May 2025 USJ

IN OUR BACKYARD

Students have easy access to Cherry Creek State Park – not only for leisure activities, but also its wildlife, mental health benefits, and educational opportunities.

Cherry Creek High School 9300 E. Union Ave. Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Vol. 10 Issue 4 May 2025

Table of Contents News

Sports

4

14

Features

7

A&E

17

10

Opinions

20

4 - News Bites 5 - New District Policy Targets Chronic Absences 6 - CCSD Won’t Sign Anti-DEI Mandate

7 - Dex Rhody, Charlie Stern Look Back on Years Of Morning Announcements 8-9 - Retiring Teachers Say Goodbye To Creek

In-Depth

10 - In Our Backyard: Cherry Creek State Park Is Right Across The Street: How Do Students Use it?

14-15 - New Coaches Shift Into Team Roles 16 - She Is UNC: The Track Star Kinley Wolfe Holds Strong North Carolina Legacy

17 - Tips & Tricks For The Best Thrifting Experience 18-19 - Summer Ahead: Watch Out!

20 - The Roots Of Black Hair Culture 21 - National Parks Need Support 22 - Creative Writing Should Be Available 23 - Staff Editorial: Thank You Colorado

On The Cover Seniors (from left) Cora Berke, Jackson Kerber, Anthony Messersmith, and Megan Anderson play spikeball on a beach at Cherry Creek State Park (CCSP). The group enjoyed a day on the beach with volleyball and cornhole, too.

With CCSP right across the street from Creek, students can enjoy the park any day. Students also say it’s a big help to de-stress and a great place to enjoy activities with friends and family. “There’s endless things you could do at the reservoir and anything you pick can boost mental health,” senior Addie McWilliams said.

Go to page 10 to read more about CCSP. PHOTO BY PETER PHILPOTT

Staff

Editors-in-Chief Quinn Rudnick Izzy Krauss Peter Philpott Managing Editor Sophia Hady

FINAL: MEMORIES: Seniors (from left) Norah Armstrong, Rory Summitt, and Brooke Sax pose for a photo booth shot with theater director Alex Burkhart’s daughter Olive in Post Grad during Senior Signing Day, where students celebrate graduation and college to come.

PHOTO BY PETER PHILPOTT

Letter From The Editors

Spring and summer are in full force and once students get past the challenge of exams, we have a long few months to enjoy beautiful Colorado. We thought it would be perfect to talk about Cherry Creek State Park, a gem of a landscape which happens to be right across Dayton St. We talked about summer activities, local wildlife, and even how students use the park to support their mental health and education.

In this magazine, we also decided to highlight the retirement of seven beloved teachers, their accomplishments, and future plans.

Also, the student duo that greets us on the morning announcements each week and their next steps.

We discussed students’ summer entertainment recommendations and CCSD’s decision to not sign a certification removing DEI in schools. We saw this staff editorial as an opportunity to thank administrators for continuing to celebrate diversity within our school and community.

This issue was a chance to integrate next year’s team of editors into magazine design and leadership. And thank you to our seniors for years of hard work. We can’t wait to see what you do next.

Leaving the USJ might be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but watching you all grow into incredible writers and editors has been nonstop incredible. You are all going to do amazing things, and I am so proud of this newspaper.

- Editors-in-Chief Quinn Rudnick, Izzy Krauss & Peter Philpott

News Editor Oliver Scala A&E Editor Dhanya Rajendiran Opinions Editors Jude Gorden Iv Collier Sports Editors Andrei Machado Kellen Ringland Features Editor Serenity Hurtado Asst. News Editor Keagan Hong Asst. A&E Editor Avery Exley Asst. Opinions Editors Elise Dougherty Havana Amanlou Asst. Sports Editor Clay Biskner

Asst. Features Editors Berkeley Bowler Aleena Gopalani Chief Photographer Briana Flores Chief Artist Angela Xu Marketing & Business Manager Evelyn Laughlin Video & TikTok Manager Ella Fishman Staff Manager Rue Minar Design Manager Emily Lambert Contributing Artist Jackie Newman Staff Writers Cristal Garcia Angie Wang Rayna Moon Kazie Siegel Jackson Sloan Peyton Champion Vera Costa Mae Murphey Advisor Seth Fine

Purpose:

The Union St. Journal is the official online and print news source for Cherry Creek High School. We are a student-run publication distributed to the students, faculty, and staff of Creek, and serve as an information source and two-way communication forum for both the school and community. We welcome guest opinion writers. Content does not necessarily represent the views of Cherry Creek High School or the Cherry Creek School District. Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the overall views of The Union St. Journal, CCHS, or CCSD. Letters to the editor are accepted and can be submitted via email to usj.editorinchief@gmail.com Letters may be edited for clarity.

Perennial Owl Pair Returns to Creek Nest

BY KEAGAN HONG Asst. News Editor

news bites

Two great horned owls returned to nest in a tree on campus and have been seen throughout the following five weeks.

Students initially saw the owls flying around in the early morning a few months ago. They eventually repurposed a nest in one of the trees and the female owl has stayed in the nest since.

“She started sitting in the nest probably about a month back, maybe five weeks back, consistently, and did not move out,” Library and Tech Center Information Systems Operator Bobby Morris said. “Usual-

ly, I know that they’re around because I can hear them hooting in the morning, right before dawn.”

This hasn’t been the first time great horned owls have been seen here at Creek; in 2021, a baby owl was spotted on campus. The pair has returned most years since.

Recently, the owls have been seen less and less, likely because they’re focused on incubating and protecting their young.

“It was pretty cool to watch them as they were going through their parenting cycle,” Morris said.

PEERING EYES: The male owl in the pair perches in a tree over the Fine Arts building near his nest.

PHOTO BY PETER PHILPOTT

Dry Creek Program Mixes

Elementary With High School Art

BY PEYTON CHAMPION Staff Writer

PHOTO BY PEYTON CHAMPION

POTTERY: High school adaptations of elementary students’ drawing ideas.

Creek and Dry Creek Elementary School are building a collaborative partnership to encourage creativity. Second graders created drawings that were then passed on to the high school’s ceramics and creative writing classes. The collaboration is a way for young students to see their imaginations come to life.

“I can imagine how excited these second graders are,” creative writing teacher Marissa Voss said. “When you’re in second grade, you think a senior in high school is so big, and they’re thrilled to have this kind

of collaboration where they were in the driver’s seat and turned something over to someone older.”

The collaboration began earlier this year when elementary students created original pieces of art where their minds were able to run wild. Their teacher then interviewed them on what their character may like and what their hobbies are, so that the high schoolers had something to go off of.

Through the collaboration, the elementary schoolers were able to showcase their voice.

Second grader Carissa Gubler said she “thought about candy, and then [she] wanted to make something about candy, because [she likes] chocolate.”

Teen Court Gets Students

BY ALEENA GOPALANI Involved In Law Asst. Features Editor

4 | News

Teen Court is a national organization for teenagers who are first-time youth offenders. After pleading guilty, these offenders are referred to Teen Court where their peers serve as prosecutors and help determine an appropriate punishment.

“I started to really like government in eighth grade, so my mom and I started researching things to help me follow that ambition,” freshman Sunand Bhandaram said. Bhandaram is a defense attorney for Teen Court, helping him gain experience with his dream of becoming a lawyer.

Anyone in seventh grade or above can do jury duty. If you’re in eighth grade or higher are free to go

through either a two week or 20 hour long training process to become a prosecutor or defense attorney.

“I went during the summer, and after the judge taught us how to write cases, we did a practice mock trial and got our certifications,” senior Neil Patel said.

Organizers believe that the program is valuable. “I love that we give young juvenile first-time offenders the opportunity to rehabilitate and learn from their mistakes without it affecting the rest of their lives,” Teen Court coordinator Rebecca Huska said.

