RJ MEDIA STUDENT MAGAZINE
REGIS JESUIT HS
VOL. 7 ISSUE 2 WINTER 2021
CELEBRATING
THE WONDERFUL
WINTER SEASON
ELEVATE
MAGAZINE
JOIN OUR
STAFF
@rj_media @rj_media
@rjmedia
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to amplify the voices that often go unheard at Regis Jesuit in the pursuit of diversity, authenticity, and community by listening and sharing unique perspectives from every corner of our campus.
RJ Media is an open Forum for student free expression. We meet every Wednesday after school in BD 262. Feel free to come by!
OUR DOORS ARE OPEN Comments, Questions, Ideas? Come and see us in BD 262 or find us on Social Media.
ELEVATESTAFF EDITORS-IN-CHIEF:
GRANT BARNES ‘23, MOLLY NICHOLS ‘23
COPY EDITOR:
JACOB GOLD ‘23
HEAD DESIGNER:
SERENA NGUYEN ‘22 GRAPHIC DESIGNERS:
Dani Mendez ‘22, Brynne Dixon ‘22, Jose Banuelos ‘22
HEAD ILLUSTRATOR: JOEY PAOLUCCI ‘22 ILLUSTRATORS:
Dani Mendez ‘22, Brynne Dixon ‘22,
WRITERS:
Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22, Jose Gutierrez ‘22, Emma Davisson ‘22, Grant Barnes ‘23, Molly Nichols ‘23, Jacob Gold ‘23, Rachel Hilty ‘23, Bridget Fitzpatrick ‘23,Kyra Graham ‘23, Mason Harris ‘24, Prescott Epard ‘24, Oheneba Osei-Fordwuo ‘25
STORY MANAGER Mason Harris ‘24
PHOTOGRAPHY: Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22, Leonardo Osuna ‘24, Anthony Otero ‘25
ELEVATE
MAGAZINE
ADVISERS:
MARIA LYNCH, NICOLE ARDUINI
ONLINE MAGAZINE: RJMEDIANOW.COM
EDITORIAL POLICIES DEAR REGIS JESUIT COMMUNITY, Thank you for your continued readership to Elevate magazine. We as a staff are continually grateful to produce a successful magazine, especially an issue that highlights a time of year celebrating family, community, and the gift of God in our lives. With all of the unique struggles we’ve faced in the past year, it’s important to remind ourselves just how much we have to be thankful for. Regis Jesuit’s emphasis on being men and women with and for others is what drives our team to not only be a source of voice for our school community, but to be an advocate for diversity on campus. Our winter holiday edition is one we are proud of, not only because of its comic appeal, but also because it offers students a chance to reminisce on fond winter memories from childhood to now and write about what brings them joy at this time of year. We are especially grateful this time of year for our teachers, administrators, and other faculty at Regis Jesuit as they continue to be valuable parts of our community and high school experience. We hope that this winter break offers everyone a chance to recharge, refocus, and ring in the new year with the people you love most. With thoughts and prayers, Elevate offers you a most joyous holiday season! -THE ELEVATE MAGAZINE EDITORS
COLOR PALETTE: Jostens SM Heat Wave, SM Perfect Day, SP Jade, RB Cranbetty, PANTONE Black 6 CP
FONTS USED: AHJ Franklin Gothic for body copy & captions Masthead: AYT Craft Gothic Condensed Headlines: Oswald Bold Subheadlines: AHJ Bodoni Display Drop Caps: AHJ Bodoni Display Pull quotes: AHJ Franklin Gothic Condensed
RJ Media [Elevate Magazine, rjmedianow.com, RJTV and RJTV Sports Network] operates as a limited-open forum for student free expression. The publications are for the students, by the students. The staff aims to balance what the audience wants with what it needs, and strives to make solid judgments with regards to news value and news awareness. The publications will serve as a medium for student opinions and ideas. RJ Media strives to produce objective, well-balanced and accurate reporting and content that features a range of students, their interests and their viewpoints. The staff is dedicated to being fair, accurate, balanced, truthful and responsible. The staff will seek the truth and report it, minimize harm and act independently. We promise to be transparent, accountable and open. The staff also upholds Ignation values with regard to social justice and openness to growth. The staff prides itself on using the Ignation Pedagogical Paradigm to help make decisions: context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation. The student Editorial Board will have final say in the content of the publications. School officials,
administration or faculty and staff shall not practice prior review or the have the ability to censor any student publication, with the exception of material deemed to be legally obscene, libelous, substantially and materially disruptive, or coverage on any one of the following three topics, wherein coverage will be worked through with the president and principals: Obituaries, employee termination, and crimes or cases in the court of law. The views of columnists are not necessarily those of the newspaper staff. Opinions will be published on designated pages or otherwise marked. All material published by RJ Media is copyrighted to RJ Media, year and date of original publishing. RJ Media will not publish any material that is a violation of copyright. We take our own photos and produce our own content. We sometimes use photos with express written permission, but only if we absolutely have to. Those will be credited to the photographer with attribution specified by the permission of use. Read our full editorial policies at rjmedianow.com/policy Read our full Editorial Policies at rjmedianow.com/about
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor are welcome and encouraged, but will only be published if they are accompanied by a name and signature. Letters should be short and free of “bashing” or obscenity. Letters to the editor do not reflect the views of the RJ Media staff and will be marked on pages designated as such. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for potentially libelous material and length. The staff will not
edit letters for punctuation, grammar and usage. Letters with issues will be returned to the submitter for further review. Contact the RJ Media Editorial Board at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com or in the RJ Media Lab (PAC-102). You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @RJ_Media
CONTENTS
WINTER 2021 09
14
22
COMIC
11 ALL ARE WELCOME A comic illustrating the different holidays celebrated during this time of year
COMMENTARY
FEATURES 06
26 27 28 28 29
FROSTY FESTIVITIES Take a look at the different holidays and traditions celebrated by students
16
TEACH IN, SPEAK OUT A reflection on the 2021 Ignatian Family Teach-In in Washington D.C
18
MENTAL HEALTH
08
See how Sources of Strength helps to develop positive habits and attitudes of students by students
22
LIKE, COMMENT, AND SHARE BATTLE FOR OUR BODIES FROM TURKEYS TO TARGET GROOVY BABY DEAR STEELE CENTER LUNCH PARTAKERS
16
A WALK IN TIME Read how former Regis graduates are brought back to campus through photos
FUN STUFF 08 CHRISTMAS SCENES
ON THE COVER
See some of the entries for this year’s Christmas Scene Photo Contest
The trees are up, the lights are on, and the Christmas spirit lives at RJ
14 PUSHED TO THE LIMIT
PHOTOGRAPHER
View the highlights of student athletes and teams so far in the winter sports season
Leonardo Osuna ‘24
24 MOVIES BY THE DECADE Take a look at our choices for the best movie of each decade. Do you agree?
18
TABLE OF CONTENTS ELEVATE 01
NHS DECKS THE HALLS Photo by Molly Nichols ‘23
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS
The National Honors Society kicked off the holiday season by putting up Christmas decorations. On November 18, 2021, the Christmas spirit took over the halls, giving students an early splash of holiday cheer. Even though it may not look like Christmas outside, the halls make it feel like winter wonderland.
LEADING OFF ELEVATE 03
ELEVATE WINTER
SPREADING HOLIDAY MAGIC
CLAIRE NEILSEN ‘22 HANGS GARLAND TO GIVE THE GIRLS DIVISION SOME HOLIDAY CHEER WHILE ALEXANDER BERGMANN ‘22 UNTANGLES LIGHTS IN THE BD.
