Fall USJ 2019

Journal The Union St.

Summer Reading 4

VSCO Girls 12

Music & Mental Health 28

Striking for Sustainability

15

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

Vol. 5 Issue 2 October 2019

Contents

5

PHOTO BY SEUNG LEE

15

9

Q&A with Noble 5th and the Confidence

Lettering in Theatre

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

Environmental Sustainability

24

19

The Respawn of Minecraft

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

Cheer Prepares for a New Era

PHOTO BY FAITH MCCURDY

26

Being Homeless in High School

PHOTO BY FAITH MCCURDY

Find more stories at unionstreetjournal.com

@creekusj

PHOTO BY GIOVANNI MACHADO

@creekusj COVER PHOTO BY: GRACIE LORDI

USJ STAFF Editor-in-Chief Gracie Lordi

Design Editor Faith McCurdy

Advisor Yoni Fine

Photography Editor Seung Lee

News Editor Jane McCauley

Staff Writers Riley Archer Lauren Becerra Da’nazjah Dorsey Allie Eliav Maayan Eshkenazi Lizzie Esses Ashley Garrett Deniz Gunes Samuel Heyman Calvin Lascor Tori Miranda Cole Paterson Carly Philpott Madison Seckman Akash Shivakumaar Kiley Smich

Student Life Editor Faith McCurdy A&E Editor Bre Mennenoh Opinions Editor Giovanni Machado Sports Editor Jonathan Yoon Web Editor Hannah Edelheit Purpose:

The Union Street Jounral is a student publication distributed to the students, faculty, and staff of Cherry Creek High School. The paper serves as an information source amd a two-way communication forum for both the school and the community. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of Cherry Creek High School or the Cherry Creek Letters to the editor.

Letters to the editor are accepted and can be submitted via email to unionstreetjournal@gmail.com Letters cannot be anonymous and they may be edited for clarity.

Letter from the editor This issue has been an absolutely wild ride.

Before getting into the details, I want to gush for a moment - I’m so incredibly proud of my staff; it’s difficult to describe. I’ve worked on the USJ for almost 3 years, and a 32 page paper has always been an unattainable daydream. When I tentatively suggested 32 pages, they didn’t even blink an eye.

This year’s staff has been so overwhelmingly dedicated to creating something great, and I feel like I’ve been on the edge of my seat as they’ve pushed the envelope in design, writing, and photography.

They’ve risked it for the proverbial biscuit, and you can go ahead and take a flip through to see how fantastic the biscuit turned out.

Nobody ever really gets how much work it is to put something like this together. To help give an idea - we have accumulated over 3000 person-hours, and that’s excluding off-site reporting.

The feeling of gratitude I have for the people that still care about journalism and current events - both writers and readers - is immense. Not that this is anything new, but we’re in a changing world.

The way we live our lives is dictated by how policy, nature, and society are evolving. Remaining aware and knowledgeable are crucial pieces to taking back some of that control.

The way my generation has displayed this power - in news writing, activism, and just sticking it to the man - makes me really optimistic for what most people are predicting to be a dark future.

With the sustainability piece, I was really excited to highlight some of the incredible student activism that’s been happening.

There’s so much valor in people fighting for something they truly believe in. Nowadays, students are often told to sit and learn how to be like their successors. And although there’s nothing wrong with politeness and obedience, it can feel very smothering being shoved into a box. In this case, many adults are shoving us into believing that we can continue to live life as recklessly and excessively as they are without fatal consequences.

I believe the climate strikes are a pertinent example of youth taking a stand for something they believe in and making real change. That’s what I hope this issue - and the USJ as a whole can achieve: providing a space for storytelling and positive change.

Peace and love, Gracie Lordi

Fall 2019

Free for the summer: summer reading canceled

BY JANE MCCAULEY News Editor

The English department voted to retire summer reading permanently in Sept. But that doesn’t mean reading won’t be encouraged over summer break.

Kim Gilbert’s first year as English Coordinator has already brought significant change to the curriculum, but the idea to end summer reading has been talked about for years now.

“I think it’s healthy, especially at Creek, to start to question some of these assignments or some of these routines that we’ve been doing and to ask ourselves if it is still something that is good for students,” Gilbert said.

Yet the reason to end summer reading came down to the fact that the assignments weren’t serving their intended purpose for students: to enjoy and gain opportunities from reading.

This became a divided issue for the English teachers. They wanted to push the importance and advantages that reading brought to their students.

“We want to share that love of reading,” Gilbert said.

But even if the reading is required, teachers can’t force their students to read the material.

“A lot of [teachers] talked to their classes to get feedback and found out that some students were obviously waiting until a week before or days before [school started],” Gilbert said.

This ultimately not only affected the students’ grades, but their stress levels as well.

“It’s the only book I would actually ever read because you have to start out on a good note. That’s the most stressful book of the entire semester,” senior Ryan Sherr said.

Another problem with summer reading was that teachers had to stay 4 | News

consistent with assigning work over breaks.

“There was also the question of equity. We don’t assign homework over breaks, and summer is a break,” Gilbert said.

The final decision to either keep, modify, or retire summer reading was left to the English department by Principal Ryan Silva to vote on in a faculty meeting back in September.

“The English teachers really were thoughtful about this,” Gilbert said. “The vote came back that majority wanted to retire summer reading.”

Most students aren’t too upset about parting with summer reading permanently.

“I’m glad about there being no summer reading. I never read the book myself,” sophomore Zach Morell said.

The process of completely elimating summer reading is in its beginning stages, but there will still be a push for students to read in their spare time not only during summer break, but during the school year as well.

“There are quite a few teachers that have started to use silent reading in their classes,” Gilbert said. “There’s also conversation about talking to the librarians on how we can get kids to come up to the library and pick out books.”

Reading will always be encouraged from teachers and faculty, but the English staff has come to a dead end with summer reading’s purpose.

“This has been years of conversation about summer reading. It finally got to a point that teachers wanted to say, ‘We need to talk about this and make a decision’ because we talk about summer reading every year, and we never really come to a consensus,” Gilbert said.

“I think what happened with summer reading [was] that people couldn’t quite answer why it was a meaningful assignment.”

-English Coordinator Kim Gilbert

“Summer’s supposed to be stress-free. Plus, it never actually helps me.”

-sophomore Mae Mitchell

“I will miss it because I do like reading. It’s good to have something to do over summer.”

-junior Sebastian Demaree

BY GIOVANNI MACHADO Opinions Editor

Picture a student wearing a letterman’s jacket. You’re probably visualizing a star athlete.

But that image might not be very accurate. Students can also letter in academics, in speech and debate, and now for the second year, in theatre.

“I think it’s nice because it’s a representation of how much work you’ve done in the sense of the school,” junior and stage manager Jennifer Failinger said.

Failinger sees the new lettering in theatre as a way of making theatre kids more involved in the school community.

“I think when you get a letter from Creek, it’s signifying that your club is really a part of Creek. I think a lot of times theatre kids feel on the outside,” Failinger said.

“It’s nice because it’s finally acknowledging, ‘Hey! I do something for the school.’”

This is the second year that students can letter in theatre, and it wouldn’t be possible

if it weren’t for the students’ requests.

“I don’t know why it took so long,” theatre director Alex Burkart said. “The students were the ones who instigated it.”

“I guess we just hadn’t really thought about it,” senior and troupe president Paige Bakke said. “There was a senior last year [Jessica Alles], who just really wanted to get that letter. It started out as her idea, and then it went to our troupe sponsors.”

But earning the letter doesn’t come without hard work.

“Somebody who has lettered in theatre has accumulated enough experience to earn that letter,” Burkart said. “Therefore, they’ve got an ample amount of experience in all assets of theatre. And that’s what [colleges] are looking for.”

In order to receive a letter, students must earn 35 points in theatre. The points depend on what they did for each show throughout the year.

“Every show, you get a certain amount of points depending on how much you helped with that show,” Failinger said. “Being an ensemble member, you get five points. If you are a crew head or a lead actor, you get eight points. If you’re backstage, you get six points, and if you work on a crew, you get three points.”

Besides the symbolism around the letter, it can also be very helpful for students’ lives after high school.

“It’s a nice thing to put on your college resume,” Failinger said. “It shows them how much work you’ve done.”

Some people might see the letter as just a letter, but those who receive it feel otherwise.

“It’s special,” Bakke said. “You’re like, ‘Oh, cool, I’ve put in a lot of work into this.’

It’s nice to be recognized.”

ON THE ROPES: senior Abby McGinnis works as part of the theatre’s tech crew where she brings various objects on the stage using a fly rail.

