The Royal Banner April 2023

The Royal Banner Royal Banner

April 2023

How are snow days decided?

Art in the park at Chautauqua

Story by Lily Nobel p. 9

Issue 4

Senior Athletes become sports commits

Story by Eliana Knode p. 16-17

Story by Addison Washburn and Elliott Pease p. 4-5

could you be a teacher?

Do you like kids? Yes

Do you have qualifactions?any

Are you doing it for the money?

Is there any reason you’d want to teach?

Is it an evil

Do people like you?

Are you ok with a bad salary?

Would you frequently kick kids out of class?

All your students would love you

All your students would want you fired You would be fired immediately

you wouldn’t even graduate

kowalski

by john kowalski

allen-gilbert

Snow days, how do they work? Snow days, how do they work?

The Superintendent’s process and protocol when calling a snow day.

On the day of snow storms like that on the second of February, students all throughout Boulder County were ecstatic to learn that they had received a day off of school. Snow days are a rarity in Boulder Valley schools, though the county garners 89 inches of snow per year on average.

When traveling to school on icy roads and through layers of snow, students often wonder, what is the decision making process?

“It’s hard to predict the weather. But we’ve had times where we don’t get snow days when we have like over a foot of snow and then times where we do when it ends up not even snowing, a full six inches,” said Alia Sponheimer (11). “And road conditions also need to be taken more into consideration as well as when it’s going to snow during the day, not just how much snow [there is].”

“A lot of people do have four wheel drive and everything like that, but I don’t. So sometimes it’s a little bit of a worry if snow is actively falling when we get up and everything like that and

there’s no snow day called,” said Indigo Jones (12).

Many students feel discontent with the inconsistency behind the snow day decision. Unsurprisingly, the process is complicated.

“First and foremost, our buses have to be able to transport kids,” said BVSD superintendent Dr. Rob Anderson. “That is a critical component… Our bus drivers, at around 3:30 in the morning [of February 16th, a particularly stormy day] went to transportation, jumped in buses and drove our most treacherous routes, the ones that historically snow impacts travel [on] the most.”

“They actually take off, they drive up into the mountains, they take a loop down. It’s not just like, ‘oh I looked in one spot.’ They’re really getting a sense of [the roads],” added Randy Barber, director of BVSD communications.

Once the transportation department comes back from their routes, they converse with assistant superintendent of operations at BVSD, Rob Price, who relays the information to the superintendent.

Driving routes isn’t the only factor.

BVSD also hires a private weather service, Skyview Weather, to provide predictions and information on conditions.

“I’m not looking at the Weather Channel like you all are with my phone,” said Dr. Anderson. “We have somebody who looks at our conditions, and knows and understands what type of snow can cause challenges to the operations of a school district.”

However, it’s still possible to predict weather inaccurately. The trick for Anderson and company is predicting the weather a day in advance.

“We don’t want to sit on information if we can let people know earlier rather than later,” said Dr. Anderson. “We feel like that’s the right thing to do as public servants and that’s what people would prefer, right? It’s easier if you know the night before [that] you’re going to have a snow day versus if I make a call at five in the morning.”

In order to not cause chaos within BVSD’s community, the district has to inform people based on prediction rather than current conditions.

“Sometimes those predictions from these professional meteorologists come true, sometimes they don’t,” Dr.

story and design by addison washburn and elliott pease

Boulder Valley disctict borders and High School zoning Courtesy of Boulder Real Estate News

Fairview High School

Photo by Michael Nedd

Anderson said. “The inconsistencies are very much because the weather in Colorado is predictably inconsistent.”

After BVSD has gathered as much information as they can about the conditions within the 500 square miles they cover, there are other factors that potentially impact the decision making process.

“At a certain point you have to make up the time,” said Dr. Anderson. “So one snow day, a couple delayed starts, no problem, right? But if you were to start to cancel lots and lots of school days, either you would have to make up the days or look for that waiver, which the state may or may not may not grant.”

Making up the school days would be a controversial decision. While students would reap the benefits of a free day here and there, eventually the days could stack up enough to lead to the school year stretching into summer. Fortunately, BVSD has never had to do this.

There are several myths surrounding the decision making process, such as snow days being decided for financial gains.

“There are people that believe that

we close and we save money by not being open. But it really is not part of the factor at all,” said Barber.

“There is no financial advantage of calling a snow day or not,” added Dr. Anderson. “It’s really all about safety.”

BVSD also triangulates with other districts in the area, and with enough intel they eventually can make a decision on whether schools will have a snow day, a two hour delay, or normal school days.

