How Safe is Rock Canyon?

School Safety (page 12-13)

A Night on the Red CarpetThe Rundown on the Oscars (page 18-19)

19 Students Sign for College Athletics

Sports (page 06-07)

What Does it Mean to be “Talented”?Opinion (page 21)

5810 McArthur Ranch Road . Highlands Ranch, CO 80124 . 303-387-3000 . Volume 9 . Issue 4 . Feb. 8, 2013 The Rock Student Newspaper @therocknews13 Online: RockMediaOnline.org

rockthe

the student voice of rock canyon high school

photo by: [bribradley]

19 students signed to schools across the country to play

college athletics Feb. 6. Take a look at where they’re headed to continue their sporting success.

02 Nowthe[02/08/13]

Coccetti Contends for Apple AwardThe Club BeatEvery year, Douglas County awards its best and brightest faculty for their hard work, and their enduring desire to help their students. Post-grad secretary, Barb Coccetti, serves students with a smile and undeniable expertise

Jan. 17 Shades of Blue visited the STEM Club to speak with students about the opportuni-ties available for those dreaming of aerospace engineering. “It was interesting hearing all about the vari-ous aerospace and aeronautical opportunities out there, and I may want to pursue a career in this field as a result,” Dane Burkholder ‘13 said. Willie Daniles, pilot for American Airlines, promotes the education of engineering amongst high school students. Thirty-eight students attended the seminar, which involved a presentation, video, and Q & A session about the program. Students who are interested in being a part of Shades of Blue are encouraged to visit their website at ourshadesofblue.org.

Science, Math and Tech...Oh my!

The Doctor Will See You Now Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The program depicts the adventures of a Time Lord— a time traveller known as “the Doctor”. The Doctor explores the universe in his ‘TARDIS’, a time-and-space-travel machine that soars through space and time. Doctor Who Club is a fan based club for students, that would like to find fellow peers to discuss Dr. Who with. The club was founded by Stephanie Mendez ‘13, and vice president Luke Hoffman’13. “ We came up with the idea for the club during an off period, because we all liked the show and wanted a place to watch it. So we get together every other Thursday and watch our favorite episodes and eat food,” Hoffmann said. Another member of Dr. Who club is Michael Miller ‘14, who has followed the show for about two and a half years. “My cousin Jade introduced me to the show, and I’ve loved it ever since. Then my friend Luke told me he was starting a club all about the show, so I jumped right on it,” Miller said. The club meets in Ms. Nault’s room every other Thursday, and their next meeting will be on Feb. 14. “Anyone that likes Doctor Who and has nobody to talk with it about, I highly suggest come and check it out,” Miller said.

[cambelwinkler]

[quintenboose]

A new year brings new op-portunities...Especially when

it comes to joining clubs

Any students interested in creating their own club can contact the front office for more information

Apples have been associated with teachers and students for ages. In Douglas County, and many other places nationally, the Apple Award is given to teachers who have exceeded the expectations of their job description and helped their school shine. This time around, Barb Coccetti, RC’s Counseling and Post Grad Secretary, is nominated for the award. “This is a big honor,” Coccetti said. “I didn’t even know the classified staff members were eligible to be awarded an Apple Award for their school. It was a big honor to find out that I could be a part of that group because it’s a pretty high honor to be considered.” This year, about 9000 staff members were nominated for the award and there were repre-sentatives from each Douglas county school that were chosen for further consideration. On Feb. 23, the Sheraton Denver Downtown will be holding a celebration for nominees and to announce the winners. Anybody who is a part of Douglas County could have submitted nominations: parents, stu-dents, fellow staff members, etc. There are six dif-ferent Apple Awards given including Elementary and Secondary Educator Award, Pre-K Education Award, World-Class Education Award, and more. 40 teachers at our school were nominated for an apple award. Ms. Coccetti was nominated for Clas-sified/Support Staff award and was selected as the staff member to represent our school. Coccetti was nominated by her co-worker, Polly Poindexter, who worked with other staff members on the nomination. Many teachers who are nominated have different certifications and degrees, but as a classified teacher, Coccetti does not have to attend the same types of trainings and have the same certifications. “For classified it is a

[nikkinewman]

lot different,” Coccetti said. For those who do not know Barb Coccetti, she is one of the many workers behind the scenes of the school. She works in the communications part of the office to ensure that each student and parent is up-to-date on every event, meeting, prep class, etc. that is going on in the school. “I try to make sure that everyone is in the loop- particularly students and parents,” Coccetti said. “So I really have a huge role as a liaison between

the school and the school community, outside of these walls to the parents.” The winners of the award have not yet been announced, but Coccetti, as well as many others at the school, are waiting anxiously for the results. “I really appreciate the staff’s support in the nomination process and that I hope to be a great representative for Rock Canyon,” Coccetti said. *Editor’s note Shawndra Fordham is the teacher representative for the Apple Awards.

Once again the nation is faced with a prominent and frightening security concern. Shootings in malls, schools, and public areas in general are on the rise, leaving us at a crossroads. As Americans, we have a strong motivation to fix this prob-lem, just as we strive to fix any other problems. Though, with all problems we face, there is great debate regarding to those problems, and the recent Senate Bill 13-009 is no exception. A predominantly Republican bill, supported by Senators Harvey [R] and Renfroe [R], 13-009 would “allow an employee of the district to carry a concealed handgun within the buildings, including school buildings, and on school grounds of the school district if the em-ployee holds a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun.” Though, giving teachers the ability to have a gun on their person is a big step, considered by some to even be a radical step, it has run into fierce sup-port and opposition on both sides of the aisle. “I don’t believe the solution to mass shootings is to bring more guns into schools,” Social Studies teacher Timothy Marshall said. His response is common among teachers at

Rock Canyon, “I am a teacher not a policeman,” teacher Matthew Sassali said. “I do not believe that would be the proper environment.” Though, teacher opposition isn’t universal throughout Rock Canyon. “I would be okay if there was a locked gun kept in a safe and 1 person knew how to use it,” teacher Dayna Moore said. It is not only teachers and staff who have a very

strong opinion to-wards this issue, and in many cases it was students who held a more vocal response towards it. “I personally think that guns in school no matter who is

carrying them is the wrong approach altogether,” Chloe Parker 13’ said. “We should use education, and counseling to solve is-sues that stem with or from gun violence.” “True the issue is gun violence, but gun is merely an adjective. Without a user, the gun’s trig-ger cannot be pulled. Unfortunately, guns aren’t as simple as fire since guns actually do stop other guns,” Sam Cahill 13’said. However, not all students are opposed to the is-sue, there is a large portion of students in support of such an idea.

“I believe that if [America] started to go to that type of policies we would be much safer in schools as well as on a normal day-to-day bases crime would go down. It might get worse in the first years but it would balance out,” Evan Lisano 13’ said. Ultimately the issue boils down to the lawmak-ers that serve us. As stated by Senator Michael

Bennet, “We have a duty to act,” State Senator Scott Renfroe-- one of the key supporters of the bill-- said “Until we change the evil hearts in the world, we will continue to have

tragedies. Passing additional laws attempting to ban guns will not make our schools or communi-ties safer and police can’t be everywhere all the time.” In the end, the bill failed its preliminary hear-ings on Jan. 28, and is no longer being considered. However, the mere fact that such an action is even being considered helps highlight what measures we have to take to keep our children safe--to keep us safe. Should it have passed?

The Truth About Bill 13-089A bill was recently proposed in the Colorado senate that advocated for teachers to have the right to carry a firearm in school. Although the bill has honest intentions, will it keep students safe?

[photo by: bribradley]

[lukehoffmann]

”““I am a teacher, not a policeman”

--Matt Sassali ”““True, the issue is gun violence, but gun is

merely an adjective” --Sam Cahill ‘13

”““It allows younger actors to feel more

comfortable on stage”

--Jessica Benson’15

Now 03the

From blind dates to heartfelt love stories, the Drama Department’s tenth annual One-Act Play Festival, doesn’t fail to leave its cast smiling, and its audience waiting for more. “I enjoy getting to see all of the people that I haven’t seen act before, and see them get more comfortable on stage,” Sound Head Jessica Benson ‘15 said. “I think that becoming more comfortable on stage allows [younger actors] to feel better about auditioning for mainstage shows, and it allows Drama teacher Cindy Baker to be more familiar with their acting abilities.” The festival itself was organized by Drama Club Vice President, Zack Rickert ‘14, and featured a selection of short one-act plays (usually between 15 and 20 minutes in length) from both published authors and aspiring student artists. “The one-act I was in was actually written by a student--Angelica DeFranco--and it was about one of her past experiences with one of her boyfriends,” actor Emily Klein ‘16 said. “She took a little bit of a liberty with it, but it’s about what happens when love doesn’t work out quite how

[02/08/13]

And All That JazzAfter a season of hard work, three symphonic band members see their efforts rewarded by receiving their acceptance into the Colorado All-State Band

Taking Centerstage

Some believe that the performing arts are a varsity sport. Whether it be choir, drama, or musicianship, performers require the same precision, commit-ment, and mental (and often physical) fortitude that is demwanded by their peers on the turf or court; a performer will spend countless hours practicing, perfecting, refining, in hopes that one day their hard work and resilience will finally pay off after a crucial audition. For three members of Rock Canyon’s Symphon-ic band, their hard work paid off, indeed. Tyler

After countless rehearsals and costume changes, the One Act Festival proves to be a success

The Arts Beat

Through self-expression, creative ingenuity, and a passion for the arts, students are able to publish their own creations in Margins- a literary magazine for all students. Students are able to submit a wide variety of items including (but not limited to) sketches, songs, narrative essays, poetry, and photography. The deadline for essay submissions has passed, however; students are still able to turn in any artwork they want to be shown off in Margins. If you have a submission, go onto the Rock Canyon website and search for Margins under the activities tab. The Margins staff is continuously growing, so if you are interested in joining, attend meetings in room 3400 Wednesdays after school. “It is better to get involved early on in Mar-gins because the later you join, some ideas just aren’t feasible anymore,” Colin Foley ’13 said. Margins books will be available for purchase in early May and prices will be released then as well. “Being in Margins has been a great experi-ence. It’s really cool seeing all the different works from so many people,” Deanne Apke ’13 said. Submit that photography soon, and be on the look out for the upcoming Volume 4 of Margins.

Publication Pending

A League of Their Own 46 Rock Canyon students had the oppor-wtunity to perform at Boettcher Concert Hall on Jan. 14. These students were part of the Continental League band, choir, and orchestra. Students were selected to participate in Con-tinental League by auditioning for the RCHS music teachers. “The audition was two scales, an excerpt, and a sight-reading,” cello player Lauren Wearsch ’13 said. Members of the band, choir, and orchestra had to rehearse the selected pieces on their own outside of school before coming together with students from 11 other local schools to rehearse with a guest conductor. For choir students, the difficulty of the pieces took them by surprise, “Frankly, the pieces we performed were quite difficult. Although it was hard, I had fun doing them in the end,” tenor Sam Hulsizer ’16 said. Through collaboration with musical students in the area, those who represented our school enjoyed “creating music as a group with others who we had no connection with outside of this,” Hulsizer said.

[quincyschurr]

[alexissvenson]

From the literary magazine to Continental League, the

arts are in full swing

you want it to.” The festival itself is designed to enable upperclassmen theatre students to have the op-portunity to direct their own production without having to worry about the pressures of producing a full-length show. At the same time, the festival also provides younger actors with an opportunity to “dip their feet” into the department without having to deal with the stresses and pressure

of working on a mainstage production. “It’s a really good gateway to start out because it’s not as intimidating as a full blown show and not as competitive, so you can really get a feel for what theatre does for you and whether you like it or not,” Klein said. The One Act Festival also offers actors and their directors to have

the opportunity to work on a show that would not necessarily be featured otherwise. By defini-tion, one act plays usually border on the lines of obscurity, and serve one of two purposes: to make people think, and -- in the case of Christina Enloe ‘15 ’s one act, Blind Date Inc., -- to make people laugh. “It’s about a bunch of different dates that are set up with completely opposite people and how

each person is trying to figure out who the other person is and trying to get to know them a little bit better,” Enloe said. “I am playing a character named Mildred. I am a hippie and I worked for an environmentalist firm and I am matched up with a man who’s dirt poor and I have apparently ruined his life.” However, although the shows themselves may be a little bit unconventional, they serve to help

students gain a better perspective on what it really means to direct and participate in a show--while having fun at the same time. The direc-tors include Alex Davenport ‘13 Jake

Smith ‘13 , Max Pederson ‘14, Ian Frazier’13, and Angelica DeFranco ‘13 . Through this experi-ence, many of the actors have already decided to participate in the second festival at the end of April, and to “stick around” and see what more the department has to offer. “I like meeting all of the new people and get-ting to experience all of the new actors, and the old actors and still having fun and being on stage,” Enloe said.

