The Pack - Vol. 21, Issue 7

the pack The Student Voice of Monarch High School

We Can Do It Redefining the age of feminism

329 Campus Dr.│Louisville, Colorado│ 80027 Volume 21 Issue 7 January 2019

Table of CONTENTS January 2019 Volume 21, Issue 7

4

IT’S TIME The new schedule drops this week

10

THE PROWL Atheletes hunt for victory

12

GETTING IT DONE A look into feminism at MOHI

16

A RAY OF SUN Marcus Crawford shines light at MHS

20

LOVE STORIES

24

BREADWINNERS

This is going to get complicated

How students bring home the money

28

CAN’T WE ALL JUST What we’re leaving behind in 2018

31

A BETTER WAY Flipped classrooms need to go

Seek CHANGE

By India Turner Editor-in-Chief

The beginning of this year was nerve-wracking, not gonna lie. Not only did I take on the role of Editor-in-Chief with only one year of experience on staff, but every member of the newspaper staff was new, except for myself. This began as daunting, but with change comes opportunity. I realized that there was no preconceived notion of what MOHI Media can or should be, so we reinvented ourselves.

Last year, we celebrated 20 years at Monarch and the school honored the traditions that Monarch had created since it opened, both in the magazine and the yearbook. But this year is year 21. Now, we have the chance to establish the legacy for the next 20 years.

This year is about breaking traditions and creating something new. So, while The Howler will always be loved and remembered, it was time for the name of the magazine to change and become The Pack.

After playing around with dozens of names, I sort of stumbled on the name The Pack. Almost immediately, staff members and friends were on my case because “Coyotes are solitary animals, not pack animals, so why in the world would you choose that name?” And normally, yes, that’s true. But when it comes to a big hunt or major challenge, coyotes do form packs because they know they cannot accomplish their goal individually.

So, while there are dozens of groups and thousands of people at Monarch, The Pack aspires to bring everyone together by sharing the stories that matter to Monarch.

Seek change, India Turner, Editor-in-Chief

Follow our stories @mohimix Get current updates @mohimix See our photos @mohimix

the pack The Student Voice of Monarch High School

Editor-in-Chief India Turner Team Editors Haley Breit Evie Cuffaro Grant Myers Cara Racenstein Jamie Thompson Podcast Editor Lincoln Roch Webmasters Brandon Phillips Nathan Phillips Staff Writers Estella Barrett Luke Berghoefer Ruby Cervantes Maya Dorfman Lia Farrell Savannah Griffis Lindsay Haight Amelia Krueger Logan Lair Nathan Lewison Sebastian Manzanares Hahn Park Samantha Sarmiento Mia Schmanski Jonah Speyer Maddie Stilson Adviser Ben Reed

Our Mission: MOHI Media is an

organization the appeals to the cliques of Monarch High School through discussing trends, staying real, and keeping it hype.

We promote discussion by speaking about what needs to be said.

Our Policies: Opinions or expressions

made by students in this publication are not expressions of Boulder Valley School District Board policy. The district and its employees are immune from any civil action based on any expression made for or published by students. The Pack is an open forum for and by the students, faculty, and community of Monarch High School. The Pack is willing to accept and publish any appropriate articles submitted by students of MHS and reserves the right to edit any of these articles. We will not print letters sent to us without a name and signature. Submit letters to mhshowler@gmail.com

I MX MOHI

Monarch High School.

MOHI students set trends across Boulder Valley.

What we wear, what we say.

Everyone wants to be a Coyote.

Here are eleven things that set us apart in the pack.

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1

X

IT’S TIME

1

New schedule means big changes for Monarch students

By Haley Breit

Monarch High School has finally adopted a new schedule. This is the moment students have all been waiting for. More late starts, extra Access Time (previously called Tutor Time), and a dedicated time for clubs to meet are all coming this week.

The process for creating this new and improved schedule was not a short one. “This was a five year process in which we created a committee that read the research on late starts and health, visited schools and created draft schedules,” Science teacher Ms. Kristin Donley said.

There were three goals in particular that this schedule would need to achieve. “One, improve health through mindfulness practices,” Ms. Donley said. “Two, give equitable access to teachers for tutoring, make-up assignments, and club participation. Three, decrease stress and depression

among our students.”

Research conducted by Monarch’s Ideal School Day Commitee shows that depression and suicide has increased by approximately 420 percent in the past few years.

Monarch itself has had over 80 students have undergone suicide assessments this year. The committee surveyed students who have been feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and depressed. When students get more sleep, they perform better in classes and are, overall, happier.

After years of discussion, the staff voted upon an “ideal” school day schedule in November. “The vote passed with an 82 percent approval rating,” Ms. Donley said.

Ms. Donley is particularly excited about this new schedule.

“It tackles all three goals and gives students more time to decompress, sleep and access teachers for help,” she said.

She hopes this schedule will be a success.

To see the full schedule, visit mhshowler.com.

January 5

2

Tea Time

With

A

Mr.

What makes this schedule different from the old schedule?

“We have a dedicated club and activity time on Monday afternoons, and we built in more student Access Time, currently called Tutor Time. So, we will have a 30 minute Access Time on Tuesday, an Access Time on Wednesday that is over an hour, and one on Thursday morning for 35 minutes. It also creates two artificial late start mornings on two block days.”

What Mr. A has to say about the new schedule

In the future, will there ever be late start every day for Monarch?

“I know that there is an interest because I know that the School Board is talking about this again. They are wanting to have some exploratory conversations. I would like to say that there’s enough interest and desire around this that there will be. I think we will get to a point that we have a universal late start.

It would probably be around 8:00 or 8:30. I would be surprised if it goes any later than that. I also would think that there might be interest in having a common high school schedule because right now with each school having different bell schedules, access to different programs becomes hard.

6 the pack

Why was there a need to create this new schedule?

“This has been a conversation at Monarch for at least three years because of various factors. Some of it was trying to support sleep research with later starts. We also wanted to address the access for student clubs and activities because we want kids to get involved, to make friends, and to have the high school experience they wanted.”

What was the process of creating this new schedule?

“There was a committee that was formed three or four years ago to do some research on this. That committee researched not only studies about sleep, but also high school student success. They looked at other bell schedules, read articles, and surveyed students to design various schedules. Through that process, that committee was able to whittle it down to the top three after some staff input.

Then those top three were sent out to the teachers for ranking in order. From there, we got to the schedule that was the most popular and then the staff voted on that schedule.”

Let’s Go

Clubbing BOOK CLUB The Book Club meets up in a room near the front of the library during both lunches every Friday. They are also responsible for hosting Game Night and have a website that keeps Monarch students updated with everything going on in the club.

“It’s just a bunch of people who read together and you read whatever you want. Then, you share it with the group and explain why they should read it too. I think that’s why people like it. You’re not forced to read a book,” Heather Chambers ‘20 said.

4

Two clubs at Monarch to join today!

WAFFLE CLUB The Waffle Club meets every Wednesday during Access Time in the student center.

They make and sell waffles to the students.

They have whipped cream and chocolate sauce for anyone who wants their waffle a little sweeter.

