April 15, 2011 by Royal Banner

Peoples

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Navigating

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the Achievement Gap

Wisconsin

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The Royal Banner

Fairview High School

Vol. 51 No.9

Athletes of the Issue Stories and Photos By MEGAN DEBRUYN & PAIGE RESIMAN

Li leads tennis through busy junior year Junior Monica Li was full of enthusiasm when asked about this year’s tennis season. She rocks the court all by herself in singles’ tennis, saying that “she doesn’t really know how to play doubles.” Monica got 4th in state last year, and is currently playing at #2. Sometimes she may look crazy, as she talks to herself from time to time in her solitude on the court, but it’s her strong mental focus that forces her domination over her competition. She loves her teammates, who are her friends outside of practice, and the team manager, Ryan Patterson, who gives her candy from time to time. Outside of tennis and a clerical job at the ranch country club, Monica admits to not really having a life, as she is an IB student who spends her weekends doing SAT prep. However, she manages to find time to eat Ripple Frozen Yogurt.

Friday, April 15, 2011

1515 Greenbriar Blvd. Boulder, CO 80305

The Room: A cult classic comes to Boulder day, generating revenue from screenings in small theaters around the world every year. Many movies today are bad. Filmmakers I was lucky enough to attend one of these continue to churn out insipid, shallow work screenings on April Fools’ day at CU Boulin favor of creating something mentally stimder’s Muenzinger Auditorium. Having seen ulating and actually worthwhile. It’s easy to numerous clips of the film before, most notasense a lot of uninspired story lines, bland bly the famous clip of the story’s protagonist acting, and a general lack of respect for an Johnny wailing, “YOU’RE TEARING ME audience’s intelAPART, LISA!!!” I lect polluting the had a pretty good film industry. But, idea of just how although staggerhysterically awingly rare, certain ful the movie is. films are so hilariWhen fellow Banously, ridiculously nerite Eli Booninhorrible that a parVail informed me adoxical euphoric that the “Citizen sensation arises Kane” of bad movfrom the experiies was going to be ence of watching coming as a part them. of the University’s “The Room,” excellent Internasaid by many to The Room features pillow fights, scotchkas, football, and many tional Film Series, I other non-sequitors. (THEROOMUK.WORDPRESS.COM) be the single worst could not conceivfilm ever made, is a ably pass up the opportunity. perfect example of this bizarreness. The film It turned out to be one of the greatest movgained a cult following soon after its release ie going experiences I’ve ever had in my life, in 2003 as word quickly spread that poorly like nothing I’d ever seen. I had a feeling that executed drama can have incredible comedic a second Mardi Gras had come over us. Cult value. The following remains steadfast to this movie goers wore attire Continued on page 9 By SAM ROCK

Donor Dudes strives to help spread awareness By LEO LEONG

Stoorman excited for prom, baseball Fairview is suiting up for baseball season! The boys have high hopes this year, especially with Will Stoorman in the center field as well as pitching on occasion. This junior jock has been playing for Fairview’s baseball team since his freshman year. Aside from baseball practice, Will works at an assisted living center for the elderly. Although he plans to go to prom with his girlfriend, his close second choice would have to be Sandra Bullock. Will enjoys everything about baseball with the exception of the tightness of the pants that the players are required to wear. He gets pumped up for each game by listening to Young Jeezy. It seems as if Rebecca Black’s, “Friday”, has not quite made his playlist.

According to national donation statistics, educate the public about organ donation. 108,169 people are waiting for organ transMany Fairview students and their families plant nationally. At the support CKF. “My son, same time, 18 people die Chris waited almost 4 each day due to the lack months before a donor of available organs for was found,” said Pam transplant. Chris Klug’s Bond Simmons, former Foundation (CKF) Fairview Language Arts strives to raise awareteacher. “My son wantness. ed to support Klug and CKF is a non profit his foundation to help organization located in bring awareness of the Aspen, Colorado that need for donors.” publicises the imporIn addition to CKF, tance of organ transKlug also created Doplant and the need for nor Dude. donors. Chris Klug, an “Donor Dude is a Olympic Medalist snowgrass roots educational Chris Klug, the founder of Donor Dude boarder, founded CKF in program for youth to raise (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS) 2004. awareness about the great Klug was diagnosed with a degenerative bile need for organ donation.” said Virgina Gebduct condition and received a liver transplant hart, parent of former Fairview graduate. in 2000. To thank the donor family for giving The group consists of high school and colhis life a second chance, he created CFK to lege students who Continued on page 3

Royal Banner

News

Friday, April 15, 2011

Teachers share opinions about Senate Bill 191, teacher tenure I am worried about my job security now that the Senate On my last evaluation, I was identified as “not meetBill 191 is in place. ing” or “not”developing” in an area or areas.

There are teachers at my school who should be dismissed for poor performance.

I know of a teacher or teachers who have “quit teaching” after receiving tenure.

I am opposed to Senate Bill 191.

I believe that Senate Bill 191 will benefit my students in the long run.

By CHELSEA CLAMPERT

The implementation of Senate Bill 191, the Great Teachers and Leaders Bill, is under way almost a year after the bill was passed on May 12, 2010. The bill, which passed the House on a 36-29 vote, up hauled the previous system used to evaluate teacher effectiveness in Colorado public schools. Senate Bill 191 reforms the way teachers achieve non-probationary status, or what was previously refereed to as tenure. Prior to the introduction of Senate Bill 191, Colorado entered the $4 billion incentive program created by the United States Department of Education known as “Race to the Top” or RTTT. The government backed program provided funds for public school systems throughout the country. Colorado scored poorly on the Great Teachers and Leaders section and finished 14th out of 16 state finalists, prompting government officials to look for a solution. In an effort to improve the Colorado public school system, Senate Bill 191 was created to better assess teacher performance in the classroom as well as the Principal’s ability to contribute to teacher effectiveness and development. Under the new bill: - Teachers may gain non-probationary status after three consecutive years of proven effectiveness and lose it after two consecutive years of proven ineffectiveness - At least 50% of a teacher’s evaluation will be determined by students’ academic growth - Principals will be evaluated each year with 50% of the evaluation based on the Principal’s ability to help teachers increase their performance and the academic growth of the schools students -The forced teacher placement (placing teachers in schools with or without their approval) is replaced with a new system in which principals and teachers must agree on where the teacher is placed. Teachers who are not selected will become substitutes for a year and if they are not hired the following year they will be placed on unpaid leave. -If needed, school districts may make reductions based on teacher performance as opposed to seniority Senate Bill 191 is scheduled to be “beta-tested in 201213, implemented statewide in 2013-14, and finalized by the 2014-15” as determined by the Colorado Department of Education.

Based on results from an anonymous poll of 38 teachers.