Overbaugh, ‘14 Andrew MacRossie ‘14, and Sage Neese ‘13 have been accepted for placement in the Colorado All-State band program. “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to make it,”Overbaugh said, who will be in the flute section along with Neese. “The audition was really sort of grueling. It followed the standard audition format: you run through scales, rehearsed music, and sight-reading, but I found it difficult. I wasn’t expecting to get in.” The All-State Symphonic Band is composed of about 110 students hailing from 59 high schools

around the state of Colorado. Out of the 876 students from the 149 schools that auditioned, that yields an acceptance rate from auditions into the band a little over twelve and one-half percent. Students that were deemed capable but could not be fit into the small size of the Symphonic band, such as MacRossie, an alto saxophonist, were put down as alternates. “I got put down as an alternate, meaning that if another alto sax can’t perform for whatever reason, they may call me up to replace him or her,” MacRossie said “Like what Tyler [Overbaugh] said, it was a pretty intense and difficult audition and I’m content as an alternate. That still ef-fectively places me among the top seven students for my instrument in my state, so I can’t complain there.” The Colorado All-State band -- there is the Concert band in addition to Symphonic band -- has been a prestigious and coveted program for student musicians across the state. So now for Overbaugh, MacRossie, Neese, and the about 100 other musicians that crescendoes, percussed, crashed, trilled, and triumphed their way into the Symphonic or Concert Band, the rehearsal game begins. Until their performances during April 4 - 6 during the All-State Weekend in Greeley, the musi-cians will spend their time rehearsing and honing their skills until their performances. “It was a pleasant surprise to have been se-lected for All-State, and so now it’s just a matter of staying on top of our music until we perform again,” Overbaugh said. “But like I said, this was a surprise, since I really wasn’t expecting to make it. But now I’m really excited to be able to play in this capacity.”

[sachinmathur]

[sydcharvat]

”““I like meeting all the new people and still

having fun on stage” --Christina Enloe’15

[sachinmathur][photos by: bribradley]

Tyler Overbaugh ‘14, Sage Neese ‘13, and Andrew MacRossie ‘14 rehearse with the Symphonic Band on Thursday, Jan.31. Overbaugh and Neese were selected into the All-State Symphonic Band after their auditions with MacRossie being accepted as an alternate. “I’m looking forward to performing, especially after such a difficult audition,” Overbaugh said.

04 Nowthe[02/08/13]

Starring in what may be one of the biggest productions that the drama department has ever produced, Logan Schafer ‘14 is no neophyte to the world of drama. In fact, Logan is thirteen years deep into his passion for the arts. Schafer began his performing career in a production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in Farmington, Minnesota at the age of three as an Oompa Loompa. Although he initially joined the production because his father encouraged him to participate in the show alongside him, it turned out better than expected for Schafer. “I actually ended up with more lines than my Dad,” Schafer said. “In the end, he only had one line, and I ended up with maybe 19 or 20.” Schafer continued to take part in small produc-tions until he was six years old and his family made the move to Colo-rado. Here, Schafer began performing at a community theater in Parker until the fifth grade when he joined the Colorado Children’s Chorale. “I took fifth and sixth grade off from musicals,” Schafer said. “I performed with Chorale instead.” However, once he enrolled in Cresthill Middle School, Schafer’s career began again through his involvement in school musicals and theatre. “I have been involved in every production since middle school,” Schafer said. “Either in the show or as a member of the crew.” Now as a junior, Schafer has taken on the largest part he has ever held: performing as the Beast in the upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast. “The show is a little different from the Disney movie,” Schafer said. “Everyone is slowly pro-gressing into objects and there are a lot more numbers. The movie focuses more on Beast and Belle whereas the show has more village story and the story of Gaston.” With the show approaching its March 6 debut, the cast has been rehearsing for at least five days a week, with rehearsals sometimes running up-wards of two hours each night. Typically, the aver-age week of rehearsal is spent with three days of blocking specific scenes of the show, one day to work on music and one day of dance rehearsal. In addition to rehearsing every musical and theatrical aspect of the show, the cast has payed special attention to visual details.

A Tale as Old as Time...The costumes have been rented, the set is under construction, the music is learned, the pit is rehearsing, the dancers have been choreographed, and the cast is hard at work--the spring musical has officially begun

“There is only one place in Colorado that sells costumes for Beauty and the Beast,” Rachel Zet-wick ‘14 said. “ The costumes are super intricate and we thought of every detail including cups and plates.” As opposed to musicals in recent years which have for the most part been on the more comical side of things, Beauty and the Beast is a dramatic, yet fun and family, friendly show. The music featured includes all the classics from the movie as well as some others from Broadway such as, “Be Our Guest.” “It’s a really good cast and I also like getting to sing and dance because it’s not something you get to do every day,” Rachel Zetwick ’14 said. “I’m excited for the whole show to come together; it’s such a cool thing to watch the pieces come to-

gether and add up to a really great show.” In addition to working on a production with obvious vocal and dance challenges, the actors, such as Erin Snyder ‘13, have also taken the initiative to develop and hone their characters to a point that would make Disney proud. “I like the fact that it’s a

super stereotypical character--but one that I don’t often play,” Snyder, who plays a Silly Girl in the production, said. “So we have the opportunity to get to play it up and just have fun with the role.” However, for many cast members, such as Lela Smith ‘14, the best part about being a part of this experience, is getting to live within the story they fell in love with as a child. “I think the fact that we are doing a show that was a movie that I loved so much when I was a kid, to see it come to life onstage and to be a part of it is really incredible,” Smith said. After high school, Schafer has many aspirations for his passions. He hopes to earn a Vocal Perfor-mance major as well as business major. Schafer hopes to study at the music conservatory at DU, or the Eastman School of Music or the Boston Conservatory. “Vocal performance helps improve voice and confidence,” Schafer said. “Being confident and sure of yourself is important in the business world.” Ultimately Schafer hopes to live and work in either Italy or France conducting and performing with different operas.

”“I’m excited for the

whole show to come together

--Lela Smith ‘14

From Harmonies to Pitchforks1. Choreographing “The Mob Song” Sam Henry ‘15, Francesca Wearsch’15, Lindsey Koehn ‘15, Lela Smith ‘14, Isabella Huff’14, Larissa Rosendale ‘14, and Tiffani Clark ‘13 all act as terrified villagers preparing to storm the Beast’s castle. 2. Chris Woodley’16 listens as director, Cindy Baker, teaches the men their cue. 3. Standing at the head of the mob, Austin Nelson’13 poses as the group’s intimidating ringleader, Gaston. 4. Writing down the blocking, stage manager Jessica Benson’14, works to keep the actors focused and on task.

1.

2. 3.

4. [jeremypurchase]

[photos by: maerohrbach]

26The number of songs included in the Beauty and the Beast score (including the non-vocal pieces). All but two of which are kept in the high school production.

1994The year the musical first debuted on Broadway after the 1991 Disney film.

80The number of students that auditioned to be a part of the musical cast. In the end, only 45 students were chosen.

$1.4The amount of money that the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast has made to date internationally.

By the Numbers: Catching Up With the Show

The baseball team’s opening day may not be until March 14 (when they play Denver East

in their opening game), but since the beginning of January, they’ve been preparing for the upcoming season through pre-season training. During pre-season, the boys train six days a week. They spend three days lifting, and three days at an indoor hitting facility. They also do strength and conditioning throughout each week. The team will start playing their first scrimmages in late February. “All this hard work and preparation is to make sure the team can work well together and that

we can continue to make routine plays without er-rors,” Catcher Hayden Lena ‘13 said. Playing in Colorado, however, has its chal-lenges. The boys have spent much of the winter waiting for the ground to thaw so that they can practice fielding. “This year we have one of the best teams we’ve had in a few years. We’ve got a bunch of guys who have learned to depend on each other and play really well together,” Lena said.

Perfect Season Preparation

Spring in Full Swing

The Poms team packed their bags and traveled to Disney World in Orlando, Fl to compete in

the National Dance Team Championships, which took place Feb. 2 and 3. Their original goal was to surpass preliminary and semifinal rounds of competition and be able to compete in the finals. After the prelims per-formance, the team was excited to find out that they could move on to semis. The girls weren’t as excited about their semi-final performance, but it was good enough to land them a spot in the finals. “Out of 77 teams, it’s knocked down to 22 teams by finals and our goal was to make the top 12,” Hope Bell, ‘13, said. Even while in Orlando, the girls kept up with practice: in a dance studio, and last minute

practices in the parking lot. On Sunday night, they returned to competition at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. The girls danced together for the last time as a team, and their hard work was acknowledged by the judges when they went home with an 11th place trophy. Placing 11th secured the girls a place in Rock Canyon history, and making them the highest placing small group varsity Poms team in the state of Colorado. “I thought I was going to explode from excitement when we heard our name called for 11th. We went crazy!” Bell said. “It was a feeling of pure excitement, joy, and happi-ness. I’ve never been so proud of a group of girls in my life!”

Dancing at Disney

The swim and dive team kicked off their season with the momentum that has kept them afloat

for the past three months. The team attended both dual meets and invitationals, where they compete against 15-20 other teams. This season the team has gone 6-1 at their dual meets. The dive team recently placed first at the Cherry Creek Diving Invitational, while the swim team placed third at the Valor Invitiational earlier this month. “My pre-race ritual is just telling myself to have fun and do the best that I can for my team. I try not to put too much pressure on myself” Jordan Kramer ‘14 said.

With the season shaping up to be one of their best yet, the team has made sure they are sup-portive of one another which is evident in the fact that they cheer on their teammates during their races and dives. “It’s been really exciting and fun. Everyone has been pretty relaxed and is just having fun racing” Emily Kaukol ‘15 said. With their end of the season league champion-ship meets out of the way, eight swimmers and four divers are prepared to compete at 5A State this weekend in Fort Collins, where they will put their training to the test.

Splashing State-Wide

Rock Canyon went down in Colorado history, on Jan. 8, 2013, thanks to Wilkins Dismuke

and his well-known lacrosse skills. He and one other high schooler were presented with the High School Athlete of the Year award by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. The official banquet will be April of this year. Peyton Manning and Missy Franklin (Colorado Athletes of the Year) will also be attending this prestigious banquet. “I was completely shocked when I found out,” Dismuke ‘13 said. “It was just a regular weekday and I was hanging out at my house. I had no idea.” As a freshman, Dismuke made the decision to

play for Rock Canyon, even though he would have been welcomed into any lacrosse community. According to CHSAA, Dismuke was the 2012 Colorado Player of the Year scoring 67 goals with 104 total points. “Getting elected as an All-American player last year is probably my proudest moment in my lacrosse career so far,” Dismuke said. “It’s some-thing that I’ve always aspired to get since I started playing, so it was a pretty huge deal for me.” Next year, Dismuke will be headed to play for Johns Hopkins University. “I would say my athletic role model is Mikey Powell, who is unfortunately an attackman for

Syracuse (Johns Hopkins rival team),” Dismuke said. “He pretty much changed how attackmen play, with his dodging and his quickness. I got to meet him awhile ago, and he was also a super nice guy, so I really look up to him.” The official banquet will take place April 18 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Dismuke will need to prepare a two minute speech for the event. “I am really nervous about that,” he said. “Some of the most famous sports related people from Colorado will be there, so it’s a lot of pressure!”

Lacrosse Is All-American

With fall and winter sports drawing to a close, the spotlight shines on spring sports in training

05Gamethe[02/08/13]

[quincyschurr]

[quincyschurr]

photos by: [nicolemcdaniel]

photos by: [kaylaneil]

Varsity catcher Hayden Lena ‘13 plays against Valor in the middle of last season. As a junior, it was Lena’s first year on RC Varsity, after playing Freshman and Sophomore year for Valor before he transferred.

[nikkinewman]photos by: [brookebell]

[virginiavaughan]photo courtesy of Dismuke

The baseball players get a head start on preparing for their upcoming season, beginning in March

Poms brings meaning to the term “RC Nation”, tak-ing 11th place at Nationals in Orlando

Wilkins Dismuke is honored as an Ath-lete of the Year by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame

The swim and dive teams finally approach the meet they have been working toward all season

Signed, Sealed, Committed 06 Game

the [02/08/13]

3Students playing at the Division III level

5 15Students signing with Division I schools

2Students playing at the Division II level

NCAA schools 10

NJCCA schools 1

NAIA schools 2

NCCAA schools 1

They’ve spent the past four years playing their respective sports as Jag-uars and now they are ready to be a part of new teams in new places. Nineteen* seniors signed to play their sports at the college level Feb. 6 during a morning ceremony in the auditorium. Although they are leaving Rock Canyon, their futures as athletes look bright

Name: Nicole CassouSport: SwimmingSchool: University of Denver (Denver, CO)Major: Political Science and JournalismHer New Team: “I love the team and coaches at DU. Favorite Sports Memory: “I love the camara-derie of high school swimming. Swimming is an individual sport; there is more of a sense of team than club swimming.”

Name: Allison McCloskeySport: SoftballSchool: University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, CO)Major: BusinessHer New Team: “I wanted to stay in-state and I felt very at home on the campus and wanted to play D1. “Favorite Sports Memory: “I love all the people I got to meet that I wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Name: Shannon LieberSport: SoftballSchool: North Platte Community College (North Platte, NE)Major: Elementary EducationHer New Team: “I love the small town and the people. Also, the coach is great and very knowl-edgeable .”Favorite Sports Memory: “Making it to state and facing the high levels of competition at state. “

Name: Brooke WakefieldSport: SoftballSchool: North Platte Community College (North Platte, NE)Major: UndecidedHer New Team: “I like the softball program and the coach. I think it would be a good start to get to play at the D1 level. “Favorite Sports Memory: “I love all the people involved; and it gives you a lot of school spirit and you meet a lot of people.”

