Vol 4 the rock jan 25, 2008

the

rock Student Voice of Rock Canyon High School

5810 McArthur Ranch Road • Highlands Ranch, CO 80124 • 303.387.3000 Volume 4, Number 5 • January 25, 2008

support groups

Check out pages 12-13 for ways you can get involved and how they can help

Photo illustration by Max Rowe

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campus news

the rock 1.25.07

prepare have more for college fun

these are the classes where you’ll...

learn the most

INSIDER’S GUIDE

If you missed Wednesday, you still have a chance to enter your schedule today. And if you weren’t that lucky, ﬁle this away for next year, because the rock has a guide to which classes are the best, from the upperclassmen who knew and loved them.

“Sociology was really awesome this year because you learn about why people act the way they do and speciﬁc traits of group behavior. It all relates to real life which is the coolest part.” Kourtney Young ‘09

“Contemporary World Issues was a really good class. It opens your eyes to issues going on today and you can see the view of others in the class. It’s really different and we didn’t get a lot of homework.” Taylor Curado ‘09

Creative Writing “I loved it because it’s a class where you can really put all your thoughts on paper and have total freedom to write whatever you want. If you are big on writing, this class is something that you would really like.” Becca Stouse ‘09

“AP Psychology is a fun class. Mrs. Staal is a really fun teacher, too. You learn things you will actually use in real life. You get to understand exactly how each person learns. A lot of it has to do with the teacher.” Kyle Hoday ‘08

“Adventure Experience was one of my favorite classes. It’s not like a normal P.E class; we got to do a lot more than just play basketball. We learned to rock climb! And I got really good at tying knots.” Xavier Rojas ‘09

“AP Language & Composition was an amazing class. English isn’t my favorite subject, but she [Cullen] really helped get me prepared for college. It was an AP level class that I didn’t exactly enjoy, but I still learned a lot.” Mackenzie Guest ‘08

“Anatomy was cool because it was so hands on. We have experts on everything come in and talk to us. I knew nothing before about the human body and now I could label the muscles and bones from head to toe.” Shelby Perkins ‘09

“I would have to say AP Chemistry prepared me the most for college. Fun isn’t a word I would use to describe this class, but it really did challenge me. Chemistry is what I want to major in, so it was interesting.“ Amber Ellison ‘08

RUMOR MILL

You start ‘em, and we check them out

Rumor: Saturday Jan. 12, some of the school grounds were vandalized.

Fact or Fiction?: Fact. It was reported on the Jan.12 by Bob Reiling and David Heimer that the baseball concession stand, the football stand, and other sports sheds had been graffitied. The graffiti will cost the school more than $2,000 to fix and the vandals have not yet been found.

Rumor: Valor High School’s boy’s ice hockey

team was shut down after being caught illegally recruiting players. All the boys who were planning on playing at Valor are now transferring over to RC, causing heavy competition for spots.

Fact or Fiction?: Fiction. Valor’s ice hockey

team was not participating in illegal recruiting causing boys to transfer to RC. Valor does not have a boys hockey team yet.

Rumor: Next year, when Douglas County

High School number nine – Legend High School – opens, English teacher Andy Levine is thinking of transferring to teach there.

Fact or Fiction?: Fact. Levine was thinking about leaving RC to teach at what will be Legend High School back in October. He is thinking about leaving because he wants the experience of opening a new school. He would still teach English.

battle of the sexes - the week in photos

• ACADEMICS • CLUBS • ACADEMICS • CLUBS • ACADEMICS • CLUBS •

to put it brieﬂy

SKI CLUB new places, new faces Last Saturday, Jan. 19, Nick Laatsch and a handful of students went up to Breckenridge to ski for the day. Once or twice a month, the RCHS ski club heads up to the mountains to ski, spend time with each other, and learn more about skiing from one another. “We will be going to Beaver Creek, Vail, and A-Basin throughout the rest of the year, so we’re always skiing at new places,” said Laatsch. Upcoming dates for ski club trips are: Feb. 23, March 18, March 29, and April 5. If you’re not currently a member of the ski club, you can print off a registration form from the RCHS website. Mandy Shapiro

MOCK TRIAL bonding before big competition

DECA is similar to FBLA, but the main difference is that DECA is a class that focuses strictly on marketing. In order to take DECA one must also be enrolled in marketing. “I’m taking marketing next year, because I want to do DECA,” said Michael McKenna ’11. “I want to major in business, so taking that class is important.” According to Janna Robinett, one of RCHS’s business and tech teachers, business is one of the top two majors that students are choosing in college right now. That’s one of the reasons why RCHS is offering more business and technology classes next year. Mandy Shapiro

LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER $20,000 worth of information The library received $20,000 worth of social studies and science books and resources. “Twenty thousand wasn’t a lot, but it really helped us expand our library,” said Sharon Stevens. On the library website, new databases that are used in most colleges in subjects including science, modern world history, and controversial issues will be available.

Dinner at Chipotle or Taco Bell this week is helping the mock trial team bond before it’s time to crack down at their 4 p.m. practice. “There’s a lot of new people on the team this year,” Alita King ’09, said. “It’s fun to share the experiences with them and get them involved.” Mock trial’s upcoming competition is on Feb. 2 at the Air Force Academy. “I’m a prosecuting lawyer and defense witness,” King said. “I’m really excited for our upcoming tournament!” Gabi Johnson

BUSINESS AND TECH DEPARTMENT top major creates new class Next year, the business and technology departments will be offering many new classes, one of which is DECA, which stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America.

Ryan Sohl ‘08, competing in the Mr. Jag pageant Jan. 8. Junior and senior boys fought to win the title of Mr. Jag. Joe Kappes ‘09, took the title. Photo by Katie Thompson. Randi Couch ‘10, competing against Tim O’Connor ‘08, in a drum-off in a Battle of the Sexes Assembly Jan. 9. Photo by Megan McNally. Dale Dahlstrom ‘09, and Levi Orlady ‘11, at the Winter Formal Assembly Jan. 12. Photo by Max Lllanes.

“These databases are used in colleges and having them gives us an opportunity to let students use in high school now what they’ll be using in college,” Stevens said. Paisley Morrison

FBLA districts without a sponsor As FBLA sponsor Janna Robinett prepares for a new baby, FBLA members are preparing for districts. Robinett will soon be unable to sponsor FBLA because she has to go on bed rest. She will not return for the rest of the year. “We have a new adviser who is her sub and she has been meeting with us for the last couple of weeks and getting to know us,” said President Dan Brewer ’08. “[Everything should] run smoothly without her. We are going to make it run smoothly.” Kristen Scheirman FBLA Week dates: Staff Appreciation Day – Monday, Feb. 11 March of Dimes Day – Tuesday, Feb. 12 FBLA Day – Wednesday, Feb. 13 Match Making Day – Thursday, Feb. 14 And ﬁll out your match making survey today to have a match by Valentine’s Day!

OUR CONDOLENCES local man succumbs to cancer

Connor Dozois ‘10, and Sarah Linke ‘09, try to motivate fellow Mock Trial member Logan Thompson ‘08, before their meeting on Tuesday. The students were waiting so they could discuss the conﬂicts with speech and debate’s state qualiﬁers being held on the same day as Mock Trial’s Regional competition. Photo by Kristen Scheirman

Compiled by Jennifer Prusse

Jerrod Clausen passed away on Jan. 18. He had been ﬁghting a rare form of melanoma for over six months and died at home with family. Jerrod is survived by his wife, Korene, his daughter Abby, and his son, Aidan, as well as by his mother, Barbara and his step-father, RC career coach Ross Costanzo. Memorial opportunities will be announced at a later date. Kristen Scheirman

Senior Class President Katie Matsunaka ‘08, talking to the senior class on Wednesday during the senior meeting. “It went well with going over the senior week, and all of the events we’ve planned will be exciting and fun,” Matsunaka said. Students voted on graduation speakers, the class gift, and the “Most Likely To...” Awards, which included everything from “Most likely to be living with their parents at age 30,” to “Most likely to win a Nobel peace prize.” “It’ll be interesting to see who turns out to win the awards,” Matsunaka said. “I heard a lot of names in common.” Photo by Chelsea Long

003

rc and beyond

the rock 1.25.07

all you need to know about:

THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL RACE The 2008 presidential elections are drawing closer. The caucuses are coming up in Colorado on Feb. 5, and

issues are being discussed and debates are becoming more heated as time runs out. the rock staff wanted to take the opportunity to delve into the 2008 presidential race tackling issues to candidates to political parties.

Quoted

The fight for

Which 2008 presidential candidate would you vote for?

Colorado

I would vote for Obama. He would be the ﬁrst black president and that’s pretty cool. He stands for a lot of the stuff I believe in. Mostly he just wants to get out of Iraq and I’m not for the war whatsoever. Austin Todd ‘09

coming up

JANUARY

25 There is a boys varsity basketball game at home at 7:00. Come support the Jags as they take DCHS, one of the only teams in Continental League that isn’t ranked in the top ten for basketball. Can you say V-I-C-TO-R-Y? thru the 27 ESPN X Games on Buttermilk Hill. Admission is free and you’re not the one getting injured. What could be better? 29 Watch the pro rodeo featured by Coors Co, at the National Western Stock Show. This includes the Westernaires and the always favorite mutton bustin’ competition in which 5-7 year olds ride bucking sheep to see who can stay on the longest. The rodeo is located at the National Western Complex at 8:00 p.m. 29 Go to I’m Not There at the Boulder Theatre. It’s a look at Bob Dylan’s life, through different actors (and actresses!) And you can’t look more indie than going to Boulder.

I would vote for Hillary because I think we need a woman president and we need to show the guys we can rule our country. I just like how she’s going out there and how shes just trying to be a girl president.

31 You only have one chance to come see the One Act play performances. The plays feature underclassmen. Come to the school at 7:00 to watch the future stars of RC theatre display their talent.

Art by Max Rowe

Shanna Keller ‘10 I would vote for Rudy Guiliani Just because he’s from New York and I like that. I’m a Republican and I support what he says and what he stands for. I don’t know exactly what he stands for but I like the ideas he has. Erik Wetzel ‘10

RCHS SUPER PRIMARY

SCHOOL EVENTS • CONCERTS • LOCAL CULTURE

COLORADO CAUCUSES ON FEB. 5 and calculate how many delegates in each group will What is a presidential get to send to the county conventions. The results are caucus? called into a central party counting committee and A caucus is where a political party meets to debate and talk about which candidate from their party should be the ﬁnal nominee for president.

reported as a percentage of delegates won. Sometimes in Republican caucuses, however, winner takes all.

What will happen Feb. 5?

. Because after the county conventions and then the state conventions, the national convention will meet. The previous caucuses narrowed down the number of delegates who attend national convention and they will vote for the ﬁnal Democratic or Republican nominee for president. The caucuses also give people more of a voice in who gets to run for president. Compiled by Paisley Morrison

Voters will organize themselves into groups based on which candidates they support. Undecided voters create their own group. A member from each of the decided groups will give a speech about their candidate to convince the undecided to join their group. When everyone is in a group caucus, organizers will count the voters in each group

Over 200 students were surveyed about which political party they feel they belong to, which candidates for the 2008 presidential election are their favorites, and what issues they think should be important in the upcoming elections. Here’s what you said about...

Your political party

41.6% of RC students are Republicans 19.4% are undecided 18.6% are Democrats 12.4% are Independent 3.3% are afﬁliated with the Green party 2.8% are other .95% are afﬁliated with the Socialist party .95% are Libertarian

The Democratic candidates 78.7% of students like Barack Obama most 9.1% like John Edwards most 4.5% like Hillary Clinton most 4.1% like Dennis Kucinich most 3.6% like Mike Gravel most

The Republican candidates 24% of RC students like Mitt Romney most 23.5% like Mike Huckabee most 21.4% like Rudi Giuliani most 19.4% like John McCain most 11.7% like Ron Paul most

The issues

30.6% of RC students think the war in Iraq is one of the most important issues in this election 18.7% think environmental issues are 16.7% think immigration is 10.6% Abortion is 9.6% think stem cell research is 7.4% think gay rights are 5% think gun control is 1.4% think other issues are important

Why are they important?

Meet your favorite candidates

Barack Obama

Obama (D) was raised mainly in Hawaii. He graduated from Columbia University and earned a law degree from Harvard. He served in the Illinois Senate.

Mitt Romney

Currently Romney (R) is the governor of Massachusetts. He was raised in a Mormon household in Massachusetts. He attended Brigham Young University in 1971

FEBRUARY 3-5 Party it up on Mardi-Gras at the Vail Ski Resort during Carni-Vail, the biggest celebration in the mountains! 4 Take a break from rock’n’roll music and relax by listening to some classical music played by none other than the RCHS orchestra in the auditorium at 6:00. 10 The RC inline hockey team is playing against Chatﬁeld Senior High School at Rocky Mountain Roller Hockey at 11:00. Come watch hockey played like you’ve never seen it before.

Stance on the War in Iraq

Stance on the environment

Obama opposes the War in Iraq. In 2005 he wanted a phased withdrawal from Iraq and in 2007, he introduced legislation in the Senate to try to remove all combat troops from Iraq by March 2008.

Obama wants to invest $150 billion over the next ten years in order to develop climate friendly energy supplies. He also wants to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.

Romney supports the war in Iraq and believes the surge is vital to success in Iraq. However, he recently said he believes the war was mismanaged following the collapse of Suddam Hussein.

Romney believes the risks of climate change exist and humans are contributing to the changes. He wants to develop energy sources that would allow America to be free from foreign oil.

John Edwards

Edwards voted in 2002 for the Edwards (D) was raised in war, but has since changed North Carolina. He graduated his position. He believes it with a law degree from the was based on inaccurate University of North Carolina. information and that, “Iraq is a mess and has become a far And he entered politics greater threat than it ever was.” when he ran for North Carolina Senator and won.

Mike Huckabee Huckabee (R) is an ordained minister who earned a B.A. from Ouachita Baptist University in 1975. He also was the governor of Arkansas from 1996-2007.

Huckabee believes setting a timetable for withdrawal in Iraq would be a mistake because it would make victory in Iraq impossible. He believes the U.S. should stay in Iraq until the Iraq government has a chance to succeed.

John Edwards feels strongly that global warming needs to be resolved and that ending dependence on oil and developing new, energy efﬁcient systems could energize the economy. He thinks the U.S. needs to explore alternative sources of energy, such as wind, solar, and hydrogen power. He wants the United States to be energy independent in order to guarantee safety and prosperity in America.

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world news

the rock 1.25.08

Far right: Abby Claar ‘08, with friends Moji, from Thailand, and Maylyn, from the Philipeans on a train. They were the three exchange students from Hiroshima. Claar and her English Adventure team. The team was a part of a camp put on by her school in Japan. Photos courtesy of Abby Claar

Culture to culture

Returning home is bittersweet for senior I’ve finally returned from my ten month adventure to Japan. It wasn’t always fun and games. There was a major problem with my first host family, resulting in a family change about six months in. It’s hard enough being in an environment where the language is completely different, and in a culture you don’t really understand, without having a family that won’t communicate. However, after switching to my new host family, things were surely looking brighter. My new host family spoke no English, forcing me to speak Japanese all the time, which completely improved my language skills, even for the short four months I was there. I was also an only child, which was a new experience for me. I was spoiled rotten. Whoever said that only children were spoiled were right. I loved it, though I missed the company of someone to just sit and gossip with.

The day I left Japan, the girls in my class came to see me oﬀ at the bullet train. They were all crying and giving me hugs and little last minute gifts. One of the girls in my class, Meichan, gave me a CD with her favorite song on it, Kizuna, which translates to bond. In the note she wrote me, she said, “This is our promise to keep our bond strong, and keep in touch.” Then I was told I would always be a member of class 1-E. I broke down, it was so hard to leave them all behind, leave my host family behind and my friends that were exchange students as well. It was a bittersweet memory I will always hold in my heart. The day of both my return, and departure from home. I think, despite my many problems with AFS, or American Field Service, the program I used to travel to Japan, I gained a lot from this experience. Not just language and culture wise,

but learning about myself and about my strengths and weaknesses. This prepared me for coming back, and facing the drama of the “he said this... she said that...” while I was gone. It used to be that things like that were my greatest stress, and now, I don’t really care all that much. When I look back on my life, what I’m going to remember is the great experience that I had in Japan, the friends that I made and kept, and the lessons learned. The things that won’t matter will be the petty little ﬁghts and stupid gossip that happened in high school. I think and hope that everyone can have an experience like this one, and if anyone gets the opportunity to take it, they shouldn’t hesitate, but jump on it and go. Abby Claar

Abby Claar ‘08, with her friend Cherry, from China, in their kimonos. Photo courtesy of Abby Claar.

