May USJ

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

Journal

May 2019

The Union St.

Vol. 4 Issue 4

GROW THROUGH WHAT YOU GO THROUGH “I hope we find a way to create that environment where we don’t have to have these conversations again. I don’t know if that’s possible in our society right now with where things are.

And that’s a struggle.

I hate that I had to say that.”

Superintendent Scott Siegfried

p.10-11

FELD & BENSON

p.4

SCHOLARSHIPS

p.6-7

NOT COLLEGE?

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SIGNED ATHLETES

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Find more stories at unionstreetjournal.com

@creekusj USE OUR QR CODES TO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM!

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

PHOTO BY SEUNG LEE

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

PHOTO BY GIOVANNI MACHADO

USJ STAFF Editor-In-Chief Gracie Lordi

Feature Editor Bitanya Haile

News Editor Jane McCauley

Illustrator Faith McCurdy

Student Life Editor Da’Nazjah Dorsey

Advisor Yoni Fine

A&E Editor Chance Hausman

Staff Writers

Opinions Editor Jacob Ginsberg-Margo

JJ Aquino

Sports Editors Giovanni Machado Web Editor Hannah Edelheit

Sara Abbey

Harper Hanson Seung Lee

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

LETTER TO THE EDITOR To the Editorial Staff of the USJI want to say “Thank You” for your honest and candid journalism this year. You ALL have covered a myriad of topics… from fun and light, to serious and sometimes controversial. In all cases, your coverage has been (in my mind) fair and professional. I can say with honesty that in my time as Activities Director, I have never been more proud of our USJ Staff, and I am eager to see what you will cover next. Congratulations on a great year. There are big things to come for this program!

Dr. Krista Keogh Activities Director

Letters to the editor. Letters to the editor are accepted and can be submitted via email to: theunionstreetjournal@gmail.com or jfine5@ cherrycreekschools.org. Letters cannot be anonymous and they may be edited for clarity.

Cole Paterson Loza Tezera

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

COVER PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

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May 2019

NEWS

Students share their stories in wake of suicides

STUDENT ACTIVISTS: Junior Aidan Allis among others in the Jack Strong Distribution group rallied Creek in a walk out in order to promote mental health awarness and advocate for an end to bullying. They did this in wake of freshman Jack Padilla’s death.

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

LEADER OF THE PACK: Principal Ryan Silva gave a speech during the assembly speaking about the importance of unity and supporting one another. He didn’t speak long because he wanted to stress the important of student voices. “What ended up being a highlight is that the student voices were so much a part of that assembly,” Silva said. “That made me nervous though, too, because some of those kids were sharing very personal things.”

PHOTO BY HANNAH EDELHEIT

BIG HUG: Just after sharing a deeply personal speech about her struggle with grief, senior Mable Miao shares an embrace with Dr. Krista Keogh. During the assembly, other students spoke about their own trials with grief and depression.

Keogh consoled all of them after they finished with a hug. “The students that went up there and spoke out about their challenges was so brave of them to do,” Senior Julie Stuckey said. “It was very inspiring as well making it known to all of Creek that that they are not alone with their struggles.”

PHOTO BY HANNAH EDELHEIT

CCIC: innovation for the future BY: JANE MCCAULEY News Editor

For some students, having the option of hands-on experience in science and technology courses is a useful skill for after high school in college, military, or the workforce which can be pushed along the way through the use of the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, or the CCIC. The principal of the CCIC, Mark Morgan, had the idea to create and build the CCIC that was inspired by Harry Bull.

“Dr. Bull was interested in enhancing the school district’s ability to create better transitions for all high school students as they prepared for high school graduation,” Morgan said.

The 2019-2020 school year is the first running school year for the CCIC. The school offers classes in advanced manufacturing, business services, health and wellness, hospitality and tourism, engineering, IT & STEAM, and transportation.

Assisstant principal Kevin Uhlig mentiones how students who still go to Creek would also visit the CCIC campus.

“You take classes there, and you’re not there full time. You would take half of your classes there, and you would come back here and take mainly your core classes,” Uhlig said.

Transportation to travel from one campus to the other can be resolved by students drivMay 2019

ing themself in or shuttle buses provided in the morning, during lunch time, and after shcool. Some students already to plan to use the CCIC to their full advantage.

“Kids have been applying, and they take a strand,” Uhlig said.

The strand that the applicants can apply for include different pathways that the CCIC can offer and provide classes for. This can include different courses in math, science, and engineering.

Another aspect that is interesting with the CCIC is the availablity of teachers focused on material specifically for these courses.

“They’ve hired some really strong teachrs from here to go there because they’re amazing at what they do,” Uhlig said.

The new addition of the CCIC to the Cherry Creek school district has created excietement due to the unique work-based learning provided.

“Students will step into learning environments that mimic industry and higher education. As a student, you’ll graduate having a better understanding of yourself and what lies ahead,” Morgan said.

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: The new Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, CCIC, is still under construction, but it will be finished and open for the 2019-2020 school year starting on August 12. Principal Mark Morgan says the purpose for creating the new CCIC was based on ideas from Harry Bull, the former superintendent. “He wanted to explore other avenues that combined college and career preparedness and success,” Morgan said. The school is geared to provide new experiences and tools for students after their high school experiences.

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NEWS

Retiring after years of devotion BY: GIOVANNI MACHADO Sports Editor

Twenty-one years teaching at Creek. In total, thirty-five years of his life dedicated to teaching. That is more time than any student at Creek has lived, and now, Samuel Feld, the English department coordinator, is retiring.

“He is a friend. He is a born teacher. He is passionate, and he is often funny,” English teacher Yael Abrahamsson said. “He is really dedicated, not only to his students, but to the world around him.”

Many of his colleagues in the English Department share similar feelings towards his retirement.

“I think he is incredibly dedicated,” said English teacher Kim Gilbert, who is going to be the new coordinator. “He really wants to support the teachers in the department. He wants to fight for us. I think that’s what he’s known probably best for. He advocates for teachers.”

Principal Ryan Silva will also have many good memories from the time Feld has taught at Creek, both from a personal and academic point of view.

“I think he’s done a wonderful job as leader of the English department,” Silva said.

“He’s had some difficult conversations that I think we’re timely. He’s open to giving criticism. At the same time, he’s also the first person who will come and tell you when he’s wrong.”

Students who had the chance to be a part of his classes, also acknowledge his passion and dedication as a teacher.

“He is a really good English teacher,” Senior Samuel Lee said. “He’s very experienced and skilled. He knows what he is doing when it comes to writing and literature.”

Feld has been the head of the English dePHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI BRAVE YET KIND: “He is really passionate about what he has to say,” Senior partment for the last six years.

Mimi Calisher said. “He is really open and honest with us about the material, and “Being the department coordinator was a the books that we are reading and his own personal views about things.” wonderful capstone to my career,” Feld said.

