling, they wanted me to ventions that I could go to beget new ones in.” cause commissions are harder

Her art at the coffeeto get. I know it is a very lucky house has impacted her on a and hard thing to get to.” personal level. She finds selling One of the most imporher art at the coffeehouse is “an tant parts of becoming an artoutlet that I can be rewarded ist according to Daniels is havin”. Opening up her talent and ing support from your family skills to the community allows and friends. Without support others to recognize her talent, from peers, an individual does so Daniels is rewarded when not feel success. Daniels’ mom, community members compliMarla, said, “When she wantment her work. ed watercolors or markers, we

Art has impacted got them for her. When classes Daniel’s life in a variety of were offered to her, she didn’t ways, so she aspires to give want them. We love her stuff, those benefits to others as they so that is encouraging to her.” look at her masterpieces. “I

Her dad, Ken, said he enkind of hope it helps people joys seeing her pictures when feel peace because that’s what they are completed, and he enart has done for me. It has allowed me to kind of figure out A r i a D a n i e l s e x p r e s s e s h e r c r e a t i v i t y w h i l e p a i n t i n g a d a n c e r joys seeing the benefits that art gives Daniels. “It gives her an who I want to be. It’s given me that outlet to on the window of On Pointe Dance and Movement.

Staff Reporter

A

“

6 redspot

Bandmarches

into

Strong senior leadership key first-ever State Championship charlottereynolds featureditor

Abby Whitaker (22) and Anna Augustine (20) ready themselves for an outstanding performance.

2020 Seniors of Marching Band

Colton Sell................................................Drum Major Anna Augustine......................Drumline Section Leader Geoffery Powell.............................................Bass Drum Joelle Green..................Front Ensemble Section Leader Shawn Doyle...........................................Bass Guitarist Tecla Valasek........................Senior Colorguard Captain Katie Wilson................................................Colorguard Klara Cordova........................Low brass Section Leader Monique Santos....................Saxophone Section Leader Cade Bean............................................Alto Saxophone Lexi Nigro.....................................Flute Section Leader Katie Brownlee......................................................Flute

The Fightin’ Reds Marching Band finished their season strong, becomingthefirst-everEatonband to win a State Championship. Last season the band made it to the State Championship finals for the first time and placed fourth overall.

Each rehearsal of hard work led to the band‘s victory on November 4, 2019.

The band received its highest score, 77.15, the perfect way to end asuccessfulseason.Thebandplaced second in the semi-final round, right underThe Classical Academy by a tenth of a point. This left room for motivation to improve and to leaveanunforgettableperformance on the State field.

High brass section leader Nick Sell (21) said, “My last performance of ‘Home’ felt like home.

I finally knew what it was like to be a part of something truly great.

When I locked eyes with Colton for my very last note I knew I did my job, and I did it well. Knowing it was my last time I would play this show, I felt proud.”

Every band member shared a catharticsensationastheycompleted their show.

Front Ensemble section leader Joelle Green (20) said, “Our last performance was definitely our best.

I was soaking it all in by listening to the show as a whole, as I turned around to face Nick that’s when the emotions started to kick in.” Following their finals performance, it

didnotmattertothebandwhether or not they won first place because they knew they left every bit of their energy and emotion on the field.

The band entered the field one last time along with each finalist band to hear the results. Drum Major Colton Sell (20) marched front field to salute and accept the first place State Championship trophy.

Nick Sell (21) said, “It felt amazing hearing that we were first. I looked around and saw so many smiles, I didn’t know if I should smile or cry. It was a moment I will never forget.”

In its most successful season yet, the Eaton Fightin’ Reds Marching Band has strong senior leadership to thank for taking an historical first place in State on November 4. Eaton elementary, middle, and highschoolwerereleasedfromclass early to welcome back the State ChampionsonTuesday,November 5, while band members unloaded amidst cheers and applause.

