The Mix - Volume 24, Issue 5

the

Mix

The Student Voice of Monarch High School

The Bucket List Issue

36 things to do before you graduate 329 Campus Dr

Louisville, Colorado

Volume 24

Issue 5

May 2022

80027

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kate Muldoon

EDITORS Maeby Aleo Minh Anh Le

STAFF Arianna Bergman Zack Frieder Josie Furst Sean Goldy David Maxwell Zoey Perrine Brenna Severson

ADVISER Ben Reed

OUR POLICIES:

Opinions or expressions made by students in this publication are not expressions of Boulder Valley School District Board policy. The distr ict and its employees are immune from any civil action based on any expression made for or published by students. The Mix is an open forum for and by the students, faculty, and community of Monarch High School. The Mix is willing to accept and publ ish any appropriate articles. We will not print lette rs sent to us without a name and signature.

OUR VISION: MoHi Media’s vision is to be the source of information for the Monarch community. Our school can count on us to tell the stories that need to be told and to voice the opinions and ideas that need to be heard in an honest, truthful way.

OUR SITES:

Instagram: @mohimix Website: mohimix.com

MOHI’S BUCKET LIST

From being on @mohibadparking to being Steve’s best friend, there are some experiences at Monarch that you can ’t get anywhere else. The Mix staff set out to find people who know firsthand what the se unique experiences are like, and we have com piled a list for you, Monarch! Here are som e of the amazing ways to make the most out of your time as a Coyote.

...get a hat trick

...be on @mohibadparking

“A hat trick is really rare because it’s three goals a game.

We’re in 5A soccer, so it’s really hard to do, especially because the competition is so high.”

— Sophia Stalter ‘24, varsity soccer player

...win the science fair From curiosity to calculations, Morgan Holien ‘22 has exceeded a level of science and mathematics most people will never reach in their lifetimes.

“I’ve always just been interested in science and how the world works,” Holien said. “That’s just a natural curiosity of mine. Math is like the language of how the universe works.”

Holien acted on his love of science by participating in the Corden Pharma Colorado Regional Science Fair. His hard work paid off as he won best-inshow for his math-based project.

“I was very surprised at the regional fair and I didn’t expect to do as well as I did,” Holien said. “It was shocking to win, but also a great feeling.”

...release an album “Usually Brian comes over and then we make a beat or an instrumental of some kind. And then from there, we just listen to the beat and then write.”

— Wally Light ‘22

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Brian Waugh ‘22 waves to the crowd, while Wally Light ‘22 raps at the Prom assembly. After meeting each other freshman year, the two have recorded multiple albums together.

...walk the catwalk Thespian officer Hannah Rowton ‘22 struts down the catwalk in the auditorium.

...play three sports “It’s challenging, but I enjoy it. I have good relationships with coaches, players, and get to meet a lot of cool people.”

— Leif Anderson ‘24, soccer, basketball, and football player

...flip burgers with Grill Club “It can sometimes get chaotic with all the people and the smoke burning your eyes, but maybe that’s what makes it fun.”

— Autumn Blowers ‘23

...go to DECA Nationals ...speak multiple languages “I speak Nepali, Sherpa, Hindi, Tibetan, and English.”

— Dawa Sherpa ‘22

Most members would describe DECA as a “a business and marketing club,” for lack of a better explanation, while they know it’s much more than that.

Because it’s unique to each individual.

As a co-president of Monarch DECA, Cassie Ferrera 22’ would describe DECA as “ exciting,” “inclusive,” and “fun.”

Ferrara’s dedication to DECA earned her an opportunity to compete at the DECA International conference, ICDC, this year.

“Although it would be lovely to win DECA glass, I think it’s going to be more fun to go out there and have the experience of going to Georgia with kids who really like DECA too,” Ferrera said.

May 2022

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...win Mock Trial with your family “It’s really funny when you come up to the opposing side and you start introducing yourselves because when each Kugler is introduced, you just see the judge’s eyes get progressively bigger.”

— Elizabeth Kugler ‘23, who competes on Mock Trial with her sisters and dad

...join The Mix

The Mix staff poses for a yearbook photo. We also run @mohimix on Instagram.

