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Best of Show J-Day 2017 Palmer Ridge High School - The Bear Truth
Palmer Ridge High School Monument, CO Volume 10 Issue 1 August 2017
Our tenth year of EXCELLENCE
IN-DEPTH
Sustainability Stays
IN-DEPTH by Ella Hall
(Right) Sustainability is a common theme throughout the ecofriendly town of Boulder, Colorado. The retail shop Momentum, located on Pearl Street, produces all organic and sustainable clothing through the economic principle of fair trade. Photos by Alexis Olmstead.
Joe Buczkowski as well as the Boulder student community have proven inspiring toward Mrs. Buczkowski seeing as she declared, “CU already did their reduce, reuse, recycle program and Joe was at Boulder and he had this passion about that more than I did.” Just as Rayna Oliker emphasized her role in sustainability in the living quarters and dining area on the Boulder campus, Michelle Buczkowski found such environmentally friendly residential areas helpful. “Recycling in the residence hall was easy . . . It really became more of an issue for me to pay attention to,” Michelle added. In relation to her career, Mrs. Buczkowski is using a platform targeting constructional sustainability of which she was introduced to while participating in the Real Estate Club. “They focused on sustainability in real estate development . . . that has come through in how I look at things of how can we build things better from the beginning.” At Palmer Ridge, sustainability has been achieved through a combination of steps teachers and the district staff have taken. For example, Mr. Patrick, an English teacher, rides his bike to work everyday from his home in Palmer Lake. This practice reduces carbon dioxide emissions, thus keeping our air cleaner. Science teacher Mrs. Cross also promotes recycling throughout
“We really do work on reduce, reuse, recyle . . . We talk about the planet and that it’s important to take care of it.” PRHS student Jonathan Silva (11) found a man on Pearl Street sporting his naturalist headdress and cape, further supporting the notion that Boulder’s atmosphere remains one of sustainability. Photo by Alexis Olmstead.
The principle of sustainability may fall out of mind and out of sight for many of us; however, the work of those as passionate and involved in creating a greener, cleaner and more efficient society (such as David King and Rayna Oliker and University of Colorado at Boulder sustainability representatives) cannot help but leave a lasting legacy that will solidify a lifestyle of mindfulness. As the sustainability coordinator for the CU residential programs and services, Rayna Oliker is a vital aspect of student awareness and the program’s success. Oliker manages programs that institute environmental leaders into the CU Boulder student body. King specializes in the Infrastructure and Safety aspect of CU’s sustainability program. He feels that Boulder has set a positive reputation regarding sustainability throughout the campus. “Boulder is really well-known for a reputation of sustainability” stated King as he provided information on environmental support programs in Boulder.
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Targeting areas of social change and examining sociological studies are a catalyst for positive change at an individual level. According to King and Oliker, peer pressure is key- from radio advertising to one-on-one conversations, outside opinion can and will exert an influence on personal decision. Individuals such as Michelle Buczkowski, a CU Boulder alumni, are continually spreading this legacy of sustainability within new communities. Michelle’s dedication to environmental preservation extends not only to her Monument community, but also within her own recycle savvy family. Michelle’s husband Joe, another proud CU boulder graduate, and their three children also contribute to a lifestyle of sustainability. “We really do work on reduce, reuse, recycle . . . We teach the kids not to waste as they’re going through their day . . . We talk about the planet and that it’s important to take care of it,” she stated when asked about her family’s current steps towards sustainability.
- Michelle Buczkowski, a CU Boulder alumni the school and informs her AP Environmental Students on how to sustain a healthy environment through sustainable activities. Finally, PRHS utilizes electricity from geothermal energy; this is used to pump water throughout the school and to generate power. Every aspect of human interaction with planet earth can and will be refined by taking steps towards sustainability outreach in our communities just as Rayna Oliker, David King and Michelle Buczkowski have done and are continuing to do. As knowledge and information regarding sustainability is consistently spread using positive peer pressure and visible as well as obtainable success stories, communities will inevitably begin to reap the benefits of a sustainable lifestyle.
How can you help? Visit sustainability.
com or epa.gov/sustainability to educate yourself on energy efficiency, your ecological footprint, and more.
Q+A
Beyond the campus
The Bear Truth interviews Momentum employees Elise Tomasian and Megan Weber about sustainability in the workplace BT: Are your products locally
BT: What else in your store, besides clothing, helps contribute to Momentum’s overall concept of sustainability? ET: In the store, we always wash our clothing with cold water and turn off all of our lights. MW: What we do is create all of our receipts out of scrap paper. All of the paper in the store is also laminated and you can find everything online [so reprinting doesn’t waste paper].
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sourced? ET: Actually, no. Because it is a fair trade system, we just make sure that things are sustainably sourced and environmentally friendly. We get products from South Africa, Kenya, and Haiti. BT: Why should we live sustainably? ET: It boils down to responsibility. Everything [in this world] is finite . . . working here for me is fulfilling that responsibility.
