Vol. XII Issue I
The Lobo Legend
Intermediate Algebra is getting AMPED By Melia Carvalho and Daniel Main
December 2018
Pressure’s on | Seniors Mayson Oakley and Shannah Brass wait as they press a design onto a T-shirt, using a heat press transfer machine. The process takes about five minutes, and the students in the class have nearly mastered their use of the machine. Photo by Riley Patton
teach students Algebra through the lens of a business, making T-shirts and selling them. This answers the commonly asked question of, “Why do I need to learn this? When will I ever use it?” “I’ve learned a lot about the process of starting a business and a lot about legitimate businesses,” senior Collin Sedillos said. The class functions as a business, taking orders from groups in the community, designing/customizing logos, and heat transferring the designs onto T-shirts. “I’ll give a task to a student and then
step back and watch the process. I love watching them throw out an idea, try another, watch it bomb, then have them go back and say, ‘Ok, well that didn’t work; let’s try something else”’ Weiss said. “That process of trying and failing and being willing to keep trying is a huge skill for students in general.” The class even took on the project of making roughly 40 T-shirts for Conifer’s marching band, the Lobo Regiment. “We thought the T-shirts turned out really really nice,” Sean Cartner, the director of the Lobo Regiment, said. “Some students submitted artwork from
the class, and we picked the one that we thought was most appropriate for our group. The T-shirts were really high quality, and they had great pricing. It’s nice to know that our students in this high school made everything, too.” The money students make from selling T-shirts goes toward a general fund that students vote on the use of. Although the curriculum is different from most other high school math curriculums, there is still homework and tests, the bane of any math class. While most classes are student selected, Cont. on page 3
Relaxation can be difficult for students to find as they navigate through the many obstacles that high school poses, from participating in extracurricular activities to working jobs to preparing for finals. In order to help students get their daily dose of fun, campus administration made the decision to repurpose an XBOX console from last year’s prom in the school cafeteria. “The venue we had for prom last year
had TVs, so we decided to do video games on them,” senior Kelsey Helmick, student body president, said. “We were looking into renting an XBOX, and it was really pricey compared to just buying one, so we bought one.” After the XBOX proved to be a hit at prom, student government decided to give the console to the school, and principal Wesley Paxton agreed to setting it up in the cafeteria. “Since I came to the school, I’ve been trying to find things to do for the students
who are here during lunch time,” Paxton said. “We open the gym up, we have the ping pong and foosball, and we thought the XBOX would be a nice thing to add to that.” Now that students are finding out about the new console, there have been a few mixed reactions. On the one hand, the new XBOX could serve as a fun and stressrelieving break for kids, but some students worry that it could act as a distraction. “This is supposed to be a place where you focus on school, not your video
games,” sophomore Megan Stahnke said. “Say you have A lunch and you play video games, and then you have study hall when your friends have B lunch; then, you can come back down to the cafeteria and play video games again.” Because the console is an XBOX One, it can support up to eight wireless players for some games, but there have been some concerns about arguments arising over who gets to play next. “There’s definitely going to be people trying Cont. on page 3
A win for world language
Running for History
Review: Labyrinth
Broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a new outlook
Amid piles of snow and inside of a nondescript temporary building is a new curriculum and business: the Intermediate Algebra and AMPED program. “I’ve always loved Intermediate, but the math department, the administration, and I felt that it could be better. The solution was the AMPED program,” Kendra Weiss, an Intermediate Algebra teacher, said. AMPED (Algebra in Manufacturing Processes, Entrepreneurship, and Design) is a math program that is designed to
XBOX in the air
By Parker Jones
In this issue
Spanish teacher and colleagues win grant
Cross Country’s breakout year
How well does Jim Henson’s cult classic hold up today?
Sophomore’s biking accident
News
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A win for world language
By Luca Gorla they said they would, with photographic evidence and receipts from the purchase of the Chromebooks. At that point, they’ll be able to purchase at least another five Chromebooks, but because Trask has classes of up to 30 students, she will need to find a way to purchase five more, perhaps through applying for another grant. In the meantime, Trask, Bonner, and Mann have been able to celebrate the hard work which led to their success. They
see it as a win for not only themselves and Trask’s students, but as a win for the world language department as a whole. “When you look back at all of the previous grant winners, there’s language arts, math, science, social studies, all of the core classes,” Bonner said. “You almost never see either an art or a world language win. So, the NEA Foundation was probably excited to see a grant go to a world language, helping students become global citizens.”
This summer, 15 students will be traveling roughly 4095 miles to Europe, to visit Spain France, and Britain for 15 days. Thanks to EF tours, students now have the opportunity to travel beyond America’s borders and see the world for themselves. The trip will have a maximum number of 15 attendees, and six students have already signed up, eager to take off. The meeting to go over essential details took place on September 20th. However, for those who still wish to go on the trip, talk to French teacher Susan Bergkamp or Spanish teacher Melissa Trask for further details.