The senior class has carried it to its full potential, leaving a positive legacy for the future band. Drum Major Colton Sell (20) said, “I want to leave behind a group of people that are ready to take on challenges and become the next generation of leaders in our band.” This season’s show is entitled‘Home’, a remembrance of whereonecomesfromandtheepic journey home.

This resonates most with the seniors as they are preparing to leave their high school and the band.

Drumline section leader Anna Augustine (20) said, “I’ll remember this season the most because everyone can connect to ‘Home’. We are portraying so much emotion to thepointwhereaudiencemembers feel connected too. I’m going to remember this feeling for the rest of my life.”

Aside from statistics, the passion ofthesededicatedstudentshasenabled them to succeed. Saxophonist Cade Bean (20) said, “Home means the growth we’ve had over the past couple of years. This year weareshowingdedicationandputting in the work that pays off.”

Green said, “Home is a safe place where you can be yourself around people you know and love. I really love that feeling and I’m glad we have that in the band. I would like this family to continue after I graduate.”

This years band is very relationship oriented, the members prioritize the value of their peers. They recognize that despite their differences, they have a love of music in common. Bean said,“I will remember the people I’ve come to know.

I’ve learned what a real family is like through my band members.

This activity has brought me out of my shell, I used to keep to myself.

I’m very thankful for my role models who’ve taught me to be a better person and musician.”

Although they have become very successful,eachseniorbegansomewhere.They had inspirations as underclassmenandfacedchallengesin their musical careers. Color Guard

November 15, 2019

to

y to

redspotlight 7

history Tecla Valasek (20) performs her last half-time show at football game with the color guard routine to “Home.”

section leader Tecla Valasek (20) said,“Mybiggestchallengeasasection leader is wanting my section to be the best they possibly can. I can be very critical and I know being detail-oriented will help us succeed.”

Valasek has been a part of the band since her freshman year. Over time she has learned to become a better leader and performer. This year’sseniorshaveexperiencedfirsthand what it's like to build a strong team.

Augustine said,“Every single year throughout my high school career we’ve gotten better. My freshman andsophomoreyearwedidn’treally place in anything, my junior year we placed fourth in State, and this year we placed second at our first competition, first at Legend, first at Regionals, and first at State.”

The band’s achievements in the past four years show and immense amount of growth.To flute section leader Lexi Nigro (20), the most rewarding part is the performance.

Nigro said, “The performances made it all worth it. There’s something about being on the field as a part of the band and giving your all that’s cathartic. It’s a really good feeling and it sticks with you.”

No matter how they place in any competition, the band will be satisfied with a performance filled with passion and emotion. Bass drummer Geoffrey Powell (20) said, “All the hard work put in from June to November pays off when you walk of the State field proud of the art you’ve created.”

The seniors hope to leave a lasting legacy of determination, passion, and a love for the marching arts.

The Marching band lines up to be anounced State Champions for first time in history.

#redstrong Scan QR-Code to watch footage of state competition

Photos by Noelle Meagher and Natalie Dyer

8 November 15, 2019 redspotlight

ICAP Day capitalizes on careers Students welcome stories and advice from professionals Stories and photos from Journalism I

B

eing a high school student comes with a lot of pressure.

Having perfect grades, a perfect friend group, a perfect relationship and knowing what you want to do after graduation all seem to be the standards.

For a lot of the students at Eaton High School, it’s a struggle.

So the Legacy of Leadership class, run by business teacher Chris Love, set up ICAP Day, a big career day fair along with industry tours.

The day hosts presenters from different career fields who can give students some knowledge of what they might want to do after high school.

The Leadership class of about 20 students managed to put together a whole day for 600 kids, allowing students to interact with people from different jobs and then go on a tour of whatever work force interested them the most.

Legacy instructor Chris Love said, “ICAP Day is an opportunity for students to take some time to think about nothing but life after high school. This thought process includes a pathway that they can start today to get to where they want to be in the future.

Kelly Preston, a nutri-

tionist who works for MyNutrition, said, “It’s important for teenagers to create good habits while they are young and become aware of the bad things they are putting into their bod-

ies.”