...be the lead in the school musical

Annika Holecek ‘22 plays Sophie, in the spring musical, Mamma Mia.

“I’m the person in the spotlight. It’s weird, but it’s exhilarating because it was what I’ve dreamed of years ago.”

— Annika Holecek ‘22

...start a club ...cry over a grade

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“Yes, I’m pretty much a straight A student, so when I got a grade below that in LA, I cried.”

— Zoe Shimonek ‘25

Andrew Walker ‘24 started Aviation Club at Monarch to find other students that appreciate the same thing he does: flying planes.

“To me, aviation is all about fun,” Walker said. “The experience of starting a plane engine and taxiing to the runway can fill anyone with a sense of excitement that can not be replicated anywhere else. “ Aviation Club allows Walker to do the thing he loves with his friends. The feeling of flying a plane makes him feel like he can do anything.

“The second the wheels lift off the runway the real fun begins as then I can fly almost anywhere I want,” Walker said. “Unlike cars, I don’t need to drive along a predetermined road.”

...rebuild your own car Lachlan James ‘24 works on his ‘84 BMW in his garage. He has worked tirelessly on this car for over a year.

...do the morning announcements ...play hockey like a girl

McKenna Selby ‘22 does morning announcements one last time before graduating.

Being a goalie in hockey is no easy task, the trust in your teammates, and the ability to block every shot possible is very challenging. Joanna Buch ‘23 is the starting goalie on the Rough Riders girls varsity hockey team.

“As a goalie there’s a lot of things, I try to stay focused, and also rest but a lot of it is staying focused during the game and cheering on my teammates, and being engaged as much as I can” Buch said.

As the game goes on, focus has to remain sharp throughout all three periods.

“Games are the most fun, and hockey games are so low scoring and anything can happen at any time” Buch said.

In the garage of Lachlan James ‘24’s house is a partially built BMW he’s been working on for the past year.

James has rebuilt every single part of the ‘84 BMW E30. “I swapped the engine for a newer one, I replaced the rear subframe, pretty much everything,” James said.

Over a year ago James and his parents bought the car for practically nothing from a stranger’s side yard. “It was some old lady’s car actually, there were mints and a sun visor in the back,” James said.

He got to work on it right away, investing many hours of his time and thousands of dollars.

James’ dad was the initial inspiration for his newfound hobby. “My dad also built cars so I guess it was just an influence,” James said.

He went into it with no prior experience, but as of now he estimates that it’s just a few weeks away from driving.“I don’t really know what I’m doing to be honest,” James said. “I’m just improvising.”

As of now, James estimates that the car is about 75% done. “Hopefully it will be done by the end of the summer,” James said.

...perform in POPS “POPS is different from all of the other choir concerts. It’s just to have fun and it’s not about perfect technique or anything. It’s a lot of fun to get to sing songs you love and everyone else loves too.”

— Rachel Contreras ‘23, chamber choir member May 2022

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...dive for a frisbee

...make WGI percussion The roll of a drum and the clack of wooden sticks bounce through Ellen Keck ‘23’s ears as she marches into formation in her winter guard circuit. Keck worked so hard to get where she is today.

“I’m still not where I want to be yet and I still have a lot more work to put in,” Keck said.

But where Keck has gotten to, the Winter Guard International (WGI) circuit, is a huge deal for any high school student. WGI takes winter guard and drum corps competitors from all around the world that compete in smaller groups.

“It’s a very competitive circuit and people go through lots of auditions,” Keck said. “There are lots of people who try but they only take whoever they think would be the best for the show and the group.”

Keck made it into WGI for the first time as a sophomore, expecting not to make it at all. But now as a junior, she became more confident in her skills.

“When I made it sophomore year, I didn’t really expect it,” Keck said. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle it. It’s a fairly stressful thing that takes up a lot of time.”

Gavin Lind ‘22 dives for a frisbee on the Ultimate Frisbee team. He’s committed to winning the game.

...be Steve’s bestie “I got in trouble freshman year. I was running away from Steve, and then he put me in his office. We talked, and we became boys.” — Tyler Rock ‘23

Tyler Rock ‘23 and School Safety Advocate Steven Brown smile for a picture that commemorates their friendship.

