Arapahoe Herald March Issue 2015 by Arapahoe Herald

THE HERALD RISE OF THE PaRCC NATIONAL PaRCC TEST intended TO REVOLUTIONIZE STANDARDIZED TESTS, BUT will it succeed?

A two-time Pacemaker winner. • 2201 East Dry Creek Road Room E2 • Centennial CO 80122 • Email aherald@comcast.net • Web: http://arapahoeherald.littletonpublicschools.net “Today’s news is tomorrow’s history.” ArapahoeAward High School

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

ARAPAHOE HIGH SCHOOL | CENTENNIAL, COLORADO

Volume 51| Number 5

Arapahoe Herald | Tuesday, March 10, 2015

CONTENTS

Junior Alexandra Shankle celebrates with junior Ireland Clouse at the end of year Unified basketball game on Feb. 23. Photo by Maggie Piazza, Calumet Yearbook On the cover: Graphic illustration by Mason Steiner

NEWS & SPORTS

3 WARRIOR WEEK

Breaking tradition and making changes during the charitable week By Madison Wacaser

3 PARCC TESTING

Freshmen through Juniors must take national standardized test By Lindsey Archipley

4 ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS Student athletes train hard to to finance college experiences By Paige Paulsen

FOCUS & FEATURE

7 HUMANS OF ARAPAHOE

Becoming familiar with the faces we see everyday By Emily Cunningham, Maddie Dorman, Keegan Fulwider, Abigail Guadnola, Brian Heissenbuttel, Monica Splain & Mason Steiner

11 TAKE HEART

Petra Sikorski jumpstarts her initiative to profile students on a biweekly basis By Petra Sikorski

12 HUMANS AROUND

OPINION & CRITICAL REVIEW

5 MARCH MADNESS FOOD

Where to go to get your game-day food fix By Anna Zeek

5 MUSIC APPS

Popular apps give you a 360ยบ music experience on your smartphone By Keegan Fulwider

14 THE BIGGEST FAN

Fan entitlement escalates within the music scene By Erica Martinez

ARAPAHOE

Become familiar with the faces across the street By Mason Steiner

15 SENIORITIS

How to conquer the feeling of giving up for the rest of the year By Carrie McDaniel

Member of CHSPA, CSPA, NSPA, JEA and Quill and Scroll. Arapahoe Herald is a student publication and operates as an open forum. If you have any comments, questions, concerns or guest content you would like to share with the Arapahoe Herald, write a letter to the editor. Letters to the editor can be emailed to arapahoeherald@gmail.com or submitted to room E8.

Adviser: Greg Anderson Editor-in-Chief: Maddie Dorman Managing Editors: Anna Zeek Brian Heissenbuttel Copy Editor: Lindsey Archipley Design Editors: Mason Steiner Carrie McDaniel Photo Editor: Emily Cunningham Distribution Manager: Erica Martinez Sports Manager: Quinn Trask Publicity Officer: Monica Splain Reporters: Alissa Brown Mackenzie Callahan Reid Conant Katie Franklin Keegan Fulwider Abigail Guadnola Paige Paulsen Connor Scott Madison Wacaser

EDITORS & STAFF

Arapahoe Herald | Tuesday, March 10, 2015

NEWS

Student council strays from tradition for Warrior Week by Madison Wacaser his spring will bring many changes to Warrior Week. For a preview of the event, we talked to Mr. Brandberg, a sponsor of student council. [Q] What is new this year with Warrior Week? [A] “Each spring, Student Council picks a charity to donate the money to and this year they picked the Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association. So that’s the biggest change: who we’re supporting. We’ve supported Adam’s Camp in the past and Heroes Forever was part of that. It helped kids with cancer, kids with special needs. We are also doing a Ping Pong Tournament on Thursday, and we’re bringing back the basketball game. Years ago we had a competitive thing and it has kind of gotten away from that. We are going back to making it a competitive game between the seniors and the staff, and the special halftime with the kids from the Down Syndrome Association.” [Q] Is there a particular reason for the changes this year? [A] “Student Council wanted to add some different events, and in previous years they’ve had a lot on their plate. This year, officers wanted to give it a go. It’s student council, not sponsor council, so if the students are willing to step in and do the work then we’re going to help them get that accomplished. We’re excited that they’re excited to take something on because sometimes the kids feel overwhelmed the whole week with what’s going on anyways.” [Q] What is the difference between Adam’s camp and Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association? [A] “Adam’s camp is where you can send kids with special needs to summer camp and they get that summer camp experience, but the Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association is kind of what it sounds like; it’s an association

