Eagle Eye Issue one by Mark Newton

EAGLE EYE junior Sam Evins lands his dream theatre role

how student athletes handle concussions

student trends of 2017

Vol. 16 Issue 1 10.6.17 Mountain Vista High School | 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Senior man poms perform during the closing homecoming assembly. The Class of 2018 shot confetti following their performance. Photo by Savanah Howard

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Head football coach Ric Cash yells to the sideline during the game against Poudre High School. “He’ll yell if there’s a bad call, but what coach doesn’t?” senior Will Coder said. “Finding the right balance of energy and sound mind is what he really wants from us for the team to play its best.” The Golden Eagles lost to Poudre, 35-21. Photo by Savanah Howard

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contents

5 history of pop art

An infographic all about pop art

8 trends

See what’s trending at vista, and keep up with future dress up days

12-16 feature stories A close up look at two artists, a theatre guru, and an award-winning teacher

20 sports

How concussions affect athletes, varsity baseball succeeding in the classroom and more

editors

savanah howard lauren irwin gabe barnard haley kolseth charlie penvari bronwen cartwright greyson koinzan

lauren lippert mikayla olave michael place erica venable emily kinney lexi riga

drew stahl lauren cowie georgia lane helen chen addisyn hartman alex simpson julia kirsch max hutto lizzie brenneman chloe yets erin solomon ryan karsten sarah hensler carly ems jessica lauck shayan zarrin judith sheahan ben yoshida

hannah corbet-thiele brendan elkins caitlin english mindy herrod hannah mcclain hannah lovell victoria coffman molly phelan sarah o’sullivan tj coder jackson braun taryn glentzer madison paul tiara tambunan audrey brown tess harbert amanda gross brendan o’keeffe

staff

policy

Eagle Eye, a legally recognized public forum for student expression, is published four times a year by the student journalism class at Mountain Vista High School. Expression made by students in the exercise of freedom of speech or freedom of press is not an expression of Douglas County school board policy. The views expressed in Eagle Eye do not necessarily represent the views of the entire staff, adviser, MVHS administration or the Douglas County School District administration. Board policy regarding student publications (JICEA and JI/ JIA) are avaliable in the publications room (U328) or the principal’s office.

letters to the editors

The Eagle Eye welcomes and encourages letters to the editors. Letters should be limited to 250 words. Letters will be edited for space and legal considerations, but not for inaccuracies, grammar or spelling. Letters must contain information pertinent to the students of MVHS. The staff retains the right to withold publication of any letter not meeting these requirements. Unsigned letters will not be published. Please submit typed letters in person to room U328 or via mail or email.

contact

26 student submissions The Eagle Eye accepted student submissions to be featured in the magazine

Eagle Eye | Mountain Vista High School 10585 Mountain Vista Ridge Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 Phone: 303.387.1500 Adviser: Mark Newton marknewton@dcsdk12.org Editors: eagleeyeeditors@gmail.com

Sophomore Oaklee Peterson strides alongside the other members of the marching band at the Littleton Western Welcome Week Parade. “Marching in parades is exciting because it gives people the opportunity to see what the band is capable of,” Peterson said. Peterson, who has been in the band since eighth grade, said he plans on playing throughout the rest of high school. Photo by Emily Kinney

Sophomore Davis Helmrich laughs at his friend, sophomore Mark Nicolosi, during the “yeah boy” yelling competition during the Homecoming kickoff assembly. “Nicolosi [competed for our class last year and] his voice cracked. This year I forced Jaffe to do the competition again and we were going to get the same kid to do it again,” Helmrich said. “We told him to do the same thing and he attempted to voice crack but it didn’t really work. After he said ‘Yeah,’ I just fell over laughing. I wasn’t even trying to fall, I literally couldn’t stand up any longer.” During every kick-off homecoming assembly, Student Leadership puts on different class competitions and games to set the mood for the week. Photo by Greyson Koinzan

quick reads

all about the counselors hannah corbet-thiele

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Regina LaMonte Q: What do you do on a daily basis? A: “That’s a great question because it always changes. I talk with a lot of kids, I answer a lot of emails, I talk with teachers about various things going on. Exveryday is different.” Q: Why did you decide to become a high scool counselor? A: “When I was in high school, I spent a lot of time in the counseling oﬃce at my high school, partly because my mom worked there so I had to be there, partly because I really liked the people that worked in the counseling oﬃce. They’re all very kind and caring and helped students deal with being a teenager, and I always loved school and liked the high school environment. I love talking to people and kids and helping them figure out problems and so being a high school counselor is the best of both worlds.”

Michael Monnet

Aaron Ragon

Q: What do you do on a daily basis? A: “The ratio of what I do everyday really changes depending on the time of year, so early in the year I meet with students and we talk about schedules and academic planning. There are always students who make their own appointment to talk about either social stuff or problems or ideas. There is a lot of talk with upperclassmen about graduation and planning for college and things like that. We are kind of getting into (credit checks) this week, I’m starting to meet with all my seniors. Meetings and emergency stuff we do, so I have a meeting everyother Thursday. We go to lots of schedule meetings about specific students and specific concerns, so that just kind of rolls into the everyday thing.” Q: Why did you decide to become a high school counselor? A: “It’s fun and it fits. The pace, the speed of what happens at high school is just more interesting to me.”

Q: What do you do on a daily basis? A: “I respond to any emergency situation that comes up. I work with juniors and seniors on what they’re going do after high school, which is mostly college here (at Vista). I do scheduling, I do academic counseling and I help with social and emotional problems. If anybody wants to talk to me, I’m here.” Q: Why did you decide to become a high school counselor? A: “There is a story. I worked in Japan for two years in a public Japanese high school teaching English. During that time, I had a lot of time to think because I didn’t understand Japanese very well — I couldn’t read it, so I was kinda like in this bubble. So, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to do for a career. I really liked teaching but I didn’t think I could do it for a long time. What I decided ultimately was that I wanted to find a job where I could have important conversations, have 12 weeks off a year, and work with students.”

