Issuu

EAGLE EYE junior Sam Evins lands his dream theatre role

how student athletes handle concussions

student trends of 2017

Vol. 16 Issue 1 10.6.17 Mountain Vista High School | 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

TRENDS 8

jobs

“I’ve worked at Eastridge Rec Center for four months. It’s the best job. I work at the rock climbing wall so I get tons of deals,” junior Andrew Barich said. The four recreation centers in Highlands Ranch are very popular places to work.

shoes

“I like Adidas shoes because they are good for any occasion and they come in many different styles and colors,” freshman Kaylyn Bauer said. Adidas recently passed Nike’s Jordan brand in sales, but is still behind Nike as an overall brand.

“I personally enjoy my NMD’s, they’re super comfortable and look good. I also like hoodies because I wear them all of the time,” junior Cameron Carpenter said. Adidas sold over 400,000 pairs of NMD’s on their lauch date.

jobs

“I started working at Tilly’s because I loved that I would be working with other people my age and I needed extra money,” senior Sarah Miller said. “I love working there because I’ve built good relationships with the people I work with and the customers.”

“I chose to work at John Holly’s because I heard they were hiring and it sounded like fun,” junior Holly Sparrow said. “It is also relaxed and flexible.” Six students from Mountain Vista work at John Holly’s.

music Russ is a hip hop recording artist,

singer, songwriter, and producer. “I like Russ because he’s not very well known, but he is very talented and makes a lot of his own beats,” senior Maisie Paulson said.

top 9 albums of the ’70s The ‘70s were an iconic time in music, full of brave new sounds and artists. Countless bands came out on top, and the music has been people’s favorite for 40 years. Bands such as The Clash, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin influenced the sounds of the decade. Hits such as Zepplein’s “Stairway to Heaven” defined the era.

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“London Calling” is credited as being the beginning wave of British punk, after British Mania in the ‘60s. The Clash helped the start of a new genre in America.

“Blood on the Tracks” is Bob Dylan’s 15 studio album and marked his return to Columbia Records after recording his previous two albums with Asylum Records.

As the first double album for the Rolling Stones, “Exile on Main Street” contributed to the band’s success. It was the group’s tenth album and critically acclaimed as their best.

“The Dark Side of the Moon” caused immediate success for Pink Floyd, topping the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart for a week and remained there for 741 weeks.

“Ramones” is the debut studio album by American punk band the Ramones. It’s certified gold, selling upwards of 500,000 copies in the United States.

English rock band Led Zeppelin’s untitled fourth studio album, often referred to as “Led Zeppelin IV,” inducted them into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Bruce Springsteen’s third album broke him into the mainstream of music. “Born to Run” was nominated for Best Stage Performance at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards.

“Unknown Pleasures” is English rock band Joy Division’s debut studio album. It introduced the postpunk era in music and is still held as one of the most influential punk records.

“Let it Be” is the 12th and final studio album from the Beatles. It was released nearly a month after the band’s separation and held the number one spot on the Billboard Top LPs chart.

opinion

the importance of

mental health education

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victoria coﬀman

magine feeling like school is not a safe place to be open. Imagine feeling like everything difficult you’re going through you have to struggle through alone because no one can help; no one knows how to help. For a growing number of students, this isn’t hard to imagine. In fact, many students don’t have to imagine at all: this is their reality. The question is, why aren’t we doing anything about it? Everyone experiences poor mental health in some form, whether personally, or through someone they know. As I discussed the issues surrounding mental health with students, counselors, and the school psychologist, a similar theme arose: that mental health is easy to ignore. “Because people can’t see it, I think, is why [they] like to forget it’s there,” junior Quinn Kamberos says. Now imagine a class that teaches students about healthy decisions regarding mental health. With proper education, we can begin to change the stigma and stereotypes surrounding it. After all, “What does being healthy really mean?” inquires the school psychologist, Michael Christofferson. When we think about being “healthy,” most people tend to think along the lines of getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating nutritious food. Mental health rarely makes it onto that list, which is why changing the perception of being “healthy” is important.

why you should care about the environment hannah lovell

As I furthered my interviews and gathered more opinions, most students and staff seemed in favor of developing better education of mental health. It is becoming more and more necessary to have a staff educated in mental health so students have the opportunity to learn. Currently the National Council of Disability has sent a report of “Mental Health on College Campuses” to many areas of the government to advise them about this issue and possible steps towards solutions. In their report they state, “Given increased demand and limited funding for mental health services, some have argued that the country has reached a “campus mental health crisis.” Considering this, colleges must develop a culture that supports the mental and emotional well-being of students.” Although their goal is to help the mental health of college students, their reports and suggestions can be applied to high schools as well. After all, the students entering colleges are the same students who are in high school now. Why not reduce the need for Mental Education and Mental Illness counseling programs in college by starting a good education on mental health in high school? Certainly, the goal of educators, parents, and communities is to turn students into driven, passionate, productive, and healthy members of society, and this is where we must shift our focus to make that goal a reality.

