A World Champion Shares Her Story

Brickelle Bro (Page 6-7)

To the End of the Wire-The November Election

Political Coverage (Page 8)

Who are the Larsson Brothers?

Sports (Page 4)

What You Missed During Homecoming Week

Photo Essay (Page 12)

5810 McArthur Ranch Road. Highlands Ranch, CO 80124. 303-387-3000. Volume 9. Issue 2. November 02, 2012

rockthe

Once my name was called I didn’t even know what to think...I was

shocked, but extremely proud to be representing the U.S.A.

“ “

--Brickelle Bro ‘15

[photo compliments of Heather Bro]

Members of Key Club gathered at Highlands Ranch Applebees to eat some pancakes, raise some money, and have a good time on Saturday Sept. 29. The third annual pancake breakfast the Key Club has hosted to raise money for Escuela Verde, and so far, the most successful. “We were incredibly happy with the money we made for Escuela Verde! We exceeded our goal as well as how much we raised last year with the Pancake Break-fast,” Key Club Member Morgan Miller ‘13 said. “We were blessed with the generosity displayed at this years fund- raiser.” The first year of the pancake breakfast, the Key Club raised about $800. The second year, they sold vacation properties in Costa Rica and raised $11,500. This year, they auctioned another eight proper-ties and made about $13,000. But the Key Club did not raise this money by simply showing up at Applebee’s; it took much more. “My team and I met with Mr. Sapienza a few times this summer and have met every Tuesday morning to make sure we were getting every-thing on our long to-do list done,” Key Club Member Maddie Brown ‘15 said. “Key Club is also hosting fund-raisers at a few restaurants each month throughout the school year in hopes to increase the funds we provide Escuela Verde this year!” They had T-shirts and stickers made with Escuela Verde’s name on them and then sold at

the event and at lunch at school; they handed out flyers; sent emails; and made posters. The money being raised is to supply Rock Canyon’s sister school, Escuela Verde, located in Costa Rica, with books and other school supplies. In the past, Key Club Advisor, Mr. Sa-pienza, has traveled to the school with students to help out and be with the children. To be able to go, students must be a part of Key Club, apply

for a spot on the trip, and have an inter-view with David Sapienza. “This year we have not planned a trip down to Escuela Verde because we are currently focusing on a scholarship program that

provides the necessary funds for impoverished children to be enrolled in school,” Priyanka Philip ‘14 said. “In Rock Canyon we are all so blessed with the ability of being able to afford to go to a school with such great resources and teachers. School signifies opportunity, and for the children of Escuela Verde, these opportuni-ties that an education can give them are the only way to provide them a better future.” In Costa Rica, most students drop out of school before reaching high school. According to Escuela Verde’s founders Cheryl Margoluis and Naomi Geer, being able to see older, suc-cessful students has a great impact on the young children in their school.

02 Nowthe[11/02/12]

Sophomore students sacrifice a few hours of their time to take a test that will show the world what our school has to offer

You Wanna PISA Us?

[catieyanchak] [nicolenewman]

”“We were blessed with

the generosity displayed at this year’s

fundraiserMorgan Miller ‘13

Key Club makes a record amount at this year’s pancake breakfast for our sister school, Escuela Verde

Help a Sister (School) Out

Every morning during first period, 37 girls file into Julia Dale’s room for an hour of hard work, concentrated singing, and a few laughs. Women’s Select Choir is in full swing. Starting the first day of school, the girls began practicing for the first concert of the year Oct.10, which also featured Chorus, Women’s Chorus, and Jazz Choir. The girls’ repertoire for the American themed concert consisted of ragtime songs, 50’s songs, and even their own arrangement of “Some-where Over The Rainbow.” The class was given a sheet with the lyrics and chords, and then they were told to find harmonies as sections (sopranos, soprano II, and altos). After coming together as a group and sharing their harmonies, a few tweaks were made including adding guitar soloists and a vocal soloist, and the project was set. The girls excitedly talked about the pros and

the cons when they got back from break. By listening to recordings of themselves and analyz-ing them as a choir, they can better improve their tone and overall sound. “We’ve grown more as a group rather than individuals,” Dominique Casias ‘13 said. After discussing the concert, the class began improving on the three of their concert songs, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”, “Nothin Gonna Stumble My Feet”, and “Hebrew Children”, which they perform at the Castle View Women’s Festival Oct. 24. “Going to Castle View was a great experience. We did really well and we really came together as a choir,” Krista Barry ‘13 said. The choir will perform for other Womens’ select choirs from the district and will get live feedback from CU’s new director, Gregory Gentry.

Since the beginning of the year, the Womens’ Choir has been hard at work preparing for their Fall concert

Choir Teacher, Julia Dale, leads the girls in one of their early morning practices. Choir members spent hours in preparation for their Oct. 10th Concert, which was a roaring success. “I look forward to coming to school every morning because I get to hang out with my Girls Select Choir.” said Dale, “We have so much fun!”

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Pitch Perfect

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests fifteen year olds world-wide to test a school’s abilities in reading, math, and science. Each school is compared to other schools who participate in the testing to see where they are in comparison. It is given every three years. Students were excused from their first and third period classes to take the PISA test Sept. 11. For the majority of the morning, students were busy in the commons testing so Rock Canyon can be compared to other schools worldwide. “It was a bit early and was hard to focus because I was so tired and still waking up,” Alec Stoller ‘15 said. “We use it for comparing how students in different countries are performing academically in comparison to one another,” Assistant Prin-cipal Nick Laatsch said. “It gives a really good picture of how our students are performing on a global scale.” Last fall, Douglas County School District was approached by PISA in hopes that a few schools from the district would be willing to take the test. Rock Canyon and Legend High Schools stepped up to the plate. The test was not only administered on the 11th, but also last spring;

33 students participated. “I think we will be able to combine the results,” Laatsch said. “What they told me is that we will want to get about 50 students to get a good representative sample of your student body. If we combine the two groups we will have a total of 77 participants and I think we will get some good information.” Rock Canyon took the PISA this year as a test run for the future. Chosen at random, 150 students were invited to take the test, but just under one third of them accepted the invitation. “I’m glad I got to take the test and represent our school because it helps with test taking skills and prepares me for TCAP,” Abby Rinerson ’15 said. Individually, results are not returned to students, though some view it as an opportu-nity to practice their test taking skills. All of the students are grouped together and the school is given an average result. “I think it was important to help our school by taking the test to see where we rank internation-ally,” Stoller said.