TINSEL, TWINKLE LIGHTS, CHRISTMAS CHEER This time of year, our hallways are filled with stressed students and hurried teachers. To provide some cheer, NHS students put in the work to make our school a winter wonderland.
04 ELEVATE DECK THE HALLS
ADDING THE SPIRIT
Staff and students take part in the annual tradition of spreading Christmas cheer around the school Photos by Lina Dudgeon ‘23
DRESSED IN HOLIDAY BEST
Maintenance crew members and student volunteers added festive santa hats to the famous wall climbers in Boys Division sophomore hall.
OVER THE MANGER
Claire Mann ‘23 and Catelyn Billings ‘23 set up the Nativity scene to be displayed in Boys Division tradtion hall for the Christmas season.
DECORATING ELEVATE 05
ELEVATE WINTER
FROSTY FESTIVITES by Bridget Fitzpatrick ‘23
Regis Jesuit students celebrate seasonal traditions and winter holidays of all religions
A
s Thanksgiving enters the rearview mirror and finals darken the horizon, students are counting down the days until Christmas break. The first semester is quickly drawing to a close, and Christmas lovers like me are already starting to prepare for the holiday season. I tend to pay attention only to the holidays I grew up celebrating, but after talking to my friends and fellow classmates more and more, I realized not everyone has the same traditions. Because we attend Catholic school, sometimes we forget to acknowledge winter holidays besides Christmas. We get so “wrapped up” in our own plans that it is easy to look past other cultures. Fortunately, Regis Jesuit is made up of a diverse student body that can share their different winter holiday traditions. Día de los Reyes Magos is a very common holiday in Latino culture. “It’s a Mexican tradition that my family usually celebrates on the 6th of January,” Jose Banuelos ‘22 said. The day honors the Three Wise Men and remembers when they presented their gifts to Jesus. It is celebrated with gifts and Rosca de Reyes or
06 ELEVATE HOLIDAY FAVORITES
king’s cake. Rosca is a sweet bread traditionally decorated with fruits. It is prepared in the shape of an oval to show how God’s eternal love has no beginning or end. “We’ll put little baby Jesus in the bread so when we’re eating, if you find one of the baby Jesus, you get punished. It’s kind of a roulette,” Banuelos said. “We also have a feast and at night we put one shoe in the Christmas tree and the three Reyes Magos come and leave gifts, almost like a second Christmas.” Certain African American cultures observe Kwanza, a week of festivities celebrating community, family, and culture. Originally, it was established to help African Americans reconnect with their roots and heritage. In 1966 after the Watts riots, Dr. Maulana Karenga wanted a way to bring African Americas together. He started researching African “first fruit” harvest festivals and by combining aspects of them he formed the basis of Kwanza. On each of the seven nights of Kwanza, families
gather, light a candle on the Kinara candle holder, and discuss one of the seven principles of Swahili. These principles are African values that reinforce community among African Americans. Today it’s celebrated differently by every family, but celebrations usually include singing, dancing, storytelling, and a large traditional meal. Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday that takes place over eight days to commemorate rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. In the second century B.C. during Syria’s oppression of the Jewish people, their community revolted against the Greek Syrian army in the Maccabean Revolt. According to legend, a miracle took place. There was only enough oil to keep the menorah’s candles lit for a single day, but instead it lasted eight days. On the Jewish calendar, Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev, the date when the Temple was rededicated, and usually falls in November or December, ending after eight days to represent the miraculous oil. Hanukkah is traditionally celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, food, and gifts. Asher Weisberg ‘23 lets us
in on some of her family’s Hanukkah traditions. “Every night we open a different gift from one of my family members and, depending on who it is, we usually call or FaceTime or do a family zoom,” she said. Learning about different holidays and traditions helps to teach us acceptance. It does not take away from our beliefs but rather allows us to learn and celebrate with others. Talking to people who celebrate them is the best way to find out more. These cold months provide an opportunity to cozy up and discuss traditions with your family and friends, a huge step towards gaining a better understanding of the world.
LUKE MORSE ‘23
AND HIS PARENTS celebrate the holiday season making it a December to remember
CHARLOTEE TOLVA ‘24
AND THE TOLVA FAMILY have their lights shinning bright in the yard for all to see their Christmas spirit
NO SNOW? by Colin Beatty ‘23
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE YEAR IS COMING TO A CLOSE, Denver has
received almost no snowfall throughout the span of this recent winter season. Averaging 62 inches of snowfall a year compared to the 28 inch average of the US as a whole, it is unheard of for this city to go without snow. While Denver would normally be up to it’s knees in powder, it is instead experiencing one of the worst droughts in it’s history. It has been 230 days since measurable snowfall fell in Denver as of December 8th, 2021, and it unfortunately seems that this will be a trend for the foreseeable future.
WITH THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN FULL SWING, there’s no shortage of festive food items available for those who want to buy some Christmas spirit. While many chains have milkshakes and other products in line with a typical fast-food diet, I wanted to try something a little more homey this year, something that would make me feel less like I was eating the usual garbage with peppermint added. The Starbucks Snowman Cookie fit the bill and, after a particularly cold day of school, I went to pick one up. An ideal Christmas cookie should check two boxes: it should be decorative, fitting the aesthetic conventions associated with the season, and it should taste good in a sweet, childish way. The cookie I purchased from Starbucks mostly passed in terms of looks. It was cute. It was clearly a snowman, and the frosting was neat. Despite this, there was an off-putting rigidity about it that I guess should be expected from something made by a company as big as Starbucks. It would be hard to mistake it for something homemade, but the design is still charming and
feels more personal than, say, a peppermint latte. When I bit into it, however, I was immediately aware that what I had purchased would never be fully satisfying. It was intensely dry, not quite hard enough to be called stale. There was no warmth to it and little in the way of flavor, either. Overall, it felt unnatural and stiff. It would be stupid to complain about a cookie from Starbucks for feeling exactly how food from a multi-national coffee corporation is supposed to feel. It’s fine. I think if you want to eat something with a smile on it, you should try it. And, if we’re comparing it to the kind of Christmas cookies you might make yourself, or the kind that someone close gives you, I think the Starbucks Snowman Cookie isn’t far off. You eat them because they look fun and it’s the thing you’re supposed to do over the holidays, not because they’re delicious. Maybe the Snowman Cookie didn’t taste fantastic, but doesn’t it feel nice to eat something that looks fun? Don’t you feel like you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing? ‘Tis the season.
Denver has had a record snow drought. What in the world is going on? This might be due to the fact that we are in a year of “La Niña,” meaning we should expect higher temperatures and lower humidity throughout the rest of the winter. Denver is also on track to beat the record of longest time without snowfall in Colorado, the former record being 235 days in 1887. This means Coloradans should take advantage of the sun and heat while they still can. Enjoy the clear roads, dry shoes, and not shoveling before the first winter storm eventually hits.
A CRUMBLY MESS by Matthew Tierney ‘22
Starbucks holiday treat leaves little to desire
HOLIDAY FAVORITES ELEVATE 07
ELEVATE WINTER
AN ALIEN CHRISTMAS
BY MR. BRUCE RAYMOND Cotton ball Christmas tree, an alien figure, and a 3D printed Grogu makes for an out-of-this-world holiday.
NEEDS MORE SNOW
BY LIAM WOOD ‘22 Bath tissue, toothpicks, printer paper, and threads makes any skiing adventure a fun one.
CHRISTMAS SCENE PHOTO CONTEST View the entries from the
libraries Christmas Scene Photo Contest sponsored by the STEM and SANTA CLAUS CAUGHT Student Support Club ON TAPE
BY GRANT BARNES ‘23 Santa Claus in his tape dispenser sleigh led by a 3D-printed reindeer to deliver all the presents in time for Christmas.