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freight farm tj coder & ryan karsten

o most, a beat up shipping container seems like something that belongs in a scrapyard. To the students and teachers working on Freight Farm, it’s an opportunity to follow their passion. Students in the Freight Farm Club are excited to kick off a brand new school project. “I have always been interested in biotechnology and the Freight Farm seemed like a great opportunity to learn about it in a suburban environment,” junior Logan Abraham said. The Freight Farm is a vertical hydroponic farming system built inside of a shipping container and located outside on the northwest end of the school. The container is a sustainable food operation that runs on roughly ten gallons of water a week. It produces the same amount of food as two acres of land. The freight farm is a high-tech farming system with endless growing opportunities. “We can manipulate the temperature of the air in here, we can ma-

r nipulate nutrients, and we can manipulate choices of seeds,” Engineering teacher Dave Larson said. Larson and science teacher Jason Cochrane are the teachers in charge of making the decisions that lead to the most successful yield. Mountain Vista is the first public school in the nation, and one of three schools in Colorado, to get a freight farm. It will be run as a for-profit business where the proceeds go back into the school and also into the community. All of the seeds are organic and non-genetically modified organisms (GMO’s). The goal is to have a portion of the food grown in the freight farm be served at the salad bar in the school cafeteria. “We’re working with the District Food Services, because eventually we’d like to be able to sell some to them,” Principal Michael Weaver said. The agricultural system will be run by the Freight Farm Club, lead by Larson. It will also incorporate aspects from the science, business, and technology departments. The farm was expected to be ready for planting in late September. “There is going to be a ton of opportunity for problem solving, from multiple classes,” Larson said.

eclipse

On August 21, 2017 a solar eclipse occurred over the United States. The path of totality included Nebraska, Wyoming, Oregon, and Illinois. Conspiracy theories arose from the solar eclipse: one being multiple sightings of the lizard man, and superantual sightings. The Solar Eclipse in America ended in the Atlantic Ocean, rather than on land.

lizzie brenneman and jessie lauck

“I thought it was really cool, [watching] outside and the lighting. It didn’t get completely dark, but the lighting was super weird and I haven’t seen anything like that before,” senior Jacklyn Cole said. Sophmore Dylan Norton said, “It wasn’t very exciting. I went outside with some glasses and looked at the sun for three seconds. I was excited beforehand because I thought it would be cool. But it wasn’t.”

hurricanes irma and harvey jackson braun & brendan elkins

e are currently in the midst of hurricane season, and boy, have we felt it. Historic Hurricane Harvey hit on August 25, 2017. The hurricane made landfall as a category 4 with 130 mph winds. The storm ripped apart the Corpus Christi and Houston area, bringing mass flood’s caused by 33 trillion gallons of water in a torrential downpour. To make matters worse, the hurricane didn’t move through — it sat on top of Houston as it’s soggy throne. When the storm finally cleared up, it left parts of Houston and surrounding areas under 20 feet of water along with no power and destroyed gas plants. But wait, there was more. Just as Harvey dissipated, another one, Irma,

formed. The world watched in horror as another monstrous storm developed in the Atlantic Ocean. The storm grew stronger and stronger until it reached a category 5+ with 190 mph winds barrelling right for the Caribbean. After storms flattened the Caribbean Islands, popular vacation spots were left as disaster zones. The storm smashed through Cuba and was weakened by the mountains. The storm then became a category 4 heading up the gut of Florida. Irma made landfall on Florida on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 10, and rolled through the Florida Keys with devastating effects. Relief efforts are already underway.

did you know? 1. Hurricane Irma is the most powerful hurricane recorded

3. This year has been the most violent and active season the

in the Alantic. It also spent the longest time as a category 5 hurricane.

2. The hurricanes unleashed more than 2.4 trillion gallons of rain a day.

Photo by U.S. Department of Defense is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Atlantic has seen in a decade.

4. Hurricane Harvey dropped 51 inches of rain and Irma droped 16 inches of rain during the storm.

5. At least 106 people have died, due to these storms.

Photo by Air Force Special Operations Comman is licensed under CC BY 2.0

TRENDS 8

jobs

“I’ve worked at Eastridge Rec Center for four months. It’s the best job. I work at the rock climbing wall so I get tons of deals,” junior Andrew Barich said. The four recreation centers in Highlands Ranch are very popular places to work.

shoes

“I like Adidas shoes because they are good for any occasion and they come in many different styles and colors,” freshman Kaylyn Bauer said. Adidas recently passed Nike’s Jordan brand in sales, but is still behind Nike as an overall brand.

“I personally enjoy my NMD’s, they’re super comfortable and look good. I also like hoodies because I wear them all of the time,” junior Cameron Carpenter said. Adidas sold over 400,000 pairs of NMD’s on their lauch date.

jobs

“I started working at Tilly’s because I loved that I would be working with other people my age and I needed extra money,” senior Sarah Miller said. “I love working there because I’ve built good relationships with the people I work with and the customers.”

“I chose to work at John Holly’s because I heard they were hiring and it sounded like fun,” junior Holly Sparrow said. “It is also relaxed and flexible.” Six students from Mountain Vista work at John Holly’s.

music Russ is a hip hop recording artist,

singer, songwriter, and producer. “I like Russ because he’s not very well known, but he is very talented and makes a lot of his own beats,” senior Maisie Paulson said.

top 9 albums of the ’70s The ‘70s were an iconic time in music, full of brave new sounds and artists. Countless bands came out on top, and the music has been people’s favorite for 40 years. Bands such as The Clash, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin influenced the sounds of the decade. Hits such as Zepplein’s “Stairway to Heaven” defined the era.

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“London Calling” is credited as being the beginning wave of British punk, after British Mania in the ‘60s. The Clash helped the start of a new genre in America.

“Blood on the Tracks” is Bob Dylan’s 15 studio album and marked his return to Columbia Records after recording his previous two albums with Asylum Records.

As the first double album for the Rolling Stones, “Exile on Main Street” contributed to the band’s success. It was the group’s tenth album and critically acclaimed as their best.

“The Dark Side of the Moon” caused immediate success for Pink Floyd, topping the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart for a week and remained there for 741 weeks.

“Ramones” is the debut studio album by American punk band the Ramones. It’s certified gold, selling upwards of 500,000 copies in the United States.

English rock band Led Zeppelin’s untitled fourth studio album, often referred to as “Led Zeppelin IV,” inducted them into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Bruce Springsteen’s third album broke him into the mainstream of music. “Born to Run” was nominated for Best Stage Performance at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards.

“Unknown Pleasures” is English rock band Joy Division’s debut studio album. It introduced the postpunk era in music and is still held as one of the most influential punk records.