Samuel Feld

“I was able to mentor young new teachers, and help the hiring and shaping of the department for the future. I think I’ve become a much better teacher in the last six years.”

During all this years, Feld has worked on many personal projects involving writing, including poetry and a novel.

“It’s a symbolic novel that is inspired by my favorite novel, which is Damien by Hermann Hesse,” Feld said. “Poetry is also something that I love because you don’t have to dedicate a huge time frame to thinking about it. You can work on a poem for a couple of hours, and then it’s over.”

Gilbert feels like she has big shoes to fill.

“I hope that I’m able to kind of transition smoothly into the job, because of the time and effort he’s given me,” Gilbert said.

Feld believes that Creek is a special place, and after so much time being a part of the history of the school, is going to miss all the memories he built throughout the years.

“Creek teachers, students, and administration make this a really special place as a school,” Feld said. “It’s a place where students can be academically focused and feel proud of that. It’s not an anti-intellectual place.”

Not only the staff, but the students that were in his classes, even for a small period of time, will miss his qualities, not only as a English teacher, but as a person.

“I would like him to know how much I’ll miss him,” Abrahamsson said. “I will miss the academic conversations that we’ve had, the pedagogical conversations that we’ve had, the wisdom that he has brought to this place, and our friendship.”

Dave Benson BY: LOZA TEZERA Staff Writer Karate Kid, Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones. All of these classics were released in 1984, the same year Dave Benson joined the staff of Cherry Creek High School.

Dave Benson has dedicated 35 years to educating the students of Creek.

Since 1984, Benson has taught primarily social studies classes before becoming the head coordinator of the social studies department, (with the exception of being a librarian for a year). Although his position as coordinator can be difficult at times, it’s clear that he chooses to focus on the positives associated with the job.

“I’ve really enjoyed the last eight years being coordinator. For one thing, it means I interact a lot more with the administration,” said Benson. “That’s a real upside. There’s also some respect that goes along with it which is a perk.”

He also mentions the important and meaningful friendships acquired as well as the many memories made over the years.

“I’ll definitely miss the great colleagues and all the great kids,” Benson said.

Along with teaching an array of classes, he has also had quite a strong and present influence over Creek’s students and staff. Social studies teacher Drew Hamilton also spoke about how Benson had been able to aid students and staff in many ways throughout his years here.

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“He’s always been a good listener,” Hamilton said. “If you wanted to talk about various issues that come up in the classroom, he’s never too busy. Anyone that’s been around for forty years knows this place inside out, so in a lot of ways, that kind of experience is invaluable.”

Being around for thirty four years, it’s clear that Benson has had a lot of influence, not only his students, but his fellow teachers and staff.

“He is kind of like Creek royalty if you will,” Principal Ryan Silva said. “He’s somebody who I think is always so gentle with his approach whether it’s with kids or adults. He cares a ton about the school, and I think he’s been a great leader and definitely has been a great representative of the school.”

Social studies teacher Mike Kraft, who is was elected to be the next department coordinator, also commented about how Benson has not only been a strong part of the department, but also sets examples for a lot of the students and staff.

“He has been a very steady, stabilizing force in our department for so long. He’s a nice guy, a good teacher, and he’s going to be missed,” Kraft said.

Although Benson has had a strong impact on his fellow teachers and staff, his former students have also appreciated how much work he has put into ensuring their success.

“He has a huge passion for history,” Sophomore Mara Zucker said. “He taught my brother and me and did an amazing job because I still remember a lot from last year.”

Although it is apparent that Benson has been a strong and an ever present influence in the lives of many fellow teachers and students, it can be PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI very easy to forget STRONG INFLUENCES: Dave Benson has been sharing his knowledge, just how long he’s advice, and teaching abilities with everyone he meets. “He is such a been at Creek. “I can chill person,” Sophomore Julia Frey said. “He cares so much about his remember 9/11 viv- students and tries super hard to help make them successful.” idly and what a shock 1970s to becoming one of the longest serving that was. I can also remember when the Challenger space shuttle teachers in his department at Creek, Benson exploded in the first few years of my career,” has been a strong influence throughout all his Benson said. “I’ve also been able to see my kids years at Creek and surely will be missed dearly.

“I’m going to enjoy sleeping late, playing golf achieve in my AP government classes and get on those beautiful fall days when everyone else really high marks which has been exciting.”

From being a student himself in the early is in school,” Benson said.

May 2019

May 2019

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SCHOLARSHIPS

2019 Cherry Creek H.S. Scholarships SARA M. ABBEY Flagship Match Scholarship Nebraska Wesleyan University N.W.U. Achievement Scholarship Nebraska Wesleyan University Denver Scholarship Nebraska Wesleyan University Campus Visit Scholarship Nebraska Wesleyan University GRANT P. AMEN President Joseph A. Sewall Award University of Colorado Boulder Leeds Scholars University of Colorado Boulder Solich Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder Student Investment Fund University of Colorado Boulder Be Boulder Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder Provost Scholar Southern Methodist University Distinguished BBA Scholar Scholarship Southern Methodist University Dean’s Scholarship Texas Christian University Flagship Match Scholarship Nebraska Wesleyan University MARKUS F. BERGSTROM Founders Scholarship Grinnell College Light! More Light! Lawrence University Lawrentian Award Lawrence University Chancellor Scholarship University of Denver President Joseph A. Sewall Award University of Colorado Boulder Engineering Merit Scholarship University of Colorado School of Engineering President’s Scholarship Colorado School of Mines Academic Scholarship Swedish Club of Denver JORDAN A. BLUM Frances G Babcock Memorial University of Missouri Mark Twain Scholarship University of Missouri EDWIN C. BODONI Merit Scholarship University of Denver 6

AXA Achievement Scholarship Junior Science & Humanities Symposium Scholarship MIRANDA L. BONARRIGO National Merit Battelle Scholarship Battelle Memorial Esteemed Scholars & Engineering Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder Destination Imagination Board of Directors Scholarship Destination Imagination Be Boulder Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder TIMOTHY M. BOND 2019 Descendants of Veterans Scholarship George C. Evans Post 103 Walnut Hills Scholarship Walnut Hills Scholarship Fund MEGAN C. BRAY Summit Scholarship University of Oregon Esteemed Scholar Award University of Colorado Boulder Hemingway Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder Be Boulder Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder Merit Scholarship Oregon State University VANCE J. BRAZILE Rocky Mountain Scholarship University of Wyoming BROCK K. BRYANT Dean Scholarship Grand Canyon University IVANA CASILLAS MARTIN DECA Future Teacher Scholarship Cherry Creek High School DECA MOLLY K. CHAPMAN Mark Twain Scholarship University of Missouri CHARLES R. COLBY President James H. Baker Award University of Colorado Boulder Be Boulder Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder KU Excellence Scholarship University of Kansas Award of Excellence University of Oklahoma Redhawk Excellence Scholarship Miami University

