T H E
L E V E R
OCTOBER 2026 Since 1887
I n t ro d u c i n g M i s s R o a c h e : A N e w Te a c h e r a t P a l m e r H i g h S c h o o l
O C TO B E R DAT E S
By Cynniah Mack
Football Game:
Oct 1, 2026 vs Thornton High School @ Garry Berry Oct 16, 2026 vs Harrison Oct 23, 2026 vs Centennial High School @ Garry Berry
Oct 9,2026: No School ( Te a c h e r Wo r k D a y ) Oct 16, 2026: No Students (P/T Conferences) Oct 19-23: No School (fall break)
People who want to become teachers often have someone who inspired them to become one themselves. As Miss Roache told me, “I decided to become a teacher because when I was in high school, I had a really good teacher who became kind of like a mentor to me and she helped me get through all the trials of high school and[she] showed me how awesome r e a d i n g a n d w r i t i n g c a n b e a n d i t ’s a g r e a t w a y to express yourself”. “I really enjoy [being an English teacher] getting to hangout with students and get to work with you guys. I think [the students] are fun and teaching English.” Miss Roache goes on to say when asked what she enjoys most a b o u t b e i n g a n E n g l i s h t e a c h e r. A l o n g w i t h Miss Roache there are other new English t e a c h e r s h e r e a t P a l m e r. T h e y r e a l l y e n j o y spending time with their students and forming bonds with them.
- To r e a d m o r e v i s t p h s l e v e r. o rg
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D e s o g n e d b y D a n i e l a Ta p i a A l m a r a z a n d S u n n y Wy s o c k i
26-27 Issue 1
The Lever
October 2026
Issue 1
C h e f B ro t h e r L u c k By Eshanti Brisaon
I t i s n o s e c r e t t h a t D 11 i s o n e o f t h e best districts in Colorado Springs. However we are constantly reminded through the vast opportunities we a r e g i v e n . T h u r s d a y, A u g u s t 2 7 t h , dual enrollment students of the ProStart program were honored to welcome chef Brother Luck into R J WA C ’s k i t c h e n . B r o t h e r L u c k a n d Mrs. Aragon, Pro-Start mentor t e a c h e r, h a v e b e e n w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r for 9 years to give each Pro-Start student a unique experience and an extra step t h r o u g h t h e i n d u s t r y d o o r. A l l t h r o u g h t h e e y e s o f M r. Luck, who started himself, in the classroom. Brother Luck was not just an amazing guest to welcome back, but he was a s t o r y t e l l e r, a l e a d e r, a l i s t e n e r, a f r i e n d , a m e n t o r, a n d someone I believe everyone in and out of that room could aspire to be. “Celebrate who you are.” -Brother Luck
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Labor Day Parachute Event B y D a n i e l a Ta p i a A l m a ra z
Cadet Second Class Harris was a D1 track athlete at the Air Force Academy and she was told something inspiring that has stuck w i t h h e r. O n e o f h e r h i g h s c h o o l c a p t a i n s w o u l d a l w a y s s a y, “ j u s t r u n f a s t e r, ” a n d she took it as a sign to try harder and always do your best. “What you think is your best, give it even more. Never let anyone tell you no. And y e a h , j u s t r u n f a s t e r, d o y o u r b e s t , a n d d o n ’t l e t a n y o n e t e l l y o u n o . ”
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D e s o g n e d b y D a n i e l a Ta p i a A l m a r a z a n d S u n n y Wy s o c k i
26-27 Issue 1
The Lever
October 2026
Issue 1
A re t h e N e w E - P a s s e s t h e P ro b l e m o r i s i t S e c u r l y ? B y S u n n y Wy s o c k i
While students complain about the new online hall passes, the company Palmer is using for the passes has flown under the r a d a r. O n Tr u s t P i l o t , S e c u r l y h a s 7 0 2 r e v i e w s ; 9 5 % o f t h e m b e i n g 1 - s t a r r e v i e w s . M r. Z a n z i g , t h e d e a n o f s t u d e n t s a t P a l m e r, s a i d h e “ k n o w s w h a t t h e t e a c h e r s a n d a d m i n a r e s a y i n g ” b u t h e d i d n ’t k n o w w h a t s t u d e n t r e v i e w s w e r e s a y i n g . Some reviews bring up how Securly blocks websites, even ones where they could be educational or harmless for the students; a teacher even said it was restricting what they could access. Many complain about the hall passes, things like how long they m u s t w a i t b e f o r e t h e i r p a s s i s a p p r o v e d a n d h o w d i ff i c u l t a n d time consuming the pass making process is. - To r e a d m o r e v i s t p h s l e v e r. o rg
A Te a c h e r ’s Vi e w o n H o w t h e Construction is Impacting the School B y Wi l l a K a l m a n o w i t z
M r. L o h m a n n , a t e a c h e r a n d t h e P a l m e r S c i e n c e D e p a r t m e n t C h a i r, s h a re d w h a t he knew about the flooding incident on Back to School Night. He said the f l o o d i n g s h o r t e d o u t t h e e m e rg e n c y battery used during power outages.