ART BY QUINN RUDNICK

news

New District Policy Targets

BY OLIVER SCALA & KEAGAN HONG

News Editor & Asst. News Editor

A

Chronic Absences

mid Creek’s ongoing campaign against chronic student absence, district administration is introducing a new amendment to an existing policy.

This means that if a student with over 15 absences does not provide a doctor’s note following additional absences, they will remain marked as unexcused.

This new practice is part of a district-wide initiative to curtail chronic student absence.

The plan is aimed at reducing student ab“There’s been an uptick in students sence under the guise of medical ailments as missing school since COVID,” Felchle said. a means to skip class.

“Across the country there has been a huge “This policy has been in effect for a while,” increase in absence Dean Brock Felchle said. rates, and we’re trying “[Its execution] is what’s “There has been a huge to get students back being changed.” increase in absence rates, into school on a regular The revised policy is basis.” and we’re trying to get as follows: once a student Consequences for has met or surpassed ten students back into school excessive absenteeism accumulated days of ab(defined by 30 accumuon a regular basis.” sence, they will receive lated days of absence) an attendance letter or include a compulsory notification from the - Dean Brock Felchle meeting with the Studistrict. The first letter dent Attendance Reis treated as a warning. view (SAR) board or a When a student has met potential referral for truancy court. or surpassed 15 accumulated days of ab“Once a student gets to a point where sence, they will receive another attendance they’ve been placed on doctor’s notes and letter from the district. there are still concerns around absenteeism, “The district has taken over these steps in we refer a student through our SAR process,” the attendance process.” Felchle said. “They Dean Natasha Utterback said. “The first step are the ones who send out the attendance is [to meet] with our district attorney, the concern letters.” [student’s] family, and the dean, and then Once this second letter has been received, the goal is to try to find ways to support the the district will contact the student’s parents, student and the family in getting the student letting them know that the student will have to come to school.” to provide doctor’s notes or proof of illness if Truancy court is a legal action taken to they miss classes again for a medical reason. ensure that students who have excessive ab-

DOCTORS’ NOTES: District admin recommends that students provide adequate documentation for all medical absences.

ART BY KEAGAN HONG

sences in the grade book (four unexcused absences in a month, ten in a year per the truancy court guidelines) will return to classes. Often it is under the jurisdiction of the county court, and it aims to address the root causes of the student’s absence issue.

But this is regarded as the absolute last resort.

The recommended method to avoid receiving the first (or second) letter is to provide medical documentation anyway, even if the student has not received an attendance alert.

“Unfortunately, we as a school cannot excuse the absence after a student reaches the threshold of 15 or more school days,” Felchle said. “It doesn’t matter if [the student] is excused or unexcused at that point.”

The Process

1

Miss 10 Days

2

If you miss 15 days of school, you and your parent will receive a second letter from the district. You will now have to provide doctors notes for absences.

If you miss 10 accumulated days of school, you and your parent will receive a letter of concern from the district.

Miss 15 Days

3

Miss Over 15 Days

If you miss over 15 days of school, you may be required to attend an SAR appointment or Truancy court.

GRAPHIC BY OLIVER SCALA

May 2025

Following State Guidance, CCSD Won’t Sign Anti-DEI Form

Schools choose to protect DEI after Trump threatens a loss of federal funding ues,” Keogh said. “At this time we are continuing the work that we are doing to support what is best for all students.”

Editor-in-Chief & News Editor Despite worries surrounding threats to ll public K-12 schools nation- the stability of district funding, administrawide received a notice from tion is keen on preserving Creek’s DEI prothe Department of Education grams.

“We’re going to continue to [support DEI] on April 3 requesting that they sign a until legislation changes or our [state] fundform stating that they don’t follow any ing could be impacted,” Keogh said. “At that diversity, equity, and inclusion poli- point we will go back to the drawing board to cies. figure out how to make sure that we continue If not signed, schools risk losing all feder- supporting all students.” al funding. The mandate argues that DEI is When split between school districts in illegal under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Colorado, it’s estimated that federal fundwhich prohibits discrimination on the basis ing makes up for about five percent of the of race, color, and national origin.

CCSD’s funding, or one dollar per every five Under the direction of the Colorado De- spent. From a holistic standpoint, the Colopartment of Education (CDE), the CCSD will rado Department of Education reported that not sign the mandate, and plans to uphold the CCSD’s 2022-23 fiscal year budget was its existing policies, stating that they “stand $925 million, 90 percent of which is used for by our equity work and salaries and benefits. Fiscal [have] not made changreports for the 2023-24 year “It’s important to es to operations.” will be released on July 1, The mandate reunderstand that our but numbers are expected quired all schools to reto decrease. school culture is not spond within ten days, When news of the mandefined by a federal or by Sunday, April date was released, many 13. However, after the students and adminispolicy.”

American Civil Libertrators reacted with conties Union and National cern. At Creek, DEI is still - Senior Kimaya Kini Education Association very strongly practiced sued the Department - through clubs, mental of Education in a New health services, discriminaHampshire court, the order was postponed tion policies, and more. until April 24.

“We are a little less reliant on federal The CDE, headed by Commissioner of funding, but we do rely on federal funding Education Susana Córdova, released com- for school meals and special [education],” munications about the mandate as well. In Keogh said. “If there were to be cuts to [fedthe letters, she explained that “The Colora- eral funding] we would definitely see some do Department of Education complies with impacts, specifically around staffing for speTitle VI, its implementing regulation, and cial education. We, as a district, would have Supreme Court cases interpreting Title VI.” to look at how we [would be] funding those Because Colorado schools already follow programs.” that law, Córdova believes they should not For club leaders like Latinos Unidos sehave to sign the mandate. nior president Jocelyn Hernandez-Martinez Principal Ryan Silva stated that while he the news was worrisome; her club focuses was aware of the letter and its requirements, the majority of its energy on inclusionary he wasn’t actively involved with decisions re- practices. garding what to do about DEI and funding.

To Hernandez-Martinez and other memOther administrators, like Assistant Prin- bers of Latinos Unidos, DEI policies are cipal Dr. Krista Keogh, expressed steadfast deeply personal. “With DEI being in danger, support for all DEI programs, despite poten- we are risking the decreased sense of belongtial threats to funding. ing towards students and the promotion of “The superintendent is holding firm in discrimination and bias,” she said. “More our belief that equity is one of our core val- than that, we [could lose] the strong cultural

BY QUINN RUDNICK & OLIVER SCALA

A

6 | News

representation that we have.”

Kimaya Kini, the current Inclusion and Equity Coordinator for Creek’s student body, a position that works with administration in order to recognize prejudice and to prevent and stop it in classrooms.

“Just because President Trump decides that there isn’t a need for diversity, equity and inclusion doesn’t mean that it’s no longer an issue,” she said. “Each of us can [acknowledge] that those issues matter and that there are systemic biases that have prevented certain groups from succeeding to the same degree. We still have to create equitable solutions.”

GRAPHIC BY QUINN RUDNICK

How Are Colorado Public Schools Funded?

Federal Funds Come First: U.S Department of Education:

$992 Million U.S Department of Agriculture:

$265 Million Other Federal Funding:

$14 Million Then State Funds:

2023 CDE DATA

State Funds -

General & Education Funds

$6 Billion Local Funds Property Taxes

$7.9 Billion 2023 CDE DATA

The Total Is Then Divided For Each District: The CCSD Receives:

~ $452 Million (49%) State: ~ $425 Million (46%) Federal: ~ $47 Million (5%) Local:

Approx.

Grand $925 Million Total:

2022-2023 CDE DATA: 2024 Data Releases July 1

features

“The Sun is Shining... ...the Birds Are Chirping”

Dex Rhody, Charlie Stern Look Back on Years Of Morning Announcements

BY PETER PHILPOTT

T

Editor-in-Chief

he intercom crackles on as students make their way to their first period desks. Backpacks unzip and computers open as two familiar voices announce clubs, sporting events, and read the pledge of allegiance.