For more info visit: www.stand.org

Hollywood film slated for filming in Boulder By SAM ROCK

Denver-born director Mark Steven Grove and Boulder-based producer Meryem Ersoz plan to shoot a psycho-thriller science fiction film entitled “Mind’s Eye” in our hometown this summer. Mark Daniels’ script centers on a high school violinist whose reality begins to transcend time and space, and her quest to restore some semblance of order to her once-stable life. Fairview’s film pundit Bob LaRue, who will serve as a location manager for the film, said the production company plans to shoot the film partially in 3-D and that it will contain a lot of action. “It’s very much like a David Lynch film; it should have a lot of exciting things going on visually.” Shooting is currently scheduled to take place from May 23 through June 29, putting it alongside Woody Allen’s 1973 film “Sleeper” and the 2002 film “About

Schmidt” as one of the four films that major studios have shot scenes in Boulder. Thus far, Ersoz assembled a group of well-known actors for the film. In late March, she told the Daily Camera that the film will have a “crazy, sexy, cool cast.” The sagacious Malcolm McDowell, best known for his shocking performance in Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange,” will play a high school orchestra conductor, and an actor known to many as Clark Kent, Dean Cain, will play a teacher. Ersoz also plans to shoot several scenes in “Mind’s Eye” at Fairview this summer. Places such as the orchestra hall and certain hallways in the Castle will be home to a number of events in the movie. And even cooler yet, Fairview’s Chamber Orchestra has received a chance to actually appear in the film as a high school orchestra, while also recording several pieces to be used as part of the soundtrack. Further-

more, senior violin virtuoso Marisa Ishikawa is set to perform violin solos. LaRue also mentioned that “A clear goal of the movie is to bring feature films to Boulder, and this seems to be a major step in that direction.” Not only did Ersoz deliberately choose to shoot the film in Boulder, but she has also cast a number of local actors in the movie. Ultimately, this could be a great opportunity to expose Boulder and Colorado to the film market. After all, Colorado has a highly unique geography. With access to a wide range of settings, such as plains, mountains, cities, towns, stadiums, colleges, and airports, and as home to over 300 sunny days every year, it has everything that a producer needs to shoot a film. “Mind’s Eye” might just bring Colorado the kind of attention it could use in the film industry.

News

Royal Banner Friday, April 15, 2011

Non-Profit seeks donor increase From cover

promotes organ donation through action sports. “I have really enjoyed helping Chris at various events including Parker Colorado’s Rock, the RailBender events which are skateboarding competitions held several times a year.” said Chris Simmons, member of the Donor Dudes. Fairview students can get involved with CKF and Donor Dudes by publicizing the need for teenagers and adults to sign up as donors or simply becoming donor dude. “Most teens want to be

donors, but fail to check the space on their driver’s license.” said Simmonds. National Donation statistics state that every 12 minutes another name is added to the national transplant waiting list. Gebhart said, “People die every day, waiting. The goal of Donor Dudes is to eliminate the wait and more donors means more lives saved.” For more information visit: www. chrisklugfoundation.org

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nomic woes stem from the greed of government workers that even solutions once considered eminently reasonable (and in some cases, solutions they themselves supported) are dismissed out of hand as being part of a “socialist takeover” orchestrated by our Kenyan-born, secret-Muslim President, or his Marxist, terrorist advisors. It’s happened because to this point, Gov. Walker, those who support him, and their cohorts in the corporate media have done a far better job of defining the limits of what’s acceptable and what’s not than have the taxpaying citizens upon whose backs the “Budget

To an outside observer, it may look as though Wisconsin’s public sector unions are gaining the upper hand in their stand against Gov. Scott Walker and his “Budget Repair” Law. In terms of this particular battle, it may even be true: After long delays (and, eventually, political chicanery) in getting the bill through the legislature and signed into law, it now resides in a legal limbo of restraining orders and court injunctions. The heavy-handed imposition of the bill, meanwhile, has awakened a fighting spirit not seen in the labor movement for decades. So, a win for the left, right? Not necessarily. The Wisconsin law, along with similar laws in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, may not survive in the long term, but their effect on the national conversation will reverberate past even their outright repeal or the recall of the legislators who backed them. This is because their very presence on the political landscape has re-framed the parameters of the dis- Repair” Bill is being balanced. That’s because leaders cussion – in other words, they’ve moved the Overton on the right have shown a willingness to back the most radical elements in their party – even if they lose a fight Window. In any debate over a political issue, there will be ideas here and there, they are better positioned when the that are considered acceptably within the mainstream, next one comes – and because leaders on the left, seekand those considered radical. The Overton Window ing to “honor the process,” enter into discussions from frames the “acceptable” responses to the given issue; positions of compromise. The mainstream political left today holds views policies which lie “outside the window” are the ones that would have made them solid Reaganites in the that those seeking to gain 1980s, and even the “far or hold elected office typileft” is considerably closer cally avoid. To “move the to what used to be a runOverton” is to have the of-the-mill liberal than the activist wing of a party defire-breathing, nationalliberately shift the entire ize-everything, cradle-toframe of the discussion tograve single-payer health ward one extreme or the care activists of yesteryear. other – to make what was They’ve been pushed in once unacceptably radical that direction, slowly and sound reasonable steadily, as the “center” There was a time when a has moved to the right sort of “gentleman’s agreethrough the conservament” existed between tives’ manipulation of the government and its orgaOverton Windows – and nized workers – the workthat’s why those on the ers accepted low wages in left should be cautious in exchange for a reasonable regarding the stymieing of amount of job security and the “Budget Repair” Bill a decent benefits package. as a victory. At best, it’s a Any conversation about successful holding action, teachers was prefaced by Mr. Peoples demonstrates the Overton Window principle a stemming of the tide, but an almost obligatory ex- (RANI KUMAR). if any ground is ever going pression of admiration for to be retaken, then leaders those who heard the calling, in much the same way that conservatives who nev- in the mainstream Democratic Party are going to have er served in the military are diligent about “thanking” to start listening to, and promoting, the ideas being those of us who did. Such statements might have been generated by those who remember that “liberal” wasn’t perfunctory and not always reflective of what was in always a pejorative term. the speaker’s heart, but they helped keep the Overton window placed firmly over the middle of the spectrum. Scott Peoples is a Social Studies teacher at Fairview HS. That’s all gone now. It has become politically acceptThe opinions reflected in this article are his own, and do able to assert that unionized public workers are the necessarily represent those of his department, the school’s “haves” in the eternal struggle with the “have-nots,” or administration, BVSD, or the Boulder Valley Education that the advances made by organized labor in the last Association or any of its affiliated organizations. century – child labor laws, the eight-hour workday, etc – are not to be considered rights, but rather, unaffordable, unearned luxuries. Similarly, there is no discussion of working the revenue side of the equation (taxes Disagree? Want your opinion to be heard? are to remain at Clinton-era levels for at least the next Write in to the Royal Banner Opinions sectwo years), nor of the economic burden imposed by tion at Janetchen5653@gmail.com to subsimultaneously fighting three wars. The conservative vanguard argues so forcefully that our nation’s ecomit a guest article for publication.

“ ... Solutions... are dismissed out of hand as being part of a ‘socialist takeover’.”