08 ELEVATE PHOTO CONTEST
A NARNIAN CHRISTMAS
BY KYRA GRAHAM ‘23 The Ice queen pulls up on her 3D printed sleigh greeting Mr. Tumnus and Edmund in the LEGO Narnian world
‘TIS THE SEASON by Molly Nichols ‘22
Regis Jesuit staff and students take part in the annual tradition of spreading Christmas cheer around the school
WRAPPING IT WITH A BOW
MS. WILSON AND MS. CLOCK meticulously decorate the offices in the Steele Center, ensuring wherever students are, they always feel the Christmas spirit.
TREE-MENDOUS ORNAMENTS
THE STEELE CENTER Christmas tree contains over 1700 photos of students. This tradition allows them to search for their photo and celebrate the season together.
DECORATING ELEVATE 09
ELEVATE WINTER
HOLIDAY QUIZ Who do you celebrate by Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22
New Year’s Eve like?
1 WHERE ARE YOU
2 WHAT’S THE BEST
3 WHATCHA EATING
4 WHAT’S THE ACTIVITY
A. Your basement B. A local Farm C. A rooftop in Mexico D. A friend’s house
A. Fanciest sweatpants B. Fanciest overalls C. An Ann Taylor ensemble, probably D. A sparkly flapper style dress
A. TV dinner B. Chocolate milk out of a coffee mug that reads “2nd Best Dad” C. A grape for every bell toll of midnight D. An age-appropriate drink
A. Dancing to 80s hair bands under a make shift disco ball B. Singing show tunes to the Amish C. Speaking Spanish with people your own age D. Board and card games
PARTYING?
FIT FOR NYE?
If you got: MOSTLY A’S: MRS. JENNY LYNCH
CONGRATS! YOU ARE MRS. JENNY LYNCH, the dance teacher, not the Spanish teacher. You will be jamming out to 80s tunes by yourself with the finest frozen salisbury steak as your family sleeps upstairs.
10 ELEVATE HOLIDAY QUIZ
MOSTLY B’S: MR. JOSH LEEUW
CONGRATS! YOU ARE MR. JOSH LEEUW, the iconic theology teacher! You’ll be singing “O Holy Night” to your dearest friend, who is a chicken, or your neighbors, the Amish.
OR DRINKING?
MOSTLY C’S: MS. MARIA LYNCH
CONGRATS! YOU ARE MS. MARIA LYNCH, the Spanish teacher! You’ll be speaking Spanish with adults and enjoying a beautiful sunset somewhere in Mexico!
OF THE NIGHT?
MOSTLY D’S: MRS. NAIMAH SIMONSON
CONGRATS! YOU ARE MRS. NAIMAH SIMONSON, You’ll be counting down to midnight, blinding everyone with your sparkly party fit. Grab a cold glass of punch, and enjoy the night with your favorite people.
Illustration by Brynne Dixon ‘22
GIFT GUIDE ELEVATE 11
ELEVATE WINTER
by Mason Harris ‘24 and Molly Nichols ‘23
2 Guide
GIFT
Fuzzy Slippers
LAST MINUTE
WHAT SHOULD YOU GET THE ADULTS IN YOUR LIFE?
THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS UPON US, which only means one thing: people dashing through stores to finish their Christmas shopping lists. There are those who purchase their gifts months in advance, and there are others who purchase them two nights before Christmas. Regardless, time is still left to check off those wish lists. For the late shoppers, Amazon is an easy go-to store. After all, what doesn’t the online superstore have? Plus, they offer free two or three day shipping, so those gifts can still be delivered in time to be wrapped and tossed under the tree. Luckily, numerous items are still stocked, and even better, on sale, as Black Friday has morphed into an entire season rather than just a one-day holiday. That’s a win for procrastinators. Here are some last minute ideas.
BUY MOM SOMETHING that keeps her feet warm and her patience for her children flowing.
Photos in a frame
3
PHOTOS IN A FRAME Buy your mom a custom photo frame with a picture of you and your siblings in it! It gives her a chance to use a photo you actually give her consent to use, unlike those Facebook photos from circa 2009 that never seem to disappear.
Cardigan
1
T hrow blanket
NOTHING SCREAMS CHRISTMAS like snuggling up next to the fireplace with a brand new throw blanket. Even better, they’re all in stock! Snag one before it’s too late.
12 ELEVATE GIFT GUIDE
AS WINTER BEGINS TO TAKE OVER and the temperature is less than twenty degrees every morning, sweaters are the perfect gift for your family. Whether they prefer a full knit sweater, or just a cardigan to wear over their favorite shirt, both will be sure to keep them warm this Christmas. Though the weather is so delightful, it sure can be frightful.
Candles
5
IT WOULDN’T BE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT A FEW SCENTED CANDLES to put on the mantle above the fireplace. Fortunately, Amazon has thousands of flavors in stock. Whether it’s cinnamon or vanilla, they have it and you can, too.
6
Tools
HAMMERS OR SCRWEDRIVERS, Whether your parent is the handyman of the family or just the one who writes the handyman’s checks, everyone loves to own their own set of tools. Whether or not they know how to properly use these tools is up to their own discretion.
A Grill
7
WHILE THIS GIFT might seem a bit out of a student’s price range, think about the positives of this longterm investment. While dad spends his Sunday’s grilling, you can enjoy some time alone to listen to the rerecording of Taylor Swift’s Red album without interruption. The grill will quickly become his favorite child, just wait and see.
8
Jewelry A NECKLACE OR EARRINGS, any jewelry is always a safe bet. They’ll either love it or love to make fun of it. Whether looking classy to go out with friends and staying in, give them something to show off to family and friends this holiday season other than their sleepy teenagers.
9
Coffee Mug
“WORLD’S GREATEST DAD,”
“Favorite Fisherman of the family,” or a popular favorite, “The Chauffeur.” This holiday season, buy someone special a coffee mug. If yours is like most households, it will get used often, if not by your dad then by you for hot drinks of your own.
10 Date Night
PARENT DATE WITH YOU! Believe it or not, your parent really does want to spend quality time with you. Plan something fun and make it happen. It could be as easy a movie night at home or a quick trip to get ice cream. Just remember to follow through. No ghosting!
GIFT GUIDE ELEVATE 13
ELEVATE WINTER
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT KICKING OFF THE WINTER SPORTS SEASON STRONG
GARRETT REECE ‘25 FIGHTING HARD at his first varsity wrestling tournament, Reece was able to give it his all on the mat, earning second place in the tournament. Photo by Grant Barnes ‘23
MADDEN MCHUGH ‘22
BRINGS IT UP THE COURT with the team, battling to outpace the rest. Photo by Reily Wible ‘22
CARDER LUTZ ‘22
SKATING FOR THE WIN Lutz defends the puck, moving down the ice in hopes of a goal. Photo by Chloe Simon ‘23.
14 ELEVATE SPORTS PHOTO ESSAY
ARCHER VANSICKLE ‘23 MAKES BUCKETS during the home game win against the Mullen Mustangs. Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22
SOPHIA MITSUOKA ‘23
IN THE FAST LANE swimming butterfly, Mitsuoka dominates her varsity heat. Photo by Chloe Simon ‘22
SOPHIA MEYER ‘23
DOESN’T STEP OUT of line as she dribles the basketball down the court avoiding interference from the other team. Photo by Reily Wible ‘22
ZION TAYLOR ‘23
STAYS STRONG during the first varsity wrestling tournament of the school year. Taylor was able to pin his opponents, earning first place in his weight class. Photoby Grant Barnes ‘23
TAREA FULCHER ‘23 SHOOTS AND SCORES against Overland High School. Photo by Reily Wible ‘22
SPORTS PHOTO ESSAY ELEVATE 15
attend Ignatian Family Teach-In for Social Justice
1. BEFORE the sun was in the sky, their experience began. Arriving at Denver’s airport at 5:00 am, they went through long security lines to make the early flight. 2. AFTER four hours soaring across the country, they finally landed in D.C., checked in to the hotel, and grabbed something to eat at Shake Shack.