“Let it Be” is the 12th and final studio album from the Beatles. It was released nearly a month after the band’s separation and held the number one spot on the Billboard Top LPs chart.

opinion

the importance of

mental health education

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victoria coﬀman

magine feeling like school is not a safe place to be open. Imagine feeling like everything difficult you’re going through you have to struggle through alone because no one can help; no one knows how to help. For a growing number of students, this isn’t hard to imagine. In fact, many students don’t have to imagine at all: this is their reality. The question is, why aren’t we doing anything about it? Everyone experiences poor mental health in some form, whether personally, or through someone they know. As I discussed the issues surrounding mental health with students, counselors, and the school psychologist, a similar theme arose: that mental health is easy to ignore. “Because people can’t see it, I think, is why [they] like to forget it’s there,” junior Quinn Kamberos says. Now imagine a class that teaches students about healthy decisions regarding mental health. With proper education, we can begin to change the stigma and stereotypes surrounding it. After all, “What does being healthy really mean?” inquires the school psychologist, Michael Christofferson. When we think about being “healthy,” most people tend to think along the lines of getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating nutritious food. Mental health rarely makes it onto that list, which is why changing the perception of being “healthy” is important.

why you should care about the environment hannah lovell

As I furthered my interviews and gathered more opinions, most students and staff seemed in favor of developing better education of mental health. It is becoming more and more necessary to have a staff educated in mental health so students have the opportunity to learn. Currently the National Council of Disability has sent a report of “Mental Health on College Campuses” to many areas of the government to advise them about this issue and possible steps towards solutions. In their report they state, “Given increased demand and limited funding for mental health services, some have argued that the country has reached a “campus mental health crisis.” Considering this, colleges must develop a culture that supports the mental and emotional well-being of students.” Although their goal is to help the mental health of college students, their reports and suggestions can be applied to high schools as well. After all, the students entering colleges are the same students who are in high school now. Why not reduce the need for Mental Education and Mental Illness counseling programs in college by starting a good education on mental health in high school? Certainly, the goal of educators, parents, and communities is to turn students into driven, passionate, productive, and healthy members of society, and this is where we must shift our focus to make that goal a reality.

f the Earth had emotions, it would be crying, as humans damage its complex balance and beauty. Somehow, people get the perception that this is “our earth” when in reality the earth does not belong to anyone. The earth is meant to support ALL forms of life, not just humans. If we refuse to act, this wonderful planet and all the living organisms on it will diminish, fast. The knowledge and technology to prevent this catastrophe is available, but people’s mindsets and priorities halt progress. First thing is first, people need to realize that global warming is NOT an opinion…at all. It’s science. According to NASA, the average global temperature has increased 1.4 degrees fahrenheit sine 1880, and two-thirds of this warming occurred over the last 30 years. It’s easy for the nonbelievers to justify this as “normal” because weather changes all the time, right? Not quite. According to NASA, Global temperatures rely on “how much energy the planet receives from the sun and how much energy it radiates back into space.” This is a number that should fluctuate very little but, because of excess amounts of greenhouse gases, the atmosphere traps additonal heat. Lori Schwendeman, AP Environmental Science and Aquatic Biology teacher, says the best thing people can do to prevent further

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best movies of summer 2017 jeremy lundberg

So far, 2017 has been great for Hollywood and the box office. While there have been a handful of bad films, there have also been a fair share of great movies that deserve recognition if you haven’t seen them already. Here are my personal top three films I’ve seen this summer.

1. Dunkirk “Dunkirk” is easily one of the best movies I have seen in a long time, and considerably the best movie I’ve seen this summer, earning its place as the number one spot on the “Top 3 Movie” list. Director Christopher Nolan has made a visually attractive film with some of the best sound design I’ve heard, while impressively staying within the PG-13 rating having a lack of blood and graphic depictions of war. One of the most interesting elements in the film is the absence of any specific main character that is followed. There are seven or so notable characters that are only focused on for a total of about half of the film. Every emotion is felt by every soldier in the shot instead of being focused on the mind of a single individual. One notable point is Dunkirk, like other war movies, is a very intense film. If you’re willing to accept that, I would 100 percent recommend watching it.

2. Baby Driver

Edgar Wright has made one of the best films of 2017 with “Baby Driver,” an action-packed movie with the best soundtrack of any film this year. Baby, the main character of the film, is an extremely unique and mysterious personality. The plot of the movie is about multiple characters in a crime ring, with Baby leading as the getaway driver, in which he’s described as a “devil behind the wheel.” Whether it’s the constant screeching of tires or a romantic kiss, my eyes never left the screen when watching the film due to its intriguing plot and neverending action. The cinematography of the film is also excellent, with the opening scene of the movie being done entirely in one shot, being a total of three or so minutes long. The soundtrack of the movie is astonishing, with a new song each time Baby’s behind the wheel. If you’re looking for an action-packed film with a riveting soundtrack this summer, “Baby Driver” has yet to disappoint. Just be aware of the film’s R rating if you choose to see it in theatres.

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damage to the earth is take down their level of consumption. This means buying only what people need. This is a tough concept, even for me. It’s hard to separate what we need from what we want, especially when the “want” is 25 percent off at Urban Outfitters and feels like a blanket on your skin. Schwendeman said she believes it’s all about a person’s mindset. “It’s an attitude that everything is disposable and nothing is suppose to last,” said Schwendeman. If we can change this mindset, we are golden. Senior Hannah Patrick thinks knowledge is key in changing this attitude.“The people who care about the planet have educated themselves about how much we have already deteriorated the planet and do not want to add to the problem,” Patrick said. America has begun making enviornmental awarness a priority since the ‘70s. If the government continues to pursue making enviornmental policies, citizens and other countreis will follow. We can live envirornmental friendly, what matters is us wanting to live this way. If seeing the polar bear population decrease, and more than 100 animals being added to the World Wildlife Fund’s list of vulnerable to critically endangered species is not enough, then here is another reason: if this trend continues, the earth will not be able to sustain human life. Everytime we buy something we do not need, we use more land and more resources that can not be replaced. I consider my lifestyle fairly earth friendly. I am vegetarian, I

3. Spider-Man: Homecoming

“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” unsurprisingly, is a Spider-Man film. Those who enjoyed previous Spider-Man films will certainly enjoy this one just as much. There’s a lot of humor in the film, from Peter Parker’s amusing interactions with others, to his behavior in general. I never felt bored when watching the movie, as it’s paced generally well and provides sharp turns in the plot when you’d least expect it. Tom Holland is fantastic at portraying Parker, and Vulture is one of the most intriguing villains in recent Marvel films. The film is undoubtedly an action movie, with plenty of interesting elements — web swinging, (Spoiler) the scene where a ferry is split clean in-half, and other web combinations using a newfound suit gifted to Parker. If you’re a fan of previous Spider-Man or Marvel movies, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” will definitely impress.

try to buy second hand clothing, always recycle, etc. Yet, according to a survey I took on Islandwood.org, if everyone in the world had the same Ecological Footprint as me, it would take 2.17 earths to sustain our population. Instead of continuously taking from the earth, we must consider how to give back. “Mother Nature provides us with so many resources, water to drink, plants to eat, places to explore, we cannot just take that for granted,” Patrick said. “We must treat the planet with respect.”

speaking out through art anne gerringer & caitlin english

hile most students enjoyed their summer vacations away from school relaxing, sitting by the pool, sleeping in or working summer jobs, two students decided to spend part of theirs giving back to the building they spend so much time in. Over the past few years, passionate art students have added their own touches to the school through murals. With positive messages on the walls, juniors Natalie Horn and Ashley Stem continued the tradition by adding their own contribution to the walls of Vista. “It took us about 30 hours to complete the whole mural,” Stem said. “First, we had to design [the mural] and then measure every line. Taping was the tedious part of the process, and painting was the easy part. It was relieving to peel the tape off and see the outcome for the first time,” Stem said.