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Oftentimes, school field trips rarely extend be-yond science museums and the city zoo, however, this summer, students from both Rock Canyon and ThunderRidge will have the opportunity to not only learn without having to watch seals for two hours, but to have the adventure of a lifetime. “The China trip will consist of six days in Bei-jing and two days in Shanghai to visit some of the most famous places in the world,” Social Studies teacher and trip coordinator, Katie Rockwell said. “[We’ll get to see] amazing places like the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. We will also be visiting other children in school while we’re there, and doing volunteer hours--such as doing little skits with the kids, making crafts, helping them with their English, and really spending time with some kids in Beijing.” The trip itself will run from June 10-18, and is being organized by Education First Tours--a nationally accredited student travel organization that works to promote English education to stu-dents across the globe. However, although the trip

will serve to help others, it will also help students gain a better understanding of the world around them...outside of Highlands Ranch. “High school students really get a valuable experience from this trip because it will help them determine if they’re travelers, and if they want to learn more about the world this will help them start their study early. It also looks great on college applications, and, as another plus, there’s high school credit available, and, depending on your grade level, college credit available as well.” There are only several spots remaining, but any students who would like more information can speak to Chinese teacher, Jack Song, in room 8850, or Rockwell in room 8700. “I am most excited about going to China--which I’ve never been--and actually getting to watch kids as they see these amazing things. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I encourage every student to consider taking a chance and going on this adventure,” Rockwell said. [sydcharvat]

A group of students gets the opportunity to spend their summer exploring Chinese culture and history

An Adventure in Eight Days

Seniors! Would you or your parents like to place a senior ad in the yearbook? Please go to the RCHS website, or contact yearbook adviser, Kristi Rathbun, at kristi.rathbun@

dcsdk12.org to download the flyer

“I told [the softball team] to fill the jar [with money],” Social Studies teacher and Softball Coach David Sapienza said. “I talked to the coach at Regis [Jesuit High School] who said that they raised $300. So there’s your inspiration, beat Regis.” October has been recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) since 1985 in order to raise awareness and funds to fight the disease. The National Football League, Estee Lauder and other companies and schools all around the world dress in pink and illuminate their buildings with pink lights every year. Including Rock Canyon. Many football players can be seen with pink shoelaces as well as pink athletic tape on their wrists. The volleyball team had T-shirts made and softball created a homecoming float and a fund-raiser supporting BCAM. In addition to the incentives of raising money for BCAM and “beating Regis”, Sapienza also vowed to get a tattoo of a pink ribbon if they met the goal. In just a short week filled with the chaos of Homecoming, the team raised $2200 and Sapien-za went to White Lotus tattoo shop in Highlands Ranch Oct. 5 and received his first tattoo. “It was something I was going to do anyway,” Sapienza said. “My aunt is a breast cancer sur-vivor and my cousin and I were going to do this together to surprise [her] before “Race for the Cure” [Oct. 7].”

Before getting tattooed Sapienza mentioned that the school day leading up to his appointment at White Lotus was a day full of reflection and memories about his family members who have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. “I thought about putting words on it too, but if you start putting names, it’s going to go cover your entire leg,” Sapienza said. “I asked my classes, ‘Who in here has had this affect them?’ and everyone has.”

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[11/02/12]

Getting “Tatted Up” for a CauseTeacher and coach, David Sapienza, vowed to get a pink ribbon tattoo if the softball team raised money for a Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser

A Howling Good Time

Zoology students take the opportunity to interact with wolves at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center

The Rock Canyon marching band practices 7th period and after school a couple times a week as well. They compete at competitions, perform at parades, school assemblies, and Rock Canyon football games. This year, they will be battling in the state competition. According to Sarah Cuny, ‘15, it takes a lot more than just practice to make it all the way to states. “It takes dedication and hard work, practice, heart, commitment, motivation, and a good attitude,” said Cuny. The state competition is on November 2, competing their routine Phobias. Phobias is about different types of fears, including the fear of water and the fear of snakes. In August, the band went to band camp and learned the fun-damentals and worked up to learning Phobias, which they will now continue to practice until

November. “We have to work super hard, it’s physically draining.” said Kate South, ‘15. “We have to sell the show with all these dynamics and musical-ity while marching with the perfect techniques and making all of our sets at really fast tempos.” At state, the band will only be competing against other 5A schools. 20 different bands from schools statewide will be performing in quarterfinals. “This is our second year qualifying for state,” said Tiffani Clark. “It’s pretty exciting being a senior drum major and making it to state.We are hoping to make it past quarter and semi finals.”Make sure to come support the Rock Canyon band as they perform Phobias at state in hopes of marching all the way to first place!

Marching to StateFor the second time, Marching Band makes it to State competition with high hopes

[ceciliacastro]

The marching band performs at this year’s Homecoming parade. This was one of their many performances to rehearse before the big state competition. “We have to work super hard, it’s physically draining,” said Kate South ‘15.

Devin Hartwig ‘15 receives a kiss from a wolves during a feild trip to The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center Sept.27. Students were told to sit still in a circle during this experience with their palms up and Hartwig was lucky enough to receive one of these speical kisses. “It was really cool to take what we learn in class and to apply it to the wolves in real life,” Harwig said.

Zoology students experienced the thrill of go-ing to the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center on Sept. 27, where they interacted with the wolves and learned about their way of life firsthand. They were able to tour the whole center where they saw coyotes, red foxes and real live wolves. “I thought the Wolf Center experience was pretty cool,” Ji Kang ‘14 said. “It was very interest-ing to see the wolves in real life and it was a good experience to feel that wolves are not a complete-ly dangerous species and can be really friendly and co-exist.” Close to the end of the tour the class got the privilege to see the son of the black wolf in the movie Twilight. “The field trip to the Colorado Wolf Center

was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had,” Brooke Gallagher ‘13 said. “While we were there, we had the chance to participate in a ‘wolf howl’ where our guide had us imitate a wolf howl, and all the wolves in the center howled back for two minutes straight. It was so cool.” Many students even got to lock lips with the animals. Zoology teacher, Jessica Muniz, got her first wolf kiss on last year’s field trip describing it as being “a big, slobbery French kiss.” “I had been waiting all week to be kissed by that wolf,” Ashtyn Egger ‘14 said. “When I did it, it was a great feeling that I could brag about being kissed by a wolf.” [ashleyboatman]

2. Sapienza looks down to his ankle while the tattoo artist is finishing his tattoo at White Lotus Tattoo Parlor in Highlands Ranch on Oct. 5. 3. The Softball team built a float to show their support for Breast Cancer month at Homecoming parade on Oct. 4. “I thought it was cool that there were [breast cancer] surviviors there, and it turns out one of the girls from JV [softball] has a mom that is a breast cancer survivor,” Jordan Vagt ‘16.4.The end result of Sapienza’s pink breast cancer ribbon tattoo. “I thought about putting names on it too, but then it would cover up my entire leg,” Sapienza said.

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2. 4.

1. David Sapienza fights through the pain while getting his tattoo at White Lotus on Oct. 5 to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “It’s something I’ve always been planning to do.” Sapienza said.

[nicolenewman]

[brandonriemers]

[photos by: ceciliacastro]3.

Game04 the

Fall Sports: By the Numbers

Larsson

Soccer players Axel, Oliver, and Lucas Larsson on the spoils of playing alongside not one, but two brothers

It’s easy to see the connection on the field. The extreme companionship between them, the ease in which they play with one another. All three of them, in sync. They seem to know where each other is going to be, play after play, possession by possession. This season, Axel ‘13, Oliver ‘15, and Lucas ‘15 Larsson have been playing together for the Varsity Soccer team, a team that has once again made the playoffs this season. While this is the first season in which the three brothers have played together on the Rock Canyon team, these brothers have been playing together for much longer than that. “By playing together we develop a great chem-istry,” Axel Larsson said. “We have been this way ever since we have been playing together in the backyard at the age of four.