PHOTO BY SEUNG LEE

Fall 2019

AP CHANGES

AP US History OPEN TO FRESHMEN For the first time at Creek, AP US History is open for freshmen. It’s a different introduction to high school for incoming students moving up from middle school.

“Some parents were wanting some sort of honors or AP option for freshmen,” AP US History Teacher Ben Singh said. “So that kind of started a process to offer AP US History to freshman.”

You must pass a test to be placed in this college level course. Only 60 freshmen were accepted, 50 of which are actually taking the course.

“It’s a lot, but I think it’s very easy to manage if you enjoy learning,” freshman Catherine Yue said.

Other freshmen are getting the message from their teachers to focus on time management.

“The idea is to mental-

PHOTO BY HANNAH EDELHEIT

IN FOCUS: freshman Amelia Dundon takes notes for her AP US History class during first period.

6 | News

BY KILEY SMICH Staff Writer

ly plan out your time and what you’re going to do,” freshman Amelia Dundon said.

Singh, who has taught freshmen for 23 years, acknowledges the inexperience of organization for adolescents.

“Immaturity is always a challenge,” he said.

“Freshmen often struggle with time management, and those are all things that they’re going to have to learn as the year goes on.”

Time management is a huge component to passing AP US History. Organization for this class is essential because it’s a very fast course that’s easy to fall behind in, and with all of this organization comes stress.

“How successful and how stressful it’s going to be really depends on how fast you can take notes,” Dundon said.

Even though it can be a lot of work, the 50 freshmen that were interested saw the value in taking this class.

“I do think it’s nice because it allows for more advanced students to have a faster learning pace which makes the concept a lot more interesting,” Dundon said.

Students have expressed their challenges with this class, and teachers are aware of the jump it requires for incoming 9th graders.

“In essence, from a content and a thinking standpoint, you’ve gone from eighth grade to a college level,” Singh said.

AP Lang. & Lit. RUBRICS REDONE

BY HANNAH EDELHEIT Web Editor

As we start our English classes this year, you may notice something different. The College Board has changed both the AP English Literature and Composition and AP Language and Composition rubrics from nine to six points. The rubric will also be more of a checklist style where teachers will check boxes for things such as a thesis.

“I think it changed because there was an ongoing effort to try to tell students what is expected from this type of in-class writing, and there is an effort to make it even more explicit and clear that these are the components that are required to write an AP essay,” English teacher David Rowe said.

Rowe has been teaching at Creek for 29 years and was one of the people who advocated for AP Lang to be added as a class. He said that it shouldn’t be affecting curriculum of the actual class and that he would still continue to teach his class and get his students prepared for the test.

“Our challenge is to make sure that we hold on to what we valued with more holistic scoring and that then we are able to acknowledge that this is a change,” Rowe said.

Originally the rubric for the essays was a holistic one which meant that it looked at the essay as a whole. Now it is more of a checklist style which means that teachers are looking for all of the components of an essay. Students now get points for just

“

having a thesis and evidence.

“We’re trying to understand what the rubric wants us to see, and we as teachers have the responsibility to prepare our students for college to become the most effective writers that they can be,” English teacher Joel Morris said.

This change will mainly affect how the essays themselves are graded since the multiple choice section of the test will stay the same. This could be harder on teachers because they know what a nine on the old rubric looks like.

“One of the things that’s been hard is that I think anybody who has been teaching this [class] for any length of time has their mind set into the old rubric,” Morris said.

Students are going to be affected by the rubric as it contributes to how they will be graded. They will have to learn how to get the points now because there will be new standards and expectations. It will also take some time to get used to the new rubric.

“I think this year is going to

I think a lot of us feel that this kind of rubric oversimplifies a bit.

“

-English teacher Joel Morris

be a rough year for the AP test because the teachers don’t know how to prepare for it,” senior Franny Dolan said. “It’s new for them too, and they’ve been teaching the old one for years.”

As the year goes on, students and teachers will have to adapt to this new rubric as it’s the new standard for everyone.

“I think as the years go by and students get more used to it, it’ll get better,” Dolan said.

PHOTO BY HANNAH EDELHEIT

SIMPLIFY: junior Caroline Tew writes an assignment following the new rubric for her AP lang.

Fall 2019

Class Act Getting to know Creek’s new theatre director, Alex Burkart

BY LAUREN BECERRA Staff Writer

PHOTO BY LAUREN BECERRA

BACKSTAGE ACTION: Alex Burkart overlooks progress being made during tech week.

when “I Istarted was eight, my twin [and I] tap danced in purple tights. That was the beginning -Alex Burkart

“

8 | Student Life

Alex Burkart knew he was meant to do theatre when he was only eight years old in a production of Alice in Wonderland with his twin brother as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. “It’s kind of been a long journey to get where I am, but I tried to stay present the entire time and just go where everything would lead me,” Burkart said.

He continued his theatre career through high school and went on to pursue a BFA in musical theatre. After becoming a professor of acting and directing, he found himself moving to Denver with his family to become a theatre teacher at Creek.

“He brings a lot of credibility and a lot of real world skills. He listens to the students and it becomes a collaboration between the students and himself,” Fine Arts Department Coordinator David Stallings said.

Stallings wanted to find someone with theatre experience within all levels and someone who was able to make connections with the students. Burkart was the perfect match.

“I think I’m lucky I teach acting,” Burkart said.

“It’s such a personal art form that it requires me to get to know everybody, and I get to know their own personal ticks, habits, and style of acting.”

Burkart has also focused on how to better understand his students by creating mission statements to encourage positive mindsets and to center the theatre community on the students and their desires.

“I’m very mission-based in what I do, so I’ve just been telling the students that they have to have a strong ‘why’ for everything they do. I think giving that responsibility over to the students is some-

thing that I think was desired and is coming forth,” Burkart said.

With this, Burkart plans to make the message of inclusion and diversity prominent in his classroom. He also plans for diversity to be an active part of theatre and show selection. This season’s program, selected by Burkart, includes shows that were written by women or feature a strong female lead.

“It gives us the opportunity to share stories and voices of people who don’t necessarily get to hear their story told,” Burkart said, “[The students] have all been up for the challenge, so they’ve made my job easy.”

Although Burkart is relatively new to the theatre program here at Creek, he has been known to impress many of the students that he comes in contact with, leaving a lasting impression on not only the theatre program, but also on individual students.

“Alex Burkart is more understanding than any teacher I have ever met. He is intent on treating us like human beings, and we are able to respect him while also treating him like a friend or someone we can trust,” junior Jen Failinger said.

Burkart has already created amazing relationships with all the students during rehearsals, acting classes, and he helps prepare students for college auditions. While he continues to influence students within the theatre program day by day, he also puts focus on what he can do for each individual student to succeed as well.

“I’m excited for what the students are about to reveal to everybody here and to be able to see what they can create is going to be awesome,” Burkart said.

Q&A

NOBLE 5TH AND THE CONFIDENCE

BY GRACIE LORDI Editor-in-Chief

How did your band start?

Ethan Rossi: We started in eighth grade, and I just kind of got the idea to make a band. I knew Joe played bass, and Theo played drums, so I was like, let’s make a band.

venues around town, just because of the age limit. We like to apply to little music festivals or anywhere we can.

How do you distribute your music and what platforms do you use?

Fogler: We use a service called Describe what a DistroKid. Basinormal rehearsal cally, it releases or practice looks our music to evlike for you. ery store imagJeremy Kramer: inable, includThe thing about it ing eBay music. is we’re as much JAMMIN’ OUT: juniors Jeremy Kramer, Ethan Rossi, Joe Fogler, and Cedric Loher Then we just bandmates as we are ‘19 perform for Creek’s homecoming festival on Sept. 20. While they like perform- got promoted best friends. So the through Instaing in front of crowds, their “favorite pastime used to be watching Phineas and Ferb gram. And the dynamic plays a role.

There’s definitely a lot and going to Safeway and buying Gushers.” school plays a big Kramer: I feel a lot a very head. So we just kind of threw of screwing around. part in our adWe’re just brothers, but we just we strong emotions and I tend to that together. Funnily enough, vertising. It’s just really helpful run through our sets, we write, live for the these concepts of it’s my favorite song to play. to have such a big school, such we’ll record. It’s a lot of conver- growing up. Sometimes they’re But the lyrics are actually about a big community. A lot of peosations about anything. It’s a true, sometimes they’re not. Jeremy and me. We were at a ple, at least some of them are gogood way to spend our Sundays. It’s not like an objective thing party, I got a bit carried away, ing to be interested in the band. that everyone can understand. putting it nicely, and he was just So it’s really nice to have that.