Faculty Scholarship Texas Christian University Second Century Scholarship Southern Methodist University TAYLOR B. CUMMINS Mark Twain Scholarship University of Missouri AUDREY E. DIXON Day One Program Xavier University Trustee Scholarship Seattle University Xavier Scholarship Xavier University RAFAEL I. ERDLEY President’s Scholarship B’nai B’rith Colorado HEATHER K. FLEMING President Joseph A. Sewall Award University of Colorado Boulder Be Boulder Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder MACKENZIE M. FLESCH Mark Twain Scholarship University of Missouri MCKENNA G. GEHRKE Tiger Nation & Tiger Excellence Award Louisiana State University Academic Merit Award University of Mississippi Founders Scholarship Texas Christian University Arizona Excellence Award University of Arizona ELLE GILL Merit Scholarship Miami University Athletic Scholarship Women’s Soccer Miami University Merit Scholarship Colorado State University Athletic Scholarship Women’s Soccer Virginia Tech KAITLYN T. GLOVER Chancellor Scholarship University of Denver Athletic Scholarship Women’s Soccer University of Denver EMMA G. GOODMAN Board of Trustees Scholarship Regis University MEGHAN L. GRAY-WHITE Walnut Hills Scholarship Walnut Hills Scholarship Fund Colorado Merit Scholarship Colorado State University Arthur Schulte Scholarship University

of Portland Campion Scholarship Seattle University MICHAEL S. GROMYKO Daniels Scholar The Daniels Fund KINYA R. HILLIARD Dr. Pete Baker Memorial Scholarship Cherry Creek Schools Foundation LOGAN E. HILZER Frederick Douglass Scholarship American University Washington DC LaRaza Scholarship Trementina Association FRRAmerican Essay Contest Fleet Reserve Association Youth Leadership Scholarship Rotary Club South Metro Colorado MOLLY B. HITTNER Mark Twain Scholarship University of Missouri KRISTIN S. HULTGREN Green & Gold Scholarship Colorado State University Trustees Merit Scholarship University of Dayton Presidential Scholarship Loyola University Maryland OLIVIA E. HYMOWITZ Mark Twain Scholarship University of Missouri BENJAMIN D. JOHNSON National Merit Scholarship Baylor University Dewitt Wallace Distinguished Scholarship Macalester College Trustee Scholarship & Music Scholarship University of Puget Sound Trustee Scholarship & Music Scholarship University of Northern Colorado Music Recognition Scholarship & Presidential Scholarship St. Olaf College Whitman Achievement Scholarship & Music Talent Scholarship Whitman College National Meritorious Scholarship University of North Texas Light! More Light! Scholarship Lawrence University HANNAH S. JUNG Daniels Scholar The Daniels Fund NICHOLAS K. KARST President’s Undergrad Scholar ColoraMay 2019

SCHOLARSHIPS do School of Mines Presidential Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder President Joseph A. Sewall Award University of Colorado Boulder Dean Scholarship Texas Christian University Merit, General Rudder & Opportunity Scholarship Texas A&M University Merit Scholarship Baylor University SAIRA K. KERN Western Undergraduate Exchange Merit Scholarship University of Idaho AIDEN J. KNELLER Amigo Scholarship University of New Mexico Seeds of Hope Scholarship NAMI Arapahoe/Douglas Counties ELIZA R. KORNFELD Dean’s Scholarship University of Puget Sound Puget Sound Scholarship University of Puget Sound Be Boulder Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder President James H. Baker Award University of Colorado Boulder CARTER J. KOVARIK Mark Twain Scholarship University of Missouri JANE P. LAPAN Recognition Award Kansas State University ZACHARY L. LAZAR Mizzou General Scholarship University of Missouri Black & Gold Scholarship University of Missouri CHARLES A.C. LIGGETT Black & Gold Scholarship University of Missouri BAILEY T. LUBASH Green & Gold Scholarship Colorado State University George Beadle Scholar Award University of Nebraska Lincoln Founder’s Award Creighton University KATJA MAUCEC Rensselaer Leadership Award Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Purple & Gold Scholarship University of Washington President Joseph A. Sewall Award & Engineering Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder Regent’s & Chancellor’s Scholarship University of California Berkeley

May 2019

CAROLINE A. MCVEIGH Trustee Scholarship Occidental College Dewitt Wallace Distinguished Scholarship Macalester College President’s Scholarship University of Portland Anchor Award University of Portland Chancellor Scholarship University of Denver Green & Gold Scholarship Colorado State University LAUREN E. MEARA Purple & White Scholarship Kansas State University ELIJAH S. MERENESS Pioneer Scholarship University of Denver MABLE Y. MIAO Morehead Cain Scholarship UNC Chapel Hill BENNETT C. MILLER Mark Twain Scholarship University of Missouri NATHAN J. MITCHELL Athletic Scholarship Men’s Baseball United States Naval Academy SOPHIA A. MODEL Dr. Pete Baker Memorial Scholarship Cherry Creek Schools Foundation MARISSA M. MORELAND KU Excellence Scholarship University of Kansas Presidential Scholarship University of Alabama Western Undergraduate Exchange Merit Scholarship University of Wyoming ADAM F. NASH President James H. Baker Award University of Colorado Boulder MADELYN G. NORFORD Presidents Award Arizona State University Pere Scholarship Marquette University Merit Scholarship Colorado State University Be Boulder Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder President Joseph A. Sewall Award University of Colorado Boulder Esteemed Scholar University of Colorado Boulder Provost Scholar University of South Carolina Excellence Award University of South Carolina Presidential Scholars University of Al-

abama AYDEN S. NOVICK Faculty Scholarship University of Puget Sound Crimson and Gold Scholar University of Denver Pioneer Award & Leadership Service Award Lewis and Clark College ELIZABETH A. O’BRIEN Esteemed Scholar Miami University Presidential Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder Buffalo Legacy Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder Be Boulder Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder Green and Gold Scholarship Cal Poly San Luis Obispo MAX W.W. O’HARA Purple & White Scholarship Kansas State University PAUL E. PAK Daniels Scholar The Daniels Fund JOSEPH S. PETERS Trustee Scholarship University of Northern Colorado Music Scholarship University of Northern Colorado MAYA E. RING Mark Twain Scholarship University of Missouri ANDREW R. ROUTH Flagship Match Scholarship Nebraska Wesleyan University Founders Scholarship Nebraska Wesleyan University DAVIS M. SAYRE Mark Twain Scholarship University of Missouri JOHANNA A. SCHUSTER New American University Scholarship Arizona State University JACK M. STEVENSON Naval Academy Appointment United States Naval Academy Alumni Legacy Dean Scholarship Utah State University Green & Gold Scholarship Colorado State University ANDREW P. TOKAR Presidential Scholars University of Richmond Dean’s & National Merit Scholarship Northeastern University Murchison Scholarship Trinity University National Merit Scholarship Emory University