“Our team makes a recommendation to me, then it’s ultimately my final decision,” said Dr. Anderson. “It’s just a responsibility of the job, one that I take pretty seriously. We have teams, we have trained meteorologists, we have transportation experts. We work with our cities, municipalities, knowing and understanding the capacity of the plows in our community. All those things make it a really complicated decision that sometimes breaks the way kids want it to and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Even ignoring the rumors and myths about the decisions, snow days are persistently a controversial topic. Whether it’s students having to get to school in the snow or kids staying home while the sun is brightly shining, there

will always be somebody upset with the decision.

Students across Boulder County however, will be glad to hear that Dr. Anderson errs on the side of caution.

“There have been some superintendents here in the past who refuse to ever call snow days,” said Dr. Anderson. “I’m not one of those people. But, you know, it can be a very polarizing decision depending on people’s perspectives.”

Skyview Weather Logos Courtesy of Skyview Weather

Student SAT STRESS

SAT testing season has begun for students across the country, as this standardized exam and its younger counterpart, the PSAT, are being administered in April. College Board offers these two tests. Both have been taken by students for over 50 years-- the first SAT test was administered in 1926, making it nearly ubiquitous with any American born in the past 100 years’ education.

The expectations that come along with the SAT’s history are not unknown to Fairview students. As early as freshman year, students are made well aware of the importance of the exam and its consequences.

“I took the PSAT last year, and I’m taking it again this year. I know it does not really matter how well you do on the PSAT, although I think it’s a good indicator of how you will do on the SAT,” said Lucy Condon (10). “There is pressure to perform, whether it’s for yourself or for your family. I really want to do well on the SAT so it’s definitely been on my mind since [freshman] year.”

John Miley (11) has also felt the demand to perform well on the test increase.

“I’ve felt the pressure this year… It wasn’t really something I had to worry about until the start of the summer, at which point I really had to start caring,” said Miley (11).

the SAT and what they can do, and then usually the week before they get a little nervous, but it’s really not until they get their first scores back. Then they start getting more nervous about what they need to study more of, what they need to do, their future, things like that.”

Looking back on her experience with SAT prep, Arianne Flaherty (12) found she had similar experiences.

“There’s just a lot of pressure and people compare scores constantly. It’s all talking about preparing for it, preparing for blah, blah, blah, but also they don’t really give you much to prepare for and the stuff they give you isn’t really helpful,” said Flaherty.

Diana Rapp, a math teacher at Fairview, has noticed the cycle of student stress. “[Students] ask about

SAT scores are well-known to be a baseline indicator for many colleges and universities of a student’s academic capabilities. Recently though, various schools across the country, including Harvard and Yale, have dropped SAT score submission as an application requirement. This new trend, a result partly due to pandemic era regulations, has led many to ask the question: is the importance of these scores overblown?

Many students agree with this sentiment.

“Yeah,” said Annie Tanner (12). “I think that people put a lot more stress on them than they need to. I totally get it, in the past they were really important to get into college and stuff like that, but nowadays, because they aren’t required, I completely agree,

Students across Fairview are gearing up for SAT testing season. story and design by john kowalski

Students studying in the Student Center.

photo by john kowalski.

“There is pressure to perform, whether it’s for yourself or for your family.”

[their importance has] been exaggerated.”

that they must perform well on the SAT to get accepted into a challenging college, like Miley.

lot of the difficult schools I want to go to need/want higher test scores. So I’ve found myself you know getting a little bit stressed out about it,” Miley said.

are people who do want to go to big schools and in order to do that they do have to submit their scores.”

of the SAT for a student is based off of how they think of their plan past high school. “I think it directly correlates with how much people think about college and their future. The more that they think about their career, their future, the more likely they are to be stressed about the SAT or PSAT.”

traditional form of higher education, such as a trade school, the SAT and the pressure surrounding it may seem rather pointless.

a key part to any American education. Most any Fairview student can probably attest to some sort of stress in relation to the exam. However, as the world evolves, more and more students are finding that the emphasis put on the test may be turgid.

tests need to be reworked and updated to fit with the standards of the society they examine. The SAT may someday be a distant memory for former high school students, replaced by a newer, better system of academic evaluation. Only time will tell of this possible perceived future. For now though, I’ll get back to studying for

Study for the Score

Students have various different ways of studying for the SAT.

have a tutor and I study every Sunday.” said Anders Hammerberg (11).

“I

“I don’t feel prepared. I’m actually thinking about switching to the ACT. I’m actually getting really worried and scheduling all the SAT stuff.” said Anders Hammerberg (11).

“I go to class and I go over the book once a week.” said Sebastian Smythe (11).