The older Larsson brother, Axel Larsson ‘13, makes a downfield pass against ThunderRidge Oct. 2. “ You really just have to get focused as soon as you start to get prepared for the game,” Larsson said. “ You just have to make sure nothing else is on your mind.”

1.7Inches of snow that fell during the boys Varsity soccer 1st round playoff game versus Loveland Oct. 29

35 the Varsity soft-ball’s national ranking by Max Preps

8Consecutive years Boys Varsity cross country has qualified for the State Championships

4Boys Varsity tennis team lines that made the state tournament- best in history

17 The average point margin that the Varsity football team has won by this season so far

$2000The amount of money raised by the Girls Softball team in their “Catch for the Cure” Event Oct. 13-14

The chemistry between the Larsson broth-ers was on full display against Castle View on Sept. 20. All three of the Larsson’s had a goal or an assist in this game, with Axel scoring a goal and providing an assist, Oliver having one assist, and Lucas also scoring a goal. In this game, the Larsson brothers ability to not only play with great skill, but develop a great rapport with each member the team and each other. “ The Larsson trio really were great out there on the pitch” Samuel Makikalli ‘14 said. “They always play great together and really have a large impact on the team, and this was on full display during the Castle View game.” Although the brothers play different posi-tions, the younger brothers (Oliver and Lucas) have picked up an abundance of skills from Axel [michaelshapiro]

They Said It

Mason Neil ‘16 on the Lacrosse pre-season training:

“Training is going really well; it’s giving us a good idea of how the season is going to go in the spring.”

“I’m so happy that I got to spend my senior year with all the girls on the varsity volleyball team. We all worked really hard and had a great season.”

Jenell Murphy ‘13 on the field hockey season and playing with a composite team:

“We improved a great amount over the season considering we were so young. I think we all love the fact we stem from so many schools. Seeing our friends from other schools makes us more ex-cited from practice. It’s a different kind of bond than all of us going to one school. ”

Varsity doubles player Evan Provan ‘14 on the improvement of the boys tennis program:

“As a whole, Rock Canyon had a great season. We have greatly im-proved since last year, as we sent no teams to the state tournament last year, and are sending four teams this year. I also believe that the team is closer to one another, more focused and more objective under the command of Coach Gonzales. ”

Audie Ryburn ‘13 on the inaugural season for the Rock Canyon Composite Mountain Bike Team:

“Cycling is a whole different com-munity. No one understands what its like to ride and race bikes until they get out to a race and experi-ence what it is like first hand.’”

A quote compilation from key figures in fall sports

[jeremypurchase]

over the years. From their ball-handling skills, to the aggressive nature in which they play, Oliver and Lucas have also acquired a plethora of ideas regarding the nature of the game from Axel over the years. “Axel keeps us motivated and pushes us to reach our potential” Oliver said. “As a player he has taught me that along with being mentally focused, hard work is what wins games.” This season will end after the playoffs and the Larsson trio will become the Larsson duo.

[11/02/12]

A quick play-by-play of what’s happening from the court to the field and everywhere in between

5th in Colorado according to CHSSA

3

Rachel Roberts ‘13 on the girls varsity volleyball season:

Game 05the

From the Field to the Court: Fall Sports1. Zoe Tartz ‘13 bumps the ball during the homecoming game Oct. 2 against Thun-derRidge High School. Rock Canyon won the match 3-2. “We played really well and it was a close game,” Teammate Ellen Rich ‘15 said. “It felt really good to win during Homecoming week.”2. Austin Beane ‘13 receives a pass during the homecoming game against Doherty, Oct. 5. “It has been great to represent Rock Canyon football as a wide receiver and cornerback in its first year of 5A football,” Beane said. “Hopefully we can stay healthy and make a run in the playoffs this year.”3. Cameron Gill ‘13 heads the ball while playing defensive center midfielder against ThunderRidge High School Oct. 2. The Jaguars lost the game 3-1 . “Soccer isn’t just a game anymore, it’s a lifestyle,” Gill said. “Those who say it can’t be done, shouldn’t interfere with those who are doing it.”4. Alli McCloskey‘13 catches the ball in the game against Legacy Sept. 7. The team lost 14-3, but still qualified for playoffs, going on to make it to the semi finals. “This softball season was such a blast and I am so happy with all that my team has accomplished,” McCloskey said. “In center field I have a big responsibility to my team to be the best I can possibly be.”5. Eric Jung ‘13 volleys the ball against Ponderosa High School Aug. 24. Jung plays #1 doubles with Cameron Streich ‘13. “The season was very heart-warming,” Jung said. 6. J.D. Gordon ‘13 races a cross country meet at Rock Canyon OCt. 11. “We had a great year,” Gordon said. “Our guys placed 11th at State, Lucas West’13 placed 16th. Right now we are training to go run down in Arizona for the Nike SW Competition. ”7. Monica Sandoval ‘13 completes her floor routine during a gymnastics meet at Cherry Creek High School Oct. 10.

[11/02/12]

As the season comes to an end, take a look at what your fellow athletes have been up to this season in the wide world of Jag sports

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6. 7.

From the final play to the spike and the dismount, fall athletes are finishing out the 2012 season

While I was training, my days were long and

tiring, but I never let that slow me down ”

“

Leaving her prosthetic legs on the side of the pool, Bro powers across the pool, lap after lap using the strength of her back, shoulders and

arms to move her through the water. Everything she has had to sacrifice and work towards over the past few years have advanced her to places she never dreamed possible--most notably, the 2012 London Paralympics. The 2012 Paralympics took place in London, England just after the Olympics. A record number of 4,200 athletes from 166 countries competed; 1,513 were female athletes that competed in 18 different sports. “It was worth all the hard work it took,” Brickelle Bro ‘15 said. “Not having a life for a few months because all I did was swim, and missing all the school I did, to be able to swim in London.” When sophomore Brickelle Bro was born, her parents were told she would never walk. Bro was born without legs from the knees down. However, her parents were determined to help her in any way they could and today she has exceeded everyone’s exceptions and any limitation thought possible. But there is more than her signature zebra prosthetic legs and outstanding academic and athletic qualities that make Brickelle unique and set her apart from classmates. Her courage and determination are inspiring to those around her whether she is in or out of the pool. Bro doesn’t let anyone stop her from doing anything, and she does everything with a smile on her face. “Brickelle is one of the nicest, caring, and most gracious people I have ever met. She is always there when you need someone to talk to or have a laugh with,” Lindsey Koehn ‘15 said. “Brickelle is incredibly hard working and dedicated which has

From London With LoveParalympian Brickelle Bro

In August, swimmer, Brickelle Bro ‘15, proved to the world that there’s more to an athlete than what you see when the buzzer clocks at zero, and that there’s more to a person than the cards she’s been dealt

Before Afternoon Tea Began: Behind the Scenes of the Paralympics

06 Timesthe

[11/02/12]

[kelecybeckman]

[kelecybeckman]

“I was so so excited to see her, touch her and hug her,” Brickelle’s mother, Heather Bro, said. “We were so proud of her fantastic swim, despite overcoming huge disappoints there.”