f the Earth had emotions, it would be crying, as humans damage its complex balance and beauty. Somehow, people get the perception that this is “our earth” when in reality the earth does not belong to anyone. The earth is meant to support ALL forms of life, not just humans. If we refuse to act, this wonderful planet and all the living organisms on it will diminish, fast. The knowledge and technology to prevent this catastrophe is available, but people’s mindsets and priorities halt progress. First thing is first, people need to realize that global warming is NOT an opinion…at all. It’s science. According to NASA, the average global temperature has increased 1.4 degrees fahrenheit sine 1880, and two-thirds of this warming occurred over the last 30 years. It’s easy for the nonbelievers to justify this as “normal” because weather changes all the time, right? Not quite. According to NASA, Global temperatures rely on “how much energy the planet receives from the sun and how much energy it radiates back into space.” This is a number that should fluctuate very little but, because of excess amounts of greenhouse gases, the atmosphere traps additonal heat. Lori Schwendeman, AP Environmental Science and Aquatic Biology teacher, says the best thing people can do to prevent further

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best movies of summer 2017 jeremy lundberg

So far, 2017 has been great for Hollywood and the box office. While there have been a handful of bad films, there have also been a fair share of great movies that deserve recognition if you haven’t seen them already. Here are my personal top three films I’ve seen this summer.

1. Dunkirk “Dunkirk” is easily one of the best movies I have seen in a long time, and considerably the best movie I’ve seen this summer, earning its place as the number one spot on the “Top 3 Movie” list. Director Christopher Nolan has made a visually attractive film with some of the best sound design I’ve heard, while impressively staying within the PG-13 rating having a lack of blood and graphic depictions of war. One of the most interesting elements in the film is the absence of any specific main character that is followed. There are seven or so notable characters that are only focused on for a total of about half of the film. Every emotion is felt by every soldier in the shot instead of being focused on the mind of a single individual. One notable point is Dunkirk, like other war movies, is a very intense film. If you’re willing to accept that, I would 100 percent recommend watching it.

2. Baby Driver

Edgar Wright has made one of the best films of 2017 with “Baby Driver,” an action-packed movie with the best soundtrack of any film this year. Baby, the main character of the film, is an extremely unique and mysterious personality. The plot of the movie is about multiple characters in a crime ring, with Baby leading as the getaway driver, in which he’s described as a “devil behind the wheel.” Whether it’s the constant screeching of tires or a romantic kiss, my eyes never left the screen when watching the film due to its intriguing plot and neverending action. The cinematography of the film is also excellent, with the opening scene of the movie being done entirely in one shot, being a total of three or so minutes long. The soundtrack of the movie is astonishing, with a new song each time Baby’s behind the wheel. If you’re looking for an action-packed film with a riveting soundtrack this summer, “Baby Driver” has yet to disappoint. Just be aware of the film’s R rating if you choose to see it in theatres.

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damage to the earth is take down their level of consumption. This means buying only what people need. This is a tough concept, even for me. It’s hard to separate what we need from what we want, especially when the “want” is 25 percent off at Urban Outfitters and feels like a blanket on your skin. Schwendeman said she believes it’s all about a person’s mindset. “It’s an attitude that everything is disposable and nothing is suppose to last,” said Schwendeman. If we can change this mindset, we are golden. Senior Hannah Patrick thinks knowledge is key in changing this attitude.“The people who care about the planet have educated themselves about how much we have already deteriorated the planet and do not want to add to the problem,” Patrick said. America has begun making enviornmental awarness a priority since the ‘70s. If the government continues to pursue making enviornmental policies, citizens and other countreis will follow. We can live envirornmental friendly, what matters is us wanting to live this way. If seeing the polar bear population decrease, and more than 100 animals being added to the World Wildlife Fund’s list of vulnerable to critically endangered species is not enough, then here is another reason: if this trend continues, the earth will not be able to sustain human life. Everytime we buy something we do not need, we use more land and more resources that can not be replaced. I consider my lifestyle fairly earth friendly. I am vegetarian, I

3. Spider-Man: Homecoming

“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” unsurprisingly, is a Spider-Man film. Those who enjoyed previous Spider-Man films will certainly enjoy this one just as much. There’s a lot of humor in the film, from Peter Parker’s amusing interactions with others, to his behavior in general. I never felt bored when watching the movie, as it’s paced generally well and provides sharp turns in the plot when you’d least expect it. Tom Holland is fantastic at portraying Parker, and Vulture is one of the most intriguing villains in recent Marvel films. The film is undoubtedly an action movie, with plenty of interesting elements — web swinging, (Spoiler) the scene where a ferry is split clean in-half, and other web combinations using a newfound suit gifted to Parker. If you’re a fan of previous Spider-Man or Marvel movies, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” will definitely impress.

try to buy second hand clothing, always recycle, etc. Yet, according to a survey I took on Islandwood.org, if everyone in the world had the same Ecological Footprint as me, it would take 2.17 earths to sustain our population. Instead of continuously taking from the earth, we must consider how to give back. “Mother Nature provides us with so many resources, water to drink, plants to eat, places to explore, we cannot just take that for granted,” Patrick said. “We must treat the planet with respect.”