““We feel like

everyone can use a little light in their life.”

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The newest addition to the rapidly-growing collection is featured in the upper 300s hallway. The work, titled “Words Have Power,” is intended to inspire kids to speak out against bullying and appre-

ciate the impact of their own words. “We want people to realize that no matter what they say it leaves an impact on people,” Horn said. “We feel like everyone can use a little light in their life.” Stem said coming up with the idea for the mural was one of the easier aspects, as the inspiration was located a few feet away on the same wall. “[The mural] originally started as a picture of a tree, and the kids that started making it ran out of time and didn’t finish,” art teacher and National Art Honor Society (NAHS) sponsor Whitney Heffelfinger said. “From this, the mural was simplified and became a sun.” Over the summer, Stem and Horn decided to finish the work of others and create something powerful themselves. “Natalie took it upon herself to finish the mural and it turned out amazing,” jewelry teacher and NAHS sponsor Amy Kahn said. Before Stem and Horn began working on the mural there were some parts from the original design missing. “There are parts [of the mural] that are incomplete and not finished,” Heffelfinger said. “[Stem and Horn] contributed and helped pick up where the mural was left off at the end of last year.” Horn and Stem said they hope the mural will motivate students to be kind and realize that words have power. “[The mural speaks against bullying] because words do hurt and you have to be careful what you say,” Stem said. “Think before you speak.”

Juniors Ashley Stem and Natalie Horn stand in front of the mural they painted this summer in association with National Art Honor Society (NAHS). â&#x20AC;&#x153;First, we had to design [the mural] and then measure every line. Taping was the tedious part of the process, and painting was the easy part. It was relieving to peel the tape off and see the outcome for the first time,â&#x20AC;? Stem said. The mural is intended to speak out against bullying and remind people that their words do have power.

Junior Sam Evins rocks out during the act one closer, “Stick it to the Man.” “Performing this song was like giving the community a reminder to stick up for themselves and what they believe in,” Evins said. This is one of the songs that earned Evins a national award for his performance as Dewey Finn.

roles of a lifetime erin solomon

t’s rare for a student to receive one of their dream roles in theatre. It’s incredible for a student to receive two of their dream roles within a week. Last May, then-sophomore Sam Evins walked into a Front Range Theatre Company audition room with confidence despite the lack of preparation, ready to give his all. After his audition, his nerves settled and the suspense for the cast list began. A few days later, the excruciating wait was over and Evins was offered two of his most wanted roles. The first was Leaf Coneybear in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” and the second was Dewey Finn in “School of Rock: The Musical.” Once Evins, junior, received the parts, he and his family celebrated together knowing how important the roles were for him. “I was very excited for these roles,” Evins said. “I [started memorizing] quickly so that I was ready to go.” The productions’ camps took place throughout the month of June, so students had a very short amount of time to prepare before the first day of rehearsal. While having the opportunity to portray Leaf Coneybear was an incredible experience for Evins, Dewey Finn was even more enriching. The cast of “School of Rock: The Musical” was made up of not only current and graduated high school students, but fourth, fifth, and sixth graders as well. Evins not only had to take center stage for this lead role, but also had to be a leader to all of the other cast members. “I felt like if I wasn’t showing leadership, I wouldn’t be able to show that acting is something that I’m serious about,” Evins said. Evins believed that if he demonstrated his passion for theatre and how he could be a principle role and leader simultaneously, then the younger students would want to take responsibility and be leaders as well. The leadership, dedication, and responsibility taken by Evins was not only impressive, but genuine and heartwarming. Fellow classmates, senior Erika Harper and junior Ian Spillman, worked alongside Evins this summer. “Sam showed a lot of perseverance on the day that we had three shows. He was very sick and almost passed out,” Spillman said. “For the final show, he really pushed through and gave an impressive final performance.” When looking back on his time as Dewey Finn, both Harper and Spillman speak admirably of Evins. “Sam made sure that everyone was included and welcome during the rehearsal process,” Harper said. At the end of the each of the two-week summer camps, there were four community performances. On Sept. 1, Evins was awarded one of four Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical award by National Youth Arts for the Rocky Mountain Region. The awards ceremony took place on Sept. 10 in Northridge, Colo. Evins was surprised with the task of giving an acceptance speech at the ceremony. “The ceremony really set all of my hard work in stone from this summer. I truly felt like I had accomplished something,” Evins said. Evins not only pushed himself during this opportunity, but also inspired his fellow cast mates to do the same and create the best production possible. “I would like to stay apart of the theatre program [during the school year], so I’m very focused on my grades,” Evins said. Evins said he plans on auditioning and being a part of the numerous shows at Vista this year. He will be portraying the Soldier Ancestor in “The Addams Family,” put on by Stage Flight Theatre this coming November.

Newton Wins Big max hutto

n August 25, Master Journalism Educator Mark Newton was selected to receive the highest award that the Journalism Education Association (JEA) presents, the Carl Towley award. It is an award that the JEA gives to a long-time member who has contributed to the organization and has helped the organization succeed. Newton has actively been involved in the JEA community where he served two, three-year terms as president from 2010-2017, as well as been on the board for over 15 years and serving as a certification director and as a regional director representing Colorado and other western states. “I think a lot of it was focusing the organization on what was important and we had a chance to do that,” Newton said. “I was able to work with really amazing people. I think it is a validation of the people who supported the organization and who were just as committed as I was and did a lot of the heavy lifting and made the organization better.” Newton led JEA through several challenges throughout his termsas president. During Newton’s fifth year as president, an executive director quit and it was his job to find an interim director to serve for the time being. Newton also worked on a contract with Kansas State University to

continue to be the home of the organization. As he worked on that, he also worked to strengthen partnerships with sister organizations such as the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). While serving on the JEA board, Newton helped establish a journalism curriculum that supports journalism students and teachers in the classroom, while simutaneously helping reconstruct the board. “When you’re serving on the board you are so wrapped up in what is going on you don’t really get a chance to appreciate it. I think when you’re done serving, people recognize what you did and they’re proud of it. You’re proud of it,” Newton said. “You get a chance to kind of reflect on it, I think that is probably the best part.” Even though individually Newton won the award, in the end his coworkers and peers from Mountain Vista and JEA are the ones to help him achieve excellence. “Probably more than anything, this award is really about who you work with more than you,” Newton said. “Nobody does this by themselves.” Although Newton won the highest JEA award, he said what he enjoys most

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Newton said he enjoys enlightening his students about how to incorporate their journalistic skills in real life. “Journalism is the opportunity to make a difference,” Newton said, who has been teaching journalism and advising student media for 33 years.