that creates awareness and helps those with Down Syndrome to function with as much normalcy as possible.” [Q] How long has Warrior Week been happening? [A] “Warrior Week used to be Wish Week when we worked with Make A Wish Foundation and that changed. Around 2009 we started doing other organizations, so we changed the name to Warrior Week. Warrior Week has been going on since about 2009, but the Wish Week/Warrior Week has been going on for years at Arapahoe, prior to even my arrival. So it’s just a long standing tradition here.” [Q] Why are Penny Wars no longer on the schedule? [A] “We did Penny Wars last year and I just think there was a lot of confusion over it. The idea is that if you are, say, a freshman, you put dollar bills in the sophomore, junior and senior buckets and that helps the freshman class. When you put pennies into your bucket and that helped you, but kids got confused on how the rules worked and the point is we want to create awareness and effective fundraising. The officers decided it was confusing and we followed their lead. They didn’t feel good about it, as they felt that there were better ways to do it, so they’re going to try some different things this year.” [Q] What about Warrior Week T-shirts? [A] “We’ll do t-shirts again this year. I think we are going to do the bright neon. There was some debate whether it should be black or gold but those bright neon just sell out every year, so why stop something that is a really effective fundraiser and marketing tool that kids like?” [Q] Are there going to be any lunchtime activities? [A] “We are not going to have lunchtime activities but we are going to have some dress up days, so just be looking out for that.”

MONDAY March 16

TUESDAY

-American dress-up day -Pep Assembly -Charity Concert at 7:00

March 17

-St. Patrick’s dress-up day

WEDNESDAY March 18

THURSDAY

-Decades dress-up day -Basketball Game at 7:00

March 19

-March Madness dress-up day -Ping Pong tournament at 6:00

FRIDAY March 20

-Black and gold spirit dress-up day

PARCC test sparks debate, controversy about federal testing Helpful PARCC Reminders & Tips -Test is for grades 9, 10 & 11 only -Juniors who have completed Algebra II will not take the math test -Bring headphones -Bring a book (No writing or electronic devices allowed) -Adjust volume before launching TestNav, you will not be able to once the application is open

Wed. March 11 schedule: 7:30-8:45 8:50-10:20 10:25-11:25 11:25-11:55 12:00-12:42 12:47-1:29 1:34-2:16

Language Arts 1 (75 mins) Language Arts 2 (90 mins) Language Arts 3 (60 mins) Lunch (30 mins) Wed. Per. 1 (42 mins) Wed. Per. 2 (42 mins) Wed. Per. 3 (42 mins)

Thurs. March 12 schedule: 7:30-9:00 9:10-10:25 10:25-11:00 11:05-12:05 12:10-1:10 1:15-2:16