Junior Sam Evins rocks out during the act one closer, “Stick it to the Man.” “Performing this song was like giving the community a reminder to stick up for themselves and what they believe in,” Evins said. This is one of the songs that earned Evins a national award for his performance as Dewey Finn.

roles of a lifetime erin solomon

t’s rare for a student to receive one of their dream roles in theatre. It’s incredible for a student to receive two of their dream roles within a week. Last May, then-sophomore Sam Evins walked into a Front Range Theatre Company audition room with confidence despite the lack of preparation, ready to give his all. After his audition, his nerves settled and the suspense for the cast list began. A few days later, the excruciating wait was over and Evins was offered two of his most wanted roles. The first was Leaf Coneybear in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” and the second was Dewey Finn in “School of Rock: The Musical.” Once Evins, junior, received the parts, he and his family celebrated together knowing how important the roles were for him. “I was very excited for these roles,” Evins said. “I [started memorizing] quickly so that I was ready to go.” The productions’ camps took place throughout the month of June, so students had a very short amount of time to prepare before the first day of rehearsal. While having the opportunity to portray Leaf Coneybear was an incredible experience for Evins, Dewey Finn was even more enriching. The cast of “School of Rock: The Musical” was made up of not only current and graduated high school students, but fourth, fifth, and sixth graders as well. Evins not only had to take center stage for this lead role, but also had to be a leader to all of the other cast members. “I felt like if I wasn’t showing leadership, I wouldn’t be able to show that acting is something that I’m serious about,” Evins said. Evins believed that if he demonstrated his passion for theatre and how he could be a principle role and leader simultaneously, then the younger students would want to take responsibility and be leaders as well. The leadership, dedication, and responsibility taken by Evins was not only impressive, but genuine and heartwarming. Fellow classmates, senior Erika Harper and junior Ian Spillman, worked alongside Evins this summer. “Sam showed a lot of perseverance on the day that we had three shows. He was very sick and almost passed out,” Spillman said. “For the final show, he really pushed through and gave an impressive final performance.” When looking back on his time as Dewey Finn, both Harper and Spillman speak admirably of Evins. “Sam made sure that everyone was included and welcome during the rehearsal process,” Harper said. At the end of the each of the two-week summer camps, there were four community performances. On Sept. 1, Evins was awarded one of four Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical award by National Youth Arts for the Rocky Mountain Region. The awards ceremony took place on Sept. 10 in Northridge, Colo. Evins was surprised with the task of giving an acceptance speech at the ceremony. “The ceremony really set all of my hard work in stone from this summer. I truly felt like I had accomplished something,” Evins said. Evins not only pushed himself during this opportunity, but also inspired his fellow cast mates to do the same and create the best production possible. “I would like to stay apart of the theatre program [during the school year], so I’m very focused on my grades,” Evins said. Evins said he plans on auditioning and being a part of the numerous shows at Vista this year. He will be portraying the Soldier Ancestor in “The Addams Family,” put on by Stage Flight Theatre this coming November.

Seniors Jessi Cash, Savanah Howard and Annalisa Ingui run back towards the dugout after shaking hands with their rival, ThunderRidge High School, which they had just defeated, 8-1. “[Winning the game] feels amazing,” Ingui said. “We put a smack down on them last year and it was nice to come back and do it again because they were a completely different team.” The teams played their rivalry game at the softball field of Metropolitan State University, and the victory marked Vista’s 12th win of the season.

Sophomore Mark Nicolosi fights for the ball in the men’s varsity soccer game against Ponderosa High School. “This game really taught us to fight until the end,” Nicolosi said. The team lost to Ponderosa, 2-3, making its record for this season 3-7.

Junior Jack McFarlane throws a dodgeball in the annual homecoming dodgeball tournament. “I love being able to hang out and compete with friends in a laid-back school environment,” McFarlane said. McFarlane’s team, the Dirty Nachos, lost in the semifinals.

Senior Tristan Smith passes a defender and sprints for the end zone in the varsity football game against Arapahoe High School. “It’s never over until it’s over,” Smith said. “We [were] out there giving it our best and I had faith.” Smith scored the go-ahead touchdown, helping the Golden Eagles to overcome the Warriors’ four-point lead and win the game, 24-21.

Varsity football’s offensive line gets in ready position against rival ThunderRidge. “That was the longest football game I’ve ever played in my life,” senior Jarrett Cesmat said. “I wish we would have won but I’m glad it was close.” The final score was, 51-34.