The group will be flying overnight to London, and then on to Chartres, Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Biarritz, San Sebastian, Pamplona, Barcelona, and possibly Madrid if the trip is extended. All of their transportation will be via plane or vehicle, over the course of 12-15 days. Bergkamp will be the chaperone on the trip; however, if the group expands to 10 students or more, Trask will be joining as well. While Bergkamp and her students are ecstatic about the trip, Bergkamp has some worries about the trip regarding the safety and responsibility of her students. “I’m worried about their safety and about their preparedness, and whether
Feeling included
they will pack the right things: passports, clothing, etc,” Bergkamp said. This will be Bergkamp’s first trip abroad with high schoolers; in addition to the previous concerns, she is worried about students sneaking out and participating in dangerous activities. Behavior means a lot to Bergkamp, especially when they are out in public on a trip. “It sounds silly, but I feel as if we’re representing the United States when we’re out there in Europe,” she said. Students will be learning about the cultures of the three different countries and fully immersing themselves in them. Students were also promised
periods of their time being completely independent where they can explore the city individually or alongside friends. This further interests individualistic students, and it will allow them to experience the culture on a more personal level. Sponsors have plastered the walls with posters and the trip has been growing in popularity and interest. Students will not only be able to see the world from a different perspective, but the trip has the potential to serve as a maturing point in their lives, giving them responsibility and allowing them to learn more about themselves as well as other cultures.
Being alone is no fun
By Ava Dalton and Hunter Brewer
Sophomore Zoey Born, a student in Trask’s Honors Spanish 3 class, decorates a mask on Day of the Dead. Students were asked to bring in authentic Mexican foods to celebrate the holiday, and they decorated masks that incorporated the elements of earth, wind, and fire. Photo courtesy of Jayce Brady
DINE IN-TAKE OUT-DELIVERY
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For most, feeling excluded is not an unfamiliar sensation. This feeling can often be found in freshmen, when the school is still unfamiliar and they don’t recognize the faces they see in the hallway. There are a wide variety of solutions both in and outside of the school that aim to help students who have been stricken with feelings of exclusion, from clubs to counselors to sports teams. The different clubs in the school include the following: Spanish Club, DECA, Drama club, Board Game club, GSA, Hiking Club, HOSA-Future Health Professionals, Imagination Destination, World Culture Club, Interact Club, Keep Conifer Green Club, Key Club, LINK Crew, TCG Club, Mountain Biking Club,
Military History Club, Journalism Club, Robotics Club, and Rock Climbing Club. “Spanish club has been the highlight of my year; I love the food, and my Spanish language and knowledge has improved so much,” sophomore Maya Skurski said. Joining a club not only helps one make new friends, but it looks amazing on resumes and college applications. To find out how to take part in one of these clubs, 1) Go to the Conifer High School Website, 2) Click on Athletics and Activities, and 3) Click on Clubs and Activities. Conifer also offers various sports teams that give students the opportunity to exercise and join an inclusive group. If a student is interested in being a part of a sports team, there are many spots available in spring sports. The
spring sports include Girls Tennis, Girls Lacrosse, Track and Field, Boys Baseball, and Girls Soccer. This is a great way to make friends, and being part of a team is a cool feeling. “We play for each other, not for ourselves, and it’s a great group of girls; they’re like my second family,” sophomore Skyelar Armstrong, a rugby player, said. For students who don’t play sports, the peer counselors offer another solution to some problems that sports or even friends can’t quite help with. There is always a peer or school counselor who’s available to talk through all hours of the school day. “If anyone needs to just come in for stress or any other related problems, then
someone is always here to help. Peer Counseling is an excellent tool, and it should be used more often,” senior Alana Giles said. The peer counselors organize various events such as Diversity Day (a day with no classes that allows students to explore people’s different ideas and beliefs). They also give out birthday gift bags filled with candy throughout the year. “I could have joined a club to organize dances, but this is an opportunity to save lives,” senior Will Toppin, a peer counselor, said. Although high school throws various stresses at students and can often induce feelings of exclusion, there are many programs offered by the school that promote inclusivity.
Intermediate Algebra is an incredibly exclusive class with only 25 students who were hand-picked by Weiss and the counselors, although Weiss hopes that will change as they continue the program “I think since this is the first year we’ve
selected students to be in this class based on a whole laundry list of criteria. I would really like student self-select to be a part of this class, and open it up more, but right now we’re limited.” Weiss said.
to rush down there and get it first, and I’m probably going to be one of those people if there are good games,” junior Evan Stewart said. Beyond some of the possible challenges that could emerge as a result of the new gaming system, many students have reacted with excitement, looking forward to checking out the new console during their free time. “You never really would think that there would be a video game console inside a school but for us to even use that console while we’re at lunch - that’s epic,” junior Kathryn Ryan said.