“I don’t feel confident.” said Smythe (11).

Endless Album Review

A review of Miley Cyrus’ new album. story and design by

john kowalski

Listening to “Endless Summer Vacation” by Miley Cyrus is an intriguing experience. Released on March 10th, 2023, the album is a commerical success for Cyrus, with the song “Flowers” recieving over 600,000,000 streams on Spotify. “Flowers” is a power ballade, expressing Cyrus’ empowerment and her ability to break free from an unnamed relationship. You can feel her happiness emanate from this song, as their emotion is clear, vibrant, and strong.

The next song “Jaded”, has Cyrus reveal her deep trauma even more, discussing a romantic relationship gone bad. Belting out her heart, she vocalizes their past feelings, articulating a contrasting set of emotions felt after the breakup beautifully in audio format.

Cyrus later expands her

repertoire with a track in the style of contemporary country music. Focusing on her romantic relationship with a partner, Cyrus’ explains in depth how she wants to have a powerful and meaningful relationship with this person.

Focusing elsewhere, I find the rest of the songs on the album to follow a rather similar pattern, either being power ballads or discussing future romantic relationships. While this may seem repetitive, Cyrus makes sure to input some variety in her songwriting, bringing in Sia on the song “Muddy Feet”. I feel this is the most intense track on the album, filling your ears with Cyrus shouting “Get the f*ck out of my house” over and over.

Miley Cyrus, with her album “Endless Summer Vacation” truly

asserts that she’s still a powerhouse in popular music. She wants you to know that this is her album, these are her songs, and that she can still create music to appeal to the masses.

7.5/10.

Endless Summer Vacation album cover.

125 years of chautauqua

Boulder landmark celebrates milestone anniversary. story and design by lily nobel

This year, Chautauqua celebrates its 125th birthday as an active testament to Boulder’s appreciation of Colorado’s natural beauty.

With access to forty miles of trails and thousands of acres of open space, according to the Chautauqua website, over a million people visit the natural landmark yearly-- some of them Fairview High School students.

Many kids from Boulder County grew up around the property, such as Ofek Turner (9).

“I used to go there a lot as a kid,” Turner said. “Lots of great hikes and memories.”

Calder Taylor-Villachica (10) agreed, noting a particularly memorable hike to Royal Arch with his dogs. “It was nice. I enjoyed the view at the end,” he said.

Chautauqua has developed massively in its 125 уear history. In 1898, when the auditorium (the first building on the campus, constructed for only $7000) opened, it had open sides and floors made of dust and sawdust.

“With the slightest breeze, dense clouds of dust filled the air,” reads an edition of Chautauqua’s blog, which houses memories and history compiled in honor of the anniversary. Created in 1898 during what is known as the

“Chautauqua Movement” (which promoted access to nature, music, and the arts), Chautauqua found itself in danger by the 1970s.

“Chautauqua was running out of money, and the buildings were falling into disrepair. There was even talk of tearing them down,” said Liza Purvis, a Chautauqua representative.

else who would take me out into nature,” said Audrey Fross (12). “Now I’m going to be a bio major. My experience at Chautauqua definitely led me there.”

Fortunately, long-time Chautauqua resident Mary Galey stepped up to lead a push by local Coloradans to restore the park, saving the national landmark for generations to come.

Chautauqua’s direct access to nature continues to inspire a love of the natural world.

“Through [two regular Chautauqua performers’] friends, we met someone

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Chautauqua is celebrating its 125th anniversary through art in the park, an exhibit at the Museum of Boulder, and monthly history blogs. The park will throw a community “birthday bash” for itself on July 8th, and Fairview students are encouraged to attend.

To learn more about Chautauqua’s history, as well as plans for celebration throughout the year, visit www.chautauqua.com/125th-anniversary.

photo courtesy of chautauqua

“With the slightest breeze, dense clouds of dust filled the air”

“Lots of great hikes and memories.”

“Chautauqua was running out of money, and the buildings were falling into disrepair. There was even talk of tearing them down”

“Now I’m going to be a bio major. My experience at chautauqua definitely led me there.”

Miracles, Magic, and Mahomes

A recap of the 2022 NFL Season.

story by wesley schlachter design by john kowalski

As the Kansas City Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, it marked the end of a fantastic season. As the confetti rained down on the jubilant Chiefs, it showed that, despite the adversity that all teams faced, they had persevered.

Before the season, however, it did not look like the Chiefs were the runaway Super Bowl favorites. After trading away superstar wide receiver, Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, and the rest of their Divisional rivals loading up on talent, it looked like the Chiefs were going to struggle just to make it to the playoffs, let alone win the Super Bowl. In the end, they would celebrate, as would their fans, both the ones who have been lifelong supporters and newer supporters due to their recent success.