Co-Sports Alec Pronk

sea

Somebody shut that overton window By R. SCOTT PEOPLES

The Royal Banner

Op/Ed

Royal Banner Friday, May 20, 2011

Op/Ed

Hey Paul Ryan! Keep your hands off my future! I was recently on a college visit. Enjoying the early spring weather, students sprawled across grassy fields. The cherry blossoms swayed peacefully against the blue sky. Overall, it was an impressive sight. And then I saw an exhibit at the very end of campus, a bunch of big wooden signs painted with giant numbers. It spanned the entire north edge of the quad. Students had simply titled it “The National Debt.” All sixteen digits: $14,339,092,032,500.30 Yeah, it’s pretty bad. The budget battle is a sticky and compliBy LINDSAY SANDOVAL cated issue. With all the partisan gridlock in Congress right now, I’m afraid those signs are going to remain on campus for a very long time. The average teenager can barely keep track of the money she spends, let alone assess the success of Stimulus Package. Although the budget battle is complex, it’s important for students to keep an eye on the situation. Cutting for the sake of cutting, the popular fiscal conservative approach, will shortchange our opportunities in the future. Paul Ryan, a Republican congressman from Wisconsin, released an alternative to President Obama’s budget in April. Through cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and defense spending, Ryan hopes to reduce the deficit by nearly $4.4 trillion in the next ten years. I suppose it’s refreshing for any Washington official to think seriously about an issue other than restructuring the college football playoff system, but some elements of the plan are frightening. For instance, Ryan’s plan calls for a total overhaul of Medicare. Instead of receiving funding for certain procedures and medications, elderly citizens would have to choose an insurance plan among dozens offered by the government. My grandma can barely read the newspaper these days, let alone shop for the best premiums of complicated insurance policies. In the same vein, Ryan promises to scrap Obama’s health care legislation, which would repeal subsidies doled out to help citizens pay for coverage.

“Some elements of the plan are frightening.”

$14,339,092,032,500.30 Other GOP initiatives, like cutting funding from programs like NPR and Planned Parenthood are simply political maneuvers. In fact, these proposals are a slap in the face to responsible citizens who simply enjoy unbiased news and/ or safe sex. These GOP cuts threaten to dismantle important social safety nets established during the New Deal and the Great Society. Of course, we should consider revamping or modifying these programs, but to radically change aid that people rely on is a dangerous train of logic.

“To radically change aid that people rely on is a dangerous train of logic.”

If the Republicans were serious about reducing the deficit, they would raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans; it’s a direct source of revenue. This is why the political rhetoric is so frustrating. A moderate road with cuts to defense, Medicare, Medicaid, and a logical tax code could significantly improve the economy. But claiming that welfare programs are corroding American individualism is the kind of unsubstantiated claims that halt any sort of progress. Even Republican stalwarts are backing down from the Ryan budget. In an interview with ABC News, Speaker of the House John Boehner offered this vote of confidence: “It’s our idea. Right? It’s Paul’s idea. Other people have other ideas. I’m not wedded to one single idea, but I think it’s -- we have a plan.” Boehner’s comment and Ryan’s budget share one crucial similarity: they’re both completely incoherent. Thankfully, it seems that politicians are headed down a more pragmatic road. What’s ironic is that our generation that will have to pay for the consequences of political inaction. Ostensibly, policymakers fight to make our lives better, but as the “next generation,” we’re used as a political tool. Unfortunately, we’re in no position to stand idly by. The soundbite bickering of pundits and politicians alike will certainly afPaul Ryan, a republican congressman from Wisconsin (WIKIMEfect our future.

With childhood obesity hovering above 17 percent, this is the absolute inopportune time to curtail access to affordable health care. According to the Center for Disease Control, low-income families have higher rates of childhood obesity. Yet Ryan’s plan will curb government spending for Medicaid too, effectively sickening segments of society. An unhealthy generation of workers has to be more taxing on society than any amount of government DIA COMMONS) spending. It should be no surprise, then, that 68 percent of Americans are opposed to Ryan’s plan to significantly change Medicare. Politically, that’s a horrible move by the GOP camp. Whether the public acknowledges that the government funds Medicare, people are addicted to the program like a prescription drug. (Remember the Tea Party Rallies of last year? “Hey Obama! Keep Your Hands Off My Medicare!”

Correction:

The National Debt:

In the last issue, we printed the following: “Scott Peoples is a Social Studies teacher at Fairview HS. The opinions reflected in this article are his own, and do necessarily represent those of his department, the school’s administration, BVSD, or the Boulder Valley Education Association or any of its affiliated organizations.” We meant to say that the opinions reflected his article were his own, and do not necessarily represent those of his department, or any other affiliated organizations.

“Our generation that will have to pay for the consequences of political inaction.” So here’s hoping that Washington decides to engage in adult conversation about the budget this summer. I don’t want to take two pieces of plywood to college.

Broomfield Chess Lessons 303-665-4579

Royal Banner

Friday, April 15, 2011

Two weeks until Prom!

Prom Day: Your day should be packed with hair appointments, makeup application, and last minute alterations to your perfect getup. Call to schedule your nail, hair, makeup, and spraytan appointments at your favorite salons and make sure your transportation is booked. If you haven’t already done it, get this finished now!

Meet for coffee S e n i o r ’s with the girls to S p i r i t plan last minute Week! details!

Prom Day: Put on your tux, ask your mom to tie your tie, cuff your sleeves, and let her cry over how handsome you look. And don’t forget to bring your flowers and perhaps some breath mints ;) Post Prom: Don’t listen to the idiot who said you should wait three days before calling your girl. If she had half as good a time as you did, then we promise she is just waiting for your text!

Order your guy a bouttinere, a white ACTs rose is a Prom staple.

Two weeks until Prom!

Call to rent your tux today if you haven’t already!

Make sure your perfect dress is picked out and the members of your group are confirmed.

Get your spray tan today!

Head to the nail salon for mani-pedis with your girlfriends

One Week Until Prom!

PROM!

Baseball Game: Rockies vs. Giants!

S e n i o r ’s S p i r i t Week!

Post Prom: The best way to cure damages that you can thank your sky-high heels for is to soak them for 15 to 20 minutes in warm water with Epsom salts and olive oil.

Play video games.

Buffalo Wild Wings? The Nug- ACTs gets game is on.

Ask your date the color of her dress and pick out a corsage.

One Week Until Prom!

PROM! Pick up your tux

FAIRVIEW IN FOCUS

Equity

Issues in

Cover: Rani Kumar

Administration, strive to close achievement gap By LINDSAY SANDOVAL

A familiar fairy tale pervades the halls of Fairview High School. Simply, we are achievers. Our academic prowess is unparalleled; we excel in both arts and athletics. Every spring, top universities admit our students for their outstanding records. Intimidating and austere, a banner hanging above the 700 hall encapsulates Fairview’s operating motto: “Great expectations, great results.” Perhaps that banner also hangs above the Fairview population as a dark cloud. Surprisingly, segments of our students, by district standards, are falling through the cracks. Individually, we achieve at great rates. Collectively, we fail to provide equal opportunity for all. Empowering these students may be the greatest challenge we face. This academic disparity between students is commonly known as the achievement gap. It’s a problem across the state, but more severe in Boulder. In fact, Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) has the second-greatest achievement gap between Latino and non-Latino students. Colorado also has the widest gap between whites and Latinos in the nation, according to reports by the “Denver Post.” For the past 5 years, BVSD has ardently worked to narrow the schism, outlining several equity goals. Largely, district officials measure achievement growth by test scores and “curriculumbased assignments,” according to the BVSD 2010 Annual Report. Specifically, the district tracks the progress of Latino students, English Language Learners, students on Meal Assistance, and Special Education students. To substantially close the gap, these “targeted groups’ growth” should “exceed the district’s overall growth,” as outlined in the district report. However, despite changes in district policy, results remain stagnant. Each group missed its ACT target score set by the district, and dropout rates only marginally improved. For instance, the Latino graduation rate hovers just above 65%, eight points fewer than the district goal; contrastingly, the overall district graduation rate is 89.2%. When graphing BVSD growth against overall achievement, all of the targeted groups occupy the low growth and low achievement quadrant. However, BVSD focuses little effort on lowering the achievement gap in high schools. For BVSD officials, increasing enrollment in public preschools is the most effective way to narrow the achievement gap over time. In fact, the achievement gap increases as targeted students progress through public school, according to Fairview administration. So in the meantime, how can Fairview improve equity for its students? Clearly, the little progress achieved over the past five years disappoints Fairview administration. Sarah DiGiacomo, assistant principal, has monitored the gap for several years. “You need to stop doing what you’re doing and do something different,” she stated. Achievement challenges are multifaceted, said DiGiacomo, and the administration designs Fairview policy to address the problem both academically and socially. Language definitely presents challenges for recent immigrants. According to district studies reported in the “Daily Camera,” BVSD schools with the widest achievements gaps have larger populations of new immigrants. Unfortunately, academic disparities among students “start immediately because [recent immigrants] have a limited [English] vocabulary,” said DiGiacomo. She likens these difficulties to taking a rigorous class, where one feels overwhelmed with the workload and content. Socioeconomic factors, like access to health care and a widening gap between rich and poor families, compound the complexity. Poverty is often the biggest indicator of academic struggles, according to DiGiacomo. Improving the school climate may be the most effective tool