Previous Awards Colorado High School Journalist Teacher of the Year National Scholastic Press Association Pioneer Douglas County Secondary Educator of the Year

W O W about his job is being able to teach high school kids what he is passionate about. “I like teaching Journalism because there is a real product. It’s not fake, and it’s super serious,” he said. “It’s amazing to have something come to fruition when 45-50 kids are working on a product together that they each do independently and then come together and it turns out to be this amazing thing. It’s the perfect class creating a perfect opportunity for kids to put all their skills together and create a product that is real that people read, see and keep.” Overall, Newton said he has been apart of the JEA organization for a long while. “I am really humbled by the award and I think it is a really cool thing,” Newton said. “It is a really good exclamation point on a long career with that organization.” Newton will be receiving his award on November 18 in Dallas, Texas at the fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention.

HOT! 17

Seniors Jessi Cash, Savanah Howard and Annalisa Ingui run back towards the dugout after shaking hands with their rival, ThunderRidge High School, which they had just defeated, 8-1. “[Winning the game] feels amazing,” Ingui said. “We put a smack down on them last year and it was nice to come back and do it again because they were a completely different team.” The teams played their rivalry game at the softball field of Metropolitan State University, and the victory marked Vista’s 12th win of the season.

Sophomore Mark Nicolosi fights for the ball in the men’s varsity soccer game against Ponderosa High School. “This game really taught us to fight until the end,” Nicolosi said. The team lost to Ponderosa, 2-3, making its record for this season 3-7.

Junior Jack McFarlane throws a dodgeball in the annual homecoming dodgeball tournament. “I love being able to hang out and compete with friends in a laid-back school environment,” McFarlane said. McFarlane’s team, the Dirty Nachos, lost in the semifinals.

Senior Tristan Smith passes a defender and sprints for the end zone in the varsity football game against Arapahoe High School. “It’s never over until it’s over,” Smith said. “We [were] out there giving it our best and I had faith.” Smith scored the go-ahead touchdown, helping the Golden Eagles to overcome the Warriors’ four-point lead and win the game, 24-21.

Varsity football’s offensive line gets in ready position against rival ThunderRidge. “That was the longest football game I’ve ever played in my life,” senior Jarrett Cesmat said. “I wish we would have won but I’m glad it was close.” The final score was, 51-34.

sports

baseball gpa alex simpson Vista baseball proves how athletes can work hard in the weightroom and at practice, but also can work hard to maintain a high GPA. Many people could argue that more time focused on a sport can take away from education. Vista baseball won the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award, which honors high school and college programs coached by ABCA members that have a grade point average (GPA) of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Although this award was a team effort, the cather for the team, junior Grant Magill, had one of the top GPAs on the team. “There were numerous guys who had a 4.0 or higher, but Grant Magill did have one of the higher GPA’s in the program,” varsity baseball coach Ron Quintana said. Magill finished his sophomore year with a 3.95 GPA while also had a .397 batting average. “When you work hard in the classroom, you naturally work hard everywhere else,” Magill said.

behind the scenes of MVHS sports Harper Boggs and Tess Harbert

hile Vista athletes are dedicated to improving in their sports, they also find time to spend together as a team outside of school. This is what makes Mountain Vista such a welcoming and amicable environment. The softball team is just one example of Vista sports teams that bond outside of practice. Sophomore Kami Grammerstorf thinks team dinners are an important tradition before games, allowing time for the girls to come together, as well as their annual “Pink Game,” in October to honor Breast Cancer Awareness. “By spending time and playing together, you can learn a lot about the people you play with,” Grammerstorf said. Vista’s football team shares a tradition where each player carries their personal brick up to the field before playing, and then they stack all of their bricks on top of one another. “A brick alone is insignificant, but when you stack them up, you see the unity and power when we all come together,” sophomore and junior varsity football player Colin Rock said. The girls on the cross country team come together every year to make no-sew fleece blankets to stay warm during their future meets. They also write their names on their legs before their races. When the cross country team wins a trophy at a race, the entire team elects one person to bring the trophy home for a few days, and to carry around wherever they go as well. “Spending so much time with these girls has really brought us together, like a family, and I love how close all of us are,” sophomore Jenna Fitzsimmons said. Sophomore Kay Foley, a member of the junior varsity poms, said both the varsity and junior varsity teams make mums every year for homecoming week. They also go to a sleepaway camp in Breckenridge during the summer in order to bond as a team. “When we spend time together outside of practice, it really reflects into our ability to work as a team,” Foley said. The sports community at Vista has made many fun traditions that promote unity and teamwork. Although most students join a sports team for the athletics, most also find great friendships along the way.