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ATHLETICS
ATHLETICS
The final push
It may be the last season for these seniors, but they are making it count
by Alexis Olmstead
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Kyra Rothwell joined
the district field hockey team her freshman year because she needed a replacement for soccer which conflicts with tennis, a sport she plays in the spring. “I missed playing soccer . . . I picked up field hockey and even though it is not like soccer in most ways, it has been a blast,” admitted the senior. Regarding this being her last season, she stated, “It’s definitely exciting and bittersweet at the same time. I’m excited to see how we are going to do as a team this year but I am going to miss the sport and all my teammates next year.”
Kori Woods started
playing high school volleyball because her sister played and because she had been playing for three years. “Volleyball has just always been a huge part of my family . . . when I went to high school, I thought I might as well try it,” Woods declared. She enjoys “how competitive it can be” and watching her team members grow throughout the season. Because LP is their biggest rival to date, the girls’ volleyball team is adamant on beating them this year. “We have a lot of young talent. Our eyes are set on state this year,” disclosed Woods.
Lizzy Betz
is starting her fifth year as a softball player. Betz did admit that her last season out on the field is bittersweet but she feels as though “this season should go pretty well.” The friendly team atmosphere contributes to her positive view of the sport which she hopes to play in coming years. “I would like to play in college, but it doesn’t seem as if it will work out,” Betz articulated. Although this will be her last fall sport, she participates in Track and Field, allowing her another chance to make her mark on high school athletics.
All photos by Alexis Olmstead.
Cole Bennett has been playing tennis since 4th grade and decided to join the high school team because it was “the next step” in being able to “get competitive.” Cole emphasized that his favorite part of being on varsity is bonding with his teammates at matches and tournaments. He also revealed that the most vivid memory he had while playing was when he was trying to make it to state his freshman year. “We had an awfully tough match . . . it was back and forth the whole time. We ended up losing, but it was a great memory,” Bennett declared.
Isabel Tellez has a vastly Nicole Phaneuf, an different take on the sport of gymnastics. Although she has been doing it for over eleven years, she said the only reason she started was because “her mom wanted her to.” Tellez’s favorite events in gymnastics include vaulting and the balance beam, both helping her during track season with pole vaulting. When asked about how she feels about being a senior on the team, she responded, “[I’m not very sad] because I am kind of burnt out of the sport and I am pole vaulting [in the spring].”
aspiring D1 athlete, has been running cross country since her sophomore year. She joined the sport on a whim: “My two best friends told me it would be a good time and I figured ‘Why not?’” Because this is her last season, she wants to win the state title. “We’re ranked really highly . . . if we put our minds to it, we can have a good day at state,” she disclosed. Regarding moving on to college, Phaneuf has ambivalent feelings; she declared, “This is the end. It’s good and bad.” She hopes to attend the University of Alabama on a running scholarship.
Note: Football, Soccer, Cheer, and Poms will be covered in more detail in the October issue.
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Ryan Matson has great potential coming into the 2017-2018 cross country season. First joining the team his freshman year, he isn’t too sad about this being his last season. “I’m excited because our team is one of the top in the state and as an individual, I’m one of the top in the state too. It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out,” admitted Matson. Like Phaneuf, he has his eyes set on the state title; however, his individual goals revolve around being selected for first team all-state (a team that includes the best runners from the Colorado Springs area).
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Dynamic Duo
Juste Danser
Mme. Sinkola is not just a french teacher, but an avid dancer as well. Wear your dancing shoes because you might be swing dancing between the desks while memorizing verb tenses. Allons-y!
Class of 2017 got over $12 million in scholarhsips
d O e N ge
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Y L
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id R ad e t s r e lm O m xis l e l A Pa by
Vamonos!
This past summer, Mrs. Fockler took five students with her to Spain in order to experience authentic Spanish culture. After exploring Valencia, they visited the Strait of Gibraltar where they played with monkeys. Students say it was muy bonita.
Detention the
The Veteran
Go see Mr. Gabel
n O o i P it
Excuse Ewe?
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On Track for Graduation
FEATURE
AP Human Geography is one of the newest AP classes offered at PRHS. It is taught by Ms. Spadinger and is only offered to sophomores,. You lucky underclassmen who have TWO options for AP credit!
Puppies!
If you find yourself Mr. Obermeyer loves to in Mrs. Brady’s math tell stories, especially class this year, prepare the one about him to hear “factor those accidentally killing puppies” or “solve Cam the Ram. After the prank kidnapping, Cam those puppies” several died in the trunk of the times in a single class period. I mean, who car because he did not have access to his old- doesn’t love anything with puppies in it? age medication.
PRHS has been chugging along for one decade
Nicknames
The Meme
Ms. Troy and Mrs. Ewing call their students “cheeky monkeys” and “chickens”. They often use it interchangeably with your name, soon making it the new normal.
If you venture up to A2222, memes of Mr. Patrick abound. Crafted by Yearbook, the teacher’s face is perfectly slapped on a myriad of trendy backgrounds. Could he be the next cover of Esquire?