For the past two years, that’s where seniors Dex Rhody and Charlie Stern found a place in Creek culture.

As juniors, they kicked off each Monday and Wednesday with Stern’s iconic line: “The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the skies are blue.” As seniors, they’re featured weekly during the Thursday sports announcements.

“It’s just a really incredible opportunity to be able to speak to everyone in the morning and get everyone’s days going,” Stern said.

“It’s built both of our leadership skills up… [and made us] more confident to talk to groups of people.”

Rhody was nervous about having a catchphrase, but Stern took the leap and it caught on.

“Charlie, the first day we walked in, he to do,” he said. was like, ‘I want to do something new, I want Through Stern’s four years of Senate, Aspeople to recognize us,’” Rhody said. “I was sistant Principal Dr. Krista Keogh, and Aclike, ‘I’ll stand off.’ You can do this so if it tivities Director Kelly Devitt-Prevost have flops, I don’t have anything on me, but it was had a huge impact on his development. well received.”

“They expect a lot from us, but that’s For Rhody, the positions he’s held in stu- what’s made us into more confident people dent government, currently as Vice Presi- and better leaders,” Stern said. The people in dent, have been defining Senate motivate you for his life at Creek. to just be better.”

“It’s just a really incredible “Just being able to be Devitt-Prevost is opportunity to be able to that guy is so cool,” he going to miss the pair said, “being able to put and the work they’ve speak to everyone in the yourself out there as a done at Creek. morning and get everypart of Cherry Creek High “They have worked School is incredible.” hard to develop amazone’s days going,” Especially during ing events for their events like Power Week peers, encourage - Senior Charlie Stern and Spirit Week, where and solicit participaSenate takes the stage to tion, as well as foster build school spirit, both school spirit. They have noticed a greater connection to Creek. care deeply about Creek and its success,” she “To be able to get the opportunity to em- said. “They are incredibly smart, kind, and cee at a pep assembly, or be in Mr. Creek it’s hard-working kids that have bright futures really cool,” Rhody said. ahead.”

Stern, who currently serves as Activities Now the pair faces the next challenge – Coordinator, agreed. “It’s given me these op- or opportunity, the way they look at it. Stern portunities to take on leadership roles and is shipping off to the University of Michigan just do things I didn’t think I would be able and Rhody is going north to CU Boulder.

“It might be a little harder to make an PHOTO BY PETER PHILPOTT impact [at a larger school]” Stern said. “So I’m gonna try to get leadership roles and see where it takes me.”

Rhody is also excited to get involved in a bigger school environment.

“I definitely want to stay in the political sphere,” Rhody said. “To be able to go to a community that’s 10 times the size of Creek, and make an impact there would mean a lot.”

MIC CHECK: Seniors Dex Rhody (left) and Charlie Stern lean over the microphone, reading out sports announcements.

ART BY ANGELA XU

May 2025

Dara Goe glei Year M ATH n Year s At Cree k: 21 Cl s Teac

hi as In Thses: All g ng: 30 e been eir Wo neral ma r a pla d s: “[ th class ce paren t and where I Creek ha es w s a tea Stud cher,” as a stud ] not only e ent, I Goeg viron nt Tho w ught ment Bau s:“ lein said. as also a to

Ma SO tt B CI udd AL i ST ngto UD n IES

She c ask q mga and b rtner said uestions,” reates a s Ye af . “Sh ef f Cla ars A e was reshman e enPlan riendly.”

A able s In sses t C to jok udrey whet After:“ r T e a w I he ith u ppr hei : All eek: t s r feren r it is, yo hink tryin S tha ecia Wo ocia 22 Y u t env t t e ironm know, te g someth rd l S w d ea m a ac in ent,” Stuessage s a rea the eff s: “[Atudies rs T Goeg hing, just g new, o eac l lein s s i d aid. n a dif- whe ent like t good rts th tude hin h n l a Pla ped m Tho at.” way, t I pu t] th g: 3 esp 0 t in oug rel ns A e to ugh eci ht ativ w t m s f I a i : t lly w ely ter: y go “H rig h the as a e you a ht c l ng, “[I’m l of ge was r at t ass,” great ttin eall wh ] ex he t y c en end Budd eache g I ca ited a goo pass i of m ngt r an n b bou d gr iona y c on sa d rea a ea are ctiv t bein des,” te abo er, id. “S lly e a g ab jun ut t to nd i h l o hea o r A e su hik e to ra b e,” trav by bjec Bu N e t l a e w dd n ing hile ufeld d it ton I’m sai d. sai s d. till

Michelle Barber MATH

Years At Creek: 29.5

Years Teaching: 29.5

Classes: Algebra 1 to AP Calculus Words: “[The students] really In Their

thought that I inspired them to do the math, changed their entire life, who they married, where they went to the university,” Barber said.

Thoughts: “She’s a really nice teachStudent er, is really reasonable with grades and is just a good teacher” junior Erkhtaivan Tsogtbaatar said.

Plans After: “[I’m] gonna relax, gonna go somewhere,” Barber said. “But I’ll be subbing here because I like to stay in touch with students and teaching, that’s the passion.”

8 | Features

Erica Padzik MARKETING Years At Creek: 11 Years Teaching: 13 Classes: Marketing, DECA

In Their Words: “One of the biggest things I’ve learned as a teacher is

that everybody has something to offer, and you just have to be willing to see the positive,” Padzik said.

Co-Worker Thoughts: “We’ll miss her a lot, and we’re lucky to have had those three years,” marketing teacher Mallory Cleveland said.

Plans After: “I recently finished my license to be an administrator,” Padzik said. “I’ve been interested in looking to see how I help kids in other ways outside of the classroom too.”

Steve Huntingdale SOCIAL STUDIES Years At Creek: 5

Years Teaching: 29 CP US History, World, Economics, and Government Classes: In Their Words: “I’ve fulfilled my own mission as a teacher,” Huntingdale said. “And I’ve had a really great career, I think that students need someone with a lot more energy.”

Co-Worker Thoughts: “He’s really lighthearted, really funny, and he keeps us on our feet and laughing,” history department head Cari Erickson said.

Plans After: “I’ll coach club volleyball,” Huntingdale said.

Co ry Ye rs A M Cla a Le A In sses t Cre TH feb T you hei : Algeb ek: 6

re r W ra

on m to Y o Stu the go ember rds: “ Calcu ears T , eac on den od t the I’ve lus hin Pla e in th t Tho imes,” people made l g: 2 ns e cl ug Lefe . I’m ifelo 9 Aft assr hts bre n s er: oom : “He said ure, a g frien “I . s I ’s ds ,” [wi

Vernal Pope ENGLISH

Ye ars At Cree Ye ars Teachink: 20 Classes: AP Lang: 31 g, Cre

ative on Film. CP English 11, an Writing, Writing d African Am Lit erican In Their Words: “Th ey were doin thing with w g someriting, becau se of the pas instilled in th si on that I em,” P Stu dent Though ope said ts: “She’s so willi you out and ng to hear give you her insi like she is ju dging you,” se ght, It doesn’t feel nior V Plans After: “I have enjoye enus Tallie said. and I just ho d my time h ere, pe that I hav e made a diff Pope said. erence,”

re

a s refl a ll] opho ble to ect t eve pro mo r h t h a is s y sto bab re M ve a um p. S ly t d a e t me o th c rav the r, I el a w N ent co ’ll l at’s w nd ept nve ook hat tak une rsa e it bac tion s a k eas id. wit y,” he Lef v ery ebr e sa id.

BY SERENITY HURTADO, BERKELEY BOWLER, & ANDREI MACHADO

Mike Kraft SOCIAL STUDIES : 24 ars At Creek : 34 Ye AP g ars Teachin History, AP US History, and Ye S U P C Classes: ics in class, m Microecono tivities we do ac e “Th s: experiences, Their Word In act to those g students re ugh things

and watchin ut things thro em learn abo th g n ei se d an said. meone doing,” Kraft ike Kraft is so that they are “M : self to oughts -WorkeranTdhyear out, just pushes himt teacher Co en in who, year be,” governm acher he can be the best te to Kenhel said. , going back Thomas Mic er b m te ep S nned,” “In Plans After:that, I don’t have anything pla an ya. Other th .