Math 1 (90 mins) Math 2 (75 mins) Lunch (35 mins) Wed. Per. 4 (60 mins) Wed. Per. 5 (60 mins) Wed. Per. 6 (61 mins)

by Lindsey Archipley The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC test has sparked much debate regarding standardized testing, especially federally implemented tests. Twelve states are participating in the math and language arts computer-based test, with the purpose of measuring how well students are meeting Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in math and language arts that students are expected to know by the end of each grade. While students may not directly benefit from taking the PARCC test, it has the potential to positively impact the school. “I think Arapahoe has really benefitted from having [an impressive] performance rating for so many years,” assistant principal Angela Boatright said. “It is what makes us a magnet to other students: we have a significant part of our student body that comes from outside our district, and we’ve received the John Irwin state recognition as a School of Excellence for every year that award has existed, and a significant part of getting that award is test scores. When you go to Arapahoe, that means something, so students benefit in that way.” Although advocates of the test claim its purpose is to enhance teaching and learning, some question its effectiveness. “There’s a lot of energy at the local level and federal level where people just don’t like this test,” Boatright said. “I don’t know what the future of it is going to look like but until then, we have to do our duty, working in public education, to comply with federal mandates. Whether we personally like them or dislike them, that is the stance that Littleton Public Schools has taken.” Just because Colorado has decided to implement the PARCC test does not mean it

“

is fully supported by schools or government officials concerned with public education. “I am not a fan of the PARCC tests,” District 19 Colorado state representative Paul Lundeen said. “The problems I have with the PARCC tests is how it shows up in the classes. I don’t think that it’s appropriate in any way: legally, constitutionally, or from an educational standpoint, to have outside a state controlling the assessments we use within the state. As we move toward centralization, we lose the ability to do what we as Americans have always done best: to innovate, to think differently, to come up with better methods of achieving what tomorrow should look like. The education system in America is too

are inaccurate and virtually worthless. In regards to school funding, it is unclear as to whether the PARCC test will have any impact. Because schools cannot force students to take a particular test, it would be difficult for the state to allow it to affect funding if not every student takes it. If participation rates are low, it is doubtful that it could negatively affect the school in regards to money. While most of the conversation about the test has been negative, there are some positive aspects to it, at least in this district. Because the test is being administered electronically only, schools have bought new computers that students will benefit from outside of the test. “We are getting approximately 993 new Chromebook computers,” Director of technology Karl Fisch said. “That’s a combination of replacing the netbooks that are in the hands of connected learners and the new computers for testing.” The new online test will save the state money and make for more efficient grading. “It’s much easier to handle the data from the tests online because when it’s online, the data is all right there and you can work with it as opposed to when it’s on paper and someone has to grade it and enter it,” Fisch said. Although this style of testing is more effective for the state as well as Arapahoe, it poses a problem for some districts that cannot afford the technology required for it. The funding for the computers comes from both Arapahoe’s budget and money donated from parents at the beginning of the school year; however, some schools are struggling to find the money to purchase the computers. The PARCC test will be administered at Arapahoe on March 11-12 for freshmen, sophomore and junior students. Juniors who have completed Algebra II will not take the math portion of the test; however, freshmen and sophomores who have passed Algebra II will be required to take it. While parents are able to opt their students out of the test, it is not encouraged by the school or district.

I don’t think that it’s appropriate in any way: legally, constitutionally, or from an educational standpoint, to have outside a state controlling the assessments we use within the state.” – District 19 Colorado state representative Paul Lundeen important to risk allowing centralization over.” Critics also argue that too much standardized testing can get in the way of students’ learning. Lundeen worries that when too strict of regulations are put in place, it can become a suffocating environment for students and teachers, and therefore get in the way of learning. Another issue when it comes to asking students to take another standardized test is whether or not they will take it seriously and provide accurate results of their knowledge. “Last year, we saw the gap in reliability and validity of the [CMAS] tests by virtue of what the high school seniors said,” Lundeen said. “Students said, ‘Well wait a minute, this test isn’t really meaningful to me, and so I’m not going to sit through the test.’ For the kids who did sit through the test, my question is, how motivated were they?” Lundeen argues that it is unfair for teachers to be evaluated based on tests that students did not try their best on. If students do not have any incentive to do well, results