It’s unclear how the addition of the XBOX will play out, but it was put in place with the intent of keeping students mentally active and happy while they’re at school. “I’m always trying to think of things that we can bring to the school that will entertain the students and keep them active so that they avoid making bad choices,” Paxton said. Students will need to bring in their own controllers, and they can bring in their own games as well, as long as they are pre-approved by principal Paxton.
XBOX in the air cont.
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Intermediate Algebra cont.
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Every year, Spanish teacher Melissa Trask invites her Spanish 3 classes to celebrate the Day of the Dead through making masks, preparing traditional food, and learning about Mexican culture. While her Day of the Dead lessons have inspired students for years, they recently paid off in an even larger way. In February of last year, Trask submitted an application for a grant to the NEA (National Education Association) Foundation, working closely with librarian Gail Bonner and now-retired librarian Chris Mann. The application took six months to complete, with many hours of hard work, but it paid off with a $5,000 grant, which has gone towards new Chromebooks for the classroom. The application was based on Trask’s Day of the Dead lesson plan and the importance of teaching students to be global citizens who can appreciate other cultures. In Mexico, death is understood in a very different way than it is in America, and it’s one of the best examples of a diverging cultural value. “For the Mexican, the only death is being forgotten,” Trask said. “They believe that you should celebrate a person’s life. Once a year, on Day of the Dead, you keep their spirit alive by talking about them, by building the ofrenda, the altar, and putting out the pictures they loved in life, the food they loved in life, the objects they loved in life… It keeps their spirit alive.” Beyond educating students about the Day of the Dead, Trask’s overall goal is to teach students about the importance
of understanding others’ views and perspectives. This was one of the biggest “selling points” in her application. “That’s what my grant submission was about, being a global citizen and opening your eyes to the fact that people have different perspectives on almost every aspect of life: relationships, death, marriage, love,” Trask said. “The way a culture celebrates or doesn’t celebrate those things defines the culture.” In addition to writing about global citizenship and the value of Trask’s lessons, Trask and Bonner also needed to sort out the budgetary aspects of getting a grant, which were far more complicated than one might expect. This responsibility was mainly taken on by Bonner and Mann, who sorted out most of the financial specifics, which proved to be a complex and detail-specific task. “Ms. Mann and I did the background stuff, looking into how much computers cost and how many we could buy,” Bonner said. “We couldn’t say, ‘I need 4,938 dollars and 27 cents.’ We had to take the whole $5,000, and tell them how we were going to spend that $5,000 to the penny. So, we said that we would buy X number of computers, and with the leftover money, we would buy headphones with microphones and that kind of thing.” Although Trask won the grant and has been able to buy 20 Chromebooks so far, she has received only $4,000 of the $5,000 she won. This is because she and Bonner must provide the NEA Foundation with proof that they’ve spent the funding how
Trip to Europe
Excitement builds as students prepare for Europe trip
Spanish teacher and colleagues win grant By Parker Jones
News
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With its door open, the math hut sits on the outskirts of the school parking lot. Students in the class make the trek to the outside building every day they have the class, an experience that most high schoolers don’t have. Photo by Daniel Main
Freshman Derek Sands plays a game on the XBOX console during A lunch. Students will often bring in their own games and controllers so that they can enjoy the console during their free time at school. Photo by Parker Jones
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Sports
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Sports
Running for history
A recap of cross country’s breakout year By Alex Ainsworth
Junior Jacob Bauer, a member of the JV boys soccer team, analyzes the movement of other players on the field during a game against the Skyview Wolverines on October 16. The boys lost the game 3-1. Photo courtesy of Suzannah Wistreich
The 2018 cross country season has officially come to an end. This year, both the boys and girls cross country teams won the Colorado 7 League. Additionally, the boys cross country team had two runners qualify for state, they won their first team race in eight years, and they placed third in the D’Evelyn Dash. The cross country team also competed in the Wiggin’s Invitational. They won this race, making it one of the greatest races in Conifer cross country history. This was the first race that the team had won in eight years, beating schools such as Greeley Central, Denver North, Niwot,
and 14 other high schools. The first race of the season was the D’Evelyn Dash. This race consisted of some of the top cross country teams in the state such as Columbine High School, Chatfield High School, and Mullen High School. The Lobos finished third in this race, only behind Longmont and Arvada West High School. “We were able to keep the momentum from that race throughout the course of the season,” sophomore Zack Gacnik said. For the third straight year, the Lobos cross country team won their league, making them back to back to back
Wrestling for a new school
champions in the Colorado 7 League. The Lobos dominated this year’s league meet, scoring 120 points. The next best team was Englewood, which scored 300 points. “We had five runners [make] the first and second all conference teams, with Sean Sands being named league champion,” Gacnik said. The five members of the cross country team that received all conference honors were Seans Sands, Will Toppin, Topi Alahuhta, Zack Gacnik, and James Ulrich. The team qualified for regionals and finished sixth place, but that wasn’t enough for the team to qualify for state.