Name: Aima EichieSport: VolleyballSchool: University of California at Davis (Davis, CA)Major: UndecidedHer New Team: “I like the atmosphere, and it feels like a perfect fit. The girls are really great too.”Favorite Sports Memory: “The relationships you make and people you meet. It’s a good start to see what you like.”

Name: Josh GardellaSport: GolfSchool: Masters College (Santa Clarita, CA)Major: Business ManagementHis New Team: “I really like the location because Masters is in Los Angeles and I also like the golf team.”Favorite Sports Memory: “I got to meet a lot of people through all the tournaments I’ve played.”

Name: David BoldtSport: SoccerSchool: Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR)Major: Chemical EngineeringHis New Team: “The coaching staff is very personable and made me feel like the team could be my second family.”Favorite Sports Memory: “Scoring the winning goal in double overtime of semis my freshman year to put the team into the final.”

Name: John RehlSport: SoccerSchool: University of California Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)Major: Sports MedicineHis New Team: “ It is right on the coast and it’s the number 3 Division I school for soccer. I like the coaches as well.”Favorite Sports Memory: “Scoring the game- winning goal against Regis in the state quarterfi-nals junior year.”

Seniors playing at colleges in Colorado

Name: Ty Weist Sport: BaseballSchool: Columbia University (New York, NY)Major: Economics and sustainable developmentHis New Team: “Because I really like New York and it is a great opportunity.”Favorite Sports Memory: “It’s fun playing with all the guys and playing some of the other schools in the area.”

*Wilkins Dismuke signed earlier this year to play lacrosse at Johns Hopkins University

Gamethe 07 [02/08/13]

347Division 1 colleges in the NCAA

18Football players, nationwide, signing on national television

1 of 17,501 79Number of RC students who have signed in the past five years

High school athletes who will continue to play football in college

Name: Michael Shepard Sport: FootballSchool: North Central College (Naperville, IL) Major: Economics/FinanceHis New Team: “I really like the brotherhood of the team.”Favorite Sports Memory: “Beating Highlands Ranch at Shea Stadium early this season.”

Name: Lucas WestSport: Cross countrySchool: Colorado Christian University (Lakewood, CO)Major: Business ManagementHis New Team: “I like the community and campus and it’s pretty close.”Favorite Sports Memory: “Enjoying the com-pany of my teammates and building friendships.”

Name: Serina OwensSport: SoccerSchool: Missouri Valley College (Marshall, MO)Major: Broadcasting with an emphasis on SportsHer New Team: “The team has really bonded. The coach is nice but knows when to get to business.”Favorite Sports Memory: “You can be different ages or have skills and can come together.”

Name: Erin WebbSport: SoccerSchool: University of Missouri (Columbia, MO)Major: Pre-med and NutritionHer New Team: “I liked the campus and team. I wanted to go to the University of Missouri even if I didn’t play soccer.”Favorite Sports Memory: “The team had a lot of great girls and we played really well together.”

Name: Morgan StorchSport: SoccerSchool: Minnesota State University - Mankato (Mankato, MN)Major: AccountingHer New Team: “I really like the soccer program and the campus.”Favorite Sports Memory: “I enjoyed being with the girls on the team and the experience.”

Name: Eric WilliamsSport: FootballSchool: Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO)Major: BusinessHis New Team: “The amount of support the athletic department at CSU is giving to the football program is tremendous.”Favorite Sports Memory: “My first game sophomore year was unforgettable. Although we lost, I had a great game.”

Name: Alek Peters Sport: LacrosseSchool: Ithaca College (Ithaca, NY)Major: BusinessHis New Team: “I loved the location, team and school in general.”Favorite Sports Memory: “Being on a team, having each other’s back and being able to com-pete for a State championship.”

Name: Justin GalbraithSport: LacrosseSchool: Aurora University (Aurora, IL)Major: BusinessHis New Team: “I liked the facilities, campus and team.”Favorite Sports Memory: “We always come together as a team. I liked being a part of the Ft. Collins playoff last year.”

Name: Makayla McBrideSport: SoccerSchool: University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, CO)Major: Nursing or Special educationHer New Team: “It’s a really competitive D1 program that is growing and I am really excited to contribute.Favorite Sports Memory: “We beat Mountain Vista in the quarters last year! I like the aspect of representing my school.”

Name: Cameron GillSport: TrackSchool: Western State University (Gunnison, CO)Major: Sociology with an emphasis on Criminal JusticeHis New Team: “It has a great track program and faculty, and I wanted to stay in Colorado. “Favorite Sports Memory: “Being able to mess around and hang out with good friends.”

08

“When I train for track I focus on form, form, form. Then the other 40% of the time I’m there to have fun and help my teammates,” Colin Borner ‘14 said.

“I play hockey for the Colorado Rampage in Monu-ment. During the lifting season we work mostly on

legs, because the stronger your legs are the faster you are able to skate.” Tanner Broschat ‘16 said.

“Training for poms is a lot of work, and just like any other sport you have to be willing to put your all

into every single practice. But lucky for me I’m doing what I love,” Angie Navo ‘15 said.

“Training for basketball is really hard work. We all try really hard to be

the best we can be and even though sometimes it’s a chal-lenge it’s worth it in the end,” Delaney Sullivan ‘15 said.

The Pieces of a JaguarThe will to win is important; the will to prepare is vital. When a Jag takes the court, mat, field, pool, or even the ice, their prepara-tion for the game is an important part of what makes our sports successful. We take a look at that vital aspect through the eyes of a player for each sport. We asked, “What training is most important to your sport?”

“To train for matches mostly I just do light stuff like situps

and medicine ball twists. I also keep my abs flexed throughout the day and that helps a ton,” Alek Peters ‘13 said.

“In tennis, the most important thing is just stretch-

ing, maybe some arm workouts. Mostly it’s just the more you hit the more your arm muscles develop,” Shannon Jiang ‘14 said.

Gamethe

[02/08/13]

Senior Lindi Riley has been working since her sophomore year to transition from gymnastics to diving. As the state meet approaches, Riley trains to increase her difficulty, with hopes to dive in college.Rock: When did you start diving?Riley: My sophomore year, because I quit gymnastics after having ankle sur-gery too many times. It’s a good transition and that’s why I have an advantage over everyone else.

Rock: When did you start gymnastics?Riley: When I was three. So I’ve done gymnastics forever. But I had ankle surgery in 8th grade, freshman year, and then this past summer from doing gymnastics so I finally quit.

Rock: How does the scoring work for diving?Riley: In diving, there’s five different categories, and you have to have a dive in each category, sometimes two, and every week there’s a required dive and you have to have a dive in that category or else you can’t compete. There are twisters, fronts, backs, reverses and inwards. My favorite category is twister. There are two different types of dive meets- there’s 6 dives and there’s 11 dives, six dives are dual meets and 11 dives are invitationals. At RC we have six divers, there’s two of us so far going to state, there’s five of us going to A-leagues which is the second biggest meet to state.

Rock: What’s your best dive?Riley: A back dive. It’s one of the simplest dives but it’s my best. I’d rather do twister dives then flippy dives because it’s been a really hard transition for me, because in dive you have to land on your head, and all my life I was told to not land on my head.

Rock: How do you qualify for State?Riley: If you’re going to qualify for a six dive meet, you have to get 200 points at two different meets and if you quality at an 11 dive you have to get 335 points just at that one meet. And then scoring, there’s usually three judges (some meet there’s five and at the meets where there’s five you drop the high-est and the lowest score) and each dive has a degree of difficulty and they multiply the degree of difficulty times the scores, so they’ll add up the judges three scores and multiply it by 2.2, 1.7, or whatever depending on the dive.

Rock: How do you think you’ll do at State?Riley: Hopefully really good- I’m 12th in the state right now, so hopefully that stays. I got the best score that I’ve ever gotten last night, and I think I broke the record for the school, which is pretty cool, but there’s some really good divers at State.

Rock: Did you qualify for State last year?Riley: Yeah, I think I took 19th in the state, or something like that. I was only 20 points away from State my sophomore year, but that was my first year and State wasn’t even really an option, because I didn’t even really think about it. I just wanted to quality for A-leagues.

Rock: Who else qualified for state?Riley: Tori Ritter ‘15 and Bailey Ludwig ‘14.

Rock: What are your goals in diving?Riley: There are four new dives I want to learn before I get to State: back one and a half , reverse one and a half , front two and a half, and a front one and a half. In 11 dive meets, that’s why a lot of people have an advantage over me, because they have them, but I try to avoid doing dives to my head. But if I have them my degree of difficulty will be parallel with everyone in the state but because of gymnastics I just have so much body control that that’s why I get such high scores-I can stay tight and control my flips really well.

Rock: Do you want to dive in college?Riley: I do. I’m going to try to walk on at the University of Nebraska but it just depends on how I do at State this year.

Rock: Do you miss gymnastics?Riley: So much. It’s so different. Diving was a good transition because it’s all the same flipping and twisting that I know, but its such a laid back sport com-pared to gymnastics.

Learning to Land on Your Head

photos by: [kaylaneil]and [juliahenning]

09Gamethe[02/08/13]

1. Riley prepares to perform her first dive of the meet against Douglas County Jan. 10 at Northridge Rec. Center. “My hardest dive is a back double; it’s two somersaults,” Riley said. 2. Riley springs off the board later in the meet, with the Jags in the lead. 3. Coach Kortbawi gives Bailey Ludwig ‘14 a pep-talk following the meet at Northridge, right before they begin practicing for the next meet. 4. Kelsie Martin ‘14 preforms a reverse dive. 5. Ludwig climbs on the board to prepare for her dive. 6. The team huddles together at the end of the meet after defeating Douglas County. “Our dive team is so tight! We can really rely on each other,” Kelsey Lindemann ‘13 said. “I just adore my team and how far we’ve come.”

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6.

3. With the absence of Eric Jung ‘13, Sunu Sohn ‘14

performs PSY’s “Gagnam Style” Feb. 1 from his Mr.

Jag performance.4. While the girls’ section dominated when it came

to spirit, the boys’ side won the most competitions,

making them the winners. “The assembly was really

fun, and it was a good way to end spirit week right

before the dance,” Megan DeQuiroz ‘16 said.

5. A long with Markus Navo ‘13 , Jack Davis ‘13 dances to Justin Biebers “Beauty and A Beat” Feb. 1 at the

Winter Week Assembly.6. Aimee Schnebeck ‘13 and

Casey Bergeron ‘13 pose during Trigonometry class

on What Not to Wear Day Jan. 30. “ What not to Wear

day was really interesting...there were some guys

sporting some shorts that were definitely too short,”

Schnebeck said.7. With Varsity in Florida

for Nationals, JV poms takes the floor at the Feb. 1

assembly.

Here’s What You Missed: Winter Week 2013

8. Out on the prowl, Markus Navo ‘13, shows his Jaguar spirit Jan. 31 at Mr. Jag.9. Competing in Mr. Jag Feb. 1, Prent Haworth ‘13 models his school spirited attire. “It was a great experience to be in Mr. Jag and I loved doing it with my friends. I want to encourage everyone to try it next year! It’s the most fun you can have and it shows a ton of school spirit,” Haworth said.

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5. 8.

photo by [sydcharvat]

photo by [sydcharvat]

photo by [kelceybeckman]

6.

photo by [sydcharvat]

10 Nowthe

[02/08/13]

photo by [nicolemcdaniel]

1. The boys’ section remains seated during the assembly as the rest of the school does the “Do It” cheer. “The boys should have showed more spirit to compete with the girls,” Dylan Peppelaar ‘16 said. 2. Putting the final balloon on her poster, Haven White ‘15 asks Zack Kostelecky ‘14 to dinner instead of winter formal Feb. 2.

7.

9.

photo by [juliahenning]

photo by [juliahenning]

photo by [juliahenning]

Take a look at the events you may have missed during 2013 Winter Week Jan. 28-Feb. 2.

photo by [kelceybeckman]

Faces 11the[02/08/13]

Painting PerfectionA self-professed perfectionist, Tessa Johnson’s ‘14 artwork can be seen in various mediums, even on some students’ feet

don’t really like talking to people about all of my emotions, so I use my art to portray

what I’m feeling,” is how Tessa Johnson ‘14 describes the emotion that she puts into her pieces. From watercolor, to acrylic, and shoes, to ceramics, you can see her passion for art with every captivating detail.Rock: What is your favorite medium?

Johnson: I like painting the most, probably water color or acrylic. I think I’m more skilled in watercolor than acrylic, but I enjoy both. After painting, I also like drawing in pencil.

Rock: You also paint shoes, how many pairs have you completed?

Johnson: I’ve completed fifteen pairs of shoes. The price de-pends on the design, but the cost can be anywhere from $20 to $45, and if the shoes are more difficult to paint on, it can be more. I did a pair of Jordans, which are harder to paint on, so I charged $70.

Rock: How long does it take you to design and paint a pair of custom shoes?

Johnson: Anywhere from two weeks to a month. They’re really detailed. My favorite pair I’ve done were Dr. Seuss themed, the person who bought them was really excited, since they looked just like the books.

Rock: Do you plan to pursue art in college?

Johnson: Yeah, I plan on going to art school. I have a couple top picks; it’s really what I want to do. Some of my top schools are Rhode Island School of Design, Pratt Institute, and Savannah Col-lege of Art and Design. My top choice is RISD; it’s one of the top art schools in the country; it’s ranked number two.

Rock: What’s your favorite art class that you’ve taken at Rock Canyon?