“Wednesdays are usually my favorite day of the week. I have the classes that I like but I also get to eat great breakfast at school,” Prema Rivera ‘21 said. “Their waffles are the best I’ve ever had. I really appreciate what they do.”

3

“B is in th sa to lif do aw

M on fa on

4

Buckle up,

Monarch

This Is...

The Wrangler

The gang takes you on a ride to where it all began

By Haley Breit

WHO IS THE WRANGLER?

56 Security Guard Ms. Roxy Rivera gets “pied” at the Fall Sports Assembly because Monarch’s Student Council raised roughly $1,500 for hurricane relief.

Photo by Ruby Cervantes

“Being a father is one of those indescribable things. Everyone says it’s going to change your life, and it does. It’s pretty awesome.”

Mr. Alex Esposito, on becoming a father to Mia on Nov. 2

The student run podcast, The Wrangler, is hosted by the three sophomores, Lincoln Roch, Haley Breit and Ruby Cervantes. All three are passionate about change in Monarch High School’s community. The gang strives to make the students and staff think differently about pressing issues and to make a difference within the school’s halls.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

The Wrangler is a student run podcast that focuses on pressing issues and/or topics at Monarch. In order to tackle these problems, the gang spends two weeks gathering information, recording, editing and publishing each episode of their podcast. They discuss topics such as the vape epidemic and the new schedule here at Monarch. They take input from their peers about what they report on and try to get students involved as much as possible. The gang wants to have new voices on the show each episode. The Wrangler is published every other week on the Monarch Publications’ SoundCloud.

Find it at mhshowler.com

January 7

7

A Creative Space Life of Jack Siedler ‘20 revolves around the pottery wheel

By Samantha Sarmiento Jack Seidler ‘20 is a junior at Monarch that has found a break from the stress of school through pottery. Out of all the students in the art program to submit his work, Seidler was chosen for his unique and carefully crafted vases and other ceramics to Scholastics.

“I find [making pottery to be] really relaxing and it’s a lot better than, I don’t know, business class,” Seidler said.

Seidler found an interest in pottery when he was younger and has continued to pursue this hobby throughout his high school years.

“I did a little bit of pottery when I was younger, I liked it then,” Seidler said. “I just wanted to have kind of like a break in the day and pottery is really good for that.”

Pottery, however, is not his only hobby. Seidler enjoys biking, skiing, and photography, and he took digital art during his freshman year.

He will try to enter his work into Scholastics with the pieces he’s created since the beginning of the year and is trying to put together a portfolio for his art.

“My pottery teacher, Mrs. Makely, told me that this year I’ve probably thrown 300 pounds of clay. My goal is to throw a whole bag,” Seidler said.

Throwing is a term potters use for molding and shaping the clay on the potter’s wheel. Not only does he have goals to throw a whole bag of clay, he also hopes to find an art studio over the summer so that he can practice for next year but hopes to sell some of his work at the end of the year.

“Sometimes I give them away, but at the end of the year I’m gonna sell quite a few,” Seidler said. “So hopefully I’ll get to sell some.”

#petsofmonarch Some of the cutest, fuzziest pets of the students of Monarch. Whether you’re a cat person or a dog person, it’s easy to agree that there’s nothing like a furry companion!

Zeppelin belongs to @rubycervantes_

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Rocky belongs to @amy.tillinghast

Molly belongs to @nate8727

8

Kody belongs to @adynavarroa

9

Light it up What drives and motivates an overachiever?

By Nathan Phillips

The desk-lamp beside him sits shallow and still. A brain and its nerves trigger, like electricity runs through a lightbulb. Ideas and desires spark. Fingers graze the last creased page, flipping to a new chapter about another’s life.

Riley Carpenter ’21 is the light source, and he spends the day learning about others, their ideas, and their lives. He yearns to learn and feel new things and is motivated to be one of those “others” in the future.

In second grade, Carpenter was chosen for the Talented and Gifted program. “TAG has helped me be better challenged with an advanced learning plan,” Carpenter said. “I just worked hard and tried to be everything I could be. “ His core classes are all at the top of the ladder.

“I take so many advanced classes because I like the challenge of more difficult courses and prefer a learning environment geared towards faster learning rather than just getting the credit,” he said. Seven clubs provide additional channels for his several interests. “The workload is manageable, but, at times, can be hectic,” Carpenter said. “I find time to watch Netflix or do something I enjoy.”

Carpenter doesn’t think of himself as an overachiever, he thinks of himself as determined learner. ”My dream college would be Stanford University, and part of why I work so hard is to prepare for that possibility. I would also hope to contribute later in life to something greater than just myself to help improve the quality of life or understanding of the world for an entire community, or even the entire world,” Carpenter said.

He illuminates the black and grey puts the world in a new light.

10 How to get around without a car RTD Call N’ Ride This bus will pick up or drop off at any location in the city of Louisville.

The trip needs to be scheduled in advance.

You can book a trip on RTD’s website or by calling 303-434-8960.

Fare: $1.30 per trip RTD Flatiron Flyer This bus route on US 36 from Boulder to Denver includes stops in Westminster, Broomfield, Superior, and Louisville.

You can find the full route on RTD’s website.

Fare: $1.30 for shorter trips, $2.25 for longer trips

Biking/Walking Louisville offers 32 miles of trail with Superior also having a large variety. These trails go through a majority of the districts and neighborhoods in both towns.

Fare: Free

11 Healthy Berry Smoothie

Simple and cheap recipe to help you get ready for the day!

Ingredients

3/4 cup fresh blueberries 3/4 cup fresh blackberries 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt 1 cup milk 1 banana

Directions

1. Add ingredients into blender 2. Blend for 30 seconds 3. Stop and stir 4. Blend for 30 more seconds 5. Top with whole berries of desired 6. Serve immediately or refrigerate January 9

THE PROWL Highlighting Monarch athletes and their hunt for victory

Leaders of the Pack

A rundown of the top athletes this winter

John Grigsby

By Luke Berghhofer, Nathan Lewison, and Logan Lair

Coming in at 6 feet and 9 inches, junior and captain, John Grigsby ‘20, is someone you need to look out for on the court. In the first basketball game of the season he scored 11 points. This is still only the first game, but if he keeps this up, he is going to have a great season.

Grigsby’s shooting abilities and height help him stand out from the rest of the players. He has the ability to score from anywhere, making him a quite the threat.

He has the ability to score large sums of point every game and help the Coyotes reel in a great season. He is able to be one of the best, if not the best, shooter on all courts and opponents.

10 the pack

Chelin Isaacson

Standing 5 foot 9 inches, Chelin Isaacson ‘21 has made varsity girls basketball two years in a row. Last year as a Freshman she was a varsity star, and she will be even better and even stronger this year.

Isaacson is the player you need to look out for, as her sizeable height and agile speed make her fly up and down the court.

She has the ability to perform on both sides of the ball, as she possesses height and speed.

Her height is effective on both offense and defense, as she can get critical blocks, as well as tower over opponents when driving through the lane. This double threat sharpshooter is what all teams fear when they face the Coyote’s girls varsity basketball team.

Dylan Sheets

Monarch’s starting goalie and star player Dylan Sheets ‘19. He is the hockey player you should watch this season.