Although the entire cross country team didn’t qualify for state this year, seniors Sean Sands and Will Toppin both qualified for state individually. Sands and Toppin led the way as the Lobos had five runners named to all conference, their third straight league championship, and their first overall meet win in eight years. “This year’s team was one of the greatest in school history,” Gacnik said. “We had lots of young talent, so the team should keep improving over the next couple years.”
Some CHS wrestlers will wrestle for Jefferson High School in the 2018-19 season By Alex Ainsworth
This year, Conifer will not have a wrestling team, because there is no coach for the team. Conifer wrestlers who wish to wrestle this season will have to do so for another school. Last year, Conifer had three state qualifiers, but they will have to play for other schools for the time being. “Matt Creel and I are wrestling for Platte Canyon this year since Conifer doesn’t have a team,” sophomore Noah Junior Ellie Hislop and senior Onika Benson celebrate after the Cross Country Regionals on October 18. Both the boys and girls teams won the Colorado 7 league, and two boys placed for the state competition. Photo courtesy of Taylor Mitchell
BRIEFS
Volleyball
The girls volleyball team won a total of 17 games this season and lost eight games, setting them up to make the playoffs. The team won their first game of the season against Standley Lake High School on August 23, 2018. The girls were also able to win their last game against Arvada, winning all three sets. As a result of their wins, the team made it to the playoffs. On November 2, they lost their first game of the playoffs against the Longmont Trojans. Later that day, they played the Montrose Indians and lost 0-3, ending their time in the playoffs. The girls are now done for the season, but this year gave them many new opportunities to grow and change as a team, especially with the addition of new head coach, Laurie Eddy.
Softball
This year’s softball team finished the season with a 21-4 overall record. They were 8-0 in conference play and the Colorado 7 League. Conifer was riding a 19 game winning streak heading into regional play. Led by seven seniors on the team, they were able to make the regionals for the 3rd straight year. The season came to an end along with their 19 game winning streak after two straight losses to Mead and Pueblo Central in the regionals. The first game they played was against Mead and they lost 13-6. While facing elimination, Conifer went up against Pueblo Central. Both teams needed a win to move on in the tournament. The Lobos came up just short as they lost 11-10.
Boys Golf
The 2018 boys golf season has ended, and overall, Coach Barnett considered it to be a solid season. The team placed fourth at regionals sending two players to state. One player, sophomore Dakota Dolph, placed 19th at state and was the all conference player of the year. Fresman Cade Rummel also made it to state. Junior Sammy Jacobs was named practice player of the year as the season came to an end, adding another award winner to the lineup. With the season wrapping up, the team ended up fourth in the league even with the rocky start. “We just have to get more comfortable playing with each other and gaining more experience together as a team. It takes everyone working hard for the same goal,” junior Landon Wallace said.
Boys Tennis
The boys tennis team, led by coach Sukie Page, struggled this year, only winning 28 out of 78 matches. The team had a winning percentage of .359. This is a step down from last year, when the team won 50 out of their 93 matches with a win percentage of .538. The Lobos’ season started with a loss against Bear Creek, followed by placing third out of four teams at a round robin tournament in Longmont. Over the course of the rest of the season the Lobos lost to Wheat Ridge, Golden, Green Mountain, Evergreen, and D’Evelyn. However, the Lobos beat Alameda, Chatfield, Arvada, and Standley Lake and ended the season with their overall League 7 standing at 4-6.
Junior quarterback John Hart pitches to sophomore Noah Wagner who then made a touchdown during the Mountain Bowl game against Evergreen on October 26. While the Lobos had fleeting moments of victory, they ultimately lost the game 20-48. Photo courtesy of Carson Kennedy
Marching Band
The Lobo Regiment’s marching season came to a close on Monday, October 29, in Pueblo after their performance. With the loss of their original director at the beginning of the marching season the band was filled with uncertainty until the current director, Sean Cartner, came to Conifer. The Lobo Regiment placed eighth in 3A competition with a 60.8, placing fourth in visual performance, eighth in general effect, seventh in music performance, and second in visual achievement. In the end, they placed only .1 behind the state champion, D’Evelyn. The Lobo Regiment is beginning to prepare for the All Area band concert and the Conifer Christmas parade, both in December.
Cross Country
With Ben Anderson and Brian Stotts as coaches, the runners’ times significantly improved this year. Sophomore Gwen Walker said, “I shaved off around three minutes, thanks to my coaches pushing me so hard.” The boys and girls both won the Colorado 7 League. The boys team had two runners qualify for regionals, placed 5th in the D’Evelyn Dash, and won their first team race in eight years. The Lobos did very well in league, scoring 300 points, which was more than twice as much as the runner up team, Englewood, scored, with 120 points. Many members of the team also received all conference awards.