Johnson: Probably Ceramics with Mr. Gonzales. He’s one of my favorite teachers, he’s taught me a lot. I like sculpture out of clay, not really any rock. I really like hand-building things in ceramics.

Rock: Are you a doodler in class?

Johnson: Yeah, I have over 15 sketchbooks. I have enough sketchbooks to last my entire life. I draw all the time in class when I’m not doing anything. It’s kind of a habit.

Rock: What’s the most frustrating thing about art for you?

Johnson: I want my art to be perfect, and sometimes it looks disproportionate, or the color isn’t right. I always think I can add something, so it’s hard for me to finish. I’m definitely a perfec-tionist and a realist painter.

Rock: What’s your favorite painting that you’ve done?

Johnson: My favorite painting is a water color of Mos Def and he’s making the gesture of shooting himself in the head. I did it for a piece that was supposed to make an impact on people, so you would see a lot of emotion in it.

Rock: If you could see yourself in ten years, what kind of career in art would you be pursuing?

Johnson: Probably curatorial studies, like art history, while just being an artist, and maybe working for a company.

Rock: What other forms of art do you enjoy?

Johnson: I like photography, but I haven’t really pursued it yet.

Rock: You’re a competitive swimmer and an artist. Do you like doing two totally different things?

Johnson: Yeah, I do. It’s a good difference. They’re two different stress relievers.

Rock: Are you interested in fashion?

Johnson: Yeah, I always have been since I was little, my sister has too. Sometimes I dress as I would draw people. How I dress portrays who I am.

Rock: When did you start getting really passionate about art?

Johnson: I always liked drawing and painting when I was little, but it really started freshman year. Best works have been while in high school.

Rock: What awards have your pieces won?

Johnson: I got honorable mention at the Congressional Art Show last year for a piece depicting owl eyes, and I’ve won the DCSD drawing and paint show. I also have a few art shows coming up this year.

Rock: Who are your favorite artists that you look up to?

Johnson: I like Sylvia Ji because of her style, she paints on wood and ply board, all of her pieces are really captivating. I also like he was a nothing at first used to break into RISD to do his print designs, and now he’s really famous and successful, they’re both pretty inspiring.

A pencil drawing of Johnson’s grandmother based off a photograph from 1947. “All of my art has meaning to me, but to be able to draw someone that had so much impact on my life and my family’s life is really meaningful,” Johnson said.

An acrylic painting that was entered in The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. “This is one of my favorite paintings, and it made me realize that I really enjoy painting with analogous colors because they can portray such emotion,” Johnson said.

A pair of Dr. Seuss themed shoes that Johnson created and designed. “Even though designing shoes is time consuming and I can spend up to 11 hours working on one shoe, it is worth it because it’s rewarding knowing someone wants to walk around with your artwork,” Johnson said.

[nicolecassou]

Paintings Worth a Thousand WordsTessa Johnson’s versatility as an artist is evident in all of her pieces.

Tessa Johnson ‘14, student, swimmer, and artist extrodinaire.

“I

If a suspect is a student and is

already in the school, you have to respond

to a surprise.”

“

“Students, we are about to enter a lockdown drill. Teachers, please lock your doors and students please begin lockdown procedure. When you hear the signal, please lockdown.” Once every few months--usually in the middle of a class we would all prefer to fall asleep in--a calm, yet somewhat tense voice comes over the intercom and tells us something similar to the statement above, but, in essense, not to panic. As if out of habit, we roll our eyes, methodically barricade ourselves against the walls, and wait in the darkness of our English class as the silence of thirty teenagers growingly becomes more and more unbearable. Eventu-ally, our legs begin to hurt from sitting at an awkward angle against the wall, and we become so bored that we pass the time by staring out the small rectangular window at the top of the door. Secretly, we all wonder if anything will ever flit past that small hatch to the outside--whether it be a shadow or a face--and we wonder if all of the time we’ve spent cowering be-neath a whiteboard will be worthwhile. Because, once the lights come up and that same voice re-lieves us with an “all clear”, we’re reminded once again that this was only a drill. But what if it wasn’t? As former Lakewood police officer and current Douglas County School District Assistant Security Director, Carol Rosenoff knows all too well, a typi-cal school day can easily turn from predictable, to a struggle for survival. “When we got there, we were staging on the outside--we couldn’t speak to each other, we

Working Against the UnknownIn light of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December, schools across the nation have made the deci-sion to increase both security measures and awareness inside and outside the halls. Living in an environment as “safe” as Douglas County, many students refuse to believe that such a thing could happen here...but is that really the case?

12 Timesthe

[02/08/13]

--Carol Rosenoff

didn’t know what was going on,” Rosenoff said. “I remember that I could hear shots being fired and explosives going off, and I decided that I at least needed the cover of my car, so I went back and got my car and came closer so that I at least had the protection of a vehicle between me and whatever may come out.” As a first responder at the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, Rosenoff was faced not only with a scene that would serve as a turning point in the nature of teenage violence, but also bring about change in the way crisis was handled in public schools.

“Much of my job was to stand there and, as kids fled, to direct them West (out of harm’s way) across the street to the Jeffer-son County Library,” Rosenoff said. “We just wanted to get people out because, at that point, we didn’t know what we had. The communication was very difficult because you had just about every available law enforcement agency showing

up, and we didn’t have the ability to talk to one another. But we weren’t ready for that...We were not ready for something that evil to come into our public schools.” Over the course of the last thirteen years since Columbine, approximately eight mass school shootings have occurred throughout the United States; leaving families and communities devas-tated, and causing students and parents to ques-tion where they can truly be safe. Immediately following the shooting, school districts across the nation saw the introduction of “Zero-Tolerance” policies, the limitation of student privileges, and the introduction of anti-bullying programs in their

schools. For a time, these measures held up to a world seemingly hardened by violence, but everything changed all over again when Adam Lanza opened fire on the students of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Dec. 14, leaving 26 dead, and countless many more affected by the tragedy. “Columbine was the first time that we saw a mass-casualty revenge type attack on a school,” Rosenoff said. “I know that [the police] were go-ing to make an entry, but that’s when they found out that doors were booby trapped with bombs and that there was the potential for propane explosions and things like that, So I think that, at that time, it was ‘try and stay outside, make contact with them and ne-gotiate’. Unfortunately, our suspects come with a plan, they know what they want to do, and a school gets to respond to a surprise.” Following the events at Sandy Hook, school districts across the nation have made changes to their safety protocol--changing everything from the ways in which students enter and exit the building, to barring entry to the school at certain times of the day. In Douglas County, such changes have not been as abrupt, but have served to solidify measures that were already in place. “What schools across this country post-Colum-bine have said--regardless of what kind of emer-gency comes to their front door-- is that there are only four things a school can do to protect itself, and that’s to shelter in place, evacuate, lock out a problem, and lockdown.” This series of response methods--called Student Response Protocol--was established throughout

the county several years ago, and follows the be-lief that, when faced with a dangerous situation, students, teachers and faculty will be trained well enough to have the tools they need to react to any situation. “That protocol has been in place for a long time. I think that what we need to do is remind ourselves what best practices look like,” Rosenoff said. “If a suspect is a student and is already in the school, you have to respond to a surprise. If it’s an outside person that’s wanting to attack a school, they’re going to want to do some planning. [But] If every time [they] turn somewhere and an adult asks who [they] are, [they’re] going to go somewhere else. Prevention can start with

really easy things; if [a student/teacher] would scan the school, they would know which faces they see, know what your par-ents look like, what everybody drives. So having adults that are used to the school and the students, they can tell pretty immediately if something’s

different.” In addition to increased awareness amongst the students and staff, the District has also worked to ensure that every one if its 70 schools have access to the most advanced technology available--even going so far as to see that each school be outfitted with as much surveillance and communications equipment as possible. “Each school has 32 cameras and we can control people’s access. We also have “Text-a-Tip”, and then we have a School SAFE System. Since com-munication was so difficult during Columbine, our Colorado legislators came together and said ‘we’d like to see each school district come up with an interoperability plan’ and that was the school district’s ability to talk to the police officers that were coming and to speak to the firemen that were coming.”

So What Do We Do Next? Immediately following the Sandy Hook shoot-ing, DCSD Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen sent out an email to all of the faculty and staff mem-bers as a means of outlining current practices to ensure student safety, as well as the additional measures she and the security department had decided needed to be added. “I’ve always thought that we’ve done a good job of maintaining a safe building and monitor-ing who’s coming in and out of our building,” Assistant Principal Nicholas Laatsch said. “When we looked at this information, the one area we wanted to make sure was secured a little bit bet-ter was that door by the commons, and I’m sure that students noticed right away that that was the biggest difference, and really that was the only thing that changed.” At Rock Canyon, many of these measures--al-though many were already in place prior to Sandy Hook--have been solidified over the course of the last few months. These measures, such as practic-ing lockdown drills and ensuring that security officers have a presence on campus, have been in effect since the school was built ten years ago, however certain measures--such as the doorbell system outside the commons--have been added as well. “We went back to locking the door and using the buzzer system...So the times when it’s un-locked you’ll see that there’s someone down from security; in the commons area or outside by the

”“I remember I could hear shots being

fired and explosives going off.

[sydcharvat]

--Carol Rosenoff --Kelly Hagan ‘13

I felt less safe within school.”“

Timesthe 13 [02/08/13]

door,” Laatsch said. “When you ring that buzzer is it activates a camera that sends an image to the security kiosk so that they can make a visual recognition of who’s at the door. So that’s how we can actually sight and know who is entering our building at all times.” This measure, which was established almost immediately after the Sandy Hook shooting, has been one of the most visible to students. “Though initially I felt the doorbell system was unwarranted, I think that it’s an efficient and ef-fective way to monitor who’s entering the school,” Trevor Marshall ‘13 said. Other students, such as Kelly Hagan ‘13, feel that such measures have helped foster the idea that Rock Canyon is, and will remain, a safe envi-ronment for students. “Due to recent and past occurrences, I do feel safety measures should be increased. Especially after the Sandy Hook shooting, I felt less safe within school,” Hagan said. “What-ever measures must be taken to make people feel safe, but without infringing on the freedom of the people.”

Is Locking the Door Enough? “Columbine was sort of my personal 911. I don’t think that--and it might be strange to say--but I don’t think that 911 affected the core of who I am, and what I do as much as the Columbine shootings did,” McKay said. ”I remember just being affixed to the television for two weeks and crying every day...I don’t think that if you were a teacher or even a student in the high school that you ever looked at anything the same after that. Sandy Hook just sickened me for a lot of reasons. First of all, the little guys I think are just so much more helpless and so much less equipped emo-tionally to deal with violence in their midst, and I worry as much about the survivors of Sandy Hook as I do about the families--I think that the bigger scope of what happened there, I think it’s going to be pivotal.” Similar to Columbine, the Sandy Hook shooter, Adam Lanza, was immediately labeled by the media as being a “sociopath” who had shown signs of mental instability throughout his life. Several media outlets even chose to deviate from that accusation entriely, and went as far as to label Lanza as being autistic--even before the truth behind the event had been completely unearthed.

So, in addition to providing for the alteration of traditional security protocol, Dr. Fagen also noted how she believes that “Phase II” of these efforts will be to address the mental health aspects about the reality and effects of Sandy Hook. Such efforts are likely to include increased awareness amongst faculty and staff in identifying latent signs of instability, and a redirection of attention to “at risk” students. The definition of “at risk” is subjective; it can be manifested in the form of introverted and extroverted behavior, and can often be difficult to accurately identify and diagnose. “I think that historically its a tipping point in terms of the discussion about guns--but given that my first reaction after the grief, and the pain, and the disbelief, and the sort of staggering questions that one has about ‘where can we be

safe?’ was that I was actually a little angry with the media. They identified that the shooter was autistic in the media, and from what research shows about autism is that there is a very poor correlation between violent behavior and autism. The minute we start associating mental health issues with violence we’ve undone the

last twenty years of progress that we’ve made de-stigmatizing mental illness. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have a place in violent behavior--it can--but its not always the factor that people should go to. I think we tend to think that people who act in that way must have mental illness, and I think that--even as a psychology person--evil is in people’s hearts, and that evil and mental illness are separate and different.” In order to ensure that these needs are met, the District has already begun the process of adding mental health experts to their newly formed safety committee--a committee that was formed post-Sandy Hook as a means of establishing a collaboration with law enforcement, creating a fo-rum to study/consider other safety programs, and regulating staff training--and making sure that all staff members have their eyes and ears open to what is going on in their classes, and in the halls. “We do have systems in place, at least at Rock Canyon, for identifying kids that are struggling academically, emotionally, behaviorally, and we work collectively in different ways to make sure that our kids are getting the services that they need, not only for the safety of other students, but also for the safety of that individual,” McKay said. “I do think systems are in place to identify kids that are “at risk” for either harming themselves

or harming others. That being said, I think that all of the possible mechanisms in terms of security guards and committees and counselors and system designed to identify kids that are “at risk” and even arming teachers are all components of the debate, but there are factors that even the best system can’t control. You never know what that factor is going to be.”