“I like the Kansas City Chiefs because they won the Super Bowl,” said Liam Kelley (10).

The Miami Dolphins, now with Tyreek Hill, looked equipped to make a genuine push in the AFC. The one question mark was their quarterback, Tua Tagolvailoa. Despite only playing in 13 games due to injury, Tagolvailoa still posted career highs in many statistical categories. They would ultimately fall in the Wild Card Round to the Buffalo Bills.

The Buffalo Bills, who many regarded as their Super Bowl favorites before the season, were relatively underwhelming. They finished 13-3 and were defeated by the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Round.

The Bills, however, were connected to one of the most emotional games in history. In a Week 17 clash between AFC powerhouses Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills, the game would be canceled early.

The game started relatively normally at first with scoring drives for both

teams. Then late in the first quarter, Bengals QB, Joe Burrow threw a pass to Wide Receiver Tee Higgins. Damar Hamlin, the safety for the Buffalo Bills would make the tackle around midfield. Just moments later, Hamlin would collapse on the field.

Within seconds emergency personnel and team trainers were on the field and performed CPR. After around ten minutes of performing CPR and administering oxygen, Hamlin was removed from the in an ambulance. It was later revealed that Hamlin had suffered cardiac arrest and had lost both his pulse and breathing.

Miraculously, Hamlin would survive and just weeks later make an appearance at the NFL Awards ceremony as well as attending several games. It goes to show that no medical staff should be uncelebrated.

Other teams that had exciting storylines were the New York Jets, Detroit Lions, and Jacksonville Jaguars. All three teams are perennial losers, but not this season. The Lions would finish 9-8, the Jets would finish 7-10, but it

Their success would continue as they would come back from down by 27 points against the Chargers in the Wild Card and win 31-30. They would eventually fall to the Chiefs 27-20. Yet, they still showed drastic improvement. Meanwhile, some of the biggest disappointments were the LA Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The LA Rams were the reigning champions but, due to injury and just bad luck, would finish 5-12, tied for the fourth-worst record.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were led by Tom Brady, who is argued to be one of the greatest of all time. He had previously announced his retirement but had returned to action. Then during the season, his wife would divorce him. Ultimately, his return would not be worth it as they would finish 8-9. Despite winning the weak NFC South, they would be eliminated in the Wild Card 31-14 by the Cowboys.

The home team Denver Broncos

The 2023 Superbowl Halftime Show

Since the inception of the Super Bowl in 1967, there has been some type of performance during halftime. In the early years, this performance was by a marching band or dance troupe. In 1993, however, that all changed when Michael Jackson took the stage. Since then, the Super Bowl Halftime Show has been a spectacle all by itself. This year was no different. 118.7 Million people tuned in to watch Rihanna perform. That was more than the actual Super Bowl game. Rihanna sang twelve of her top hits and announced her pregnancy all during the 13 minutes.

“It was the best halftime show ever held,” said Sarah Leevan (10).

Rihanna at the NFL halftime show. Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine.

swung big for the fences after acquiring quarterback Russell Wilson but would finish 5-12. This offseason they have made a lot more moves in an attempt to contend.

“Hopefully they are just better than what they were this past season,” says Mr. Youngren.

Some other teams did not have memorable seasons, yet they still have hope for the future. Teams like the Houston Texas and Chicago Bears both had low expectations but hope.

Bears fan Oliver Peterson (10) said, “I didn’t have any big hopes obviously because I knew we were going to be bad. At least it’s a good thing that we get the number one overall pick. I have hope for the future.”

The Bears would then trade the first overall pick to the Carolina Panthers in return for a boatload of draft picks and wide receiver DJ Moore.

At the end of every draft, the last pick is called Mr. Irrelevant and celebrates by going to Disneyland. Despite the celebrations, every Mr. Irrelevant thus far had yet to make much of an impact. This year, however, things changed. With the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected Brock Purdy, a quarterback from Iowa State. He would start the season off as the third quarterback on San Francisco’s depth chart.

Injuries to quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garrapolo would result in Brock Purdy becoming the starter in Week 13. Purdy would play remarkably well and would lead the 49ers to eight wins in all eight games he played, including two playoff games. His good fortune would end via injury against the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. With Jimmy Garrapolo leaving for the Las Vegas Raiders, the 49ers certainly have an interesting quarterback controversy.

The Eagles, for their part, began the season 8-0 and would finish the season 14-3. Jalen Hurts would finish second in MVP voting to Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. Many of their players would also have great seasons. Ultimately, they would fall to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, but it was still a great

Students Favorite Players

player

Votes

Why do students like these players?