Star goalie for the Yotes Sheets hopes to lead his team to the playoffs and hopefully the championship.

With his speed and agility nothing can get passed this brick wall. He will have no mercy and flash his glove at every chance he gets.

Sheets is the goalie that comes to mind when you think of a top tier high school goalie.

He is the game changer you should be looking for on the ice this season.

Big man on the block Waschak eyes D1 football

By Sebastian Manzanares

Anything can happen

Four hot predictions for winter sports

1 2

By Grant Myers

Hot Take 1: Wrestling wins State. The wrestling team is already off to a hot start and are primed to make a championshiop run at State with their senior leadership and talent.

Hot Take 2: The boys

basketball team scores 90 points in a game. The team has a tremendous amount of offensive weapons, so if they could come togther and get hot, they could score 90 points in a game.

3 4

Hot Take 3: The Given

Alex Waschak ‘20 is a beast on the offensive line for the Coyotes football team. Opposing linemen fear him, and colleges want him.

He has played football for eight years now, starting his football career when he was nine for the Louisville Pirates youth football organization. Now, Waschak has the potential to reach the next level: Division 1 football.

“There’s a whole lot of pressure, but it’s also great because I’m very different,” Waschak said. “Not many people have the opportunity like I do, so I’m very thankful, as well.”

At six feet and eight inches, and weighing 270 pounds, Waschak is a pure big man. Not only his size, but his intelligence and athleticism is what intrigues college scouts.

He is considering three schools to play for: University of Wyoming, Kansas State University, and the University of Colorado.

brothers both score 5+ goals this season. Both Given brothers are tremendous hockey players on both sides of the puck, so five or more goals from both of them is attainable.

Hot Take 4: The girls varsity basketball team has two players average a double double. The team has a lot of veteran leaders that pass, rebound, and score very well.

So having two players average double doubles is possible.

Rivalry alert The must see game of the winter

By Grant Myers

On Feb. 14, the Monarch Coyotes travel to Broomfield to take the court in a battle against the Broomfield Eagles.

The Coyotes will bring a very talented team to a hostile environment and will be looking to end the regular season on a high note.

The Coyotes team will bring four players over 6 feet 5 inches which will give them the size advantage over the smaller Broomfield team. The Coyotes sharpshooters will also look to have a good day behind the 3-point line to get them over the hump.

This game could also determine the Coyotes playoff fate so it is essential that fans pack the stands to support your Coyotes on Feb. 14.

January 11

Getting it done!

Redefining the age of feminism

12 the pack

Twisting a Movement

Feminism’s darker offshoots For most of history, the definition of feminism has been to advocate for women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.

However, two different branches of feminism, meninists and radical feminists, or “feminazis,” have warped the original intent of feminism to mean something entirely different.

“Personally, I support feminism and equal rights and all, but at this point, I feel like everybody’s got equal rights, so I feel like it’s kind of beating a dead horse,” Gavin Varner ‘21 said.

Radical feminists take the idea of feminism to a new extreme with the belief that women are above men.

“They use what I like to call a lot of ‘non-problems’ to justify certain things,” Varner said. “There was one feminist that posted an article she wrote herself that men should have to take a test to earn the right to reproduce.”

This warping of traditional feminist beliefs has lead to the women’s rights movement being discredited by many, including another twist on feminism called meninism.

Meninism is a term created to mock the feminist movement and represents men who believe that changes in women’s rights mean men will see oppression.

“The other day, actually, I was coming back from the assembly, and there was someone behind me who was like, ‘oh great, another feminist who’s going to complain and claim that someone sexually harassed them, and that way they’re gonna get their side, or whatever,’” Vicky Vien ‘20 said.

However, these radical feminists have defined an entire movement and changed the intent of the feminist movement in the eyes of meninists and those who support women’s rights.

Others think feminazis are taking the original meaning of feminism and changing the intent from equal rights, to a movement where women are superior to men.

Despite all of this, people still rally behind the feminist movement because they believe that feminism “is great, everybody deserves to be equal. No one should be worse than others not based on gender or anything,” Calvin Williams ‘19 said

“I think that’s another issue, because a lot of the younger generation are being taught these really hateful things, and they don’t understand them,” Vien said.

An important step that Monarch has taken to include active feminism at school is the establishment of the “Making Herstory” club. This club actively talks about the steps to making gender equality more present in the school.

“Our current project is a feminine products drive, and our goal for that is to make things like the word ‘tampon’ or ‘menstrual cycle’ or ‘period’ to not be weird,” Vien said. “Our goal is to make it normal because it is normal.”

These feminine products are going to Safe House in Boulder to be distributed to the homeless and abused women and children in the Boulder area.

Making HERstory Club makes difference at MHS Vicky Vien ‘20 is the current secretary of the Making Herstory club at Monarch and is running for co-president next year. She believes that the older generation is spreading gender bias to the younger generation and putting defective ideas into their heads that they don’t understand.

1701 ‘First integrated jury hears cases in Albany, New York.’

First women’s suffrage law passes in Wyoming

1869

Timeline information taken from National Women’s History Aliiance

1900 ‘Every state has granted women some control over property and earnings.’

January 13

The Problematic Dress Code Setting a Precedent of Victim Shaming

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in, Lia Farrell and Ind censte i a Tu a Ra rn

women will be sexually assaulted during their lifetime

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13 By

information from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center

1920 19th Amendment passes, giving women the right to vote 14 the pack

The current school dress code includes the ban of clothing that is “inappropriately sheer, tight, strapless, high-cut, loose, low-cut or exposes undergarments.” These rules aren’t always enforced, but Making Herstory is working on changing the dress code to eliminate sexism, starting with the tube top.

“The other day we were talking about tube tops, because Herstory is working on the dress code, and one of the administration was talking about how people would have the urge to pull down on someone’s tube top, and I was, like, the fact that you thought like that makes me think that you view sexual harassment as very likely,” Vien said.

While the dress code may seem like a small issue, some members of Making Herstory believe it fosters sexism and victim shaming. Not only was Vien concerned by the administration’s comment, but that the objectification and sexual assault of women was not being addressed at Monarch.

“There’s no way that [sexual assault] is not happening, but it’s very under the radar, which is honestly terrible,” Vien said.

However, just because it is under the radar does not mean that sexual assault goes unnoticed or doesn’t happen.

“It really depends on the kind of people, because when I’m in the football locker room, it’s pretty bad when it comes to objectifying women. But that’s to be expected, it’s just a massive group of guys who don’t really mean it,”Varner said.

However, many girls don’t feel the same way and believe that the objectification of women shouldn’t be expected.

“It’s also up to the guys, if they are uncomfortable around the girl who is dressing [with] a little bit more skin showing, and they can’t control themselves around them. Well, that’s their fault, not the girls,” Kate Call ‘20 said.

Victim shaming teaches girls that it is better for them to cover up and stay cautious at all times. Contrastingly, the concept that boys should keep their hands and eyes to themselves is not customarily taught in society.

“I feel like they should be able to wear it [what they want],” Williams said. “Like, the whole argument with guys being distracted or whatever, I think it’s bull. Just because it’s not the girls’ problem if the guys is getting distracted.”