“[This is] Brickelle’s awesome and amazing USA Paralympic Swim Team. Between all these people there are dozens and dozens of gold, silver and bronze medals!” Heather Bro said.

[photos compliments of Heather Bro]

Brickelle takes a break from practice and takes in the sights of Stonehenge.

Brickelle takes a tour of downtown London with her family and poses as her parents take her photo in front of Big Ben.

--Brickelle Bro

What You Didn’t Know...

We all know Brickelle Bro the athlete, but who is Brickelle the teenager?

definitely paid off for her. She is the best friend that anyone could ask for and she is an inspira-tion every day.” Swimming has always been a part of Bro’s life, but she never imagined it would take her the places it has today. Bro began competing for The Castle Rock Club swimming team (a competitive year-round team) four years ago, but her love for the water didn’t just start then. “My mom used to always tell me that when I was a baby I use to sit in the bathtub and swim instead of going to the park,” Bro said. Bro has always had a love for water and it is her “go-to” thing whenever she gets stressed. When Bro was training for the Para-lympics, she prac-ticed almost every day--sometimes even twice a day-swim-ming the equivalent of 3-4 miles each practice. “While I was training, my days were long and tiring but I never let that slow me down. I focused on the end goal,” Bro said. Going into the paralympic trials, Bro was told by her Coach Mike Novell that she had a chance to qualify for the Paralympics, but they were unsure of the outcome and just focused on achieving best times. Bro’s goal became to drop seconds her lap time going into the 2012 Paralympic trials in June. That one meet changed her life forever. Bro successfully dropped 20 seconds off of her 400-meter freestyle swim, making her the talk of the meet. Along with the other swimmers at the trials, Bro sat and listened as the names of the athletes that qualified and would be participating in 2012 London Paralympic Games were called. “Name after name was called until I finally heard mine. Once my name was called I didn’t even know what to think,” Bro said. “I was shocked, but extremely proud to be representing the U.S.A.” She knew that she had a lot of work ahead of her, but Brickelle was ready to achieve an incred-

ible goal, one step at a time. Bro earned her spot on the U.S. Paralympic team alongside 20 other female athletes, with her being the youngest on the team. She later qualified to compete in three recreational swimming events. Following hours and hours of practice at The Castle Rock Recreation Center, Bro went on to Germany to begin intense training for the Para-lympics as well as to get acclimated with the time zone and to meet up with all of her teammates-many of whom she still keeps in contact with today.

“After spending two weeks training in Ger-many, I headed off to London where I competed in one event, the 400m Freestyle,” Bro said. It’s race day. Bro swam her first race of the day and finished eighth in the preliminary trial, push-ing her into the 400m Freestyle finals later that afternoon. “I went into the race

knowing I had nothing to lose, so I was deter-mined to swim the best I could,” Bro said. Although she swam in only this event, Brickelle landed in fifth place making her the fifth fastest swimmer in the world for the Women’s 400m Freestyle. “It was surreal to watch her swim at the Para-lympics. I cried the whole time. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that we were actually there in the Aquatics Center in Lon-don.” Heather Bro, Brickelle’s mother, said. “We watched her, screaming and yelling so loud to move her through that water. I was so proud.” After the Paralympics, Bro and her family stayed in London for a week to tour and sightsee--an extraordinary experience for her family that gave Bro a bigger view of the world and more confi-dence moving forward as a swimmer. “I am really proud of Brickelle, she is pretty awesome,” Brickelle’s 13 year old brother, Cayden Bro said. “Going to London was amazing; all the people were really inspiring.” The support Bro had behind her was over-whelming. Bro returned home to a warm welcome from the teachers and students at Rock Canyon, all of whom were happy to have her a part of the

school again, since everyone came together to cheer her on while she was in London. The support continued as Bro was nominated by the sophomore class for homecoming royalty. She went on to become the Homecoming Duchess alongside Quinn O’Neil ’15, who was Duke. “Everyone was so supportive, and I was so sur-prised that the sophomore class loved me enough and believed in me enough that they wanted me to represent the sophomore class,” Bro said. Bro was awarded the “Exceptional Star of The Year” award in 2011 from the John Lynch Founda-

tion for honor-ing outstanding student athletes in the Denver area who demonstrate leadership, aca-demic excellence and athletic performance. With everything she has learned, Bro has decided to start a nonprofit organization

called “My Feet Don’t Stink” to empower other girls with disabilities to do whatever they set their hearts and minds to. “If I have learned anything in my 15 years, it’s that my feet don’t stink; they are actually a bless-ing and make me appreciate life from a different view,” Bro said. “I would never want anything different.” With big goals and a positive outlook, Bro has high hopes for the 2016 Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But before then, she hopes to make the team for the world championships in October 2013. “It’s four years away, and you can get a lot done in four years,” Bro said. “I want to swim in as many events as I can, and I want to medal and set records. I’ve got high hopes.” Bro plans to continue swimming as long as she can, but she also wants to follow her other passion for video editing. Her love that she has for both swimming and video editing will take her far, but as for now she is back to her second home in the pool where she isn’t afraid to dream big.

After the Buzzer Rang: What Kept Her Motivated

Timesthe 07 [11/02/12]

”“The Paralympics,

oddly enough, will end up being the be-

ginning of her journey

Coach Mike Novell ”“She is the best friend

that anyone could ask for and she is an

inspiration every day

Lindsey Koehn’15

Enjoys bike riding, ultimate frisbee, gut-ter ball, golf, hiking, and dancing

Aimee Mullins. “She is a double amputee like me and she has done a lot of great things with her life. It makes me want to do bigger and better things,” Bro said.

Prince Harry sat a couple of rows in front of Brickelle in the pool, but she wasn’t allowed to take a picture

Psych

Madness by Muse

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Twix

In Her Free Time...

Her Favorite TV Show...

Who She Sat Next To...

Her Favorite Food Is...

Favorite Treat...

She’s Inspired By...

What’s On Her iPod...

[nishikavirmani]

[kelecybeckman] [kelecybeckman]

[kelecybeckman] [photos compliments of Heather Bro]

(Left) The scoreboard reflects Brickelle’s lane assignment. (Middle and right) Brickelle getting ready to dive in the Women’s 400m Freestyle , “I couldn’t believe that we were actually there and that she was actually going to be swimming in the famous acquatics center,” Mother Heather Bro said. “I was so proud. I cried the entire race!”

In London, “the Paralympic motto was “Inspire a generation”. The signs were everywhere. This one is specifically right outside Buckingham palace,” Heather Bro said.

This image is the wallpaper on Brickelle’s laptop. Her mother sent her the image during the Games to keep her motivated.