Gavi Schultheiss (9): “[Joe Burrow] is hot and a good quarterback.”

season.

Liam Kelley (10): “[Patrick mahome] is a spectacular quarterback.”

The rest of the NFL Awards were very exciting. As mentioned, Patrick Mahomes won his second MVP. New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll won Coach of the Year. Geno Smith won Comeback Player of the Year after leading the Seahawks to a playoff berth. The Offensive Player of the Year went to Vikings wide receiver, Justin Jefferson and the Defensive Player of the Year went to 49ers defensive end, Nick Bosa.

The Jets won both Rookie of the Year awards as Garrett Wilson, a wide receiver, won the Offensive award, and Sauce Gardner, a cornerback, one the Defensive award. Lastly, Dak Prescott

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Trevor O’Dowd (10):

“I’ve been liking [von miller] since I was a kid and i’ve grown an attachment to him.”

took home the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

As this story is going into print, the 2023 NFL Season has already begun. Huge free agency deals, blockbuster trades, superb draft stories, and an allaround buzz that comes with an NFL offseason have all contributed to a new season that many fans are excited for.

“I think the NFL will look a little bit different in terms of what teams can be up at the top and which teams will be battling for the number one seed and pick next year. I think it will look different than this past year, just based on turnover and what happens with the upcoming draft.” said Mr. Youngren

Joe Burrow

Patrick Mahome Von Miller

Diversity in “the little mermaid”

A casting choice in the live-action remake adds new fuel to long debate.

story by lily nobel design by eliana knode

The decision to cast Halle Bailey, a Black actress, as Ariel in the live action remake of the Disney classic “The Little Mermaid” has become the newest debate in the much longer conversation surrounding the value of diverse representation in modern movies. With an initial teaser trailer released in September of 2022, another trailer was shown during the broadcast of the 95th Academy Awards (the Oscars) on March 12th, reigniting derision over the casting decision.

Film teacher Aaron Jones endorsed the decision to cast Bailey, believing the remake of the movie is an excellent time to transform the old story.

“I love it because I think any old story can be retold and reshaped,” said Jones. “In my class we do this thing called “best scene ever” where we take a scene [...] and we need to recreate it, but we’re not the actors. We don’t look like them. So we want to change any aspect we want. Then it furthers the story, maybe modernizes it.”

the casting decision furthered the remake.

“When you’re remaking movies, you have to change certain stuff, otherwise there’s no point in remaking the movie. If you’re changing Ariel’s race, setting it in a different place where she goes on to land, [you’re] hopefully making it a newer movie and a better movie,” said McCarty. Adam Transue (12), who plans to study film in college, agreed that the decision to cast Halle Bailey as the Little Mermaid was beneficial, but wondered about the decision to remake the movie at all.

“If you’re going to be mad about them changing the race, that’s just the wrong angle to be mad about. There’s a million untold stories,” said McCarty. “The issue is Disney is making a movie that’s already been done and having a Black actress as the only major change.”

Disney’s live action remakes have been a matter of derision for fans and critics alike. Beginning with “The Jungle Book” in 2016, Disney has methodically recreated its hit animated movies, mostly from the early 2000s and late 1990s, with live actors (usually already superstars) and CGI magic. These films usually are well reviewed by moviegoers and decently reviewed by film critics, but a greater critique of the movie industry points to the remakes as a symptom of greed to reap old profits twice stifling innovation at large studios.

“The way we choose to promote diversity in this way is maybe a little bit inefficient,” said Transue. “It makes it seem people do not believe Black characters can stand on their own- as their own original characters-which I think is a little bit sad. I think it seems like the people who [make these films] don’t believe people would go see a movie with an original black character.”

“People should be ignoring [the casting decision],” said McCarty. “It should be about why is Disney making all of these live action remakes? What are they getting out of that besides money? When you’re doing it for money, you’re ignoring the whole point of diversity.”

However, James Fullagar (12), believed there is substantial benefit in Bailey’s casting.

Owen McCarty (10), who has taken film classes with Jones, agreed that

McCarty also questioned Disney’s remake decisions.

“It matters quite a bit because it’s Disney,” said Fullagar. “And Disney, especially Disney princesses, are always these iconic characters drawn for children to aspire to or see

“If you’re going to be mad about them changing the race, that’s just the wrong angle to be mad about. There’s a million untold stories”

“When you’re remaking movies, you have to change certain stuff.