What does your songwriting But when I write all this stuff like, in this state of isolation, down, it’s the only representa- because when you’re at a party, Where do you hope to see your process look like?

Rossi: So, usually what happens tion of these intense emotions. and everyone else is just on this band in the future? is one of us thinks of a riff or I’m really down on myself a lot other realm, and you’re still kind Fogler: There’s this band we kind something, and then we throw of the time. And I don’t excel at of on Earth, it’s a weird feeling. of all look up too, Hippo Campus. that away. And then our lead gui- anything, and I’m not passionate They’re not world famous, but tarist comes up with the cool riff. about stuff, but this is the only In terms of performances, what they play shows every night. have you guys done so far?

And then we just follow along thing. It’s kind of all I’ve got.

And I think that’s what we Joe Fogler: There’s acKramer: We played at Her- want. I don’t want to be world with that. And then we keep playing it incrementally over and tually a song about me. man’s Hideaway about a year famous. I think that’s kind over and over again. Well, Jere- So it’s called “Rose Head.” The ago. That was pretty surreal. of hell. But just having a fan my writes these beautiful lyrics. name comes from one of our What sucks is, no matter what base, having people look up to friends who helped us - her platform, we’re all under 18. you, I think that’s our dream.

Do you want to tell me a little middle name is Rose - and Well, not all of us but that plays PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI her last name is German for a huge part. It’s hard to play big about how you write lyrics?

Fall 2019

A Glimpse of a Creek Party

BY JONATHAN YOON Sports Editor

This is a fictionalized narrative that is accompanied by comments from Creek students that describe what a typical party may look like.

All students’ names have been changed to protect their anonymity*

10:40

3:05 p.m.: Friday afternoon,

10:45 p.m.: The music starts playing. The song is “Circles” by

you receive a message. A girl from your math class invited you over to her party later this afternoon. .

8:30 p.m.: You find an outfit to wear, but now you start

getting nervous. You’ve never drunk alcohol nor gone to a party.

“Being my first party ever, I’m wearing a typical polo shirt and jeans. I brought a draw-string backpack equipped with a water bottle that’s full of vodka that I stole from my parents,” sophomore Zach Lewis* said.

9:00 p.m.: There’s no backing out now. You

end up showing up a little earlier than expected.

“My parents were too excited about this and insisted on dropping off my friend and me at 9 p.m. We helped out preparing stuff. It felt like we were the hosts or a catering company,” Lewis* said.

9:45 p.m.: Patiently waiting as you look at your

phone, the first doorbell rings. Then the second one. The doorbell continues to ring throughout the night making the host decide to unlock the door.

“One after another, people show up. As a guest of the party you just start wondering where all these people are coming from,” senior Carlie Smith* said.

10:30 p.m.: The party has officially begun. The

house starts to get a noisy as everyone starts socializing with one another. People start asking for drinks and look for their favorite beverages.

“At the beginning of the party, people typically called dibs on their beverage whether it was punch spiked with vodka or beer,” senior Andrew Lee* said.

10 | Student Life

p.m.: More and more people walk through the door, with everyone bringing their own drinks.

“I obviously can’t provide liquor for everyone, but I do inform everyone that they have to bring their own drinks. It relieves the stress for me and probably every party host,” Smith* said.

Post Malone. Everyone is singing along. The DJ, receives song requests left and right. The music queue is all set, and the games begin.

“Beer pong is a fun game, but it can get a little repetitive sometimes. It’s the most common thing you’ll see at a party nowadays,” junior Luke Rivera* said.

10:45 p.m.: You see people starting to place cups down in an ar-

row formation on two tables. It’s your turn to play. You ask if someone else can drink for you, but then people start teasing you.

“I’ve definitely felt peer pressured before. I am a victim of drinking under peer pressure, and let me tell you, the aftermath was not good,” Lee* said. “I’m never trying that again.”

11:30 p.m.: The smell of alcohol reeks

in the air. The host amps up the volume of the song, but the genre of the song is totally different. The song changes to “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. Everyone pours their hearts out to the song and sings in unison.

“The main floor consisted of a ‘strip club.’ Girls barely had clothes and were dancing on tables and even guys at this point,” senior Dane Anthony* said.

12:00 a.m.: You get thirsty and pick up what

you think is water and start drinking. It isn’t water. You gag and run away, looking to wash your mouth with water from the sink. You open the door closest to you, but it isn’t a bathroom by a longshot. It’s a bedroom with a couple making out. You don’t see everything, but you do notice the clothes on the ground as you quickly run away.

“There are a lot of hook-ups,” senior Mckenzie Gray* said. “It kind of makes me think whether people come for alcohol or to make out.”

12:20 a.m: You eventually find the hidden bathroom, and

you wash out your mouth. All this chaos makes you feel suffocated and nauseous. You go outside and see a group smoking.

“It smells weird, and as a non-smoker, you quickly diverge from the situation,” junior Jason Brown* said.

12:20

a.m.:

You start wondering why they’re smoking weed, so you ask someone about it.

“It makes me feel relaxed. You don’t have to think about school, problems at home, anything that stresses you out. Your mind becomes free,” senior Jack Wiggins* said.

12:30 a.m.: You see someone lying down on the couch.,

and you nudge him to make sure he’s okay. A friend of his tells you he just drank more than usual and that he’ll be alright. He begins to mention that this isn’t even close to being one of the worst things to happen at a party.

“The craziest thing that I have ever witnessed is a student getting sent to the hospital to get their stomach pumped.

Honestly, no one wants to see a friend go through that.

We should all be looking out for each other,” Rivera* said.

12:35 a.m.: You go looking for your friend concerned about his well-being.

“We have to look out for each other,” Johnson* said. “We become like a family, make sure everyone is doing okay.”

62% 39%

OF Teens Have reported drinking in the past year OF Teens Have reported drinking in the past 30 Days

SOURCE: US NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH

12:45 a.m.: You stumble left to right and feel

like vomiting.

You worry about tomorrow.

“I don’t remember the lows of the party, but hangovers the next day are the worst. It’s worse than feeling sick. Some people don’t get hungover which sounds like a magic power to me, but it’s one of the reasons why I don’t drink often,” senior Adam Cooper* said.

12:50 a.m.: You want to call your mom to pick you up,

but then you realize that you don’t want her to find out that you were drinking. You don’t even want to know what the punishment would be. At the same time, you don’t want to be here anymore. You call her and ask her to get you.

“I told her the truth. Lying wasn’ t going to get me anywhere.

I’m pretty sure it was obvious that I was drunk,” Cooper* said.

1:00 a.m.: She finally arrives, and her expression says everything. She keeps asking you aggressive questions, but you weren’t sure what to say. At some point, you can’t hear her. Her voice became distant and you start to get drowsy. You fall asleep on your own shoulder.

“I want my parents to understand me in that perspective. It’s not that I want to be an alcoholic or a drug addict.

It’s just my personal way of blowing off steam,” Gray* said.

1:30 a.m.: You wake up, and you’re back at home with your mom staring back at you waiting for an explanation.

You tell her everything that happened. How that girl invited you to come, how the party was too loud and chaotic, how the majority of the people were underage, but in the end, you just wanted to get to talk to new people.

“Partying isn’t just about drugs and alcohol. It’s about having a great time with the people you know.” Johnson* said.

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY FAITH MCCURDY

Fall 2019

VSCO GIRLS

BY FAITH MCCURDY & HANNAH EDELHEIT Student Life, Design Editor & Web Editor

“ 12 | Student Life

I think that [VSCO girls] are the new basic girl things. People don’t mean to group others together. It’s just the big trends right now.

-junior Jacob Topalian

“

PHOTO & PHOTOILLUSTRATION BY FAITH MCCURDY

Scrunchies, Hydro Flasks, and puka shell necklaces all have one thing in common: they’re all distinct possessions of the trademark VSCO girl.

VSCO girls are becoming the new trend of the aesthetic age. They are taking over popular social media apps like TikTok and Instagram with their filtered photos of food and friends.

The term ‘VSCO’ comes from the VSCO app, which is a mobile photography app used to edit and post pictures using their select tools and filters.

A lot of girls have picked up this trend off of social media.

“Nowadays with VSCO, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, you are giving the chance for regular people to have an influence on fashion,” fashion and culinary arts teacher Katie Vasquez said.

“That’s what the world is coming to now. Instead of the designers influencing fashion, it’s just regular people.”

