'23 BOC: 207 Theme Package Presentation

Opening page by k. fuller, l. wilson

FINAL HURRAH After the Powder Puff buzzer sounds, senior Ella-Mia Downey runs into a crowd of high fives and cheers. The tradtional junior verus senior girls’ homecoming football game took a twist when seniors dug through storage boxes the day of in order to sport Conifer’s first-ever football jerseys. photo by b.

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HISTORICALLY ACCURATE

LIFTED SPIRITS After Coach Raft calls a time out, freshman Kara Wright is raised into a cupie posistion to cheer for the basketball team. Since the passing of sophomore Alexis Cardinal, the poms team has worn a purple ribbon to show their support. “Alexis was an integral part of poms, so we wanted to do something for the team and her family,” Wright said. photo by b. wickham

Drum major junior Benjamin Harrison sets the beat for the rest of the ensemble. Harrison got involved in Band in fourth grade, and now it has turned into a passion of his. “It really has motivated me, and given me the opportunity to be myself,” Harrison said. photo by b. wickham

WE are that mountain school

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ou know about that school located in Colorado’s south front range just off 285? The one that sits between Barkley Road and Grey Moose Trail? The one with the baseball field and big uphill climb? You know about that painted rock at the bottom of the driveway to show spirit? That’s what Conifer is.

How about the 8 parking lots to contain 73 staff members and 824 students, not to mention the countless visitors? We can’t forget the public library that supplies students with hundreds of thousands of books and resources. That’s what Conifer is.

The line of traffic that goes down the entire driveway to the traffic light and beyond? The buses that cross the double yellow to load and unload hundreds of students? Students running around Conifer to grab five dollar sushi, promise to “get you something from In-N-Out downtown,” and speeding up the hill over 20 mph just to make it to class in time even if it’s worth the ticket? That’s what Conifer is.

Can’t forget about the Conifer Crazies cheering with their orange traffic cones; our boys soccer with the best turn-around season in recent history, and softball who always crushed the opposition (looking at you, Evergreen). Some athletes have to hike 460 steps

passing bear proof trash cans, just to practice for tomorrow’s Mountain Bowl game. It doesn’t faze us, that’s what Conifer is.

We aren’t just another run-of-the-mill school, we flourish in the mountain views and expansive curriculum, including twenty-six Advanced Placement courses. Some of the best test scores in the county come from this campus, and the teachers spend time with every student to ensure they understand the meaning of an imaginary number, or maybe that their essay was the best they’ve read all year.

Science projects that imitate a crime scene, Physics classes exploring how to build a model rocket, and World History that just makes sense.

That’s what Conifer is.

We are Conifer, and we make ourselves what we are. Interim principals and canceled buses won’t stop us from being loud and proud. “We are Conifer,” is the chant heard around the school during our pep rallies, and it couldn’t be more true.

So yes,

WE are that mountain school.

Summer Summer DiviSion page by l. shirley

we are

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SUMMER

REST AND RELAXATION Meilani Wilcox, freshman, rests above the Midfloss waterfall in Iceland’s golden circle during her family’s 24-day exploration of the country. The four-mile hike to the upper fall was the family’s first of their trip and they hiked at midnight. Wilcox took a break and cooled off in the cold air and spray from the falls. “The water was such a pretty blue.

It was almost like turquoise in the water,” Wilcox said. photo courtesy of josh wilcox

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Fall Fall Division page by s. liffengren

we are

FALL

LATE NIGHT REFLECTIONS On Halloween night, seniors Samuel Liffengren and Corey Neumeier went to the Evergreen Lake House to take photos of the reflections and the stars.