Perfect Image Eyecare 303-471-2244 Fax 303-471-4879 9559 S. University Blvd, #104 Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 www.perfectimageeyecare.com/ Dr. Teresa Back

Dr. Cheryl Bronner

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static rebellion

the rock 1.25.07

A WORTHY REBELLION

behind the scenes of static

Counterclockwise from above: Max Rowe ‘08, serenades Jackie Franklin ‘08, during “Consider Me a Murderer.” “I was rocking her face off, she was totally into it,” Rowe said. Wes Eggett ‘07, plays to adoring fans. He’s the only non – Rock Canyon member of Static Rebellion. Nick Rush ‘08, the guitarist, gets into the performance. “It was so crazy,” he said. Photos by Susie Typher

want to see more of the rebellion? check out:

www.myspace.com/ staticrebellion

missing band members Nick Rush ‘08, one of the guitar players of Static Rebellion, was on a cruise in the Caribbean for a family reunion for over a week preceding the concert. He didn’t get home until 4 p.m. on Sunday, the day of the show. The band only got to practice once, on Saturday, without Rush. Rush came straight from the airport to the venue and found out he had to learn a new song, Static Rebellion’s opening number, “Hey Ya,” in the few hours remaining before the show. “I was nervous the whole time coming home on the plane,” Rush said. “I hadn’t touched a guitar in over a week.” a custom light show Mitch Schellenger ‘09, and Evan Schneider ‘09, followed the band to help set up and give the band a custom light show. “We wouldn’t have been able to get all our gear down there without Mitch,” lead singer Max Rowe ‘08, said. “And they set up some dope lights.” support from the crowd Though this is one of the ﬁrst gigs, there was already major support from the crowd. Katie Archuletta ‘09, and two other girls made shirts for the band. “They’re my friends, so I love showing them support and letting them know we’re here for them,” said Archuletta. “It’s exciting to know that people I know could actually go somewhere.” just a cover band?

After playing a few cover songs, like “Hey Ya,” by Outkast, and “Feeling This,” by Blink 182, for an unplanned encore, other bands at the show criticized Static Rebellion for playing covers. “I think it’s good to have a few cover songs. The other bands were just jealous, because people react better to covers,” Tim O’Connor ‘08, said. “If we just play originals the whole time, the crowd won’t have something to sing along to. The fans don’t know all of our songs yet, but we’d love it if they did.” the fan finale In a competition judged by audience interaction, Static Rebellion was the fan favorite. They sold 100 tickets, the most out of the bands, and got to choose when they’d perform. The bands that play later have more audience members to scream their vote, but Static Rebellion opted out of the last slot, and for 8:30 p.m. instead. “We felt bad making people come out to see us that late,” said Rowe. “We figured it was pretty late for a Sunday night.” Even so, there were enough Static fans to give them the title, though they shared it with another band. The win earned them a bid for the finals, with 7 other bands from around the state. If they win the finals, they get $500, and 20 hours of studio time. That demo would be sent to four major record companies. “It was the funnest night of my life,” said Rush. “And to actually play on stage with the lights going was crazy.” Chelsea Long

Clockwise from top: Max Rowe ‘08, Ryan Wekenman ‘08, and Wes Eggett ‘07, played in their ﬁrst big show on Sunday Jan. 20. Photo by Susie Typher. Fans and band members cheer as loud as they can to get the band in the top spot. The number of Rock Canyon fans surprised the announcer, who responded by to cheers by asking, “Are there any Static Rebellion fans in the house?” Photo by Jenna Scheirman. Tim O’Connor ‘08, was too hot on stage, and had to take his shirt off. “I was sweating!” O’Connor said. Photo by Chelsea Long

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fine arts

the rock 1.25.07

Previewing ‘My Heart’

Upcoming play looks back on troubled times

don’t miss

ONE ACTS

January 30 and 31 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium Top left: Guillermo Arribas ‘10, directs Slob School, his one-act play. Abby Roberts ‘09, Kayla Bush ‘10, and Daniel Wheeler ‘08, are the other directors of plays like The Tiny Closet, and Impromptu. They’ve been practicing since Dec. 15. “I like the one acts a lot because they’re not as much of a commitment and everyone gets a lot closer,” Roberts said. Above: A.J. Opp ‘09, and Robin Freysinger ‘08, play around during rehearsals. Photos by Paisley Morrison

MUSIC•DRAMA•ART•MUSIC•DRAMA•ART

to put it brieﬂy BAND tuning up and pumping up The RCHS Band is tuning up for their spring recital, pumping up basketball fans, and focusing on challenging pieces. “Pep Band is fun, it’s good to support the [basketball] teams,” Alex Chum ’08, said. “I think there’s more energy at the games when the band is there.” “We’re starting to get back into the groove of a [performance] band,” Chum said. “We’ve stepped up the difﬁculty level [of our concert music] a lot.” Alyssa Davanzo

DRAMA CLUB ﬁghting for survival Stressing about a drop in the drama department and getting into character, members of the drama club have been feeling the pressure. They need to recruit people to take theatre and participate in upcoming plays. “We’re worried that if not enough people join and participate, that Rock Canyon will drop its drama department,” Robin Freysinger ’08, said. Despite the pressure of lowered interest, members of the drama club are coaching underclassmen for the One Act Festival, and helping the “younger actors” truly get into character. Valery Meusburger

Female characters in Rock Canyon’s upcoming drama, A Piece of My Heart, had to live through being stuck in the Vietnam war - after it was already over. The play starts off with seven women looking upon the Vietnam Memorial Wall, remembering the war and how they dealt with it. As they discuss the problems they faced they “flashback,” and relive everything. A Piece of My Heart is a Vietnam retrospective, which takes the audience back into the main character’s personal experiences of the Vietnam War. The play is based on facts collected in a book from an interview with survivors and people involved in the war, and it is based entirely on first hand experience. The story deals with not only how the women dealt with the war itself, but also how they dealt with alcoholism, drugs, and rape. With only three male actors in the performance, the men have to constantly switch characters, although all the male

FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT glazing through ceramics “When you glaze, be sure to shake it up,” art teacher Daniel Gonzalez said to his ﬁrst period Ceramics II class. “You should have a paper, a mat, or a board underneath while you paint.” Gonzalez was hired in January and started teaching Jan. 14. He took over Greg Sweatt’s classes. The class is painting their bowls, and some start the next project, making a tile. “It [the tile project] tells me if they can put clay together,” Gonzalez said. “It tells me their ability as far as perspective goes. It’s a good spring board assignment.” Jenna Scheirman

the cast

Martha – Robin Freysinger ‘08 Sissy – Micah McDonald ‘09 Whitney – Kayla Bush ‘10 Steele – Mackenzie Guest ‘08 Gail – Jordan Fickling ‘11 Leanne — Abby Roberts ‘09 Maryjo – Alyssa Karr ‘09 The Men: Guillermo Arribas ‘10, Blake Labriola ‘09, AJ Opp ‘09, Alex Rowe ‘10 roles are minor. They play characters ranging from boyfriends to soldiers to oﬃcers and have to learn to switch character quickly. Besides the usual preparation for plays, memorization, blocking, etc., the actors also have to learn about what the war was like and do research to help them out. A Piece of My Heart does not criticize the Vietnam War or war in general, but instead, honors the veterans for what they did. See it Feb. 28, 29 or March 1. Ethan Gottula

Below: Jehan Atoe ‘09, makes a mermaid tile out of clay. Right: Ed Ferguson ‘08, constructs his monkey ﬁgurine. Both are in Gonzalez’s Ceramics II Class. Photos by Jenna Scheirman

��

Convenient location for Jags – in the Park Meadows Mall Entertainment District. Easy access from the Lincoln Light Rail Station.

Don’t you deserve a thrill?

Uturn meets every Friday night @ 7:00 PM at Timber Trail Elementary www.coolyouthgroup.com

...a ministry of Solid Life Christian Center

007

wrestling

the rock 01.25.08

Lack of focus leads to loss

Wrestling team dragged down by illness, low intensity

Counter clockwise from top: Alex Abreu ‘09, watches a teammate while he waits to wrestle. Danny Poindexter ‘09, in the meet against Regis Thursday, Jan. 17. Varsity lost 63-16. Martin Hughes ‘08, watches a teammate wrestle. Jake Eggett ‘09, tries to gain control of his opponent’s arm in order to pin him. Photos by Micah McDonald and Blake Smith

Alex Abreu ’09, paces behind the bench with his black and gold warm-ups on, a gray hood up, and head phones in. He looks down at the ground, focused, and pauses every few seconds to watch Jake Eggett ’09, wrestle his Regis opponent. “I think about winning,” Abreu said. “I sit down and don’t really talk to anyone. That way I can block out the crowd, and focus on my moves and how to execute them correctly.” The Jags are down 57-0 after losing five of their matches and forfeiting four. Eggett takes a seven point lead in the third period, and wins the match. RCHS trails 57-4. Using the fireman’s takedown, he lifts his opponent over his shoulder then to the mat. Abreu pins his opponent one minute into the first period, the first and only pin of the night. “Mainly I make sure that I’m constantly moving so he can’t get anything off me.” Abreu said. “I just go out there and stick to what I know.” What he knows is the fireman’s carry. It is a move he has practiced, spotlighted and used to his advantage because he is generally shorter than his opponents. RCHS lost 63-16 Thursday, Jan. 17. Team illness was a factor. A third of the team have serious colds that prevented them from conditioning the week leading up

Jordan Cahill ‘09, struggles to keep his head up. Cahill was pinned a minute into the second period. “We did fairly well, but we still need to make the next leap,” Cahill said. Photo by Blake Smith

to their match against Regis and the Heritage Tournament on Saturday. “We haven’t been able to practice and we forgot some of our basic moves,” Abreu said. “When one of us gets sick, the rest of us get sick really easily. We are trying to get well.” Danny Poindexter ’09, struggled to catch his breath after his match. Gary Davis ’10, threw up after his three period match. “We all need to be more mentally prepared. I know I wasn’t,” Davis said. “[Being sick] doesn’t really help me think. I wasn’t focused.” The week leading up to the meet the team switched partners, to practice with different wrestling styles, skills, and moves. “The diversity on our team has helped us with the diversity on other teams,” Ethan Russell ’09, said. “If you wrestle the same kid everyday you are good at wrestling him. Another person might use different takedowns.” The team’s goal is to place second or third at Regionals, but know they have to get healthy first. “We need to get focused at meets on order to wrestle to our ability,” Abreu said. “We have the talent. We just aren’t focused.” Jenna Scheirman

Q&A

Danny Poindexter ‘09

wrestler

rock: Are there any differences between this year and last year? Poindexter: “This year it’s a lot smaller, we only have one senior this year. But all of the kids are a lot more dedicated.” rock: What did you do to prepare for meets? Poindexter: “We wrestle live during practice, so we are one of the better conditioned teams out there.” rock: What’s your emotional training like? Poindexter: “Our coach always teaches us that wrestling is an attitude. He teaches us to have a lot of self conﬁdence and a wining attitude. If you go out on the mat wanting to win, you are going to win.” rock: What’s the strongest part of the team this year? Poindexter: “Probably how close we are. Our team is so small that there is a really close bond between everyone. I guess you could describe it as brotherly, we spend ever weekend together, and every day after school. So we get to know each other a lot.”

Eathan Russell ‘09, Jordan Cahill ‘09, and Jake Eggett ‘09, talk after their matches. “I was mad about how we were wrestling, so I was feeling responsible to go on the mat and get a win,” Eggett said. Photo by Micah McDonald

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boys basketball

the rock 1.25.08

commentary by Aaron Brunhofer

Three quarters not enough Team loses to Regis but learns hard work is truly the key to success

This game day began unlike any so far this year. There was no school and the team had a shoot-around in the morning at 10 a.m. I arrived right around 9:45 a.m. and started to put my shoes and jersey on. It was quiet, only a couple of guys shooting, getting ready for the game. I took out a ball. Dribbled it a few times, then headed for a basket to do form shooting – shots from about two to five feet from the hoop. I did 20 on one side, 20 on the other. Varsity, JV, sophomore, and freshmen players started to shuffle in. Everyone was there by 10 a.m. working on their form, shooting free-throws, getting prepared for the games against Regis Jesuit HS. “This shoot-around is going to be good for us,” I said to Bryan Dorcheus ’08. He nodded his head, “Yes it is.” Well, it couldn’t hurt. The last three games against Mountain Vista, Golden, and Ponderosa our team had shot around 30 percent from the field and 50 percent from the stripe. This was definitely a good idea to get out of bed and shoot. The shoot around ended at 11 a.m. or so and a few of us went to Chipotle for lunch. We had two really good practices the days after the Ponderosa win and we felt prepared. The day went by quickly, and before we knew it, it was time to head back to school to face another opponent who doesn’t give Rock Canyon teams any respect. I got stuck in traffic and arrived at school to find my teammates already sitting in the bleachers, watching the JV game, talking and joking. That’s how we always are: we love to joke around and have fun. But we know when to buckle down and focus on the task at hand. We dressed out in the second quarter of the JV game and then headed out to warm up at the half. Each person with their own way of preparing for the game. We started doing lay-ups. The JV game finished. We began warming up again...this time, more serious and focused. We all went to the sideline with two minutes left before the game. Dorcheus, Justus Bennett ’09, Andy St. Pierre ’08, Ryan Wekenman ’08, and I were the five starters. Our goals this game included getting up and down the floor. We are a much better team when we run and are the aggressors. As a team, we tend to stay around the perimeter, and we knew that to be successful we had to pound the ball inside and get a lot of free throw

attempts. However, the most important thing we always focus on is playing hard and leaving everything on the court. The ref threw the tip and we were off. Regis won the tip. They greatly outsized us – 6’6”, 6’7”, 6’9” against 5’9”, 6’3”, and 6’4”. We were used to it though; we get reminded repeatedly that we’re one of the smallest teams in the state. The first play of the game I blocked a shot and we appeared to start well. However, after seven turnovers and 69 percent shooting from Regis, we were in a big hole. It seemed as though they couldn’t miss. The onslaught ended with the first quarter horn. 32-14. The second quarter went better. We made a little run. We were getting up and down the floor like we wanted to. But midway through the quarter I picked up two cheap fouls on successive plays and went from only two fouls to riding the pine until the third quarter. At halftime the score was 50-30 Regis. I thought we were in for quite the halftime speech from Coach Jim McClurg. He didn’t rip us though. He talked about us having to work harder and that we practiced hard for two days and came out and didn’t play to our potential. We came out of the locker room a little embarrassed by the score. Every one of us knew we weren’t 20 points worse than Regis. Regis played like a good team should, though. They held us on offense to 18 points and scored 20 themselves in the third quarter. We were playing better though. Working harder and moving the ball on offense. I didn’t see the floor until the end of the third, but came in to the game working hard and trying to cut into the deficit. We could never really gain any ground. We’d get a bucket and they’d come right back and scored on us. Up and down, trading baskets; they still had more than a 20 point lead going into the final quarter. In the fourth quarter we beat them 16-13. But it was nowhere near enough to make the game close. Final score, Regis won 83-64. The mood was a bit subdued in the locker room. Everyone was disappointed at our showing. But such is the way of any team sport. You win some, you lose some. “We should have come out focused,” St. Pierre said. “We should have played hard like we did all week in practice. Even though we played better in the second half, that’s not enough to beat a good team like Regis.”