With the growing use of these social media sites, teenagers have been exposed to different aesthetics, and many choose one to base their own style on.

Since the aesthetic is more simplistic, it’s easier to recreate and blend into a more personal style. The VSCO style has been adopted and seen as the ‘go-to aesthetic.’

“I think that [VSCO girls] are the new basic girl things. People don’t mean to group others together. it’s just the big trend right now,” junior Jacob Topalian said. “I don’t think it should be taken negatively. That’s just this high school’s culture.”

Due to its popularity, there are some negative connotations associated with the VSCO girl aesthetic. Popular apps like TikTok are filled with memes about the way VSCO girls talk, act, and dress.

The VSCO lifestyle is usually considered a joke.

“Some people genuinely like to dress like VSCO

girls, but most people dress like them to make fun of them,” freshman Taylor Williamson said.

In society, there is a judgmental outlook placed on women surrounding how they physically display themselves, and VSCO girls are no exception.

Since many girls share aspects of a VSCO girl, they are often grouped together due to the fact that they dress similarly. This can make many girls feel judged and pressured for their appearances.

“I have a Hydro Flask and I wear big tee shirts, but it’s overrated. I feel like I have the essence of a VSCO girl, but I’m not one of them. I think I would get made fun of if I was one of them,” Williamson said.

With many people sharing the same ‘essence’ of a VSCO girl, it has become the huge trend. This has created a hype culture surrounding the aspects of a VSCO girl. Creek’s large population feeds into this by elevating the opportunity for smaller trends to easily spread.

“Kids see that there’s a smaller trend, and they want to grab it when they can because they want a sense of originality. Then it tends to spread when many people dress like that in one place,” Vasquez said.

The image of being a VSCO girl is ruling over Creek along with many other social media platforms, but this is something that could easily change when something more interesting pops up.

Conformity is a possible negative side effect of living in this day and age where society’s pop culture can determine how people can live their lives.

“It’s hard for high school girls to stand out and to be their own person. You don’t know who you are in high school, and everyone’s trying to discover who they are as well,” Vasquez said.

Fall 2019

1 STS CREEK’S

BY SEUNG LEE

Photography Editor

One person can make all the difference in the world to you. The first friend you make can keep you strong through the hardships of high school, and the first teacher whom you feel a strong connection with can inspire what career you want to pursue for the rest of your life. Creek students and teachers share the memories they have of their “firsts.”

Can you tell me some memories about your first friend or the person you first connected with at Creek?

“My first friend was this girl named Ashley. She came up to me in history class, and she was super sweet.

I knew I always wanted to be her friend because she was always really nice to other people. When she started talking to me, we just clicked really fast: our humors matched, we always laughed together, and she’s now one of my best friends.”

- senior Saskia Angelov

“My first friend at Creek was Mark Goldsberry. He’s the head golf coach here, and I inquired about joining the golf staff. He was kind enough to welcome me, and we’ve been close ever since.”

- Dustin Neel, science teacher Can you tell me some memories about the first student(s) that you really connected with at Creek?

“His name was Corbin Potter. He was in my math class, and we ended up exchanging Xbox names. We just played and we got really close because of video games.”

- junior Tulga Javkhlan

Can you tell me some memories about the first teacher that you really connected with at Creek?

“My English teacher Ms. [Emily] Dunlop. I found a really good connection with her. She was just really nice and supportive, and she really helped me through English when it was hard. I wouldn’t really come in or anything like that, but whenever I would struggle in class like if I was writing an essay, then she would help me.

She did a really good job.”

- sophomore Sophia Montgomery “Mr. [Matt] Gustafson. He was my freshman English teacher for honors, and he’s my Creative Writing teacher this year. That was the first teacher I feel like I made a connection with because it was easy to joke around with him, but also I could be serious with him.

It stayed like that for all four years.”

- senior Ulviyya Sadigova

“I had a group my first year here who were in my classroom for my first four years of teaching here. Now four of them are working in the industry in LA. One of them works on all the Marvel movies. One of them is in the camera department for the Damien Chazelle movies, so she worked on La La Land, First Man, and all these other films. She’s worked for Tarantino and Michael Bay. There’s another who’s an editor who works a 9-to-5 job, but he edits for TV shows. There’s another one who does cinematography for a YouTube channel. These kids come back to visit their folks here, but they’ll come back to talk to my classes about what it’s like working in the industry. I’ll never forget that. That class was during my first year here, and they were freshmen. Now they’re doing all this incredible work in the industry.”

- David Gamelin, video production teacher “When I first started at Creek, I was teaching different levels of French. I feel like the students I connected with the most quickly were the level one students because they hadn’t had previous French teachers, so they were just more open to me and my style and getting to know me. It was their first experience in French and my first experience at Creek, so I felt like we were able to make connections and have class jokes a lot more quickly than with other students. I don’t want to say the other students were wary of me at first, but they didn’t know what to expect. Maybe they missed their teacher from last year, so it took a little bit longer to build the relationship.”

- Angela Moreen, French teacher “I connected really well with my eighth period Accelerated Algebra class last year because they would take my mind off of how bad my seventh period Algebra 1 class was an hour before. I always felt like I ended on a good note. I feel like I connected with most of the kids in that class because we talked about things other than math, and we had relationships outside me assigning them homework every night.”

- Clint Evans, math teacher PHOTOS BY SEUNG LEE

The youth take charge in the climate battle

“

We, as young people, are tired of being constantly betrayed by those who are supposed to work for our greater good,” said Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old climate activist, at a climate strike on Oct. 11 in Civic Center Park. “Someone needs to do something, and that someone could be me, it could be you, or anyone. You don’t have to wait for someone else to do something. No one is too small to make a difference.”

”

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

A Rising demand For chang

BY GRACIE LORDI Editor-in-Chief

“Let’s understand that the effects that we’re going to see are not necessarily the effects that we in Greenwood Village are going to feel. If we start experiencing increased periods of drought or increased periods of really high temperatures, we can turn on the sprinklers, we canw turn on the faucet.

A drought in Colorado is never going to decrease our ability to fill a swimming pool or to take a shower. An increase in temperature in Greenwood Village is never going to make us feel uncomfortable because we can turn up the air conditioning. But PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFFERY BOYCE in the poorest places, in the places where the people have less responsibility or culpability for increasing climate change, those are the people that are going to be most negatively impacted. People in rural Uganda who have not been contributing to climate change are going to be the ones that experienced those same things, those same increased variabilities and increased intensity of weather events. They’re the ones that are going to feel the brunt of it. Because if it gets hotter in Uganda, there is no air conditioning. If there’s drought in Uganda, then crops wither and die and people starve.”

-science teacher Jeffery Boyce pictured above installing solar panels in Nyaka, Uganda.

“We’ve tried so many things: recycling, composting, we tried to do a sustainability report for the school. It’s been very very difficult to get anything done.

Just because there’s no open ears, everyone is not wanting to hear about why we should be sustainable. So, it’s definitely been an uphill battle to get people to think about it. I think a sustainability team for Creek would be amazing - adult and student led.”

YOUTH PROTEST: On Friday Sept. 20, ove over the world are skipping school in order t Sage Cramer, Oli Gillespie, Frances Healy, G

“Our generation is the one who has to face the bigg and I’m tired of adults that don’t have to live thro action just because they don’t care about ou

-senior Riley Weeks President of the Ecological Action club

-senior Grace Campbell

WHAT IF WE HAD SOLAR PANELS? IF Creek spends

$60,000 $3,000,000 /month on electricity.

16 | Features

we spend

on solar panels

NOW

it would take

50

months for the solar panels pay for themselvess

nge

102%

Increase in carbon emissions in Denver since 1990

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

20, over 7,500 people participated in the Denver Strike on Capitol Hill. Students all n order to fight for environmentally sustainable policy change. (From left) Creek seniors Healy, Grace Campbell, Aidan Patrick, and Riley Weeks missed school to attend.

e the biggest consequences live through it not taking e about our future.”

pbell

2

o

Temperature increase in Denver since 1990

“Imagination is a wonderful thing. But it’s only a wonderful thing if you couple imagination with action.

And action is the most important thing we can do to change the world.”

220

-Jeffrey Boyce

lbs of plastic per person per year

THEN Creek could save

$15,000,000

Over the next

25

years

over

20

25

metric tons of co2 per person every year

years

Fall 2019

Godzilla King of the Movies

BY JANE MCCAULEY PHOTOS BY SEUNG LEE

News Editor

Waking up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning meant one thing for my brother and me as kids: it was time to watch Godzilla movies for as long as possible before something much scarier than monsters woke up - our parents.