“Corey and I thought it would be fun to go take pictures of the lake house reflections. We also tried some light painting photography,” Liffengren said. photo by c. neumeier

Winter Winter Division page by b. wickham

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WINTER

ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS “Skiing is always so fun because I like going down really fast and I love seeing the scenery around me, and just enjoying the outdoors. I love living in Conifer because it’s only an hour away from the closest ski resort and just breathing the fresh air is so refreshing. Living in the mountains is a great experience for all, seeing the nature, staying active, and having better health and just being able to live far away from pollution,” senior Shane Wickham said. photo by b. wickham

People people Division page by c. potter

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INDIVIDUALS

GROWING TOGETHER “I have really enjoyed working with the sixth graders. I went to Outdoor Lab this year and also last year and I really think it’s incredible what happens when you take a group of kids who don’t know each other very well and get them out of their element for a whole week learning in nature. I mean the difference from the beginning to the end of the week is immense.

You have these kids who on the first day weren’t talking to anyone or sitting by themselves on their bed and didn’t know how to make those social connections and then those same kids, at the end of the week, are all of a sudden giggling and making new friends and engaging with their high school leaders. It’s just so rewarding to be able to help make that happen for these kids,” senior Maya Dawson said. photo by c. potter

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Summer REFERERNCE DivisioN page by e. ford

we are

REFERENCE JUMP After formal team photos are done, the girls softball team convinces the photographer to let them take some fun shots. ”I loved how all of us bonded together. WE created really good friedships and I love all the girls,” sophomore Annabella Alley said. photo courtesy of DR Photography

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BITTER SWEET Keeping the spirit alive was hard

Closing page by e. hinkley

knowing it was the last Homecoming game for some.

Senior Ysabella Bellotti thought of the last game as a bittersweet ending. “The team is more than a team, it’s a family filled with friendships and golden memories we created together,” Bellotti said. photo by c. potter

D

id you see that painted rock when you turned into the school?

No one seems to know all the stories behind it, but a special moment this year was painting it in memory of Alexis Cardinal.

And that hill you have to accelerate up but can’t go over 20 miles an hour without being ticketed? Senior Sydney Seiden learned her lesson quickly and made changes to the speed.

The first parking lot you pass- that’s where the juniors like Homecoming Royalty Tristan Swanson and Isabella Hess have to park.

Seniors have it a little bit better with less hill to hike up in the upper parking lot, like Samuel Liffengren with spot number one.

When you are in the parking lot and you see those bear proof trash cans - yes that means we do indeed have bears, and we can’t forget about the other wildlife like the moose - we are reminded of how unique our school is.

At the beginning of the school year a moose visited campus, and again in January. Assistant Principals Rebecca Paschke and Bradley Horner, senior Elizabeth Hinkley, and a few others joined in

trying to see it, but to no avail.

Surrounded by nature, you can look around and see changing color or, in winter, snow-covered trees. With an elevation of 8,277 feet, every day after September 30th are days we pray that snow doesn’t come burying everything in sight. Gene Smith the Facility Manager - cleans off the walkways just for them to be covered again and his job to repeat.

And don’t be concerned when you see the Public Library sign. We promise you are in the right place, we’re a public library and a school in one.

Don’t mind all the stairs either, those are something so common.

When you come inside, no one’s afraid to talk to you. As an all inclusive and motivated place, we strive to make sure this is the best school environment. Every student and teacher is unique, everything you see, you won’t find anywhere else.

Classes can be confusing but with the teacher/student relationships, it’s nothing to worry about. Teachers and students

WE are that mountain school

know more about each other here than at any other school.

Perks of a small community. We are all so close, it might just shock you how one person knows everybody else.

Education is no problem for us either. We have a wide selection of Advanced Placement classes, extravagant activities in each class, some of the top test scores in the county, and student involvement with everything. We are a school of unity and history.

We are diverse, a giant melting pot of kids from different areas and backgrounds. From kids from down the hill and as far as Platte Canyon choosing to come here. We are that school that is unforgettable and passionate about everything around us. So why underestimate what you know is true?

WE are that mountain school.

SUNRISE SPECIALS The beauty and advantage of being able to see the city lights from so high up was special. Senior Sydney Seiden moved to Conifer from Columbine during her junior year and still gets to take a look at the city from a distance. “I miss the city a lot, and I miss all the friends I made, but it’s nice to still be able to look out and see that it’s not so far,” Seiden said. photo by e. hinkley