Kraft said

Features Editor, Asst. Features Editor & Sports Editor

M

any teachers love their job at Creek, but their journey in education eventually comes to an end. This year, eight teachers are saying goodbye to the school.

With countless years of experience, these educators wish to leave a lasting impact, teaching and personally with each student.

May 2025

In Our Backyard The Cherry Creek State Park is right across the street: how do students use it?

The Marsh

Near the east end of the park, forests mix with the open plains and small streams. Throughout the area, trails are available for biking, running, and walking.

BY QUINN RUDNICK Editor-in-Chief

The Beach

The Forest

Arguably the most popular for Creek students, the beach and dock area allows for plenty of activities like paddleboarding, beach volleyball, and swimming.

Welcome to the Reservoir: Cherry Creek High School opened in 1955. Cherry Creek State Park opened in 1959. Since then, the two areas have lived alongside each other, just across Dayton and Union Avenue from each others’ territories. Students spend a day full of hustle and bustle on campus, and often, in moments of quiet, they can look out a window and see a grand body of rippling blue water across the way.

And sometimes the temptation for a beach day or a good hike has to be given into. Creek students will cross the line, and hang out on a sandy beach with friends during their off periods, or

10 | In-Depth

find some solace in a walk through the woods. And for the students that do this, the park is extremely beneficial.

“It’s honestly the best place nearby,” junior Sofae Berzon said. “We don’t get to go on vacations or do crazy stuff every summer but being able to go boating with my friends is really great.”

But through their time next to each other, how has CCSP interact with Creek and the world around it? What wildlife calls the park home, while students frolic through it? How does the park help conservation efforts, but also how is its environment harmed by students?

Much of the park is covered in a vast, expansive forest. Aspens, cottonwoods, and pine trees form a mixed environment, creating the perfect atmosphere for hiking or birding.

ALL ART & PHOTOS

BY QUINN RUDNICK

What is CCSP? Spread across 4,000 acres, CCSP houses one massive lake, with a few streams and ponds, surrounded by what feel like multiple different environments - beaches, forests, and prairies. And while thousands of animals call it home, people love the park as well. They

can rent boats and paddleboards and spend time on the water, ride bikes on a vast array of trails, and more.

“There’s a lot more here than you would initially expect,” CCSP Education Interpretive Assistant Maddy Martin said.

Entry & Use

DayWith Pass Car

$10

$3 Annual Pass With State Parks Pass ($80 Per Year) Paddleboard Rental Weekend, One Hour Kayak Rental $29 Weekend, One Hour

$29

CCSP Harbors Diversity on Land, in the Air, in the Water and American kestrels hunt from treetops.

Still more songbirds like red-winged blackEditor-in-Chief birds and song sparrows fill the breeze with music. pread around the reservoir, Small mammals like rabbits and squirCherry Creek State Park (CCSP) rels are a common sighting around the park, is teeming with life – its diverse but even white-tailed deer and coyotes often ecosystems packed into such a small approach close to humans – and the plains space means more diversity for such a ecosystems are a perfect place to see communities of prairie dogs. small park.

As for the cold-blooded animals, the lake For CCSP Education and Interpretation Assistant Maddy Martin, the birds are a cen- is a center for many. While there are some native fish like black bullheads, most species ter of attention.

“I think the biggest [draw] is we have a are stocked by the park for fishing, like rainnative pair of bald eagles in the park, which bow trout and walleye.

Amphibians like tiger is amazing given the ursalamanders and Woodban environment that “It is important to prohouse’s toads, and reptiles surrounds the park,” tect the park because it like pond sliders, garter Martin said. “It’s just has so many great things snakes, and snapping turtles quiet enough, and they like the reservoir, so to offer and is a home to all have big populations all around the reservoir as well. they moved in here, and many animals.”

Hundreds of insect species, they had babies just last including beetles, grasssummer.” hoppers, and butterflies are While CCSP is pop- Sophomore their dinner. ular in the community Drake Bowser That’s just the animals. for leisure possibilities, CCSP is home to many nait also attracts enthusiasts of the wildlife. The hundreds of differ- tive plants and trees as well. Morning glories, ent avian species make it a perfect place for Great Plains yucca, and Rocky Mountain bee photographers and birders. And because of plants are just a few of the shrubs and flowits easy accessibility near Creek and so many ers that add color to the undergrowth. Huge neighborhoods, even students can get in- eastern cottonwoods and ponderosa pines volved in birding at the park, like sophomore tower up as air cover for birds and mammals.

For senior Rachel Wheatley, beDrake Bowser has.

“I have been birding since 2022 and I have ing in the Horticulture class has exalways had an interest in it because you never panded her awareness for plant life. know what you’re going to see next,” Bowser “You don’t have to be a really outdoorsy persaid. “I have had lots of experiences at CCSP, son to learn about horticulture,” Wheatley and I have seen all kinds of ducks and geese said. “I’ve found it to be a really interesting during migration and have witnessed herons and practical field, and once you begin to hunting along the edge of the reservoir, and learn about it you kind of start to see it everywhere.” overhead the bald eagles hunting.”

How can visitors limit their environmenRing-billed gulls are the most populous waterbirds, while white pelicans, mallards, tal impact? Martin says to just be conscienand American coots are also common. Rap- tious.

“The city folk are sometors like red-tailed hawks, northern harriers,

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus

BY PETER PHILPOTT

S

Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

Black Bullhead Ameiurus melas

PHOTOS BY PETER PHILPOTT

Ring-Billed Gull Larus delawarensis times not great about knowing to keep their distance and they get a little bit too close to the wildlife,” she said. “Trash is a big one, because anything you leave out, animals are going to get into it. They might swallow the plastic…It takes a community to keep this park clean.”

With invasive plant species like leafy spurge and bindweed taking space from native plants, Wheatley says it’s important to know your surroundings and know what species to protect.

“Plant and protect species that are native to your area, learn how to identify invasive plants, stick to trails and follow leave no trace guidelines while in nature,” she said.

Bowser hopes the community can work to protect the park because of its extensive natural diversity.

“It is important to protect the park because it has so many great things to offer and is a home to many animals and appreciating them makes you understand why they need to be protected,” he said.

Coyote Canis Latrans

Walleye Sander vitreus

May 2025

The Reservoir’s Appreciation Extends Into Worker Appreciation and Environmental Science

Q&A:

Why Is the Reservoir So Important?

Maddy Martin, the Education Interpretive Assistant at Cherry Creek State Park (CCSP), is working her second season at the park in communications leading classes about trash, animals, and many trails within the park .

She holds a deep love for both the various ecosystems and the diversity of visitors at the park.

“Pretty much everybody comes by,” she said. “There’s biodiversity, both in terms of animals and

BY IZZY KRAUSS Editor-in-Chief

in the different people visiting.”

Many programs exist at both a State and National level to keep parks clean, the CCSP has many ways of trying to keep it clean, but it relies on visitor help as well.

“It takes a community to keep this park clean , but a lot of the community doesn’t have the knowledge of the impact it has on the animals and plants in the park,” Martin said.

Why Should Students Be Interested in the Park?

“There’s a lot more here than you would initially expect [ in the reservoir]. There’s a lot more trails than you’d expect and little beautiful play sets, and a lot more wildlife here than you’d ever think of. Go a little farther out and see what is out there.”

- CCSP Interpretive Asst. Maddy Martin

What Is Creek’s Impact?

“There’s no doubt in my mind that there’s a connection between waste improperly disposed of on our campus and the volume of waste that’s in that park. We’re too close together. And it’s not boaters and recreational users of the park that are dumping garbage down there. It’s blowing, and it’s being deposited there by wind and water.”