Quoted “Dancing at the games is really fun. We get to show everyone what we’re all about and halftime is the best time of the night.” Brittney Webber ’10, Varsity Poms

“Rock Canyon basketball is just fabulous! It’s just the best! I need some water after our games because they make me so hot!” Felix King ‘08

From top: Andy St. Pierre ‘08, goes up for a layup in the game against Regis Friday, Jan. 18. Varsity lost 83-64. Their record is 5-10. Bryan Dorcheus ‘08, in the game against Regis. Kyle McPherson ‘09, jumps up for a rebound. Photos by Dusty Ellis and Susie Typher

“Cheering for the jags is really exciting. We have so much support for our team and the GBZ really helped to start that at our school.” Lauren Hensen ‘10 compiled by Kayla Kallery

Aaron Carlton ‘09, in the game against Regis Jan. 18. “We didn’t play very well the ﬁrst half, but we played better defense in the second half. We played more aggressive,” Brad Solita ‘08, said. “ We need to improve on playing all four quarters instead of having a lapse at the end of the quarter.” RCHS trailed 50-30 at the half. Photo by Susie Typher

Be sure to support your Varsity Jags tonight at 7 p.m. They will be playing Douglas County at

home

009

girls basketball

the rock 1.25.08

Ranch rolls past

Lady Jags lose but improve from last year’s match-up

The Lady jags huddled together before the start of the game, garnished in white jerseys, black and gold tennis shoes, ankle braces and athletic headbands to keep their sweaty hair from dripping onto their faces. Highlands Ranch got the jump ball, and were already off to a good start. “You have just decided, they are too good for us, we can’t do it,” Coach Seaquist told the varsity girls during half time. “In the last two minutes you have had nine turnovers and they have scored 18 points,” Seaquist said. After the first quarter the score was 31-9, highlands ranch. “I have the worst side cramp ever,” said Maddie Wallingford ’09, as she sat down after asking Seaquist to take her out of the game. The girls’ were exhausted, their crimson faces, their deep breathing, and necessity to engulf water proved exhaustion. The optimism of the crowd and the other players was all that mattered, despite the girls “butterfingers” and sloppy passes. “C’mon white, lets go girls,” yelled a RC fan in the crowd. “Keep it up girls,” Alicia Smith ‘08, said, as she tapped Wallingford’s butt after a time out. There you go,” said Seaquist after Alicia stole the ball. “ Aiiirrrrr balllll,” they crowd chanted as #23 on Highlands ranch flat out missed a shot. At half time the score was 54-16. “Girls, I don’t care if you foul out of the game,” Seaquist said, “you need to

start being aggressive.” Regardless of the fact that the girls were down by 38 points they didn’t let these intimidating Highlands Ranch stars with their blue jerseys, and Nike shocks scare them. Their aggression kicked in. Wallingford scored eight points, and Kathryn Wolthuis ‘08, and Smith both scored three pointers, from the crowd the swift “swoosh” was heard followed by feverish hand clapping and reassuring yells from the crowd saying, “that-a-girl!” and “look-in good lady jags!” The score was 94-34 with about a minute left on the clock. “Keep them under 100,” Seaquist said. Ashley Williams ‘09, scored a three pointer and in the end, the RC girls accomplished their goal of keeping HR under 100 points. The ﬁnal score was 96-37. Although the lady jags lost by 59 points, their optimism and positive attitudes suﬃced. “To be honest, we didn’t play 32 minutes of basketball,” Wallingford, ’09 said. “We went into the game thinking they were going to beat us, we should have had a better attitude but we never gave up.” This year the girls did not loose by as many points as they did last year against Highlands Ranch. “Today at practice we set team and personal goals,” Wallingford said. “ We talked about strengths and weaknesses and how many more reasonable games we can win.” Gabi Johnson

Counter-clockwise from top left: Hannah Kennedy ‘08, dribbles past a defender in the fourth quarter. Photo by Paisley Morrison Kathryn Wolthuis ‘08, and Alisa Smith ‘08, waiting to sub in. Photo by Paisley Morrison Brynn Bradley ‘09, at tip-off. Photo by Kate Jones Wolthuis passes the ball. Photo by Paisley Morrison Varsity final score: 96-37, HR Record: 3-10 JV final score: 46-19, HR Record: 3-10 Frosh. final score: 37-30, RC Record: 6-5

‘It’s definitely a big deal’ Caitlin Hawkins, a junior at Highlands Ranch High School, should have gone to Rock Canyon. She went to Rocky Heights Middle School, and helped lead its girls basketball team to backto-back championships the two years she was there. As a freshman she played for HR’s Junior Varsity, and the past two years for Varsity. “Highlands Ranch was always my home school, and then they built RC and I was like, ‘No, I’m not going to that school,’” Hawkins said. “The main reason why I decided to go to Ranch is because the basketball program there is better.” And a little bit more seasoned. HR’s girls basketball team has won the State Championship a couple times, now. “We did win State, last year and the year before that,” Hawkins reminds playfully. “Our whole school supports us and stands behind us during basketball season. We get a lot of support and a lot of fans to all of our games. It’s definitely a big deal.” After the move from Rocky Heights to HR, Hawkins didn’t looked back. “I don’t want to sound rude or anything, but I’m glad I went to Highlands Ranch. Rock Canyon would have been fine, but basketball isn’t as big of a deal at RC.” Kate Jones

missing jaguars Going for ‘established’

Her team recently went to a national tournament in Phoenix where they placed fourth. The teams they played? All ranked in the top 25 in the nation. “We played the number one team in the nation and we lost by seven,” said Meagan Fulps, junior starter for the Highlands Ranch girls basketball team. Fulps should have gone to Rock Canyon. She went to Rocky Heights MS but made the decision not to go to RC for a few reasons. “The girls basketball program at Highlands Ranch was well established and well respected,” she says. “It was a better ﬁt for me.” Having no regrets about her decision, she has enjoyed being a part of the program at HR. “We’re a winning team,” she says. “We’re ranked 17th in the nation. It’s fun playing for a successful team.” Fulps played JV her freshmen year and then moved up to Varsity her sophomore year where the girls team went on to win back to back 5A State Championships. As of now, college ball is her goal. “I want to play basketball in college and the program at Highlands Ranch would give me a better opportunity to get exposure to college coaches.” Aaron Brunhofer

Competitive program Freshman Katelyn McDaniel grew up in the gym. Since second grade she’s played on club teams, feeder teams, and forged friendships with basketball players from other schools. Although she considered both RCHS and HRHS, she decided HRHS would better prepare her for her future plans. “I want to go to a Division I school and if I can, get a scholarship,” McDaniel said. “I dream of playing in the WNBA.” She knew that playing on a nationally ranked team would help her get recognized by college coaches. “It is good to play at a higher, more competitive level,” McDaniel said. “The coaches are really skilled. We know they’ll teach us skills we need to know for college or even pro basketball.” McDaniel plays on the JV team. In addition to the 12 hours a week she practices for high school, she meets with a personal coach on Sundays. “He helps me with individual skills. I’m a post so he helps me with ball handling,” McDaniel said. McDaniel feels she has improved her dribbling, rebounding, and shooting during the high school season. “I’m really happy I chose to come to HRHS,” McDaniel said. “If I went to RC I wouldn’t have met new friends or experienced the competitive level at HRHS.” Jenna Scheirman

Photos by Max Rowe

10 0

swimming

the rock

1.25.08

Quoted Taylor Curado ‘09: “I like to listen to music before a race, rap or techno. I have to stay calm, have self confidence, and think ‘I can do well.’ It helps me tremendously.” Taran Thompson ’08: “I like high school swimming. I swim with people I like and we represent the school. It would be fun if more people came, but I think it’s a sport a lot of people don’t get. I think it’s a sport people could get into as a spectator if they tried.” Mattie Nobles ’09: “To get ready I stand away from the block, get my blood flowing. I stretch out on the block, once I finally get on the block I clap four times. I’ve done it for years, it’s that last little thing, and I think it helps me. It is a little superstition. In the water I’m focused in. I can’t hear anyone. I’m completely in my own head. Water is captivating like that.” Kaitlin Zindel ’10: “When I’m up on the block I’m thinking, ‘please don’t mess up.’ Turns are hard for me so I’m thinking about those.” Sarah Classen ‘09: “I swam the 200 IM for the first time this season. I had swum it before, but it was nice to revisit it. Well knowing that it was fairly close got us more pumped up for our races.”

An added reach RCHS pulls oﬀ close win From behind the coaches table at the Ponderosa swim meet Jan. 18, with stop watch ready, Coach Ruthie Milberg yells to each of her swimmers about to race. “Go! Come on girls lets go!” She cheers glancing to the stop watch. From behind the block the swimmers jump and shake out their limbs. In an instant the screams from both sides of the pool pierce the air. It’s the JV 200 free and Rock Canyon is in third. Looking around the Parker Rec. Center pool there is a buzz of activity, the amount of food that is circulating around the swimmers is enormous. Beyond the obvious excitement several girls bend over in chairs, head between their hands, focusing, or quietly looking out at the lanes ahead. “When I’m in the water I try to think how fast I should be going and how fast they are going.” Kaitlin Zindel ’10, said. “Every time I come up for air, I hear ‘go faster’ or ‘put your back into it,’ it makes me stop thinking about how nervous I am, and it gets me where I need to be.” There is a break in the swimming action and diving takes to the pool. Jenna Scheirman ’08, was the only diver representing Rock Canyon and placed ﬁrst overall.

When swimming resumed, some girls dove right in, while others took their time wading into the water, clenching their hands to their chest to keep warm. 5:15 p.m., Ponderosa 39 Rock canyon 38, Milberg, with stop watch in hand, times swimmers 50 meter speeds, “36 nice, very nice,” Milberg said, and now she’s on to the next swimmer, “Perfect, woo!” she says with exuberance. 5:50 p.m. “You ready?” Londyn Clawson ‘09, said to Taylor Curado ‘09, “We do this before every race.” As they dance and jump up and down everyone’s attention is to them as they scream the lyrics. “Oh man.” Taylor exclaimed as she leans over, “cramp”. Suddenly the air becomes more intense as everyone watches the last stretch of the 100 breaststroke. It seems like no one in the area has taken a breath, in an instant Meghan Long ‘10, reaches the wall ﬁrst and there is an overwhelming outburst of air as everyone exhales in relief. 6:22 p.m.- “This is close, we may lose,” Long said, nervously looking to the people around her. “You’re just so nervous on the block, you try to block everything out.” Tori Sheehan

Clockwise from top: Kirsten Milberg ‘09, swims the 500 free in the meet against Ponderosa, Jan. 18. Varsity won 103-82 and their record is 7-1. JV tied 85-85. Taylor Curado ‘09, swims the 200 IM. She has qualiﬁed for State in the 200 IM, 50 free, 100 free, 100 back and is defending State champion in the 100 butterﬂy. Photos by Max Rowe

From left: Emily Tholen ‘09, swims the 500 free. “I’m aiming to get a five minute time in the 500 freestyle, because 5:30 is an A-league time,” Tholen said. “I haven’t gotten it yet this year. My best time is a 6:38, but I’ll be practicing a lot this summer.” Photo by Kristen Scheirman Tori Howard ‘11, swims the 100 fly at the meet against Ponderosa Jan. 18. “I love the coaches and people on the team,” Howard said. “The upperclassmen are nice, welcoming, and cheer us on when we’re nervous.” Howard has taken six seconds off her 100 fly time this season. “Coach Nicole [Vanderpoel] gave me a lot of simple pointers like to get my head down before my arms. It keeps my hips up so I don’t drag my legs,” she said. Howard qualified for B League in 100 fly and 200 IM. Photo by Max Rowe

011

snow sports

the rock 1.25.08

warning • warning • warning • warning •warning • warning How it feels to

Avalanche danger in Colorado is high. Since Jan. 1, two avalanche deaths have occurred in Vail, and 23 total in the USA. If you are entering avalanche territory, don’t leave home without these essentials.

Helmet: $100-300

What could be more obvious? If you are caught in a slide, there is a high likelihood of getting dragged over rocks, trees, or branches, or even a ski coming back and hitting you in the head. A helmet will save you from suffering serious brain damage. Enough said.

Powder Chords: $20-25

Backpack: $50-100

Something has to carry all this important gear. A nice backpack will safely and comfortably hold all of your avalanche gear. Waist and chest straps are nice to have, so you bag will stay snug on you and won’t bounce around while you are skiing.

These nifty devices are really only for skiers. You attach them to your ski break and your boot, so if you crash and burn, a 12 foot chord keeps you and your skis attached saving you what could turn into hours looking for your skis.

Avalanche Shovel: $50-80

A collapsible avalanche shovel is light weight and easy to carry around. Most backpacks have a space on the outside to carry the shaft, and you can store the blade on the inside. Metal blades are the best, because they can cut through the hardest layers of snow pack. The shovel is mostly used in case you need to dig a friend out, but you could also build a nice shelter for the night with it.

First Aid Kit

Make your own! You can buy ﬁrst aid kits, but you can easily make your own for much cheaper. You should include: medical tape, aspirin, moleskin, these are things to help you get through the day. Also include, some extra food, water, a knife an extra layer, and some matches or a lighter in case you get into serious trouble. That would be the bare minimum to include in your ﬁrst aid kit.

Avalanche Probe: $50-70

This is a tool that will help you avoid avalanches all together if used correctly. It measures snow pack depth, so you can check for any snow wells, holes, or hidden crevices in the snow. It is also used to pin point the location of an avalanche victim who is buried. Lots of time can be lost by digging near where your beacon brought you, but not in the exact spot. Use the probe to eliminate that.

Avalanche Beacon: $300-400

This could be the single most important piece of equipment you bring with you. You and your partner should each have one. If one of you gets buried, your partners beacon will guide them to you using lights and beeps. This saves hours of time ﬁnding some one buried in the snow, and is a deﬁnite life saver.

Powdery passion Brothers bond skiing and snowboarding together

Chris Scanlan ‘09, catches air off a jump. Photo courtesy of Jon Scanlan

Two Monsters was all Sean Scanlan, ‘11, needed before attempting his first back flip while skiing in Copper last year. “I was scared,” Sean said. “I had trained all summer and put a lot of work into it, I drank two Monsters and I just did it.” Sean ended up landing it and confidently does back flips more often when he skis. Sean, along with his older brother, Chris Scanlan ‘09, who snowboards, skip school at least one day a week to ski and snowboard Sean competes at least 10 times a year. Last year, he won a state wide competition in Durango which included moguls and jumps. “I think he could become a pro someday if he really works hard,” Chris said. Sean disagrees with Chris and is pessimistic towards the possibility of becoming a professional skier. Chris doesn’t compete but continually cheers on Sean when he competes. The two ride moguls, terrain parks, and bowls when Sean is not competing. “I like going up skiing with Chris so I don’t have to sit with strangers on the lifts and we can [make fun of ] gapers,” Sean said. Gapers are skiers who pizza down the mountain, wear neon one pieces, and have a gap between their helmet and

goggles. A couple weekends ago, the brothers went up to Steamboat where they experienced one of their most memorable skiing adventures ever. “It was nipple deep powder,” Sean said. “At the top of the mountain, the trees were pure white, no brown was showing. It was like the ‘Chronicles of Narnia.’ ” “There were cliffs everywhere, Chris said. “ When I jumped off them, I was in powder up to my neck, it was awesome.” During the summer Sean and Chris miss going up to the mountains every week. However about three or four times during the summer they ride water ramps in Steamboat. Water ramps are 500 feet. dirt hills graded and covered with plastic bristles. “You ride down it and go off jumps into lakes, without risking any injuries, it’s sweet,” Chris said. Sean and Chris’ father, Jon Scanlan occasionally goes up skiing with the two brothers and knows their incredible skills; most importantly, he understands their passion for skiing and snowboarding. “I am most proud of their dedication,” Jon said. “ They have fun doing it, and that’s what its all about.” Gabi Johnson

Checking the snow report can be like a religious experience. As you may or may not know, I’m addicted to skiing. And lucky enough for me, I’m able to ski pretty much every weekend. So when I wake up Saturday morning, I ﬂip on channel nine and wait for Vail’s snow report to scroll across the screen. Yes, yes, YES! Vail gets dumped with 13 new inches of snow overnight, I knew it would be good, but this good? Praise the snow gods. (Skiers can be very religious about their prayers and praises to the snow gods, I prefer a more internal experience, but others can be very outwardly about it, like my dad, who loves to come charging into my room to tell me the news.) So while my family straps on their ski boots, I quietly slip on my shoes. I’m not skiing today. I’m heading out to work.

Max Rowe

Avalanche approaching

Teach a ski lesson

That’s the worst part about being a ski instructor, giving up one of my two days a week to share my passion with others, instead of myself. After that it’s great. I teach three to six year old kids how to make a pizza. I teach them how to be safe skiers, how to get on the chairlift, put their skis on, keep their gloves on, how to get up when they fall, and many other mechanical things. But most importantly, I teach them how to love the sport. And when I have a kid tell me, “I love skiing!” pat yourself on the back, because I got the job done. Can it be hard? You bet. It’s like working at a daycare and forcing kids to learn one of the hardest hobbies/sports to learn. Can it be scary? You bet. Think about what it could mean if you lose a kid on mountain. Is it hard work? You bet. Urging kids to push their physical limits means you will be picking them up a lot. Is it rewarding? You bet. I love telling parents that their kid is moving up to the next level because they learned now to make turns today. Teaching little kids isn’t something that everyone enjoys. Heck, being around little kids is something that not everyone enjoys, but I like it. I just have fun with them. If you can keep them entertained, the job is a lot easier. Just put yourself in their skis. They want people to talk the them. They like telling you about their pets, and their parents, and brothers, and their school. And sometimes they have interesting things to say. It’s not like they are profound or anything, but they can be pretty amusing. There are a pair of twins who go to ski school on Saturdays that I see every week. They are awesome, a boy, Max, and a girl, Madi. We clicked right oﬀ the bat since me and the boy have the same name. They thought it was amazing. I just had a blast making these kids laugh and watching them have fun. When they’re dad came to pick them up they gave me big hugs on my legs and said they didn’t want to leave. I’m really glad I decided to take this job this year. It can get pretty crazy during the holidays (I had 11 kids in a group once, half of them spoke Spanish only) but it has been a rewarding experience thus far. It’s nice to be able to say that I’m actually doing something with my skiing, rather than aspire to dreams I could never meet. I mean sure, it’s only four year olds, but that’s just where it starts. After many more years of teaching, I’ll be able to teach higher levels and just have fun on the mountain all day. I can make money doing something I love. What more can you ask from life than that?