This quote is written alongside a sparrow on a poster in Brickelle’s room. The poster was hand drawn by an artist who had heard Brickelle’s story, and was inspired by her strength.

[photo compliments of Heather Bro]

[kelceybeckman]

[catieyanchak] [sydcharvat]

loses their home because someone loses their job. [An America] where we treat everyone with digni-ty and respect; from the teachers who inspire us, to the janitors who keep our schools clean, and in this America, when one of us stumbles, we don’t tell them “tough luck, you’re on your own,” no, we extend a helping hand while they get on their feet again.” By the end of the event, the entire crowd was in uproar. As a live band played covers of Adele and Lenny Kravitz, hundreds of supporters screamed with joy as Michelle Obama exited the stage. The speech itself lasted for about 17 minutes, and served to appeal mostly to older voters--meaning that

health care and taxes were the main top-ics of discus-sion. However, regardless of your age or political affili-ation, the rally left the audi-ence with a

haunting notion. Regardless of how they choose to vote on election day, the race will come down to the wire, and everyone--students, substi-tute teachers, and union members alike--will all play a vital role in determining who will lay claim to the oval office come January 2013. “This race could come down to just a handful of votes in Colorado, in fact this race could come down to a handful of votes right here in Douglas County,” Susan Daggett said. “The last thing we want to do is to wake up on November 7th wishing that we had done more, wishing that we had talked to one more friend, because by then it will be too late.”

percent of registered voters concluding that he won the debate, in contrast to 25 percent who considered President Obama the victor. In contrast, Morgan Royal ‘13 a member of Young Democrats concluded, “I believe that Obama did a great job during the debate, but I do think that Romney will won, but that doesn’t change how I feel about Obama,” said Royal. The Rock Canyon community, a mere 30 min-utes away from this event watched on with a more enlightened view than in the 2008 election, as all students are nearing voting age and some are even able to participate in this year’s race.

Times 08the [11/02/12]

October 3rd in the Magness Arena at the Daniel L. Ritchie Center at the Univer-sity of Denver the anticipation for the first presidential debate culminated in one of our swing state’s most prestigious universities. Protestors for Obama and Romney flooded the streets of University and Buchtel Boule-vard waving signs of support eager to catch a glimpse of the candidates’ motorcades pass by. By the time both men passed by, Obama follow-ing Romney, protesters made their views known with signs depicting viewpoints on abortion, minimum wage, the foreclosure crisis, human-rights violations in China, and global warming. Police were prepared in case of a riot, mounted on horses surrounding the Ritchie Center and the protestors. Fortunately, no vio-lence broke out and the entire event remained a success for DU and the Denver community. The other large gathering on campus was the uni-versity’s sponsored DebateFest where students and community members could view the debate on a live telecast, go down “Issues Alley” where tents and tables were hosted by local organiza-tions to discuss the major topics of this election, enjoy local food, see live musical performances Zach Heckendorf, Nathaniel Rateliff and The Lu-mineers, and visit booths for social causes includ-ing voter registrations and military recruitment. Inside the walls of the Ritchie Center that

DU Takes the Stage As election day draws closer and closer, every second, every vote, and every word becomes indispensable

[nicolescassou]

“I’m voting Romney because he can supply buisness and help the unemployment rate a lot! He won’t put a lot of money twards government projects, which would add

more to the debt.” --Jonah Flores ‘13

”I’d vote for Obama. I think that Romney is a threat to the United States, as he

would raise the income tax of middle class families to unfair amounts. -- Josh Hutchinson ‘15

“I dislike Obama; Romney’s the only other choice. I would vote for anyone that’s not Obama. He’s taken funding from the MS

[Multiple Sclerosis] foundation; my mom is paralyzed and he’s not helping.”

-- Holly Moore ‘14

“I think this years elerction cantidates are the worst two so far. I am voting libertar-ian because I feel that either way we are

screwed in different areas of government, education, work, and more.”

--Hannah Hughes ‘13

““Voting is an adult decision about the United States and what we need. Therefore,

how do I know what we need and what needs to happen if I’m still in high school with zero experiences being out of high

school.”--Jordon Scott ‘13

The First Lady Visits Castle Rock In a matter of weeks, approximately 313 mil-lion people will go to the polling booth, ticket in hand, and place their vote for the candidate that they feel will best serve as the modern day Su-perman. They want a man who will salvage the economy, reorganize social programs, and help guide America into a state of hope and prosperity. They want the “man of steel” to bring America back. On October 11, a rally was held in Castle Rock on behalf of First Lady, Michelle Obama, and it quickly became apparent that, rather than looking to an indirect means campaigning, both candidates decided to fight for the election one vote at a time. “The election is less than one month away. It’s hard to believe it, but that’s all the time that we have left to make sure that we talk to our family and friends and to help get out the vote to reelect Barack Obama as our president,” Introductory speaker and wife of Denver Mayor, Michael Bennett, Susan Daggett, said. “For those of you who were here with us in 2010 for Michael’s race, I thank you...[But] just like in 2010, this race is going to be razor close. Just like then we cannot take one single vote for granted. Just like then we know that if we work hard, and if we turn out ev-ery last voter until the very last day, we will win.” Approximately 200 people gathered in the small gym inside the fairgrounds in order to see the first lady speak that afternoon. And although her speech did not begin until 12:10 p.m., many supporters had been waiting on their feet--in line and amongst the crowd--since 7:00 a.m. However, after a five part introduction from

They said itDouglas County campaign officers, local teachers, and even Mayor Bennett’s wife, Susan Daggett, Michelle Obama finally made her way to the stage. “I am so happy to see that you all are pretty fired up and ready to go. In case you can’t tell, I’m pretty fired up myself,” Obama said. “One of the things that I love most about campaign-ing in addition to coming out and talking to our supporters and citizens all over the coun-try is that I get to talk about the man that I have loved and admired since the first day I met him.” The beginning of the speech focused mainly on how she felt that her husband’s upbringing

influenced his character and has helped him grow as a leader in both his pro-fessional and social life. How-ever, the speech quickly shifted to a brief dis-

cussion about healthcare re-form, the maintaining of social programs to ben-efit the lower middle class, and to an analysis of what the Obama campaign feels that voters should understand about the election as a whole. “[The election is] a choice about our values, hopes and our aspirations. It’s a choice about the America that we want to leave behind for our kids and our grandkids,” Obama said. “Let me tell you what that America looks like, or at least what we think it looks like; we believe in an America where every child--no matter where they’re born or how much money their parents have--should have good schools that push them. “We believe in an America where no one goes broke because someone gets sick, where no one