Oops, the geothermal heat doesn’t work, again.
Mr. Olgren, the ceramics teacher, has seen thousands of clay creations throughout his career. Some were undoubtedly a work of art while the others were . . . subpar. Some are just not gifted with artistic genes. But hey, one can dream!
Marine Bio
Mr. Ewig has loved teaching his students for 19 years. This was displayed when he received the Teacher of the Year award last spring. Although this may be his last year, we hope this Social Studies teacher never retires.
Josh Belk is notorious for being one of the funniest, quirkiest, and friendliest teachers that reside inside the halls of PRHS. He has led the drama department to success with shows such as “Starlight Express” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Mr. Dall and Mr. Odil make the perfect pair. This is mostly because Mr. Dall taught Odil’s high school physics class back in the day. Mr. Odil (nor Mr. Dall) thought that he’d be a teacher. Look where we are now.
Got Clay?
Park in the dirt lot
Remember that disgusting smell that emanates from Deloux’s class each year? Yep, those are dead sharks. Be sure to take this class in order to learn about (and smell) some more marine life.
Belk it out
FEATURE
Pay School Fees
AUGUST 2017
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CULTURE
CULTURE
Going beyond the borders
Las Brisas, Dominican Republic Sydney Neher (12), Mission Trip BT: How long did you stay in the DR? SN: I was there for one week; it really didn’t seem long enough. BT: What was the most memorable experience from your trip? SN: Helping out and serving in Las Brisas at a community
by Alexis Olmstead
center. I loved making so many sweet, little friends. BT: Was this trip eye-opening? SN: Yes . . . these people have very little in terms of possessions. Yet, they are so joyful and loving because they have Jesus. We can learn from that. We don’t need stuff to make us happy.
Sydney embraces her new friend. Photo courtesy of Sydney Neher.
Busan, South Korea Regina Park (10), Leisure BT: How long did you stay in South Korea? RP: I was there for one month. BT: Why were you there for such an extended period of time? RP: I was there on vacation and to visit my family. BT: There are lots of unique Asian flavors. What was your favorite food that you had
while there? RP: My favorite food was egg tarts and the bread. BT: What was your favorite activity that you did? RP: My favorite activity was walking along the beach and feeding the seagulls. BT: Did you visit multiple places in Korea? RP: I went to Paju and Busan.
Regina explores the island of Busan. Photo courtesy of Regina Park.
Johannesburg, South Africa
In June, I visited Xi’an, China to experience a true wonder: the Terracotta Warriors. It was built to protect Emperor Qin in the afterlife from the 700,000 people he savagely murdered and is enclosed under a hangar (which unfortunately doesn’t provide any protection from the hot, humid climate of the Asian country). If you happen to find yourself in this megalopolis, it is definitely worth a visit. Photo by Savannah Olmstead.
Let’s face it: we all feel a twinge of jealousy when we see our acquaintances jet off to some exotic foreign country while we are stuck in the tiny town that is Monument. However, those experiences involving culturally diverse people, food, and customs are enlightening to both the traveler and those who listen to their stories. Several PRHS students trekked to far-flung countries including South Korea, South Africa, the Dominican Republic, and more. While the time spent in these places ranged from one week to one month, all the student travelers had the opportunity to immerse themselves in ways that enriched their personal lives. In 2016, Americans alone spent over 2.2 billion dollars on travel for both business and leisure purposes, proving it to be extremely profitable and impactful for the entire world market.
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Meanwhile, international arrivals account for over fifty percent of all arrivals yet represent almost eightyfive percent of total international spending (U.S. Travel Association). Summer has shown itself to be the prime time for students to travel because of the flexibility. Forty-five percent of Americans take some sort of summer vacation and almost half prefer to visit the beach on that vacation. Most of the students featured in this spread did just that- Regina Park (10) explored along the western coast of Korea and Sydney Neher (12) completed mission work in the coastal town of Las Brisas in the Dominican Republic. From my perspective, traveling is more rewarding than any other experience because it makes one cognizant of the various cultures that surround them, diffusing hatred in a world that needs tolerance.
Ciara Abeyta (12), Mission Trip BT: How long were you there? CA: I was there a little under two weeks. BT: How was it different from the US? CA: They drive on the left side of the road, there are vendors on the streets, garbage is everywhere, and the smog is unreal.
BT: What was your favorite activity you did there? CA: At a squatter camp, we helped out the people by washing dishes and sweeping. BT: How was the Lion Park? CA: It was incredible! We even got to eat dinner in the middle of the savanna.
Ciara pets a cheetah at the Lion Park. Photo courtesy of Ciara Abeyta.
Did you know? The number one place to travel to in the world (according to TripAdvisor) is Bali, Indonesia. It is followed by London, UK; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and New York City, USA. How many of these destinations have you been to? Let us know on our website at prhsbeartruth.com. AUGUST 2017
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