3. THE REGIS JESUIT GROUP walked miles around the city, visiting many different monuments, memorials, and government buildings in the National Mall, including; the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Nation’s Capital, the Washington monument, the National treasury, and memorials for World War II, the Korean War, Martin Luther King Jr., and the women who died in the Vietnam War. Kids were free to explore on their own; people took pictures, did handstands on the monuments, and watched the sunset. 4. THEY ENDED THE DAY with a cold walk home, taking a break to grab Chipotle, more walking in the cold, some card playing, and a reflection in the lobby about their day.
2
1. THEY WOKE UP and grabbed breakfast and then went to the Holocaust museum where students reflected on the horror and violence of the events and explored the museum on their own. 2. LATER, after visiting the Holocaust museum, the group grabbed lunch from food trucks and then went to the African American Museum.
3. THEN THE GROUP GRABBED an early dinner and had a little bit of time to relax before the first events of the Teach-In. 4. THAT NIGHT, conference students went to the hotel ballroom to hear a keynote by Fr. Brian Massingale, a professor of Theology and Ethics at Fordham University, who spoke about acceptance. 5. AFTER THAT, students got to attend a session of their choosing, including one by Fr. Greg Boyle. 6. FINALLY, the group reflected in the lobby and called it a night.
3
DAY
From November 5th-8th 2021, 12 students and three teachers from Regis Jesuit went to Washington D.C. to participate in the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Social Justice. For the past 25 years, high school and college students have attended this Catholic conference. Attending gives students the opportunity to learn about and discuss solutions to social justice issues like climate change, migration and border control, prison, and gang rehabilitation. In between sessions, students get to explore the nation’s capital and visit various monuments and museums. Regis Jesuit’s delegation had a jam-packed schedule on their trip.
1
DAY
TEACH-IN, SPEAK OUT Regis Jesuit students
DAY
by Rachel Hilty’23
1. THE DAY STARTED EARLY with students grabbing breakfast in the crowded lobby before a full day of conference sessions and break out rooms. 2. THE MORNING STARTED WITH a general session where U.S Climate Action Network Executive Director Keya Chatterjee spoke out about climate change. After that, people got to go to a breakout session of their choosing, including ones about ethical purchasing.
3. AFTER THE FIRST BREAKOUT SESSION students had lunch and then attended another breakout session on topics like prison sentencing before attending another general session where Fr. Greg Boyle, author of Tattoos on the Heart, talked about the importance of forgiveness. 4. THEN they held a Mass with all the schools that attended before dinner. 5. THE DAY WOULD NORMALLY HAVE BEEN OVER, but the people at the Teach-In decided to go to the White House and pray a vigil in the dark against Title 42, which allows refugees to be expelled or denied entry from the country during public health crises. All the schools marched around the square in front of the White House with candles in hand chanting prayers for the martyrs and refugees. 6. AFTER THE LATE NIGHT vigil, people went straight to bed.
DAY
4
16 ELEVATE IGNATIAN FAMILY TEACH-IN
1. DAY 4 was mostly just a travel day, the Regis Jesuit group started off the morning by sleeping in and then grabbing breakfast before heading to the airport. 2. THE GROUP ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT and, after a four hour flight, they made it safely back to Denver.
Ms . Julie Q&A Bruchs SCAN HERE
to learn more about Coach Kelley and her new journey at Regis Jesuit Photo by Elijah Hawkins ‘22
MEET
by Kyra Graham ‘23
COACHKelley New strategies for new beginnings
V
arsity girls’ basketball has always been one of the school’s star sports. With former famous players and games, the need for a varsity girls’ coach who not only played but could teach was vital. With such an important sport, the shoes would be hard to fill, but as the basketball season approaches, we finally get to meet the new girls’ varsity team coach: Jordan Kelley, someone who more than fulfills the requirements to lead the team and everyone on it all the way to state.
court or in the off season, but in all their hopes for life in general. She wants to focus on the program by creating a culture that brings both success and happiness. She believes that a positive community, teamwork, strength, and a good mental foundation will really bring the whole team together. She wants the team to not only seek their own successes but also to help their teammates succeed, learning to support each other while they go along the same journey.
Coach Kelley, born and raised in Gillette, Wyoming, has played basketball almost all her life. She competed all the way up through high school, growing a strong passion for the game, and then moved on to also play in college. She played a total of five years of college basketball between the two universities she attended. After that she came to Denver, Colorado, not only to start but also to coach her very own club program for girls’ basketball. She started in 2016 coaching all ages, and during the time she wasn’t coaching her own club program, she was acting as assistant varsity coach for our team. In 2018, she moved in order to be the assistant coach of the girls’ basketball team at the University of Idaho. The prestige of Regis Jesuit High School brought her back three years later to act as head coach of the varsity team.
Coach Kelley of course hopes to bring the girls to state this year but emphasizes it must be done the right way, using positivity and support to aid any struggles the team might have this year.
She loved the idea of not only being able to coach the students here but to be able to impact their lives, helping them to pursue all their dreams not only on the
Her final wish for this season is to see the team have fun, improve, and win games along the way.
She plans on readjusting some old habits on the team, habits involving not only their view on the world but also their playing style. She also plans to implement more of Regis Jesuit’s philosophy in everything she and her team does. She’s most looking forward to simply getting to know the girls on the team and seeing them improve. While confident that the team could start with how college level basketball teams are coached, she believes that teaching from the very fundamentals is the best way to make sure they everyone is on the same page.