12 0

the rock 01.25.08

Left: Tyler Zabor ‘09, and his father, Jeff, after a softball game this past summer. Tyler’s youth group, Uturn, has a father-son softball team and he and his father participated. Below: Uturn traveled to Camp Horncreek this past summer for a four day trip. This was Tyler’s ﬁrst summer camp with this youth group. They did their morning devotions here.

More information... AA & other support groups Alcoholism Statistics

The odds of an alcoholic or addict quitting drinking “on their own” without professional help or regular recovery meetings is

Guided by God

Learning to put faith and friends ﬁrst

going to Uturn for about two and a half years. “The worship band is awesome,” Zabor said. “It is made up of students and I just really like the environment. I was attending youth group before this but I was drifting further and further away… The people in Uturn just stick in your heart. They are really easy to relate to.” Youth group has supported Zabor in a way nothing else could. Zabor constantly uses it as support to keep his relationship with God strong so he can be the kind of person he wants to be. “I feel closer to God just being at [youth group,]” Zabor said. “Over the last few years, I’ve gotten pretty in touch with God and I’ve gotten a whole understanding of what Christianity is all about. I got a more mature view of things in high school and got in-depth with my faith. Uturn took me down a positive road in life and set in store good morals to have.” Zabor’s girlfriend also supports him as he builds up and maintains his relationship with God. They do devotion together every day. Often, they pray together. They put Jesus ﬁrst in their relationship. Zabor and Sill believe this may be one of the reasons they have been together for over two years. “I think [religion] is a huge part of our relationship,” Sill said. “I think it’s easier because it helps us emotionally connect because it’s something we share other than interests. It’s something we’re passionate about. We’re moving toward a goal…showing other people what it’s like to be a Christian.” Zabor was baptized last summer. He felt it was the next step to take in his relationship with Jesus. He was baptized as an infant but he wanted to make the decision to take that step. He hopes to keep his relationship with Jesus strong throughout his life. “I just want to be a Christian role model and a friend,” Zabor said. “The saying, ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ I want to apply that to all the situations I’m in and make the right choices. [My religion] has made me the person I am now. I think it’s just the person I am completely. My [relationship with God] is my number one priority in life. Kristen Scheirman

• Professionals estimate that 40% of the population will have an addiction problem at some point in their life (alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc). • Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable death in this country 20% of suicide victims are alcoholic. • It is estimated that more than 3,000,000 teens in the United States today between the ages of 14-17 are problem drinkers. • According to recent research, 62% of high school seniors report that they have been drunk recently

From http://addiction.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Alcoholism_Statistics

The 12 Suggested Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 1.

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Made a list of all persons we had

4. 5.

6. 7. 8.

harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

10.

11.

12.

Other Support Groups AA Meeting: Southside Sobriety When: Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. Where: St. Andrew United Methodist Church 3350 White Bay Dr. Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Youth Group: Uturn When: Friday, 7:00 p.m. Where: Timber Trail Elementary 690 W. Castle Pines Pkwy. Castle Rock, CO 80108

Youth Group: Greenwood Community Church When: Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. Where: Greenwood Community Church 5600 E Belleview Ave Greenwood Village, CO 80111

For a variety of counselors in your area, visit... www.therapists.psychologytoday.com/ beliefnet/state/CO/Castle+Rock.html

the rock 01.25.08

Struggling Q&A toward sobriety

Deb Clayton

AA District 30 Public Information Chair

Overcoming alcoholism through anonymity

1 in 50,000 M

very time Tyler Zabor ’09, goes to summer camp with his youth group, Uturn, the mountains engulf him. The trees surround him. Nature calms him. And peace washes over him. He feels God’s presence so strongly he gets a high. He gets a high off of God. “You are in a shock when you are back in the real world,” Zabor said. “You want to be back up there. You feel closer to God because the stresses of everyday life [are gone] and you have more time to think. You are not in your normal setting in those retreats. You are in the presence of God.” Zabor has strongly felt the presence of God ever since he joined Uturn, a youth group that meets on Friday nights at Timber Trail Elementary School. Zabor feels youth group has been a solid place for him to go on Friday nights. A place where he can see friends and be even closer to God than he usually is. “Youth group is like a support group,” Zabor said. “I’ve definitely had problems and faith and prayer helped me through. It gives you a good sense of hope when people are there to pray with you so eagerly.” When Zabor first went to Uturn the summer before his freshman year, he was in need of support. He went through what he calls a depressive state and needed something to turn to. Uturn found him. “I don’t even know how to describe it,” Zabor said. “I wasn’t really depressed but it was a hard summer. I was looking for something new in my life. A new step. I was just trying to find my place with my friends and figuring out what kind of person I was and what my morals were before high school.” Zabor’s friend, Austin Fisher ‘09, invited him to Uturn one summer night. Zabor still remembers it. The youth pastor came up to give him a high five and everyone was really welcoming. He even met his girlfriend [Brittany Sill ‘08] of over two years there. Zabor felt his connection with God growing stronger. Once the school year started, he went back. He has now been

013

two kinds of support

ore than 30 people crowd together in a small room at the rear of a dated church. They sit in cold, hard, gray folding chairs that scrape and scuff the linoleum floor. The only window in the room shows the dimly lit parking lot and the dark, uncertain, cloudy sky before the sun begins to rise. It is 6:30 a.m., and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings just like this one are beginning throughout the country, as recovering alcoholics get a jump-start on their morning by gathering together and working to solve a common problem. “When I come in here and I start learning, I can go into my day being reminded that [alcohol] has become a factor in my life, and it has become a very negative factor and it has absolute control over me,” Tom said during his turn to speak. Tom regularly attends meetings. “[AA] helps me get through the day in a much more positive, happy, peaceful, less angry state of mind.” He pauses, and his eyes search the reassuring faces in the room. “It doesn’t work every single day, it doesn’t work all the time, but it works a whole lot more than it used to.” Sara, another AA attendee, sums up her motivation for coming to AA meetings on a daily basis a little differently: “I drank every day, so why shouldn’t I come to AA every day?” The members of AA talk in turn, and everyone listens intently with love and tolerance. “There is no judgment in this room,” says Sara in a wholly perspective tone, “only love and tolerance.” They talk about why they come to AA, and why it works for them. They talk about alcohol, and how it controlled their lives. They talk about their families, their God, and about their own personal journeys to recovery. Not every single person talks, but every single person listens. “My name is Ellen, and I am an alcoholic.” “Hello, Ellen,” everyone replied.hjfdsKLES Then Ellen told her story. “Before I began coming to these meetings, I wrote to myself in my journal: ‘Whatever you accomplish, face your alcoholism.’ It was a word that I would never speak from my lips. It was either in writing or in my head. I knew if I said it, that would be the greatest admission I had ever made. But I was so afraid to make that admission. I had a fear that kept me out of these meetings; kept me away from recovery.

“Then I walked through these doors and I sat down and I started to listen, and then I really got scared. I had a fear of not measuring up; I had a fear of not being able to do this. I came in here and I found out … that I didn’t know squat; that all my fears had been based on an experience of believing what I thought, and my thoughts were skewed.” She paused just for a moment, and, slowly enunciating each syllable, continued, “Because I was an alcoholic. I don’t know why, and I don’t have to know why. But I do know the what of it, and that what of it is that I had to say it from my lips, and I had to believe it. “I’ve realized that the stuff I took [as an alcoholic] may never be replaced. But I do know today that the faith I can bring back by helping other people is a small measure of repayment. Just small, but perhaps enough.” Silence engulfs the room. “That’s all I have to say.” “Thanks, Ellen,” everyone said. There were 15 minutes left in the meeting, and the sun could just be seen rising through the single window. The leader offered up the remaining time to any newcomers to introduce themselves. “My name is Sam and I’m an alcoholic.” “Hi, Sam.” “I just wanted to share that I’ve been going to the same meeting for a few years, and I wanted to try out some different meetings,” he said. “I’m just really grateful that there is a group of people that I can go to that I don’t even know, but I know. I haven’t met probably anybody in this room but I feel like I know everybody in here, and that’s a blessing. “If I’m not sober, I have zero chance of being a good father, I have zero chance of being a good husband, I have zero chance of holding down a job… I have zero chance of doing anything in my life. Zero. My experiences have proven to me that if I don’t continue to do the things that I was taught in Alcoholics Anonymous, I have zero chance to live a decent life. And I’m just really thankful to be here today.” “Thanks, Sam.” At the meeting’s conclusion, one by one the members filtered out into the fragile light, ready to begin another day. The sun could barely be seen peeking through the gray clouds. “When I accept myself for who I am,” Tom said as he stepped outside into the dimly–lit dawn, “I am at peace.” Kate Jones

rock: What advice would you give to high school students who have problems with alcohol or have family members who are alcoholics? Clayton: I would direct family members to AA, and students to a school counselor, doctors, and also to AA. There are several AA groups just for the youth; not everybody there is 60 years old. rock: Why is it important that those students find help? Alcoholism is a progressive disease; it doesn’t get better, it just gets worse over time. You don’t have to be an ‘in the gutter’ ruined life to get help from AA. rock: What if students are too embarrassed? Clayton: I think that everyone is too embarrassed to attend their first meeting. I started drinking when I was 14, a sophomore in high school, and I was 36 when I attended my first AA meeting. Any alcoholic asks himself or herself what they are doing there [the first time.] rock: How will the environment of AA help them? Clayton: AA is based on a program of recovery, and basically the more experienced people help the people who are new to AA through the 12 Steps. It’s not meant to be a classroom; it is a gathering of people who work together to solve a common problem. rock: Could you explain the 12-Step Program? Clayton: It is a blueprint for recovery and for living. It begins with the person looking at their relationship with alcohol and the people it affects, making that connection between alcohol and unmanageability. AA does not demand that you be spiritual, though many people become spiritual through the process. The only requirement of AA is the desire to stop drinking. rock: What motivated you to get involved in AA? Clayton: I was dying from drinking. I was 36 years old and I was dying from drinking. I had tried everything else. I had been drinking since I was 14 year old, and at first it was really fun, but then it got horrible, and when it was horrible, it was really horrible. Now I have been sober for 16 years, and this program of recovery has kept me from drinking and provided me with a life that I never would have expected or ever could have dreamed of. Why wouldn’t you want to keep that up? Compiled by Kate Jones

Q&A

Anonymous Student

Compiled by Susie Typher

AA Attendee

This senior at RCHS has struggled with drinking for years, but has found support through AA meetings. He requested anonymity.

Art by Susie Typher

rock: What was your alcohol problem like? Student: I started drinking when I was in 7th grade, I was thirteen. I would drink way to much every chance I got, and I would eventually pass out. I didn’t stop drinking really until this last year. I drank for about four years. rock: When did you know you had a problem? Student: I knew I had a problem when I woke up in hand-cuffs. It was so disappointing. I was sad and pissed off. There were a lot of emotions there. rock: What did you do to fix your problem? Student: I went to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. It was really weird sitting in a room of fifty year olds. But it turned out to be fantastic. It was the best thing to ever happen to me. rock: Who was the most influential person in your life at the time of your problem? Student: The most influential people in my life were probably my dad’s sponsor and my sponsor. They were just brutally honest with me, and that was what helped me get better. rock: What would be your advice to students with the same problem? Student: They need to figure it out. Once they are willing to get help, they should. But no one should force help on someone who doesn’t want that help, because they aren’t going to be open to it unless they are ready. rock: Does this alcohol problem run in your family? Student: Yes, it runs in the males in my family. It definitely made it easier to get sober because they understood a lot better than people who haven’t gone through the same thing. My dad, who had the same problem, understood a lot better than my mom. She didn’t understand at all.

Compiled by Micah McDonald

14 0

profiles

the rock 1.25.08

Left: Dance and Fitness Teacher, Mark Clemmons, does a group push-up with April Hinkley ‘10, (left), Tarran Tate ‘10, (center) and Marna Swakia ‘10 (right). Photo by Alyssa Davanzo Below: Lauren Packer ‘10, works out her abs in Dance and Fitness by holding her legs above the ground and moving them from one side to the other simultaneously. “Mr. Clemmons is really enthusiastic, fun and entertaining,” Packer said. “He has a lot of creative projects, so we don’t get bored doing the same thing. [Clemmons] lets us input what we’re going to learn and do that day.” Photo by Sarah Guillen

From cop to teacher Trading one dream for another

Dance and Fitness and Healthy Decisions teacher, Mark Clemmons, is usually somewhere near the RC ﬁtness department; teaching a class how to lift weights, joking around with his students, and using his happy go lucky personality to make his classes enjoyable. He never thought he would become a teacher. Never thought he would throw his longtime plans of being a police ofﬁcer away. Never thought he would move from Illinois to Colorado on a whim. But one day, he fell in love. He fell in love with teaching. He had just graduated from college and needed some temporary work while he tested out for police departments so he decided to do some substitute teaching. He felt anxious as he walked into the high school classroom. It had been years since he had been in high school. Four years since he had opened a physics textbook. He was supposed to be teaching physics, a subject he stongly dislikes. “I was intimidated to no end,” said

Clemmons. “There were students in there who knew more about Physics than I did. I took one Physics class in college.” But at the end of the day, Clemmons realized the job was enjoyable. He loved interacting with the kids, trying to help them out, and teaching them. “After that, I thought ‘Why didn’t I go to college to be a teacher?” Said Clemmons. Three months later, he and his wife, Sarah moved to Colorado and he had the opportunity to switch careers. “[My wife] was tired of living in Illinois,” said Clemmons. “She had some relatives from Limon and she liked Colorado. I’d only been to Colorado twice before that and I was like ‘Let’s go’ and we packed up and moved out here. I decided to go to [Metro] and get certiﬁed to teach.” Clemmons feels he made the right career choice. Before, he wanted to be a Chicago cop. Neither his wife nor his mother was thrilled about the possible danger involved in the job.