Should We be Worried? In today’s world, there are very few ways to prevent against the unknown. Although such measures are in place, the most important asset to the security of Douglas County schools, and schools throughout the nation, is that of student and faculty awareness. “There’s always the decision to fortify your schools and make them look like a prison with

watchtowers and things like that...I don’t think we’re there yet,” Rose-noff said. “We’re very blessed in Douglas County to have incredible students, incred-ible parents, and I think that “best practices” are go-

ing to keep the problem out.” At Rock Canyon, life remains relatively un-changed. We still enter and exit the school as we did before Dec. 14, we still attend our classes in the same fashion, and we still go about our days as teenagers--carefree, and cavalier. However, although the world still spins as it did before that day, the public school system will be forever changed, and students will be tasked with having to be their own advocate--texting to Text-a-Tip when they see something suspicious, letting a teacher know about what was said in the back of class, and just being aware of the nuances of the everyday--in order to keep themselves and their peers as safe as possible. “I think what’s most important is that we’re all in this together,” Rosenoff said. ”Just knowing how everyone’s going to respond to an emergency ahead of time will keep the questions during a problem to a minimum because hopefully everybody’s planned, everybody’s prepared, everybody’s drilled, so that a response is second nature.”

What Does RC Think?

“While security could be in-creased, it will never stop those who are intending to do harm in a school. Security may be a slight deterrent, but there are ways around the security which cannot be prevented.”

--Garrett Waltermire’13

”“I think that the big-

ger scope of what happened there is

going to be pivotal. ”“ I think what’s

important is that we’re all in this

together.

[sydcharvat]

[sydcharvat]

I’m sure students noticed right away that [the doorbell]

was the biggest difference.”

“

--Nicholas Laastch

How do you feel about increased safety in schools?

“I feel that there should be a standard for all schools--visitors need I.D.’s and passes, lock-downs as a first resort and not a last resort, doorbell method, etc, but I also think that it shouldn’t unnecessarily create paranoia amongst students/faculty--no constant reminders.”

--Jo Bloom’13

[cececastro][sydcharvat]

“I think that to a certain ex-tent it’s really good that the district wants to keep the students safe. But at the same time there’s a line that they’re creeping their toes over to an extent-- surpassing privacy, freedom, and essentially our rights.”

--Ashley Park’13

--Suzanne McKay --Carol Rosenoff

“It’s annoying that I have to ring a bell to come into my school.”

--Curtis Duncan’13

“I think that it’s bad. Once a security guard got mad at me for using window paint on my friend’s car.”

--Jillian La Roe’14

“I think that it’s a good thing that students can feel much safer.”

--Quinn O’Neil ‘15

14 Communitythe

[02/08/13]

Thursday, March 14, 9:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M.ACC Littleton Campus

Students and guidance counselors can meetwith ACC faculty, staff and students about our programs,

transfer options, fi nancial aid and student services.

RSVP at arapahoe.edu/discoveraccFor information or accommodations, contact

karen.khuu@arapahoe.edu or call 303.797.5960.

Discover ACCHIGH SCHOOLVISITATION DAY

Let’s Get PhysicalWith so many ways to stay active, students share their favorite places to work out and their favorite exercises too.

“Kickboxing is a fast-paced cardio workout combined with boxing combinations and cardio exercises. I got started kickboxing because I wanted to get into shape, and learn how to defend myself.”

-Angelica DeFranco ‘13

Packinga PunchKickBoxing

“Riding a bike is a great way to stay � t. I’ve seri-ously raced my mountain bike for three years. I like it because there are no distractions. Once you get on your bike, you’re committed to working out.”

-Audie Ryburn ‘13

Mountain Biking Towards the Finish Line

“Southridge is a fantastic place to work out. It’s close, which is convenient, and the facilities are nice. The elliptical is my favorite machine there, and I work out with my friends � ve days a week for an hour each time.”

-Kelsi Austin ‘16

Southridge Rec Center Gym Workouts

[compiled by AlexisSvenson]

It is all about the LOVE this holiday. Not just for those in relationships but everyone else around them celebrating heart shaped candies and fancy dinners together

This season try an unconventional gift for your

sweetheart

Instead of: A stuffed bearTry: Sign them up for sock of the month club Why?Who doesn’t love socks? Plus every time you wear them you can thank your mate for your cozy toes every month. The gift that keeps giving

Instead of: Chocolate BoxesTry: Edible Arrangements Why?Instead of a box of chocolates that have been sitting on a shelf for who knows how long, try a fresh bouquet of fruits. Who doesn’t love a gift that is healthy, yummy and covered in chocolate?

http://www.ediblearrange-ments.com

Valentine’s Day has gone down in high school history as the day where most people ei-ther break up, make up, get together or grumble all day long. In elementary school, Valentine’s Day was merely a holiday. Filled with over flowing boxes of little cards and sizing up your neighbors big-ger and better shoe box. Now, in high school, it takes on a different meaning. It is a little more serious, a little more gushy and a little more status based. On this day there is a distinct differnce be-tween the couples and singles. Even the shyest couples step out a little and hold hands that day, while the single ladies and some men reject the holiday as a whole, claiming it to be another holiday to spend even more money on useless

Will You Be Mine?items. But if you really think about it there is a little bit more to this holiday than heart shaped lol-lipops and fancy dinners. It is a time to celebrate the loved ones all around us. “I love it. I think it makes people feel loved and it offers a cheerful environment. Even if someone does not have a valentine, they still are sur-rounded with people who care about them,” Jonah Flores ‘13 said. So this year, why not dress up in red and pink hearts and come celebrate this holiday with the rest of the nation? Do something with friends or family for a change. “My parents and I have a tradition on Valen-

When you walk into White Chocolate, not only do you feel like you are 10 miles away from home, but in a whole different world.

The menu may be a little pricey for an average day, but for a Valentine’s dinner it is worth the money. There are so many options, from appetiz-ers to sandwiches, fish and steaks. An average dinner will come out around $25 per person; however, their portions are fairly big, so sharing is always an option. All the food is well prepared. Tip: be sure to valet, because the restaurant will verify it and you will get it for free. So, if you are wondering where to go this Val-entines Day, keep in mind White Chocolate Grill. It won’t disappoint.

Dinner: White Chocolate Grill

Dark, romantic and yummy

[linneamelbye]

From the Original to the Dream Cream Extreme and the Lemon Raspberry Cream , The Cheesecake Factory, located at Park Meadows

Mall has much to offer in they way of desserts. Slightly pricier than the average with slice of cheesecake, ranging from $7 to $15; however, it is a great sweet treat for either a dine in or a to go. “ Who doesn’t love a place where foods great and it is a great place for a dinner with your boy-friend of girl friend. “ Taylor Deck ‘13 said, Treat yourself, your other or your friends for some decadent cheesecake. And if your are not in the zone for cheesecake try some of their other desserts.

Dessert: Cheesecake FactoryTake out or dine in...

[maerohrbach]

At some point in high school, people cross paths with Shake-speare’s star-crossed lovers: Romeo and Juliet. This Valentine’s

Day, take your honey out for a romantic evening at the Stage Theatre and watch in suspense as these teens risk everything for love. Although the show was very dramatic and breathtaking, if you do not understand Shake-speare, this show is not for you. The price is fair however, things could get pricey if you go out for a meal before or after the show (Tickets range from $48-58.00). Make this night the best with the play and din-ner and let Romeo and Juliet help add some love to your life on Valentine’s Day.

Event: Romeo and Juliet

Try something Shakespearean

[nikinewman]

Breaking Down The Date

For the perfect Valentine’s Day date, you need the three things: an event, a dinner and a dessert. But instead of a one-stop- shop, the Rock has a few ideas for how to split up the date instead

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Dylan Tartz ‘15 & Delaney Sullivan ‘155 Months

“I think this upcoming Valentine’s Day will be the best because it is our five montharversary. So I’m pretty excited. I think that everyone is happy on Valentines Day, well the people that are in relation-ship. But that you can still have fun,” Sullivan said.

Brittany Curran ‘15 & Navid Salles ‘158 Months

“I’m thinking of taking my girl out to a nice dinner , probably Pf Changs. Afterwards were going to go a horror movie, so that I can protect her while watch-

ing the movie” Salles said.

Max Peterson ‘14 & Rachel Zetwick ‘146 Months

“I plan on taking her out somewhere special for Valentines Day, probably ice skating and somewhere nice for dinner. I probably will get her a present, I am not exactly sure what yet. Since this is the first Valen-tines Day with her I am pretty excited,” Peterson said.

Gift Guide

Instead of: A bouquet of her favorite roses Try: I Love You Bean Why: With a little water you too can have a bean that says “ I love you”. Eco- friendly and adorable you will score big romantic points

tine’s Day: we go to dinner at an amazing fancy restaurant by the name of Trappers. Even though I don’t have a date on Valentine’s, a nice dinner with my parents is awesome.” Lindsey Hackbarth ‘13 said. As for those who are in a relationship, this day should not be the only day that you actu-ally get dressed up and have a date with your partner. That being said, why not try a different date night. Something unconventional, from gifts to restaurants and dates. Maybe go bowling in fancy dresses or go sky diving; try something different. Remember that Valentine’s day is not about being single or in a relationship, but about love and shoe boxes.

[maerohrbach]

15Beatthe[02/08/13]

Price: $39-140.00

Price: $150 for 13 pairs of socks

Price: $6.99

[maerohrbach]

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2Take Care of YourselfSchool is like a germ pit. If someone is sick around you, you have a pretty good chance of getting what they have. The flu has really spiked this season, making many people sick, even if they received a flu shot. It is so impor-tant to take care of yourself every day, from making sure you get enough sleep to eating well throughout the day, and exercising when you have time to keep yourself in shape.

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With life flying by so fast these days, we need to take advantage of every second. With these top 13 ideas for 2013 we can improve our everyday life and enhance the way we live2013

3Try Something New Without Fear It is time to start living on the wild side. Go travel and see new places. Do something you have always wanted to do and don’t be afraid. Sing in front of a crowd, plan a flash mob, talk to that one person you have wanted to talk to, wear heels or sweatpants and rock it.

4Do Something Nice for Others Once in a While Even the smallest things that you do can make a change. There are many ways to be a light in someone’s life or an inspiration to their day. You can do simple things such as holding the door open for someone, compli-menting someone every day, leaving a note for a friend on their desk with an uplifting quote, or sending someone an encouraging text message to brighten up their day letting them know you are thinking about them. You can even pay for the Starbucks of the person behind you, pay for your friend’s gas, help someone achieve a goal, or volunteer in your community. Anything that you do as a gesture to help someone will make a impact.

7Stand up for Yourself Don’t let other people define you. You have to control who you are and who you are going to become. From what you wear to the way you act or what kinds of things you say, be yourself and don’t let other people influence you in a negative way. Don’t allow yourself to be pushed around. Stand up for yourself, stand up for what you believe in. Don’t allow yourself to be bullied or made fun of, stick up for yourself and stay strong.

6Separate your Needs from your Wants We all want a lot of things, but what we ac-tually need is what we should be spending our money on. If you do not need the item right away, save your money for something you really need down the road.

5Appreciate the People that are Already Around you and Give to youThere are always those people in your life who are constantly there to talk to you, support you, and will do anything for you. There is that one person you can tell anything to and he/she will always give you good advice and have your back. It is time to start recognizing them and being the sturdy structure in their life, and being more there for them then they are for us. Try and help them with something to show your appreciation for their presence in your life. Spend more time with them and give back to them.

10Make Healthy Choices You do not have to drastically change your diet to make healthy choices and live a healthier lifestyle. Even just switching out a soda for a water or tea, or eating nuts or fruit instead of chips can make all the difference. Oatmeal, toast, smoothies, and protein shakes are just a few ideas that taste great in the mornings. Eating a healthy breakfast full of protein and vitamins is essential to giving you the boost you need to start your day off right.

8Get out of Your Comfort Zone “Try new things and get out of your comfort zone. Dress up for spirit days, especially Wish Week, go ask that one person to prom, talk to someone new and make new friends,” Grant Schutte ‘15 said.

9Be More Active at SchoolHigh school is truly what you make of it and school spirit and participa-tion can play a big roll. “I would go to games because it is fun to hang out with friends and socialize with them, all the while you show support for our school,” Maddie Bove ‘16 said. “The more involved you become by attending sporting events and drama productions, the more you will get more out of high school. Furthermore, Jag Spirit Fridays take place every week so make sure you always wear your favorite Rock Canyon gear every pride to show your jaguar pride.

11Cherish Memories MadeThere are many ways to preserve your favorite high school memories that will make them last a lifetime. Besides editing pictures or adding cool effects to them, another idea is to start a journal or make a “happy jar” and fill it with fun memories. Every time you are having a rough day, you can pull out a memory and it will put a smile on your face.

12Start Thinking About Your Future Don’t wait until the last minute to think about what you want to do with your life. Start planning it out now and think about what you will have to do to get yourself there.

13Treat Each day as a Gift, not for Granted In today’s society you never know what will happen every morning after you wake up or what can hap-pen each night after you fall asleep. With all of the shootings that have been happening lately and the daily amount of car accidents that people get into, you cannot guarantee that you will wake up to-morrow. “When you take each day as a gift, time isn’t wasted because you are aware of how valuable and precious each moment is. You won’t grow complacent either and will focus on productivity and constant improvement,” Shen Lu ‘14 said.

1Prioritize Busy. Busy. Busy. We are all so busy these days that we do not have any time to waste. Between balancing homework, sports, work, family, and friends, we have many tasks to accomplish in so little time. But by prioritizing we can make sure everything that has to get done, is accomplished. Make a to-do list, set reminders on your phone, do something that will keep you on the right track. Do the most important things first so the tasks that must get done and that are priority to you get accomplished.