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...publish a yearbook Every May, high school students receive a yearbook with a distinct feel and smell that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. But the people behind the creation of the weighty book rarely ever get recognition for their hard work.

This year’s editors-in-chief, Erica Matthies ‘22 and Natalie Hunt ‘22, have put in a serious amount of work to present to the student body of Monarch High School.

“The yearbook is really hard to make ,and it’s a lot of work,” Matthies said. “It’s just stressful because it’s something someone’s going to take and keep forever.”

Making the yearbook may have its struggles, but wrangling the rambunctious staff can be the real challenge for Matthies and Hunt.

“They get really sidetracked,” Hunt said.

“We have to point them in the direction they need to go.”

Matthies and Hunt are very appreciative of their yearbook staff members. The pair have put in the necessary effort to complete the 300 page book.

“It’s a lot of dedication, but the outcome is worth it,” Hunt said.

...be an anchor on KYOT Samantha Benner ‘22 and Shane Klingensmith ‘22 flash their signature deuces. The pair anchored KYOT’s weekly broadcast for the 2021-22 school year.

...play unified basketball

Ella Miller ‘24 goes up for a shot during a unified basketball at a game.

“My favorite things about the job is the inclusivity and having students feel like they have a place to be confident, happy, excited, and proud.”

— Jennifer Cohen, ILC Coordinator

...be Mo for a day “I don’t know how five fingers are supposed to fit into that three fingered glove. It’s gross and it smells pretty awful.” ­­— Ethan Hendricks‘22, who wore Mo for a video shoot

...take photos at a game “I really liked the opportunity to be able to be on the field and see the student section, players, and the audience.”

— Amanda Selby ‘22, Yearbook photographer

May 2022

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...be a part of MILITIA Barrel Boy

Poncho “It’s fun to get involved with your school’s activities.”

— Hank Tucker ‘22

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“Being the leader of the school, it’s not something everyone gets to do.

I think it’s a privilege.

It’s not a right.”

— Garrett Myers ‘22

Beekeeper

I think it was an awesome group this year. I think we had really good support at all the football games.”

— Jake Rubin ‘22

Tutu Girls “Being part of the militia is a great feeling because you feel like you are really contributing to the Monarch spirit and making people more excited to be at the games.”

— Delaney Brady ‘22 “If you started the cheers, it was intense because everyone would be yelling back. It was powerful because people were so happy to be there and you got to lead that happiness.”

— Reese Herrmann ‘22

Cowboy Hat “It’s really special being able to be a part of Monarch history and being able to actually lead the students and cheers and just overall just making Monarch a better place for all students.”

— Drake Peavy ‘22

Hard Hat

“I really like getting to wear the hard hat and representing school. We’re the first faces the other teams see, all the people up in the front with their spirit on, so it really means a lot being able to represent our school and bring a lot of spirit.”

— Sam Riecken ‘22 May 2022

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...wear all gold “Freshman year I started doing it for fun.

Then I started getting a reputation. I was the person that would go all out for spirit day...I was not about to let people down for my senior year.

It was all gold, all the time.” ­­— Kaitlin Swanson ‘22

...score a touchdown on senior night

Zach Ferrera ‘22 celebrates with his team after scoring a touchdown. Senior night was already an exciting event, but getting to the end zone made it even better.

...lead a pep assembly “Once you get into the flow of things, it’s very exciting. You feel the energy. Everybody wants to be there and everybody wants to participate, so it’s a lot of fun.”

— Keiran Singh ‘22 “At first it was really nerve wracking but I think the last few that we did have just been fun.”

— Trinity Jones ‘22

Stuco Co-Presidents Keiran Singh ‘22 and Trinity Jones ‘22 hype up the crowd at the prom assembly.

...plan senior prom

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“I’ve gotten to choose things that I think would be good at prom rather than it being a surprise.”

— Tara Boehmler ‘22, Senior Senate Treasurer

...win senior powderpuff “It was very exciting because we had a huge crowd. It was exhilarating because it was something that we practiced on for a long time.”