”“The election is a choice about our values, hopes

and our aspirations.Michelle Obama, First Lady

The voice of RC’s present and future voters

Oct. 11 First Lady, Michelle Obama, delivered a speech in Castle Rock to approximately 200 of her constituents in hopes of gaining support for her husband’s re-election campaign

sparked such activity outside was the incumbent, President Barack Obama, and Mitt Romney the for-mer governor of Massachusetts, who were given a mere 90 minutes to articulate their disparate views on domestic policy to the American people. “I was really proud of Romney, a lot of the things he said reminded me of Reagan, who I thought was one of the best Presidents we’ve had,” Ashton Har-rison ‘13, vice president of Young Republicans said. Jim Lehrer, a former PBS anchor was the mod-erator for this first of three debates, and was rep-rimanded on various social media outlets for not controlling the debate sufficiently, as there were many power struggles between both men often yelling over one another to get their points across. What many of the 67 million viewers were unaware of was the new debate format that was approved for this year’s election by the Commis-ion on Presidential Debates. This design allowed for more open-ended questions that encouraged a discussion-like format among the candidates. The general consensus of the media con-cluded that Romney was the clear aggressor in this debate as opposed to the seemingly passive and unenergetic Obama. The New Yorker de-picted a caricature on their cover that showed an empty chair at President Obama’s podium, symbolic of his performance at the debate. A CNN poll consisting of debate viewers found that Romney very definitively ahead, with 67

[sydcharvat]

To check out the facts, head to these websites

http://www.politico.com: With not know-ing what is true or not this site helps clear the question that anyone might have with correct information.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com: A site with easily accessible, unbiased informa-tion

www.fivethirtyeight.com: This website run by Nate Silver has predicted this election down to the sinlgle digits.

Real or Prediction? [nicolescassou]

”“This race could come

down to just a hand-ful of votes in Colorado,

Susan Daggett, Senator Bennet’s Wife

09 Communitythe

[11/02/12]

Visit arapahoe.edu/departments-and-programs for details on each of these programs. For information about ACC or to schedule a campus tour, contact Student Recruitment and Outreach at 303.797.5637.

303.797.4222 | arapahoe.edu

YOUR Community College

DO MORE!

COntempORaRY JOURnalismYou love interviewing and hearing about experiences and events that have shaped people’s lives. You work on the school newspaper, literary magazine or the yearbook. You have a blog or your own website.

If you are ready to seek the technical skills to create powerful websites, online publica-tions or the writing skills to place you on the staff at a national newspaper or maga-zine, the ACC Associate Degree in Contemporary Journalism will get you there! You can complete your degree to start your career in journalism, or seamlessly transfer to a four-year college or university to complete your Bachelor of Arts degree.

mUltimeDia anD GRaphiC DesiGn Come learn about an exciting creative arts program that features: illustration, Photo-shop, Dreamweaver, Flash, and Toon Boom. Students who complete this program find careers in advertising specialties, television, freelance graphic design, web design, in-house design departments, and corporate design.

Some of our graduates have even continued their education at the Parsons School of Design, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and the University of Colorado Film School.

take Your Creativity FuRthERArapahoe Community College offers more than 85 degrees and certificates that include many that

let your creativity soar. here are just two examples to jump-start your career in a creative field.

Ads for Grads

theyearbookcompany"Straight from the heart and into the yearbook!"

Dear Parents, Friends & Guardians:

Are you looking for a creative way to tell your senior, “I love you and I am proud of you” now

that their high school years are coming to an end? If the answer is yes, think about placing

a “Dedication Ad” in the yearbook. Yearbook dedication ads are a great way to give your

child the special recognition they deserve, for everyone to see, in the 2012 yearbook.*

*Please note that if you submit your ad materials by the first deadline, you can get a considerable discount.

It’s easy to submit a Dedication Ad.

Step 1: Select the size you wish to purchase. Please visit www.theyearbookcompany.com and select your school and log on for pricing and size options.

Step 2: Send us your favorite hard copy or digital photo(s) along with your message typed on a separate sheet of paper by mail. (Mail everything to the address on the order form available on the website. DO NOT DROP IT OFF AT THE SCHOOL.) Or you can go to www.theyearbookcompany.com and upload your digital photos, message and payment online. But your materials must be submitted all by mail or all online, not a combination of both.

Step 3: Enjoy the look on your child’s face when they see their dedication in the yearbook.

The deadline to submit your ad materials and payment will be December 1, 2011.But there is an early-bird discount for ads submitted by October 6th so don’t delay to get the best pricing.

You will receive detailed ordering information by mail. But to prepare yourself for the earliest deadline, please visit www.theyearbookcompany.com to download and/or print ordering, deadline and pricing information for your school. Make sure to select your school and log on.

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*senior dedication ads*

I’ll Be There For Youincluding the dreadful feeling of wondering whether things are really over or not. There was an episode where Phoebe thought her dead mother’s spirit was inside of a stray cat, and no matter how hard the others tried to tell her differently, she didn’t believe them. In a different episode, Joey attempted to learn French, but contrary to his beliefs, the words coming out of his mouth were not any lan-guage whatsoever. In both circumstances, each character insisted that they were correct. This is another life lesson that one could learn from Friends: sometimes we need to accept that our

friends can be stub-born goofs and are not going to listen to you. Friends has taught me many things, but overall, it taught me to be the friend that I want to have. Phoebe, Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, and Joey are not real people, but their friendship has a depth and hint of reality that is easily relatable. Their friend-ship taught me that any good relationship will be a complete

package filled with laughter, tears, fights and love. It taught me that there will be times when your friends make you want to slap them di-rectly across the face. Yes, you could do this; but instead, you’ll give them the world’s biggest hug.

If you have seen the show Friends, then you should know that the six characters on the show are the kind of friends that everyone wishes they had. No matter how wacky they were, there was something about them that drew viewers in and kept them watching the series long after it went off the air. Maybe it is the fact that Ross, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, and Rachel help each other get through the biggest bumps in the road. Maybe it is the fact that not one of the char-acters hides behind a mask, allowing the real them to shine through. Maybe it’s just because they are plain hilarious. Whatever it is, I think that watching Friends can teach everyone about life, friendship, and everything in between. In one episode, Joey thought it would be funny to stick his head inside of the Thanks-giving turkey to scare people, and got stuck inside. Monica came back to find her turkey attached to a human body and was livid. Our friends make us angry sometimes, but eventually they will make it up to you, you will forgive them, and you will move on, like Monica did for Joey. Your friends are going to drive you up a wall sometimes. Then there will be those friends that you fall for. The ones that start as just some guy or gal in your 3rd period English class and then eventually become your girlfriend or boyfriend. Ross and Rachel taught me that simply ending the relationship instead of saying “we were on a break” is going to help avoid many problems,

The T.V. series, Friends, shows us the meaning of true friend-ship and what it takes to create bonds that will last a lifetime