Making Herstory and other feminists believe the dress code perpetuates victim shaming and are working to improve this at Monarch.

Medicinal use of birth control is legalized

1936

1963 Equal Pay Act ensures women and people of color receive equal pay to white male counterparts in the same position

23%

Only From Suffrage to #MeToo

of the world’s politicians are women

The Evolution of Women’s Rights

information from the United Nations

Women’s rights have come tremendously far since the days of the suffragettes with women having important roles in society.

Women now attend school for math and science and holding important roles in the government. The female representation and opportunities the United States has skyrocketed.

“I know there are always those who disrespect at times, but I have a lot of guy friends who treat me the way I wanna be treated, and they respect me for who I am and my views and I respect them,” Vien said.

For most women in our country, conditions are improving, and they are recognized as important human beings. However, there are still aspects of the way that women are treated and regarded that are urging feminists to advocate for.

A recent movement that has been based on fighting for female recognition is the #MeToo movement, which campaigns for victims of sexual assault and rape to be acknowledged and taken seriously.

Many celebrities and mainstream media icons have spoken up and gotten behind this movement.

“I think feminism has definitely been a little more mainstream,” Call said. “There have always been people out there who have been very open about how they think of themselves as women and I think, just, now, like, with the #MeToo movement and other celebrities coming out with ‘I’ve been attacked,’ like rape... sexual assault and stuff like that.”

Women have also been speaking up about the payment inequality between men and women. In 2018, women make an average of 80.5 cents for every dollar a man makes. Though the wage gap is slowly closing, this shows that there is still inequality in society.

Even though women have come far in education, politics, and the workplace, the fight for complete fairness among men and women remains there to this day.

Roe v Wade officially legalizes early-term abortions

1973

1994 Gender Equity In Education Act passes, training teachers in gender education

President Obama removes ban against women in combat military positions

2013

2017

#MeToo movement begins, and awareness for sexual assault victims skyrockets January 15

here comes the

SUN

Marcus Crawford ‘19 spreads his light throughout the school despite past troubles

By Evie Cuffaro,Mia Schmanski, Samantha Sarmiento, and Estella Barrett

16 the pack

M

arcus Crawford ‘19 is not a kid you want to get involved with.

He’s a troublemaker.

Or at least he used to be.

He’s the kid who messes around in class, if he decides to show up.

Or at least he used to.

He’s the kid who moved to Monarch sophomore year, leaving the “used to” behind.

Now, Marcus Crawford is your best friend.

Now, Marcus Crawford is friends with literally everyone.

He points at you in the hallway and gives you a hug everytime he sees you.

He always calls you by your full name just because he likes the sound of it.

He never forgets to ask you how your day is going, even if it takes walking across B-Hall traffic to do so.

Marcus Crawford is now a senior at Monarch and is just shy of a ray of sunshine.

January 17

His bright yellow coat along with his matching hat and pants are hard to miss when walking through the halls of Monarch.

Spunky and never failing to make you smile, Crawford radiates love to everyone. But what most people don’t realize is this positivity didn’t come without something behind it.

“I choose to live life day by day, moment by moment,” Crawford said. He believes that positivity is not the luck of the draw, but a mindset you have control over.

Positivity is something Crawford has given to the whole world. He has become a vital light in the lives of those around him, but most importantly, in his own.

Crawford has missed his fair share of classes. 171 class periods missed because of school suspensions. 56 block periods Crawford didn’t attend. This is 28 Wednesdays, his favorite day of the week because, “they move slowly,” he said. Most students dread the long block periods that come with Wednesdays because they go so slow, but for someone like Crawford, it is easy to love things that take time. However, that hasn’t always come naturally.

Crawford is no stranger to drug abuse and mental health issues. Whether it is with his sobriety or his own internal obstacles, he has come to learn the importance of taking time

18 the pack

to focus in on those aspects of gotten him through some of the his life, and give them a lot of hardest times of his life. attention and time.

Pastimes he lost sight of for a “I try to keep myself as my while are making a comeback main focus in life because it in his life. Hobbies like biking is so easy to get caught up in and drawing have been vital other people’s drama,” he said. activities that take his mind off In years previous, it was an the stresses he has overcome. uphill battle for him to take An aspect of Crawford’s life control of his life and fight that has constantly changed, against the thing he used to be but crucially benefits him, is most focused on. his friends.

“Previously in my life, drugs “I’ll be friends with literally were my main focus, and I anybody,” Crawford said. wasn’t really taking the time I These words shine through needed to focus on my future when first meeting Crawford. and my mental health in He takes the time to really general,” he said. make you comfortable and, According from then to the on, commits National to getting to “He’s not afraid to Institute of know you. express himself in the Jane Stark Drug Abuse, “by the one way that maybe other ‘19, time they of his best are seniors, people don’t have the friends, almost 70% agrees. courage to do” of high “He’s school not afraid -Jane Stark ‘19 students will to express have tried himself in alcohol, half will have taken an the way that maybe other illegal drug, nearly 40% will people don’t have the courage have smoked a cigarette, and [to do],” she said. This more than 20% will have used outgoing quality attracts all a prescription drug for a non kinds of people, who Crawford medical purpose.” embraces with open arms and It is not unusual for teens to a smile. deal with issues with drugs, “The biggest thing I hope alcohol, and their mental people know from being health. What is unusual is friends with me is that I will coming back from them. always be there for you, even “One thing that has helped when you’re not there for me,” me is just doing things I enjoy Crawford said. doing,” Crawford said.

Many people in his life have This was simply put, but not influenced him in a way speaks volumes to what has he really needs them to, but if

“

that friendship breaks off, the love from Crawford never goes away.

Stark said, “We knew each other in middle school and immediately reconnected when he moved back to Monarch.

Not only that, but “He has made me more aware of, I guess, being able to express myself and be more confident in myself.”

Crawford tends to do this to many people, bringing out the best, oftentimes the happiest, version of themselves.

“Thanksgiving break, actually, I was parked outside my house, getting ready to leave for my grandparents, and I was sitting in my car with my sister. Marcus ran up to my window and knocked on it,” Stark said. “He doesn’t live anywhere near me, so it was really odd. I was under the assumption that he was just walking in the neighborhood and saw me. After that, he just walked back around the corner to what I assumed was his car.

I never saw where he came from and never saw where he went.” This story that perfectly shows Crawford’ spontaneity.

A trait he is well known for by his friends and even those who don’t know him.

For Marcus Crawford, walking on sunshine is an understatement. He is the sunshine, shining on the soul of each person he meets, every day and every moment of his life.

‘‘

“Confident” He doesn’t really care about things that usually worry others, and that’s pretty cool.

-Emmerson Herman ‘19

“Amazing” “Outgoing” He’s the kindest person I’ve ever met. He’s the spunkiest person and the funkiest person. He’s such a spaz. He’s always in a good mood.

He’s kind of a crazy dude. He’s in my Spanish class. He’s a fun person to be around. He always starts conversations and he kind of keeps the class moving.

-Tori Zrubek ‘19

-David Park ‘19

what do you think when you hear marcus crawford?

“Adventurous”

He’s not afraid to express himself in a way that maybe other people don’t have the courage to do.