— Jiovana DeBaise ‘22

...play the spoon game Teachers roll their eyes as students jog into class, letting out sighs of relief. Friends pat one another on the back, congratulating their fellow seniors on a narrow escape. But what could they possibly be running from?

There is only one answer: spoons. Plastic spoons with names on them.

“It’s very scary,” Gavin Lind ‘22 said.

“I’m spending all my time looking around corners for people who are going after me.”

Lind survived the elimination on the first day, an event similar to the cornucopia in The Hunger Games. The wise words from the book that were uttered by the school announcements, “may the odds be ever in your favor,” couldn’t save everyone.

Each year, the Spoon Game is highly anticipated by seniors and dreaded by teachers. Tensions in the hallways skyrocket as students compete in a winner-takes-all game of tag with plastic spoons.

This year, the beginning of the game was a time of excitement and meticulous strategizing. Lind was confident in his plan of action, and for a while, it proved effective.

“I’ve been having people guard me when I’m going everywhere.” Lind said.

One of the most difficult parts of the game may be protecting yourself in addition to

Gavin Lind ‘22 attempts to hide from an approaching senior. Lind said it was hard not to be paranoid any time he did anything at school, knowing the person who had his name could be around the corner.

tagging the person written on your spoon.

“I was waiting for my person while they were in the bathroom, and I got them when they came back out,” Lind said. “If they try to get me, I just sprint away.”

The game came to a spectacular conclusion

...greet people at B-doors Abdullah Dawud ‘22 enthusiastically talks to everyone who walks in the B-Hall doors.

Dawud is such a social person that it seems every senior at Monarch knows his name.

at the prom pep rally with a free-for-all game of dodgeball. Lind did not emerge the winner, but he can now take a breath of relief and let the constant feeling of paranoia go. This game is something that he will never forget.

...get in to your dream school “I was in my car, sitting in a parking lot…got the email on my phone and dropped it on the floor because I was so ecstatic.” — Emily Schoettger ‘22, Drake University admit

...park at the front of senior lot “I have jazz band, so I get there at the crack of dawn, which is annoying.

But I get the best parking spot.”

— Caroline Farris ‘22

May 2022 13

senior staffers:

SIGNING OFF First and last letter from the editor

I

’ve never written a letter from the editor before because it’s honestly easier not to, but since this is the last issue I’ll be a part of at Monarch, I wanted to give it a shot. Think of it as my version of a graduation speech, but way less daunting.

The past nine months, meaning my senior year, have easily been the busiest time of my life—partly because of what you’re holding right now. However, creating five issues of The Mix is also part of what made senior year the most meaningful time of my life.

I’ll save you the time of reading line after line explaining the hardships of the last few years, because I know we could all easily list dozens of things that have put a damper on our lives (if you need a refresher, look at the whiteboard in Mrs. Duplechin’s room). But part of what’s gotten me through the tough

times is The Mix. As a freshman, I read every issue of the newsmagazine (formerly The Pack) mainly because I wanted to look like I was doing something productive while I procrastinated whatever essay I had to write at the time— sorry Mr. Reed. Little did I know, just a few short years later, I would be Editor-in-Chief.

And speaking of Mr. Reed, the reason I’m even writing this is thanks to him. After continuously turning in essays written in one night in his freshman LA class, he still encouraged (some may say forced) me to join the newspaper staff.

Although releasing an issue is more work than any AP class I’ve taken, it’s been worth it every time.

If I feel like I’m drowning in a world where everything seems so much bigger

Branching out

A

s a middle schooler, I would’ve never found myself doing journalism. I was always into engineering and similar topics, so naturally I thought I would find myself pursuing that in high school. Looking back now, however, it’s cool to get a chance to see where I’ve changed.

During my freshman and sophomore years, I was unsure of what I wanted to do.

The only thing I knew was playing baseball and going to school. Unfortunately, due to injuries, I found myself not playing baseball as much as I wanted to. Luckily, it wasn’t all bad because it gave me the opportunity to find new hobbies.

I found something that was new to me but still exciting. I did play-by-play for a few of Monarch’s home football game livestreams

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in my junior year, which entertained more than I expected. Since I couldn’t play sports at the time, it was so much fun to see how I could take my passion for sports and use it in a different direction.