Royal Banner

In-Depth

A Whole Friday, April 15, 2011

Friday, April 15, 2011

KID Mentality

A look into the BVSD Achievement Gap

A teacher helps a student in the Math and Literacy Lab, a student resource (Kruger).

ACHIEVEMENT GAP AT A GLANCE:

12th 65% 89% 22% to empowering these students. Fairview held focus groups with Latino students last semester to discover ways to make the Fairview community more inclusive, and the results were eye-opening for the staff. “We learned a lot,” DiGiacomo stated. “We learned how hard the transition from middle to high school is [for these students].” Revamping freshmen seminar and the Knight Crew program has substantially improved the more qualitative aspects of the achievement gap. Instituting stricter attendance policies and Study Table has dramatically reduced unexcused absences and even increased the amount of A’s earned among all freshman, according to DiGiacomo. Importantly, traditionally underachieving students make noticeable strides when placed in classes with more ambitious students. With other high-achieving students as models in the classroom, kids within the gap “can see what [good studying] looks like,” she said. Administrators also started the Math and Literacy Lab (MALL) to provide extra support for all students. Fairview’s English as a Second Language (ESL) director David Stewart sees the the achievement gap as a problem that involves the efforts of the entire faculty

and staff. At the core of the disparity, he says, is a fight for resources, especially with devastating budget cuts across the district. Additionally, Latinos are frequently underrepresented in programs like TAG, which may contribute to underachievement levels. Stewart credits the efforts of both the administration and teachers, who are “embracing the challenge” of narrowing the achievement gap both quantitatively and qualitatively. In the wake of funding shortages, Stewart said that the faculty worked more creatively to support students, using a “whole kid mentality.” By encouraging Latino students to become involved in leadership positions, weighted classes, and clubs, Stewart hopes to create an school environment that is more inclusive. School administration emphasizes Latino participation in extracurricular activities, especially sports. The results have been

“If school’s not easy for you, it won’t be a fun place. It’s more than just coming here to get knowledge.”

Rank of Coloraod nationnally in biggest poverty gap. Latino graduation rate district wide.

Overall graduation rate district wide. Percentage of improvment among Latino students since 2002, according to “Denver Post reports.”

“huge,” according to Stewart. “Kids don’t make friends in the classroom,” he said. DiGiacomo echoed a similar sentiment, stressing the importance for students to make a connection with the school outside of the classroom.To encourage such participation, the adminstration started the Intermural World Cup Soccer tournament. “If school’s not easy for you, it won’t be a fun place. It’s more than just coming here to get knowledge,” she said. Stewart concedes that test scores appear to be an unfair way to measure achievement growth. For all student groups, faculty and staff are focusing on preparing kids so they need little remediation for college and lowering the dropout rate. More importantly, administrators hope to tap into the talent of Latino students, and are counting on other students to create a more equitable school environment. Many students in the gap “are not Advanced Placement academics, but they’re advanced placement in life,” said DiGiacomo. “It’s important to appreciate all levels of diversity.” Despite the discouraging statistics, Stewart remains hopeful that with enough collective effort, all students can achieve to their potential. “It’s nice to know that people care,” he said.

Royal Banner Friday, April 15, 2011

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RB: How do you balance school and other activities with work?

AH: Some girl shop-lifted and my manager chased her down JB: A Wheel Barrow Wipeout JR: I got a $50 tip MR: A nail went through my friends hand.

AH: I didn’t work every day JB: Put the team on my back. JR: I don’t have much homework, so I just hang out with friends when I’m not working. MR: Sometimes I just do homework at my job.

RB:What’s the best lesson you’ve learned while having a job? AH: The importance of money JB: Think fast, work slow, be on time JR: There are going to be a lot of people that you work with that you won’t like, but you have to do your job anyway. MR: Learning how to work with others.

3 2

RB:What are some downsides to working? AH: Time JB: Yes. JR: You spend time doing things you hate MR: Boring

Features

Royal Banner Friday, April 15, 2011

By MEGAN MOORE AND CAROLINE KRUGER

As the month of April continues on, the talk of the student body quickly switches from reminiscing about stories from spring break to the most highly anticipated school-sponsored event of the year: Prom. The reason why it has achieved this title is because it is privileged to only juniors and seniors and their dates. The question is: Why all the hype? What makes Prom better than the other dances? The hype is defined by the upperclassmen mentality i.e. I don’t give a ****. This feeling permeates throughout the dance. Unlike Homecoming, where people are eager to make strong impressions to start the year off, at prom people don’t care anymore. You have nothing to lose, no personality to hide. Everything is on the table you either like it or you don’t. Prom is directly affiliated with couples. Contrary to the other dances, prom is less about the group you are in, but more about the person you are with. This doesn’t have to mean you are romantically involved with this person, but more or less someone who you can have a good time with. Feel free to be excited for Prom. Even though Prom promotes unwanted stress, just remember you will only have a few opportunities to go in your life and it is something you will always look back on.