-Jane Stark ‘19

“Insightful”

He can read people really easily.

-Audra Jones ‘19

“Free”

He says what he thinks without any shame. He says what he thinks and thinks what he says.

-Alex leLoup ‘20

“Contagious” When he walks in a room, he’s always wearing something awesome.

He always has this energy that’s very contagious. He’s just happy and loud, and he’s a good friend.

-Colleen Chen ‘19

January 19

Three Years later...

How these lovebirds have stayed together throughout high school

By Maddie Stilson Although many stories of teenage relationships end in disaster and mayhem, Kendall Weideman ‘19 and Aidan Jones ‘19 are here to say that love can last. After meeting in freshman PE class and connecting through Instagram, this power couple have now been together for almost three years.

From an outsider perspective, being in a relationship that lasts more than a couple of months may seem unachievable. However, Weideman and Jones have another view.

“As long as we share communication and trust, we can fix any of our issues,” Weideman said.

They both agree that they have grown together and have come a long way from when they first started dating. “Our first date was at Kendall’s neighborhood park,” Jones said. “I think it was cute to see how much we both tried for each other even on the first date.”

They admitted that they have changed as individuals from that first date and are outright opposites of each other in many ways.

“Aidan is more shy, [and] I’m more outgoing. I love to

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plan things out, and he goes more with the flow,” However, Weideman said, this doesn’t stop them from having an epic love story.

Three years later, and their secret to staying together for so long is quite simple. “We never stop laughing and sharing love with each other,” Weideman said. If that isn’t enough to melt hearts, they also added that their favorite things to do are with each other, whether it’s a coffee date or a trip across the country.

Love in the teenage world is often mocked and looked down upon. While this stops some people from taking the leap into relationships, the pair have some words of wisdom for those lost in the complicated world of young love. “Protect each other and always compromise. The most important thing is to always say, ‘I love you’ no matter how mad you are at each other,” Weideman said.

With these words of sage advice that this duo lives by, they continue to be two of the luckier people, having found one another in the crowded hallways of Monarch High.

On the road to loving yourself

In a world of dark, these two students find their own light

By Jamie Thompson In this day and age, judgement is everywhere, perfection is impossible to meet, and social media holds people to unrealistic standards.

The culture that society has created has damaged everyone’s self esteem, and it’s about time to start not only loving each other, but loving ourselves again.

Seniors, Elle Dutka ‘19 and Skylar Laman ‘19 have dealt with overcoming their insecurities and have advice towards others who are struggling.

“The past year has been very hard on me,” Dutka said. “I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I wouldn’t say that I have ‘overcome’ this, but I’m learning to adapt, and I’ve had a lot of support from the people I love.”

Dutka inspires other students to stay strong even at their breaking points. “It’s really hard being a teenage girl in general and then to add a chronic disease out of nowhere? It’s hard! But I realized it’s okay to take it day by day, and it’s okay to be pissed off about it, but you can’t give up,” Dutka said.

While Dutka discusses the hardships and battles she has faced, Laman focuses on the brighter side of things.

“I love how determined I am and how I don’t let people walk all over me. If I have a problem with someone or don’t agree with something they’re doing, I make sure I speak my mind,” Laman said.

Through the difficulties, Dutka has learned to trust herself.

“It’s really easy to be hard on myself and to be insecure about the tiniest of things, but when that happens I just try and remember that no one really cares.,” Dutka said. Everyone has their own life to be focused on, so I just need to focus on my life and be confident. Confidence is such an amazing thing and when you’re confident and doing what’s truly best for you, it’s magnetic and everything lines up on its own.” She encourages everyone to do what makes you happy and if you’re not, then keep searching.

Laman agrees. “I think the biggest advice I can give is to think about your own happiness,” she said. “The things you are worried about right now aren’t going to matter in 10 years. You are beautiful just the way you are and don’t let anyone tell you differently. It’s your life, not theirs.”

At times everyone feels alone, everyone has doubts, and everyone puts themselves down. These girls show how it’s okay to be alone. It’s okay to have those bad days, and it’s okay to feel like giving up, as long as everytime you fall, you stand back up stronger.

January 21

The First

Date

“We got ready and went in the beetle bug to Boulder. We parked far so we talked all the way down to Pearl [Street]. We got a spot on the patio and got my favorite food, which is sushi, and then for dessert, we got Mochi! We then walked back to the car and drove back to our hood and hung out at the outlook. We then sat on the hood and talked for awhile.”

-Trinity Jackson ‘19

“For our first date, we went to Dairy Queen. I couldn’t drive yet, so he picked me up. I knew he was special because he came up to my door instead of just texting me to tell me “here.” That was really important to me, and he still does that to this day. I was so excited and happy.

It didn’t take long for us to figure out that we wanted to exclusively date one another.”

-Kaylina Dice ‘19 “We left from my house on a nice summer night and set up an air mattress in the back of the truck with a bunch of blankets and pillows. Then, we went for an early dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. We were going to the drive-in that night, so we bought a bunch of cheesecake and took it to the drive-in. We watched a movie, ate cheesecake, and talked about life”

-Payton Thomas ‘19

So You Had A Bad Day....

Top 10 Break Up Songs

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“We went to the movies and saw the new Star Wars movie.

We were both super nervous. It was special because I felt really safe and like I could be myself.

I wasn’t worried about trying to be someone I wasn’t just to impress him. He liked me for who I am, which is really sweet. I had butterflies in my stomach the whole night, and I still get that feeling around him.”

-Jennifer Roberts ‘19

1. i hate you, i love you Gnash & Olivia O’Brien

6. Happier Ed Sheeran

2. Lovely Khalid & Billie Eilish

7. Losin Control Russ

3. Needed me Rihianna 4. The Best You Had Nina Nesbitt

8. Stay Post Malone

5. Too Good at Goodbyes Sam Smith

9. thank u, next Ariana Grande 10. Blow Me (One Last Kiss) P!nk

Follow Mohi Mix’s Spotify account! @Mohimix

First Comes Then Comes Teachers share what it’s like to be married at school

By Savannah Griffis and Hahn Park

Melissa Vass

Lazlo Vass

Q: How long have you been married?

A: This year, it’ll be 25 years.

Q: How did you two meet?

A: We were friends in high school. We didn’t date in high school, though. I knew Mrs.Vass’ brother. We were friends. We each graduated and went off to college, and after I came back to Colorado from New York that’s when we started dating.

Q: Is it difficult to be around each other all the time and still maintain a healthy relationship?

A: It’s not difficult to be around each other.

Q: How do you overcome the hardships you two face?

A: We always sit down and talk it out. If we have a disagreement, we always sit and look at it from both sides.

Q: What were you looking for in a partner?

A: I was looking for somebody who was honest, someone who was self-confident, kind, and someone who had the same interests as I do.

Q: What’s it like working together?

A: We really try not to see each other during the day, so we don’t get distracted. We try not to spend too much time at school together, so that we have something to talk about whenever we get home. We try to avoid each other at school.

Q: What are your favorite qualities in Mrs. Vass?

A: She’s a really kind person and really thinks about others. She’s honest and always lets you know where she’s coming from. She’s also very curious, just like I am. We both like a lot of different things and like exploring.