Arapahoe Herald | Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Sports

Athletic scholarships: an option worth considering by Paige Paulsen ith so much talk about future plans and the daunting costs of higher education, more and more people have turned their attention towards scholarships to ease the strain of paying college tuition. Athletes are no exception when it comes to taking advantage of the skills that set them apart from the rest of their community. “We have quite a few kids that are offered some type of athletic scholarship, depending on the year and depending on the sport,” assistant basketball and track coach and guidance counselor Scott Wadsworth said. Among the dozen or so students who qualified for a scholarship this school year is basketball player, Annabelle Brewer who will be attending Colorado Christian University on a oneyear scholarship. “It was hard and a lot of work,” Brewer said. “I had to email the coach and prove to him that I earned a scholarship. I met with my coach about four times before I committed.” Although financial benefits are offered for most sports, the value can vary by thousands of dollars depending on a student’s college of choice. They also range in duration from one year to a multiyear contract. In some cases, funds can be withdrawn or reduced for reasons including injury to the player or other displays of inadequate performance during their career with the team. Being that competition is a core

principle of the athletic spirit, the result is a narrow margin of acceptance for college level teams. Compared to performance, grade or age is a minor factor in determining who qualifies for the limited number of slots open to prospective athletes. “It is going to typically be the skill of the player and what is needed at that time [that attracts recruiters],” Wadsworth said. “There are some students that are being recruited pretty young depending on how good they are in their particular sport.” Before students can claim these awards, it is important for them to be aware of the necessary qualifications as well as the full extent of available opportunities. They must work to gain the attention of college coaches. It is a matter of patience and slowly working their way up the ladder of people who should see what they have to offer a team. “There are things students can do to get their name out there,” Wadsworth said. “There are some students who will contact coaches. Their respective coaches will then cont act the college coaches and let them know that there are kids who could potentially play for them. Others put together highlight videos and send them to different coaches at colleges around the country.” Before committing to anything, it is a good idea to meet with a counselor or someone in the post-graduate center. They can help students figure out what scholarships they are qualified

for and give them advice for managing deadlines. There are many opportunities that are missed because people are unaware or do not realize how much they can be worth. “If one school doesn’t work out keeping looking because there are a lot of schools out there that need athletes,” Brewer said. It takes more than passion to reach success. Love for the sport must be combined with a player’s dedication to what they do, even if the process takes them down a path that demands more than they think they can give. “The reality is that there are only so many [scholarships] out there,” Wadsworth said. “They are hard to get in some sports which is why you can sometimes walk on and you may earn one later in your career. There is also the opportunity for students to walk on to play a sport without a scholarship. The process works in a variety of ways. I tell students that if they really want to play in college they just have to really work hard, play as much as they can and enjoy the sport while they are doing it.” Realistically, the demands of these programs set a high bar for those interested in the opportunities they provide. Achieving a scholarship is a venture best left to the people willing to commit mind and body to the endeavor. Those who do manage to snag a scholarship pay the price in years of time and effort, though this is a small consequence if they truly love the sport that got them there.

Up-to-date sports coverage

ArapahoeXtra.com

Featuring sports columns: The Short Game by Michael Carlson 4th & 18 by Brian Heissenbuttel and Between the Lines by Quinn Trask

‘Cardiac Pack’ still remembered 32 years later

In the sports world, there is no shortness of great sporting events. The Super Bowl, World Series and the National Curling Championships all make the list, but none can trump the excitement of March Madness. Buzzer-beaters, breakout performances and upsets are just some of the thrills that fans experience during the tournament. Names are made for players like Steph Curry and Shabazz

Napier, and coaches like the inspirational Jim Valvano. Some of the greatest basketball plays and most miraculous shots have happened in crunch time of the tournament, like Christian Laettner’s buzzer beater in 1992’s Elite Eight to beat Kentucky, or Mario Chalmers’ three to send the National Championship into overtime vs Memphis in 2008.