in April

Expires 4/30/11

Royal Banner

Entertainment

Friday, April 15, 2011

Boonin-Vailable for Comment

Music and lack thereof

James Blake, a calm and quiet Briton with a passion for blurry photography, recently released an eponymous album which has simply blown me away. Unpredictable and unbelievable, Mr. Eli Boonin-Vail Blake’s minimal instrumentation and occasional outright silence put his album in a category of its own. Listening to the album is a fruitful and unique experience. It endorses the concept that a lack of sound is a music all of its own. As a tour-de-force of modern music, James Blake’s debut impresses and astounds. Whether or not James Blake is a true musician is unquestionable. Intense rhythmical ingenuity leaves no doubt about the man’s unique talents. Lyrics and delicate vocals reveal Mr. Blake’s additional ability to emote, creating a bittersweet atmosphere of human frailty. Long before the second track even begins, any listener can easily identify the strength of Mr. Blake’s craft. Yet despite all his talents, not to mention his simply superb voice, the most appealing aspect of his work is the way he uses a lack of sound as a rhythmic tool. Of all the instruments Mr. Blake could have chosen to voice the emotion of his songs, he opts to dampen and fracture the many passions of his work with moody silence. “Unluck,” the album’s opener, establishes this innovative technique when it suddenly drops all of its percussion, leaving the opening chords to dangle freely above a chasm of dark nothingness before Mr. Blake’s voice gently intrudes. Grappling with this technique forces listeners to accept Mr. Blake’s inventive nature, and this in turn allows us to appreciate the value of his work, however unconventional it may be. Overly experimental music can isolate listeners and even fall victim to its own pretensions, but Blake’s remains coherent, listenable, and even catchy. Take, for instance, the song “Limit To Your Love.” On average, a James Blake tune makes use of faint synthesizers and hypnotic metronomes, yet on this Feist cover he replaces the synth with an actual piano that belts out in a recognizable jazz chord progression. Postmodern electronic indie may not get any better than this. Recent falsetto acts like Passion Pit and Owl City make me lower my head and shudder in disbelief that anything good could ever come from the genre. Our preference for fast and furious melodrama in electronic music has saturated every possible subgenere out there, but James Blake gives me hope for a brighter tomorrow. Mr. Blake takes a “less is more” approach to electronica, and it seems to have paid off. What does this mean for music? In an era of music that gushes with dense instrumentation, Mr. Blake has proven that equally good music can be achieved through opposite means — is this an approach more musicians will take? This critic thinks so. He certainly hopes so. Masterpieces of this caliber don’t come out frequently. Everybody: do yourselves a favor and appreciate this one, OK?

s E n U Zt r Zer Docto h t i W

win

An English Teacher takes on modern music

The Doctor treats the black plague Thus far my students have asked me to review alone. My point here is that I can not possibly say music here that I might not have otherwise en- anything in critical review of this song that hasn’t countered on my own. And I’ve been delightfully already been said. surprised by Cee-Lo, Kanye, and yes, even the Bieb. Instead, what really intrigues me about this song I’ve even added some of these songs to my iTunes. is what our response to it reveals about us. I’m sure But this time I’ve been asked to review “Friday” by Black has some actual fans out there who think her Rebecca Black. song is awesome, but it appears that much of the I’m sure you’re aware that this song has gone viral- “success” of the song is because it is horrible. People -it’s everywhere. Scores of people are Facebooking are not sharing the video on Facebook because they the link to the YouTube video. I heard students sing- think it’s cool and wonderful and that Rebecca Black ing the song seemingly everywhere in The Castle last is astoundingly talented. We are sharing the link beFriday. And the song has cause we think it’s abysmally been stuck in my head “I could certainly tear this awful and hilariously horrible. off and on for hours over So we find it entertaining when song apart.” the last week or so (wellpeople are trying to be success-after a time I forget how ful but actually aren’t all that the song goes and it disappears, but as soon as I hear great? How messed up is that? If she was trying to the song again it’s lodged there for a while until mu- be bad at this, we wouldn’t find it so wonderful. The sic of better quality overtakes the song) (yes, that more she thinks she’s great (and isn’t), the more we does mean I have music playing in my head most of make fun of her. the time). So we think the naive mediocrity of others is funI could certainly tear this song apart. Because of ny? What does that say about us? the song’s lack of depth, I understand that someone I’m not sure, but I have to admit that one of the has done a hard-core literary analysis of the song and first things I wondered about Black is what Simon circulated it around. I myself have repeated the most Cowell thought. I assumed he would lambaste her. astounding lyrics, such as, “Yesterday was Thursday, I was wrong. / Today is Friday, / [...] Tomorrow is Saturday / And “I love [Rebecca] [and] the fact that she’s gotSunday comes afterwards” and “fun fun fun fun” (se- ten so much publicity,” Cowell recently told People riously?). magazine. “People are so upset about the song, but I I’ve heard others critique Black’s voice for being think it’s hysterical. I want to meet her.” too nasally. I’ve heard people write her off assumCowell gets it, gets us. If success is measured in ing she comes from a very wealthy family that must views on YouTube, Black is there. But clearly she’s have shelled out the cash to produce the video be- nowhere near achieving actual quality--something cause certainly it didn’t happen based on mere talent I’m left wondering if she realizes or not.

ek e l G f do n i k t a are you? Wh By MIAH YAGER

1. What kind of a twist do you want in an episode? a. Sue Sylvester changes her personality by changing her clothing b. Blaine likes Quinn c. The cast does stunts throughout the episode d. What if the guys were girls and the girls are guys 3. Do the characters have a good sense of fashion? a. Yes b. No c. They are trendsetters d. They need a fashion update

2. What is the show about? a. Issues in our lives b. High school drama c. Different clubs that showcase your talents d. Gossiping in the halls

4. Who in the Glee club would say mean comments about people? a. Sue Sylvester b. Will Schuester would not c. Emma, depending on the day d. Puck, depending on who he talks to

6. What makes Glee so popular? a. The song choices b. The drama c. Sue’s funny lines d. It shows real life

7. Which artist do you think will be next on Glee? a. Paul McCartney b. Taylor Swift c. Lady Gaga d. Black Eyed Peas

5. Glee has changed: a. Our generation b. Artists’ songs c. Our views of High School d. All of the above

8. Which episode had the best theme? a. the Christmas episode b. the wedding episode c. Original song d. Drama with football team

Answer Key on Page 9

Royal Banner Friday, April 15, 2011

Entertainment

“Citizen Kane of bad movies” invades CU film series Continued from cover referencing the film, don-

ning duds like tie-hats and hideous red dresses. One man waved a pair of infamous “underwears.” And yes, judging this film strictly by quality alone, “The Room” is hilariously horrible. Trying to summarize the plot is a very difficult task: all I can think to say is that the unintelligible protagonist, Johnny, is caught in a love triangle with his fiancee, Lisa, and his “best friend” Mark, and that’s it. Lisa’s apparent reason for cheating on Johnny is because she, like all women according to this film, is a hedonistic nymphomaniac, and an inconsistent one at that. The rest of the film is filled to the brim with flawed dialogue, dangling character threads, unpredictable games of football, and overly drawn-out nasty sex scenes (one of which is the first sex scene literally repeated). Tommy Wiseau, a mysterious man of unknown origins, directed, wrote and produced the film, and stars as the unintelligible Johnny. He claims to be Frenchorsomething, but his accent suggests that he could be anything from Russian to Kazakh to Turkish to Greek or even South African. Judging by his screenplay, he clearly has no grasp of the fundamentals of the English language.

the office cross word

Holly and Michael’s guide to Colorado By VALLY DIKOVITSKAYA & EMILY SANDOVAL

Hey Mr. and Mrs. Scott (to be), AKA Michael and Holly! We want to give you a big, warm welcome to the Centennial State! Since you’re staying for a while and you’re new here, we thought that we could give you a few pointers on enjoying all that Colorado has to offer. Also, feel free to visit us at 1515 Greenbriar Blvd. in Boulder! Really, come say hello to us here at Fairview High School. Please. There is a lot to do in Colorado, so we’ll categorize it by food, entertainment, and outdoor activities.

Mostly B’s

If you got mostly B’s, then you mostly care about the songs rather than the characters, because you know more about mixing music than acting. Besides Glee you make people feel fresh and free because you have a soothing aura.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES Ski resorts: Colorado is world famous for its many ski/snowboard locations, and maybe this time Michael can already have his face in the ski trip picture - and leave the photoshopping to someone else. ¶ Chautauqua: Hiking in this area in Boulder is very nice. And if you want, you can “Man vs Wild” up in the foothills. ¶ Fishing: The runoff from Colorado’s mountains feeds into many of the country’s major rivers, so there is fishing galore in our beautiful state. Take a day or two off from work and relax in some goulashes. ¶ Rafting: See “Fishing.” After all these adventures, don’t forget to visit us! With Love, Fairview

Mostly C’s

Mostly A’s

If you got mostly A’s, your knowledge of Glee is extremely high because not only do you sing great, but you know a lot more about the characters’ minds. Besides Glee you have a hidden passion that would make people think that luck is on your side.