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[kelceybeckman]

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Amour Rated: PG-13, 127 minutes, Starring Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, and Isabelle Huppert.

Plot: “Amour” starts o� with focusing on George (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne’s (Emmanuelle Riva) relationship after being marrired for many years and growing old together. They are both piano teachers, now retired. When we � rst meet them,

they are attending a concert of one of Anne’s old students, now grown and making a name for himself. At breakfast the next morning Anne blanks out and doesn’t recall anything that has happened moments before. From there on out

starts the rapid decay and detachment of a human being and the one that is left behind.

What Rocked: The setting was beautiful and transisitons were smooth and well done. Actors gave great performances.

What Didn’t Rock: The pace is slow with long scenes tending to drag on.

Recommendation: If you liked Life is Beautiful, you would like Amour.

Nominations: Emmanuelle Riva is nominated for best actress. “Amour” does not have a very high chance of winning Best

Picture, since it is a foreign � lm and relatively unknown.

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AmourRated: PG-13, 127 minutes, Starring Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, and Isabelle Huppert.

Plot:Plot:Plot “Amour”: “Amour”: starts o� with focusing on George (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne’s (Emmanuelle Riva) relationship after being “Amour” starts o� with focusing on George (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne’s (Emmanuelle Riva) relationship after being “Amour”marrired for many years and growing old together. They are both piano teachers, now retired. When we � rst meet them,

they are attending a concert of one of Anne’s old students, now grown and making a name for himself. At breakfast the next morning Anne blanks out and doesn’t recall anything that has happened moments before. From there on out

starts the rapid decay and detachment of a human being and the one that is left behind.

What Rockedgreat performances.

From the Silver Screen

to Golden Guys

Life of PiRated: PG, 127 minutes. Starring Suraj Sharma,

Irrfan Khan, and Adil Hussain.

General Plot: Life of Pi is the story of Piscene “Pi” Patel, whose family boards a ship with their family zoo to move

to Canada for a new start. During the night, a storm hits the ship and Pi narrowly manages to escape the sinking freighter.

All the passengers, including Pi’s family, are killed. Onboard Pi’s small life raft is Richard Parker the 400-pound, ferocious Bengal

tiger. They help each other survive, and eventually Pi trains Richard Parker and they become friends � ghting for the same thing: survival.

What Rocked: The e� ects in Life of Pi are very realistic and visually stunning, as they should be with a million dollar budget to work

with.

What didn’t Rock: The story is all very symbolic and sometimes hard to understand. Some parts are not in English, so following the converstaion can be

confusing.

Recommendation: If you liked We Bought a Zoo, you would like Life of Pi.

Nominations: Life of Pi is nominated for Best Picture, Best Direction, Adapted Screenplay, Production Design, Cinema-

tography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Original Score, Original Song, Film Editing and Visual E� ects. Pi has a

very high chance of winning categories like Best Visual E� ects.

[maddiewhitten]

Beasts

of the Southern Wild

Rated: PG-13, 93 minutes, Starring Quven-zhané Wallis, Dwight Henry, and Levy Easterly.

Plot: The � lm follows the journey of a young girl named Hushpuppy as she is forced to learn to adapt to a changing world--

one in which she will have to struggle to survive.

What Rocked: The acting is phenomenal, and the cinemetography and art direction is something for all Indie Films to asprire to.

What Didn’t Rock:The � lm tends to lag at certain points, and some plot developments take longer than others--oftentimes to the point where you could leave the screen to grab a bowl of popcorn and not

miss a thing.

Recommendation: If you liked Into the Wild, you would like Beasts of the Southern Wild. The � lm, although relatively similar visually to a big-budget picture, will leave its audiences both in tears, and with a greater sense of their own humanity. Simply put, this

� lm is extremely dense, but completely worth the 90 minute investment of your time.

Nominations: Because this � lm is too much of an indie � ick, “Beasts of the Southern Wild” has a very low chance of winning Best Picture.

[sydcharvat] [syd [syd [syd [syd

18 [02/08/13]

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250the attendance at the � rst Academy Awards in 1929.

age of ShirleyTemple in 1934 when she won her � rst of many Awards for her con-tributions to the � lm industry.

$1.7Mcost of a 30 second commer-cial during the 2011 Academy Awards broad-cast.

$5,000-

average cost of a gown worn during the Academy Awards.

compiled by [maddiewhitten]6cost of Alison Krauss’ shoes for the 2004 awards. They were made of diamonds and platinum.

$15,000

$2MLes MisérablesRated: PG-13 ,158 minutes, starring Hugh Jack-man, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried.

General Plot: Set after the French Revolution, prisoner 24601 is a man on the run. After being arrested and put in prison for stealing bread for his starving family, Jean Valjean (Jackman) is released on parole with Inspector Javert (Crowe) on his case. Ten years later, Valjean is a successful businessman and mayor of his town. He meets Fantine (Hathaway) and later cares for her while on her deathbed. After she dies, he vows to � nd her daughter Cosette (Seyfried) and raise her as his own. This decision, against the backdrop of the residual e� ects of the French Revolution, changes each character forever.

What Rocked: The acting and singing were very convincing. Instead of prerecording all the songs, they were performed and recorded on the set. This made the acting authentic and persuasive. Hathaway’s performance of “I Dreamed a Dream”

was by far, the best of the movie. The song is very popular and is sung everywhere. But Hathaway takes the song and gives it a whole new meaning, and the emotion portrayed are very impressive.

What Didn’t Rock: If you do not think you’d enjoy singing for three hours straight, do not see this movie. There is hardly any dialogue, or anything other than singing. Be prepared! The story encompasses the entirety of Valjean’s life, so the pace is a little disconcerting. Ten years will pass in an instant, but 30 minutes in the movie will comprise of a week in the story.

Reccomendation: If you liked The Phantom of the Opera, you would like Les Misérables.

Nominations: Les Mis also received nominations for Best Actor (Hugh Jackman), Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway), Production Design, Costumes, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Song (“Suddenly”) and Sound Mixing.

[maddiewhitten]

Rated: R, 180 Minutes, Starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio.

General Plot: In 1858, a gang of slaves is bought and freed by Dr. King Schultz. Schultz takes with him slave Django, and they begin the adventure of a lifetime. Schultz hires Django to be a partner with him in a bounty hunting business. Django and Schultz tour the country killing fugitives and illegal slaveholders. About midway through their adventure, Django and Schultz reach their greatest task yet. Taking Django’s long lost wife Broomhilda from the largest plantation owner in the south, Calvin Candie. This ensues a whirlwind of wit, violence, and drama that is unmatched in a theatre. The movie ends with the death of Candie, Schultz, and essentially everybody in the movie other than the triumphant Django and his wife Broomhilda. What Rocked: Django is undoubtedly a Tarantino � lm, � lled with unrelenting and gratuitous violence, foul language, and banter that would make Aaron Sorkin jealous. However, despite the callous nature of the � lm, Django holds a surprisingly heartfelt theme. That all of us can achieve greatness, and defeat the evils that this world holds. The performances delivered in this movie are some of the preeminent performances of the year. Jamie Foxx brings an un-derstated yet fantastic edge to the surly Django, and Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio are absolutely brilliant as bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz and brutal plantation owner Calvin Can-die. Many of the scenes in this movie -- the mandingo � ghting

scene comes to mind -- are extremely uncomfortable to watch, but these scenes bring an intensity that is unmatched by any movie this year. Django has roughly not one, not two, but � ve “endings”, keeping the emotion and energy high throughout the � lm from start to � nish.

What Didn’t Rock: This � lm is not for those faint of heart. There are very few scenes in this movie in which the N-word is not uttered, or a gun is not shot and blood does not spew. However, if you can stomach this vulgarity, Django will be one of your favorite movies of the year.

Recommendation: If you liked Inglorious Bastards or virtually any other Quentin Tarentino � lm, go see Django Unchained.

Nominations: Christoph Waltz has a very good chance at winning Best Supporting Actor, and Django is a favorite to win for Best Cinematography and Best Original Screenplay.

[michaelshapiro]

Zero Dark ThirtyRated: R, 157 mins, Starring Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Chris Pratt, Joel Edgerton, and James Gandol� ni.

General Plot: The � lm opens with audio recordings from responders, government o� cials, bystanders and victims during the September 11th attacks in 2001. The � lm then fast forwards 2 years later and takes us to Maya (Jessica Chastain), a fresh CIA operative who has been assigned to Pakistan in order to pursue Osama Bin Laden. She is reluctant at � rst to watch fellow CIA agent Dan (Jason Clarke) torture individuals to obtain information about Bin Laden’s associates and whereabouts, but eventually succumbs to it. She then embarks on a years-long campaign to � nd the Al-Qaeda leader, eventually believing he is located in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Maya argues her point to her fellow agents at the CIA who are initially unconvinced about the location of Bin Laden. They eventually cave in to Chastain’s persistent and � ery character. A Navy SEAL team is

sent to capture or kill Bin Laden in Abbot-tabad, and the rest is history.

What Rocked: Jessica Chastain and Jason Clarke are both incredible as Maya and Dan, respectively. Maya is perceptive; she has a swift intellect, demanding poise, and an emotionally-tied and almost pathologi-cal obsession with � nding Bin Laden that really layers the character out. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Oscar went her way. Jason Clarke’s Dan is a straight stone-cold CIA operative that’s also semi-maniacal and executed with everything somebody should expect from a story about the deception, intelligence, and high-risk espionage it took to � nd Bin Laden.

What Didn’t Rock: Since Zero Dark is actually based on the intense decade-long intelligence campaign to � nd and kill Osama Bin Laden, the plot may be hard for those to follow, especially with thehistorical context and characters that weave in and out of the story. If you struggle with di� erentiating names like Abu Faraj al-Libbi with Khalil al-Balawi, multiple viewings or reading up might be needed to cure your confusion.

Recommendation: If you liked Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, you would like Zero Dark Thirty.

Nominations: Zero Dark has four other nominations in addition to Best Picture, including Best Actress in a Leading Role, Film Editing, Sound Editing, and Writing (Original Screenplay)

[sachinmathur]

Screenplay.Screenplay.Screenplay.

[maddie [maddie [maddie [maddie

Silver Linings PlaybookRated: PG-13, 122 minutes, starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawerence, and Robert De Niro.

General Plot: Silver Linings Playbook chronicles the events that unfold once Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) is released from his eight month stay at a Pittsburg men-tal hospital to go and � nish his recovery at his parents’ house. Diagnosed with a mild form of Bipolar Disorder, Pat is tasked with � nding a way to recover after his wife leaves him for another man, and is forced to attempt to rebuild the life he once knew. He quickly befriends a young woman named Ti� any (Jennifer Lawrence)--a widow who is currently in the midst of a battle with depression--and together they help one another cope with the awful realities they both have to face.

What Rocked: Featuring a stellar performance by its entire cast (which also features Robert De Niro, Julia Stiles, and Chris Tucker) Silver Linings Playbook is sure to leave its audience both in stitches and in tears as they watch Lawrence and Cooper’s awkward John Hughes-esque romance play out on the screen. Grant-ed, the � lm may not � aunt a million dollar budget, or a

plot laced with teen vampires and were-wolves, but it possesses a sort of perfection that is so rarely seen in movies anymore--like Jason Reitman’s Juno, it helps the audience see that, regardless of what others may think, even though life isn’t always perfect, the people around us can still manage to make it that way. Its almost as hard to imagine Jenni-fer Lawrence without a bow and arrow as it is to imagine Bradley Cooper without perfectly styled golden blonde hair; however, Silver Linings Playbook not only manages to rob these actors of their tags, but also manages to build a solid � lm out of it.

What Didn’t Rock: Robert Di Niro was underwhelming throughout.

Reccomendations: If you liked “Our Idiot Brother” go see “Silver Linings Playbook”

Nominations: Jennifer Lawerence is a favorite for winning best actress, and “Silver Linings” might also win for best adapted screenplay. [sydcharvat]

screenplay.

screenplay. screenplay.

Django Unchained

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Thinking Inside the Bun: Best Burger in TownCrave: Authentic taste: “thinking outside the bun”

Food Quality: The burger, in this case the Big Classic Smash, and comes with cheese, mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomatoes on top and survived on an egg bun. The burger is not as big as it looks; their signature is to smash the burger thin, and then cook it for more flavor, hence the name of the restaurant. Meat and condiments good, the bun is what makes this burger great. Smashburger has their specialty “Smash Fries”; normal fries as you would expect, yet smothered with rosemary and olive oil to create a dis-tinct flavor that will definitely draws me back for more. The only downside was they came out slightly cold.

Service: The cashier greeted us with a smile and the ordering was ef-ficient. After the cashier gave us our number, and immediately we found a table. Within two minutes of ordering, the milkshake, an Oreo Haagen-Dazs, came to the table. The waiter then asked us if we needed anything in the mean time. Five minutes and one second after I ordered, my burger came. Though the fries were slightly cold, the burger was piping hot. The waiter also came by twice more to make sure everything was to my liking.

Atmosphere: Smash Burger has a unique aura about it. The signs and decorations are very modern and contemporary. The floor, tables, chair, and booths are very clean. The food isn’t clean and crisp as you would ex-pect from the appearance, yet it is what you want from a burger; bountiful in proportion and bursting with flavor.