- AP Environment Teacher Jeffery Boyce

Why Is the Location Important?

“Cherry Creek is really special because it’s right smack in the middle of an extremely urban environment. You got people who come to go wander around wetlands, You got people who like riding their bikes on those like long paved paths that we have through the prairie, you have birders who are coming because of the large quantity of water fowl we have around here.

So like, those different environments create a wide range of people all here interacting with nature.”

- CCSP Interpretive Asst. Maddy Martin TOS PHO K RT & UDNIC A L R AL N UIN

BY Q

12 | In-Depth 12 | In-Depth

At The Reservoir, Students Enjoy Nature and Learn About the Environment

BY DHANYA RAJENDIRAN, HAVANA AMANLOU & VERA COSTA A&E Editor, Asst. Opinions Editor & Staff Writer

Teachers Hold Class in Nature Environmental Science classes have taken an initiative to spend some lessons outside to take advantage of the plentiful resources available at the reservoir, allowing certain classes to be taught entirely outside, or just have students go to the reservoir to collect data for experiments.

AP Environmental Science teacher Jeffery Boyce has been teaching for 20 years and in each of his classes he aims to go outside for certain lessons. “From day one, anytime I can

get the kids outside and actually do environmental science in the environment, that’s what we’re gonna do,” he said.

Resources and materials are already available in the classrooms, so not every lesson needs to be outside, but when classes are outside, it’s beneficial to learning. Often, teachers carry out instruments to help students gather information about the world around them.

“If I can validate going outside because it makes sense for a unit, I’ll do it.” Boyce said.

ALL ART & PHOTOS

BY QUINN RUDNICK

Going Outdoors Improves Mental Health The reservoir is commonly used by students as an area of recreation. And often, being around plants and nature often help students cool down from any stress caused by school. “[When] you surround yourself with an environment where you can feel deep relaxation,” senior Addie McWilliams said. “It can lift [you] out of a bad mood.”

Students with cars drive down to the reservoir after-school or during their off-period, but it’s also open through paths; students who don’t have access to a car take strolls to the reservoir.

“It’s nice to be out in nature, it’s calming and breathable,” freshman Ace Castaneda said.

The park has a lot of trails to take, walk their dogs, connect with nature, or simply enjoy a moment of peace. Going to the park can give students a break from anything from their homework or their jobs, and instead of stressing, they can relax and connect with nature.

“There’s endless things you could do at the reservoir and anything you pick can boost mental health,” McWilliams said.

When Weather Is Warm, Students Enjoy the Outdoors The 4,000 acres of the reservoir allow for so many different activities, and as school lets out and temperatures rise, the state park becomes a second home for many teens looking to unwind.

“I come out here almost every weekend once summer hits,” junior Sofae Berzon said.

“It’s the best way to cool off and hang out with friends.”

Part of the appeal is how close the reservoir is to Creek. Located just a short drive from campus, it’s convenient for quick day trips and last-minute hangouts. For students who don’t have the time or budget to plan a full vacation during the summer, the reservoir offers an affordable way to have fun without leaving the city.

The variety of things to do also makes the reservoir a popular hangout spot. Students

can do anything from swimming, paddle boarding, boating, and more that make great summer experiences. Junior Joey Gleason shares his favorite thing to do at the reservoir “At the beginning of every summer me and a bunch of friends grab our paddle boards and go to the reservoir,” said Gleason. “We all swim out to the middle of the reservoir and wack each other with our paddles until we all fall off, it’s really fun.”

However

the fun for students isn’t limited to just the water. The park is surrounded by miles of paved and dirt trails, making it a hotspot for bikers, runners, and walkers. ““I like to road bike on the trails through the reservoir,” said junior Kieran Monroe.

“The paths are really nice compared to other places, and it’s a great way for me to get my cardio in during the summer.”

May 2025 May 2025

New Coaches Shift Joe Smith Steps Up To Bat For the Baseball Team Following Marc Johnson’s Departure

BY SOPHIA HADY & CLAY BISKNER

S

Managing Editor & Asst.

Sports Editor

tarting a new job is not an easy feat for anyone, but taking over as the Creek varsity baseball head coach after Marc Johnson’s 52-year tenure is even more difficult.

sports

Yet, Joe Smith was prepared to take on the challenge. And he’s succeeded.

“It’s not about trying to be Coach Johnson. I learned a lot from him, but it’s about being true to myself,” Smith said.

While Johnson had no official say in choosing Smith as the new head coach, Johnson did recommend him. Smith had already been the head JV coach and had been a varsity assistant coach in years prior, leading those around him to believe Smith was best for the job.

“He knew the Cherry Creek community and he knew the kids,” Johnson said.

All coaches have different strategies: Smith describes his coaching method as stricter compared to Johnson’s. But for

the players, the differences are few and more teams practice over on the Greenfar between most players who’ve learned wood Village fields and the varsity team under both Johnson and Smith believe practices on Creek’s Tom McCollum both are good coaches who carry the field, Smith wants to get facilities over team well. on the Greenwood Village fields so the Senior starting pitcher Ryan Falke fields are more equal. played for both coaches and believes “It’s about those lower levels and supthey both have helped him grow as a porting them and building up the facilplayer. From game plans to practices, ities over at Greenwood Village,” Smith both coaches have said. given it their all.

Smith wants every “It’s not necessarily “I’ve been very player, whether they’re about the wins and blessed and just on varsity or freshlosses, but it’s about lucky to be coached man, to feel as though by both, by two such building a program and they have a place at great coaches,” Falke Creek. a family.” said.

“I try to just make Smith tries to sure every kid in the constantly better program knows that -Varsity baseball Head himself and imI care about them,” he Coach Joe Smith prove his coaching. said.

Throughout the seaSmith hopes to son, Smith has focused on how he can continue building the program and work towards being a better coach. promoting a positive environment for “How can I be one percent better? the players. For Smith, baseball is much And how can I be the best coach I can more than winning; it’s a community be?” Smith said. and support system for the athletes.

Smith plans to build relationships “It’s not necessarily about the wins with lower-level coaches and bring and losses, but it’s about building a promore connections between the different gram and a family,” he said. levels. Because the freshman and sophoNEW LEADER: When former head coach Marc Johnson retired, Joe Smith stepped up to take on the role. So far, he’s made helped the team adjust to a new PHOTOS BY SOPHIA HADY

14 | Sports

Into Team Roles Wilmer Barrera - Girls’ Soccer

Wilmer Barrera has joined Creek’s girls’ soccer team as the new head coach after being the head coach of the boys’ soccer team.

Coming off a boys’ state championship win, he looks to bring the success he had with the boys’ team to the girls’ this spring. “[The coaching difference between girls and boys is that] each program has quality, 10 Years and I’m very excited to coach both,” Barrera With Creek said.

Girls’ Soccer

Barerra learned there’s still room for improvement, even with his prior experience.

“I’m learning from them and they’re helping me be a better coach,” he said.

The connection between Barrera and his players runs on a personal level, which helps bring the team together. “He has two daughters, and he treats us like them, and he just loves us so much,” senior winger Olivia Luttrell said.

Andy Zurcher - Girls’ Tennis Girls’ tennis’ new head coach Andy Zurcher stepped into a role that last year saw only one meet loss and a second-place finish at state. Zurcher, in his new role, has been able to keep the winning nature of girls’ tennis, bringing them up to the first place in the state.

“I’m trying to uphold the incredible tradition that is Cherry Creek tennis, [which is] maybe one of the best tennis programs, not only in Colorado but in the nation,” Zurcher said.

Zurcher’s experience is helping him lead the girls’ tennis team. “I coached at the University of Notre Dame for a couple of years as an assistant coach, and so I’ve seen tennis and played tennis at the highest level,” Zurcher said.