REGIS JESUIT’S NEWEST MUSIC TEACHER, MS. JULIE BRUCHS SHARES A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HERSELF AND HER MOVE TO RJ
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO REGIS JESUIT? The former instrumental music director, Dr. He, and I have worked together for several years. She shared that she was moving and reached out to see if I was interested in learning more about teaching at Regis. After visiting and interacting with the staff and students, I felt a strong sense of both calm and excitement about the prospect of being a part of the community here. So far, I am really enjoying it! WHAT MADE YOU FIRST INTERESTED IN MUSIC? I was really involved in dance and musical theatre as a kid. I also started playing piano when I was seven and violin when I was eleven. I loved it and felt that these areas were connected and gave me a sense of identity and passion. Music was the place I would go when things were challenging, and it served as a means of forming a deep connection with my friends and family. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SONG? Currently, O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridson and the fourth movement of Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, but there are way too many songs and pieces I love for me to have just one favorite! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BRING TO REGIS JESUIT? I hope to bring a sense of compassion and care for students, while also helping them achieve their musical and academic goals. WILL YOU MAKE ANY NEW CLUBS? I am currently working with the Drumline and Musicians at Mass along with Concert Band and String Orchestra. I am looking forward to building these programs along with the passionate students who are involved in them! HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR FIRST DAY WENT? The first day went smoothly. I came from teaching in a similar program at a nearby high school. I love the context, priorities, and philosophies Regis embodies so far! NEW STAFF ELEVATE 17
ELEVATE WINTER
MAKING GAINS FOR MENTAL HEALTH by Jose Gutierrez ‘22
Sources of Strength gives students the resources they need to build positive relationships and habits with everyone
The winter season approaches with an icy serenade and a coolness that gives warmth a special meaning. Hugs have an extra importance, and feeling the love in someone’s arms become even more meaningful. It’s a season where driving can be scary, those once smooth roads now covered in snow and ice. One may get stuck or get in an accident, but that’s okay. It isn’t out of the ordinary and
anyone can get in these situations; that’s why there are services to help. Although getting over the incident might feel like it takes forever, it won’t. The same is true of mental health. A program that promotes this sense of help and hope is Sources of Strength. Sources of Strength has been in the making since 1993 and has now expanded nationally. It has been in the Suicide
Prevention Resource Center’s National Best Practices Registry since 2009, and it was the first student-led mental health program in the U.S. This year the program arrived at our school, designed to create a better, stronger, safer environment within the Regis community. The head coordinators of Sources of Strength at Regis Jesuit are Ms. Celeste Siade, one of our school therapists, and Ms. Dana Bauer, Assistant Principal and PE teacher. “We have been looking at this program for honestly four years. It’s an evidence-based program that’s used throughout the nation. Specifically in Colorado, Cherry Creek Schools use it, Douglas County Schools, and so we know it has a good track record,” said Ms. Bauer. After discovering it, Ms. Bauer and Ms. Siade went through training and meetings to learn more about Sources of Strength. They fell in love
Photo by Katherine McManus ‘23, Peer Leader 18 ELEVATE SOURCES OF STRENGTH
with the program and were ready to launch in the Spring of 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic put that on hold. As the quarantine evolved into a global shutdown, it didn’t seem right to launch a program that needed to be well-prepared within the community. Ms. Siade and Ms. Bauer thought they couldn’t get the personal feeling the same way online. “We wanted to be able to train the peer leaders and adult leaders correctly,” Siade said. “We also felt like we would be very disconnected by launching the campaign virtually.” COVID-19 not only interfered with the launch but also proved that this program was definitely needed. “We acknowledge that, especially in the light of COVID, there are a lot of challenges and pressures on these kids nowadays,” Principal Jimmy Tricco said. “Giving them skills to be resilient, to overcome
these obstacles, meet their challenges, and know they have a community that supports them is important.” The program is built around providing students and adults with skills that provide resilience during tough times, such as, mental health, physical health, spirituality, generosity, healthy activities, mentors, positive friends, and family support. A great way to get involved is by taking the time to reflect and see what your own sources of strengths are, deriving encouragement from your greatest strength
PARTICIPATING IN A PHOTO BOOTH activity, students were asked to grab a piece of the pie wheel and pose with it to demonstrate their source of strength. Photo by Lenny Osuna ‘24
and “making gains” in other areas. There are twenty peer leaders, known as connectors, in each grade level that help students with their sources of strength. They are there to help with students and faculty identify and utilize their strengths as well as connecting them to other supports they may need. “The leaders have been trained to come to counseling, to come to Ms. Bauer and I. To be able to reach out and get the help anyone may need,” Siade said. Sources of Strength aims to
bring mental health into the mainstream conversation, demonstrate that it’s okay to be vulnerable, show the many positives of life, and get everyone the help they need. Sophomore Lyric Swift ‘23 is among the group of peer leaders at our school, focusing on the social media side of the program. “I’m the person who is there to help them through it all. It just means a lot, to be recognized in that way, and to be able to help others,” Swift said. “I feel like one person can save someone’s life, and I feel
lucky to be a part of it.” There are seventeen adult connectors in the program, as well. These adult connectors are not just there for the students but also there for the staff and adults at Regis, too.
“Giving them skills to be resilient, to overcome these obstacles, meet their challenges, and know they have a community that supports them is important.”
this program can help educate everyone about the strengths we have in our lives and these eight areas of our life that are important to maintain good mental health.” There’s a community full of love and support here. Whether it be mentors, friends, teachers, and students. Sources of Strength is here to continue to build on to that community of hope, help, and strength.
FOLLOWING
@RJ_SOURCESOFSTRENGTH on instagram is a great way to also get involved in the program, as they have continued updates on events from Sources of Strength, and a look into the wonderful community at Regis Jesuit.
Ms. Siade said, “I think
SOURCES OF STRENGTH ELEVATE 19
ELEVATE WINTER by Jose Gutierrez ‘22 and Brynne Dixon ‘22
I MATTER
A PROGRAM OF PROGRESS
State seeks to aid teen mental health
C
olorado. The Centennial State. A place with 300 days of sunshine. A land of mountainous terrain and beauty around every corner. So many bright labels to cover up a dark stain: our state’s alarming mental health statistics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the seventh-highest leading cause of death here in Colorado is suicide. It’s hard to imagine that it’s more likely that our citizens will commit suicide than death by diabetes, chronic liver disease, and pneumonia, but it is true. In part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, depression and anxiety rates among children and young adults have skyrocketed. This is where imattercolorado.org comes into play. IMatter is a new mental health program that debuted here in Colorado and officially launched on October 27th, 2021. Mental health continues to be important
20 ELEVATE IMATTER
within various communities in Colorado, but providing such care is a struggle within our state, in large part due to a lack of availability. Caring for mental health is expensive, a fact that the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health has taken notice of. Their response: the IMatter program. In June of 2021, Governor Polis signed the bill into law as part of the Colorado Comeback Roadmap. Ms. Elizabeth Owens, the Director of Policy and Communications for the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health, and her team brought their dream to life, focusing on protecting the mental well-being of our state’s youth. IMatter can provide three free therapy sessions for youths 18 and under, as well as those 21 and under if they are receiving special education services. The initiative has launched a website that allows young people in these age groups to apply for free therapy sessions, though
if the youth is 11 or under, they are required to apply with a parent or guardian present. Although there is currently counseling in many Colorado schools, there is a clear difference that is set by the IMatter program. With the IMatter program, availability is immediate. There is no waiting time, with sources available like telehealth. “You just go in and can proactively schedule your own therapy sessions,” Owens said. This program not only sets itself apart from counseling in school but also alleviates the pressures that the majority of schools have. “What we consistently hear from schools is that they don’t often have the capacity to serve all those kids who need mental health services,” she said. IMatter hopes that this opportunity for youths will be beneficial to schools with an overwhelming number of
kids in need of their mental health services. So why isn’t there funding going directly to those schools that need more counselors? With IMatter being so new, there isn’t guaranteed funding. IMatter is only oneyear program at the moment, therefore it’s hard to direct it to counselors when there isn’t secured ongoing funding. The IMatter program is also relying on a pre-existing workforce in the state to contract counselors in order to fill in the therapy sessions. COVID-19 only made pressures for schools worse, Owens explained, recalling conversations she’s had with the Colorado Department of Education. “Schools are very overwhelmed. It’s been a very hard year and a half with the disruptions related to COVID. There was an agreement that this was nice and didn’t put any additional burdens on schools, but instead offers a resource outside of school that the schools could use,” she said. COVID-19 not only affected the pressures and demand for resources but affected the creation of IMatter. “We had youth mental health needs that weren’t being met in our state before COVID. Then the pandemic just exacerbated those needs.” IMatter opened the door for an opportunity for youths to get the services they need and to develop habits of wellness and self-care. On the IMatter website, there is a survey that helps parents and the youth start getting help. This survey is completely confidential and is used for the counselor to get a sense
MAKING THE CASE
by Prescott Epard ‘24
of what’s going on in the life of these young people. “It helps them identify who would be the right counselor to serve them and what they might need to work on with the youth,” said Owens. The connection between the counselor and the youth is extremely important, especially to Owens and her team. To find the best match, the youth’s cultural and ethnic backgrounds are considered in the selection process so they can feel supported and find a therapist with whom they share a connection. “People want to connect with a therapist that looks like them or has some experience in working with racial trauma or whether it’s LGBTQ issues or bullying,” Owens said. The intent is to pair youth with someone they can continue their sessions with, but a switch can be arranged if the youth believes they would benefit more from a different counselor. After a youth has completed three free therapy sessions, there are no cut-offs to those that continue to need help. Since this program is relatively new there is yet more data to be collected. Nobody in the state has yet received all three therapy sessions. Three ‘care navigators’, people there to support patients who still require help after their free sessions, were hired to be a part of IMatter. Care navigators try to connect youths with a therapist who takes their insurance or Medicaid into account. If the youth decides not to share insurance information or doesn’t have any, care navigators can direct them to alternate mental
health care centers. Due to funding restrictions, IMatter isn’t currently able to offer more than three free therapy sessions; leaders must wait and see what the initial demand looks like before increasing the number of allowed sessions. Only time will tell as this program continues to move forward. Cost was once a huge part of the issue for parents and youth when it came to taking care of mental health and getting these necessary services. “This program is so needed from what we hear from kids and parents in the state. ‘What are the options for me receiving treatment?’ We know cost is a huge factor. So how can we change that?” Owens said. In the past five years that Owens has worked in the CDHS, nothing has been more important to her than helping people. She knows the impact that programs like IMatter can have on young Coloradans and their family. “I just got an email yesterday from a mom who has been seeking services for her kid for weeks and weeks. She said this program is everything, this is amazing.”