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But no tournament run could ever top N.C. State’s “Survive and Advance” 1983 run, capped off by one of the biggest upsets in college history. Going into the 1983 national championship, Houston was the favorite to win it all with two future Hall of Famers, Clyde “The Glide” Drexler and Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon. Though N.C. State was a six seed in the tournament, they were presumed to have no chance against the top ranked Houston Cougars. N.C. State had already accomplished a miraculous run, beating Pepperdine by two in the first round, beating UNLV by one in the next and then beating the West Region number one seed Virginia by one. This run earned them the nickname the “Cardiac Pack.” But when it came to the Houston Cougars, nobody thought coach Jim Valvano and the Wolf Pack could beat the squad that had only lost three times that year. Guards Dereck Whittenburg and Sidney Lowe played 39 of the 40 minutes. As the see-saw game continued, Whittenburg and Lowe played heroically and with 1:05 left in the game, the

“Cardiac Pack” found themselves with the ball and chance to complete the cinderella story. As the clock ticked down to 44 seconds, Coach Valvano called a timeout to discuss the play that they would run to win the game. Valvano wanted to have Lowe drive the ball with ten seconds left and have him create his shot. As time ticked down and the plan fell apart, Whittenburg found himself 30 feet away from the hoop with only four seconds remaining as he threw up a prayer. As the shot arced through the air, it looked as if the game would be sent to overtime. Then, out of nowhere, Lorenzo Charles snatched the ball out of the air and put it back with a twohanded jam. The “Cardiac Pack” had pulled it off again and were now national champions. Thirty-two years after the greatest run in tournament history and 31 national champions later, the sports world still sits on the edge of their seats for 22 days waiting for the next cinderella story or amazing buzzer beater to go down in history as one of the greatest ever.

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Arapahoe Herald | Tuesday, March 10, 2015

CRITICAL REVIEWs

Future EDM venues coming to the metro area by Connor Scott olorado is world renowned for its music scene and we are lucky to have such a rich musical culture. Our Red Rocks are considered the pinnacle of live performance for a band or artist: it is top the venue to play. With so much volume and diversity of music, we get a lot of lesser known but talented bands and artists playing smaller venues like the Marquis or the Ogden. Some of

Mac Lethal

these performances only play one show at one of these venues. With spring break slowly creeping up on us, there are some great shows that will be in town this month for every genre imaginable. Of course these are not the only artists coming to town. Check the sidebar for other upcoming concerts that are not EDM or rap to find out who, when and where. This is also a really good thing for these smaller venues so check them out before the Summer concert season.

Fox Stevenson & Datsik

Terravita Terravita (EDM) plays on March 19 at the Cervantes. Tickets start at $10 and doors open at 7 p.m. and close at 2 a.m. Terravita is an EDM group that has a very unique sound. They do not play big venues and do not get much publicity even at the smaller venues, but they are great performers and the music is just as good it is definitely a show worth checking out for such a low price.

Photo from http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Teaft0Kg-Ok/maxresdefault.jpg

Mac Lethal (rap) play on March 13 at the Marquis. Tickets start at $14 and doors open at 7 p.m. Mac Lethal is equal parts talented and unique. Among his many talents, Mac Lethal is the world’s fastest rapper. You might know him from his Pancake Rap YouTube video, from his Alphabet Insanity video or maybe even from his actual music. Either way, he puts on a great show and is probably dropping a fire mixtape soon.

Photo from https://geo-news.beatport.com/wp-content/ uploads/2014/11/5a_photo_datsik-1024x737.jpg

Fox Stevenson and Datsik (EDM) on their Ninja Nation Tour, is on March 6 and 7 at the Ogden with tickets starting at $25. Doors open at 9 p.m. this is a 16 and up show. This show is dirty, between these two there is bound to be some filthy tracks being dropped. If you are an EDM fan, do not miss this show, it is a great matchup.