ENTERTAINMENT Buell Theatre: Probably the premier theater in the Denver-Metro area. Maybe Andy could take his thespianship out west when he visits. ¶ Red Rocks: This is a great venue for local and nationally renowned musical artists alike. But just so you know, you can’t Parkour off the rocks. Seriously, Michael, don’t even try. ¶ Denver Zoo: If Pam and Jim visit you with Cici, you can enjoy their child’s amazement at creatures of which you’ve already exhausted the entertainment value.

If you got mostly C’s, then you are a gossip queen because you love the drama that the characters make. Besides Glee you have what it takes to become anything, because you create art anywhere any time.

Mostly D’s

FOOD Flagstaff House: If you can afford it, this meaty restaurant is delicious. Now that you’ve spent three years’ salary on the ring, you can back it up with one week’s salary here. ¶ Noodles and ACROSS Company: This locally-grown restaurant chain is a quirky spot with global flavors. But don’t get the med flatbread sandwich; it’s so not hip enough for Ryan. ¶ Ripple: Who knew frozen yogurt could be this cool? And, Michael, we bet you can come up with a word to rhyme with “ripple.”

DOWN

Glee Quiz Answer Key

It’s rare that one can say that watching a movie is utensils for the crowd after each spoon sighting. He a full-contact experience. Throughout the film, au- has kept, by his count, 49 of them as souvenirs from dience members would throw a the experience. football, ranging anywhere from And what an experience three feet to the top of the theit was. There are few other ater, to a recurring event in the films I’ve seen that evoke such movie, and honoring Wiseau’s strong feelings of sheer joy, belief that his viewers should bewilderment, and enlighten“really enjoy playing football.” ment — all coming from an And yes, as with all films of the insurmountable quantity of excult variety, the audience intercrement on celluloid. This film acted with the onscreen events had a perplexing effect on me; — shouting out the outrageous I know more lines from this non-sequitors and fuddy-duddy movie than any of my favorite one liners that occur in every films. My personal favorites one of the film’s 99 minutes. are “You don’t know anything, The most memorable audiman. Leave your stupid comence participation the celebraments in your pocket!” and tory hurling of plastic spoons “I feel like I’m sitting on an at the screen whenever an in- Me weilding the celebratory plastic spoons atomic bomb waiting for it to explicable portrait of a soup as Zach Myers attacks from behind (ELI go off.” “The Room,” filled with spoon appeared in the back- BOONIN-VAIL). plenty of other lines just like ground of Johnny’s San Franthese, can best be summed up cisco flat. One of my companions, Mr. Boonin-Vail, by the words of the loony man Johnny himself: what performed the righteous act of retrieving the plastic a story!

If you got mostly D’s, then you can relate to the way the characters behave, and feel their pain and happiness through the show. Besides Glee you have a strong bond through being honest to your friends because you make their day.

Royal Banner Friday, April 15, 2011

Matty J Space Buffs buff up in 2011 The Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team impressed me this year. Despite faltering at some By MATT JOHNSON critical times, they managed to accomplish some feats to which I have to take my hat off. Despite faltering at some critical times, they managed to pull through in the most critical times, leaving them in perfect position to earn an NCAA Tournament bid. Their snub from the tournament, a travesty that confused (and, in many cases, enraged) everyone from the CU faithful to the most famous college basketball analysts, was merely an unfortunate setback that should not take away from what the Buffs did this year. They sure do have some gutsy players and quite an effective first-year coach. What most impressed me were the Buffs’ two wins in the Big 12 Tournament. When Colorado most needed to prove they belonged in the NCAA Tournament field, they brought their A-game and pulled out two huge wins, including their third win this season against Kansas State, which earned a five-seed in the NCAA field. Take Andre Roberson, a freshman who recorded 29 total rebounds in the two Big 12 tourney wins. Take senior guard Cory Higgins, who in those same two games teamed up with sophomore Alec Burks to score an unreal 97 points between them. A late season win against then #5 Texas wasn’t bad, either. Neither was taking Top-10 Kansas to the brink in a four point loss in late January and playing ‘em tough for much of their Big 12 semifinal matchup. Buffs, you deserve a lot of credit. Although it sounds strange, the sadness and anger that overtook Boulder when you were left uninvited to the Big Dance means that you gave this city a team to seriously care about. Be proud of yourselves for what you accomplished this year. I am.

Sports

BYU and the bastardization of basketball By ELI BOONIN-VAIL

As many of you may have already heard, Brigham Young University’s basketball team recently suspended its star forward, Brandon Davies, for his admittance of honor code violation. The honor code prohibits, among other things, swearing, growing beards without written permission, and drinking tea, but Davies violated its provisions on premarital sex (admittedly the coolest of those options). BYU’s adherence to its strict moral values even in the face of flashy athletics has caused an uproar among many newsblogospheres, all of whom ask the essential American question, “who and/or what can we complain about?” The initial fault lies in Davies, who flagrantly disregarded the moral authority of his institution. That institution being competitive athleticism. If athletic scandals have taught us anything, it’s that admitting to what you’ve actually done is out of bounds. Davies, on the other hand, dismissed this honorable pastime by fessing up to his violations immediately. Why couldn’t an athlete of such potential have followed in the footsteps of heroes like Barry Bonds and OJ Simpson? Not only should Davies have refused to confess having sex with his girlfriend, he should have made clear his will to find the person who did have sex with her and bring them to justice. But we cannot blame the lad too harshly. He is young, wild, and impressionable. Most importantly, he’s an athlete. Indeed the true crime has been perpetrated by BYU itself. By holding their athletes to their own standards, the university has breached a sacred contract between the people of America

and athletes. Athletes sacrifice their freakish bodies to the desires of our amusement, and in return we finance their reprehensible lifestyles. It’s been that way since ancient times. How dare the BYU administration subject its athletes to the university’s traditionally unconventional policies! The administration’s predictable standards based off of the religious tenants of the university it serves are entirely out of line and serve no place in judging its own students. They have no right to judge Davies on any standards other than those of an athlete. That is to say, no standards at all. All that matters is how well the boy plays basketball. Do the leaders of BYU think that having sex makes you bad at basketball? To counter that argument, I present exhibit A: Wilt Chamberlain. In addition, I have never had sex and am terrible at basketball. Yet by the bizarre “morality” that BYU adheres to, I am more eligible to be a star basketball player than Davies, at least for a good year or two. Is this the kind of sickening sports world that we want to subject ourselves to? Is it America? Here we see the inherent flaw of BYU’s actions. If we hold athletes accountable for their actions, then we will end up with terrible athletes such as myself. As someone who has grown up with intimate (and perhaps too much) knowledge of the CU football program, I understand the neutral-zone that is athletic honor. While it would be nice to pretend that athletes are righteous role-models, empirical evidence shows that every single sportsman on the face of the earth is a disgusting degenerate, and that as Americans it is our duty to ignore this fact and let these people get away with anything. Why can’t BYU recognize this?