We would sneak past our parent’s bedroom, down the stairs, and hunt for the remote that was hidden from us. Then, we would put in the disks for the old Godzilla movies from the 1960s.

When you watch the older versions now, all you can see is bad acting and men in rubber costumes stumbling around in front of a blue screen. But to a six and nine year old, it was monsters destroying a city with screaming people that was as real as any other action movie.

The original Godzilla (Gojira) movie was released in 1954 and was directed

by Japanese film director Ishiro Honda.

The idea behind the film series was that Godzilla would be an allegory to American nuclear weapons in Japan during World War II. Inspired by the lasting effects of nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japanese directors gave birth to the original Godzilla movies.

After being woken up from the depths of the ocean by bombs, Godzilla, a giant dinosaur-like monster with nuclear powers, comes

to shore and reigns terror on Japanese cities.

This was the idea that would spark not necessarily a love for the Godzilla franchise as a whole, but a love for the way old Japanese movies were produced.

Most movies include long fight scenes with Godzilla stomping on people, setting fire to entire cities, and even fighting other monsters like Mothra and King Ghidora.

These scenes were our favorite.

It was a combination of the robotic roars, the awkward fighting between the actors in overly large costumes, and wide frames with many people screaming and running down the streets of the city that created this nostalgic feeling. Plus, the black-and-white cinematography was a classic bonus.

But most of all, the iconic Godzilla roar is what still makes us laugh every time we hear it. The infamous sound was actually created by a coated leather glove moving across the strings of a double bass. Watching those scenes of Godzilla with the roar in the background are some of my clearest memories I have as a kid with my brother.

The movies were instant classics, and the older films themselves grossed about $2 billion. But it was more than monsters running around that made the movies so popular. It was this new, original idea on how to display the bigger meaning of the relationship between America and Japan to a new generation. Plus, the cheesy noises and monsters didn’t hurt.

Most of the older versions have that old, vintage sense to them that bring a sentimental feeling. They’re those movies that are so old and cheesy that when you watch them, you laugh at how bad it is. But in every single fight scene, the intense music, the awkward film editing, and the monster noises make you feel like you’re living in the movie. They have this power to bring you to a time when things were simpler.

The main difference in the newer versions is that the plot focuses on the people’s story and amazing digital effects that only the newer versions can provide. But it’s the older movies with just a bunch of bad costumes wrestling and falling on top of each other that make them better.

With the newest version that was released this past May with Kyle Chandler and Millie Bobbie Brown, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the same feeling resonates.

In tradition a decade later, my brother and I sat in the theater as we promised years ago that we would watch every Godzilla movie come out whether it was good or bad. I can verify that the memory we shared from watching the scene of Godzilla finally appearing was one that we still cherish.

Watching Godzilla movies is a nostalgic memory for me, and maybe spending a weekend binge-watching those old movies will be the same for you.

But to a six and nine year old, it was monsters destroying a city with screaming people that was as real as any other action movie.

18 | A&E

The respawn of

BY FAITH MCCURDY Student Life, Design Editor

M

inecraft, a game that first became popular when most of us were in elementary school has now resurfaced as one of the most played games among teenagers, according to the Washington Post.

Minecraft was first released in 2009 under the name of Cave Game, but this version was further improved upon to create Minecraft Beta which was released in 2010. The rising popularity surrounding this game peaked in July 2013 with the sale of tickets for Minecon 2013.

Since then, the popularity revolving around the game slowly decreased, reaching its low in Oct. 2018. This quickly changed a year later as Minecraft now has over 112 million players as of Sep. 16, 2019, the highest number of players in its history, according to Forbes.

While the popularity has increased overall, the reason for the sudden spike is thought to be due to social media websites such as Instagram and TikTok, which allowed for memes to be shared about games like Minecraft.

“I’ve seen a lot of memes about people playing [Minecraft],” junior TJ Sheu said. “I think a lot of people realized that it’s actually a really great game, and they just pretended like it wasn’t.”

Minecraft memes have been around since the game was first released, spreading across Tumblr and Reddit.

But now, with more popular sites such as TikTok and Instagram, many more people are seeing these jokes. Minecraft has now not only been given a platform as a joke, but many are also starting to genuinely like the game.

“Everyone thought it was crazy to like or play Minecraft, but then people started actually playing it and they got over the ironic playing,” junior Ian Liaw said.

The recent popularity surrounding Minecraft has not only been seen in the increased amount of posts on social media but also on multiple different platforms.

Ranking 2nd on Genius’ Most Popular Songs of September is a Minecraft parody song of Usher’s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” called “Revenge”

by Jordan Maron, a gaming Youtuber

Of 157 students polled

As of Sep. 16, 2019, Minecraft

53% said they play Minecraft

has over 112 million players,

47% said they didn’t.

the most players it has ever had, according to Forbes.

more commonly known as CaptainSparklez.

Similarly, many Youtubers base their entire channel and career around Minecraft gaming videos, which has also created a large platform for Minecraft fans to interact with each other.

With the rise in popularity, many new people have been joining the Minecraft world, and people have become more connected through the game.

“It’s a great way for people to connect with their friends,” Liaw said.

“Actually, it’s best when you can play it with friends.”

Even with the appeal brought in by social media, it’s the game itself that keeps people playing.

The overall popularity surrounding Minecraft has increased, but a large factor in the admiration surrounding the game is due to the dedicated fans that continue to return.

“I’ve played the game ever since I was younger. Since I played it then, it feels nostalgic when I get to go back and relive the past,” Sheu said.

“I walk down the halls and listen to Minecraft song parodies every day. I love Minecraft songs.”

-senior Jasmine Fitt

Fall 2019

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas 2. Bring It On 3. The Emperor’s New Groove 4. Charlie’s Angels 5. Scary Movie 6. Gladiator 7. X-Men 8. Mission: Impossible II 9. Miss Congeniality 10. Dora the Explorer 11. Camera phones 12. Lil Pump 13. Willow Smith 14. “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC 15. “Oops... I Did It again” by Britney Spears 16. “The Real Slim Shady” by Eminem 17. “Breathe” by Faith Hill 18. “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child 19. “All the Small things”

by Blink-182 20. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 20 | A&E

BY SEUNG LEE Photography Editor

How the Grinch Stole Christmas With its heartwarming plot and hilarious one-liners, this movie is undoubtedly a family favorite and something a lot of kids in our generation hold in a special place in their hearts.

This movie is a classic holiday film with an opening song that everyone recognizes and Jim Carrey playing an iconic character. The popularity and the prominence even sparked a modern remake last year.

Camera Phones

Before Snapchat, Instagram, and even MySpace, the camera phone was invented. Camera phones made taking pictures unbelievably easy and much more accessible for everyone. Photos used to be taken on special occasions and preserved in photobooks for years, but now, thanks to the camera phone, photos can be taken on a regular basis.

SOURCE: FLICKR

“Oops... I Did It Again” by Britney Spears Britney Spears was one of the biggest pop inspirations of the 90s and early 2000s, setting fashion trends and captivating the world with her iconic songs. Despite this song being released before even the seniors being born, practically everyone still knows the lyrics.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire The Harry Potter series was and still is one of the most influential pieces of our generation, with the children’s book market rising and dropping with the release of each book.

Through seven books, eight movies, and a few amusement parks, Harry Potter has captivated countless people. With its magical world that millions fantasized about being a part of, it has started a new wave of young adult books in mainstream media.

What’s your favorite scary movie?

BY SEUNG LEE & COLE PATERSON Photography Editor & Staff Writer

80s

Poltergeist - 1982 This movie was extremely successful, being the highest-grossing horror film of 1982 thanks to its highly acclaimed acting and consistently thrilling scenes. The movie set a new standard for the staple horror genre by creating moments that remain horrifying nearly 40 years after its release.

The Shining - 1980 This film is considered a token classic of the horror genre with scenes that managed to frighten all viewers. Many moments from this movie are still reflected in pop culture such as the twins in the hallway and the iconic line, “Here’s Johnny!”

Scream- 1996 This movie was highly praised for being the first to include characters who were aware of horror movies and openly made attempts to go against the typical slasher gore and horror movie clichés.

The movie was credited for reviving the dying horror genre.

Event Horizon - 1997 This film takes a different approach to horror by straying away from the cliché demons and serial killers and instead focusing on the unknown world of outer space. This movie accumulated a huge cult following, and many of the scenes are still referenced in other works.