Photo from http://www.magneticmag.com/wp-content/ uploads/2014/06/terravita_pic.jpg

Before plugging in headphones, consider these music apps By Keegan Fulwider There are a thousands of music apps available throughout Apple’s Appstore and Google Play store. In the smartphone era,

Spotify is an easy number one choice. It is one of the biggest music platforms available for smartphone users. It allows users to create the exact music experience they want by letting them create playlists from their library of over 25 million songs. Premium users can access offline music and unlimited shuffle for $9.99 per month.

Soundcloud is a large community of musicians and music lovers alike. The app allows users to browse new music, find new artists, as well popular ones and even post audio for others to listen to. It is perfect for users who want to find and share up and coming music. Best of all its free.

phones also serve as mobile media stations, and streaming music is an essential part of enjoying these devices. As a smartphone user, there is a vast library of apps to choose from.

Beats music is very similar to Spotify. A $9.99 subscription lets the user access 20 million songs and user created playlists. The Dr. Dre Beats app allows offline listening and some of the best playlists available for music lovers.

Here are 7 picks for the best music apps for your smartphone. Unfortunately, finding the perfect app is a challenge, but thats something this list can help with.

Tunein Radio grants users access to over 100,000 radio stations around the world. The mobile app provides local content as well as on demand stations from across the country. Tunein is a perfect option for users looking for popular music from any genre.

DD Rdio offers over 20

Songza brings an interesting concept to the app market. The app focuses on provided music by the mood of the listener. Users select an activity, or a the mood they are in, and the app will provide a playlist according to those choices. The mobile app provides the best music according to users tastes.

million songs with a radio streaming style. Start a radio based on an artist or a song, add songs to their favorites, and make playlists from your favorite songs, for free.

8tracks is a definite favorite.

The app provides music by genre or mood, as well as allowing listeners to choose from user created playlists. 8tracks allows users to access 2 million playlists and connect with users that have similar taste.

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Arapahoe Herald | Tuesday, March 10, 2015

CRITICAL REVIEWS

MARVELOUS MARCH MADNESS MENUS A by Anna Zeek week from today marks the beginning of the tournament for which millions of Americans will fill out a bracket and attempt to predict the outcome of the men

and women NCAA basketball tournament, more commonly known as March Madness. Between the anticipation and competitive spirit of eager fans watching the tournament from either their couches or a local sports bar,

Buffalo Wild Wings This is the only place that I would recommend for watching March Madness. All aspects of the menu are affordable and the atmosphere resembles that of a sports fanatic’s man cave. Sports channels on flat screen TVs encircle the restaurant, making games visible from any seat. With wings coated in succulent sauces and various burger options, this sports bar is the prime spot to watch March Madness among other basketball fanatics. Greet March Madness with the care that it deserves.

food has always been a uniting and imperative factor to watching the tournament. Before the first jump-ball of the tournament, fans need to be well prepared to know what favorite March Madness foods to serve or what to order.

Brother’s BBQ This small restaurant is located on 1-25 and Arapahoe Rd. Upon walking into the restaurant, the smell of barbecued meat fills your nose. Street bikes hang from the ceiling and old license plates line the store. Glancing around, it is clear that this is a place where a Route 66 pit stop and a barbecue restaurant have fused together. The food was undeniably delicious, but as a March Madness destination, Brothers BBQ cannot hold many people due to the lack of TVs around the restaurant. If classic and yummy barbecue is your favorite March Madness food, my advice would be to take advantage of the catering options of Brothers BBQ and have a March Madness party in the comfort of your own home.

Buffalo Chicken Frito Dip:

Servings: about 4 cups Prep Time: 5 min Bake time: 20 min

Ingredients: 1 (8 oz. block) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened 1/2 c. Frank’s RedHot sauce 1/2 cup bleu cheese dressing or ranch dressing 2 c. cooked chicken, shredded 1/2 c. crumbled bleu cheese

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 2. Combine all ingredients in a 1-quart baking dish 3. Bake for 20 min. or until dip is hot and bubbly. 4. Serve with vegetables and/or vegetables. Fritos are a personal favorite.