Smash Burger: A modern twist on a classic

Oreo Haagen-Dazs milkshake from Smashburger: Delicious and thick,

it’s a great addition to a superb burger. Definitely not a memorable addition

though and is not a critical selling point at $3.99

“The Velvet Elvis” from Crave: A wild mix of smooth praline pecan

ice cream, peanut butter, bacon and banana all for $5. Odd and different,

it’s scrumptious addition to a “crave-burger”.

Food Quality: The first time I went to Crave, I ordered a “Wiseguy”. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the waiter brought it to the table. The “Wiseguy” consisted of, fried mozzarella, prosciutto, basil, tomato, onion, and pesto with balsamic and olive oil on top of a delectable bun and a burger cooked to perfection. To accompany this delicious item, I ordered a strawberry cheesecake milkshake. Inside the phenomenal treat, there were chunks of actual cheesecake to compliment the creamy delight.

Service: Unlike smash burger and five guys, crave offers a waiting service that is typical of a non-formal style restaurant. The servers were friendly and helpful when perusing through crave’s extensive and wild menu. (Look up if you’re curious). (They have a doughnut burger!)

Atmosphere: Crave resembles a family dinner with a modern-contem-porary style. The relaxed atmosphere perfect for enjoying a phenomenal burger. There was also a bar area and televisions with sportscenter or a football/basketball game on. I enjoyed having a waiter rather than order-ing at the counter. Though it was still a burger joint, I felt at ease and I was able to feel comfortable settling in to truly enjoy this feast.

Food Quality: When biting into a burger from Five Guys, one can instantly taste the freshness. The bun and the meat were expertly cooked and, though it was still juicy, didn’t appear to be drenched in sauce and grease. Five guys offers a variety of toppings to put on their burgers such as mushrooms, sauted onions, and A1 Steak Sauce, all for free. Though the burger was delicious, the real treat was the fries. Although they seem expensive, the fries come in abundance (the regular size is more than enough). Greasy, filling ,and flavorful, these thick fries are what keeps customers coming back.

Service: Walking into Five Guys, you are instantly drawn to the large menu above an expansive ordering counter. Ordering is quick and efficient. You will receive a number on your receipt, and then you food is ready, a friendly employee will call out your number on the microphone and hand your meal to you in a thick brown paper bag. My burger wasn’t very warm when I received it though and through further observation, I watched other orders sit on the preparation counter for a few minutes before they were bagged and numbers called out.

Atmosphere: Instantly when entering the restaurant, you are sur-rounded by bags of fresh potatoes recently shipped in from all around the country. In addition, the color scheme of red and white gives a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, there are boxes of peanuts of which diners can help themselves too while they wait for their burger.

Five Guys: Freshness with fantastic fries

Fries from Five Guys: Hand cut and grown in the U.S.A. Five guys

prepares their potatoes steak style and seasonsed them to perfection $2.99.

You can’t go to Five Guys without having fries.

What is the perfect complement to your

all-star burger?Restaurants have been popping up all over Highlands Ranch, sink your teeth into the best burgers accorrding to The Rock

photos by: [jeremypurchase][jeremypurchase]

[jeremypurchase]

[jakebattock]

Find the “Little Bacon Cheesburger” for $5.29 at Five Guys located at 9352 S Colorado Blvd, Littleton

Find the “Classic Smash” for $4.99 at Smashburger located at S. University Blvd. & Highlands Ranch Blvd.

Fine the “Wiseguy” for $11 at Crave located at 3982 Limelight Ave. Castle Rock

[jeremypurchase][jakebattock]

photos by: [jakebattock]

photos by: [jakebattock]

The perfect burger needs the perfect side, here are some of the best things to pair with your burger

”“Whatever your talent is, somebody loves it

about you.

21Takethe

[02/08/13]

Unbelievable

Don’t Worry, Facebook Loves You

I am a very talented person. For example, I can put my palm down on a table and turn my hand in almost a complete circle with-out lifting it up. I have perfected a Bulgarian accent. I have a Friends reference for basically everything and I can remember the theme song from every show that I’ve ever watched (Lizzy McGuire and her picture perfect plan anybody?). I’m really, really good at running out of money when my fuel light is on and knowing exactly how far I can drive on what-ever comes after Empty. I can sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” in Latin. And, if the timing is right and I’m low enough on sleep, I can do a horrifyingly accurate Cee Lo Green impersonation. Sadly, I don’t think any of these talents will get me into college. They certainly won’t get me any

That’s What She Syd

By Syd Charvat

GTL and Other PhilosophiesOnce graduation comes and we turn out tassles to the left, what exactly are we supposed to do next?

scholarships. Maybe I’m wrong, but it appears to me that admissions of�icers aren’t impressed by my ability to whip out the vintage Disney themes faster than they can say “That’s So Raven”. And unless I can get a Letter of Rec from Cee Lo himself, that’s a talent that will have to be saved for a very lucky, select few. I guess I’ll have to get into college the boring, traditional way; GPAs, Test Scores and recommendations from peo-ple who have the good sense to take off their sunglasses indoors. In interviews I will have to refrain from using my Monica and Chandler anecdotes and will certainly drive there on a full tank of gas, rather than coasting down Quebec like a bobsledder. I do understand why colleges can’t admit us on our quirks. I do, however, fear that our generation loses some of its authenticity in this whole “plan-ning the future” frenzy. If it isn’t a section on the

Hitting the “submit” button on the Common Application is a bittersweet moment. Once the initial wave of relief washes over your overwhelmed, sleep-deprived self, you’re immediately struck with an unavoidable feeling of pre-collegiate terror. What am I going to do with the rest of my life? It’s a petrifying thought that unfortunately leads to a slippery slope of other malignant thoughts like Am I going to be successful? What do I have to do to �ind success? And, worst of all: Who am I? Granted, you have the luxury of being able to mull over that thought for several months before you begin your life as a real college student, but, at the same time, you constantly �ind yourself bombarded with questions from your parents friends and the relatives that you only see at holi-day parties about what you want to major in, for how long, what degree you want to get, and how you plan to spend the rest of your existence. Being one of the students that chose to submit all of my applications in mid-October, I’ve had time to do two things: spend copious amounts of time gritting my teeth as the Facebook world upload photos of themselves smiling next to their acceptance letters, and to catch up on my entire Junior year’s worth of reality television. For what felt like months, my DVR and I were lost in the lives of seven clementine-toned peo-ple—all of whom spent almost every waking hour drinking, working out, clubbing, and promoting products that make little to no sense whatsoever (protein infused vodka…seriously?). They rarely ever ventured outside of their perpetually dishev-eled house, and did everything in their power to �ind some sort of relevance in every interaction they had with another human being. But it wasn’t until I hit season four that I �inally realized something; none of these people were eloquent, none of them held college degrees, none

Being Talented

Believable

Unbelievably Believable

There’s an internet-enabled jacket that gives you a “hug” every time someone

likes your status.

Geese are used as a means of security for prisons in Brazil.

A British professor pleaded guilty to damaging cars by taking a screwdriver and carving words such as “very silly”, “really wrong” and “arbitrary” into the

car’s paint.

Why to Always Carry a Passport...

The Time Charles Dickens Keyed My Car

The National Security Agency banned Furbies due to the belief that Furbies would repeat classi� ed information.

Dangit! They Bugged my Furbie...

The Bank of Canada has used the wrong type of maple leaf on newly printed

banknotes. They used a Norway maple leaf over the North American sugar maple, which is found on their � ag.

Who Knew Leaves Could be Confusing?

The Hipster Queen86 year-old Queen Elizabeth II of

England chooses to conduct her annual holiday broadcast in 3D, and even dons a pair of “blinged out” glasses as part of

the show.

of them possessed any sort of skill that would serve them once the cameras stopped rolling, and none of them stood for anything besides the “YOLO” concept. After a little bit of investigating, I found out that they had all joined the show at the age of 18; fresh out of high school, and completely ignorant of the opportunities that the world had to offer them. They chose to spend what should have been six years of self-discovery engrossed in relation-ship drama, obsessive workout regiments, and passive aggressive cat �ights. Rather than working to make a name for them-selves and to build a life of solid standing success, they instead chose to take the easy way out, and allow the American media to shape them into the MTV moguls they are today. The same is true of the Kardashian sisters, Paris Hilton, and countless other pop culture faces that appear on the covers of magazines each and every day. They all hold bank accounts that would make bankers’ mouths gape, have an in�luence that political leaders dream of, and have a pres-ence that could bring the masses to their knees. But, just as well, once their time in the spotlight

is up—their empires will slowly begin to crumble simply because they have nothing more to offer. As much as we may deny it, it really is all worth it. Our daily struggles, work, and countless daily af�irmations serve to help bring us one step closer to �iguring out who we are. Because, at the end of the day, isn’t that really what life is about? Life is full of experiences, both positive and negative, that serve to shape us into who we are, and lay the groundwork for who we want to be-come. If life were meant to be easy, then everyone would �ind success, and be able to maintain that success for the rest of their lives. Just as well, if that were the case, I can promise you that the Catcher and the Rye wouldn’t even be studied in school, simply because no one would think that they could relate to Holden Caul�ield and his journey of self-discovery. One day, Snooki will look back on her life on the Shore and wonder what her life would have been like if she had chosen to go to school, and let life run its course. Thankfully, we have the luxury of being able to succumb to the unknown; we just have to learn to enjoy the ride.

[liamkelley]

Common App, it isn’t important. But that’s really not true. I don’t have fun with my friends because they scored well on the Mathematics section of the SAT. I like their abilities to �ishtail braid, their tendencies to send me about �ifty texts in a row if they know that my phone’s off, their impeccable

impersonations of Tina Fey impersonating Sarah Palin and their willingness to spend a considerable amount of time learning the secret handshake from The Parent Trap. Applications are important. Planning our futures are important. But quirky talents

are important too. This is my advocacy campaign: Save the Quirks. Because they’re wonderful talents and they make life a whole lot more fun. So to all of you double-jointed, politician-impersonating, hair-braiding, beautiful people, protect yourself. Because whatever your eccentric talent is, somebody out there loves it.

Who we are as people comes down to a lot more than a test score--maybe it’s time we recognize that

RunningErins

By Erin Snyder

Britney Spears and her � ance of a just over a year, Jason Trawick, have split.

As a part of their upcoming wedding, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt want to get matching tattoos to commemorate the occasion...they can’t agree on anything.

Houston Airport received many com-plaints about baggage wait times. In

response, they moved the baggage claim further away so the walk was longer than the wait. The complaints were dropped.

So...How About a Tattoo?

Single and Ready to Mingle

To Walk, or Not to Walk?

[therocksta� ]

Take22 the[02/07/13]

Quick Hits

During my freshman year at RC, I had a fairly large friend group. I thought that we would be one of those groups that would stick together

throughout high school. Little did I know that as each of us discovered ourselves and made new

friends, the bond between us broke, little by little. and shattering my world as I knew it. Long gone the days of sitting together gossiping about the latest news or walking down the halls laughing so hard people would stare. As a senior, I walk

the halls alone most days, quietly scurrying to my next class, invisible to people I once knew. But I

am okay with that, because I also have found new friends and have come to terms with myself. I

have learned that those times I had with them are cherished but also forgotten because as we grow up, things become more important than walking

down the hall with a pal right beside you.

--Mae Rohrbach

Being a sports fan is irrational. The teams you root for, the players you hate, how crushed you are when your team loses...it all doesn’t make

much sense. But I, just like so many others am a massive sports fan. A sports “geek” you could say. I can remember Super Bowl champions from the 1970’s and on, or deliver a passionate argument

on the merits of the designated hitter. This all attributes to knowing exactly how Denver fans

felt on Sunday after their beloved Broncos fell to the Baltimore Ravens 38-35. (Full disclosure, I’m a NY Giants fan and I’ve seen my team achieve

great success over the past � ve years.) The feeling for a sports fan after his/her team goes down

-- especially in dramatic fashion, is as painful as it is ridiculous. But in the end that’s the beauty of sports. That we as fans band together, and live vicariously through our teams. Yes, this is completely and utterly irrational, but in some

odd, even twisted way, it’s truly beautiful.

--Michael Shapiro

Throughout my high school career I’ve screamed myself hoarse at football games, I’ve sat in the auditorium for theatre performances, and I’ve

looked ridiculous for spirit days. And I have loved every minute of it. I have loved being a part of a student body whose school spirit is increasingly contagious. But it’s all about to come to an end.I will always be a Rock Canyon Jaguar, but I’m also

going to be something else. When August rolls around, what school will I be proudly represent-

ing? Which mascot will I identify with? Will I be sporting the black and gold for four more

years? Or will I � nd myself in the isles of Party City looking for green or red or blue beads. The

future seemed so far away a year ago but it’s right around the corner. I used to think I would

be scared of this change but as this year has progressed, I’ve grown and learned a lot about myself in the process. As a result, I’m ready to

take on a new school and pour as much school spirit into this new place as I have here at Rock

Canyon.

--Quincy Schurr

The Important Things

Love and Other Sports

Just Around the Corner

The Time I Let my ACT Get to Me

It was a sunny July afternoon, and I had been browsing Facebook like usual, looking at nothing really, just wasting away time. I was just sitting there, when suddenly I noticed that one of my friends had received her ACT scores, and had posted them. I immediately became excited, for if her scores had arrived in the mail, then surely mine had as well!