Merit Scholarship Santa Clara University Norlin, Leeds, and Solich Scholars University of Colorado Boulder Leeds Scholarship University of Colorado Boulder President Joseph A. Sewall Award University of Colorado Boulder ANUSHA VAJRALA Otis A. Barnes Scholarship Colorado College Dean’s Scholarship Indiana University University Scholarship Case Western Reserve University Presidential Scholarship St. Louis University CHARLES R. WALSH Centennial Scholarship University of Denver Presidential Award University of Mary Washington Out of State Scholarship University of Mary Washington Robert Goddard Achievement Scholarship Clark University Presidential Scholarship Drew University David Willis Scholarship Gettysburg College MITCH D. WATKINS Merit Scholarship Colorado School of Mines HANNAH R. WEINSTEIN President James H. Baker Award University of Colorado Boulder Be Boulder University of Colorado Boulder Merit Scholarship University of Arizona Frederick Douglas Scholarship American University ERIC T. WILLIAMS President Joseph A. Sewall Award University of Colorado Boulder Be Boulder University of Colorado Boulder Dean’s Scholarship Chapman University Merit Scholarship Soka University MEREDITH A. WILLIAMS Light! More Light! Scholarship Lawrence University Balfour Scholarship Wheaton College Presidential Scholarship St.Olaf College Lawrentian Award Lawrence University

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STUDENT LIFE

College? no thanks.

Creek students paving their own paths after high school Francine Lagon

Olivia Burton

BY: SARA ABBEY Staff Writer

BY: BITANYA HAILE Layout Editor

PHOTO BY SARA ABBEY

PHOTO BY BITANYA HAILE

Following the orthodox path seems all too familiar to Senior Olivia Burton While most high school students are expected to continue straight into a four year college, Burton decided to volunteer for a women’s health organization in Uganda.

Burton’s specific choice may be an outlier, but her decision to look beyond college is beginning to be more popular at Creek. Deciding not to go straight to college wasn’t an impulsive thought.

Like most highschool students, she wanted to find a passion and create lifelong memories, “So I could gather myself, figure out what I wanted to do, experience a little bit” Burton said. Contrary to popular belief, a gap year isn’t just staying in your parents’ basement. As Counselor Christine Snow explains, “A gap year is typically an internship or volunteering related activity to ease a student into college.” The experience is meant to broaden a student’s perspective, which was one of the main reasons she wanted to join,“I always knew I wanted to travel and women’s health is really important and something I’m really passionate about” Ultimately, the best part of deciding to volunteer instead is that she can make that decision: “The best part is getting to do what I want to do and go at my own pace.”

Nicholas Kruse PHOTO BY

Senior Francine Lagon will be attending Colorado School of Trade while taking an apprenticeship with Nate Fudge’s Electrical to become an electrician.

“I see myself being a journeyman electrician and being able to set my own hours or maybe opening up my own small business,” Lagon said via text.

Even with the way she has felt the pressure of going to a university or college, Lagon doesn’t let this deter her from doing what she hopes to do.

“I definitely felt the pressure to go the college route or try to get a job working in computer programming, but I knew I couldn’t sit in an office all day. Thankfully, most of the people I have talked to approve of my choice,” Lagon said.

Lagon was able to get the opportunity to work with Fudge’s Electrical company from a friend who had connections with the company.

She wants to become an electrician because she knew she wanted a hands on job with a future potential at starting up her own business.

Lagon knows that her decision isn’t set in stone and that she may one day change her mind, however, she still plans to pursue her dream plans of a career.

“My biggest fear after high school, is that I won’t like my trade, or it just doesn’t work out and I will have to figure out a new plan,” Lagon said.

BY: COLE PATERSON Staff Writer COLE PATERSON

Serving his country is something senior Nicholas Kruse has always wanted to do, so instead of going to a four-year college, he decided to enlist for Marine Boot Camp. “I plan to be a machine gunner,” Kruse said.

Going to bootcamp is not the most common plan for Creek graduates, but it’s Kruse’s dream. He wants to get out there and serve his country instead of sitting down and living out the traditional young adult civilian life.

“It’s something I always wanted to do,” he said. “I never wanted to sit down and go to college and study. I’ve always been a very active person, and I always wanted to go and fight for my country and serve. Serving has been a big part of my life,” Kruse said.

Kruse knows that this may not be the best option for his mental health if he does see combat because lots of soldiers who have seen combat experience PTSD and other psychological problems that stem from the violence of war.

“I think there will definitely be a lot of drawbacks if I do end up seeing combat,” he said. “That’s a very common thing for marines to have,” Kruse said.

There’s more to Kruse than just the violence and guns, seeing as he has plans for life after the marines. “I am also going to pursue a degree in Theology and hopefully become a pastor afterwords,” Kruse said.

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May 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Cures For Summer Boredom BY: CHANCE HAUSMAN & HARPER HANSON A&E Editor & Staff Writer There is no better time than summer. Forgetting which day of the week it is, lazy movie watching, and spending full days hanging out with friends never seems to get old, until it does. Summer vacation is always the best time of the year, three months away from school is

a great rest from a stressful high school year. With a whole 82 days worth of free time, over the summer it’s easy to become bored and tired of the amount of free time you actually have. Here are some ways to make those boring days of your summer fun and enthusiastic.

CONCERTS

SPORTS EVENTS

vs. Baltimore Orioles May 24th-26th

vs. New York Lizards May 31st

vs. Arizona Diamondbacks May 27th-30th

vs. Charlotte Hounds -June 22nd

vs. Toronto Blue Jays June 1st and 2nd

vs. Dallas -June 27th

vs. Chicago Cubs June 10th-12th

vs. Chesapeake -July 4th

vs. Los Angeles Dodgers June 27th-29th

vs. Atlanta -July 11th

vs. Giants July 15th-17th

vs. Dallas -July 24th

FESTIVALS

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Worthy Summer Playlist Adds

Red Rocks

Billie Eilish - June 5th Micheal Franti - June 7th Rainbow Kitten Surprise - June 11th Young The Giant - June 12th Nahko & Trevor Hall - June 16th Zedd On The Rocks - June 19th Diana Ross - July 22nd Stevie Wonder - June 24th Kacey Musgraves- June 26th Dirty Heads -July 9th

This is Khalid’s second album. The album released 17 songs, and every single on it is worth adding to your list.

The most popular songs include, “Talk”, “Saturday Nights”, and “Outta My Head”.

Pepsi Center

Denver Day Of Rock -May 25th @Denver • Rockies Home Run 5k -June 9th @Denver • Denver Barbecue Festival -June 14th-16th @Mile High

Pentatonix - May 19th B2K - May 23rd New Kids On The Block - June 7th Jennifer Lopez - June 19th Khalid - July 12th Shawn Mendes - July 2nd Ariana Grande - July 11th Micheal Buble - July 13th Backstreet Boys - August 8th

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Pizza Palooza -July 13th @Denver • Denver Glow Run -July 20th @Denver • Bubble Run -July 27th @Denver

Walk Run Wag 5k -July 5th @Denver • Cherry Creek Arts Festival -July 5th-7th @Denver • Hot Air Balloon Rodeo -July 13th-14th @Steamboat Springs

This is YNW Melly’s 2nd album of his musical career. This 16 song-album contains endless hits. His most popular song, “Mixed Personalities,” reached the number one spot on Billboard top 100 in the first two weeks of being released.