Q: What did you look for in a partner?

A: I wanted somebody who was fun and liked the same things I liked. Mr. Vass and I both like to go to the movies and plays. We also like the same kind of books. Those are the two main things.”

Q: What is your most memorable moment with Mrs. Vass?

A: We took a 10 country tour in Europe the second year we were married, and that was a great trip. Norway, Hungary, and Germany. It was probably our biggest trip before our son came along.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Mr. Vass?

A: My favorite thing is his sense of humor. He’s a pretty funny guy.

Q: What do you two do on a day off?

A: We go to a museum or a movie. We also like to go out to breakfast.

Q: Is it difficult not seeing Mrs. Vass throughout school?

A: No, we have a professional agreement that we try not to see each other during the day so that we have something to talk about afterwards. I think that’s important for some people.

January 23

Let’s Get This Bread

A look into the lives of high school students with jobs

By Nathan Lewison, Logan Lair, Sebastian Manzanares and Grant Myers 24 the pack

Breccan in Working for the bank life

Corzine makes it big as banker To become a bank teller, it is recommended that you have a high school diploma.

However, Breccan Corzine ‘21, he only needed Monarch’s Business program to get a job at Premier Members Credit Union.

Last year, business teacher Mr. Rudy Sumpter informed Corzine of an opportunity to work part-time at a bank.

Corzine was interested and decided to give it a shot. At this time, Corzine was already a member of the MHS business program. For all students involved, an internship must be completed.

Mr. Sumpter helped Corzine prepare for his interview and recommended him to the Credit Union.

“He taught me business stuff that I would need in order to work as a teller,” Corzine said.

As a teller, Corzine’s job is to complete transactions for members. These transactions include depositing checks and cash and completing withdrawals in the form of cash.

Corzine has been working for the Credit Union for six months, and he typically works six to eight hours a week.

Corzine said that the job is very flexible and can work around his schedule.

Despite its flexibility, the job isn’t perfect. Working means that time is taken away from him. Time that he could spend with his friends, doing homework, or even relaxing.

However, Corzine finds a way to stay positive about his busy schedule.

“Getting paid is nice because I can save up for college or buy new things,” Corzine said.

Corzine has the opportunity to learn about what other people do with their money and how they spend it. This will ultimately rub off on Corzine, who plans on saving his money.

Working for a bank is something that plenty of students can’t say they’ve done. Corzine is determined to go against the norm.

Kramer drives to make a living A loud, obnoxious alarm clock blares at 6:30 in the morning.

What makes this worse, is that it’s 6:30 on a Saturday morning.

Dylan Kramer ‘20 wakes up after a long week of school, and his week is not even close to over.

He crawls out of his bed, showers, throws on an old shirt and pants, skips breakfast, and walks out his front door. From there, he drives 15 minutes to Boulder, where his work day at Pollard Jeep of Boulder begins.

He is a lot technician at Pollard., he organizes the parking lot and cleans the jeeps.

“I make sure that the cars have gas, and put them in the building,” Kramer said.

Kramer is used to the drudgery of work, as he’s been doing it since the early age of seven years old. Brad Kramer, Dylan’s dad, runs a home renovation agency.

“He needed help, and that was the age where I could start doing my part around job sites,” Kramer said.

Kramer has experience in all types of construction work. He used to spend days in the sun

laying sod with his father.

When he got older, he learned the basics of landscaping.

While he now spends his days working the lot at Pollard, Kramer still works on his days off on housing sites with his father.

“My dad taught me to work hard to earn my money because nobody else is going to make it for me,” Kramer said.

Kramer knows that his work experience will help him in the future. He plans on being able to support his family, and his experience gives him the skill set to accomplish this goal.

With his goal in sight, Kramer trudges through these long weeks. In the end, he knows that the early mornings at Pollard and the hot afternoons laying sod will all be worth it.

January 25

Beating the dinner rush Holmes begins work at young age It’s six o’clock on a Friday night. Lydia Holmes ‘22 is looking at a two page wait list.

Impatient customers constantly ask for tables and how much longer the wait will be.

A table opens up, and Holmes gives her bussers instructions as she attempts to soothe the irritated patrons. When the table is set, Holmes brings the customers to their intended destinations.

And repeat. For another three hours.

This is what work is like for Holmes, who works at a local restaurant in Louisville called The Waterloo.

“It’s a new experience for me, which was very frightening,” Holmes said. “But I love working at the Waterloo.”

This is Holmes’ first job. At fifteen years old and only a freshman, she is putting the responsibility of earning money into her own hands.

“I didn’t like asking my parents for money when I needed it,” Holmes said.

So, she took up a job as a hostess for The Waterloo.

A normal shift for her lasts around five hours, and involves greeting customers and guiding them to their table. When there are no bussers or if the waiters are busy, the job of setting up tables and cleaning them falls on Holmes.

On busy nights, this job can become taxing. “The rush hour is very stressful, but it keeps me busy,” Holmes said. In order for the restaurant to run successfully, Holmes takes charge and keeps it organized. She has to. It’s her job.

Embracing the grind Watson finds way to fit everything in As a high school senior, you have one job: survive the final year.

Once this is accomplished, then you can move on to bigger and better things in the world. However, Campbell Watson ‘19 has taken another job to go along with the one he already has.

Watson works retail at The Home Depot. He typically works on weekends to avoid any conflict because during the week Watson is busy with his school work as well as practicing with his cycling team for the cutthroat competitions he competes in.

“There isn’t a lot of time to relax between school, biking, and work, but I make it work,” Watson said.

When the store is short staffed and the manager calls, Watson always answers the call of duty and picks up the hours.

Even though Watson works hard, it is not enjoyable all of the time.

“I may not enjoy it all the time. I have to always be doing something like helping customers, stocking shelves, or working the cash register, and this gets tiring. But I embrace the grind and try and get that bread whenever I can,” Watson said.

Watson is working hard at The Home Depot to make some extra money to spend in his free time, but he is also saving some of his paycheck for college.

Watson’s job will not only get him some spending money, but it will also teach him valuable life lessons that he can take to college.

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The Job Board

$ Macy’s is hiring this season. They are looking for students 16+ that are passionate and energetic to join their team.

$ Coal Creek Bowling Center is looking for students to fill

positions at the snack bar or on the concourse 2-3 days a week.

$ Ignite Adaptive Sports is hiring junior ski/snowboard

instructors for the 2018-2019 season to help children learn how to ski at Eldora. You must be 16-18.

$ BVSD is hiring for juniors and seniors who want to earn extra cash by helping out with their School Age Care Program (SAC).

Wages are $10.20 per hour on weekdays.

$ Five Guys is now hiring for full and part time shifts. Starting pay is above minimum wage.

$ The Superior Sports Stable is hiring for $12 per hour for weekday and weekend shifts.

For more information about these jobs as well as many others, please check the job board outside the Counseling Office.

How To Get A Job Job Interview Tips One of the most important interview tips is to be confident. Be calm and collected throughout the interview. Make it known to the interviewer that you want the job and that you will work very hard for them.

Best/Easiest Jobs to Get As a Student

The best and easiest jobs as a student include positions in retail or food service.