Lappe looks to lead Buffs into Pac-12, future By MATT SPARKMAN

the quarterfinals of the WNIT, despite the fact that Lappe Back when Ceal Barry was roaming the sidelines during frequently only have seven available players. Along the way, her 22 seasons at the Coors Events Center, the former CU CU upset top 25 powers such as Iowa State and Oklahoma women’s basketball coach would close huddles and team and finished with the best Big 12 record (6-10), since their last sweet sixteen appearance in 2003. Lappe’s Buffs persemeetings with the same phrase: “Buffs are one.” Barry, who stepped down after the 2004-05 season, guid- vered through tough wins on the road against Missouri and ed the Buffs to 12 NCAA tournaments, including six Sweet Nebraska, and where the players each would have gone their separate ways, CU bonded as a team and Sixteen appearances, and three Elite pulled off the victory. The Buffs were one Eight showings. Following her illusagain. trious career, Athletic Director Mike Before the season, I had the opportuBohn handed the reins to Kathy Mcnity to talk to Lappe about the upcomConnell-Miller, who compiled a lessing campaign. She stated that Buffs fans than-stellar 20-60 Big 12 record over would see a group that was disciplined, her five years at CU. Her teams were tough and would battle for every loose talented, featuring 2,000 point-scorers ball and rebound. At the time, I had a Jackie McFarland and Brittany Spears, hard time envisioning that type of hard but they just couldn’t win. When close work from the team I saw that previous games came down to the wire, the Buffs had a tendency to all go their dif- Lappe directs her players (WIKIMEDIA season, but that was exactly what I was treated to during the course of the seaCOMMONS) ferent ways, instead of pulling together son. as a unit. It was clear; a change had to be made. While it may take a couple of years for CU to become naWhen McConnell-Miller was let go, Bohn pieced together tionally relevant on the women’s basketball stage, the guess a search committee, which was headed up by Barry. Instead here is that the pieces are in place (specifically the team’s of going to a more proven option, Barry decided to turn to leader), to make it happen sooner rather than later. While one of her former players, Metro State’s head coach, Linda the Buffs lose all-time leading scorer Brittany Spears, they Lappe. Lappe’s resume wasn’t as impressive as some other possible candidates, but Bohn and Barry were banking that have some capable players returning, including Chucky Jefthe hard-working player - who fought through not one, but fery, Brittany Wilson and Meagan Malcolm-Peck. New to the two knee surgeries during her playing career at Colorado - Buffs will be Arielle Roberson (the sister of Andre Roberson) and Jen Reese, Oregon’s state player of the year the last two would fight and scrap for every win and for every recruit. If her first year on the job is any indication, Bohn and seasons, among others. What the future holds for CU women’s basketball is not Barry appear to have struck gold. Lappe inherited a roster clear, but one thing has been established. The Buffs are one that was decimated by player defection and injury, and managed to piece together a winning season, one that ended in again.

Royal Banner Friday, April 15, 2011

Sports

Tournament provides many a shining moment

Photo Collage: Hallowed grounds of sport

By MATT JOHNSON

Three reasons why this tournament was so, well, AWESOME:

Stevens (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

1. Good young coaches: Two 34 year-old coaches, Shaka Smart (right) of eleventh-seeded VCU and Brad Stevens (left) of eighth-seeded Butler, exhibited their prowess, bringing their teams to the Final Four. Although we knew about Stevens after last year’s National Championship game, Smart’s energy combined with class makes him another respectable coach who could have long career ahead of him.

2. A game for Gus Johnson to scream about: Those of you who watched the Butler-Florida Elite 8 game, one of the best games of the tournament, and wondered who the game’s crazy TV announcer screaming his head off was...meet Gus Johnson. The most exciting college basketball announcer around (yes, more exciting that Dick Vitale) loves a tight game, and Butler-Florida provided us with another high-volume, voice-cracking Gus Johnson classic.

A view of Salt River Fields, the Rockies brand new spring training facility. (JOHNSON)

Smart (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

Gus Johnson (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS) Johnson smiles for the camera as the Rockies take the field in Arizona. (DONATED)

Howard, brain (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

3. A Final Four full of brains: Turns out basketball isn’t everything for big man Matt Howard of Butler or Naismith Award candidate Kemba Walker of UConn. Howard, a 6-8 senior, is the 2010-11 NCAA Division I Academic All-American of the Year. According to Mike DiMauro in an article on theday.com, Walker is striving for a May graduation, which would make him a three-year graduate. Also, earlier in the tournament I commented in a text to my friend how dumb Kentucky guard Brandon Knight looked. Turns out I was wrong. Knight, a freshman, had a 4.3 GPA in high school at Pine Crest School, according to the University of Kentucky’s sports website. If Paul Jordan and staff of the blog wildcatbluenation.com are correct, Knight had a 4.0 at Kentucky at least through January 6 of this year. Oh, and he hit the shot to knock off #1 overall seed Ohio State. Go Knight(s)!

BYBA is looking for YOUTH for our Board of Directors BYBA mobilizes the passion and ability of young people to take the lead in ending the epidemic of body dissatisfaction, eating problems and size prejudice. • Have a direct say in the types of programs developed for local youth • Develop leadership skills • Learn about how nonproﬁts work • Learn to work with leaders in the community Also looking for PEER EDUCATORS for 2011-2012 • Give presentations throughout Boulder County • Work with middle school students • Take action in the community to create social change • Have FUN! • FIND OUT MORE: info@boulderyouthbodyalliance.org

Matt Johnson takes a visit to “Krzyzewskiville”, named after Mike Krzyzewski, the famed Duke coach. (JOHNSON)

Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke basketball’s home floor (JOHNSON)

Printer Supplies/HP Printer Service We carry original as well as environmentally friendly compatible products All Brands – Free shipping over $100 – Computer Accessories Sodales nunc sus Fairview families save 10% online at www.B2BDirect. Fringilla Viver BIZ i n t e for g e r, i n t e Username = FHS • Password = knights • Browse Items consectetuer pede Or Call 303-684-8725 x115 for Personal Service

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Sports

Friday, April 15, 2011

The Athletes

What do you think of Rebecca Black’s “Friday”?

Do you “kick it” in the front seat or the back seat?

If I were Charlie Sheen I would...

Favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream?

Last thing you bought?

Better name: Shaka or Kemba

Maddie Barber (Girl’s Soccer)

Embarrassing she almost takes the school bus

Front seat

...get help

Half baked

Ripple

Kemba

Back seat

Plead not guilty

Bacon

Ice (for ice bath)

Shaka

Do enough coke to kill “Two and a half men”

Phish food

Flashlight

Kemba

Colin Brown (Boy’s Swimming)

“Sweet” flow combined with a “great” voice

Dylan Davie (Boy’s Lacrosse)

It sucks

In the front seat

Soren Frykholm (Track and Field)

It helps her remember what comes after Thursday.

I kick soccer balls ... join the Knicks Phish Food

A pogo stick

Mufasa

Emma Lazaroff (Girl’s Lacrosse)

Partying, partying, yeah!

Kelsey Spencer’s lap

Ben...Meyer

Smartest water

Kyrie Irving

Kristin Narum (Track and Field)

Really original

Of a tandem bike? I don’t know who Definitely back. that is.

Peanut Butter

Ripple

Kemba

Front

...be winning

Chocolate chip A hat cookie dough

Gotta make my mind up...which seat do I take?