concussions chloe yets & sarah o’sullivan

ince 2009, the rate of sports-related concussions in the United States has increased by 62 percent. The largest group affected were males aged 10-19 years, according to Prevacus, a website dedicated to keeping track of national statistics about head trauma. The concussion epidemic has impacted athletes across the nation including those of Vista. Out of 15 randomly selected students from Vista who were asked if they had ever received a concussion, 40 percent said yes. Former competitive skier and lacrosse player, sophomore Brendan Elkins suffered a total of six concussions during his career, eventually forcing him to quit both competitive sports. “[After getting a concussion] I was more timid while playing lacrosse because I knew people would want to hit me if I had the ball,” Elkins said. According to HeadCase, an organization bringing attention to the national concussion epidemic, one in five high school athletes will sustain a concussion during their sports seasons, 40-46 percent of these being from lacrosse. Kids who play contact sports, such as lacrosse, tend to be more prone to receiving concussions because they frequently collide with each other, usually resulting in contact with the head. However, non-contact sport athletes are still exposed to the danger of concussions with the same long-term consequences as those obtained from contact sports, Elkins being a prime example. While Elkins described himself as “more free” when skiing and being more in control of his movements, natural obstacles make the possibility of a concussion still feasible. Due to his excessive number of concussions from both lacrosse and skiing, Elkins was encouraged to buy better gear and be more cautious as he played. In recent years, improvements have been made to combat the rising rate of concussions in youth, specifically high school students. Oﬃcials have begun debating for more equipment and oversight in preventing concussions. Equipment such as more protective helmets and mouth guards have been developed to lower the risk of head trauma. Vista’s football program has taken part in this push for a safer experience for high school athletes by purchasing specialized helmets fitted with improved pads to reduce the impact created by a blow to the head. “I was able to purchase a concussion helmet through the school for football this year,” sophomore junior varsity player Jack Wiegman said. “It’s made me more comfortable and confident on the field knowing I’m safer.” Vista is aware of the detriments of concussions on student athletes, allowing them to be involved in the movement towards safer gear and better equipment. Juniors Ashlen Grote and Amanda Pruitt pose with their coaches and a sign naming the tennis courts after them. The pair was the first in Vista history to earn a state championship for tennis. “Being able to get a court named after my partner and I was incredible. It helped me realize that all of the hard work I put in throughout the season really paid off,” Grote said. Grote and Pruitt said they appreciate the opportunity tennis has given them of meeting new people and as a way to relieve the stress from everyday life.

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During the opening assembly, the freshman class votes for the possible candidates for homecoming king and queen. “It is kind of mixed feelings, I didn’t really choose to be nominated for homecoming king, it was more like everyone on the football team wanted me to be it and everybody in the stands. It was sort of weird but fun,” Freshman Thaddeus Roman IV said. Roman IV was one of the final top three finalist within his class for homecoming king.

homecoming

Sophomores Ellie Stafford and Camila Wohlford wait in line outside of Bowlero during the night of homecoming. “It was a really fun night, the vibe was really positive and I love the activities,” Stafford said. Stafford had fun doing activities with her friends.

Senior Katie Johnson supports homecoming week by wearing college wear. “I’m most excited for the soccer game because I haven’t been to a soccer game during my entire high school years and I hear that the boy’s team is really good,” Johnson said. Johnson wants to get into more school activities this year.

rewind

mindy herrod & amanda gross

Sophomore Emma Watson poses in her “Dress Like a Dad” outfit. “It was a lot easier choosing the wardrobe from my dad than from my mom,” Watson said. Watson loves making her outfits wacky on dress up days.

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Senior Tristan Smith participates in Friday’s blackout theme. “Today it was great to see the man poms [and] everyone else coming together doing some cheers at the end to help prepare for the game,” Smith said. Smith is dressed up prior to the varsity football game against ThunderRidge.

Q&A natalie kinnear only senior on poms julia kirsch Q: What is it like being the only senior on varsity Poms? A:I’m close with all the other girls, so it doesn’t really matter that we’re in different grades, it’s kind of fun to have them in different grades and hear about their classes. Q:How has the attitude of the team changed? A:There are three captains, and last year their were 4, so the dynamic hasn’t changed as much as the fact that there happens to be one senior.

Q:Is being a senior on poms different than being a junior on poms? A: The only differences are having seniority at school events and this year I am one of the captains so I have more decision making responsibilities and I’m more engaged this year.

Q:Do you plan to keep dancing after high school? A: I dont not plan on dancing after high school, the university’s i’m looking at don’t have real competitive programs and I don’t have an interest in pursuing dance as a career. Q:How has being the only senior pushed you too a leadership role? A:Being that it’s my senior year and were coming back from a national championship, there is some responsibility to make the team as successful as it can be. Q:Being surrounded by lower classroom, how will it make the season different? A:Compared to last year just the ratio of upperclassmen to lower classmen is different, the first football game they were all really nervous. I think they will all overcome this, because we are all seasoned dancers.

meet the “CommUNITY” candidates mikayla olave

Anthony Graziano

Q: What are you advocating for on the school board? A: To remove the toxic culture that has been prevolent [and] seconondly I want to ensure that we can obtain and recruit the best teachers. [We need to] make sure our district spends money on our students. Q: What would be the first thing you would do if elected? A: We would have to adress some of the financial responsibilites we have, and re-evaluate things such as pay [for teachers] and student spending. I think I have seen politics overtake [what] students and teachers need.

Krista Holtzmann

Q: What is your goal for the school board? A: My goal is to be a team member that leads our school district to being mroe student focused. Q: What are your thoughts on the current school board? A: We have had a really high teacher turnover, where teachers are not feeling respected or valued. So that is something that concerns me that has happened. Our students have need, and we need to do a better job in getting the kids the recources they need.

*MV Media reached out to the Elevate candidates on multiple occassions with no response by print time.

Kevin Leung Q: What are some of the goals you would like to see achieved? A: Let teachers have a voice. We need to bring trust back into the commitee for all the teachers. The financial spending needs to be more transparent, sit down and come up with solutions for funding for our schools. Q: Why do you feel it is important to think about the kids and teachers? A: We have lost 20% of our teachers and 60% of our principals in a six year span, which is not good for the kids. [We need to] make a safe envionrment for our children to study in.

Chris Schor Q: What would you like to bring to the school board? A: I would look at what we would do about a permanent superintendent position. I would like to look at budgeting for only public schools, simply for public dollars for public schools. Q: What is your goals in reaching out to people in the community? A: The goals for me is to meet people and listen [and] here what they are thinking, [so] I can hear concerns. [We need] to focus on the needs of the kids.

Sophomore Ellie DeBeer rehearses a scene for the fall production “Good Cop Bad Cop.” “Being very bossy is the biggest challenge because I am the opposite of that,” DeBeer said. “Good Cop Bad Cop” was performed September 29-30.