[...] You’re hopefully making it a newer movie and a better movie”

Fullagar, Transue, Jones, and McCarty all agreed that this level of derision, especially the racist vitriol it has sparked from some online circles,

“I think anyone who says that any character, especially from a flipping [sic] Disney movie, has to have a

“It should just be about who’s the best actress for the role.”

As winter comes to a close, the peaks around Boulder remain frosted in a blanket of snow. Snowshoers and hikers alike have access to these wondrous peaks, and Fairview students are located in a perfect locale for these activities. Here are 3 hiking routes, of varying difficulty, located within an hour or so of Fairview.

Wonderland Lake Loop

Rating: Easy

Distance: 1.8 miles

Begin at the Wonderland Lake Trailhead, located in North Boulder. Walk along the Wonderland Lake trail and reach a split in the path. If you go to the left, you’ll walk along the dam that creates Wonderland Lake. If you go to the right, you’ll walk along the northern shore of the lake. This is a beautiful riparian habitat, and is a lovely place to contemplate the mountains. No matter which way you decide to go, the path eventually loops around back to the trailhead.

Dream and Emerald Lakes

Rating: Moderate

Distance: 4.1 miles

Begin at the Bear Lake Trailhead (located in RMNP) and follow signs for Dream Lake. Snowshoe along the trail and pass by Nymph Lake, a small pool enroute to Dream and Emerald Lakes. The trail steeply gains elevation here, switchbacking up through the forest before popping out into a marvelous clearing. This is Dream Lake, and it’s typically safe to walk across during the winter season. Once past the lake, continue through the trees, snowshoeing steeply up a glacial moraine before arriving at Emerald Lake, which is surrounded by massive 1,000 foot cliffs.

Mt. Lady Washington

Rating: Difficult

Distance: 9.16 miles

Begin at the Longs Peak Trailhead (located in RMNP) and follow signs for Chasm Lake. Steeply snowshoe up through the trees on the wellpacked snow, gaining over 2,000 feet

of elevation before popping out into the alpine tundra. Continue on the path, reaching Chasm Lake Junction after 3.5 miles of snowshoeing. From this point, you’ll be heading off-trail for the remainder of the route, generally following the east ridge of Mt. Lady Washington. Make sure to take off your snowshoes at the junction, as the steep, boulder filled terrain of the mountain makes navigation difficult. After 1.5ish miles of steep rock-hopping, you’ll eventually summit Mt. Lady Washington and find yourself on top of a 13,000 foot peak amidst jagged, spectacular terrain.

WARNING:

It is in your best interest to look at the Colorado Avalanche Center’s page for avalanche safety information. The Royal Banner is not responsible for any injuries that occur while hiking or mountaineering in the mountains. Your safety is your responsibility.

Winter’s over, but that doesn’t matter in the mountains. story and design by john kowalski

Looking west from the summit of Mt. Lady Washington. photo by john kowalski.

DRAMA INTHE DRAMA

Looking at the controversy surrounding this year’s play. story by laron van allen-gilbert design by john kowalski

This year’s play “The Grapes of Wrath” is steeped in controversy as the themes relate to the Great Depression. Most students don’t agree with “The Grapes of Wrath” being this year’s play. Many don’t know anything about the plot and themes other than the Great Depression, which makes them view the play as centered around a miserable and boring topic. Yet, once you peel back the cover one gets to understand the real meaning behind “The Grapes of Wrath.”

“A lot of the opinions [...] come from lack of enough information,” fine arts teacher Sarah Halstead said. “When you hear about the time periods of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression immediately go to, gosh, well, that’s so dreary and sad and awful and why are we focusing on that?”

Some students involved with theater asked why this specific play was chosen.

“Anne Murphy has been our play director [...] this was a particular production that she chose for the senior class of actors that she has worked with since they were freshmen,” said Halstead. Many of the actors are seniors this year, and able to tackle more difficult material that’s “not just kind of the light fluff of comedies,” said Halstead. “The themes underlying of the play are all about resiliency and hope.”

She later referenced the COVID lockdowns, many of Fairview’s performing arts programs were on pause and the difficulties of staying indoors, with online learning “[...] after COVID and everything, we can relate to that,” said Halstead.

Despite complaints, some students are interested in the play. “I honestly am personally really excited for this production,” said John Miley (11). “A lot of shows these days are whiny teenagers playing whiny teenagers.”

Many students didn’t know that there was a play, or that the play was “The Grapes of Wrath”, but a few did know the material due to the movie “It’s an interesting plot but I’m not sure how it will translate into a play,” said Luka Kosovic (11). Those who are in the play such as Miley, who plays the character Connie said “I wouldn’t say it was necessarily my first choice,” and “[..]every show has its controversies” but he still was enthustastic overall about the play “I think there are more interesting plays. That being said, this is still an interesting story to tell.”