Boys Soccer
The Lobos soccer team wrapped up their season with a record of three wins and 12 losses. On the 21st of August they lost against Thornton 3-1 in a double overtime brawl. Then, they lost their next six games against Berthoud (3-2), Evergreen (7-0), Denver South (3-2), Bear Creek (4-3), Green Mountain(4-0), and Frederick (40). The Lobos ended their losing streak on September 18, beating Woodland Park with a score of 4-1. On the 25th, the Lobos obliterated Englewood with a score of 10-0. The Lobos final five games consisted of one win against Arvada (2-1) and four more losses. With a roster consisting of mostly juniors, there’s hope for a successful season next year and a potential playoff run.
Football
Conifer’s football season has come to an end after ten games; the team finished with a record of 5-5 for the 2018 season. Conifer’s opening game on August 31 was against Woodland Park, and Conifer won 35-17. The next game was against Summit and Conifer won 55-7. They lost the Mountain Bowl against Evergreen, their second to last game, with a score of 26-48. The season ended in a loss against George Washington, with a final score of 22-28. Junior Sam Dunivan completed the season with the highest number of touchdowns, scoring nine for the team throughout their 10 games; Dunivan also scored the most points with a total of 56.
Hartman said. Hartman placed third in the 2018 Colorado Invitational F2W. Creel has taken this year to focus on wrestling, as he isn’t playing baseball anymore. Along with Hartman and Creel, last year’s state qualifiers, sophomore Cayden Condit and junior Zander Condit will continue wrestling, except this year the Condits will be wrestling with Jefferson High School. Conifer’s third state qualifier
Lobos fall to Demons
and league champion Captain Payne graduated last year. “It sucks that we won’t have a team this year, especially since last year was pretty good overall,” Hartman said. Last year’s state qualifiers, Cayden Condit and Zander Condit both had a successful season. Zander placed fifth in the 132-pound bracket at the state championship and first in the Colorado 7 League tournament. Although Cayden
did not place in the state championship, she came in third place in the 106-pound bracket in the Colorado 7 league tournament. The two siblings will continue to wrestle at a high school level and make another push for state. As for Hartman and Creel, they will wrestle in Bailey, looking to improve the Platte Canyon wrestling team and play a big role in their 2018-19 season.
is still building. They headed to Steamboat to face off against other teams as they competed in the Steamboat Springs Shootout tourney. The Lobos came in at second place in the tournament, with a record of 2-1. They beat North Ridge 4332, they went on to beat Roosevelt 62-57,
but then lost to Steamboat Springs 60-34. “Now they’re focused on improving every day; that’s what matters. They go to film study and really are investing in the program. Like the Sixers, we say ‘trust the process,’” Valerio said.
Boys basketball loses to Golden 56-69 By Luca Gorla and Chartom Burton On December 5, the Conifer Lobos went up against the Golden Demons. Unfortunately, the Golden Demons came out on top with a score of 56-69. Although the Lobos won the rebound battle, they lacked consistency on their shots, 37%, field goal percentage, to Golden’s 60%. Junior Elijah Cook was feeling it from behind the arc, dropping 19 points with five threes, of which came in just the third quarter. Cook had this to say about dropping those threes: “I just thought we were going to win. I thought we were coming back. We were for a little bit, but then we got cold.” Cook wasn’t the only one that dominated a stat line. Junior Landon Wallace played twice his size during their game. Wallace is 5’10”, one of the shortest players on the court; however, he led the team and the game in total rebounds grabbed with 10 rebounds. Junior Cody Jacobson wasn’t too far behind him, with seven rebounds. Jacobson played a solid game. He knew what went wrong during the final minutes
of the game and understood what the team needed to get back. “The team could’ve communicated better, played with more effort and given it our all,” Jacobson said. The fourth quarter was the weakest part of the game for the Lobos. “We should have stayed with them in the fourth because we beat them in the third quarter. If we had been able to keep up with them, it would have made a big difference,” Jacobson said. Morale was low at the end of the game as the players ran the game through their head again, thinking of every possible outcome they could’ve done to change the course of the game. “I think they need to improve on their intensity, honestly. We have a lot of skill and a lot of great potential. Most of them are getting used to varsity competition and the margin for error is a lot smaller once you get up to that varsity level,” coach Eric Valerio said. The Lobos have only just started to play together at the varsity level, and chemistry
Girls basketball preview
Girls basketball team ready to compete By Luca Gorla
This year’s girls basketball team is rostered and is ready to hit the court, coming off of their last season which earned them third in the 4A/3A Colorado 7 basketball League, with a record of 11 wins, 13 losses. The girls basketball team is a completely different program this year, with a new head coach, John Coder. Coder plans to “implement a new up-tempo style of basketball.”