Not only was Kelly Preston able to make teenagers aware of healthy food options, but she also shared the requirements of her job in order to help kids who want to pursue a career.

Chef Stephen Harden from Escoffi-

show that when you give food to a person you have to present it in a certain way. “You should turn the plate to see if their eyes brighten,” he said, and if they do, then that’s how they like their plate “so you stop.”

He had an amazing array of knives rolled into a pack--yes, he was allowed to bring them to school--and he said the reason for wearing a tall white chef ’s hat was a status symbol. “You have to earn that hat,” he said, and people who wear the tall hat are superior to the other cooks in the kitchen.

Brecklen Ables is a Doula, which is a

and it’s overall just a happy time for everyone.”

You don’t need a college diploma to be a Doula but Ables recommends certification in HYpnobabies and aromatherapy knowledge. She wanted to go to college to be an OB/GYN but her own daughter’s birth made her know how important a Doula is. “The most unique part of my job,” she said, “is to be able to have the opportunity to become part of a family’s life.”

er school of culinary arts talked about the many avenues to becoming chef--culinary school, chef school, or art school.

During his culinary demonstration, he talked about how to dice things and how you can make anything beautiful. “You just have to have the audacity to do it,” he said.

Harden took simple Safeway brownies, caramel and chocolate syrup, strawberries, and powdered sugar and made them into a beautiful treat for kids to eat. He put it all together in order to

person who provides for, and gives emotional, and physical support to pregnant mothers and families. She says there is no “typical day” as a Doula. “Sometimes you are rushing to the hospital to help women and other days I offer emotional support,” she said. The biggest reward of being a Doula, she said is “when the baby is born.

The mothers are crying, I’m normally crying,

redspotlight November 15, 2019 9

Lars Sande is the Train-

ing Coordinator for Vestas, which means that everybody on the staff goes through him in order to start working there.

He has worked at Vestas for over 12 years and he worked in multiple areas of the factory before ever working in the training department. He has done most things like kitting, cutting, preforms, SWR, and finishing. All these contribute

to the blades that are 85 meters long and 144 feet in diameter on the rotor. It takes them about 24 hours to make just one blade if they are only working on one blade at a time, but they work on multiple blades at a time just in pieces.

There are usually three blades on a turbine. If they work on all three blades at the same time it takes them 24 hours to make a full set of three blades.

Joshua Cain started working at Right Coast Pizza because he likes cooking.

“I’ve been in this industry for 10 years but working here at Right Coast Pizza for three years,” he said.

Cain really enjoys interacting with people and he hopes to open his own business one day. He said, “Throwing the dough and pleasing the customer is my favorite part. The hard part about my job is the consistency of the product,” he

said.

To be a part of this business, he said, it’s all about the experience. He has an associate’s degree, but it’s not required to work at Right Coast Pizza.

He said, “The restaurant itself is relaxing except when it gets busy and the server or bartender needs double the help.”

The work ethic at Right Coast is kind of low supervision and employees are expected to work without the constant need of help.

Ginger Darrington is a voice coach by

However, they managed to comply with the many regulations and they have been doing firework shows ever since. But, fireworks are dangerous and there was an incident.

Ginger and her husband were engulfed in a massive fireball due to the stand that holds the fireworks blowing up.

She said, “Our angels wear hardhats so, luckily no one was injured.” Darrington said there are always risks when it comes to something as dangerous and as big firework, but the best parts of her job are making people happy and being so involved in the creation of artwork.

A big influence was her being in theatre in high school and that pushed her to do jobs that involve the production of something like singing or fireworks.

Susan Daigle, Being a police officer in

work with kids and the community. It is rewarding to know that I help the kids and adults in our community are safe.” She said that the only downside to being a police officer is that the job never ends. “We work about eight to eleven hours a day, depending on the events of the day, but night shifts are much worse.”

day and firework/movie specialist by night. She began her firework manufacturing/production company called Angel Light about 10 years ago and built it from the ground up which created a rocky start.

But now her company is thriving. It began with her husband’s father loaning the couple money to begin the business and ever since then, the Darringtons have been booming with job opportunities.