The director of this year’s play, Anne Murphy, is confident that this

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story is a meaningful one for a 2023 audience. “It’s not a sad play, and it’s unfortunate that that’s the perception of it. What’s beautiful about the story is that despite everything they’ve been through, they choose life. They choose to support. They choose to help each other, and they choose to do what’s right for humanity.We’ve all been going through some sort of similar situations in our own lives the last three or four years. How are we going to choose to live our lives? It resonates [...] deeply and beautifully now-- more than it did even 30 years ago,” said Murphy. “I hope students will come see it, because if they don’t really understand or if they misunderstand or if they got a different read on it, come see our story [...]. See if they feel any differently about the piece when they’re done [...] I hope they’ll take a chance and come see it and let us know.”

Grapes of Wrath actors rehearse for the show.

photo by john kowalski

Play to

Senior athletes explain what it takes to be a college commit.

As the end of the school year nears, many seniors at Fairview are committing to colleges. Some students are taking a particular path-- committing for a sport and receiving sports-related scholarships.

The college admissions process for sports commits is quite different from the regular application and acceptance process for nonathletes. Although many students are aware that they have already been accepted into a school based on their athletic abilities and the multiple different tryouts and tests they have to complete, college athletes still have to wait for their acceptance to a school just like any other applicant.

“I was so excited when I got my acceptance letter,” said Ellori Crosby (12). “I already knew that I was accepted, but It actually felt real at that point.”

The excitement of getting into a college is all the same for athletes, “I’m excited to go to Princeton, It really is exciting to get in and be able to swim as well.” said Edie Simecek (12).

The admissions process can start as early as sophomore year, with most athletes starting the process their junior year.

“The recruiting process for me was a little intense and intimidating because it’s so different from what everybody else goes through. And nobody in my family has gone through the recruiting

process. So we didn’t know what we were doing. And it’s just intimidating to go up to the coach, talk to a coach, and then travel and meet the team. But once it’s over, it’s a breeze.” said Julia Urbanowski (12).

It can also be a super quick process that athletes aren’t aware of until they are already involved.

“I didn’t know I was being recruited until I was eating lunch with the head track coach. And when I asked him what [the lunch] was about, he just looked at me like I was stupid and goes this is recruiting.”

Flynn Meier (12) said, “For me, I emailed the head coach two weeks before I was going to California.

cut-outs left to right,Shane Williams,Eddie Simecek,Ellori Crosby, Julia Urbanowsk

“I was so excited when I got my acceptance letter, I already knew that I was accepted, but it actually felt real at that point”

story and design by eliana knode

Shane Williams (12) represents Fairview at the soccer state championship.

photo by michael nedd

Edie Simecek (12) starting a race at the girls swimming state championship in February.

photo by michael nedd

to pay

And then I got an email back, and I was in California getting recruited. So it happened really fast.”

Although the process of joining a college team is stressful, studentathletes have a built-in community and support network once they start college.

“There’s a ton of things that I’m looking forward to, but the coach is one of the biggest ones. He was super supportive throughout the whole recruiting process… he just truly believes in me, which is a really good feeling going into a school rather than just going into a school to score points,” said Sophie Pierce (12). He’s a very genuine guy and sees a lot of potential in me, and believes in me. So I think the coach and just the team atmosphere, it seems like a great group of people, and I’m excited to be a part of that.”

Being on a D1 team in college is a massive accomplishment and time commitment-- not only do athletes have to balance their schoolwork and grades but also their performance on a team.

“From what I’ve heard, being a D1 athlete is a fulltime job, and it’s hard to juggle the sport and the school, but the school and team fully accommodate and help you throughout.”

Urbanowski said, “I’m putting myself through this, but I want to, and I’m excited to swim, so I feel like it’ll be easier to manage in terms of my attitude, hopefully.”

Not only is a team a great source of support, it’s

also a great place to meet new people.

“I know going into college can be a really hard thing when you don’t know anybody. So having a team already set makes it, I think, a lot less scary to start the college experience,” said Kyla Stroker (12).

Not only is joining a college team exciting, but getting to play a sport that they love for four more years has been important to these Fairview athletes since they started high school.

“I love the competition and the team atmosphere. Being able to be part of a team and have goals that you can accomplish it’s very rewarding,” said Sydney Inman (12). “I’ve wanted to be a part of a team since I started the recruiting process my sophomore year,” Most of these athletes never hesitated about whether or not they wanted to pursue their sport in college.

“For me, I’ve always wanted to play,” said Shane Williams (12).