“ I love physical activity, I love working out and I love sports,” said Clemmons. “I think long term, this job is a better choice for me.” Clemmons was teacher Tom Lynch’s student teacher last semester. He applied for the Dance and Fitness and Healthy Decisions positions at the end of last semester because he wanted to stay at RC and he got the job. There was an opening because Taryn Arvold, former RC teacher, moved. Clemmons never planned on teaching, but now teaching is his life. “I started looking back at teachers who kind of played a role in [what I do,]” said Clemmons. “[I want] to do that and I think I can here. The kids are good. They show a lot of respect. That makes it a lot easier as a teacher because they’ll listen and they want to learn and they’re eager to learn...I just like working with kids.” Kristen Scheirman

Maggie Brister

Ain’t no Southerner

Obligated by choice

An out-of-the-box teacher packs her bags to follow her husband and continue a diﬀerent life in Santa Fe

out the long flight. Students ordering in Spanish would Charlotte Meade, former Spanish teacher, left RC afsometimes not realize what they ordered-expanding the ter the school year in the summer of ’07 to live with her experience of the culture and their stomachs. new husband who had moved to Santa Fe on a promoShe was the teacher that co-organized a trip to Spain tion. Her father passed away a few weeks before school and France for volunteer foreign language speaking got out. Meade stayed in Colorado to help her family students to learn the reason why we go to class- to open out, something some of her students didn’t realize. “I decided to stay in Denver for another year because the eyes of her students teaching them there is a whole my Dad was not well and I didn’t want him to be alone,” other world outside the walls of RC. The reason Meade was a teacher Meade said. for RC didn’t cross the minds of most Visiting her husband of her students. Meade was never in New Mexico during the school year, proved to be very closed to her students about what was different than living there. going on with her family or her plans Meade was the out of the to move, however still students were ordinary teacher who would surprised and disappointed when she help Spanish students learn didn’t return the following year. outside of the box, insist they Meade lived in Colorado her try something new and help whole life; she was raised in Denver them understand the reason to and got married to her husband Justin Apt in Colorado with her family and go to class. close friends. (Although Meade got Meade would assign her classes to bring in trash bags married, she kept her last name and didn’t ask her students to call her by full of strange and random her new name.) things from around the house “Six months after Justin and I got to make an artistic project married, he took a job offer in Santa helping her students underCharolette Meade Fe, [New Mexico],” Meade said. “We stand learning in a different way knew we would move at some point but the offer came by making posters, relating the content of the chapters quicker than we imagined.” to real life objects and looking at the language in a difAfter officially moving into her home in Santa Fe ferent light. with Apt, Meade has been discovering positive aspects of Meade was the teacher that would (for an extra Santa Fe. Meade has also been able to keep up with the credit assignment) meet her students at a local Spanish hobbies she enjoys. restaurant ‘Noa Noa,’ to try the flavors of Mexico with-

“I still have Mariah, my horse, and she is doing very well down here. I have been riding a lot in Santa Fe,” Meade said. “Because I have more time to myself this year and not as many responsibilities, I have been getting involved again with some of my hobbies, such as riding and reading.” Meade quickly realized what Santa Fe was really like. “It (Santa Fe) is a tourist town, which means that prices everywhere are greatly inﬂated,” Meade said. “In Santa Fe I really enjoy the restaurants and the Native American spirit of the city, the history here is really cool. Other than that, I don’t really enjoy that much and I am ready to roll out of here.” Meade and her husband plan to move wherever Apt’s job takes them; Meade would enjoy a warmer climate, she is hoping for Arizona or California. Meade has moved on, but not with out personal struggles. “I miss RC more than words can say. I think that leaving the school was one of the most heartbreaking aspects of moving,” Meade said. For Meade teaching never left the picture. “I am working at the Santa Fe Waldorf School. I am the Spanish teacher,” said Meade. “It is a much diﬀerent school from RC; there are only 50 students in the high school.” Although the woman on the move has been gone from RC for almost a year now, her students will always take the experiences that only her students could understand and appreciate. Megan McNally

Thousands of miles separate Maggie Brister ’09, from her last home in Mississippi, and the thing she misses the most: sweet tea. “I’m the least ‘Mississippi girl’ that you’ll meet,” said Brister. “I don’t like BBQ or country music.” Moving to a new school your junior year in high school is a tough change, but Brister is adjusting well. She plans to try out for the next play and for girl’s lacrosse this spring. “I was in ﬁve plays last year, both at school and in a community theatre,” said Brister. “Being a part of plays is my favorite thing, but I do want to try out for lacrosse, because they never even offered it in Mississippi.” She is still ﬁnding the weather hard to adjust to though. “The cold,” said Brister. “It is really, really cold here!” Dusty Ellis

015

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the rock 01.25.08

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16 0

your health: cervical cancer

the rock

1.25.08

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, so the rock went in-depth on this disease

The worst surprise RC student may not be ‘too young for cervical cancer’

“

ONE MORE

Graphic by Blake Smith

Q&A

Joan F. Girard

A shot at immunity

Students share their experiences about getting the Gardasil Vaccination “When I went in for a doctor’s check-up, they recommended to my parents and I that I get the HPV shot. So between my parents and me, we decided that I should get it because it is safe and because of my brother, who got brain cancer when he was seven. The shot was really scary because the amount of ﬂuid in the shot is a lot more than your average ﬂu shot.”

OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner rock: What is the difference between cervical cancer and Human Papillomavirus? Girard: HPV is a virus that is linked to, or can cause cervical cancer. So, HPV is identifiable and associated with the development of cervical cancer, which is a disease. rock: What is a loop electrosurgical excision procedure, or LEEP, and how serious of a procedure is it? Girard: A LEEP removes abnormal cancer cells, but it’s not a treatment for cervical cancer. It is an office procedure done under local anaesthesia, which is low risk if a qualified doctor is performing it. We try not to be too aggressive with young people because they’re precancerous cells usually go into remission. We’re surveillant but conservative.

It was a typical day. A typical annual Pap Test. good health practices. Stress and improper diet lead A student and her mom pushed through the heavy to reproduction of the cancer cells. There are some metal doors into the blinding, fluorescent waiting room. preventatives to improve the cell growth condition, like When the student’s name was called, she went into the general good eating habits such as a heavy concentration testing room. It was just a precaution, meant to find cell of green vegetables. changes in the cervix. Her mother tightly squeezed her “Delaying sexual activity or safe sex helps prevent hand, as they both waited for the uncomfortable, necescervical cancer,”OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner Joan F. Gisary check-up to pass. rard said. “The younger a woman is the greater the risk The doctor finally returned with results showing that because there’s a greater chance that she’ll have multiple the student had abnormal cervical cells. partners. The immaturity of [young people’s] cervical Eight months ago, a RCHS student, who wishes to cells also makes them more susceptible.” remain anonymous, found out that she had mild dyspla“Mine is almost gone,” the student said. “[Getting cured] really depends on the strength of your body’s sia, or precancerous cervical cells. immune system.” Abnormal cells is most commonly caused by Human Her precancerous cells have been destroyed tempoPapillomavirus (HPV) in women who are sexually active. According to the Centers for Disease rarily, however, there is no guarantee that Control and Prevention, 50 percent of sexuthey will not reproduce again. The virus can resurface. The follow up Pap Tests are ally active people catch HPV. mandatory to constantly monitor the cell However, in this student’s case, varying change in the cervix. hormone levels made her cervical cells repro“I was worried about her future,” the duce too quickly, resulting in mutated cells. Waiting for your results is mother said. “I wondered if she was ever “I freaked out when the doctor told me really stressful. The fear going to be able to get pregnant. This because the cervix is something that has to that [the doctors] are going situation has affected me because I fear stay in your body,” the student said. “I was to tell you bad news is for her, if [the cancer] becomes something afraid that I was going to die if they couldn’t indescribable. more than it is.” treat it. I was shocked because I kept thinkAnonymous student with “It’s definitely a pain to have abnormal ing that I was too young [to have cancer].” cervical cancer cells,” the student said. “You never know “It was very scary and frightening,” the [the results] of your next Pap Test, so you student’s mother said. “But we had a good never know what’s going to happen.” doctor who explained everything to us, she let us know “You basically hope that [the procedure] worked and that there was a slim percent that it could get worse.” This RCHS student now has to have a Pap Test every that you won’t have to be stuck with [precancerous cells] the rest of your life,” she said. “You hope that this is the three months. She also had to have cryotherapy, which last treatment every time you go in.” freezes the first layer of your cervix off to eliminate abThe student also has a close friend with cervical normal cells, as well as a biopsy (a small sample of tissue cancer who she gets support from. is removed from the cervix. “I feel like most people don’t really understand my “It was extremely painful and uncomfortable,” the condition, but she’s easy to talk to because she knows student said. “I passed out and threw up after the proceeverything I’m going through,” RCHS student said. “I dure. I bled a lot as well.” want people to understand that my condition isn’t an Fortunately, this student doesn’t have any physical STD [a sexually transmitted disease], but it’s still very symptoms. serious.” “I don’t think about [having cervical cancer] until “This experience has changed my life,” she said. “It’s I have to go in for a treatment,” the student said. “But helped me realize that you never know when something waiting for the results is really stressful. The fear that bad can happen to you. It’s made me really value my they’re going to tell you bad news is indescribable.” health a lot more, it changed the way I think. I learned Doctors will generally perform cryotherapy if the that you should take everyday like its your last.” cells are classified in the third and fourth stages. SubAlyssa Davanzo sequent to the procedure, it is important to maintain

Emily Rhodes ‘09 “My mom wanted me to get the shot to be safe from cervical cancer. I highly suggest getting the shot so that girls can be safe. The shot hurts a lot and it makes your arm really numb.”

rock: How can cervical cancer affect a teenager’s future? Girard: Cancer left undetected can rob you of your life, or in this case your fratility. rock: How effective do you think the Gardasil Vaccine is? Girard: Gardasil is only effective against four strains of HPV, two of the most deadly and two of the most common. However, there are 13 high risk strains. Gardasil doesn’t change the patterns [and procedures] women need to stay safe.

Emily Wagner ‘09 “My grand mother had breast cancer twice and my mother had done some research on it so she thought it would be a good idea for my sister who is 13 and I to get the shot. I thought that the shot was a good idea because it can’t prevent all cancer but if I can protect myself from one type then why not get it.”

rock: Would you recommend that every teenage girl should get the Gardasil Vaccine? Girard: I would never say every girl for health reasons. It’s recommended for women from the ages of 9 to 26. It’s an important vaccine and should be considered as part of adolescent health. Alyssa Davanzo

Kelsie Boyle ‘09

Compiled by Blake Smith

What is Gardasil? •Gardasil protects you from four of the 14 high risk strains of HPV (Types: 6, 11, 16 and 18) •Gardasil does not treat HPV •This vaccine doesn’t substitute for routine cervical cancer screening. •It doesn’t protect you from HPV types that you may have already been exposed to. •Gardasil is a three dose injection; the second one is given two months later, and the third one is given six months after the ﬁst dose. •Gardasil can still beneﬁt you if you already have HPV, since it will still protect you from other strands. •Some side effects are: pain, swelling, itching, fever, nausea, and dizziness Compiled by Alyssa Davanzo

Cervical Cancer: Symptoms and Solutions • Symptoms: Cervical pre-cancers and early cancers usually show no symptoms or signs. A woman usually develops symptoms when the cancer has become invasive and attacks nearby tissue. When this happens, the most common symptom is abnormal vaginal bleeding. • Early Detection: Cervical cancer can usually be found early by having regular Pap tests. Women should have regular checkups, including a pelvic exam and a Pap test. Pap tests should begin within three years after becoming sexually active or at 21 years of age, whichever happens first. • Risk Factors: Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), early age of first intercourse and a history of multiple sex partners, tobacco use (women who smoke are about twice as likely as non-smokers to get cervical cancer). • Diagnosis: A Pap test is the first step in diagnosing cervical cancer. If the Pap test is abnormal, procedures such as biopsies may need to be done for further diagnosis • Treatment: The choice of treatment depends on the location and size of the tumor, the stage of the disease, the woman’s age, general health and other factors. Most often, the treatment involves surgery and radiation therapy. Sometimes chemotherapy or biological therapy is used. Surgery may involve removing the tissue in or near the cervix or the entire uterus in a hysterectomy. Want to know more? Visit the National Cervical Cancer Coalition at www.nccc-online.org or the National Institute of Health at www.nih.org. Compiled by Hannah Wellman from idph.com

017

college

the rock 01.25.08

Photo by Valery Meusburger Art by Max Rowe

How to get extra dough for college Colorado Council Service Scholarship Estimated Value: $1,500 (sixteen total scholarships given) Special Qualifications: Must be going to a college/university within the state of Colorado, as well as have participated in several hours of community service. The scholarship can be used at any of the Colorado Council member institutions of higher education on the state of Colorado. Procedure Required to Apply: Look for information at www.coloradocouncil.org Deadline: Jan. 31 2008 The Colorado Diversity Scholarship Program Estimated Value: $2,000 to $3,000 Special Qualifications: Must have a GPA of 2.7 or higher, and be a Colorado resident. This scholarship is geared towards students who are interested in any career involving health care or public health. Procedure Required to Apply: go to http:// physiciancareers.kp.org/co/scholarship/ web_pages/background_information.html Deadline: Feb. 7, 2008 Best Buy Scholarship Estimated Value: $1,500 (1,500 given) and $10,000 (51 given) Special Qualifications: Any graduating senior who is going to some type of school in the fall of 2008, and has a minimum GPA of 2.5. Procedure Required to Apply: go to www. bestbuy.com/scholarships Deadline: Feb. 15, 2008 Compiled by Valery Meusburger

College of the month

GT heads east

Senior receives full athletic and academic scholarship to Tennessee Tech, cites good team atmosphere, gorgeous campus Imagine staring down a grass field, crouching in anticipation as you watch a girl run towards you, dribbling a ball. Feeling the rush as she shoots, you jump in the way to catch the ball, and save the goal. Lauren Schaedig ’08 otherwise known as GT (or goal tender) by her fellow teammates, has practiced making these saves for 14 years. She dedicates anywhere from 6 to twenty hours a week to soccer, while keeping up her grades in school. This hard work has paid off, since she is now going to receive scholarship money from Tennessee Tech to play soccer. Last July, Schaedig received her first letter of interest from the Air Force Academy. Other recruitment letters soon followed from schools such as Hastings College, Dana College, Taylor College, Tennessee Tech, and Colorado School of Mines. Originally, Schaedig planned to go to the Air Force Academy. “I liked the Air Force Academy because it was close to home, and it’s an extremely prestigious school,” Schaedig said. “I liked that you are guaranteed a job and salary once you get out, but I wasn’t too sure if I wanted to go to a military academy.” At Air Force, however, Schaedig would be one of several goal keepers, not allowing her see any playing time until her junior year. She also wanted “more freedom” in her college experience, which prompted her to continue looking at other colleges. “I didn’t think that I would do well in the military,”Schaedig said. In October, Schaedig went on a recruiting trip with one of her club teammates to Tennessee Tech, and immediately fell in love with the campus.

“Tennessee Tech is in Cookeville, a small, laid back town in the mountains,”Schaedig said. “It is absolutely gorgeous, and reminded me of Michigan, which is where my family comes from.” On the soccer side of things, both Schaedig and her teammate agreed that the team atmosphere was a good one. “It wasn’t as intense as Air Force, but it wasn’t some lazy, dink-around team either. The girls on the team are all really nice and fun, and the whole team is really laid back,” Schaedig said. “Plus, the athletes are treated like royalty there. Every team gets their own locker room with plasma TVs, video games and huge couches. They can even have their laundry done for them.” Both Schaedig and her teammate have decided to attend Tennessee Tech in the fall of 2008. Schaedig will not only be the starting goal keeper for the soccer team, but is also one of only two of the many new recruits to be receiving scholarship money for joining the team. “I will be getting 50% of my school paid for for my academics, and the rest is going to be covered through a soccer scholarship, except for a $900 room and board fee,”Schaedig said.“Its great to know that I am helping out my parents so they don’t have to pay for my college.” “It was awesome [to be] recruited. It made me feel good to know that there are schools out there that want me to play for them. It has always been my dream since I started soccer to get a college scholarship,”Schaedig said. “I would set diﬀerent goals every season to try to achieve my dream, and now that it has actually happened I couldn’t be more excited.” Valery Meusburger

Baylor University Waco, Texas • Population: 215,000

Tuition: $31,000+ Number of Students: 11,902 undergraduate and 2,272 graduate/professional students Average SAT: 1219 Athletics: The Baylor Bears are Division 1, in the Big 12 conference Clubs: Baylor has more than 320 clubs and organizations, including 25 fraternities and sororities. Schools and Colleges: College of Arts & Sciences, Hankamer School of Business, School of Education, School of Engineering & Computer Science, Law School, School of Music, Herrington School of Nursing, Truett Theological Seminary, School of Social Work The best part?“My favorite part about Baylor is the professors,”

said Melanie Safran ‘07, who currently attends BU. “They all have long ofﬁce hours and they really do want you to do well. They’re just on your side.” Why choose Baylor? “Our school feels more like a family than a lot of other schools do. When I came to visit, I was completely sold,” said Safran. “I stepped on campus and I never wanted to leave.”

Compiled by Hannah Wellman from www.baylor.edu

Quoted

RCHS graduates tell about their experiences with scholarships and how they helped attend their top colleges.