People would reach out to me and tell me that I was doing a great job, which meant a lot. It was really cool to see the impact that being involved in journalism could have on the school.

I was a part of KYOT for a year and a half before I switched to the newspaper staff recently. The most fun part of it for me is getting to talk to so many different people that go to our school.

When I first came into high school, I wasn’t the type of person to go out of my way to talk to many people at all, and doing interviews gave me an excuse to force myself

than me, it gets pretty easy to spiral down that rabbit hole. But it helps to remember that something doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful.

Simply posting a picture on @mohimix to list upcoming spirit days or promote a rivalry game is more influential than most people realize. Publishing firsthand encounters from the Marshall Fire or a story about a retiring coach is more significant than you would think.

Journalism is undoubtedly powerful, but many take it for granted.

So to any of you who are reading this because you’re stressed, or bored, or need some entertainment, I want to say thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to pay attention to journalism at Monarch, and all I can ask is that you keep doing so.

— Kate Muldoon to change that. I’ve met way more people than I would have anticipated and have been able to have conversations with tons of people outside of my close friend group.

I’m glad I branched out and decided to announce my first football game. I’m glad I found interest in doing journalism at Monarch. It opened my eyes to something I was passionate about other than baseball and introduced me to so many interesting people around me.

— Sean Goldy

The good things

W

hile it’s easy to look at high school through a negative lens, when I look at the last four years from a birds-eye view, it’s actually easier to see only the good things.

First, my surprisingly painless freshman year: I sat in front of my friend in U.S. Government so Mr. Buse wouldn’t see her sleeping and shied away from Ms. Prassa because I was late for her first-period class.

Every.

Single.

Day. I blame my mom, the person who drove me almost every day, for that.

I remember yelling happy birthday to my friends in the cafeteria and having the entire room join in. I found my passions for public speaking and American Sign Language. I remember desperately trying to recruit my friends into speech and debate because turning my freshman angst into passionate speeches was the bread to my butter.

I also remember when I was first learning ASL, I was pulled aside at an event because there was a Deaf person who needed help. The relief I felt after helping her find what she needed, I knew I couldn’t let that feeling go.

Then, my half-normal sophomore year: Going to my first high school party and not regretting a second of it.

Taking the one and only history class that I actually enjoyed with Mr. Findley leading the tribe. Choosing a public speaking class to feed my addiction to the skill, a class that also granted me, my very first upper-classmen friends.

I continued to write and read for fun

after discovering the library and all of its wonders. I did everything under the sun with my best friend at the time and even met her lizard for the first time.

The creature she lovingly cares for still terrifies me.

COVID hit and cut that year in half, but it wasn’t as bad as we made it seem in the beginning. I went on FaceTime adventures where one of us would stay home, and the other would strap their phone to the front of their bike and ride till we lost wifi.

My interesting junior year: A time I don’t remember clearly because all of it seems to blend together. It did make me miss my time in school. Walking into a swarm of new people and scoffing at the group of freshmen who think it’s a good idea to stand in the middle of the hallway. Paper assignments and across the room stares.

My way too eventful senior year: A fire that burnt down half of my hometown, a glycol leak, and a plan to build a second road out of Monarch before I could even blink. But there were also the good things that I can’t seem to forget. My first romantic relationship.

My first ditch day and ditched class.

My first time enjoying myself at a football game. My first high school sport, ultimate frisbee. Riding to school with my best friend and walking up to the school from senior lot like a true upperclassman. Taking my writing passion and actually doing something useful with it, by writing for the school magazine. Getting to be a part of the spoon game, and boasting about surviving the first day.

Even though I can look back at high

school and be cynical about it, I have to look at the positive things that happened and continue to happen. If I don’t, I won’t be able to find the positive things in the rest of my life. I won’t be able to take the hidden lessons that my seemingly harsh four years have given me. I wouldn’t have been able to find confidence in who I am if I didn’t struggle a little bit.

So, when someone asks me about high school, I’m still going to say that they weren’t the best years of my life.

Because they were so much more than just the best years of my life.

— Josie Furst

May 2022

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That’s our bucket list...

What’s on yours?