For players, Zurcher’s experience and skills have proved useful. “Zurcher is like the light of my life,” senior Zoey Hao said. “He’s super Two Years encouraging. He makes us want to play ten- Coaching for nis.”

Notre Dame

John Swartz - Track & Field

John Swartz, the new track & field coach, came into a position and a team that had never won a state championship. But instead of letting the past change his attitude, he has aimed to build new strengths for the team.

“I want to establish some different protocols and procedures, and [also] let my coaches do what they’re good at and that’s coaching Ran D1 At track and field,” Swartz said.

The University of Denver

Swartz has also aimed to improve the team on a more personal level by making sure he connected well with each player. “[I want] to know those kids and make sure that I know their names and what events they do and to cheer them on,” he said.

Players have appreciated his impact on the team as well. “He created a better environment for athletes this year and overall helped

Marc Rey - Boys’ Volleyball Marc Rey is starting to head up the boys’ volleyball team, which hasn’t made a state championship game in five years. But stepping into his new role, Rey looks to change the pattern.

For Rey, the main goal coming into the team was starting the season off right, using his strategies and skills to set up a positive reaction. “[I wanted to] set up my culture and expectations from day one, knowing that this process does not happen overnight,” he said.

Like the other new coaches, Rey also wanted to bond closely with his new team, something he knew would help the students play well. “Developing personal relationships, communicating openly and honestly, makes the team go a long way,” Rey said.

Rey’s bond with the team has helped the players as well. “He helps you out with staying out of our heads and playing as a team instead of individual players,” senior Noah Renyolds said.

PHOTOS BY CLAY BISKNER GRAPHICS BY QUINN RUDNICK

Played D3 At Marian University

She Is UNC: Track Star Kinley Wolfe Holds Strong North Carolina Legacy

S

BY BRIANA FLORES Chief Photographer

enior Kinley Wolfe has followed her family’s footsteps into an incredible track and field career, but the opportunity has led her to learn even more about her life as an athlete than she previously thought it could.

Wolfe has built her life around being a distance runner at Creek, breaking many records and holding down a family legacy with her older siblings, who are both Division One runners.

Wolfe wasn’t familiar with track or cross country until she was influenced by her brother and sister, Parker and Baylor Wolfe respectively. Her freshman year of high school was where everything changed for her; Wolfe and her siblings were all on the same track and field team at Creek, and she had found a sport that she loves and enjoys to partake in.

Once her siblings left for college, Wolfe was left alone on the team – a change that forced her to evolve and grow as an individual athlete. Throughout the last couple of seasons, she has focused on her personal growth alongside working well with the team.

“[This season] has finally given her the level at the UNC Chapel Hill, extending her opportunity to take a leadership role, she’s family’s legacy at the school. now [become] one of our distance captains,” Wolfe is excited to be going to the same assistant distance running coach Ethan Dus- college as her older brother because of how to said. “Now she can be her own person by much she looks up to him, but she’s also herself, which is a unique chance for her.” looking forward to running and meeting Wolfe’s mother attended Colorado State new people in North Carolina, experiencing University for track and new things and seeing what field, her older brother is a she can do and grow as a “I want to be as good runner. current senior who runs at as I can, I really do UNC Chapel Hill, and her “We definitely have a older sister is a freshman very close relationship love [track].” who runs at the University with the entire Wolfe famof Kentucky. ily,” UNC women’s distance - Senior Distance Seeing all this success in coach Jessica Riden said her family inspired her to via email. “They are truly Runner Kinley Wolfe follow in their footsteps to amazing people and fantasbecome a runner, too. tic supporters of our entire “I played soccer [when I was younger,] program over the years [and] we are super but I didn’t love it as much, so I joined the excited to have them in our corner for Kinsport my siblings were doing at the time, and ley’s time in Chapel Hill.”

I really fell in love with running,” Wolfe said.

Now that the next steps are decided for Her senior season of track and field has Wolfe, she’s been able to reflect on how given Wolfe a place to showcase her skills, her four seasons were while being a part of and attend special events like the University Creek’s cross country and track and field of Kansas relays. Over the weekend of April program.

19, Kinley ran races in Kansas with the track “The coaches here have been so great, & field team, and she placed sixth in the girls I really appreciate all they have done for 800m and third in the girls 1600m. me,” Wolfe said. “But I hope that these new But her running career isn’t ending here coaches can take me to the next level and just yet. On Jan. 21, she announced that she is taking her career to the next

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16 | Sports

a&e

Tips And Tricks To Have The Best Thrifting Experience

BY BERKELEY BOWLER

T

Asst. Features Editor

hrifting is an incredible way to have fun while shopping, but it’s also an avenue to find unique styles, give clothes a new life, save tons of money, and personalize your look in a sustainable way.

But for many people, the first obstacle before getting into thrifting is how to actually do it - how do you find good pieces, and how do you make sure your clothes will look nice afterwards?

Thrift stores aren’t always the cleanest, so just in case you grab something revolting, bring hand sanitizer and any precautions. The amount of tacky, sticky, slimy, grimy things I’ve touched while looking for a T-shirt is crazy.

“Many people wear gloves because you never know what’s going to jump out at you,” freshman Rotem Goldschmidt said.

Sometimes, thrifting can get a little boring, so I always try to keep myself entertained. The vibes when thrifting are already immaculate, but while you imagine all the cool things you can find, maybe pop

in some earbuds. There are plenty of thrift-themed playlists on Spotify, but beware: if you’re not a fan of underground indie music, this genre might not be for you.

Bringing a person into the thrift store is always a fun time and a good tool if you’re torn on a clothing item. Plus, someone to hype you up is always a confidence booster.

“I would just overall, bring myself and headphones, maybe a person with me,” freshman Paddy Daichendt said.

For thrifters on a student budget, the outfits you can find thrifting are so much less expensive than something you could get at the mall - you can even find luxury items at a fraction of the designer price. When thrifting, you always need an open mind and always look for the vision in funky and unique pieces.

By creating a vision for each clothing item you find interesting, this will help yourself achieve a one-of-akind style and find the real gold behind thrifting.

But also be careful of thrifting something too obscure, you also want to make sure you don’t thrift an item and never wear it again.

“I think my favorite thing is probably when people turn obscure things from the thrift into

FUNKY FINDS: Many students find thrifting fun because it allows them to find all kinds of clothes, and most of the time, you can find a full outfit for under ten bucks.

PHOTO BY QUINN RUDNICK ART BY JACKIE NEWMAN

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18 | A&E

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Listen to the USJ’s Summer Playlist!

BY DHANYA RAJENDIRAN & ELISE DOUGHERTY A&E Editor & Asst. Opinions Editor

May 2025

Staff Manager

alling me the N-word will only make me think you’re astonishingly ignorant, but nothing can compare to someone saying something cruel about my hair.

My hair is my baby, and it’s a huge part of my culture. When someone says something so deranged about my hair, it makes me think they are chronically insane.

As a mixed-race person, my hair can change from an afro to curls, braids, and twists. As a creative person, I try to do my hair myself and I feel proud of what I do with it. But, when people comment on it negatively it just wrecks all my self-worth.

I’ve been called a lot of things, including fried ramen noodles, cotton ball hair, and nappy hair [n word]. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg regarding what people have said about me.

For context, nappy is a way of saying tangled for Black people, but not all black people have this type of hair; only a small subsection of Black people qualify for this.

As a mixed guy, my hair is nowhere near to having nappy hair. But saying that to anyone, even if they do have nappy hair, is extremely racist.

It’s my hair, and even if it’s nappy, who gives you the right to say anything about it?

While the movement “Black is Beautiful” is a huge part of Black culture, I never really felt that my hair was beautiful. People’s comments about my hair hurt me so

Types of Hair Styles

a week right after I cut my hair, I regretted doing it so much. I want people to do whatever they want with their hair.