Brad Porter ‘07 – Colorado State University: “I got the Jaguar Club scholarship. Eight people got it last year, and each of them got $500. It wasn’t alot of money, but it was really easy to get and it helped pay for some of my books ﬁrst semester. It didn’t help me get into college, but I only spent two hours working on it so it was worth it.” Michael Dodds ‘07 – Colby College, Maine: “I got offered a couple different scholarships, but none of them were to the schools that I wanted to go to. They probably would’ve been helpful but I didn’t get any to the school that I chose.” Sarah Branson ‘07 – La Salle, Philadelphia: “I got the Jags Club scholarship, a Nelnet scholarship, and a full ride tuition scholarship to La Salle. I also won an award for being the outstanding student at Rock Canyon, which I got another scholarship for. They obviously helped me once I got into school, because basically everything is paid for, but they also really helped me decide where I wanted to go – it’s the reason that I ended up in Philadelphia.” Kyle Krueger ‘07 – Colorado State University: “I got a scholarship through my job at the Castle Pines Golf Club for $1000. It was given out based on work ethic and character, not school work. It didn’t do much to get me into college, but once I got in it helped a lot. My books ﬁrst semester were $600, and that money would have come out of my own pocket, so it was really nice.” Javier Gonzales ‘07 – Gonzaga University, Washington: “I received a merit-based scholarship which was strictly based on my high school achievement. It solely took into account my grades and ACT scores. I received a total of $22,500 over four years. Now I feel like there was a good reason for working so hard in high school. Dusty Ellis

College survival guide to: hidden fee$ � •Lost ID charges. You can pay around $20 to get a new one made.� •Lost room keys. If you leave your key in your room, you can pay a fine from $1-$5 to borrow a spare. If you lose your key altogether, you have to pay around $75 to replace it. •Late tuition fees. No matter the reason, if your tuition comes in a little bit late, you can be charged anywhere from $50 and up. •Library fines. Instead of $.05 and $.10 fees a day, like RCHS, some universities charge up to $10.00 a day for late fines. •Parking. Most college campuses have very strict parking rules with hefty fines. Break them, and pay the price. •Dorm damage. If you damage your room (like leaving sticky tape on the walls or stains in the carpet)the dorms can charge you any fee they feel necessary. Valery Meusburger

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reviews

the rock 1.25.08

Women in the movies... still victims of stereotypes, or ﬁnding new ways to deal with adversity, social pressures, sexuality?

Photos courtesy of 20th Century Fox

From knocked up to... well, ‘knocked up’ Juno Film sheds new light on being modern teen I’ve never had as much fun watching a movie as I had watching the new Indie flick, Juno. I’m a movie softie. I love crying at movies and I love laughing at them. Juno was an opportunity for me to do both, even if my coldhearted movie-going partner (that’s you, Michelle) insisted that she didn’t shed a tear. It’s hard to say what part of Juno makes the film so appealing. Is it the wry, wise-ass performance of the main character, played by Ellen Page? Or is it the fact that I, as a teenaged girl, can relate to the very real characters in the movie (though I swear I’ve never drunk a whole gallon of Sunny D, nor been preggers, for that matter). Some reviewers have called Juno unrealistic (who says that “What the blog?” can’t become a popular saying! I like it. And I would really really love one of those hamburger phones), but then again, I doubt some dried-up seventyyear-old in a cubicle somewhere knows a great deal about the social workings of the modern teen. To me, Juno is a reflection of getting to know what you want as you mature as a person. That’s about as realistic as it can get. In any case, the film nabbed three Oscar nominations, and I’d certainly recommend you see it (even if the fogies at the big papers say it’s silly). I can honestly say that it’s my favorite movie at the moment, and the second it comes out on DVD, I’ll be in the store. And I’m a bargain movie shopper, too. So, yeah – Juno deserves five big, juicy bags of popcorn out of five. Angie Baroffio

27 Dresses

Add crinoline, stir, leave viewers disappointed Mix one troubled, in-denial, self-searching young woman, two or more major conflicts, and a sexy man. Throw in a few more wannabe lovers, siblings, and past family sorrows for added flavor, and bam! You have the recipe for your typical romantic comedy. “27 Dresses” is essentially this; but with a few added bonuses. Jane, played by Katherine Hiegl, is your typical niceas-pie woman who seeks refuge from her loneliness by planning and participating in all her friends’ weddings. At one wedding she happens to meet Kevin (James Marsden), a good looking journalist, and their relationship begins. Surprise, surprise, they follow the hate to love cliché as the movie unfolds. Along the way, though, Jane gets crushed by her crush when he falls for her sister. She is also trying to rebound from public humiliation over a news story printed about her participation in 27 weddings, and, of course, this all occurs during her subconscious search for her one true love. “27 Dresses” is nothing too out of the ordinary, and follows the unfortunate stereotype that all women think about is their own special moment of getting married. Despite its predictability in plot (including getting severely emotionally hurt, fighting with family members, falling for the annoying guy, and getting drunk and going crazy in a bar), however, this movie would be a good one to go to if you happen to be in the mood for a mindless flick in which everyone ends up happy. Valery Meusberger

things to adore Dane Cook Dane Cook is more prominent now than he has ever been. He’s selling out concerts, putting out best seller albums, had a terriﬁc HBO series, and appeared on the big screen in comedies like Employee of the Month, Good Luck Chuck, and Dan in Real Life. However, stand-up comedy is where Cook’s heart seems to be, and his new release “Rough Around the Edges: Live From Madison Square Garden” shows the comedian at his best. Cook takes the stage, greeted by the massive amounts of applause that has become his trademark. (You don’t make a million MySpace friends unless people really like you.) His opening routine, “Benson’s Animal Farm,” describes the many broken promises made by his father when Cook and his siblings wanted to go to the petting zoo. What makes the act funny is that Cook conveys it with the same sense of anger that a child would feel when repeatedly denied a trip to a certain fun place. It’s like he’s an angry kid trapped in a grown-up’s body. After that skit, the laughs get much bigger in his acts about TiVo (Cook despises the programming choices the machine makes for him) and Oprah Winfrey (who he imagines ﬂying through her studio on a jetpack). A segment entitled “Pedophiles” is so funny because it’s right on track. Cook has a way of taking

risky material and making it non-oﬀensive by speaking the truth. “Rough Around the Edges” is ﬁlled with great comedic material that will delight Dane Cook fans every where. The DVD also has two bonus features: One is a documentary called “Lighting Up the Garden” and the other is his commentary over the concert performance. As you would expect, Cook is funny, witty, and entertaining throughout the performance. Mandy Shapiro

Bag, Borrow or Steal

There are places on the world-wideweb that are pure genius. Some of these places are also a dream come true for an impoverished student such as myself: quality on a budget. Enter BagBorroworSteal.com, otherwise known as the Netﬂix of designer handbags. Silly? Not so. For someone as young, poor, and angry (ha ha) as myself, Bag Borrow or Steal is the best way to enjoy designer purses and jewelry without scrounging for months. At $54 a year, members enjoy access to pieces of designer work that normally costs way more than a paycheck – for a hell of a lot less. Prices start at $5 and skyrocket from there, but everything’s a steal, considering: cute Coach tote for a weekend on

the beach? $13 a day. Fabulous vintage Hermes handbag to take who knows where? $813. The latter is perhaps not the most affordable of Bag Borrow or Steal’s lineup, but trying buying that piece of purse history – that is, if you have $50000 just begging to be blown. Another cool perk? If you really, really like what you rented, you could Steal it (buying it for a little less than you could other places, because it’s gently used). I’d give this site four out of five mice. Fabulous! Angie Baroffio

Chasing Rabbits

They hadn’t played together in two months. They’re guitarist had only played two shows with them. They were missing their keyboard player. But nonetheless, the band Chasing Rabbits played in front of a small crowd in downtown Denver. It was a small place. Posters and pictures cluttered the walls. Ryan, Doug, Matt, and Nathan took the stage, checked sound levels, and were off. Bassist Ryan Wekenman ’08 climbed on top of the drums and jumped off as the music began: heavy but powerful. They reminded me of Switchfoot – one of their favorite bands – but of course they add their own nuances and style which make them a fun and unique band to watch. The music was awesome. It was clear they had played for a long time and had worked hard to make their music flow well and be catchy. Sure, lead singer Doug Wekenman, doesn’t have the greatest voice – but he can play the heck out of the guitar and makes up for any shortcomings with his on-stage charisma. Chasing Rabbits proves to be more than just a typical high school band—after playing together for two years, the chemistry they create is exciting and sophisticated. Rabbits is fun to watch because they have fun; if you ever hear them perform be listening for the joke about the Circus that’s in town - it’s intense. Five music notes out of five. Aaron Brunhofer

Twilight

Stephanie Meyer Within days of moving to rainy Forks, Washington, 17-year old Bella Swan decides the tiny town is even duller than the perpetually gray sky. That is, until she falls in love with a vampire. I know what you’re thinking. Vampires? Seriously? Don’t be so quick to write off Twilight as your average spooky story. Meyer, in her first novel, avoids the bloodsucker clichés by focusing on Bella as a normal high schooler. She deeply develops each character, and once she establishes that Edward, Bella’s love interest, is a vampire, she keeps that fact from dominating his character. And the characters are what draw readers in. Bella is a stubborn, sarcastic, unpretentious teenage girl, which makes her easily relatable. Edward is an intense, thoughtful, incredibly attractive 18-year-old. I especially enjoyed the mental picture Meyer paints of bronzehaired, golden-eyed Edward- though it made me wish there were more Edwards at Rock Canyon. But Meyer delves underneath the high school façade to discuss deeper issues like morality and loyalty. The contrast between Edward’s immortality and Bella’s relative fragility tends to cause some issues. Although the book starts off slow, establishing characters and their backgrounds, the action builds to a thrilling finale that leaves you wanting more. Fortunately, you don’t have to look very far because Bella’s tale continues in the two sequels, New Moon and Eclipse, with a fourth book in the “Twilight Lexicon” scheduled for release this fall. And the movie adaptation of Twilight hits theaters Dec. 12. I’m definitely going to see it on opening day- if only to see that hot vampire boy. Hannah Wellman

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reviews

the rock 1.25.08 LISTEN TO THIS!

Things to Do, Places to Go, Things to Buy...

Kate Nash ‘Foundations’

Britain’s top female artist, twenty-year-old Kate Nash, is full of surprises. When I got her preview album Foundations, I had high expectations. It’s not easy to get nominated for three Brit Awards in a year – it’s even more difficult to do that when you’re twenty. But Nash isn’t – as listening to the four songs featured on Foundations proved – you’re average indie pop star. The album’s title track is perhaps the catchiest of Nash’s songs to date: quirky, conversational, sarcastic lyrics, along with Nash’s powerful vocals (she sounds like Feist and Imogen Heap’s very hip and annoyed British baby), make Foundation’s in-your-face and hilarious. But it quickly becomes apparent that no one song defines Nash as an artist: her style changes drastically with each track. “Navy Taxi” is more thoughtful and sad, and the piano accompaniment is both different and refreshing. “Caroline’s A Victim” is, at least at first listen, strange as all anything: the lyrics are repetitive, the beats addictive, and the vocals have a surprising post-punk eighties-pop snarl. “Habenera,” however, takes the prize for “most creative” of Nash’s work: she sings her own tango (acting as melody, harmony, and beat), and accompanies herself for a slick, albeit repetitive, original work that says more “instrumental” than “vocal.” Kate Nash is one of my new favs: she’s smart, modern, and relatable, not to mention extremely talented. Her new work, Pumpkin Soup, is due out soon, and I can’t wait – even if I have to have it shipped from London. I give Nash five out of five music notes. Let’s bring her state-side! Angie Baroffio

A short guide by Angie Barofﬁo

The soundtack from the Indie film, Juno. The movie was awesome, and so is the fun, quirky string of songs that sound less rehearsed and more deeply felt than anything you can get mainstream. Five out of five paws - aw ye-ah. Lush cosmetics! There’s a store in Aspen, but you can get any of the fresh, handmade lotions, creams, and gosh-knows-what fabulous stuff online! Five out of five paws.

Into the Wild Jon Krakauer Normally, I am not the type of person to sit around on a Saturday afternoon and crack open a new book, but my dad recently came to me, ranting about a book that he had just read. Most of the time, I tune him out but he suggested that I read the book, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. I remembered seeing a preview for the ﬁlm but I never thought about reading the book. My dad persisted and left the novel on my desk in my room and ﬁnally I gave in. Into the Wild is the true story of Christopher McCandless and his journey cross the United States. McCandless was an incredibly smart college student with

a wealthy family and a great life ahead of him, but he decided to take a diﬀerent route. McCandless gave away all his money to charity, burned his wallet and left his East Coast home with nothing but the clothes on his back. He explored the deserts of Arizona, the lights of Nevada and the Red Woods of Northern California, but he still found himself wanting more. McCandless decided to venture further north to Alaska. McCandless’ journey is documented throughout the story, coming directly from a journal he kept. What was most interesting is that the author, Krakauer, doesn’t just have McCandless’ journey in

the novel, but also his own personal journeys that he has taken across the world, including conquering Mount Everest. This book was not amazing because of the stories that McCandless encountered but rather, the reinvention of himself. The fact that he was able to venture into the woods, and was able to find himself on a deeper level has me burning my wallet and heading west, I give his book five out of five books. Kayla Kallery

Dr. Dunbar and the staff at Castle Pines Orthodontics are dedicated to treating our patients and their families with the utmost respect. We are a one doctor, one ofﬁce location whose goal is to exceed your expectations in all facets of your orthodontic experience. Our friendly, skilled and sincere service is second to none. Through continuing education we stay focused on the newest developments in orthodontics, which allows us to provide progressive treatment using the latest technology.

363 Village Square Lane Suite 155 Castle Rock CO 80108 303.688.3837 www.castlepinesortho.com

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the rock 1.25.08

The real world?

Pop Therapy

Turns out, there’s no such thing

Kate

Jo n e

It was about 6:15 on a Thursday night. I walked the dim school halls with a couple friends, just leaving a club meeting. On our way to the student parking lot, we came across two wealthy, anxious-looking parents, clinging to the fingertips of their 13-year-old son, taking a look around the school before the Eighth-Grade Information Night. The kid looked scared out of his mind. Just as we were within earshot, my friend thoughtlessly dropped the F-word and the eyes on that kid bulged out as if he were one of those little, pink toy pigs where you squeeze it and both its eyes pop out at the same time. His mother clutched at the pearls around her neck and a small, high-pitched gurgling noise came from her throat. We passed the family and continued walking, but my thoughts remained with that eighth-grade boy, whose parents are now probably reconsidering this whole ‘high school’ thing. Too real. When we were 13-year-old high-schoolhopefuls, the lives of juniors and seniors and even freshmen seemed so distant to us. They said bad words, they spit brown stuff, and yet… they were the definition of awesome. The world of secondary education remained a mystery; we had no idea if we would be ready to cross the threshold into the jungle. All of our lives, we have been building up to something; something bigger, something better, something real. In pre-school we built up to elementary school, then spent six years getting ready for the fate-worse-than-Hell that was middle school, and then another two years preparing us for… this. Now we spend every waking moment with the knowledge that the decisions we make today will stay with us forever; they will follow us into the ‘real world.’ Yes… the real world. Just exactly what is the real world? See, that’s the thing. High school can’t be the real world, because we’re still preparing for college, because our teachers tell us that this isn’t like the real world, because we’re not out on our own. But college can’t be the real world, either, because we’re still preparing for a career. Our professors will tell us that college isn’t like the real world, because we lead sheltered lives, with our parents still footing the bill. And can the start of career be the real world? Your world just doesn’t start being real after one single day, does it? So where does the real world actually begin? It seems that we will always be confronted with this idea of a real world that may not actually exist. And if the real world doesn’t exist, then for what are our teachers and our counselors and our parents preparing us? No. For the sake of sanity, I believe the real world begins the second our slimy bodies are pushed from the womb. No matter what age, what professor, what situation, it’s all real. Although your sense of reality may be drastically different than mine, it’s no less real. So, in case you haven’t already been told… welcome to the real world.

Spears gone wild!

History repeats itself

Angi

e Bar of fio

api

ndy

was so desired finally happened. And if you let a big ol’ rock sit somewhere for a long time, it becomes an institution, a tradition of change that ended in the culmination of what so many people wanted so badly for so long. It becomes so much a part of what we know that we can’t imagine what the world would be like if that change hadn’t happened – if those people hadn’t worked their butts off, hadn’t fought for progress, hadn’t died to save someone else as well as themselves. That is how we think of things like interracial marriage and race equality now. Most of us, in fact, wouldn’t dream of trying to go back on the promise fulfilled for those people forty one years ago. Have you ever noticed the emergence of homosexuality in today’s entertainment culture? That slow incorporation – Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, gaydar, just accepting people we know are gay – is an indication of something big. It’s a sign that history is repeating itself, and no matter how much people protest, gay marriage will one day be legal. Even here. Forty years ago, people said that interracial marriage would degrade the institution of marriage. Forty years ago, people said that because the Bible said that interracial marriage wasn’t right, they would never accept it. But we did. As a society, we moved past the biases, the blatant racism – even the words of the world’s bestselling book. And let me you something: I couldn’t be more proud of us. I couldn’t be happier that people managed to start thinking for themselves and made a change for the better. I couldn’t be more relieved to know that there are good and caring people out there. Forty years from now, a new promise will be made. A promise that we won’t be able to go back on. A promise that our children won’t even think about questioning. Forty years from now, it won’t be just us who will be offered legal happiness. It will be them, too. I can’t wait. Can you?