90s

00s

Paranormal Activity - 2009 This film is the most profitable movie ever made and was received with positive reviews. The director’s approach to filming through security cameras rather than traditional cinematography made the movie unique.

Saw - 2004 Saw became one of the most terrifying movies because of its disturbingly gory scenes and intense plot. The scariest aspect of the film was how the villian wasn’t revealed until the very end, leaving the viewer suspicious throughout the entire movie.

A Quiet Place 2018 This movie brought horror to a new level because the scares were delivered through what wasn’t said. With a new approach to horror movies, film critics gave high praise, and the film became a box office hit.

IT Chapter 1 - 2017 This film captured the mainstream media’s attention with its cinematography, becoming the highest-grossing horror film of all time. Countless people called It the best Stephen King adaptation.

10s

“A Quiet Place because it’s not nightmare-inducing, but it’s still creepy.”

- sophomore Amanda Joseph

“It Chapter 1 is a good movie. It’s fun to watch. Plus, it’s really long so I can waste time while watching it.”

- sophomore Miranda Joyce

“I would have to say The Sixth Sense. It’s not like a horror movie, but it was just so suspenseful and thrilling that I had chills the whole time.”

- junior Autumn Silva

“The Nightmare Before Christmas because of Tim Burton. I like how it’s all stop-motion, and also the songs are amazing.”

- sophomore Ashleigh Bishop

“I think It [both movies] because of the book, and I really like Stephen King.”

- junior Ellie Northcott

“The Conjuring because the demons are terrifying.”

- sophomore Lily Osborne

“Coraline because I think it’s so scary to the point that I don’t like to watch it alone.”

- sophomore Bella Bennett Fall 2019

Holding up #25:

How Seamus Henderson’s injury changed not only his story but his team’s

BY GRACIE LORDI Editor-in-Chief

11

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

Devastating. A gut shot. That’s how Coach Dave Logan described senior Seamus Henderson’s ACL injury.

Last year, Henderson was a key component to the varsity football team’s rise to the state championship.

As the starting running back, he totaled 752 yards and 8 touchdowns last year.

This year, the team expects to rise back to the top and take back the title they lost to Valor, and Henderson was supposed to be a big part of that.

“It’s redemption season,” senior captain Carson Lee said. “A lot of people have a lot of doubts about us, and we lost a lot. But I think we’re just as good or even better than we were last year. It’s going to be a show a lot of people are going to want to see.”

Henderson was out for the majority of summer training after sustaining a hip injury in mid-June. As he continued to strengthen his hip, he was ready to jump back into practicing with the team again.

“I was feeling very fresh and very excited,” Henderson said. “It was the first time I’ve actually hit someone since last year’s championship.”

In a practice against the scout team, Henderson took the ball and ran 10 yards before the play was done. According to what people told him, his leg got stuck in a ditch in the field. At that moment everything was fine and the play had ended, but then one of his defensive teammates tackled him after the fact, what Henderson referred to as a cheap shot.

“So my knee was simultaneously caught in the ditch as I got hit,” he said.

Despite feeling a lot of pain, Henderson believed it was just a hyper extension and continued on placing more stress on the torn ligament.

“I didn’t want to get hurt again, and I’m not sure if this helped the injury, but I started running and I was like ‘I’m fine coach, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it,’” he said. “But I knew something was wrong. Every 10th step, my knee started to buckle.”

With this, the team knew they were going to have to do without him on their journey back to the championship.

“It’s devastating to him and to us to lose him like this before he even has a chance to play a game,” Logan said.

Henderson’s story took the stage as the Denver Post and other local news outlets reported on the rough conditions of the Campus Middle School fields, where the football teams practice.

Rumors had spread that he and his family were potentially filing a lawsuit against the school district for the field conditions. Henderson extinguished the rumors.

“No. That was just funny talk. That wasn’t true at all. I wish we did, because that field, a lot of people say it’s good, but the people that say it’s good don’t have to play on that field every single day,” he said.

He describes them as consistently uneven, and as players run on what looks to be solid, flat ground, they begin to feel unbalanced.

“I think they have to take into consideration that

we’re on that field 24/7, right? Everyday. That field is really hard especially to be tackling on and cutting on and there are a lot of dips,” he said. “It’s not good at all for playing well.”

Despite dissipating rumors, the issue of the fields remained and was brought to the forefront of local news.

In interviews with the Denver Post and other local outlets, Logan refused to comment on the state of the fields.

However, he reasoned that the movement from the Campus Middle School fields to the Belleview Elementary fields was to ensure the safety of his team.

“One of my jobs as head coach is to make certain my players are put in situations that are as safe as they can possibly be.”

A prominent aspect of a senior injury is the mental stress it places on player. Henderson will have to re-evaluate his approach to college.

Senior year is a key period where players are scouted by colleges and given offers to play at the collegiate level. Because of Henderson’s 1-year recovery he won’t be able to play through this time of scouting nor will he be able to participate in football his freshman year of college.

“I have to continue forward,” he said. “I’ll be able to play college football sophomore year because it’s a year-long recovery. If I don’t go to Mines, I will probably walk on to three schools. I have three schools in mind.”

Logan has a strong belief that Henderson will be able to play at the collegiate level.

“Seamus is a smart young man who has worked hard in the classroom, but my hope is that he’ll be able to bounce back, fully recover, and have a good college career,” Logan said.

Despite having a firm idea of how he will continue on, one thing that’s tough for Henderson to rotate is his mindset.

“It is hard,” Henderson said. “Colleges would come to me and talk to me instead of me having to seek out colleges.”

The stress of a major injury can be hard, however Henderson isn’t a fan of sympathy or pity.

“I get annoyed when people say ‘keep your head up’ because I hear that 1,000 times, right?” he said. “I don’t want a lot of sympathy.”

Henderson has his teammates whom he describes as consistently supportive of him by repping his jersey number, 25. According to Henderson, they wear 25 under their jerseys and hold up the number in the end zone after touchdowns.

Logan believes Henderson has handled the stress well.

“He has kept his spirits up and is in a good frame of mind. He’s a mentally tough kid,” Logan said.

For Henderson, however, maintaining those spirits is a lot harder than it looks.

“That’s on the outside. Outside it looks good, but inside it’s a little tough,” he said.

Fall 2019

Cheer and poms prepare for a new era PHOTO BY FAITH MCCURDY

ALL SMILES: Senior Ande Westerhausen (right) and the Varsity Poms performed at the Homecoming Pep Rally on Sept. 20. The varsity and JV poms teams all have new coaches this season as does varsity Cheer.

BY BRE MENNENOH A&E Editor

One of the most drastic changes in recent Creek cheer history happened this past June. The varsity and JV poms coaches and varsity cheer coaches walked off the campus.

The poms and cheer girls preferred not giving a statement about their coaches leaving.

Athletic Director Jason Wilkins said that he was not aware of any issues arising from the cheer team, but he understands why coaches resign.

“It’s a ton of work with not a ton of pay,” Wilkins said. “[It’s] very hard because they have a real-life job. It gets to the point where they’re like, ‘I’m just not going to do this anymore.’”

Captain of the varsity cheer team senior Natalie Whife did say that there might be more to the story than that.

“Our two assistant coaches resigned because they [only] wanted to be under our head coach,” Whife said.

“The head coach was dismissed [and] the JV coach resigned,” Silva said, confirming in an email what actually happened with the coaches.

Both levels had no assistants who could step up and assume the head coach position. Because of this, the cheer team introduced a new head coach, Scott Natress, on Aug. 26 through an Instagram CCSN live stream where Natress spoke on his philosophy of cheerleading.

“We will only be good at cheerleading if we are good at cheerleading,” Natress said.

Natress has many years of experience, such as being a college level coach for 13 years, and judging for the Universal Cheerleading Association at the college national level.

That following week, three varsity cheer coaches resigned, two of whom were assistant coaches.

The girls are sad that their coaches have left but are also extremely excited for the new coaches and for what lies ahead for this upcoming season.

24 | Sports

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Cross country prepares for a comeback

BY TORI MIRANDA Staff Writer

Cross country is a sport that teaches students to challenge themselves, their teammates, and other athletes from all around the state. Many students at Creek participate in this sport, making it one of the largest sports teams at the school.

With around 110 girls and 70 boys, Creek has the largest high school cross country team in Colorado. The team is split into 3 training groups: the A team, B team, and C team.

“Each training group has students with similar abilities so that they can all get the opportunity to train and get better,” head coach and science teacher Ethan Dusto said.

The team has shown high expectations for this season. Since not making state last season for the first time in several years, the boys’ side of the cross country team has been hard at work.