Unfortunately, the company first started up around 2001 when 9/11 occurred and then many regulations were put into place.

Since fireworks are explosive, it wast was hard for her company to get through all the new rules and regulations that were set due to the attack.

a small town like Eaton may seem like a boring job, but according to School Resource officeer, Susan Daigle, it really gives them a chance to be involved with the community by protecting the community and working with kids. “There is paperwork and desk duty jobs, but I can also

10 November 15, 2019 redview

Koeltsowhat: morgankoeltzow editor-in-chief

National Popular Vote strips Coloradoans of representation

The National Popular Vote, or the NPV, is in no way beneficial to Coloradoans. We are a republic and chose select elements of democracy to include within our extremely unique nation. We have elections, yes, but there are reasons our forefathers chose to design the electoral college.

The United States of America was created to ensure that the people will be first and that the government will serve its people and not dictate their lives. One of the most basic ways America protected its citizens was by guaranteeing representation within their government. Without the electoral college, states like Colorado and more rural areas would have little to no say in who becomes president.

Passing the National Popular Vote means that Colorado has no say in who will be the leader of the nation. We are the UNITED states, not a loose grouping of un-similar people. The NPV makes our votes obsolete and insignificant if it not repealed. Rose Pugliese (R) a county commissioner from Mesa county was kind enough to speak to me on her efforts to repeal the NPV. She said that the key ‘would be to educate. Education is key’.

She has focused and will continue to focus and stressing the importance of the Electoral College to the general public, who may not fully understand the importance of the Electoral College and what it protects. The Electoral College serves to protect all views and opinions, no matter the size or the location.

If NPV is passed California and New York would hold a monopoly over who becomes president. This change would not come in to effect the 2020 election but those that may follow. The electoral college was to ensure that every vote

would matter, that every state, county, and person would matter.

In so-called ‘purple’ states like Colorado however, we see fewer but more densely populated counties like Jefferson and Boulder county determine who and what runs Colorado.

Rural areas like Northern Colorado and more agricultural areas like the Western Slope become easily overlooked. The city centers may have one general view on how Colorado should be ran, but don’t often take into account that the rural and or agricultural areas have different needs to ensure their survival. America always has been, and always will be a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

If enough states sign over their right to representation the American people should be afraid that they will no longer get a say in whoever becomes president.

The National Popular Vote steals representation from everyone who doesn’t live in an overly urban setting or city center.

To some the Electoral College may seem so broken that it must be trown out all together. I argue that we merely need to find a new balance between what system we have now and growing populations. Some states like Maine have decided to split their electoral votes for whichever candidate. For example if Donald Trump had recieved 51% of the votes, he would hae only gotten three of Maine’s four electoral votes, Hillary Clinton would recieve the remaining vote as Electoral College votes cannot be split.

Maine also takes into consideration their two congressional districts. This method could be a way for both sides of the Electoral College debate to reach a middle ground

Notes From Noelle: noellemeagher managing-editor

Reading the story to understand the headline...

At some point in our lives we have all looked at a news headline. From about six words, we think that we have the whole story, but we haven’t even actually read all the details to give us that headline. This doesn’t just happen with news, but also with everyday life.

We automatically assume we know the whole story, just because a few words have been passed through in the halls.

The challenge of understanding others seems to be so far fetched, that nobody actually wants to take it on.

We only care about ourselves and the small amount of people who are involved in their circle.

Other than that, we may notice people in the halls but we don’t go out of our way to read their story.

There are many justifications as to why we may keep to ourselves, but who is to say that those reasons outweigh the potential benefits. Understanding others is what is going to bring the family aspect back into this school.

Word spreads quickly in communities like ours. For the most part we could fit into the “everyone knows everyone” type of life. This goes to show that we pick up on an individual’s tendencies very fast. You know who is going to cut in the lunch line, who will stand by the heater in the morning, and who will try to get away with having their hood on every single day.

In a small school like ours, it is an easy thing to pick up on.