I sprinted downstairs, hopped on my heavily-ridden bicycle, and began racing to the mailbox, right as my parents parked their car in the drive-way. They had beaten me to it, having stopped on their way home from some shopping excursion or something, (the details of the matter elude me). They handed me my scores, and I proceeded to sit on the couch and think about what that enve-lope held. I simply sat there, not frozen with fear, but with a great deal of anxiousness. After several pressing complaints that I was wasting everyone’s time and that I should open it, I did exactly that. The results that I soon saw inside the envelope didn’t exactly make me ecstatic, nor did they put me into a depressive state. I had received a 28, fantastic by some people’s standards, horrid by

The Ho� ngton Post

By Luke Ho� mann

others. I was somewhat happy about it, but I was by no means elated. Later as I was cutting the grass, one of my weekly chores, I looked around my suburban, upper middle class neighborhood, and saw that other people, albeit older, were doing the same. I looked at the grass I was cutting, the same green tint of everyone elses; I looked at the houses surrounding me, the same colour and rough size as mine, and then I thought to myself, a very dark and depressing though, something absolutely hor-rid and revolting-that I would be average. I stopped mowing the grass, stood there, and though, would I become just like the people sur-rounding me? I thought about my parents, my neighborhood, my friends. I stood there and con-templated my score. A 28 was by no means a poor score, but it wasn’t an exceptional one either, at least not by my standards. To me, it was average, it was the score that everyone living around me probably would have gotten, or did get. There was nothing special about it, and I began to believe that perhaps there was nothing special about me. I got average grades, I lived a relatively average life, was I too average? I had never really considered myself special or different per-say, but I always thought I had at least above-average intelligence, or something unique at least. This ACT score told me that there was nothing special about me, and that I would fade into obscurity, or so was my thought process. Looking back on it, many months later, its quite clear that I was probably just overreacting, and that nothing should really be thought of it. Still, for a few hours on a hot july day, I thought very little of myself, all because I let the ACT get to me.

Why our own sense of character can’t be superscored, and why a single score shouldn’t de� ne us

Douglas County Inc.

“Learn today. Lead tomorrow.” That poignant albeit, vague motto is the slogan proudly hoisted upon the banner of the Douglas County School District web page; it’s a straight-forward concept -- if we educate and empower our young people in the present, they will morph into con�ident adults capable of competing and working in a big, bad, so-unlike-Douglas-County world. It’s the sort of necessary positive dialogue needed to empower and encourage young minds. Unfortunately, while the school district’s lead-ers in the Board of Education understand how to talk the talk, walking the walk has proven to be less easy for them. In the course of action the Douglas County School District and its Board of Education has decided to take, our growth as students is being suffocated underneath a bureaucratic nightmare that is neither helpful to our education or our educational community in Douglas County in general. Education is a process that not only requires students that are eager to learn but an environ-ment that is able to foster a sense of purpose; the people involved in the classrooms, students and teachers alike, should be feeling like their work means something more than just a mess of unnecessary busy work or paperwork. Unfor-tunately, under the pay-for-performance plan

If education was meant to inspire and empower, why do our needs fall behind?

SachinSuch

By Sachin Mathur

levied onto teachers, we the students are doing less of the material that is useful to our potential futures as doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers and beyond, and doing more work to ensure that our teachers don’t get the axe. In one of my classes, students have to take a pretest at the beginning of the semester and a posttest at the end of the semester just to prove that the teacher taught us something new. And it’s baloney -- of course the teacher taught us something new; one doesn’t simply sit ina classroom for an entire semester without being able to answer at least one or two extra ques-tions on that dumb Schoology test that we have to do. But it’s a fear issue -- teachers (under-standably) don’t want to lose their jobs. But if their careers hang in the balance of a test that’s part of the district’s plan to crack down on teachers, the student body will give in under the burden of useless work. The Board of Education doesn’t understand that they should free up teachers so that they may give us the projects and workload that truly excites and challenges our ingenuity and skill, instead of coercing them into giving us work that could never prepare us for a world that demands creativity and a �lexible intellect. But from the way many students and parents see it, the school board is less intent on empow-ering teachers and rather seeks to punish them for no apparent reason other than a useless and damaging political purpose. By attempting to end collective bargaining and union dues (which were eventually negotiated), introducing the voucher system which saps resources away from the successful public schools, and levying budget

cuts despite a �iniancial surplus, it’s easy to see that the Board of Education is more concerned with suppressing the rights of our educators than nurturing students. And you can’t treat our public school faculty like dirt and expect them to be happy. Some of the best teachers I’ve ever had in my high school experience -- who have taught me and challenged me in ways that I know will bene�it me when I’m in college -- have anonymously and privately considered or have begun to search for work elsewhere and leave this school district and its Board of Education behind. The people who will suffer from that are the students the Board of Education made a commitment to empower and educate. Parents, take note. When I receive my diploma on Graduation Day, May 24th, 2013, I’ll have spent about six years in the Douglas County School District. I have seen the political battles between teachers, parents, students, and the Board of Education go down time and time again, so let me speak from an experienced perspective when I say this: if you are a member of the Board of Education, you should be ashamed of yourself. You have ridden like a jockey on the backs of talented teachers and their students while punishing them for no apparent reason, only to falsely state your belief in a “world-class education”. Cutting budgets, oppressing teachers, and attempting to damage public schools isn’t something a “world-class” Board of Education would do, and your actions shouldn’t maintain your position on the Board of Education, it should revoke it.

[liamkelley]

Rock: Should safety measures be increased in public schools?Taschner: I do not feel that safety measures should be increased. I understand that there is a danger in schools, but this is not that different from the shootings years ago. Me-dia coverage seems to be increasing, but not necessarily the shootings. Leave the security measures up to the school, the students and the parents.

Editorial 23the[02/08/13]

There’s something to be said for the “slippery slope complex”. In truth, you could take almost any concept and twist it into a “worst case senario”; you could sug-gest that preschool scissors will ultimately result in an eight-fingered generation, that the discontinu-ation of Twinkies will serve to bring about global conflict, and even that the constant presence of technology in our lives will eventually bring about a regression that leaves the world forever bound to high tech chairs like the people in WALL-E. However, one of the most prominent slippery

slope complexes in our society today, is that of public safety. You see it everywhere, from the dramatic increase in airport security, to the extensive underlining of warning notices and growing recalls on children’s play toys. Suddenly everything in life comes with a warning label and a waiver to sign, and people are finding themselves increasingly limited with what they can and cannot do, and the manner in which they are allowed to do it. The reasons for which these measures have been established aren’t necessarily unwarranted. On Sept. 11, 2001 the world was forced to watch as our foreign policy crumbled beneath our feet. On April 20, 1999, a nation stood in awe of an atrocity committed at an age that was previously unheard of. And in October, 2012, we all watched as the East coast--our nation’s cultural mecca--fell to a natural disaster of massive proportions. Since each of those pivotal days in American (and world) history, our

Slippery Slope

government, school boards, and police forces have all done their best to ensure that safeguards are in place to prevent such horrors from ever plaguing the nation again. They have established new health codes, security codes, permit regulations, and a multitude of other systems in order to protect the majority. However, with such regulations comes opposi-tion. Countless outlets, such as Politico and the Huffington Post, flaunt countless news articles and countless blog posts that work to identify the countless“atrocities” latent in being forced to take off your shoes before boarding a plane, and in having to wait countless weeks for a home loan to be processed. Every day, people become more and more dissatisfied with the nature of the world they live in--they feel that having to accommodate such harsh changes is unjust and unnecessary. But is it really? If we have learned anything over the course of

the last decade, it’s that the reality of the world we live in is not a pleasant one; people lie, people cheat, people hurt, and people kill. Although any history textbook will tell you that this truth dates back to the Middle Ages, the gravity at which such things occur is increasing at an exponential level. Suddenly, “hit and run”’s fall second to mass-murders, pickpocketing cowers in the face of million dollar heists, and, in schools, student fights in the lunchroom have all too quickly evolved into mass-murders and kidnapping. In truth, everything has a limit. TSA will stop before they reach a point of reading their passen-gers text messages, the government will stop when they feel that the people are well-enough on their feet to step aside, and school districts will stop once they feel that their students are as prepared and as protected possible to deal with whatever may walk through the doors. In the meantime, we’ll just have to learn to adapt to ringing a doorbell.

Protecting Ourselves: High schoolers have be-gun to question why increased security is needed in an area that they believe is safe enough without increased efforts by the district.

As reports of teenage and school violence increase, schools have be-gun to make changes to the nature of the everyday. But, in spite of it all, what exactly can students do to stay safe?

Staff The goals of The Rock, the student newspaper of Rock Canyon High School, are to inform,

educate, and entertain the readers as well as to provide an educational opportunity for the

students who produce it.The first three copies of The Rock are free, ad-ditional copies are available for 50 cents each.

The Rock invites your comments. Letters to the editor and commentary submissions are en-

couraged. You are also encouraged to submit coverage ideas, cartoons, photos or anything

else you wish to see in the Rock. Opinions of the staff are presented as editorials. All editorials are at least the majority view of the editorial

board. We also feature a number of columnists and commentary writers. Their opinions are their own. The Rock is a forum and welcomes

content from our readers.Rock Canyon High School 5810 McArthur

Ranch Road Highlands Ranch, CO 80124

Phone 303-387-3000/Fax 303-387-3021

Virginia VaughanMae Rohrbach

Bri Cooke Jeremy PurchaseMichael Shapiro Sachin MathurAndrew BohrenKelcey Beckman

Cecilia CastroCambel WinklerJacob BattockNicole Cassou

The Rock Newspaper Staff

Non-Voting Adviser: Kristi Rathbun

FOR AGAINST

Rock: Should safety measures be increased in public schools?Royal: I think that safety measures should be in-creased in public school because there is a lot of fear generated by previous school

violence. I think that it would prevent vio-lence , however we should not allow teachers to have guns.

MorganRoyal ‘13

Steven Taschner ‘13

What’s Your Take?

Let us know what you think! Follow us online at therockmedia.org and Twitter, and “like” us on Facebook

Nishikia VirmaniLuke Hoffmann

Natalie HolthausLinnea Melbye

Nicole NewmanMaddie Whitten

Tristan SagarQuentin BooseJulia HenningQuincy SchurrAlexis Svenson

Bri Bradley

Editor in Chief: Syd Charvat

Managing Editor:Kayla Neil

Reporting:

The Rock is a member of the National Scholastic Press

Association and the Colorado High School

Press Association

[sydcharvat]

Calendar24 the[02/08/13]

8 Boys Basketball Vs. Highlands Ranch

7 p.m. @ Home

Boys JV Wrestling Tournament

Vs. TBA 4 p.m. @ TBAGirls Swimming/Diving State Meet

4 p.m. @ Ft. Collins

Girls Varsity Basketball Vs. Highlands Ranch1:30 p.m. @ Home 10 After Prom

Fashion Show11 a.m. @ DTC Marriot

Freshman Boys Basketball

Vs. Regis7 p.m. @ Regis 12

Boys Basketball Vs. Regis

7 p.m. @ Regis

Girls Basketball Vs. Regis

7 p.m. @ Home

13 Jazz Band Concert7 p.m. @ RHMS

Unified Basketball7 p.m. @ Home

14 Valentine’s Day

Band teacher Joel Naegele leads the band in a rehersal Jan. 31 in preparation for their concert with the RHMS band Feb. 20.

15Boys Basketball

Vs. Castle View7 p.m. @ CV

Girls Basketball Vs. Castle View5:30 p.m. @ CV

Boys Wrestling TournamentVs. Ponderosa

4 p.m. @ Ponderosa

1617

Alex D’Agostino sits in a wrestling team meeting Jan. 17 in preparation for their meet that day against ThunderRidge.

NO SCHOOL

19Boys Basketball

Vs. Heritage7 p.m. @ Home

Girls Basketball Vs. Heritage

7 p.m. @ Heritage 21 Girls Basketball Vs. ThunderRidge

7 p.m. @ ThunderRidge 22Junior Parent Night

6:30 p.m. AuditoriumJazz Band Concert

7 p.m. @ RHMS

Wish Week Kick-OffBoys Basketball Vs. ThunderRidge

7 p.m. @ Home

23 2425 Dodgeball

7 p.m. Gym

Wish Week

2012’s “Wish Kid” Natalie stands with StuCo at the Wish Week Kick-Off Assembly. Throughout the week, the school raised a total of $43,486.24.

26 Check out the next issue of The

Rock, coming out during Wish

Week, for ex-clusive coverage from the week.

27 English teacher Jason Dunkle plays the National Anthem on the violin during the Closing Wish Week Assembly of 2012. “Last year’s Wish Week was really cool. It’s the one time of year the school really comes together,” Alysan Dahl ‘13 said.

28

On senior night Jan. 10 the seniors from both swim and dive gather at the pool at Northridge Rec. Center right before their meet. 3 members of the diving team, Lindi Riley ‘13, Bailey Ludwig ‘14, Kelsey Lindemann ‘13, and Tori Ritter ‘15, made it to state, as well as 8 members of the swimming team: Nicole Cassou ‘13, Jordan Kramer ‘14, Erin Riner ‘15, Nicole Jordan ‘15, Maddie Lacy ‘16, Vee Vanderpoel ‘14, Abby Kochevar ‘16, and Kristen Hoskins ‘14.

NO SCHOOL

Lexy Thorderson ‘14 shoots for a penalty shot at the Gold Rush game against Douglas County Jan. 25, in which the Jags dominated 63-26. The Lady Jags are ranked 8th in the state according to MaxPreps.com.