“It is an exciting time of our season,” Coder said. “There have been lots of changes. Even though we are young, we have depth and experience at key positions.” This season the team will also be introducing many new players. The entire roster consists of 19 players. Even though four seniors on the team have left, JV coach Molly Snively feels confident in the team. “It’s going to be difficult, but we have
The Lobo players line up to shake the Golden players’ hands at the end of the game. Their next home game be against the Evergreen Cougars on Monday, December 17 at 7PM. Photo by Luca Gorla a really good group of kids, and I think we’re going to do really well this year,” Snively said. Snively considers this a “building period,” but, with the surplus of new players who are eager to play, things are going smoothly so far. The varsity roster is currently set at 10 players, consisting of three freshmen, four sophomores, two juniors, and one senior. The fact that the team is mostly made up of underclassmen greatly contrasts with last year’s team which was halfupperclassmen. Even though there’s an age gap between many of the players, Snively can see a strong team chemistry forming.
“They all get along well, so I think that’s going to be a strength of ours because they’re all really supportive of each other,” Snively said. “That’s really important, because they don’t get mad at each other, and when someone makes a mistake it’s like, ‘Alright, here we go, let’s do it again.’” Having strong chemistry between players is critical for the foundation of a good team, and so far, that foundation looks sturdy. “The team has a lot of potential, and with the help of our coaches, I feel like we have a good shot at taking league,” junior Jordyn West, a varsity player, said.
Opinions
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Review: Labyrinth
The Lobo Legend Staff
How well does Jim Henson’s cult classic hold up today? By Riley Patton
Labyrinth, a movie released on June 27, 1986, features an all star cast of David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly as the two main (humanoid) roles. This movie has so much charm to it that it’s easy to understand why it’s so popular. Like many movies of its time, it has achieved a cult status among fans and casual movie watchers alike. Labyrinth’s plot follows a girl named Sarah who journeys through a deadly maze to save her baby brother Toby from a Goblin King, before Toby gets turned into a goblin forever. This film is quite possibly one of the most unique films ever made, with help from the rocking soundtrack, composed by David Bowie and Trevor Jones. Musical numbers are sprinkled throughout the hour and 41 minute runtime that greatly add to one’s overall enjoyment of the film. The CGI has aged horribly, so the sparing use of it in exchange for more practical effects and puppets is very appreciated.
Parker Jones - Editor in Chief Riley Patton - Design Alex Ainsworth Hunter Brewer Cecilia Brockman Chartom Burton Melia Carvalho Ava Dalton Elijah Davidson Luca Gorla Daniel Main Anna Nelson Hunter Sanders Zoe Watts
And, the use of M.C. Escher’s art during the final showdown between Jennifer Connelly’s character Sarah, and David Bowie’s character Jareth is highly appreciated. On par with many films of its time, Labyrinth is extremely cheesy, as seen in the final scene with all of the puppets in Sarah’s room having a party. A running theme with fantasy/sci-fi movies such as Princess Bride, Labyrinth, Star Wars, and so forth is the use of unique full-scale puppets throughout the movies. Star Wars wouldn’t be as iconic without the Yoda puppet, the rodents of unusual size from Princess Bride are a staple of the movie, and similarly, the majority of the characters in Labyrinth are puppets. As stated earlier, Labyrinth is an extremely charming film with care and vision sprinkled throughout. It’s a gem from a time where filmmaking consisted of experimenting with new and interesting ideas.
Photo courtesy of Go Social
Play it again By Elijah Davidson
which came out three years ago.” Similar points have been made since the inception of home gaming. Call of Duty has suffered from these criticisms for a decade or more, with some fresh additions often not enough to differentiate each game; other FPS (First Person Shooter) series such as Halo and Battlefield experience this as well. The Battle Royale genre is a hotbed of copycats, cashgrabs, and other intellectual property thefts. Mass Effect: Andromeda was a commercial and critical failure, and nearly resulted in the shuttering of developer Bioware. So what makes a sequel more than a ripoff? Ultimately, the attention and care the game receives. Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) and Mass Effect: Andromeda
both have sprawling open worlds and lengthy stories, so why is one so much better? Put simply, RDR2 had a lot more playability. This game took eight years to create, and its release date was repeatedly delayed to make sure it was perfect. Andromeda came out seven years after Mass Effect 3, but no such care was given to it; players noted that it felt half-baked and had multiple issues. Another thing that differentiates a solid sequel from a cashgrabbing one, is the freshness. I do enjoy Destiny 2, but a large chunk of its art, gameplay, and even story beats are shockingly similar to the first game. Gears of War 4 and multiple Resident Evils sequels are other games panned for their repetitive nature. (It’s to be noted
that Resident Evil 7, the most recent addition, was considered to be a brilliant reenergizing of the series.) Not all sequels are bad. In fact, far from it; many are good at polishing and expanding their predecessors’ ideas into something better. Half-Life 2 is one of the most universally acclaimed games in history. But, there is a major distinction between a sequel that cares about the players and a sequel that cares about the bottom line. That’s a major line that many companies don’t seem to notice, as they step right over it.