This being said, it also is easy to become so caught in a routine that everyone outside your “go-to people” are white noise. There is a very few, select type of people that will notice if someone has a sad face, or slump to their walk. After that, there are even fewer that will go out of their way to ask what is actually wrong.

Now take this as you wish, but could all of the lack of attention be put under the umbrella of selfishness? Or is it more of the fact that individuals are just really unaware.

We need to start taking our time to come together and care about everyone as a whole, because before we know it, we will regret not having a connection with the person that smiled at you in the hall. It should not take extreme measures to bring individuals together.

Reading the story is the thing that will actually explain the headline.

Reading deeper into an individual will tell you more than what you can see on the surface.

You don’t know what is going on inside someone’s life when the conversation isn’t present. And if you aren’t willing to start the conversation, than the most important pieces of someone’s life are going to just continue to be unspoken. Assuming that someone’s life is just fine because they put on a good front, is not acceptable anymore. From the youngest students in the school, to the wisest of teachers, as a whole we need to do better to understand and care.

redopinion November 15, 2019 11

When you’re buried under homework Staff Editorial Every student at Eaton High knows the feeling of homework crashing down on them.

The feeling of never escaping the mess of worksheets, sticky notes, novel pages, and math problems. The RedInk staff knows this feeling very well, and want to allow the students a chance to speak out.

90 students were represented through an anonymous survey about homework load and the consequences of too much. The survey concluded that 81.7 percent of students have a stress level higher than seven on a scale of one to ten.

And 89.5 percent of students said they get most of their homework from the Language Arts department.

One anonymous student said, “The English department needs to realize that kids have homework in other classes, and when they do the homework, they just do it to get it done.

They are not really getting anything out of it.” It has become obvious to some, though, that Language Arts may not be the root of the problem.

Students said the load from the English department would not be as overwhelming if coordination was made among the teachers.

Another anonymous student said, “There are occasions that I do feel like the homework load is appropriate, but there are other times I am overwhelmed and stressed. I definitely feel like there are weeks when I am drowning in homework and I can barely manage it. Then there are those weeks where hardly anything is happening in my classes. I am a

good student that tries to stay on top of my homework and I never have late assignments but there are plenty of late nights spent where I am frustrated by the amount of homework I have.” Many anonymous students had similar complaints.

According to the survey, 94.7 percent of students have more than an hour of homework every night. The amount of time spent doing homework after school can be detrimental to many at Eaton High due to the fact that so many students are involved in extracurriculars. 81.6 percent of the students who took the survey are involved in extracurriculars.

Meaning 81.6 percent of the students have less time after school to get homework completed.

Not only is there the issue of not having enough time to complete the work, but some of the most committed students will stay up late into the night to get their homework done.

This can overall affect how the students perform throughout the school day and during their extracurriculars.

One anonymous student said, “I have 0 free time between balancing homework, softball, and school. I’ll have to stay up until one or two some nights because I know I have to go to work or I have a game the next day, and that lack of sleep affects my performance in my other events.”

Another said, “I become so stressed because after school I have work until late at night so when I get home I have to do homework then take a shower and go to bed. It’s a bummer because I get really no sleep and it’s hard to concentrate at school and sit in a classroom.

But, the process of my schedule goes on and on.”

It is no secret that Eaton High School has some extremely committed students, but in the long run, it is all about the kids.

Gabriel Holguin

They all have lives outside of school, and sometimes the load of homework can really affect different aspects of their dayto-day routine. Such as sleep schedule, employment, or extracurriculars.

One anonymous student said, “[Teachers should] communicate with other teachers to at least get some ideas of what we are doing in other classes. That way, multiple classes won’t be having a huge homework load in the same week. I’m not saying to know their whole schedule, just to know if they are having any big projects going on.”

The homework load would be bearable if students didn’t have projects and tests in multiple classes at the same time.

Coordination among teachers may be the factor to student success in high school.