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This album is Kane Brown’s 2nd album of his young country career. Experiment holds 13 songs and over half of them have been nominated for country music awards. Take a listen to his top hits “Good as You” and “Lose it”.

Creek Students Take On Summer Activities

“I hang out with friends, but if not I’m sleeping.”

-Junior Luke Rios

May 2019

“I play football and hang out with friends. I also go to the pool and get a tan on.”

-Junior Logan Gulick

“I usually go outside and play sports.”

-Freshman Jesse Toquinto

“I either binge Netflix or call up my friends.”

-Junior Makena Feher

“I usually hang out with friends and go to the pool.”

-Freshman Mason Miller

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FEATURE

BY: GRACIE LORDI Editor-in-Chief It’s not breaking news that this year has been… unique.

In some ways, it’s difficult to even organize all of the tragedy and stress this year has brought us. It’s also been difficult to regain our bearings and devise a plan for a healthier, happier future.

We’ve lost two Creek students and so many others in our community to suicide, shocking and heavily impacting the student body.

“It was the first time someone committed suicide and I actually knew them, and that really hit me hard,” senior Ian Layng said.

“I wasn’t prepared for that and it definitely hurt my academics and extracurriculars.”

It was a rough start to 2019, not only because of the lost battle against suicide, but also because of the start of tough conversations.

“No one really paid attention, but as soon as we lost them, everyone started caring,” senior Adrian Robenson said. “It was a little too late. There should have been more awareness for it before.”

And that’s not all. In the midst of disillusionment and mourning, we were hit with yet another unsettling situation.

On April 17, over 20 Denver Metro area school districts closed due to a credible, non-specific threat to in the wake of the Columbine shooting anniversary.

This was new to everyone, from students and teachers to administrators - all the way up to the district level.

“Today is a new day now,” said Superintendent Scott Siegfried, who is serving his first r in that role. “I find myself saying that more often, that today’s just a new day, because what we experienced this week has never been experienced before. In the Denver Metro area, 500,000 students stay at home because of the threat of a single individual.”

The intensity of multiple anxiety-inducing events has been emotional.

For freshmen, this year was a harsh introduction to an already stressful new climate.

“I am definitely impacted emotionally just because whenever something this horrible happens there’s a lot

of emotions, and it’s hard to deal with that,” freshman Elena Onodera said.

Expecting an easy and fun finale to their high school careers, seniors were forced to deal with this year’s curveballs.

“You expect the school year to be fairly normal and you hear about your senior year and you hear about this kind of stuff in the news, but you don’t ever expect it to actually happen,” senior Michaela Jun said.

“It’s surreal.”

The realness is alarming, and both the threat and the suicides have invoked a new sense of fear and anxiety.

“Suicide has grown, and that’s a scary thing,” junior Aidan Allis said. “Especially for kids in our generation, it’s very prevalent, and that’s terrifying.”

During the threat, the idea of a potentially lethal assailant roaming in hopes of attacking a school was more than unnerving and left the student body with a feeling of unease.

“It’s shocking,” said senior Audrie Coppinger on the day school was closed. “It makes me paranoid even going out in public.”

Most students were appreciative of the decision to cancel school.

“I honestly think that if school was still happening, a lot of kids wouldn’t show up anyway because they wouldn’t feel safe or comfortable at school,” junior Ashley Hayward said.

That reality has been heartbreaking for students and teachers to accept.

“What this does say about our society is that we are in a new age of things we have to fear in schools and in public,” Slattery said.

Principal Ryan Silva gathered a group of students after many of the suicides, so he could get a better perspective on how students were doing and what they needed.

“A theme that came up with that group was a desire to have spaces for kids to have conversations with each other and with adults of on a more regular basis,” Silva said.

Siegfried, among others, believes in focusing on the mental health issues that are beginning to unfold. He specifies that these issues aren’t unique to CCSD, or even schools in general, but are prominent in modern-day living.

“I think there are larger, deeper questions that we have to ask as a society,” Siegfried said. “How are we helping people that are truly in need of mental health support?”

Thinking more concretely, some students believe that maintaining and respecting existing policies are a

good step towards a safer community.

“It is in times like these where ID rules are the most important,” junior Logan Busch said. “I truly appreciate what CCSD does to keep its students safe.”

There has been a lot of positive feedback from students about how the administration has handled the stress and enacted change.

“The school has been put under a lot of heat from the students and media to change for the better, and they have begun that process,” Slattery said. “Even though it is a little bit of progress, it is still progress.”

They have especially been acknowledged for how they have balanced mental health and the academic rigor for which Creek is known. On April 7, the school held a “mental health day” in the wake of senior Leslie Kough’s death. All regular curriculum was suspended and students were encouraged to talk with their teachers and counselors.

“I think that was good for the entire school just to be together and mourn together,” Onodera said, “and I think that made us stronger as a whole.”

A lot of teachers also adapted their curriculum to the stresses of the recent events. For social studies teacher Jodi Best, she has to juggle the looming AP tests as well as looking out for the students’ emotional health.

“We’re not just doing this for grades, this is just prep for a test. I want you to just be able to be an adult and know that your tests and grades are okay,” she said.

“You need to balance that.”

In addition, Silva organized an all-school assembly with a team of students in order to bring the student body, faculty, and staff together. It consisted of an all audition-choir performance, a speech from Silva, student testimonials, and activities to promote unity.

“The students that went up there and spoke out about their challenges - it was so brave of them to do,” senior Julie Stuckey said. “It was very inspiring as well, making it known to all of Creek that they are not alone with their struggles.”

Students were surprised to see how easily they related their troubles to their peers.

“There were a lot more people than I expected telling their stories,” freshman Braden Olmsted said. “It was a positive message. I understand what that feels like.”

Just before the assembly, the Jack Strong Distribution Group led a student walkout to advocate for mental health and raise awareness about bullying. This was done in honor of freshman Jack Padilla’s death on Feb. 14. Allis, who participated in both the assembly and the walkout, believes that they both stood for good causes and were not meant to conflict with each other.

“They’re separate, but united in the same goal of

ART BY HARPER HANSON

10

May 2019

FEATURE

creating connection in our c om mu n it y,” he said.

It’s a tricky position for teachers as to how they should address the recent problems.

“It’s tough to figure what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate for conversations in class,” Math Department Coordinator Cayel Dwyer said. “I just tread lightly, and let everyone know that there’s someone here to talk to if they need.”

Best also recognizes how students are affected differently and has to take that into account when she tries to help them.

“So you’re all at different stages of grief but we all have to be able to dig deep to that strength,” Best said. “You have to be able to talk to me when you’re actually emotionally not okay.”