Food service jobs include positions such as a busser at a restaurant, as well as a fast food job where you do any number of things.

Suggested Student Hours Per Week Working Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays is always a good idea because that is when you will get most of your hours in. It also won’t get in the way of your schoolwork, so it is a good balance. During the week, focus on school work, and during the weekend focus on work.

The minimum wage in Colorado is $10.20 per hour January 27

CAN’T WE ALL JUST...

What we’re leaving behind in 2018 Save The Earth Beaches lined with litter, animals found dead with pounds of trash in their stomachs. These are the headlines and iconic images we’ve all seen before. “Sperm whale found dead with 13 pounds of plastic in its stomach.” Americans produce about 10.5 million pounds of plastic trash a year, and recycle about 1-2% of it. This is pointless and moronic. As humans, we may go entire months without even considering the waste, debris, and havoc we may create on this planet. Littering needs to stop in 2018. Don’t just be a statistic. Be the difference. -Brandon Phillips

Get off the phone In the past, the word ”addiction” used to be associated with drugs or alcohol more than anything else. Recently, however, the word is used to describe a person’s relationship with their phone and social media. Whether it is shallow conversations through Snapchat or comparing ourselves to Instagram models, our collective lives have been thoroughly cheapened through the overuse of various social media platforms. It’s time we make a change. Let’s leave the superficial realities behind in 2018 and live our best lives in this new year. -Maddie Stilson

Get rid of sexism “I’m sorry, I just don’t think you can live up to the standards here. We need people who can actually work.” It’s as if you have been punched, and you have to walk away without any care. Cruel and bitter statements similar to this hit women, non binaries, and so many others just because of their sexuality. Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation says that 90% of trans people report experiencing harassment, mistreatment, or discrimination on the job. The Pew Research Center states that four in ten women experience gender discrimination at work. These are just the people that speak up about it.

Would you speak up? Would you risk everything? I certainly would because I wouldn’t allow people to disrespect me, even if it meant I would lose everything I worked for. These thoughts scurry through the minds of people all the time. When living on the edge, taking a risk is like cutting a string. With inequality in treatment comes inequality in pay. The American Association of University Women says that, based on the slow growth of the past 17 years, women would not have the pay equity until 2106. Just think about how much less non binaries are payed. Sexism and its engravings in society need to wear away in 2019. -Nathan Phillips

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Quit Comparing I look in the mirror and see the worst aspects of myself. I see a face that is too round and a waist that isn’t skinny enough.

Comparison and body negativity have constantly crowded this year, not just for me, but for my friends, too. My beautiful, skinny friend, who I wish I looked like, hates her body. She says her legs are too long and her face is covered in pimples. I’ll hear my friends say that they think someone is beautiful before they say anything else about them. It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t have something negative to say about themselves. It can be the small things, too, like a nose or the color of their eyes. We need to leave body negativity behind in 2018 and accept that we are all different, unique, and beautiful. -Amelia Krueger

Forget the stress

I believe what’s worth leaving behind as we leave the year of 2018 is the stress and negativity that surrounded it. We have been through many hardships to be where we are now. Since the new year is here, we must now forget the negatives and stress of the past and embrace the present with open arms. We will have to overcome more obstacles, so there is no point in clinging on to past difficulties. -Hahn Park

Say “I can do it!”

On a daily basis, I often hear the phrase “I can’t” and, to be completely honest, I fall victim to those two words, as well. As humans, we often doubt our ability to learn and reach for places outside of our comfort zones. We give up before we even try.

We fear failure so much that we don’t even try to reach success.

I believe we need to leave the phrase “I can’t” in 2018 and make 2019 the year of “I can.” -Jamie Thompson

Take a breath Everyone knows that life is a blur, a competition against time to be the best, the first, to earn a title ending in -est. The business of life causes us to not live in the moment; we only dwell on the future and what will become of it. We stress for nothing. Our minds naturally generate exaggerated circumstances. I believe it’s time for us all to relax, to release all of the tension that is knotted in our chests about a future test or the next situation life may spontaneously throw at us. Life should not revolve around the idea of perfection, but we should merely live and enjoy. I believe it’s time that everybody acknowledges that. -Cara Racenstein

ARMING TEACHERS

Should teachers be permitted to possess guns?

A solution to our country’s most tragic events On April 20, 1999, thirteen people lost their lives to two shooters at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.

There was a way for this to be prevented, but not the way you may think.

We, as schools, do prepare for shootings and, even then, they still happen. We are still haunted by the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. in 2018 and Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. in 2012.

After the Parkland shooting,

there was talk of some schools allowing teachers to carry firearms to help protect the students. There should be some line of defense, whether it is security guards or even teachers with firearms.

If trusted teachers or security guards in all schools held some sort of firearm, the schools would be much safer.

Imagine if there was a school shooter. Students and teachers alike would not need to wait.

Typically, it is already too late and the damage is done by the time the police get there.

Teachers armed with knowledge According to CNN, there has been a total of twenty two school shootings over the course of last year in the United States. One school shooting rallied students together in an unbelievable way. Seventeen injured and 17 died at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. We shouldn’t place the burden of carrying a gun on our teachers. Many teachers don’t like the idea of firing and possibly killing somebody.

One reason teachers should not have guns is that it would make schools less safe. For

example, a student could find a firearm and steal it. Teachers could lock it in a desk, but locks can be picked. Keys can also be stolen easily.

Another argument is that in an active shooter situation what if something goes wrong?

What if the teacher accidentally fires the gun and it hits a innocent student? Teachers are not soldiers, they’re educators.

They can go through training, yes, but humans make mistakes.

The training and actual firearms cost money. Schools are already very underfunded.

We should not spend the

When students and teachers are waiting for the police, doing something about the threat would already be taken care of. The problem is that our modern safety protocol is to sit in a room while we wait for the police to get there.

If we are just sitting with no protection, then students and teachers could both be killed.

Now, yes, there is a chance that somebody may get hurt, but we don’t know that. So, personally, I would rather be safe than sorry.

With teachers having

By Luke Berghoefer firearms, there are definite potential complications, such as if they don’t want to carry weapons. I understand why they wouldn’t want to because they may not want to have to take the life of another.

Now, I get that some people have their own opinion against mine, I understand that, but that won’t stop me from getting my opinion across, even if it is the unpopular one.

There should unquestionably be some form of defense in schools involving firearms.

By Jonah Speyer money that the district has on guns, but on books to further our education. We should not spend that money on training our teachers to kill, but to update school programs.

While schools have taken steps to become safer places, school shootings have been more and more common.

That’s why lockdown drills are important.

That’s why we have fobs and security cameras.

I would not feel safe if I knew that my teacher had a concealed weapon in his or her desk.

Guns are weapons of war and

have no place in schools. We, as students, come to school to feel safe. Teachers carrying guns causes a false sense of security.

The idea that more guns is a smart idea is insane. More weapons and hate will do nothing more than to add more negativity into this world.

We, as America, need stricter background checks when purchasing guns. We need to ban assault rifles. We need a better solution than arming teachers.

January 29

BIRTH CONTROL

BY RUBY CERVANTES

Get over the fact that girls take “the pill”

It was already an atrocious day to start. I walked down the hallway to my seventh period class when I heard a deep male voice behind me.