The team views state as more of a reward. In previous years, the team hadn’t thought much about having to work towards making state because they were used to going. Now, the team knows that state isn’t something handed to them, and it is a goal they have to work

towards.

“It has reminded people that it’s not something you can take for granted. I’ve seen that on our boys’ side they’ve been training harder and that they have a more tangible goal.

Whereas in years past, it was kind of like, ‘well we know we are going to go to state’,” Dusto said.

Not making state last year hit the team hard. Both the coaches and athletes realize what they need to work on individually and as a team to prevent the same tragedy that occurred last year.

“The coaches have definitely been harder on us, and we’ve been harder on ourselves,” captain Nick Most said.

The boys’ side of the team hasn’t been the only one working hard with the goal of state in mind. The girls plan on making and performing well at state.

“The girl’s team hopes to get first or second at state. We have pretty ambitious goals,” senior team captain Cissy Lapporte said.

The team’s performance at the regional meet in October will determine if both the boys and

girls will go to state. The team’s work ethic and positive attitude put them in a good direction of reaching their goals.

However, training has not been the team’s only focus. This year more so than others, the team has had a strong focus on getting to know each other and becoming a close-knit team.

“We’re just focusing more on community,” Bella Chaves, senior team captain, said. “We’re feeling like more of a full team.”

“Everyone’s running really well. And everyone’s really positive and having a fun time at practice,” said junior and team captain Maja Sakiewicz.

As a whole, the team is making a strong effort for improvement. They have represented Creek well and time will tell how their hard work will pay off.

PHOTO BY TORI MIRANDA

PHOTO BY TORI MIRANDA

WARM UP: Sophomore Riley Stewart participated in the traditional gazebo run in Cherry Creek State Park as an easy run before a meet.

CAPTAINS: Senior Nick Most (left) and junior Adam Parish are both on the leadership team which functions as a large group of captains.

Fall 2019

Being homeless in high school BY: DA’NAZJAH DORSEY Staff Writer

You sigh, looking the text over once more before slamming your phone back down on the desk. “Dede, are you okay? Where’d my hug go?” You smile, shaking your head, “Oh, it’s nothing, just some home issues.”

Then you go quiet for the rest of the class, sticking in your earbud, trying not to cry out of frustration from self-pity.

“Lost the apartment again. We’re going back to the extended stay in a few days,” the text read.

This is the moment I never imagined having to dread, but starting my sophomore year and lasting throughout my whole high school career at Creek, it became the common reality for my family.

There are trials and tribulations that stem from having to live like this as a teen, since being homeless isn’t a fact my mother is too keen on sharing about us, but there are things that I wouldn’t give up about my life or situation for the all the riches and comfort in the world.

I come from a single, black, strong independent mother, one older sister, who occasionally lives with us, and two younger brothers in middle and high school who also attends Creek.

We started off with a condo with over 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms in San Diego, California. Then we later moved to Mississippi, where we had housing that was more than nice, before we moved on to Englewood, CO, in an apartment with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

There was financial strain from our very first day in Colorado, the actual move here was funded by money from some of my mother’s tax return that she had saved up in anticipation for the move months, almost a year prior. We struggled to even make a down payment on the apartment, and our estranged deadbeat fathers very rarely contributed to our living costs at all.

Being at Creek, there are moments where it’s embarrassing to talk about the fact that I haven’t had a solid home to go to after school for the three years I have been in a population of rich privileged kids, but I haven’t ever once been envious of my classmates.

Not having a home or a car to get around while everyone around you has multiple of both isn’t bad all the time.

Like the fact that I’m usually the only person in my group of friends that knows the ins and outs of the Colorado RTD, and I usually seem more mature than others my age due to the fact that I’ve been through a lot more than most kids.

Or even the fact that my peers and role models feel that I’m a prime candidate to advise them on important life-making decisions, and that’s something I would never take advantage of or for granted.

There are definitely times where the gravity of my living situation causes strain on me and my performance in school as a teenager who works two jobs and has to use a P.O. box or a temporary address of whatever hotel or Extended Stay we’re at for that month on official work or school documents.

Not to mention the loud beating of my heart every time someone offers to take me home, and I can’t refuse. The anxiety that comes with a new friend or adult knowing that I don’t live in a normal place of residency usually discourages me from asking others for help with anything.

The biggest problem I have with it in my mind is that my mother works too hard to be living like this. My mother works for the Department of Labor in the solicitor’s office so she makes too much to qualify for any government assistance but not enough to support a middle schooler and two high schoolers the way she wants to.

I’ve had to hear her crying about what she thinks is her failure as a parent every night for the last year and a half when she thinks no one is there to see her do it.

Even with this setback hanging over my head, I don’t deserve whatever pity that comes to your mind after reading this about me.

I know most people who know me don’t know this fact, but everything is okay as long as I have those few of you that do care and ask how I am doing on a daily basis.

I really appreciate all the relationships Creek has provided me with, and even after my last year of high school, I will always love the teachers, students, faculty, and staff that I have met at this school. Your smiles give me the biggest strength to continue on being the crazy weirdo you guys are fond of.

It’s embarrassing to talk about the fact that I haven’t had a solid home to go to after school.

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My mother works too hard to be living like this.

Fall 2019 PHOTO BY GIOVANNI MACHADO

How music helps us get through the day

BY: CARLY PHILPOTT Staff Writer

Every time I listen to teenage star Billie Eilish’s latest album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go, I notice yet another line that mentions depression, suicide, anxiety – the list goes on. It’s not surprising. Not only does Eilish openly struggle with mental illness herself, mental illness rates in teens are rising, according to Teen Mental Health – and with less than four percent of the health care budget devoted to fixing the problem, teens have found their own ways of coping.

Recent studies have shown that more and more teens are struggling with their mental health, and that leaves many kids searching for a way to feel happier. A great deal of these teens listen to music to calm down or let go of their difficulties. Music can really help.

When lyrics are relatable or really speak to you, it can help you feel less alone or boost your confidence. When music has a calming sound, it can reduce stress.

One huge reason music can be so relatable is that many of the artists themselves

struggle with similar problems as their listeners.

A May Billboard article cited studies that found that as much as 73 percent of independent musicians may suffer from mental illness, and artists such as Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, and even Shawn Mendes have written lyrics about suicide and panic attacks, says Spinditty.

Logic’s “1-800-273-8255,” a song featuring a suicide hotline number in both its title and chorus, reached third on the US Billboard Hot 100, and led many teens to call the hotline, Billboard states. The song featured heavy lyrics such as “I just wanna die today” and “my life don’t even matter.”

It increased the daily call volume to the highest it had ever been at that point, with 4,573 calls on April 28, 2017. The more people who call the hotline, the more people they can help.

Whenever I’m stressed, my first stop is my 186-song playlist, which features music from every corner of the world. But without a doubt, listening to songs I can relate to is

most comforting. I’ve found that hearing lyrics that reflect my own life, even past my mental health, reaches me far better than what I don’t relate to or don’t understand.

For many teens, hearing what they’re going through written into songs by their favorite artists helps them in realizing that they really aren’t alone.

Additionally, seeing successful people with similar obstacles to themselves can encourage teens to keep going. But lyrics about mental health aren’t a new concept.

Musician Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide in 1994, often wrote music about depression and suicide for his band, Nirvana. Even the Beatles, who are often thought of as a relatively upbeat group, wrote songs about loneliness, depression, and getting through tough times. You may recognize a couple of them: “Eleanor Rigby,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Yesterday,” and many others. And with teenage mental illness on the rise, music that features these issues in a prominent role is becoming more important.

“LOVELY” BY: BILLIE EILISH AND KHALID

SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

“I know someday I’ll make it out of here” Known for writing songs about mental health in general, Billie Eilish’s “lovely” is one of her more intense songs. Eilish sings with Khalid about being trapped inside her own head, and trying to get away from her negative emotions.

“BROKEN” BY: LOVELYTHEBAND “I like that you’re broken, broken like me” lovelytheband’s “broken” is about finding the people around you who are overcoming the same mental obstacles. The song details a relationship between two people who are both in a dark place but find solace in each other.

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SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

“I’m John Lenno that mentio The Beatles feeling extr life, but not

“SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT” BY: ELTON JOHN

SOURCE: FLICKR

“A slip noose hanging in my darkest dreams” Throughout his life, Elton John suffered from mental illness, primarily depression. In hi 1975 hit “Someone Saved My Life Tonight John tells a true story of a time when a clos friend prevented him from committing suicide

But music doesn’t have to allude to mental health to help mental health. According to a 2013 Healthline article, music can help your overall mental state. People with various mental illnesses may listen to music to reduce their symptoms.