People say hair holds memories, and it’s so true. Every time I see my hair, I think about all the things I’ve gone through, and it just reminds me that being Black isn’t something I should be ashamed of. My hair is my life, my culture, my soul, and letting someone steal that ray of sunshine from me won’t ever happen again. I wish for all my people who love their hair to let no one make you feel bad for it.

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much that I felt disconnected from my culture. My afro was my pride and joy, and it symbolized how my people came together through the struggling times and empowered each other.

“The Afro hairstyle signified a return to Black roots and demonstrated the ethos of the ‘Black is Beautiful’ movement,’” the National Museum of African American History & Culture said.

Cornrow braids are a huge thing for Black people, but it’s far more than just a hairstyle. During slavery, Black people would map out escape routes on people’s heads with braids allowing people to flee from their masters and start anew.

For the last couple of centuries, Black people’s hair has been seen as a bad thing, and people have been forced to assimilate to white culture, which caused them to chemically demolish their hair to just get jobs. But the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act of 2019 gave people of color the right to wear their hair however they wanted without being discriminated against.

Hair has so much cultural significance, such as displaying tribe statues, religion, heritage, and so many more things. For me, hair is a way to relieve stress and express my creative side. My hair is a way to bring my creative vision to life.

I take time doing my hair, and I try hard to make it look good, and for someone to say something so malicious, I wouldn’t even wish it on my most abhorred enemy.

It makes me wish I wasn’t Black.

I thought if I had no hair, I could avoid the comments, and it worked, but cutting off my hair was like removing the mane off of a lion. It just isn’t right. I have gotten a buzz cut so many times throughout my life just because I felt so uncomfortable and unwelcomed because of my hair. And

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opinions

Don’t Talk About My Hair: The Roots Of Black Hair Culture

ART BY ANGELA XU

PHOTOS BY PEYTON CHAMPION

20 | Opinions

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Speak For the Trees: National Parks Need Support

These firings will lead to unkempt parks, trash and habitat disturbance, and decreased ecotourism around the country. There’s a reason you don’t see Coke cans and cigarette butts littering the park grounds, and

BY JUDE GORDEN it’s not the common courtesy of your fellow Opinions Editor park-goers. hat heavy rain the other day?

These irresponsible staff cuts are projectYeah, that was Mother Nature ed to leave hundreds of National Parks uncrying for help. derstaffed and forced to make changes for Thanks to the Trump administration, our the worse. I’m no forest expert (yet), but I National Park staff are being subjected to un- doubt this will do good things for our wilddue layoffs, and both workers and the pro- fire prevention. tected habitats will suffer as a result.

The California wildfires in January proved Deer tracks, rabbit droppings, and an that now more than ever, we need to support upside down American flag. No, that’s not environmental research, not defund it. Those Yosemite’s announcement that they’ll be National Parks, while beautiful, also provide moving overseas, but a call valuable field work to for distress on behalf of all students studying natural National Parks.

These firings will lead resources. That ongoing The Trump administrafield work could be the to unkempt parks, tion’s cuts to the National solution to fighting those trash and habitat Park Service, led by the catastrophic wildfires, if Department of Governdisturbance, and the land is still protected. ment Efficiency (DOGE), I want to be a firefightdecreased ecotourism are nothing short of uner, but that means there around the country. patriotic. I don’t think still needs to be land left Lady Liberty would be imto defend. As dystopian pressed to hear that instead as it may sound, there of supporting America’s nature and tourism, could come a time when the only “wildfires” we’re making mega-billionaires even more to be fought are in concrete jungles.

MAGA. Oops, I mean mega (but either Now, I have no doubt that the talented works). (and remaining) workers of America’s NaAs a high school senior majoring in forest tional Parks can overcome these mass firand fire sciences in college, I need you to re- ings. But regardless of how many more litalize just how scary this is. tered cans or park shut downs this leads to, According to BBC, DOGE’s mass termi- it sets a dangerous precedent for the future. nations have already led to 5% of the Nation- This movement away from federal funding al Park Service staff being cut out. and global warming research (and leaving a 5% sound negligible to you? For perspec- certain Paris Agreement) will affect students tive, that’s around 1,000 workers - and more in more than one way. firings are to come. DOGE can’t fire the anFirst it’s removing the U.S. from global imals inhabiting this land, but I wouldn’t be warming prevention programs (and that has surprised if they were hunted down ‘Open cataclysmic consequences of its own, but Season’ style to clear the land for oil and gas that’s another story). Next, it’s defunding our extraction.

National Parks that supply us with oxygen and ecotourism. With a president that likes to claim global warming is a hoax, it’s not too far-fetched to believe that funding for environmental studies could be on the chopping block next.

Now, Mother Nature is not going any-

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FALLING TREES: As the Trump administration rakes in more budget cuts and damages the environment through each step they take, it’s time for us to wake up and notice just how bad this really is.

where. Even if we chop down all the truffula trees we can find, she will survive. But with the U.S. potentially entering a recession, many graduating seniors have job stability to worry about, and that can impact their potential college studies.

No biggie, it’s just that four years of my life and thousands of dollars in tuition could go down the drain. But even worse, this could cause students to choose alternative majors, abandoning the sinking ship that is environmental protection.

The more ice that melts in Alaska, the more research we need to combat global warming—so the more students the better.

The dangerous changes being made by our Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deregulate environmental protections in order to support Trump’s Day One executive orders do not bode well for environmental students. The EPA, and don’t forget, that’s environmental PROTECTION, is being used as a way to make money, not support America’s natural beauty.

Changes to regulations on power plants, natural gas and oil production, and mandatory greenhouse gas reporting is just the tip of the melting iceberg. And we, America’s citizens, are headed right for it, ‘Titanic’ style.

If Trump’s movement to prioritize American power production over the health of America’s soil, water, and air spreads like our increasing wildfires, we’ll need more firefighters, more environmental researchers, and more soil scientists.

Juniors and seniors, it’s time to declare.

When choosing a major, please be aware.

Trump may protest, but don’t mind his pleas.

For we have the power, and we speak for the trees.

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May 2025

Creative Writing Should Be More Accessible

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BY IV COLLIER Opinions Editor

started writing when I could first hold a pen, but I’ve been creating stories since I was born.

Characters, worlds, and communities I thought of before I could tell anyone, just now being brought to life. On days where I simply can’t push the thoughts out of my head onto paper, I worry that without more knowledge or guidance I’ll suffer, never knowing how to tell the story I want to tell.

Creek’s creative writing class currently is a semester-long class for only seniors.

In the past, the class has had their one-acts performed at Denver Center of Performing Arts, done zine projects, and wrote children’s books. This class’ availability limits in-depth creative writing for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, without giving any alternatives. Put simply, creative writing shouldn’t be seniors-only.

“The powerful thing about creative writing is [that] you have to figure out not only who you are, but how you express yourself,” creative writing teacher Marissa Voss said. “[In] creative writing, the focus is so strong around developing that individual voice.”

I have always struggled in getting to the root of my feelings. Before I began writing about myself, there was no way of understanding the true cause of those feelings.

STORY MODE: More students should be able to be in the creative writing class to better understand themselves. Creek offers so many creative classes yet only has two options for creative writing.

PHOTO BY QUINN RUDNICK

22 | Opinions and Staff Editorial

These writing skills that I’ve developed, are very similar. Both are built on the need (sadly without class instruction), helped to to read to improve your writing, not necesdevelop and break down my emotions. sarily to break down the text.