“Hey! Someone told me they saw you taking birth control in the bathroom this morning.”

I stopped immediately and turned around.

“Okay? Why does that matter?” I asked, completely confused by the comment made by this stranger.

“Well, because you’re gay.

It’s not like any dude is gonna get you pregnant or something,” he laughed.

I quickened my pace, rounding the corner into my class.

Young women in high school are not unaccustomed with the teasing and bullying that comes along with being open about taking birth control.

They walk down the halls getting dirty looks, being called mean names behind their backs.

As a girl in high school, I am anything but comfortable sharing that I am on birth control with even my closest friends, and, to me, that

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seems unfair. It shouldn’t be as contraception. There are a something that makes a single multitude of different benefits person even bat an eye. and reasons women are on I’ve seen it all before. I’ve birth control that don’t involve experienced it all, too. “Slut! preventing pregnancy.

Whore!” These are only some According to the Planned of the names people have Parenthood website, Ortho called out simply because I’ve Tri-Cyclen is one of the most been so uncensored about how popular forms of birth control I choose to live my life. used to control acne. Girls However, aren’t using the irony birth control is that I solely for the have never contraceptive “...a survey done piece. Maybe used birth control for we simply don’t by the National contraception. want awful zits Center for Health In fact, I don’t on our face. even identify Besides just Research, found as straight. acne, birth that almost 58% What control can started as also help with of women are a simple a number of on ‘the pill’ for routine other hormonal to make related reasons other women’s symptoms. than a form of lives a little Furthermore, easier became a survey birth control.” a hardship. done by the It’s a secret National Center many feel for Health the need to Research, found hide. To say that almost 58% those words makes me feel of women are on “the pill” nothing but disappointed in for reasons other than a form our society. of birth control. According to Something that most people American College of Obstetrics are blind to is the fact that and Gynecology (ACOG), birth control isn’t solely used birth control pills can reduce the symptoms of disorders such as Dysmenorrhea, which is a fancy word for menstrual cramps or uterine contractions.

Before you make a snarky comment about the fact that a girl uses birth control, remember that the pill is probably the reason they haven’t screamed in your face or torn your head off out of the anger caused by the pain and agony that comes with many of the symptoms of menstruation.

It’s upsetting that girls are

“

scared to be open about the fact that they use birth control.

Regardless of the reason they use contraception, women should feel comfortable being honest about whether or not they are on “the pill” or some other form of birth control.

Some of these alternatives include, IUDs, the patch, and the shot.

So, what’s the big deal? Well, to answer honestly, there really isn’t one. It comes with the fact that many teenagers are uninformed of the beneficial effects that birth control can have for women.

Girls all over the school are being called “sluts” and “nasty” by their peers because they take a small pill or shot or anything else so that their lives are more comfortable. Whether it’s for a sexual purpose or not, it shouldn’t matter. We live in a society that tells young women they should be conservative and classy and to be careful about how open they are about their womanhood.

The people of our generation must understand that we are young women and we will never stop making choices that benefit us because people don’t know how to mind their own business. It is our life and we choose how to live it.

To the boys who call girls names because they are on birth control, you know nothing about what we go through every single day. Our hormones are on a constant roller coaster, and if we choose to take a pill, shot, or patch to make us comfortable, that is our choice. Please, keep all your comments to yourself. As I’m sure you’ve heard before, if you don’t have something nice to say, then please don’t say anything at all.

A BETTER WAY

A path towards a more relevant education

OPINION OF THE PACK EDITORIAL BOARD

management theorist says, in principle, but these higher “We learn 10% of what we levels of thinking are not read, 20% of what we hear, always fulfilled, leading to the 30% of what we see, 50% of ineffective use of the flipped what we see and hear, 70% classroom at Monarch. Not of what we only are the discuss, 80% highest levels of what we of learning experience, lacking, but “We learn 10% and 95% of the style of what we what we teach of learning to others.” (watching a read, 20% of While these video at home what we hear, percentages and taking are a notes) mainly 30% of what generalization, appeals to we see, 50% the theory verbal and behind auditory of what we see Glasser’s learners, and hear, 70% message leaving the remains. other five of what we Deeper levels learning types discuss, 80% of thinking abandoned. can only Although labs of what we be reached do appeal to experience, and the physical through activities like and social 95% of what discussion and learners, they we teach to argumentation, make up the which, not minority of the others.” coincidentally, instructional are also time in many credited with classes.

-William Glasser, the highest Math classes Classroom rates of have made information an effort to Managment retention by include the Theorist psychologists. application This brings level of us to Monarch. learning by A new method, introducing the flipped real-world classroom, problems. was established in 2000 to However, let’s be real. increase this depth of learning, When has a mathematician and is now being utilized in ever determined the angle many classes at Monarch. This between them and a lamppost method has students learn the to calculate its height? facts at home to leave time for Students want to know not analysis and discussion during only how the information is class. applicable to life, but how a This method sounds great real-life mathematician uses

“

E=hf. The capital of Minnesota is Saint Paul.

Columbus sailed the ocean blue... The fact is, in a few years none of this will be relevant.

You won’t need to calculate the energy of a photon, or spout off the capital of Minnesota, or know what year Columbus came to America.

The real purpose of education is to make you hard to trick.

No one cares what random facts you can spew, but by being able to analyze and synthesize data, you can siphon out inaccurate news and prevent yourself from being fooled. So, while the facts are important, what is much more important is being able to interpret data from your friend, a parent, the news, and determine whether it is true.

One of the guiding theories that has changed the modern education system is Bloom’s Taxonomy. This theory consists of six different levels of learning: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. The pyramid goes in order from the lowest level of understanding (knowledge) to the highest level of complexity (evaluation).

Along with the push for higher level thinking came a movement that promoted teaching for all seven learning styles: aural, visual, verbal, physical, logical, social and solitary. Researchers discovered that while each individual has a learning style that is most effective for them, the synthesis of all seven learning styles promotes a higher level of thinking and understanding in students.

William Glasser, a classroom

STAFF EDITORIAL

the material. Students want to know what a historian does day to day, what experiments a chemist completes, and how they do so.

While a teacher can say a mathematician does x, y, and z on a day-to-day basis, the only way for a student to truly comprehend x, y and z is to complete those actions themselves. To be a merchant in a simulation about the Aztec Empire or complete a lab on water filtration. Even simple things, like having students discuss and defend their position on an article read for Language Arts, deepens the learning experience. These are the lessons that students remember and carry with them.

Teachers have made tremendous efforts to make classes interactive and increase the depth of knowledge they are giving to students.

However, there are still ways that education at Monarch can and must be improved.

Interactive activities do happen and enhance classrooms, but don’t happen nearly as often as they should.

Bloom’s Taxonomy is just one theory, and Benjamin Bloom is just one man, but by talking to students, it becomes apparent that an increase in interactive classes and a change to the flipped classroom is necessary. Monarch students want teachers to incorporate these higher levels of learning: analysis, synthesis, evaluation.

Students not only need to memorize facts and understand the who, what, and where, but need to understand the why and the how of what they are being taught.

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