A lot of students are also wondering what can be done and what they might expect in the years to come.

Silva requested that teachers send him notes about what they might believe to be helpful policy introduced in order to move forward and better the climate and mental health of the school.

He outlined some of the most common options for changes via email to teachers. It included, homework load, screen time/cell phone usage, counselor/teacher advisory time, attendance, and make up work.

On the district level, Siegfried is looking for the concrete changes as well.

“I will turn over any stone,” he said. “I will pay for any resource that I think will help save a life.”

A new position is being introduced to help connect the community to schools in order to provide better mental health resources.

“I’ve directed that we hire a new Director of Community Partnerships and Crisis Intervention,” Siegfried said.

“I believe our community has to take a much bigger role in helping us to solve these issues.”

It’s been a long year, and students are tired and ready to take some time away.

“Ultimately I think a break is good,” Onodera said. “I think summer coming up - everyone needs that, just a reset and hopefully next year we can do better.”.

Despite all of the hardships Bruins have had to face, many believe that there have already been notable changes.

“I feel like the halls have felt different,” Silva said. “And I feel like more people are looking up from their devices and talking, saying ‘Hi’. I think we’re having more meaningful conversations, we’re actually slowing down.”

May 2019

“Availability to real counselors, not just school ones, like real therapists. And also more than just saying , ‘If you need anything just let me know’ like do something a little more than that.”

Freshman Braxton Blakeman.

“I would say what they’re doing now, just being there and supporting students and being open. I haven’t lost anyone close to me, so I guess I don’t really know a way to solve this problem.”

Junior Christian Yu

“I feel like teachers put a lot of pressure on students based on schoolwork, sports. I feel like Creek overall has a lot of pressure, but I feel like the teachers need to be more engaged with the students, talk to them and open up.”

Senior Jonasia Johnson

“I don’t think the administration has any responsibility at all. I honestly just think kids need to be nicer to each other.”

Junior Stewart Rojec

“I don’t want to say medication, but probably medication. People need real professional help for their brain and it’s not what they get here.”

Freshman Gino Cordova

PHOTOS BY GRACIE LORDI

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

11

SPORTS

Spring college commitments: Meet the athletes who signed with colleges

NAME: Mikaela Kirton SPORT: Swimming SIGNED WITH: Washington State University “It makes me feel like all the hard work that I put in the sport that I love has paid off. I can’t believe that it is really happening.”

NAME: Bella Sparaco SPORT: Basketball SIGNED WITH: Iowa Western Community College “Playing basketball for college is really great. It makes me even more excited for taking that next step. It gives me a sense of security.”

NAME: Emma Yang SPORT: Cheer SIGNED WITH: University of Colorado, Boulder “I’m most excited to be cheering on the field at football games. Leaving my mom and my friends is going to be a big transition.”

NAME: McKenna Gehrke SPORT: Dance SIGNED WITH: University of Arizona “It is such a surreal feeling. Honestly, it is still kind of coming as a shocking to me. It’s just such a huge blessing to be a part of such a prestigious college program.”

NAME: Samuel Hallam SPORT: Soccer SIGNED WITH: University of Denver “I’m excited to see how the college life is going to be like. I’ve been playing soccer for pretty much my whole life, so it feels pretty rewarding to get a scholarship.”

NAME: Elle Gill SPORT: Soccer SIGNED WITH: Miami University of Ohio “I’m excited about meeting new people, making new friends, the new environment. It’s going to be a total different scenario of life.”

NAME: Josh Thomas SPORT: Diving SIGNED WITH: Old Dominion University “I feel like it’s going to be a lot of fun.

It’s a dream coming true, I’ve always wanted to play a college sport, and to get the chance to is amazing.”

NAME: Elijah Mereness SPORT: Soccer SIGNED WITH: University of Denver “There’s a big expectation. I feel like I have a lot of weight on my shoulders. I know that it’s going to take a lot of hard work, and I know that’s what I’m ready for.”

NAME: Tess Kramer SPORT: Field Hockey SIGNED WITH: Miami University of Ohio “It’s super fun because I won’t just wake up and go to college, I’ll have automatically twenty best friends. I’m also excited for business school.”

NAME: Elise Nisonoff SPORT: Dance SIGNED WITH: Rutgers University “I’m very excited. I’m nervous, but I’m really happy that I’ll get to dance and have the opportunity to dance there. We’ll dance at basketball and football games, and at competitions.”

NAME: Alexander Wendt SPORT: Soccer SIGNED WITH: United States Air Force Academy “It’s an amazing feeling. I’ve always wanted to play a higher level soccer. I’m very grateful that I’m getting this chance and continuing my career.”

NAME: Madelyn Norford SPORT: Swimming SIGNED WITH: University of South Carolina “I’m super excited. I knew that I wanted to go to this school for a while. I know it’s going to be intense, but I’m excited to continue studying and swimming.”

NAME: Will Seiple SPORT: Soccer SIGNED WITH: Massachusetts Institute of Technology “It was my go since I was a little kid, to go to a place where I can do what I love in a classroom and on the field. It’s going to be hard to balance studying with soccer, but it’s going to be fun.”

PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWS BY SARA ABBEY AND GIOVANNI MACHADO

12

May 2019

SPORTS

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

BASEBALL

SPRING SNAPSHOTS

“It’s going to be a challenge. We’re a young team but we’re a team that likes to play and we’re aggressive and we’ve got some speed,” head coach Marc Johnson said.

“Our goal, like a step ladder, is to go a step at a time and get a little bit better all the time. We just hope someone is as hot as a pistol everyday.

“I think this season is good because the people we have on the golf team now are really making this season a great one,” freshman Kaylee Chen said. “Everyone gets along well, and everyone helps each other

PHOTO BY GIOVANNI MACHADO

“The season is going good, we are currently 13-2,” junior Jack Kinney said. “We have a lot of talent, and we are currently ranked first in the state. I think we are going to have a great run at state.”

BOYS LACROSSE

“After losing the State Championship last year, we are entering playoffs with fire in our eyes ready to do big things,” senior Emma White said. “We’re all really close off the field which helps us perform on the field.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDALL SMITH

GIRLS GOLF

May 2019

PHOTO BY HANNAH EDELHEIT

GIRLS LACROSSE

I feel like this season has been a huge success,” head coach Delisa McDavid. “Even though we have definitely had our challenges with weather and other unexpected distractions, we have a young team that has a very bright future.”

TRACK

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT WILSON

PHOTO BY HANNAH EDELHEIT

“We just won our regional. We went to our regional as a team, and five out of our seven positions finished first,” Head coach Chris Jacob said. “We’re heading into state with that, and we also won our invite that we hosted.”

GIRLS TENNIS

“This year our team is really good,” Senior Elle Gill said. “There are a lot of young players, but we have bonded so well, and it shows on the field too. The playoffs is our goal, and we expect going to state as well. We are really good this year.”