By Nikki Newman

Newman on the Block

Halloweenies The month of October is a wonderful time of year. It’s a time when the colder weather comes in drones, yielding way to the changing colors of leaves. It’s a time when families gather around a television to watch their favorite football teams. Most importantly in my mind, it’s a time when people celebrate the estab-lished tradition of dressing up, visiting haunted houses, and giving candy to children on October 31st. Halloween. At least it should be that way, but the oppression from high school society has devalued it to the extent that it is no more than a nostalgic trip through a child’s holiday. The general consensus is that high schoolers don’t want to trick or treat. It is an understand-able stance to take as candy becomes less of an incentive and parents tell their kids that they have outgrown it. In all reality, it does seem a little strange for a seventeen year old to dress up like their favorite character and parade around to houses like the rest of the population below 13 years of age. What kids want to do is what they always have, which is to hang out with their friends and have a good time. Why take dressing up out of the equation? Spirit days at Rock Canyon High School are perfect examples of the fact that the majority

of students aren’t too old, or too cool, to dress up in costumes. If an outsider were to observe the halls of RC during homecoming week, they would see a flood of ridiculous outfits and most of all, kids having a good time being goofy. Cali-fornia Swag Day, Western Day, East Coast Prep Day: The list goes on and on, every year with new themes for students to have fun with. Even with the abundance of school spirit and willingness to look like a fool for the sake of hu-mor and amusement, our little teenage society is extremely lacking in the Halloween costume party department. They were a normal part of the season when we were children, as much expected as they were revered and prepared for. It seems that once high school arrives, kids are of an age that has passed that time long by. There are many people that simply believe they are too cool for costume parties. Along with rules and regulations set in place by authorita-tive figures, Halloween has taken a backseat both socially and educationally. Not anymore. No longer should kids have to struggle to find festive ways to spend their Hal-loweens. It’s time for costume parties to make a comeback. It’s time to fight back against the Halloweiners.

How high school “coolness” is taking the fun out of Halloween

Lis-ten to Tristan

By Tristan Sagar All’s Fair in Love and

PoliticsElection Day will be a day worth celebrating, not because a cer-tain candidate won, but because this means that the negative campaign ads will finally go off the air

It’s that time of the year again. It’s that time when the American people gather around their television sets anxiously awaiting the season premieres of their favorite shows, while being bombarded during commercial breaks by two grown men pointing fingers at each other like fifth grade girls. Election day is upon us, and for those like myself, it would be a shame to see my preferred candidate lose, but at the same time, the day itself will be worth celebrating because it will mark the end of the most desperate and peevish campaign of our generation. Yes, I am swayed one way for the election, but my political beliefs have nothing to do with me saying that this election season has been close to pathetic. It seems that that this election is not so much about who is going to heal the wounds of the country, but rather who isn’t going to punch it in the face. I’m aware that attack ads are part of politics, but at what point does it get out of hand? At what point does someone cross the line? That’s the thing about politics; it’s impossible to cross any lines because apparently there are no lines to cross. There is a reason for the saying don’t believe everything you see on TV. I can read past the B.S, but can the rest of the undecided country? If they don’t, they’re going to be deciding the next president on a few things:1. The second Paul Ryan steps into office as the Vice President of the United States, he is going to take your grandma, throw her on the street, and wish her good luck. (Yes, because he gets out of bed in the morning telling himself, “Bye bye granny.”)2. President Obama isn’t an American (Relax, Hawaii counts). He is a socialist (dumb). A communist (even dumber). He doesn’t care about anyone else in this country but the middle class (then why is he running for president? Again...).3. Mitt and Ann Romney have never worked a day in their lives (because anyone could own a successful business). He has hidden money in the Cayman Islands. He hates women (yet he has a wife. He also has his own religious beliefs.). He’s rich (who cares?).4. Republicans are rich and racist. (Last time I checked, Abe Lincoln freed the slaves. There are also African-American Republicans.)5. Democrats are communists or “friendly fascists”. (We’re still a democracy aren’t we?)

It’s sad that because of televisions ads, we know just as many lies about the candidates as facts. It could be because both candidates are so eager to win at all costs, but they’re taking winning at all costs a bit too literally. Millions of dollars are spent on ad space on television stations for both sides, all to convey their point of how their opposition will destroy the country. Meanwhile, as the candidates continue the finger pointing via commercials and debates, (which after watching the second one, looked like a Bad Girls Club reunion), here is where the country stands: the deficit is climbing, unemployment is near 8%, and an ambassador in Benghazi is dead. Both campaigns have made their messages seem non-existent because they are overshadowed by a cloud of negative propaganda. If Obama really wanted to get his point across, he should change his slogan of “Forward” to “Not Mitt’s Direction”. And if Romney wanted to really to convince people why we “can’t afford four more,” he should start by explaining why we should want to spend four of our years with him. To me, they have it all backward. In the situation we are in, I’m looking for positives, not constant put-downs. Thankfully we’re almost there. We survived. And yes, I think survived is an appropriate word. Come election day, no matter who wins, everyone will stop being caught up in they hype of the election, and stop thinking they’re the next Chris Matthews. On November 7th, I will be able to enjoy a nice home cooked meal with my family without being joined at the table by Wolf Blitzer and Bill O’Reilly. I will jump for joy the next time I see a Viagra commercial, because there isn’t a guy at the end saying “I approve this message.” If I had it my way, all the advertising would be up to Saturday Night Live, and the debates would be moderated by someone who hasn’t had their AARP membership since Moses parted the Red Sea. All I ask is that in 2016, we can have some laughs during election season instead of constant bashing. Maybe we should put Joe Biden in charge of that. That guy will laugh at anything.

Bohren’s Ultimatum

By Andrew Bohren

10 Takethe

[11/02/12]

[art by: natalieholthaus]

11Beatthe

[11/02/12]

As you walk into the new LUSH store in the Park Meadows mall, you are immediately immersed into a sea of colors and scents. Your nose picks up the crisp scents of anything from blackberry to porridge to avocado and your eyes grasp all of the vibrant colors of the rainbow, some that you never knew existed. LUSH is a cosmetics company that sells an array of fresh handmade products that are natural, organic, and vegan. They produce a wide variety of bath, shower, hair, and face products along with handmade makeup. The company also features some fun items that are great for a nice relaxing bath. Their famous Bath Bombs, Bubble Bars and Bath Melts come in many different colors, shapes and sizes that are perfect for a calming bath or a fun gift for friends. The brand LUSH has been around for a while and their products have previously flourished around the world and just after a few months in the Park Meadows Mall they have already been widely ac-cepted and enjoyed by many.

Living in Luxury with LUSH

Shopping Technology

Snapchat

Apps that Snap:Downloadable from the App

Store

Pandora

Wanelo is an upcoming popular app, that is similar to Pinterest, but on a new, highly addictive level. If you enjoy online shopping or browsing this is the app for you. Like Pinterest, Wanelo shows you pictures of clothing, jewelry, and unique trinkets. Instead of just looking, and wishing you could have everything in the picture, this app lists the prices and connects you to the website to buy the product. “I like that I can actually buy the stuff that I see. I just bought a sweatshirt the other day that says “Live Every Day Like You’re Glen Coco.” Kaitlin Jarrel ‘13 said. There are so many unique things on the app and everyone will be sure to find some-thing they like at every price range. There are a wide variety of prices on the site, so you can find inexpensive costume jewelry or pricey high quality goods. Once you see something you like on the app you can save it onto your wish list on your profile or a gift list to keep it in mind for later when you are needing something new.