Red Ink Staff Editor-in-Chief……….................…morgankoeltzow Managing Editor…….........……………noellemeagher News Editor……............…....……………abigailvondy Sports Editor..........…......…….......………jadenstone Sports Editor……...........…....………coleschumacher Opinion Editor…......…….......…….mackenziecrouch Feature Editor............................charlottereynolds staff reporter....................................kadenbetters staff reporter............................danessadaugherty staff reporter..............................haleydelossantos staff reporter....................................kaitlyngomez staff reporter...............................genesishembree staff reporter..................................gabrielholguin staff reporter.....................................austinsutton staff reporter.....................................kaitlynwalsh staff reporter....................................lyndsaywalsh Adviser………...........………..................deirdrewhite The Red Ink is a public forum,School-sponsored and student generated, which encourages the free exchange of ideas and information.

All opinions made in the exercise of freedom of speech or press are the sole opinions of the writers and are in no way to be considered the opinions of Eaton High School, administration, Board of Education, or Eaton School District. The Red Ink strictly adheres to School Board Policy JCEA and Colorado Revised Statute 12-1120.

The Red Ink is a member of the Colorado High School Press Association, Journalism Education Association, and Quill and Scroll.

The redink encourages reader feedback. All letters to the editor can be submitted to eatonredink@gmail.com

12 redzone November 15, 2019

Full hearts, fast feet

Freshman runner Logan Gullet places 11th at state cross country meet abigailvondy newseditor The season of distance running has reached an end, and the cross country members can finally take a breather. Especially freshman standout Logan Gullet (23), who came in 11th in a field 156 of Colorado’s best.

After placing sixth as a team at regionals on October 17, Eaton Cross Country sent two runners to Colorado Springs to race against some of the most talented distance runners in Colorado.

Gullet (23) and Evan Gesick (21) went face to face against 156 boys on Saturday, October 19. Gullet placing 11th with a time of 17:13 and Gesick placing 48th with a time of 18:06.

The runners who placed in the top fifteen at regionals had the opportunity to compete at state, and after Gullet placed fourth and Gesick placed ninth, another week of practice and preparation came their way.

Although the pair, and other committed teammates, readied themselves a week in advance during practice, nothing in the town of

Eaton could prepare them for what they faced at state.

Cross country coach, Jaryn Guerra said, “There was a lot of uphills and that made the course really difficult especially because around here, everything’s flat. That was definitely the biggest struggle but they overcame it by taking advantage of the flat parts of the course and really surged through them so that when they got to the hills they didn’t lose the distance that they gained.”

Gullet also saw the challenges of the hills and understood how difficult they would be to overcome.

“In the middle of the race there was this big hill and I got passed by a lot of different people. I just had to tell myself to keep going and then I passed a lot of them towards the end,” he said.

Having the pair of boys compete at state was a great accomplishment for the team.

The ending of the season was a good omen for the future of cross country at Eaton.

Guerra said, “After state, I really think we can build some momentum. The

Courtesy photo Logan Gullet (23) leads the crowd through the course with Evan Gesick (21) right on his heels

boys know the course now, they know what it feels like.

I’m very confident that they’ll make it back and hopefully we take more people with them.

My goal is to be able to make it to state as a team rather than as individuals.”

Gesick shares the same optimistic views for the future of the team. “State didn’t go as well as planned, I had one of my worst races, but it was still a fun experience and I look forward to setting new personal records and running with new

people,” he said.

The future is bright for the two runners and for the team as a whole. The hills they overcame at state gets them so much closer to reaching Colorado Springs as a team in the years to come.

Courtesy photo Eaton Cross Country team jumps for joy Coach Jarnyn Guerra, Evan Gesick (21), Mikayla Schwartz (20), Katie Gomez (22), Ben Williams (21), Maddie Robson (23), Tyler Gray (22), Jaymison Montoya (22), Becca Doughty (21), Sydney Carlson (21), Grace Smith (21), Kenna Dalton (21), Coach Keri, Jadon Johnson (21), Dakota Braucher (23), Logan Gullet (23), Jack Taggart (23), and Chase Mackey (23)