Would you believe that forty one years ago, interracial marriage was illegal? Would you believe that in 1967 – a time when most of our parents were coming into their own awareness of a social reality, a time still remembered well by people we know – marriage between black and white people finally became legal? I can hardly believe it myself. I find it disgusting that the United States – so equal in everything we do, so excruciatingly free – took so damn long to get our act together. Every country in the Western world managed to ban segregation before us. Now what exactly does that say to you? But there’s an upside: change towards equality is unavoidable. Hard as it may be to believe now, some day, gay people will be able to get married in every state. I could gloat here, but I won’t. I’ll just let you know how I know. In the time leading up to the acceleration of the African-American civil rights movement in the U.S., black people started making a less obvious stand. It appeared in entertainment first: jazz music became more popular, television shows had black-only nights (anyone seen Hairspray?), and integration was slowly making its presence known. By becoming more of a fixture in society in the fifties and early sixties, the AfricanAmerican civil rights movement was set up for eventual success. Another factor working in the favor of African-Americans in the sixties? The promise and inevitability of change. There was no way in hell that society could just turn its back on what had been achieved until that point. Change works like that. It’s as if all the people who worked so hard for that cause had been pushing a boulder up steep hill for years and years and years. Eventually, that hill plateaus. There is, as Malcolm Gladwell waxes quite eloquently on, a tipping point, and then there’s no going back. That boulder that represents change reaches the top, and then begins to roll down the other side. It may hit some bumps at first. It may take a while to reach top speed. But eventually, it’s hurtling towards the inevitable conclusion, and no one can get its way or stop its progress. And when it finally does slow, and stop, what

I have some breaking news for you, America

Britney Spears holds her son hostage. Jamie-Lynn Spears is pregnant at age 16. Mrs. Spears sells her daughter’s story to the media for $1,000,000. Mr. Spears is on the phone, calling the family therapist for some help. Britney, come on, you knew just as well as I did that it was coming. Your ﬁrst mistake was getting married. You see Britney, you aren’t the best singer. Your sex appeal, age, and dance moves are what got you famous. Two out of those three things you have now lost. When you got married your sex appeal went away, and as you got older, that whole, “I wanna look up to Britney cuz she’s a teen like me,” thing went away also. Even the media is getting tired of you, and the same could be said with the rest of the world (how are your new singles doing?). Britney, it’s time to retire. Go back home, fully grow your hair out, and spend some time learning from your mom how to exploit your children to the media. Jamie Lynn, I had such high hopes for you! Here’s what you need to do so that you don’t end up like Britney in another year or two. Don’t shave your head, don’t start smoking cigarettes, and never walk into public bathrooms with bare feet, no bra, and a hippie skirt on. Jamie Lynn, you can be a better mother than Britney… at least, I don’t see how you could be any worse! Yes, 16 years old is very young to be having kids, but I’m hoping you will rise to the occasion and be a great parent. Who knows, maybe your pregnancy will help your sister get her act together, because she’ll have someone she can be a mommy with. Well Mrs. Spears, maybe this was all a blessing in disguise for you. I mean, publishing a book on how to raise children? Come on, you can’t possibly believe that you’ve done a good job with Britney, can you? Unless the title of your book was going to be “How to Raise Raging Whores,” I just don’t understand what you were thinking. Look, we all mess up sometimes. Britney didn’t start oﬀ poorly, she just hit a few bumps along the way. And for Jamie Lynn, well teenage pregnancy happens all of the time, but selling her story to the media for $1,000,000 – that’s just not good parenting. I suggest that you give this whole parenting thing another shot with Jamie Lynn’s baby, and then maybe you can think about publishing that book. Mr. Spears…thank you for staying sane! I express to you my greatest sympathy, and I hope that you can hang in there for just a few more years.

QUICK HITS Nothing @ the rock?

First semester of the ’07-’08 year has come and gone, and we are still without sessions. There are tons of students that would love to perform for their friends and classmates, but don’t have the opportunity. Sessions was a tradition that was gaining popularity at RC, and was closed down at its peak. If we want to start traditions that will last at our school, we have to give them a chance. Sessions was something that really did empower students and allow them to explore their potential in the arts. Bring back sessions!! Dusty Ellis

Ah, apathy --

Today’s teens are lacking any motivation whatsoever. Being surrounded by these kids is horriﬁc -- I mean, what do you do? Yell at your peers? Working on this newspaper has been so wonderful. I really, really love it. Unfortunately for me, not everyone loves it like I do, and that usually results in a.) nothing being done, b.) people treating me with disdain, and c.) total emotional breakdown on my part. It wreaks havoc on me -- it really does. But what’s a girl to do? Angie Barofﬁo

Tardy? Not so important, thanks.

Quit bein’ a hater cause you’re makin’ me later. Attendance is not only an inconvenience for administration and office workers, but extremely disruptive to classrooms and teachers after they have started their mornings. Arriving to school on time has proved to be more difficult than before fall break. Attempting to adjust to the new student drop off student drivers are unable to park because of parents. If entering the side doors is a security breach we’re willing to fish out our student IDs to be on time to class. Maybe fixing what seems small may be significant. Megan McNally & Paisley Morrison

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Boggled by goggles

Course offerings

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Realization of a bum wrap

The ideal course catalog for today’s intellectual

Forgetting to live College is only one part of life

I know athletes are revered in teen movies for being the jerky jocks. The kids that shove the books out of the underclassmen’s hands, play tricks on the nerds, and toss relatively clear sexual innuendos to the cheerleader girls. But I’m here to tell you they’re not. For the most part. A few weeks ago, at my swim meet against Arapahoe, I was swimming races against some of the faster girls and was suitably discombobulated. Not to mention a few friends home from college were laughingly distracting me from my race. I didn’t mind – not until I got to the block a few seconds before my race, and realized that my goggles weren’t on my head. That’s where I’d expected them to be. And, not having checked because of the aforementioned college friends, I found myself grasping at the top of my head where they should have been, and coming up with nothing. “My goggles!” I murmured, preceded, of course, with a short expletive. Here’s where my point comes into the story. Behind me, a girl from the other team immediately pulled her goggles off her head and handed them to me. It wasn’t a friendly gesture. We were doing flyover starts, which means that the person behind me dives before I get out of the water. And she was the person behind me. There was no way to get her goggles back to her. So I declined, and found a teammate who wasn’t swimming to borrow from. Still, it was the offer that struck me. She’d remembered her goggles. I hadn’t. I was the dumb one. She still offered them up without a thought. I don’t know if I would have done the same. I like to think so, but then again, there wasn’t much thinking involved. It was instinct that passed those goggles to me. And, in sports, instinct guides a lot of your actions. Whether you’re passing or shooting the ball is an instinct. Whether you bump or spike it, whether you throw or run it – that’s instinct. And that’s why it’s unfair to categorize the jocks into the teen movie role. Because often times, basic instinct is to be kind, not to be playing a prank on your teacher. I can’t generalize for all sports, I know. In swimming, at least, I know a girl will go out of her way to do something for someone else. In soccer, girls have helped me off the ground (after they’ve knocked me down, of course.) In track, I watch as people cheer for the last runner past the finish line. And after every game, in nearly every sport, rivals shake hands after the game, and the wetness I feel? I’m pretty sure it’s sweat, not spit. I’m hoping so, anyway.

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els

Lo ng

I was stuck in the usual traffic jam in front of the 3000 pod when I spotted one of them. A resume stacker. She was fighting her way through the crowd, on her way to another A.P. class. It’s always easy to spot the resume stacker. The common hard-core resume stacker has sold her soul for college acceptance letters. She is a fake, a pretender who shapes her image until she believes it is exactly what colleges want to see. It’s the person taking five A.P. classes, four of which she isn’t interested in. Five of which she cheats in. It’s the person who is in Key Club, FBLA, NHS, and the Marine Biology Club but only goes to the beginning of the club meeting, signs the sign in sheet saying she was there, and then leaves to sign in at her next club meeting. It’s the person willing to give up anything; integrity, hobbies, passions, and a social life to make sure she can get into her dream college. Sometimes when I see a resume stacker, I speculate about what kind of person she will turn out to be, what college she will actually end up at, and what job she, or he, will eventually hold. I wonder if her world will seem empty after high school is up and a four year career of resume stacking has ended. But maybe she will find it was all worth it. I doubt it. Students should be concerned about the future but they should be more concerned about the present. Almost every high school student buys into resume stacking to some extent. I was bought last year. I signed up for A.P. U.S. figuring it would look great on my college application. However, I wasn’t passionate about the class and it wasn’t a priority of mine. I ended up having little time to complete the large work

Krist

load. It was then I did something I hadn’t done since I looked off of my neighbors paper during a spelling test in the fourth grade. I cheated. I was still up at 2A.M. and didn’t have my notes done, so I used course notes off of the internet. I was caught, along with several other perpetrators, and I realized I had given up my integrity for a grade, something I will never do again. I dropped the class second semester. A.P. classes, clubs, and sports have all become a form of resume stacking. Resume stacking is running rampant, some say, because colleges have high standards. But students set the bar because they buy into resume stacking. Colleges get used to seeing resume stacked schedules and expect students to take on impossible workloads. It’s too bad. Instead of focusing on their lives and what kind of people they want to be, many students focus on college for four years. It’s common for students to push their morals and integrity aside so they can maintain good grades. It’s common for students to forget what they love. Maybe they forget they love painting because they dropped art for an A.P. It’s common for students to be so focused on college that they don’t care what kind of person they become to achieve it. And by the time many realize this, it’s too late. Students need to focus on the people they want to be. If a student decides to care about life, challenge herself, and be passionate about what she loves, then she should be good enough to get into a good college. Either way, she will be happier and more fulfilled than a common resume stacker who fakes her way through life.

en Sc heir m a

As registration nears, everyone’s thinking about what classes they want to sign up for. But to me, the course offerings just aren’t adequate for what today’s teens need to survive in our modern world. That’s why I’m proposing a few additions to the course offerings: Forensic Science II: (.5 Elective credit) Explore the more intricate details of life on the illegal side of the law. Learn the common methods of pickpocketing, what makes the best murder weapon, and how to elude authorities in a high-speed chase. At the end of the semester, students even get to make their own meth in our in-school meth lab. Prerequisites: A background check. Chivalry 101: (.5 Practical Arts credit) Required for all male students. This highly practical course will shape today’s unruly boys into tomorrow’s respectful men. Course topics include the art of holding doors open, the implications of “ladies first” and how to just suck it up and go see a chick flick with a lady friend. It’s time to stop whining about a potential loss of manliness. Seriously. Prerequisites: Being born with a Y chromosome. Unclinginess AB: (.5 Practical Arts credit) Required for all compulsively jealous female students. Motivated young women will learn how to stop acting like a leech and let their boyfriend go and do things every once in a while. A wise man once said: If you love someone, let them go. If they don’t return, sorry for the bad advice. This course counts as college-relationship prep credit. Prerequisites: Teachers’ recommendation – they’ve seen you treating that boy like he’s a dog on a two-foot leash. Introduction to Yoga: (.5 Physical Education credit) This relaxing and toning form of exercise is good for any student. Studies show that yoga reduces the occurrence of panic attacks in overachieving students by 10 percent. And nobody wants to see the valedictorian in the fetal position on the floor of the 3000 wing. Prerequisites: The ability to make yourself resemble a dog, a tree, or a lotus. It’s harder than it sounds. So, administrators, you’d better start revising the course catalog. I hear we’re registering for 2009-2010 next September.

ellm W h a Hann

Question of the month

“ What are your feelings about gay marriage? I support gay marriage, because people should be able to express themselves.

Angela Hornsby ‘11

It’s not right, because marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Beau Kellam ‘11

I fully support gay people, but not the concept of gay marriage.

Hanna Amdress ‘08

Anyone who’s opposed to gay marriage should have to walk in the shoes of someone who is gay, and then see if they’re still opposed to gay marriage.

Logan Thompson ‘10

“

focus

If the couple is together in private, then it’s ﬁne.

Mitch Schellenger ‘09

22 0

focus

the rock 1.25.08

Gaining Perspective

Respect yourself

And discovering how easily it is lost

You’re a young lady, so please act like one

yla

ller

Since I was about 13, I was always a little bit different than most of the girls. Not necessarily in the way that I dressed or the way that I talked or the fact that I too loved spending Saturdays at the mall, but rather the way I carried myself. Self-respect has always been something that I cherish and since a very young age I vowed to make a point in letting everyone know I am not, “that type of girl.” I don’t like parties, I don’t like showing off what God gave me and most certainly I am not the type to encourage any of these things. Recently, I overheard a group of sophomore boys talking on the back of the bus about the Winter Formal dance that Rock Canyon recently had. The boys were talking about how much fun they had that night and then the conversation took a different turn. One young man starting talking about all the different girls he was dancing with and I quote, “I didn’t even know any of their names, but I sure as hell knew their asses.” Never in my life have I had one of those “jaw dropping” moments, but when I got off the bus, I was enraged. Not only was I completely repulsed with what this boy had to say, but I was even more angered at the fact that young girls at our school would be willing to dance so provocatively with some guy they don’t even know. Don’t get me wrong, I love going to Homecoming and Prom. They are extremely fun events and to a certain degree, make high school, high school. But at the same time, when has it become okay for girls to degrade themselves to a completely new level and grind all over some boy she just met? And although it is prevalent throughout the whole school, I see it most among the underclassmen at Rock Canyon and not just here, but everywhere. But should these girls that are acting out for the attention of older boys really be placed on the back burner? Not only is it high school dances that encourage such behavior, but the transformation of innocent holidays like Halloween. It is now accepted and praised for girls to dress as Playboy Bunnies, “naughty” police officers and Trick or Treat dressed as strippers. Of course, the male population praises this behavior, but girls become giddy over the attention from the boys: not because the boys are treating the girls like ladies but because they become objects of lust and desire. I don’t want to come off as an intense women’s rights activist, because by no means am I qualified with such knowledge, but am I the only self-respecting girl who fears for the younger classes at our school? Never have I seen a group of girls so willing to demean themselves for the attention from upper class boys. I cannot figure out where the confident, self-assured young women have run off to and why on earth they have been replaced by a group of girls willing to prostitute themselves for two hours in a dark high school cafeteria. I can’t change the fact that these boys will constantly think with everything but their brain, but I pray that younger girls, not only at RCHS but everywhere will hold onto their selfrespect and never let go.