Not all music will help you, but finding the music that makes you feel better can serve as a kind of therapy. Psychologists even recommend this therapy as an alternate form of treatment for some patients.

Listening to music can benefit your health before you’re even born. Experts

“I’M SO TIRED” BY: THE BEATLES

“I’m so tired, I’m feeling so upset.” hn Lennon famously wrote lyrics into songs at mentioned mental health. Written for e Beatles in 1968, “I’m So Tired” talks about eling extremely stressed and worn out with e, but not being able to get a break and rest.

NIGHT”

dreams” ered from n. In his Tonight,” en a close ng suicide.

recommend pregnant mothers play music for a healthy baby. According to a 2018 article from Time, listening to music before surgery can help aid recovery.

I’ve found that relaxing music can help me feel better in almost any situation, especially when falling asleep. This goes for lyrical music especially. I’ve filled my ancient iPod nano with music I can relate to, from calming artists such as the Lumineers, Billie Eilish, Vance Joy, and the Beatles, to less calming artists who write relatably, like Imagine Dragons. It may

seem like my music choices are all over the place, but I’ve listened to this music in stressful places and when going to bed – just to calm down – and it works.

So, next time you’re feeling stressed, whether it’s about school, sports, home, or something completely different, try playing music that you can relate to, or music that helps you relax. Chances are, it will make a difference in how you feel.

ART BY MADISON SECKMAN

“ONE MORE LIGHT” BY: LINKIN PARK “Who cares if one more light goes out? Well I do” Originally about losing any loved one, Linkin Park’s “One More Light” states that while there may be many people on this planet, everyone matters to somebody.

SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

“HOW TO SAVE A LIFE” BY: THE FRAY

SOURCE: FLICKR

“I would’ve stayed up all night, how to save a life” As a commentary on the depression he saw while working with at-risk teens, lead singer Isaac Slade of The Fray wrote this song about how difficult it can be to help people struggling around you.

SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Fall 2019

Carry On:

BY: MADISON SECKMAN Staff Writer

Rainbows in the wizarding world

Magic, vampires, dragons, and a sprinkle of gay romance. Fantasy book lovers need to add Rainbow Rowell’s high-action novel Carry On to their reading list.

This novel follows the struggle of young Simon Snow, the Chosen One, who is the most powerful mage ever known.

It’s Simon’s last year at Watford School of Magicks, and he is fighting against the Insidious Humdrum while uncovering secrets of the magic world’s past.

At this point it sounds like a rip off of Harry Potter, but there are differences.

Between battles, romance, friendships, and plot-twists, Simon Snow endures a long journey of self discovery.

For a society that is becoming more accepting of the queer community, it is uncommon to find a LGBTQ+ novel that is more than a cliché romance.

Nonetheless, the gay romance is there in the background to help represent the LGBTQ+ community. It is nice to sit down and read a sappy romance novel every once in a while, but it is good to have a normalized representation of the LGBTQ+ community within the book world.

Not everything is a romantic drama.

There are many other things that make up life, and that is what this novel is all about.

In our current society, representation for various marganalized groups has been growing rapidly with the release of many loved movies and books.

As far as the books go, many people know of Love, Simon and Call Me by Your Name which were both later made into well known movies. We’ve seen lots of representation in major motion pictures such as the crowd favorites Crazy Rich Asians and Black Panther.

After Black Panther came to theaters, it was all the media talked about. The movie

30 | Opinions

has done so much for black representation in media, and has helped American society to become even more accepting of a group that receives outrageous amounts of hate.

Carry On has the potential to do the same thing for the LGBTQ+ community.

Many queer people have a hard time finding stories to connect with.

Many are not able to closely connect with characters in romantic ways when most are heterosexual, and Carry On has the possibility to be a story that many in the LGBTQ+ community can connect with.

Carry On was packed with action from start to end, and readers can easily insert themselves into Simon Snow’s life with Rowell’s outstanding use of tone and other

literary devices.

The novel acts to highlight a part of the queer community to people who may not know much about the community as a whole.

People can have a hard time understanding worlds that they are not a part of, and literature can help with that.

Movies and books with queer characters normalize the community as a whole, and for a group that is widely marganalized, it is necessary for the community to have better representation.

The plot of Carry On most closely relates to that of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde because Simon is fighting the empty, evil side of himself who takes the form of Simon at six years old. Carry On is not only a novel about a magic society, but is also a story of power and why people do not need it, which makes this novel unique.

Despite how phenomenal this novel is, there are certainly some parts that could be better. Readers never get clear answers to what happened to Simon’s mom and what caused his dad to wind up a little crazy. Also, the lack of accuracy to current day acceptance of those in the queer community may make it difficult for some LGBTQ+ readers to connect with.

The LGBTQ+ movie and book Love, Simon was more accurate in representing the day to day experiences of queer teens.

If Carry On could have done this, it would have been more benefittial in creating a conducive environment for minorities.

The sequel Wayward Son continues off of this plot line and was published in Sept. ember. Whether you are into books with amazing plots, LGBTQ+ inclusive literature, or just fantasy, Carry On is the book for you.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Stop reading the n-word out loud.

It’s all too common today to hear it whispered in the hall. Within a joke or as an insult, the slur slips around.

But in the classroom, we should never have to hear the n-word.

Much of the classic literature we read today contains the word, which has allowed it to become accepted in some classrooms.

The lines are blurred and moving as teachers define how they allow the word to be used. Some believe that because the word plays such a big role in history and carries such a big impact in literature, that it should be allowed to be said during class read-alouds. On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who believe that when the word is said, the years of violence and suffering are said along with it.

Either way, the uncomfortable silence after the word is dropped in class shows just how painful it is.

Despite the tension it causes, we don’t recommend getting rid of these books. We understand the significance of having this type of literature be part of our curriculum.

We also don’t suggest censoring the word because we understand the impact the word carries in itself.

The word was a systematic way to dehumanize black people and allow the act of slavery to continue without societal backlash. It’s a derogatory term that carries with

it the years of hatred, oppression, and ugliness of slavery and its aftermath.

In order to combat this, we believe that teachers should explicitly state that no one is allowed to say the n-word in literary pieces when reading aloud or discussing quotes.

Some of us have experienced teachers who take the steps to make all students feel included in their classrooms. When students are called on in class, however, they’re put in an awkward position where they have to make a split-second decision to say the word or remain silent.

Although, the word itself should not be said, the history and importance of the word should be discussed.

It’s also important for people to know and understand the pain and the years of oppression that comes along with it when used. Black people use the word as a way to take back the power, hurt, and hardship that was once held over the community. When non-black people outuse the word, it undermines the context of terror that it occured under.

It’s important to create a safe space for education and preserve an environment of empathy and understanding.

Eliminating the discomfort of saying the abusive word would still allow for a discussion about the weight and history while still maintaining a respectful atmosphere.

Fall 2019

FALL SNAPSHOTS

Varsity football is undefeated, starting their season 7-0 and currently ranked first in the state. Their next game is at Legacy Stadium against Cherokee Trail on Oct. 25.

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

Julian Hammond III, Junior Quarterback, Football What advice would you give the underclassman?

“I would tell them to practice every day and be ready to practice.”

Hailey Hall, Amelia Harvey, Sarah Schmahl, Seniors Captains, Poms What advice would you give to your teammates?

“If you work hard you can get to wherever you want to be.”

Cody Wellington, Senior Captain, Soccer What is something you want to improve as a team?

“I think just our overall consistency needs to be improved because I feel like there were some games we could’ve won, but we didn’t focus enough.”

Talia Borenstein, Senior Captain, Volleyball What message do you want to give to your team?

“I know that we can only win when we all work together.”

Braden Mayer, Junior Captain, Tennis What advice would you give the underclassman?

“I’d like to tell them to take it seriously and not only for yourself but for your teammates.”

Abbey Peters, Senior Captain, Gymnastics What are your expectations by the end of the season?

“Our goal this season is to make it to state and stay whole as a team and all work together.”

Alex Frey, Senior Captain, Softball What do you want to improve on as a team? “Probably just getting closer to the girls.

We’re pretty close already but just having a team bond helps a lot.”

Natalie Whife, Senior, Captain, Cheer What are your expectations by the end of the season?

“For us to be just happier, more loving, and like just closer.”

PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWS BY HANNAH EDELHEIT, SEUNG LEE, BRE MENNENOH