Creative writing allows teens to explore “[Creative writing is] definitely somethemselves more than journaling does. We thing you have to push through and strugare scared of understanding ourselves up gle through,” Viktor Sidorov, a senior curfront, and writing a story, script, or piece rently taking creative writing, said. of poetry projects our own pains onto the In eighth grade I had a meeting with my characters. This allows for a more genuine counselor about the future of my school caunderstanding of ourselves, not watered reer. I brought up my registration to Denver down by our own fears and School of Arts (DSA), a embarrassments. more fine arts focused More than being lisschool, and she urged The powerful thing tened to, teens just want me not to go, saying about creative writing to understand themselves. that Creek had a good is [that] you have to Math, history, and science theater, art, and music don’t help you understand community. When I figure out not only who you are in the way that told her that I wanted to who you are, but how the arts do. major in creative writyou express yourself Often maturity is the ing, she stayed silent. justification for why the Making the program class won’t expand to other more accessible for all grade levels. Everyone knows that freshmen grades would make so many more students are not nearly as mature as seniors, but a care more about school, and give them opsimple answer to that is making a Creative tions other than DSA. writing one and two.

Creek supports students to the extremes, Creative writing one could be a class for offering 532 fine arts classes, yet there are freshmen and sophomores, and creative only three creative writing classes (that don’t writing two could be for juniors and se- even count as a fine art) offered to seniors niors. The class is already full of all different only. So, without a mode of transportation ability levels, so it’s not teaching kids at dif- I’m stuck at a school that doesn’t have any ferent maturity levels, it’s teaching kids with support for my passion. With the recent end different writing experience. of the creative writing club, and even with Currently, the creative writing course is the limited creative writing classes Creek half an English credit for only seniors. Jour- offers, I will only be able to use them for one nalism is half an English credit and half an semester of my last high school year. elective credit. Creative writing could work the same way, because both classes

Thank You to Colorado

STAFF EDITORIAL

Administration Refuses to Sign Certificate Removing DEI

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ear Colorado Department of Education Administration,

On April 3, every school district in the country was faced with a challenging decision to be made in 10 days: either sign a certification that confirms the removal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs or face the removal of federal funding. For Creek, that would be five percent or nearly $47 million dollars to be cut. That funding is used for programs supporting students with disabilities, lower income student support, and teachers grants and salaries.

On April 9, the Colorado State Education Commissioner Susana Córdova released a letter to 179 school districts explaining that the state will not be collecting signed copies of the certification. Córdova explained her concerns with the ambiguity and the fact that CCSD already agreed to follows Title VI in the letter.

We are very grateful to the State Education Commissioner for protecting DEI programs and keeping our school an open and welcoming place.

DEI is an umbrella term used to describe policies that seek fair treatment and participation for underrepresented groups, forcing organizations to prevent discrimination and comply with civil rights laws – it’s something that’s absolutely crucial to the function of our school.

We’re taking a moment to explore why we’re so pleased with the state and the district’s decision here. If we had different leadership – people that were more willing to cave to the Trump administration – here’s what we could expect.

For one, many of our clubs would have to go. Gay Straight Alliance, Students Organized Against Racism, Asian Leadership Organization, Chinese club, and others that are meant to promote minority students being proud of their culture would need to be dismantled.

The removal of DEI programs would put students with disabilities at severe risk, as they would have no support with individualized curriculum. Most importantly, it would remove funding for teachers, special education (SPED) training, and grants. The removal of funding for training would make it nearly impossible for SPED teachers to gain the education needed to become licensed.

The ban would affect classes like African American Literature and even parts of English and history classes. Teachers would have to be careful about how much they teach about minorities, classes might skip important pieces of history, and teaching books without minority characters would be expected. The Trump administration sees classes discussing topics like LGBTQ+ identities and racism as discriminatory and favoring one group of Americans over another. Put simply, this administration sees groups that appreciate minorities as a way of discrediting and under-representing the white population.

Signing the letter could’ve also meant the end of CCSD’s non-discrimination policies and no more celebrations of things like women’s history month, Black history month, or any diverse library displays.

Without DEI in the district, students across every CCSD school could see major losses. We’re so thankful that the district made the right call, protecting our values.

Even though removing DEI programs seems like a direct violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Trump Administration says it is not. They commented on it, saying that schools could engage in historical observances like Black history month, but could not engage in racial exclusion or discrimination that schools have created under the initiative of DEI. “[I] do not feel comfortable signing a cer-

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This is an opinion piece written by the Editorial Staff of the Union St. Journal. Staff editorials serve as a way for members of the magazine to give commentary on a community-wide issue. The views expressed represent the opinions of the editorial staff, not those of CCHS or CCSD.

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IN FAVOR

OPPOSED

The USJ’s Editorial Board voted on the subject of this staff editorial. tification that lacks definitions and clarity around what is or is not prohibited,” Córdova wrote in her letter. “This is particularly true when those certifications come with the potential consequence of loss of federal funds. For those same reasons, I cannot and will not ask you to sign the April 3 certification.”

Removing DEI would create a significantly more homogeneous, unfair, and exclusive environment, setting an unjust precedent for minorities. Continuing to accept smaller legal actions that the Trump administration has made will lead to the acceptance of even more extreme actions. Colorado refusing to let the Trump administration’s budget threat get to them can allow other states to follow suit and show their state power.

But for now, Colorado has shown that it can stand up to the Trump administration and make an example of how much the state values its DEI practices. While we’re following in the footsteps of states like Wisconsin, who also refused to sign the order, we can be an example to the rest of the country.

Students across the state and the district, thanks to the Colorado Education Board and the CCSD, are breathing sighs of relief because their diversity policies aren’t being stripped away out of fear of the Trump administration. To the Colorado Education Department and the district, we thank you for standing up for us.

PUPPET MASTERS: The Trump administration asks schools to remove DEI practices in school, threatening to cut federal funding.

May 2025

What Has Creek Been Up To? PHOTOS BY OLLIE SCALA

Students Celebrate Holi With A Flurry Of Color Creek students gathered to attend the Holi celebration on April 11. The festival was celebrated with music and the throwing of a light, colorful powder called “gulal.”

Holi is a springtime celebration of colors practiced as part of the Hindu religion, which is practiced by approximately 1.2 billion people.

“Holi is the celebration of good over evil and the coming of spring,” sophomore Divya Kamsani said. “The colors signify all of the good things that are happening.”

Organized by Creek’s South Asian Student Association (SASA), the celebration,

much like the SASA itself, aimed to create an opportunity for students to learn about and interact with South Asian culture.

“The mission of SASA [is to] foster a community where South Asians and anyone else can learn about our culture and feel welcome,” senior president Deeksha Amarala said. “We know Creek is such a big community, so it’s nice to find your place here.”

CLUB PLANS: [Left] Students throw gulal at each other during the Holi celebration on April 11. [Below] Junior Maxine Edwards performs for Avenue Jazz on April 17.

Avenue Jazz Performs Spring Concert Creek’s jazz cabaret group, which is made up of the Avenue Jazz, Creek 21, and Meistersingers choirs, performed their ‘Avenue Jazz Cabaret’ concert on Thursday April 17 in the Innovation Cafe. The performance, which features both solo and group songs from students, aimed to have the audience enjoy the students’ music.

“I truly think our goal for the night was just to have fun and make the

audience feel connected with us in each of the songs that we’ve been working on,” senior Kat Murphy said.

Students have been practicing their pieces since the beginning of second semester, but the process was enjoyable because the choirs are extremely close. “ “I have never felt more connected with a group of people like the people in avenue,” Murphy said.

PHOTO BY QUINN RUD-

Need Some New Plans? ctor Activities Dire st vo re -P itt ev D Kelly eas: Has Some Id

Military Recognition

Prom Night

Graduation

Creek’s Career and Innovation Department is hosting a recognition night to celebrate seniors joining the military after graduation on May 17. “[Serving] speaks volumes about [students] character and dedication,” the CTE statement said.

Prom will be at the Wings Over The Rockies Air & Space museum on the night of May 17. “We are going to open the flight simulators there for students to use while they are at prom,” Activities Director Kelly Devitt-Prevost said.

Graduation will take place in Stutler Bowl on May 21. It will feature student performances, according to Prevost. “I’m not going to give away any surprises, but the performers are incredible this year, the songs are super well known,” she said.

May 17 6:30 PM

May 17 8:30 PM

May 21 8:00 AM