With the first Speech and Debate competition just finishing up, Coach and Junior Theology Teacher James Woodall got his first real taste of what it is like to coach an in-person meet. Woodall, along with Math teacher Ms. Miranda Smith, started coaching last year after long-time coach Mark Onstott retired. Woodall knew speech and debate was another way to connect with the community. “They needed someone, and it was something I wanted to do,” he said. “There isn’t always a great reason. I wanted to get to know the students here as people. When people come here, they aren’t trying to earn a grade, but to enjoy themselves.” Seeing students from the perspective of both a teacher and a club leader showed him how students act differently. With lower expectations due to not having assignments or projects, Woodall feels as if he fully understands them as a person. “In general, for me, nobody will learn until trust is established. Being a speech and debate coach reminds me to build a good relationship with these students,” Woodall said. “Not only that, but it shows me what they do in their spare time. As a teacher, you can sometimes get excuses from students, but when you see them busy after school, it gives a good idea of the time they have for assignments.” Due to the club meeting online, he had trouble getting to know his students and proving himself as a coach of the club. When he was able to meet his students in person this year, he felt a lot more joy coming from the club. “It’s good to meet the people I found last year
online and feed off their excitement. I like to remind myself that this isn’t work, it’s fun,” he said. “There is a wide range of students with different experiences and backgrounds. They’re all different. Everyone has to take theology class but not everyone has to join speech and debate.” Since he is a Theology teacher, he only interacts with a handful of students in a couple different grades. By joining Speech and Debate, he has gotten to know students from different grades that he wouldn’t have otherwise. “I get to meet students in other grades, not just the grades I teach. With a club like Speech and Debate, you can always meet people with the same passions as you.” The Speech and Debate team had their first meeting a couple of weeks ago. Woodall enjoyed the experience overall but there were some abnormal things about it. “We organized the inperson meet, so it’s kind of still wasn’t a real tournament. Also, masks were still needed, so that didn’t give as much of the feel. Those things added another layer of difficulty to this tournament.” Despite starting as a coach during a difficult year, Mr. Woodall has had a great transition into being the new leader of the Speech and Debate program. He loves coaching, getting to know students, and the atmosphere. The club will be competing in more meets in the future. If you are interested in joining the RJ speech and debate club, contact Mr. Woodall. If you are interested in joining the Speech and Debate, email Mr. Woodall at jwoodall@regisjesuit.com IMATTER ELEVATE 21
ELEVATE WINTER
A WALK IN TIME
by Jacob Gold ‘23
See The Photos Filling the Gaps in Regis Jesuit’s History
F
or Ms. Karen Wuertz, head of the Boys Division, it’s year 11 as a part of the Regis Jesuit community. Some parts of her current job are more entertaining than others, but one of the things that excites her most is exploring the long history behind the school she helps run. As Regis Jesuit alumni came back for
and they’d ask for past photos, and not having those to be able to display and have that kind of consistency was kind of always driving me crazy.” Between staff transitions and leadership changes, keeping that legacy around wasn’t always a priority. According to Mrs. Wuertz, that’s why many of the photos
reunions, Wuertz had a realization: many class photos from over the years were missing, lost, or damaged. “It made me a little bit sad for a lost legacy to see all of the photos that were lost,” Mrs. Wuertz said. “People would come in and see the photos on the wall,
have gone missing. “Some of them were framed, some were on the walls, and many of them were still sitting in storage closets,” she said. Other class photos, according to Wuertz, are just missing. Thankfully, the school still has most of the
22 ELEVATE CLASS COMPOSITE PHOTOS
yearbooks from the last several decades. The process takes time, but staff can copy over pictures from yearbooks to take a composite photo, find the school logo from the year they’re looking for, and design the photo in a way that makes it look like nearby years. To get all of this done, Ms. Wuertz partnered with Ms. Gretchen Kessler in the alumni office for help. Ms. Kessler has been at Regis Jesuit for 18 years, the first 15 of which she spent as principal before choosing to work more closely with the alumni office in 2018. For her, putting these photos together hasn’t just been part of the job; it’s been a pleasure.
“It’s really fun and exciting, but it’s also important. Every one of the pictures tells a story,” Kessler said. Putting these composites together has given Kessler a unique look into the
change in culture over the years. She gets to see changes in fashion trends in the school, and she begins to imagine the experiences each student had during their four years here. As an employee of the alumni office, she also gets to see the importance of keeping these pictures around for people who have already graduated. “When alumni come back, they really want to see their own class photo, and they want to reminisce about the friends they had in the photo,” Kessler said. As composite photos started coming together, it became more and more important to get them framed so that they could be displayed in the school halls. That’s when they partnered with a local Michael’s store to do some of the work. As they waited, they met Maddy Craighead, an employee at the framing department who got invested in working on photos and learning about their
Dating back to 1949 in the Boys Division, these photos show the progress over decades in Regis Jesuit High School. They have become a fun and heartwarming way to see the family, friends, and the legacies we are connected to. The Girls Division contains similar class photos dating back to 2004 when the Girls Divison was first founded. Current Regis Jesuit students, staff, and families can appreicate the many graduating classes that have come before them and remember those who were also proud to be a Regis Jesuit Raider. Photos by Jacob Gold ‘23
history. “She really just took to the photos and wanted to know stories about people that I knew in the photos,” Kessler said. “She was excited every time we brought over new composites.” Craighead has lived in Colorado her entire
life. She started working at Michael’s around a year and a half ago, and she chose to work in framing to get back in touch with art in her own life. The first batch of pictures came in during the summer of 2020, and she has been working on them since. It took some time to properly craft each image, which gave her time to explore Regis
Jesuit’s history from an outside perspective. “While we worked, we got to talk about the project and all the years they were bringing in, and we built a working relationship from there,” she said. Just like Kessler, Craighead found it interesting to see some of the cultural changes that happened over the years.
“Over time, we started looking at the names and going back and thinking about all of the different years that people would have graduated,” she said. “It was a really cool way to go back in time a little bit.”
“IT WAS A FUN LITTLE WALK IN TIME TO GO FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE
PHOTOS TO THE END.”