Wanelo

Rock Reviews A student’s guide on what to see, where to shop, and what to download

As the sun set Wednesday, Sept. 19, people filed into Red Rocks Am-phitheatre in Morrison, Colorado for a show featuring three upbeat and affable performances from the likes of Andy Grammer, Mat Kearney and Train. Grammer was first to take the stage as he performed his familiar hits “Fine by Me” and “Keep Your Head Up” in addition his own groovy rendition of Rihanna’s “We Found Love.” Next up was Mat Kearney, who delivered a stellar performance, hit-ting all the right notes in his songs “Runaway,” “Ships in the Night,” and “Hey Mama.” Last but certainly not least was the headliner, Train. The band managed to put on a sensational show in front of a near sellout crowd. Train played hit song after hit song and were very keen on keeping the audience involved, from throwing beach balls into the crowd, to bringing some teenage girls on stage to help them sing their song “Mer-maid” among other ballads like “Save me San Francisco” and “Drops of Jupiter.” “The overall atmosphere of the concert was absolutely incredible. If anyone ever gets the chance to see an artist perform at red rocks, take it,” Preston Migaki ‘14 said.

Train Rocks Red Rocks

Music

Just in case the name isn’t enough of an identifier, “STOMP” was a loud and spectacular show starring eight young musicians and break dancers who banged, smashed, and yes, stomped their way into the Buell Theatre Saturday, Sept. 29. From beginning to end, the cast amazed as they used trash cans, matchboxes, brooms, and even their own bodies as percussion instru-ments. They mixed beats but always seemed to keep perfect time with one another pausing every so often for applause or humorous asides. At points in the show the cast even allowed for the audience to clap the beats along with them making a fun show even more entertaining. The instruments used in the show total to: 30 brooms, 8 lids, 5 bins, 10-6ft poles, 15 pounds of sand, 4 blocks of chalk, 12 pairs of drum-sticks, 200 liters of water, 8 bananas, 12 boxes of matches, and many more creative items that will be sure to capture your attention. If in the future you ever have the chance to attend this phenomenon, I highly recommend grabbing tickets and joining the sensation.

Stomping Its Way into Denver Comes STOMP The Musical

Movies

I pulled Fandango up on my laptop, as I often do, and began scroll-ing through possible movies to see. After crossing out the definite no’s, I finally settled on the one with two of my favorite things; base-ball and family. Trouble with the Curve is a heartfelt story about a man named Gus who has been a baseball scout for years, but even though his age is starting to get to him, he refuses to retire. After being sent on a trip to scope out a small town high school baseball player, Gus has to accept help from his daughter, Mickey, despite their rough relationship. While on the trip they learn to put their differences aside to un-cover their past and reshape their future. From start to finish, this uplifting story will have you sympathetic and inspired. Although the acting is simply mediocre, the all-star cast including Amy Adams, Clint Eastwood, and Justin Timberlake, makes the story much more intriguing. Though it is a great storyline, certain roles and events may be confusing if your eyes and ears aren’t open. But if you remember your thinking cap and a heart, it is one movie you won’t want to miss.

Entertainment

With Humor, Romance and Family Struggles, The Rock Gives Trouble With the Curve an A-

Why pay for music when you can listen to your favorite most recent hits for free on Pandora? Whatever type of music you like or if you have a favorite artist, Pandora has a station that will fit what you are looking for. Once you set up an account, which is free, you can add your own stations to your playlist. From Today’s Hits Radio to Today’s Country or Indie Rock Radio, or even Taylor Swift Radio and so many more options, there will be a station just for you that plays your favorite music and will keep you entertained throughout the day.” Tiffani Clark ‘13 said. “ I like that there is a variety of new songs and there is also the Quick Mix Feature which will merge all of your playlist together You can also bookmark certain songs that you enjoy and they will go into your book-marks folder which will keep that one song you like to play over and over again right there where you can just click on it and it will play. Pandora also shuffles all of the music played so the songs are always new and just what you want to hear.

Snapchat is a new way to be able to share pictures with your favorite friends and family. Sometimes its a silly face, an inside joke or a picture of a pet or item that is worth sharing with friends that will give you both a good laugh. “It’s very entertaining to send weird pic-ture of yourself, I also like that people can’t take a screenshot and save it.” Staci Kiwor ‘14 said. You can set-up a contact list with how many ever friends or family members you like. However, with snapchat you are only al-lowed to see the picture that was sent to you, for a certain number of seconds and enjoy it before it’s gone forever and cannot be viewed again. You can also draw a picture to send or type a caption to include in a picture as well.

[rachelcuny] [laurenpayne]

[linneamelbye]

[jakebattock]

[linneamelbye]

[kelceybeckman]

[kelceybeckman]

(Free)

(Free)

(Free)

[natalieholthaus]

image courtesy of googleimages

image courtesy of googleimages

[ashleyzerby]

From movie night to the football game, Homecoming week was a “Party in the USA”1. Students gather on the baseball field to watch Dodgeball Oct. 4. The cold weather didn’t discourage students from participating. “Movie night was cool because I got to hang out with my friends while we watched the movie,” Summer Henderson ‘15 said. “It was a funny movie, but it was freezing!” 2. StuCo members Andrew Thumann ‘15 and Kimball Eggett ‘15 hang the dance banner the week before homecoming. “It was a lot of work to plan homecom-ing, but it always pays off in the end,” Senior class president Alexis Svenson ‘13 said.3. Powder puff player Katlyn Humbarger’13 paints fellow player Katie Mackey’s ‘13 face right before the match at Shea Stadium Oct. 3. The winners this year were the sophomores, who narrowly defeated the seniors in the final match.4. Students gather around the firepit Oct. 4 to soak up the warmth of the bonfire. “The fire is always really fun. It’s one of my favorite homecoming traditions,” Lauren Posey ‘13 said. “It was nice because it was so freezing cold outside.”

HOMECOMING 2012America Coast to Coast

[brandonreimers]

[jakebattock]

1.

[kelceybeckman]

2.

4.

3.

[kelceybeckman]

Editorial ReportingEditor in Chief:

Syd CharvatManaging

Editor:Kayla Neil

News Editor: Virginia Vaughan

In-Depth Editors:

Mae RohrbachBri Cooke

Sports Editors:Jeremy Purchase

Jacob BattockAshley Boatman

Nicole CassouRachel Cuny

Luke HoffmannNatalie HolthausLinnea Melbye

Brandon Reimers

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, additional copies are available for

50 cents each.Rock Canyon High School 5810

McArthur Ranch Road Highlands Ranch, CO 80124

Phone 303-387-3000/Fax 303-387-3001

Michael ShapiroOpinions Editors:

Sachin MathurAndrew Bohren

Reviews Editor:Kelcey Beckman

Business Editor: Cecilia Castro

Guest Artist:Liam Kelley

Copy Editors:Maddie WhittenNatalie Holthaus

Nicole NewmanLauren Payne

Maddie WhittenTristan Sagar

Caitlin YanchakQuentin BooseJulia Henning

The Rock Newspaper Staff

Non-Voting Adviser: Kristi Rathbun

Special Thanks To: Timothy Castro ‘16