...get back with Denise Richards.

Karamel Sutra

Jakob Olsen (Baseball)

Date Kelsey Spencer

What is that? Becca Warren (Girl’s Tennis)

I’m just impressed she knows the days of the week.

Kemba (below)

SmartWater

Shaka

Get your shred in, ski season ending By BRETT MATISSEN

Well my fellow Skiers and Boarders, now is the time we have all dreaded, the end of the ski season. I definetly recommend that every one of you dying to get in a few more days do it soon! This has been the most gracious Winter has ever been to Colorado, with many of the resorts surpassing their snowfall averages from years before. This also means that you won’t have to take out your rock skis for the last day. And another thing, don’t be ashamed to dress up for the last day of the season, no matter which mountain you go to. If you’re like me and you can’t stand a full summer without skiing, check out St. Mary’s Glacier up Fall River Road; there is sometimes even a terrain park there! Unfortunately, until next season, keep on shreddin’!

Closing Dates

Beaver Creek-April 17th Breckenridge-April 24th Copper Mountain-April 24th Eldora-April 17th Keystone-April 10th Winter Park-April 24th Vail-April 24th

Athlete photos, (WAIDA, MYRES, SONG). Meyer. Spencer, (WAIDA, DEBRUYN) Other Photos (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

Royal Banner Friday, May 20, 2011

Sports Senior Becca Warren warms up before her state championship doubles match (MATT SPARKMAN).

Freshman Katie Li, state champ at No. 3 singles, hits a serve (MATT SPARKMAN).

Lacrosse seniors leave with solid regular season, disappointing finish By JUSTIN SONG

Overall: 9-6 / League: 5-2 / Home: 4-2 / Away: 5-4 The Fairview boys lacrosse team finished strong in the regular season by beating Lewis-Palmer by 9, ending with the score 20-11 on April 28. This sealed their spot as 21st seed in the playoffs to face the 12th seed Colorado Academy. During the regular season, Mike Rea lead the team with 40 goals, Logan Bonsignore with 29 assists, and Mike Rhodes with 109 saves. “The team including myself was very confident in our abilities going into post season,” said sophomore Austin Davie. “The players were riled up because we were playing the same team as last year.” Austin Davie, brother of Dylan Davie who also plays on the team, also contributed greatly with 31 goals and 25 assists, totalling up to 60 points. Though he is only a sophomore, he also led the team with a whopping 95 shots on goal. “Our regular season could have gone better and our record could have been a little better,” said Austin Davie. “But the main thing that we took from the regular season was team chemistry. We worked on not only offense but also defense.” Ever since the last year’s incident, the new coach Michael Flood took control of the team and the players. Despite new leadership, the Fairview Lacrosse Team ended their regular season with a 9-6 record. “Luckily, Coach Flood was able to take over the team and did a good job,” said Austin Davie. “He made sure everyone was on the same page, made sure we were still playing as a team and made sure that we were all excited to play.” In a state playoff game on May 7, the Knights played Colorado Academy for the second straight year, losing with the score of 18-10. Colorado Academy ended their regular season with a record of 12-3, clinching 12th seed in the playoffs.

Girls soccer wins third straight Front Range regular season championship By MATT JOHNSON

Fairview girls soccer won its third straight regular season championship in the Front Range League this season, finishing with a 10-1 overall regular season record. Star junior forward Nikki Machalek led the Knights with 16 goals on the season and scored all three goals in an April 29 win that clinched the regular season Front Range title. Sophomore Kristin Breakell added seven goals on the season for the Knights, while senior Caitlin Higgins led the team in assists with six. Goalie Rachel DeCurnou notched 35 saves during the regular season, letting in only seven goals. The Knights played Dakota Ridge in the 5A state quarterfinals on May 18th (after this paper went to print).

Track team ready for state

11 Wa r r e n (right) and senior Megan Moore prepare for their finals match (MATT SPARKMAN).

Boys swimming shines, looks to finish strong at State

By STAN WHITCOMB

By MATT JOHNSON

The track team is on pace for greatness at state this year. Though many people have qualified for individual events, the team has taken a more holistic perspective towards the more individualistic sport of Track and Field. “As opposed to last year it has been a real team effort,” said junior Betty Yi. “We have really focused on the relays this year.” The boys 4x4 and 4x8 relays are both State qualified, while the girls top 4x2, 4x4, and 4x8 relays are either state qualified or off by 1-2 seconds. “Leagues are going to be stressful because it’s our last chance to qualify for State,” says Yi, “but our 4x8 guys relay is second in the state right now and so I am happy for them.” The state meet is set to occur this weekend, May 20th and 21st, while Leagues finished Friday and Saturday.

With seven first place meet finishes and a third place showing at League already under their belt, the Fairview boys swimming team rolls into state competition today and Saturday. The Knights boast an impressive 2011 campaign, including meet wins against Cherry Creek, Monarch, and Boulder, as they attempt to avenge their fourteenth-place finish at the 5A State Championship last spring. Staying strong throughout the whole season, the Knights reeled off three straight meet wins during a stretch in April. This string of wins included a first place finish at the seventeam Boulder County Invitational, where Fairview’s relay teams took first in all three of the relay events--the 200-yard medley relay and both the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays. Senior Andrew Bollinger led the Knights at the BoCo meet, finishing second in the 50-yard freestyle and winning a very close 100-yard backstroke race by 0.03 seconds. Sophomore Max Phillips added a second place finish in the 500yard freestyle and placed third in the 200-yard freestyle. With momentum on their side, the Knights head into state races today at Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC) in Fort Collins. They will return to the pool tomorrow to finish off a dazzling 2011 season.

SPRING SPORTS 2011 Hockey finishes fourth in state By MATT SPARKMAN

After a fairly decent regular season and a solid run in the state playoffs, Fairview hockey’s season came to a conclusion following a loss at the hands of Poudre in the state third place game. “Our season was pretty successful,” summarized junior Alex Black. “We lost to some teams we should have beat, but we also played well in the playoffs.” The Knights, led by Black and fellow junior Johnny Combs, compiled a respectable overall record of 6-6-3. They return most of their talent, including star freshman Dima Kyle. “He’s dirty,” Black said of Kyle. “Just wait until next year,” Black said. “We’ll be sick.”

Pinard leads girls soccer “family” By KEVIN WAIDA

Coach Jeremy Pinard is a dominating presence. As you enter the soccer field on a day of girls soccer practice you feel the intensity in the air from the screams of the defending state champion Pinard. He wants to win again. In 2007, Pinard moved from Niwot to Fairview. Pinard has an intense style of coaching and believes one concept is more important than all the others: fitness. “Fitness can cover for a lot of mistakes”, Pinard says. “People may not always like running, but they will respect me and my soccer program.” Pinard stresses commitment, both to him and to the program. Coming into the year these girls weren’t the favorite, but Pinard has pushed them. “We practice to be playing on the 25th of May, to be in the title game,” he said. Some girls find him harsh, since he sometimes values victory over all else. Pinard insists it isn’t a direct attack as he screams at his players on the field. “It’s not personal, they are athletes and my job is to push them to the best of their ability,” he says. Luckily, Pinard has three veteran seniors who help him out this year. “The seniors lead the team, and we wouldn’t be as successful without them.” Pinard loves girls soccer and is an outstanding coach. As he summed up his feelings for the girls on the team, “we are like family.” Hopefully, this “family” will bring home another title.