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clubs

mountain biking

judith sheahan

even years ago in the fall of 2010, the Colorado High School Mountain Biking League kicked off. The league provided opportunities for high school bikeriders to participate as a team like other high school sports and eventually letter. Since then, cyclying has been growing and growing each year. In 2012, the Highlands Ranch Composite (HRC) team was created. Roger Ryburn, and his wife Julie Ryburn, wanted to create a team for their son who went to Rock Canyon High School and was passionate about the sport. The team was comprised of their son, a rider from Legend High School and another rider that was home schooled. The HRC team has continued to grow about 24 percent each year according to Coach Roger Ryburn. Vista kids were instantly excited about the team being formed and joined right away. Currently there are 20 Vista riders out of 67 on the team. Taking a look in the top athletes in this club, there are many stars on the team from Vista. The team captain, senior Sam Schneider, finished 19 out of 42 participants at the Frisco Bay Invitational. At the 2016 State Championships, he placed 26th out of 146 racers. Roger Ryburn said he would love to see more participation as a whole to the mountain biking community. He said he wants to make more kids successful. “This is what all the cool kids do,” Roger Ryburn said. Roger Ryburn said the the families are supportive and caring of their kids and the rest of the large, loving team. “The families are just as involved as the kids on the team are,” he said.

new clubs madison paul

ountain Vista is known for the clubs we have at our school. Scenic Driving, Women in Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) and Ping Pong Club are some of the new clubs that have been created this year. Resource teacher Christopher Mars was asked by senior Jonathon DiPasquale to sponsor the Scenic Driving Club. “We want to accomplish simply finding the best cruising routes in Douglas County and Jefferson County,” Mars said. “We also want to collaborate with people that have a passion for cars.” Math teacher Katie Allison, sponsor of Women in STEM, said she hopes the club becomes a place where you go to express your desires to learn, to meet likeminded people and listen to special guests that come and talk with members. “We are hoping to get women whose career is in a STEM field to come in and speak about their career choice,” Allison said. “We want to allow students to

ask questions about what the professionals feel is challenging, have the women give some advice on class choices, and general advice in regards to women in STEM fields.” Social Studies teacher Kelly Hale, sponsor of Ping Pong Club, has everyone meet Thursday during SOAR in the back of the Lower 500s. Hale said his goal is to allow students to improve their ping pong skills while having fun. “Friendly tournaments will be held throughout the year,” Hale said. “The first one will be right before Winter Break and there are more to come after. Prizes like gift cards will be handed out to the winning team.” The Mountain Vista staff encourages all students to get involved by joining clubs or sports. The large number of clubs makes it easy for everyone to find a place where they can meet new people all while doing something they love.

opinion: gender roles

student submissions

andra metcalfe Macey Moyer, 12

Daniel Sas, 12

Andra Metcalfe,

the perfect stranger daniel sas

e work our way through this terrible terrain. Walking endlessly, days turn to weeks as weeks turn to months, but our journey never seems to end. Him and I trek across this barren waste, seeking recourse from our torture that has been thrust upon us. In this trudge of a journey we are each other’s only form of companionship and yet I know nothing. From our first interaction he has been cloaked in darkness, veiled by mystery, his only defining feature being that of his white beaked mask. I would do anything to know who are what my companion truly was but that was a luxury I was never allotted. I would try my hardest to find out who was behind that mask, anything from “What were you before this” to “What’s your favorite color.” I would receive absolute silence, only hearing a strikingly familiar voice reaffirming to him and I that “we must keep going.” Occasionally when I was particularly feeling dragged down by the endless wake of our expedition I would be gifted a “do not give up, as our misery could soon be over.” That day is when my world changed. I had been fed up, fueled by an excruciating amount of time traversing in utter silence, I could take it no longer. I stopped, dead in my tracks, as he continued for a short distance until he realized I was no longer behind him. As he turned around and stated “come on, just a little bit further,” I snapped. “Why do you hide your identity from me? You are my sole compatriot, the only individual I have known for what feels like eons and yet I know nothing about you!” As I paced closer to him he backed away and stated, “There is no time for this, please, we will make it, I swear to you!” I couldn’t leave this mystery untouched any longer, running towards him, grasping for that godforsaken mask. We wrestled over it, him holding on for dear life exclaiming “Stop! You won’t like what you see! Please stop!” But I won out, yanking the veil that had hid my companions true identity from me for eternity. As I looked up, I gazed into the eyes of a person I hadn’t seen since I entered this waste. Before I could truly get a good look at myself, the cloaked figure disappeared.

a poem macey moyer

is body was a maze. There were always new corners and undiscovered markings I’d find each time I explored it. The pools in his eyes held the most radiant hues of navy and silver, much like the midnight sky sometime in late June. Galaxies illuminated in them, swirling each time his lips would curl into a minute smile. His eyes would flutter closed; those long eyelashes falling shut with them. Laughter erupted from the depths of his throat, booming at first, then softening just enough so that only him and I could hear. His face became the walls of the maze; I was entranced by every distinguishing feature. When I would kiss his forehead goodnight, my lips started right where his forehead met his hairline. Dark ash curls clung to the base of his sweat doused skin, while wispy ringlets tangled in themselves in the front of his ears. I’d note the faint freckle that sat upon the left side of his nose. My fingers would trace down his refined jawline, observing each stray hair left behind after last night’s shave. The dark sun spots and freckles scattered about his shoulders reminded me of a starry night; I could make constellations on his broad canvas forever. His arms are where I found the end of the maze. Time and time again, I’d trace the bulging vein that snaked its way down his left arm, rooting itself in the hand that held me. Safe and protected, those firm hands were the light that guided me out of the maze.

There are two genders. There are 500 genders. There is one gender. There are no genders at all. None of these statements are correct or incorrect because gender is nothing more than a notion. It doesn’t exist. It is important to understand that the words “gender” and “sex” are not synonymous. “Gender” refers to “the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex,” (according to Merriam Webster). “Sex,” in contradistinction, refers to “either of the two main categories (male and female) into which many living things are divided on the basis of their reproductive functions.” Unlike sex, the keyword in the definition of gender is “typically,” which implies numerous exceptions to its associations. It does not seem logical to typecast people’s “behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits” into a certain gender category because they are too highly individualized. Sex considered, the existence of anatomical differences between the female and male brain and hormones (which could result in objective psychological differences) become trivial upon examination of a person’s entire unreserved character. There are just too many individual factors involved in someone’s life to make inflexible conclusions about who they are as a person based on their sex. This notion that every person must be assigned a gender in order to explain the way they ought to behave is terribly unfounded. Claiming that a male is more likely to enjoy watching football is like claiming that a blonde is more likely to possess less intelligence. Both assertions are based upon “typical” (often far-reaching) social observations and have little to do with scientific fact. Why does this matter? Because narrow edifice allows for no social movement. Gender roles rear their ugly heads in virtually every occupation; discouraging women from pursuing careers in technology or authority, and discouraging men from exhibiting many semblances of emotion. For so many people across the planet, gender roles establish a harsh imprisonment that can never be shaken. The prevalence of these perceived social roles makes it more difficult for these people to achieve happiness, and squanders their potential to thrive at endeavors that may not be typically associated with their sex. The year is 2017. Women are CEOs and athletes. Men are maintaining households. Many don’t identify with any gender. It has become blatantly obvious that gender roles do not represent the majority of the human race, and we ought to be rid of them before any more harm can be done to people who are simply trying to be totally and unequivocally themselves.

student artists: @gabby.brown

Junior Gabby Brown is an incredible jewelry designer, with her pieces being unique and professional. Brown has been taking jewelry classes since her freshman year at Vista, and now enjoys her AP-level class. “I get inspiration for my pieces by drawing shapes and going from there,” Brown said. Her pieces have a high fashion look and are some of the bigger pieces being made in jewelry. The Mountain Vista art program offers a variety of classes from graphic design to ceramics, jewelry to photography. For students seeking a creative outlet, there are several opportunities to be an artist at Vista.