Both divisions contain the photos of former graduates, making sure that they will forever be remembered and a part of Regis Jesuit history, Photo by Jacob Gold ‘23.
As the project went on, Craighead was even able to visit the school and look at the finished products on the wall. Here, she was able to see once again how the culture changed over time. “It was just a really cool project to be a part of,” Kessler said.
CLASS COMPOSITE PHOTOS ELEVATE 23
ELEVATE WINTER
MOVIES YOU MUST WATCH by Mason Harris ‘24
The best, most revolutionary movies from every decade
A 1
24 ELEVATE MOVIES BY THE DECADE
T
1980S
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
1970s
THE GODFATHER (1972)
1 9 9 0s TITANIC (1997)
A SPACE ODYSEEY (1968)
9 6 0s
Space Odyssey, a science fiction film, was effectively the first of its kind, and it remains genre-defining. Produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, the film is known for its simplicity among the genre. Honorable Mentions: Rather than attempting to thrill Back to the Future (1985) the audience, the film leaves E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982) them to contemplate every single scene in the movie. The special effects revolutionized the industry, depicting scientifically accurate space travel and blowing the audience away. The sparinglyused dialogue combined with the ambiguous imagery makes the film one of the industry’s Honorable Mentions: pioneers, setting the stage for countless films today. The themes Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope (1977) of existentialism, human evolution, Taxi Driver (1976) technology, artificial intelligence, and extraterrestrial life have become focal points of today’s Honorable Mentions: society. So, the film indeed was a Psycho (1960) glimpse into the future for those in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) the past.
he tragedy of the Titanic is one of the most intriguing events in history, so it was bound to turn into a blockbuster movie. Yet James Cameron's 200-million-dollar film still managed to exceed all expectations. It's intelligently constructed, and the actors all work to deliver a memorable performance. For most of them, it is the film that they are known for. The illustrations are convincing and seamless despite much of the set itself being digitally created. Cameron frames and explains the voyage in a modern way, appealing to a large audience, as the journey took place nearly a century before the movie. The film went on to dominate the 70th Academy Awards, winning eleven awards, including Best Picture. The film had a record-breaking box office, hauling in over 2.2 billion dollars. Since its release, it has made 3.8 billion dollars worldwide, which still holds the record.
Honorable Mentions: The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Pulp Fiction (1994)
2000s
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)
Honorable Mentions:
Sa brin a’s Cor ner
The Dark Knight (2008) Castaway (2000)
SENIORITIS
What happens to seniors after college applications are in?
D 2 0 1 0s DUNKIRK (2017)
unkirk is one of the grandest and ambitious movies ever. It's so ambitious that it's primarily filmed in one long Steadicam shot, which is an unprecedented approach to any movie. Christopher Nolan directs the film, sustaining its dramatic tension from start to finish while containing the same brutal intensity that is generally found in war movies. Nolan primarily filmed on location at Dunkirk Beach, another rarity in today's industry. Even the thrilling flight scenes feature real, vintage spitfires. When the boats arrive, the majority are the preserved Dunkirk Little Ships, salvaged in 1940. Dunkirk is a thrilling and terrifying movie about suffering and bravery, focusing on selfless individuals who largely contribute to a greater good.
Honorable Mentions:
N
ovember second hits. The applications are in after typing away until 11:59. Your fingers may be cramped, but at least you’re done... for now.
The lack of desire to do anything school related is wiping out the senior class. It’s an illness of epic proportions commonly referred to as “senioritis.” Senioritis is an affliction commonly found in high school seniors. It can go on for years but can only be diagnosed until a student’s senior year. For years, my classmates and I have suffered from this, but we were not diagnosed medically until earlier this semester. According to WebMD, the symptoms of senioritis include, but are not limited to: sleeping in and ditching class, sleeping during class, looking listless next to a pile of homework that never gets done, demonstrating little to no will power over essays due tomorrow but were given three weeks prior, and leaving your care between somewhere and someplace. There is not cure, no vaccine, no Advil that will help us through the next five months. But there is hope, brimming on the horizon. When we graduate, we will be cured. We will be free of this horrendous disease that has taken not our lives, but our grades.
RIP THE SENIOR CLASS’S GRADES 2009-2002
BlacKkKlansman (2018) 1917 (2019)
SABRINA’S CORNER ELEVATE 25
ELEVATE WINTER
OPINION
RJ MEDIA FOR STUDENTS BY STUDENTS We encourage student voices submit your opinion piece or letter to the editor for our next issue at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com
LIKE, COMMENT AND SHARE The Negative Impacts of TikTok V by Ellie Post ‘23
andalism in schools, dangerous challenges, and decreased social interaction. TikTok, the current global phenomenon, has everyone swept up in its addicting content, and the impacts are less than ideal.
From TikTok dances to challenges, the social media app has it all. As of 2021, Tiktok acquired approximately 1 billion active users. But as always, people never stop and look at the dangers this new source of enjoyment might pose. I see these negative impacts every day because TikTok is most appealing to my generation and millennial’s. Even older generations are getting wrapped up in its addicting whirlpool. Because of the negative impacts and dangers posed by this app, TikTok should be restricted if not taken down. Because human beings are social creatures that desperately want to fit in, they can easily be swayed to follow a specific person or idea. TikTok has a large impact in people’s lives and often leads to trends and people doing what they think is cool for “likes” and views. Of course, people, especially teenagers and young adults, have always done silly or dangerous things because they see them on social media. But TikTok seems to have a greater hold on its users, creating a more dangerous pandemic. As people try the challenges and trends they see on TikTok, they attempt them and create dangerous or terrible situations for themselves and other people. A recent trend on TikTok involved vandalizing school bathrooms and taking apart sinks, stalls, and other necessities. How can something be so addicting and appealing that people will be willing to destroy property just to look cool? 26 ELEVATE COLUMNS
The primary reason TikTok is so addicting to its users is because of its sophisticated algorithm. It is more advanced than most algorithms on other social media platforms. It’s so good that it can predict what will go viral, not based on the number of followers or views the user who posted the content has, but by past content and trends. These videos show up on the “for you” page, which is based on the content the app thinks you like to see because of its advanced algorithm. This app is gathering so much information and is able to predict and create trends so well because of what has been popular in the past. It should be concerning that this app can be peering into our lives and making nearly perfect predictions about us. People often say that TikTok can be a career launcher, and some users can become “influencers.” However, it is very rare for someone to become an influencer on TikTok and get paid for the influence they have over people.
Because of this complex algorithm predicting what people like to see, TikTok can become time-consuming and people don’t want to put it down. They say they will stop at a certain time, but then the app pulls up another video and another hour is gone. This leads to teenagers becoming distracted from homework and other responsibilities and activities. I hear about students staying up well into the early morning to finish homework and projects and going to bed around 3 o’clock. One might argue that high schools are giving too much homework and these students are too busy, but then students often talk about how they got distracted with TikTok and how they were scrolling through their phones, looking at videos the app had so conveniently curated for them. Most users spend 80 minutes per day on the app. I use my iPad every day for school and homework, and I am usually averaging out four and a half hours per day each week, to put this in perspective. Teenagers focus on making dances and trying challenges when they hang out together. They are scrolling through their “for you” page instead of talking with one another. This disconnect is sad to see, and, what’s more, this will impact the next generation and the future of our world. Gen-Z is supposed to be the ones to fix climate change and go to Mars for the first time, but those supposed heroes are being mindless followers trying to copy what they think is popular or cool. TikTok clearly has too negative of an impact on people’s lives. It should be restricted, even banned, because it takes up so much of its users’ time and leads to negative social and physical consequences.