Zoe’s Bookshelf
Book reviews by Zoe Watts, a professional book lover is immortal. Parker doesn’t believe her at first because she looks like they could be in the same class (well except for the fact that she has silver hair), but as the days go on and he learns more about her past, or what she says her past is, he finds himself more and more convinced. Zelda decides to spend her last 5,000 dollars on him in exchange for a promise that Parker will apply to college. There’s a catch, though. She states that once they spend all the money, she’s going to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge.
she thought she knew goes out the door when one of her classmates commits sucide. After she atteneds his funeral, a man who calls himself Death approaches her and offers a deal. If she takes it, she will go back in time 27 days to try to stop her peer from taking his own life. But when more supernatural creatures try to stop her as she tries to uncover secrets and find out what really happened, things start to go a little crazy.
REVIEW
REVIEW
Thanks for the Trouble
SUMMARY
A teenage boy who has been mute since his father’s death stumbles upon a mysterious girl named Zelda who claims she
The author, Tommy Wallach, tells this story in a way that makes you get lost in the words. When you stop reading, you feel as though you lived through it yourself. The books shows how people change, grow, and simply live. Wallach expresses how someone can simply grow tired of life once they have lived a few different ones. This story is an amazing read for all teens and maybe even most adults because it accuratly depicts how people in high school act.
In 27 Days SUMMARY
This book, by Alison Gervais, has dominated a popular story publishing site known as Wattpad. It’s about a young girl living in New York who is still in her junior year of high school. But everything
The staff of the Lobo Legend has selected an open forum under which to write. Articles will be printed according to ths policy. The purpose of the Lobo Legend is to inform, entertain, and educate school readers as well as readers in the community and give students’ opinions on local, state, and national issues.
Why video game sequels have troubled players for generations Think about what games have been released recently. If you keep up, you probably know about Red Dead Redemption 2, hailed as one of the greatest games of the decade; Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, considered to be a revitalization of the series; Fallout 76, an admittedly troubled but innovative take on the Fallout formula; and many more interesting, unique games. Was Just Cause 4 on that list? I would be willing to guess that for you, it was not. Just Cause 4, according to many reviews, is the latest in a long line of “cashgrab” sequels that do little to innovate, change, or redesign. Polygon Gaming called it ‘a tired retread of old ideas,’ with reviewer Colin Campbell stating, “It feels too much like a replay of Just Cause 3,
7
This story will tug at your heart and make you look at your peers and friends in a whole new light. It shows how people treat others when rumors spread and facts are distorted. Alison Gervais sheds light on how far someone will go when simply motivated by their own morals and internal feelings. What really stood out while reading is how the reader learns how big a difference someone can make, even when limited by their own problems.
The staff will take full responsibility to thoroughly investigate and report all sides of all published stories with an unbiased and objective viewpoint. The material, ideas, and opinions expressed in the Lobo Legend do not necessarily reflect those of the adviser, administration, or individual staff members. They are the sole product of the paper’s staff. The Lobo Legend staff will refuse to print an article with material containing libel, obscenity, writings that promote self destructive behavior, or that which promotes the material disruption of the school process. Letters to the editor are encouraged and may be dropped off in the high school office or sent to the newsroom.
If you find an error with a story, fact, graphic, or a point needing further clarification, please contact the staff at: Lobo Legend Staff c/o Conifer High School 10441 Hwy 73 Conifer, CO 80433
Staff editorial
Opinions
Do posters really push back against vaping? When students walk through the hallways, they are used to encountering a slew of distractions, from their peers around them to the cell phones in their hands to the myriad of posters decorating the walls. This year, over 30 JUUL awareness posters have been plastered throughout the school, covering everywhere from the lockers to the stairwells to the bathroom stalls. Although the posters were created with good intentions, they have had little to no effect upon the school population. Vaping seems to be a very difficult topic for school administration to approach. Because it’s one of the largest problems currently plaguing students, they have to do something about it. However, as a result of the addictive nature of JUULing and the rapid pace that the addiction is spreading, there are few ways to make students rethink what they’re doing. Comedic advertisements that feature sheep or posters that feature long paragraphs of text that nobody’s going to read are rarely effective in shutting down the rise of vaping
in the school. This is not meant to be an attack on administration or to say that JUUL awareness is pointless; it’s undoubtedly a major issue in the school. However, most of the campaigns against JUULing have been incredibly ineffective. Many of them have been heavily mocked, and they’re often found in toilets or crumpled up and thrown in the trash. And, this isn’t even a problem with the posters themselves. They’re mostly well done and informative, but students have become immune to them. Many students who vape are aware of the possible consequences and knew them going into it. It’s a problem that’s transcended educational announcements or catchy phrases like “It’s not cuul to JUUL” as a solution. Even heightened punishments like inschool suspension have done little to slow the problem. To many of our peers, JUULing with friends is completely worth that risk, especially if they’re already addicted. Despite seeing plenty of anti-vape adver-
tisements, they see even more light-hearted posts from friends that promote vaping. It’s become a stepping stone to popularity. Even though many teenagers try to be edgy or rebellious by vaping, it has quite possibly gained the opposite effect by being normalized. It’s what everyone’s doing; it’s the current big trend, just like Silly Bandz or scrunchies in their respective eras. If the goal is to follow the crowd, vaping paraphernalia is the golden ticket. Regardless of opinion on the school’s posters, they are making an effort; the initiative serves as an admirable attempt for combating the vape problem sweeping over the school. That being said, the posters may not be the way to do it. They often tend to merely distract for a few seconds during passing period rather than make a lasting impact, and a distraction is not what is needed for fighting the rise of e-cigs in high schools.
Broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a new outlook Sophomore’s biking accident
SEMESTER RECAP LINK DAY
Junior Jake Oudakker and senior Alana Giles lead their LINK kids through a host of “get-to-know-you” activities on LINK Day, the freshmen’s first day of school. The day served as a chance for the freshmen to become acquainted with the school and to feel welcomed by the upperclassmen.
Brown tests out the ramp he built at Staunton State Park in one of their outdoor-compatible wheelchairs, just weeks after his accident. Over the course of three days, with the help of his father, Ramon Brown, and family friend, Pete Jones, Brown built a 65-foot ramp. Photo courtesy of Marla Brown
By Ava Dalton and Parker Jones On September 13, 2018, sophomore Hayden Brown’s life took an unexpected turn. He was out for a ride with his mountain biking team, when he suddenly clipped his handlebars on a tree, flew over the handlebars, and landed on the left side of his back. “I broke my back, fractured two ribs, and bruised my lungs and scapula,” Brown said. He then made a quarter-mile trek in order to seek help, and his dad immediately drove him to the hospital. He remained there for three days filled with agonizing pain, and he then had to wear a back brace for six weeks. For the first four and a half weeks after his accident, Brown didn’t go to school, having friends collect his assignments and spending his time resting at home. After that, he spent about two weeks coming in for half-days. Because of his concussion and various injuries, he was released from all of his classes five minutes early in order to avoid getting bumped around in the halls, and he took the elevator to travel from floor to floor. “We also dropped my third hour, so I think I’m technically the only sophomore in the school with a free period,” Brown said.
DV8
Although Brown’s injuries have been an inconvenience, he’s not letting them stop him from doing the activities he loves, particularly snowboarding in the winter. He isn’t on a team, but he enjoys going with his family on the weekends. Brown’s accident also opened his eyes to the problems that the disabled endure, and this inspired him to take action. For his Eagle Scout project, he directed the construction of a 65-foot wheelchair-accessible bridge at Staunton State Park over the course of three days. “Staunton was the only state park that had track chairs available to the disabled, so we made this bridge that allows the disabled to enjoy the park as well,” Brown said. The bridge replaced the muddy path that was originally there, and it will give the disabled the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the park even more. Through everything that Brown has endured, he has maintained a 3.9 GPA. His parents and career goals have motivated him to stay focused and optimistic throughout his recovery process. “My parents push me to get high grades, and it is not exactly easy, but with hard work it is doable,” Brown said. After his accident, Brown adopted the philosophy that it’s worth pushing through the difficult parts of life because they’re only temporary. This has encouraged him to keep working hard in school. “There’s an end to everything; you just have to get through the bad parts of life,” Brown said. “Trying to catch up in school is miserable right now, but I realize that there’s going to be an end to it. Do I want to look back on this misery on Christmas and see that I have all C’s, or do I want to look back and see that I have one B and the rest A’s because I put in the extra effort?”
SENIOR SUNRISE
Honoring a Conifer tradition, many seniors made the trek to Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, before school on August 29, to witness the sunrise and celebrate the beginning of their final year as high schoolers. Many students documented the event with selfies and photos of the sun coming up over the horizon.
MOUNTAIN BOWL On October 26, Conifer faced off against Evergreen in a tension-filled game that fueled the schools’ rivalry. Flocks of Conifer and Evergreen students congregated on the football field to watch the two teams defend their honor. The Cougars ended up defeating the Lobos 48-26, but that didn’t dim either school’s spirit.
LINK BREAKFAST
Just a few weeks before Thanksgiving break, all freshman students were invited to the cafeteria to enjoy a huge pancake breakfast, complete with donuts, eggs, fruit, and more. The event, hosted by LINK, was meant to be a way of checking in with the freshmen as they neared the end of their first semester in high school.
BOWLING AND ARCADE GAMES
The students in Conifer’s Challenge program were invited to the Wild Game to eat dinner, play arcade games, and go bowling. The day served as a fun break from school for both the kids and the program’s advisors.