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“And nobody in my family has gone through the recruiting process. So we didn’t know what we were doing”

Favorite book seri ? or es

Julia Perian

My favorite book is “We Are The Ants”, by Shaun David Hutchinson. I first read this novel when I was in either the eighth grade or my freshman year. The premise of the novel is unlike any book I have ever read. It is about a teenage boy who gets kidnapped by aliens, and has to decide whether or not to save the world from destruction. However, it’s not a science fiction book, it is closer to realistic. The aliens are a metaphor for the boy’s mental illness, which is very interesting.

John kowalski

“Annals of the Former World” by John McPhee is probably my favorite book. The novel travels along Interstate 80, covering the geologic history of the entire country while also giving vivid descriptions of the cities and landscapes that I-80 passes by. The writing of the novel is incredible, getting across stunning amounts of information while also managing to be entertaining in its delivery. Overall, Annals of the Former World is a wonderful book, and is definitely worth reading.

Hannah Derounian

My favorite book is “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss. I read it when i was a little kid and I wanted green eggs and ham for breakfast for like a month after I read it. I really enjoy Doctor Suess in general! I also read One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.

Elliott Pease

Probably “The Lord Of The Rings”, by J.R.R. Tolkien. I first read it in, probably... 6th grade. I love it because the work that Tolkien creates is so insanely elaborate, and the movies that came from the books are some of the best works of media ever. Furthermore, the story can parallel our world at times. Also the history of how and when Tolkien started creating Middle Earth is also incredibly interesting.

Ellie Landau

“Tuesdays with Morrie”. I first read it this year and I like it because its sweet, interesting, and makes you wonder about life.

Jackson Faulkner

“Sphere” by Michael Crichton, I read it the second semester of my junior year. I love the book because it keeps you in suspense the entire story. Reality is ambiguous throughout every section, and this kept me on the edge of my seat for hours. Up until this point I have never read a book so fast. I’ve also always been inspired by psychology, and the main character happens to be an accomplished psychologist. With crazy twists, often yet important main character deaths, and the chemistry slowly built between protagonists, this has proved to be my favorite sci-fi book I’ve read so far.

Laron Van Allen-Gilbert

“The Complete Calvin and Hobbes” are my favorite books. Great illustrations along with amazing humor that works for kids, teens and adults. From fun sci-fi adventures to philosophical questions while riding a red wagon down a hill. My favorite story arc has to be when Calvin created a snowman that eventually in his mind started creating an army of snowmen filling up his entire front yard, confusing his dad when he gets back home. I won’t spoil what happens in the middle of the night but it is fantastic. I probably first read Calvin and Hobbes when I was around six or seven years old and I wished for The Complete Collection for my Birthday one year, and I’ve never forgotten it!

april 2023

Editors-in-chief staff contributors

Eliana Knode

Eliana is a senior, and this is her third year with The Royal Banner. She is proud to be an Editor-in-Chief, and also to encourage student activism within the Fairview and larger Boulder community. Eliana loves spending time with her friends and her three amazing dogs.

Lily nobel

Lily is a senior, and this is their third year with The Royal Banner. They’re excited to explore the Banner’s possibilities this year and to foster a spirit of excitement and curiosity within the paper. Lily enjoys writing and hiking in our beautiful city.

About the Cover

This issue's cover was photographed by Michael Nedd and Laron Van Allen-Gilbert. In order from left to right is Flynn Myers, Sydney Inman, Sophie Pierce, Eddie Simecek, and Kyla Stroker. The article focusing on this is Play to Pay on pages 16-17.

Business Business Manager: Claire-Maria Broaddus

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Website Feature

Salvatore Triolo: New History Teacher’s Fairview Experience so Far

About Us

The Royal Banner is a 20-page news magazine. The Banner is written primarily for the over 2000 students attending Fairview High School and is distributed free of charge to all members of the school community. Accurate reporting of fact is the goal of the staff. Commentaries, opinion columns and letters to the editor are the expressed opinion of the author and not of the Royal Banner and its Editorial Board or adviser.

*Disclaimer

Under Colorado law, no expression made by students in the exercise of free speech or freedom of the press shall be deemed to be an expression of school policy. No school district, employee, legal guardian or official of such a district shall be held liable in any criminal action for any expression made or published by a student. The Royal Banner sells advertisements for publicity and to pay for printing costs. We reserve the right to refuse to run any advertisement deemed inappropriate to the Fairview community.

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John Kowalski p. 6-7

Addison Washburn p. 4-5

Elliott Pease p. 4-5

Laron Van Allen-Gilbert p. 15

Wesley Schlachter p. 10-11