ELEVATE WINTER
OPINION
RJ MEDIA FOR STUDENTS BY STUDENTS We encourage student voices submit your opinion piece or letter to the editor for our next issue at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com
FROM TURKEY TO TARGET Why Black Friday and Cyber Monday should be considered by Molly Nichols ‘23
major holidays on the calendar
I
t’s no secret that people go bonkers during Black Friday looking for the best deals of the season. The idea of discounted flat screens, deals on clothing, shoes, and refrigerators is exactly what I would call “The Christmas spirit.” Thanksgiving dinner is often cut short due to people’s desire to get a good night’s sleep before hitting big-name stores like Target and Kohl’s early the next morning. The reality is that a lot of people prioritize shopping online and in-store for big deals after Thanksgiving. Elbowing and physical confrontation have become a reason to celebrate the holidays. In my opinion, with the rapidly growing popularity of holiday savings, it just makes sense to transform this lovely day of crowds, spending, and anger into a holiday of its own. Online retailers such as Amazon and Apple make a strong profit from Cyber Monday, the Monday following Black Friday. This day of savings is slightly less physically brutal than that of Black Friday but still offers the satisfaction of spending a
good part of your checking account on something you don’t need. A thrilling experience not only for shoppers, but for mall security as well. While you continue to participate in the battle taking place at every Macy’s store across the country, security personnel are stationed and ready to deal with the more “passionate” shoppers. Personally, I am always careful to exhibit simple human decency to make sure that security doesn’t feel too strained on Black Friday. I always find it helpful to carry a small wallet on Black Friday, making sure to only carry a credit card, not being dragged down by cash. It’s also important to make sure you have what I call a safety partner, just in case those mobs do get intense you want to make sure there’s someone there who’s available to call 911 from the food court. Wear tightly fitted clothing and plan your shoes accordingly. It’s a good idea to wear something that cannot be grabbed and shoes that you feel are invincible to the stomping they will
endure. Try wearing a hairstyle that does not offer an opportunity for pulling and ripping, and you will be set up for success. It is considered only a small part of the winter holidays, but after this testament I hope this can persuade some people to consider being an advocate for transforming this somewhat horrifying day into a holiday of its own. With the large emphasis on family and community we all experience during the winter season, it’s important to have a holiday where we can strongly emphasize our animalistic roots that so many people chose to ignore. With the winter holidays quickly approaching, it’s crucial that people find time to prepare for Black Friday before it’s too late. Grab some Doc Martin boots, workout clothes, and prepare not only for the sweating you will endure, but the sweat from your credit card throughout the day, as well.
GROOVY BABY! ‘70s fashion is making a comeback by Roisin Mooney ‘22 and Emma Davisson ‘22
BELL-BOTTOM JEANS, FLARE PANTS, FUNKY PRINTS AND PATTERNS ARE ALL THE RAGE; the ’70s are officially here to stay as they fill the halls and classrooms of schools everywhere. Crochet outfits, one-shoulder tops, and graphic tees prove to be the typical after-school “fit.” The emergence of micro-trends and the rise of TikTok fashion is where the 70s styles and patterns were first seen, but celebrities and influencers brought it to our social media feeds, and later, to the forefront of our minds and stores everywhere.
center stage. They’re usually oversized and don’t disappoint with the comfortable and low-key vibe. If you’re less of a groupie and looking for something a little more groovy, bright colors and “slammin’” prints might be more up your alley. No matter what your style may be, there is something for everyone no matter how wacky, androgynous, punk, or anything in between. Fashion icons like Cher and David Bowie are just a few examples of people we can all learn a lesson from about the past and the fashion that comes with it.
Don’t be “Dazed and Confused”: the disco age is back and better than ever. Even iconic graphic tees can serve as a bit of a time machine, with 70s bands such as Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones taking
The fashion industry has been bringing back old styles throughout the decades with a modern twist and we are all here for it. Fashion trends are cyclical, meaning that one thing that might have
28 ELEVATE OPINION
been considered unfashionable a few years ago will usually resurface decades later. How are we making the 70s even better? We have brought tie-dye back, but with unique designs and new, modernized color shades to choose from. Even though the way that we put together outfits is more modernized, such as the “big pants little shirt” trend. We are still sporting the crochet tops that the “hippies” made popular not too long ago. Bright colors are not something we are all used to with the stigma that bright colors are for kids, but we are beginning to break out of this mindset with the on-set of the bright colored clothing lines that are filling the stores and later filling our closets. Are the 70s fashion trends here to stay? Only time will tell. Which decade is next?
NO MORE EXCUSES, JUST DO IT by Grant Barnes ‘23
A Message To The Steele Center Lunch Partakers SORRY TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE, BUT YOU ARE NOT THAT SPECIAL. You are not special enough for it to be acceptable to leave your halfdrunk Gatorades and dirty utensils behind at the tables you sit at. You are not special enough to watch the hot red pizza sauce plop on the table and smear for you to just walk away from it. No one is that special, but it seems like a lot of us feel entitled enough to do it nearly every day. It was not until I ended my day with class in the Steele Center when I saw the mess you leave behind. As soon as the five-minute bell rings you flee the tables, leaving behind your food, plates, and water bottles. The blatant disregard for anyone except for yourself is such a shame and an embarrassment to our school. It’s no wonder they temporarily closed the Steele Center for
lunch. That behavior is not why I chose to come to Regis Jesuit High School. It’s easy to say that last year was a crazy one and we still haven’t gotten back to normal. We can say that no one experienced a normal school year, especially the class of 2024 who were freshmen, but that’s just another excuse. We are at the end of the semester and this behavior still exists. There needs to be more accountability for the young men and women who attend this school. This made me wonder: are we not doing enough to enforce school rules? Are we going “too soft” on students? Are we making excuses for their behavior? I cannot say what the staff and administration has or has not done for issues like this. What I
can say is that it is not their issue to fix. At some point our decisions and behavior is out of our parents’ and teachers’ hands. We will make the decisions with the guidance they have given us. It is up to you to clean up your own mess. It is up to you to tell your friends to pick up the mess they almost left behind. And it’s up to you to thank the custodial staff for all they do to keep our school clean and taking care of other people’s messes. Please do your part in keeping our school clean and respectable. Hold yourself accountable, to the same standards that your own parents have for you. Hold your friends accountable for their own actions and standards. Move in the direction that helps us to be men and women with and for others.
ELEVATE STAFF
STAFF EDITORIAL As a staff we believe your priority this holiday season should be to maintain a celebration with values of love, peace, and giving. While Regis Jesuit emphasizes the importance of a Catholic faith, it’s important to recognize and celebrate the winter festivities of those who do not share in the same faith. We need to respect the traditions of our brothers and sisters that may be different than ours. Last year, we couldn’t partake in holiday traditions as we had in years past, making it even more important to cherish and indulge in these holiday traditions that bring us together as a community. While it is still important to wear your mask and stay safe, we are able to do much more than we could last year. We now know how much the little
things like hugging our grandparents, giving gifts, and seeing each other face to face impacts our lives. Everyone this holiday season should avoid taking it for granted. We must not forget how hard it was to celebrate from a distance last year. It is our hope that you enjoy movies by the fire, sip a hot beverage, and find somebody to hug this holiday season. Do your best to remain safe and to keep those around you safe. Let us continue to be there for each other. Happy Holidays from the Elevate team!
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MAGAZINE Regis Jesuit’s Jazz Band put on a show at the Winter Instrumental Concert in the Z-Theater on Demember 6th, 2021. The community was invited to listen to the students perform this winter season. Photo by Jameson Hoy ‘22