“ T h a t m e a n t a l l o f o u r e m e rg e n c y l i g h t s t h a t a r e d o w n h e r e t h a t w o u l d otherwise come on in the event of a power outage, no longer would do that,” he said. “For a couple of days, there were construction lights up a n d d o w n t h e h a l l w a y … T h o s e w e r e a l w a y s o n b e c a u s e o u r e m e rg e n c y b a c k u p s y s t e m w a s n ’t w o r k i n g . M r. L o h m a n n h a s a l s o h a d o t h e r m i n o r i s s u e s p r e s e n t e d i n h i s b a s e m e n t classroom this year due to the construction. He has had various leaks a p p e a r t h i s y e a r t h a t h a v e , t h a n k f u l l y, b e e n r e s o l v e d . T h e r e w a s a l s o a day where the walls shook so badly that glassware was falling and breaking. - To re a d m o re v i s t p h s l e v e r. o rg
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D e s o g n e d b y D a n i e l a Ta p i a A l m a r a z a n d S u n n y Wy s o c k i
26-27 Issue 1
The Lever
October 2026
Issue 1
D i d Yo u K n ow Pa l m e r H a s a L G B T Q + C l u b ? By Cynniah Mack
Palmer is a place that welcomes anyone and e v e r y o n e . P a l m e r h a s m a n y c l u b s t o o ff e r f o r whatever you’re interested in, but did you know that Palmer has a LGBTQ club? Rebekah Marshall i s a s e n i o r a n d t h e h e a d o f P a l m e r ’s L G B T Q c l u b , known as SAGA. The SAGA acronym stands for “Sexuality and Gender Alliance” or “Straight and Gay Alliance,” but it can be interpreted as both. During their high school years, teenagers are trying to find themselves and who they want to be in the world, how they present themselves or what they identify as going into life. Sexuality is a complex subject, and high s c h o o l i s a c o m m o n t i m e t o s t a r t e x p e r i m e n t i n g w i t h t h e i r s e x u a l i t y. Rebekah said, “So people (teenagers) have a place to be accepted and a p l a c e t o l e a r n m o r e a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s . S o m e p e o p l e d o n ’t k n o w m u c h about LGBTQ, or they think their apart of the community and want to know more about it.” - To re a d m o re v i s t p h s l e v e r. o rg
Pa l m e r Vo l l ey b a l l B y E ly s e B a r n e t t
C o a c h D e t t l e r i s a g r e a t l e a d e r, a n d s h e i s establishing the volleyball program into something students will want to join and b u i l d t o g e t h e r. P a l m e r v o l l e y b a l l h a s n o t exactly been a state-winning program for the last forty years, and Dettler explains that since then, “The demographic c h a n g e d . We d o n ’t h a v e k i d s t h a t p l a y c l u b … s o i t ’s j u s t k i n d o f h a r d t o c o m p e t e at that level without those extra touches.” - To re a d m o re v i s t p h s l e v e r. o rg
O C TO B E R AWA R E N E S S M O N T H B re a s t C a n c e r
D o w n S y n d ro m e ADHD National Domestic National Disability Vi o l a n c e Employment
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D e s o g n e d b y D a n i e l a Ta p i a A l m a r a z a n d S u n n y Wy s o c k i
26-27 Issue 1