GIRLS SOCCER

PHOTO BY GIOVANNI MACHADO

13

OPINIONS

Is summer reading really necessary?

YES!

Do you find value in summer reading?

BY: HANNAH EDELHEIT Web Editor

It’s August and everybody is preparing for the upcoming school year.

Summer reading is usually the last thing on students’ minds, except when it is the first day of school.

Right about this time, is when everybody starts to use Sparknotes to at least do well on the school wide summer reading quiz.

Now I know I may seem like a total nerd for liking summer reading, but I find it beneficial because it allows you to actually read something that provokes your thoughts.

I also find it fun because it gives you something to focus on over the summer; in fact, if I don’t read I get super bored over the summer.

These summer reading books are also a good introduction to the class that you are taking.

This also allows you to practice your reading skills over the summer. I understand that people are going to say that the books can be boring and confusing and a total waste of time, but if you can actually sit down and really read the book it enables you to start to think about things in your own life.

According the American Library Association, summer reading is beneficial because it helps children retain and use skills they learned in the year before.

Summer reading also enables critical thinking skills and strengthens their reading skills.

If we don’t read over the summer, it can be detrimental. According to Homeroom, the blog for the U.S. Department of Education, there is a developmental loss when kids are not reading.

This “summer slide” can affect kids later in life and impact their reading abilities as they become more advanced in the schools

14

TOTAL POLLED: 228

Yes: 22% No: 78%

system. This can even further the achievement gap between different classes of people.

Summer reading is vital to keep the mind working because it keeps it thinking and retaining.

This comes back to my point about how summer reading keeps kids from getting bored. The books are also usually easy to follow and enable kids to actually read something.

I know these books enable me to start thinking about school.

My favorite book so far has been “Cry, the Beloved Country” by Alan Paton because it was really interesting. It also opened up my eyes to a different world because the book was written in a different perspective than my own.

These summer reading books are super valuable and enable students to see different worlds that will widen their perspectives and enable them to step into someone else’s shoes.

“Reading is really an important part of understanding language and culture,” English Teacher Joel Morris said.

“I think the point of summer reading is to keep that brain muscle working over a long break,” said Morris.

These books are chosen through a process of thinking what would be interesting, accessible, and appropriate.

Sadly, the English teachers can’t just choose any book as it needs to meet these standards.

They also try to make sure that the books are shorter and not super long so they are easier to read.

Because summer reading enables cultural gain, better critical thinking, and better reading skills, it is beneficial for people to read the books.

It’s only a couple days of reading, really, that’ll help you a lot.

Summer reading is vital to keep the mind working because it keeps it thinking and retaining.

Summer should be a time for relaxation and fun, not stress and forced reading.

NO!

BY: J. GINSBERG-MARGO Opinion Editor

What do you do during your summer break? You know, the few months we students get away from the seemingly endless days of school? Some go away to exotic places, others chill in their houses. Some play video games, other go outside everyday to enjoy the warm weather and beautiful sky.

But the one thing that never excites a student on any of their breaks is homework. Homework, by school policy, is not given to students during winter, fall or spring break. So why is it okay to give students work during summer break? Short answer, it’s not, Long answer, it shouldn’t be.

Summer reading is a hotly debated topic within the student body. Some like it and others despise it. But let’s be honest, it’s the worst.

I would rather spend the day throwing a ball around with my father, or leaving the house for hours only to return when the sun goes down at 8 pm, only to stay up till 3 am the next morning binging my favorite show, Blue Bloods.

Then after a relaxing weeks, I get reminded by some obscure word that I got a book forced upon me to read. Not to mention that none of the books are interesting. A Separate Peace? That book can be summed up in 16 words: Two kids mess around at a boarding school, one gets jealous and the other one dies.

Even some teachers agree that summer reading is too much. In an article from Education Week, teachers express ideas such as mandatory outside play time, or rather than having mandatory reading help to encourage reading on students own time. Others

consider summer homework and reading an overreach of schools into students lives.

None of the books ever explore anything but the monotony of the human experience. Books like “A Separate Peace” or “Cry, The Beloved Country” tend towards a disengaging narrative, and complicated writing styles. None of the books contain humor, action, romance, or any of the things that make books so successful.

Books like Percy Jackson, The Dark Tower, and Ifunny are interesting because of their unique premise and well-developed story lines.

Even more obscure books like The Inquisitor’s Tale and Ready Player One have done well because of their narratives and story, not in spite of it. If students can’t read good, interesting books, then why force students to read over the summer at all?

Why is it so important that students spend their summer doing something that they do not want to do and does not help them.

It is stressful to think that even though you are on a long awaited break from the slow march of school, you have to prepare strenuously for the next year.

It is stressful to think that for the first week of school you will have a test.

Now, more than ever relaxation, and stress-free time for students is important. Putting students in stressful situations all year round won’t encourage learning nor a love for furthering their knowledge, but rather stifle anyone who wanted to spend their summer learning a new skill or simply enjoying themselves for a few weeks a year.

Summer should be a time for relaxation and fun, not stress and forced reading.

May 2019

OPINIONS

STAFF EDITORIAL If we haven’t made it clear already, this year has been a mess.

It’s been emotional and overwhelming and, quite honestly, very difficult to understand. We’ve talked through a lot about the events that have occured in the past few months and have begged the question: What can we do? Firstly wrapping our head around everything is difficult as it is, then trying to distinguish what needs to be changed seems impossible.

What we do know is some concrete change needs to happen.

To begin, we would like to acknowledge that although there are tragedies happening with our community, the administration isn’t really responsible. We are thankful for their efforts to enact change and for their open-minded communication with the student body.

Although it’s difficult to devise concrete ideas and plans we have a couple suggestions: •

•

We, along with other students, appreciated the relaxed curriculum day that we had on April 5. We believe that having a monthly or quarterly “mental health”/study day would be beneficial for our mental health.

We also felt like the assembly brought a sense of uni-

ty and was a good start to a schoolwide mental health conversation. We feel that periodic assemblies addressing the mental climate of our school would be helpful.

However, we would also like to note that mental health is a fragile subject and leaders of the assemblies should be considerate of triggers.

It’s been emotional and overwhelming and, quite honestly, very difficult to understand.

•

We want to acknowledge that if there were indeed periodic assemblies, many students would not attend. We were thinking of ways in which we could immerse students in mental health awareness and education by hav-

ing some sort of a Mental Health Week similar to our Homecoming Spirit Weeks and Power Weeks. We feel this would be a great way to start a conversation as well as promote teamwork and unity.

• Along with all these things, we believe that as an education institution, education about mental health should be placed at the forefront. We need more discussion about mental health in health classes as well as within regular classes. We need more staff trained in dealing with mental health that have the tools to help students who are struggling (and to lessen the workload for our pre existing staff). We need more basic training for non-mental health professionals (teachers) about mental health.