Last Saturday morning, I drove down to DU for a conference on human rights. We watched videos of children taken from their homes and forced into backbreaking labor as their families desperately searched for them, talked about human trafficking and women who are raped 25 times every night, and looked at astounding statistics: 27,000 people dying each year from malnutrition; 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders; children working for 30 cents a day (if they’re lucky). We discussed what exactly we could do… fundraisers, awareness campaigns, trips. I was at DU for four hours, educating myself and discussing something other than what happens right here in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. After that, though, I left in a rush so I could make it to work on time at Peaberry Coffee. As I hurriedly changed into my uniform and put on an apron, I washed my hands and forced thoughts of starvation and sickness from my mind. Now was not the time to be focused on overwhelming atrocities happening half a world away. Now was the time to make a little money to pay for my car, designer jeans, and dinners out with my friends. The first customers of the day walked in: a father with two young children. The father came up to the cash register and I smiled brightly at him—a practiced smile I use for all my customers. Sometimes it is reciprocated. Often times, it is not, and such was the case with him. He looked at me as though I had offended him, and when he ordered, he seemed to think the very chore of listing off drink orders for his family was menial and tiring. “That will be $8.74,” I said, still smiling, trying to ignore his tone. He made no move to reach for his wallet. “My wife is out in the car,” he said, exasperated as though he had explained this a thousand times. “And she’s paying for it. So just make those drinks and remember them when she comes in.” I looked at my coworker, who shrugged, and we quickly made his hot chocolate, Italian soda and his latte, finishing just as our next customer walked through the door. “Hello,” I said, smiling again. “How are you this morning?” This time, I was smiling at a middle-aged woman with manicured nails, highlighted hair and lipstick on her teeth. “Grande non-fat sugar-free vanilla latte heated at 120 degrees,” she spouted off, ignoring my question. “Medium?” I clarified. We’re not Starbucks. We don’t use terms like ‘Grande’ or ‘Venti’. She rolled her eyes. “Yes. Medium. Whatever.” I nodded, and somewhere in the back of my mind, the thought of little children working until their hands bled made me want to throw up. I looked around the coffee house and watched all of these people who had decided to get coffee on their day off— couples hardly speaking to each other, women in a hurry, children fighting. It was hard for me to believe people could act so selfishly when at that very moment, others were dying for the luxuries they took for granted. I looked at the prices for our lattes: Small, $3.06. Medium, $3.49. Large, $4.11. Working for 30 cents a day would make it very difficult to enjoy anything listed on our menu. Millions of people around the world have been forced into slavery to pick the cocoa beans that make hot chocolate, and yet they have never tasted it. I’m sure the same is true of coffee beans. Some of our customers seem to think that their latte is the most important part of their lives, and certainly do not understand why it is not the most important part of mine. As Saturday wore on, though, and as the past week has gone by, thoughts about child labor and human rights have slowly slipped from my mind. I have gone back to worrying about schoolwork, shopping, and needless drama. It’s not easy maintaining an air of righteous indignation, not when I need money for college and the assorted nice things that I have come to take for granted. Not even when I think of children in slavery and people in far off places slowly starving. But my smile at work gets harder to maintain.

sie

Graves to honor our fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery

‘My life isn’t a chit’

Dealing with more than a war on a battle ﬁeld, ﬁghting an internal battle

or shortcomings of the war. “The guy in the uniform didn’t declare the war,” Martinez said. “It isn’t his fault you’re not happy with the war. Talk to one of your U.S. senators or elect a new president.” Iraq veterans shouldn’t have to go through the same mistreatment the Vietnam veterans endured. They were unable to find jobs, they were blamed for the war, and they were associated with the blemishes of the war. We need to grow as a nation and hold political and military leaders responsible. They make the decisions. Yet in 2006, protesters stood across the street from a soldier’s funeral and celebrated his death. Members of Westboro Baptist Church held signs reading, “Thank God for dead soldiers,” and “Thank God for I.E.Ds.” They believe God is killing soldiers because of America’s approval of homosexuality. They frequently demonstrated at funerals throughout 2006. Soldiers have their own views about homosexuality, but that is irrelevant to their job. Their families shouldn’t have to suffer because Americans have an opinion on an issue. Though these church members have a right to freedom of speech, assembly, and every right to protest, a family should also have the right to bury a loved one in peace. Several states such as Maryland, Oklahoma, and Indiana passed legislation limiting protesters at funerals and burials to thwart these protesters. Instead people should write e-mails to their Senators, protest at appropriate times, call Congress, elect a new president, form a PAC, create an interest group, or start a single issue interest group. Soldiers have made sacrifices beyond those of the average citizen, yet they are often respected less than the average citizen. Soldiers and should be honored, respected, and remembered whether they return whole, broken, or in a casket.

Je n

Sch

eir

With determined eyes, a focused expression, and camouflage attire, only the half smile revealed Major Andrew Olmsted’s personality, passions, and purpose outside the service. Olmsted’s half smile illuminated his persona reminding us to see past the uniform. He was a husband who loved his wife. A libertarian passionate about politics. A soldier who loved his job. Olmsted was the first 2008 casualty in Iraq. He wanted the American people to understand what was happening on the front lines so he wrote a blog for the The Rocky Mountain News. In a blog written to be published in the event of his death, he asked that his death not be used for any political cause. He believed Americans need to think of soldiers more as people rather than tools for a political purpose, scapegoats, or data used to further a cause. I agree. “My life isn’t a chit to be used to bludgeon people on either side,” Olmsted wrote. “This is tough enough on my family without their having to see my pictures being used in some rally or my name being used for some political purpose.” Oftentimes people are blinded by their political views and act without considering how their actions will affect the veterans or their families. Neither declared the war so it is unfair to use them to further a political cause at their expense. After talking to a Vietnam veteran, Len Martinez, I realized how others actions affect someone who has already been through enough already. On Martinez’s first day out of the service he was confronted by two antiwar protesters who called Martinez and a friend “the latest version of the baby killers.” Martinez was upset by the judgment, prejudice, and presupposition evident in that accusatory statement. The antiwar protesters knew nothing about him except that he fought in Vietnam. He wasn’t responsible for major decisions regarding the war

023

editorial

the rock 01.25.08

School Board student rep

GOT A MINUTE? YOU SO

Teacher In-service and Martin Luther King Jr. Day on top of a weekend! Everyone loves days off of school! Wait…that was almost as long as our winter break…

Giving students a voice as well as giving them taste of the elections equals real education

A majority of the Editorial Board must vote to agree with the position of an editorial. Editorials are unsigned, since they are the ofﬁcial position of the rock.

6-0

Static Rebellion. No longer just a band wagon band. Online classes. Finishing a semester class in twelve days = faux senior option. Awesome!

Editorial art by Aaron Brunhofer

The Douglas County School Board makes decisions affecting schools, faculty, and students all over the county. They can spend up to hours debating decisions that will directly affect us as students. But wouldn’t we like to know exactly how these decisions are going down? What if they actually do change what time school starts? Wouldn’t we like to be part of that decision? the rock proposes that we add a student to the Douglas County School board. What? Yes, it does sound ridiculous. How would we even choose a student? There are nine Douglas County high schools. Well, in light of the presidential election coming up, let’s treat this situation just like it. A perfect learning opportunity. We can have primary elections in the schools, to eliminate the riff-raff. Then we will have all our schools act as states, and have the nominees campaign at all the different schools, acting as state caucuses. And once the final runners are chosen, we can use the school population and create an electoral vote, and choose a winner. It would be a great learning experience. Learning the election process is difficult, but first hand experience might be the best way for students to learn. It will give all the students a look on how the election process works, and could get students excited and involved in elections state, and nation wide. It will also put a student in a position that will represent the students of the county in school board decisions. It’s a win-win situation. the rock realizes that there is a student led comity to provide input to the school board, the Student Advisory Group. This year, the group has made decisions about community service. They created the Responsible Citizen Program, which will help students do community service that will be applicable to that student in where there interests are. But the idea that we could involve the whole community in electing a single member is much more appealing than having a few kids from each school be chosen by the school’s principal. Obviously, we can’t have students involved in many of the decisions the school board makes, such as decisions involving money, or salaries. Never the less, there are plenty that they could be part of: school schedule, food, curriculum, credit requirements, graduation requirements, any decisions directly involving the students. the rock appreciates the work that the Student Advisory Group does, and in no way would want to remove that group from their position. the rock also, respects the decisions that the school board makes and recognizes that the school board tries to make decisions that will benefit the county in the best way possible. We do, however, feel giving students an opportunity to learn about the election process, as well as giving them a student voice on the board, is invaluable.

ROCK!

First Hour Truancies:

A Modest Proposal For Preventing the Tardies of Students in Rock Canyon from being a Burden to Their School

t should be quite clear to the general Rock Canyon population that attendance (or lack there of ) has become an issue as of late, especially when pertaining to first hour classes. Most of you have probably seen it: the never ending line that leads up to the attendance window each morning, students waiting to get their passes so they can at least make it for half of such a valuable learning experience, complaining that the roads were icy and traffic slowed them down, quietly sipping their Starbucks. Staff meetings have been held in response to this epidemic. Teachers have forced students to return to the office for passes if they dare show up late. Students have complained endlessly about how much more class time they are missing. The administration, rumor has it, has even discussed giving tardies to students who are actually excused by their parents. Still, though, a viable solution has not yet been reached. the rock is here to change that. We are here to suggest, in honor of Jonathan Swift, a Modest Proposal concerning such a pandemic. In fact, we are here to recommend a variety of strategies the administration is free to implement, because we believe strongly in student involvement when pertaining to decisions that directly affect these students.

1) In true Swiftian fashion and in response to Johnny Depp’s new musical release Sweeney Todd, we propose that students

who are perpetually late serve a purpose other than wasting attendance slips. Upon (late) arrival, these students should promptly be taken into the kitchens of the cafeteria and made into sandwich meat. If such a punishment is implemented, students will surely give punctuality a higher place on their priority list… and if not, the school saves money on lunch supplies. 2) Take it up with the police. Reportedly, Rock Canyon High School 5810 McArthur Ranch Road Highlands Ranch CO 80124 Phone 303.387.3131 / Fax 303.387.3001

the rock

The goals of the rock, the student newspaper of Rock Canyon HS, are to inform, educate, and entertain readers, as well as to provide an educational opportunity for the students who produce it. the rock invites your comments, especially in the form of letters to the editor. Letters should not exceed 250 words. Coverage ideas, cartoons, photos, or anything else you want to share are also encouraged. Professional Memberships: Colorado High School Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and Quill & Scroll Society

students are mandated by the law to be in school for 377 minutes each day, based on the school board’s mandate of 1,080 academic hours each school year. If students miss enough minutes, they should be tried for such a crime and held in contempt. Trust us when we say that missing five minutes each day – or twenty minutes if you get stuck at the back of that line—really adds up quickly. We heard rumors that the administration was already discussing such a matter, but we are unsure if the source was reliable. 3) Give it the old college try. Allow students to be responsible for the information they miss. If they choose to sleep in, do not allow students to make up anything they missed. Teachers would be encouraged to give short, five minute, 100 point quizzes at the commencement of their first hour class. 4) Don’t ditch class, ditch finals. Students that have a 98 percent attendance rate in a certain class should be able to opt out of taking that final at the end of the semester. Schools that have implemented such a system in the past have been amazed at how quickly the common cold has disappeared from their hallways. Therefore we profess, in the sincerity of our hearts, that we have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of our school, by advancing the learning environment, providing an economically sufficient alternative to current lunches, and providing work for police officers. We are not late to school ourselves and thus we have no personal interest in the execution of such a process. A majority of the Editorial Board must vote to agree with the position of an editorial. Editorials are unsigned, since they are the official position of the rock. The vote on this editorial was 6-0 in support

Editorial Board Executive Editor ..................Susie Typher News Editor ...................... Chelsea Long Sports Editor ................ Jenna Scheirman Features Editor ............... Alyssa Davanzo Perspectives Editor ...........Angie Barofﬁo Design/Photo Editor .............. Max Rowe Non-Voting Adviser ........... Jack Kennedy Reporting & Photo Staff Aaron Brunhofer Mike Dydyn Dusty Ellis Ethan Gottula Dusty Johnson Gabi Johnson Kate Jones Kayla Kallery Micah McDonald Megan McNally Valery Meusburger

Paisley Morrison Ryan Morrissey Jennifer Prusse Kristen Scheirman Mandy Shapiro Tori Sheehan Kyle Shepard Blake Smith Tracie Smith Hannah Wellman

6-0

There’s less than a semester left of high school for seniors. Can you imagine a world where we can eat lunch wherever we want to, don’t have to ask permission to go to the bathroom, and aren’t herded around like cattle? YOU SO

DON’T ROCK.

Rock Canyon is turning into a suburb of Antarctica. It was seriously 45 degrees in some classes today. Seeing your breath is distracting to a learning environment. Beginning of quarter grades. One missing assignment and you’re down to a 75%! Ecstasy proven less dangerous than aspirin. In other news, local drug stores out of aspirin. Faculty not letting students in the side doors... we thought you wanted us to be on time to ﬁrst period...? Having Access taken away so our Advise teachers can check over our schedules. Clearly, RC students aren’t empowered with independence, have no opportunity to explore independence, aren’t encouraged to be independent and have no chance to excel in independence. I’m not sure how to tell my parents that the tax money they pay for my education isn’t being used entirely. Instead, we sit and have class with the lights off like a third world country. Canadians invade Colorado for the Stock Show, eh. YOU HAD THE RIGHT TO REMAIN

SILENT.

“Thou art a gleeking, elf-skinned, ﬂap dragon!” English Teacher Andrew Levine, providing examples to his students for a British insult assignment “Wait is that colon-ary school, or culinary school?” Chelsea Hofer ’08, in response to overhearing Kehau Gunderson ‘08, talking about culinary school “Aaron, I want your body!” Dr. Lustie, asking Aaron Brunhofer ’08, to pin up a poster in her wall, and taking the opportunity to show how things can be misinterpreted

Opinions of the staff of the rock are presented as editorials. We also feature a number of columnists and commentary writers. Their opinions are their own. First three copies of the rock are free, and additional copies are available for 50 cents each. Want extra copies? Check the library or the Publication Lab, room 8550.

Recent Honors & Awards • NSPA All-American 2007. • George Gallup Award 2006, 2007. • Second Place Best of Show (17 pp +), November, 2007 JEA/NSPA Convention. • First Place Best of Show (17 pp +), April, 2007 JEA/NSPA National Convention. • 4A CHSPA Sweepstakes Winner 2006, 2007 • 3A CHSPA Sweepstakes Winner 2005

the rock editorial board: Max Rowe, Susie Typher, Angie Baroﬃo, Chelsea Long, Jenna Scheirman, Alyssa Davanzo The First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

24 0

emily

the rock 01.25.08

Remembering Emily Senior Emily Hansen passes away Jan. 3

Emily Hansen ’08, died of respiratory complications Thursday, Jan. 3. She had been in and out of the hospital several times over Winter Break. Emily was best known for her smile. When she passed students in the halls, when she listened to the band, when she cheered at pep rallies, she always had a smile on her face. “I would say that we’re pretty lucky to have such a happy girl in our lives,” Erica Hansen, Emily’s sister, said back in November. “You see a lot of special-needs kids that don’t have a smile on their face 24/7, and Emily pretty much does. It just makes things so much easier.” “She was a pretty happy girl,” said Christine Palmer, a Rock Canyon educational assistant who worked with Emily. “Her smile and her laughter would get us through each day.” The funeral was held Jan. 9 and was for family members only. Students were

allowed to attend Emily’s viewing Jan. 8 at the Horan & McConaty funeral home. Grandparents and uncles and aunts, cousins and teachers and friends all came to the viewing to bid one final goodbye. “We’re all right,” Dawn Hansen, Emily’s mother, said at the viewing. “Before today, I hadn’t gotten to see Emily for a couple days. Now that we’re here and she’s here and I can see her, I’m okay.” Pictures of Emily’s life decorated the funeral home: Emily hugging her favorite teddy bear at school, Emily hugging Tigger at Disney World, Emily hugging her little brother at her ninth birthday party. Framed and propped up in the center of a table was a poem written in calligraphy. The final line read: “I’ve left my wheelchair; I’m finally free.” Kate Jones

“

“I’ve left my wheelchair; I’m ﬁnally free.”

Above: (Left, clockwise) Tiago Lima ’09, Chris Alberti ’08, Kyle McPherson ’09, and Emily at Prom last year. Before the dance, they had dinner at Bucca di Beppo. “Chris Alberti ’08 set the whole thing up,” Christine Palmer said. “He had gone out to dinner with Kyle and Tiago earlier, so he said he definitely wanted them to come. Chris made the reservations and everything.” “Dinner was really fun,” Kyle said. “I’m so glad I could be there. It was a very memorable experience. Emily seemed like she was having such a good time; she was really happy.” Top Right: (Top left, clockwise) RC Staff Members Jen DeWar, Kandi Hoffmeister, Madi McPherson, Beth Hatfield and her grandson Draimen Bolsinger, Emily Hansen, and Christine Palmer were all present at Emily’s birthday party last month. All of these women work with special needs children. “[The party] was well attended,” McPherson said. “There were so many people… I couldn’t even venture to guess how many. That day was all about Emily. She was so happy.” Right: Emily participated in Women’s Choir last semester. This was the first concert they performed. “Emily was always such a happy member of Women’s Choir,” said Annette Marsden, its director. “She loved to perform. I miss her.”

Top: Emily took Photo II last semester with Kim Graham. On one particular day, Madi McPherson and Christine Palmer helped her take pictures. “Christine and I didn’t even have Photo I skills, much less Photo II,” McPherson said, laughing. “But part of our job is learning how to help these kids adapt to the classes they are in. So we decided we could have a dress up day. We borrowed all of the clothes from the theatre department, and took a ton of pictures of Emily.” Above: Emily making cookies last Valentine’s day with Jen DeWar.

Top: Chris Hansen, Emily’s father, laughs with Emily at her birthday party on Dec. 9th. Emily’s 18th birthday had been the previous day. Neighbors, family members, and RC staff all showed up to help Emily celebrate. Center: Kandi Hoffmeister helps Emily try on Jen DeWar’s glasses last Spring. “I was standing her up in front of the mirror,” she said. “I said, ‘See Emily? We do look alike!’ Emily’s laughs were the whole body kind, where she couldn’t even get her breath... she would make everyone else laugh.” Bottom: Jackie Moore ’08, with Emily. Moore is a Peer Intern for the special needs department. “That day, [Madi McPherson and Christine Palmer] asked me to help out with Emily. Emily was the happiest girl in the whole world – nothing kept her from smiling.” All photos on this page courtesy of Madi McPherson and Christine Palmer