1. “What’s unique about this piece is I used precious metal clay, which is a clay made in Japan that you put in the kiln and it turns into metal. It’s not metal right away, but once you polish it it becomes super shiny. To get the stone to float I taped all around it and then poured glue in with my stone.”

2. “To make this piece I first cut all the pieces of metal into the shape I wanted and then I seam soldered them together. Once I was done with that I had to get all the extra solder off, which was the worst part. After all of that I polished it and then heat treated it with a flame which is how I got the color on the copper.”

3. “For this piece I started with a huge piece of thin copper and folded it in half. Then I hammered it for three class periods on one side until it started bending. To help it bend I torched it a little until it got a nice curve and then I opened it, polished it and heat treated it again.”

sisters become sergeants

A e t d y t t s P

lauren lippert

nlike typical sisters, Briana Scherrer, senior, and Morgan, junior, have been a part of the Arapahoe Search and Rescue team (ASR) for a year. Because of their hard work and dedication, the Scherrer sisters received the title of “sergeant,” meaning they’re now allowed to lead people through search and rescue (SAR) missions by themselves. “It gives me a chance to lead my peers and develop relationships with local police and fire departments, and also to learn how to push myself and develop a stronger capacity to develop my search and rescue skills,” Briana said. Before earning the title, the Scherrer sisters participated in missing persons cases, AMBER Alerts, evidence searches and helped to fill oxygen tanks for the fire department. Now, as sergeants they are entitled to be the primary contact for the police, fire, and search and rescue agencies, as well as the ability to fill out reports after missions conclude. “It means a lot to me to be able to hold a sergeant position for ASR,” Morgan said. “They are the members who are seen most often, so they have to keep a strong reputation for the team, and I am very excited to prove that I can uphold that reputation.” Although being a sergeant entitles the Scherrer sisters to certain responsibilities, they still are required to carry out regular search and rescue procedures, some of which include being a part of the avalanche team, winter operations, a colt team, or a rehab team. “We have a basic training in the summer. There are two weekends. The first one is basic searching skills and conditioning for difficult situations. The second one fine tunes the search skills and introduces the medical aspect,” Briana said. “Then we have a week-long class training about SAR and what to do in certain situations. After basics, there is a monthly field training.” While the pressure is high to maintain a role with more authority, the Scherrer sisters say they are prepared. “I’m a little nervous about being a sergeant,” Morgan said, “but I also believe that I am ready for the task.”

Tyler Gross

Angela Lowell

Charity Smith

Regina LaMonte

MVM: What do you forward to for the remainder of the year?

MVM: What did you do today in your classroom?

MVM: What’s your favorite part of working at Vista?

MVM: What have you learned as a new counselor straight out college?

Gross: I’m very excited to get to a place with my students to where we have that strong relationship, to where it almost feels like mentor and I could provide that guidance, not just with content, but with life in general. I’ve built some pretty cool relationships, but to sit here and say that I’ve built the strongest relationships ever, is just not the case. They’re still developing, so I think in the future I really look forward to having those really strong relationships with kids here. With them, not just in the classroom, but beyond. That’s what I look forward to.

Lowell: We did chapter four of “The Great Gatsby.” I LOVE Gatsby. I don’t know that what we do is very common amongst other English teachers. It’s just how my brain works. There’s this thing called the Iceberg Theory, Hemmingway is really the person responsible for it, but in the 1920’s everyone liked to play with that a little bit. In chapter four of “The Great Gatsby,” we get all these dates and details and things. If you actually pause and put them on the timeline, and actually think about them, you can make some inferences about what was going on during some of these gaps in the timeline that actually make the story a whole level deeper.

Smith: I love teaching in the community I live, and I love seeing my students outside of school at games and just out in my community.

LaMonte: Ask for help when you need it. Don’t take everything on by yourself — this is a big job and you can’t do it alone. There are some tough decisions that have to be made and they can be made better as a team. It’s better to collaborate and get other people’s opinions about stuff just to make sure that the decisions I’m making are consistent with the decisions the other counselors are making.

MVM: What adaptations have you had to make to make working here successful? Smith: It’s been really smooth. The students are so nice, and they work really hard. I wake up a lot earlier. This is a lot earlier start than anywhere else I have ever worked.

A Douglas County fireman extinguishes the fire that brings together hundreds of students during Homecoming week. Every year, as a tradition, the school hosts this bonfire before shooting fireworks that mark the celebration of the new school year. Photo by Victoria Coffman

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Jason Sickle works with his physics students to give them a hands-on learning experience using dry ice. “We were dispelling the myth of constant velocity,” Sickle said. Students in Sickle’s class said they not only enjoyed experimenting with the dry ice, but appreciated the activity to better understand the upcoming unit on forces. Photo by Carly Ems

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ROY HARING VIBRANT VIVID WHAAM UNIQUE

d’ascoli d’artist lauren lippert

unior Blake D’Ascoli has a passion for photography and hopes to one day be a professional photographer. “I love photography because it calms me down,” D’Ascoli said. “I do photography when I’m stressed or had a hard day. I love freezing time so you can cherish that moment forever and I also want to be a professional photogapher when I grow up and have my own business.” D’Ascoli’s interest started when she found a small camera shop and saw all of the different types of cameras and photography equipment. “I got interested in it because one day I saw a camera shop called Englewood Camera and that place has so much awesome stuff in it and I saw some example pictures and just fell in love with it,” D’Ascoli said. “Then I got my first camera which was a beginner Samsung and as time went on, I finally had enough money to buy a professional camera, which was a Nikon D3200.”

AURASMA Introducing Aurasma, the new interactive way to view videos through pictures. Mountain Vista Media recommends this app because it will be used throughout the 2017-18 school year.

how to use it:

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Download the app Follow the account @vista_now Point your phone at the picture that comes up Watch the picture come to life and enjoy

For the most up-to-date news, check out our website. vistanow.org