Mental health in general has lagged behind in research and treatment and we feel that now is the time to start pioneering research and implementation. We understand how big of a job handling the mental health of an entire school is, but we are ready to start making the changes that will better our school.

Dear me: revisiting my freshman letter BY: HARPER HANSON Staff Writer

PHOTO BY GRACIE LORDI

LETTER FROM THE PAST: Each freshman, in their Creek 101 class, is instructed to write a letter to their senior selves. The letters allow the seniors to rediscover a younger version of themselves and reflect on how they’ve changed, or not.

I sat on the ski bench outside of the IC Cafeteria holding an envelope with little mandalas drawn in each of its corners. I sat there for what seemed like hours, debating if I should actually open it, and after a long era of indecisiveness I opened it with shaking hands. Four years later, full of highs and lows, I opened the envelope that my ninth grade self wrote to my senior self.

What I expected to read was very different from the words I had written, and the last thing I expected to do was cry. What I imagined to be this naive and immature little girl was wise and elegant with the words she chose. She was brave and poised, something that I have never given myself credit for until now.

Although I have finished my four years of high school, I will not be graduating. Because I missed so much school for treatment for my OCD and chronic pain syndrome, I do not have the credit I need in order to graduate on time, and instead of taking an extra year to finish high school, I have decided to get my GED and move on with my life.

I went into reading this letter worried that I would leave feeling disappointed in not achieving my dreams of going to college right after high school, but instead I wrote something that I never would have expected.

I wished for myself to be happy. I wished for my self to take time to myself and enjoy life, even if that meant not going to college. In a way, it made me sad. Sad to think that life had already worn me down so much, that instead of being excited May 2019

for what I may achieve oneday, I was just hoping I had found some peace.

I had said, “I hope you go to school or maybe take a year of and enjoy time to yourself,” and I think my younger self would be glad to hear that although I have not found peace in all aspects of my life, I am much happier than I used to be.

I am also proud. This young version of myself had already endured so much and was not oblivious to the fact that she would endure so much more. I wrote to myself, “I hope there is not too much that has happened you in highschool, but understanding my life, something will,” and although I have been through a plethora of events in the past four years, I praise my younger self for standing with her head held tall and her heart still capable of love.

There is a poem titled “Invictus” in which William Ernest Henley states, “In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed.” I feel this stanza encaptures my high school career and encompasses how I view my freshman self: so very strong.

Sometimes the things I wrote gave me the reminder that at age 15 I was not all mature and hardened by the world. In fact, I had a pretty good sense of humor.

I dreamed of going into the medical field, and I even have the same favorite movie as my freshman self (Short Term 12). But

what shocked me most was not the movie or the my dream career, it was that the people I loved most then are the same people I love the most now. These are the people who have stuck with me through it all and I could not be more thankful.

I was never a troublemaker, but I think I was expecting my calm personality to drastically change when I entered high school. I even wrote, “Please stay out of trouble and I hope I did during high school,” and I think she would be happy to hear that I am probably even less troublesome than I was in middle school.

Although the tone in my letter was serious and earnest, I was also reminded that I was still a kid, a kid who was funny and hopeful, a kid who only had one dream: making their future self proud.

My years in high school have not been easy, I have dealt with many bad times, but also many good, and I wrote to myself, “Just take time to look back at the good times, and the bad, but remember that the world is a beautiful place and no matter what happens, I am proud of you and I think you are a miraculous person.”

So freshman self, as I look back on these memories, the good and the bad, I want to thank you. I want to thank you for hanging in there, I want to thank you for the bravest thing you ever did.

Thank you for continuing to live.

15

New Chapters: Teachers Retiring

To Creek and Beyond:

Nine teachers are retiring this year and starting their post-teaching lives. Gina Guy is also retiring from the World Language department this year but preferred not to be interviewed. Go to page 3 for more in-depth profiles on Dave Benson and Samuel Feld.

Ted Jones What has been your favorite memory while teaching at Creek?

Kate Gunneson

I went with groups for years and took them to Costa Rica and Spain to study, and just to be able to see them progress in their Spanish and see how much they enjoyed the travel and the way it ignited us in class after we got back. It was just a lot of fun to be able to do that.

What has been your favorite memory while teaching at Creek?

“I think my favorite part of being in the classroom is being able to sit down one on one with a person in my classroom and getting to know the story behind that person and sharing common stories.”

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW BY HANNAH EDELHEIT

Years teaching at Creek: 6 years Years teaching total: 31 years Department: English

What is your retirement plan?

“We are going to take our whole family to Germany for a week, but I don’t know what I am doing in general.”

Christian Killoran

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW BY COLE PATERSON

Years teaching at Creek: 21 years Years teaching total: 28 years Department: World Language

What is your retirement plan?

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW BY JANE MCCAULEY

Years teaching at Creek: 19 years Years teaching total: 27 years Department: Social Studies

“I am an outdoors man, and teaching has prevented me from doing big-game hunting. I intend to take advantage of free time doing outdoorsy things.”

Susie Russell

What has been your favorite memory while teaching at Creek?

I don’t know if I have one favorite memory, but just a favorite feeling. When in a classroom, kids are being really sincere and looking out for one another - when they’re engaged and thinking and laughing together.

What is your retirement plan?

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW BY J. GINSBERG-MARGO

Years teaching at Creek: 6 years Years teaching total: 31 years Department: Math

What is your retirement plan?

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW BY GRACIE LORDI

Years teaching at Creek: 12 years Years teaching total: 17 years Department: English

“I just want to be present as a grandmother, so I’ll definitely be traveling to see kids and grandkids. My husband is a pilot with United, and I’ve never once gotten to fly with him on a trip while he was working, so I definitely want to do that.”

I am hoping to bring AP Stat into rural schools and homeschools and things like that, so kids that are at schools that don’t have AP stats can still study it.

Paul Trollinger What has been your favorite memory while teaching at Creek?

What has been your favorite memory while teaching at Creek?

“The first day of school every year. It’s almost like childbirth. It’s a miracle every time. I know it’s coming, but it’s still a miracle every time. All these new kids flow into your room and they’re so fresh-faced and happy and excited to start a new.”

I’ll do substitute teaching. I may do some tutoring and also travel to go back to some of the countries that I’ve visited and studied in and go and see my friends that live there, again traveling to see my family.

Bill Richardson

What has been your favorite memory while teaching at Creek?

“My favorite memories were watching punk sophomores grow up into some pretty awesome seniors who I know are just going to go out and be really successful. That’s really rewarding.”

What is your retirement plan?

I just love teaching high school students.

I have a ton of memories of kids, and some of those who have graduated are still friends, and we contact each other.

What is your retirement plan?

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW BY SARA ABBEY

Years teaching at Creek: 20 years Years teaching total: 27 years Department: Math

My family has a nonprofit in Africa that we do, and it’s in the country of Lesotho.

That’s probably where I’ll be spending a lot more time - going to Africa and working on the projects there.