MARCH MADNESS CHAMPION Photo courtesy of www.buffalowildwings.com. Graphic Illustration by Brian Heissenbuttel

Together We Can Move Mountains ACC seeks to make higher education accessible to you. We can assist you and your family through the financial aid process. Deadline for Financial Aid is May 1. Don’t get confused by the process. We have links to resources and a Financial Aid Checklist at Arapahoe.edu/payingcollege. Or Visit us at the Main Campus in Littleton. We are here to help!

YOU CAN

Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information 303.797.5661 • ﬁnaid@arapahoe.edu

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HUMANS OF ARAPAHOE

A two-time Pacemaker Award winner.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Arapahoe High School | Centennial, Colorado

“Today’s news is tomorrow’s history.”

Volume 51 | Number 5

Arapahoe Herald | Tuesday, March 10, 2015

HUmans

FOCUS

“My biggest dream

“I would tell my younger self to live your childhood to the fullest because

is to be a musician.

one day you are just stuck in the ‘real

I play the drums in a

world’ and losing all your innocence.”

band called ‘The Also.’ It’s fun to play the drums. It sets your

In your life so far, when did you

feel most alive?

soul free. It’s calming.

“I felt most alive when I climbed

I’ve been playing for

a 14er and looked over all the other

five years and I taught myself.”

peaks below it. The beauty does something to you and makes you feel alive.”

DAvid Skoda

Spencer Anema Who is the person who has had the biggest influence on you? “Either my parents or my youth pastor Tony Durkin. He’s an incredible person and he’s taught me a lot and helped me through everything in high school and just learning and growing.” Do you have any stories about him? “I went on a missions trip to Jamaica last year and Tony was training us and because his wife was pregnant and was due right after the trip. He kept telling us “I’m not coming, I’m not coming, you guys are going on your own, I’m not coming with you, I’m really sorry.” We expected for him to show up with his bags at the airport and he didn’t. We got on the plane and got to Jamaica without him and we were

Katie Cooper

all really really upset. We got there pretty late at night, the next morning we woke up and went down to breakfast, someone tapped me on the shoulder. Standing in line behind me, it was Tony.”

Alex Encinias

“I’m a fourth generation eagle scout in my family. That entails a long process that not many people achieve. 5% of all people in the boy scouts make it to the rank of eagle scouts and then even fewer make it to earning palms, which I did. I have a gold, silver and a bronze, which is weird because it goes in the reverse order. I got that, passing my uncle up because he had two. That was my goal, to get more than him. And then you have to earn certain merit badges and you have to go camping a certain amount of nights. “In second grade I was on a camping trip and I was having a light saber duel with flashlights. I wasn’t paying attention and I turned around and started running and I tripped over a rock, I smashed my face on an old fashioned water pump, and cracked my tooth. The trip was a weekend long and I think it was the last night, so the whole night I was just in pain because we couldn’t do anything until the morning. “I went through all elementary and middle school with the chipped tooth. People always asked about it so it was kind of something that brought my self esteem down a little bit, but then I realized that it’s just a part of me so I might as well accept it.”

What’s something that not a lot of people know about you? “I’m very adventurous. Most recently I rode 20 miles on my bike in the snowstorm last Saturday. That was pretty fun. It got kinda cold and hard to ride. Some old woman was offering me a ride, and that’s what I love about adventures, just meeting people, because she offered me a ride. Like thank you, but no thank you, like I’m gonna have a good time.” What do you see yourself doing five years from know? “Doing something I love. I don’t really know what I love. I love doing a lot of things, so I would imagine I would be doing a lot of things. I kinda want to ride a motorcycle wearing a really fancy business suit. Normally there’s just douchey guys being stupid on a motorcycle, but you could be all James Bond-like. Of course you’d have a really nice helmet, solid black because it matches the business suit. Or you could have a gold helmet but paint it black so that nobody knows it’s gold so nobody would steal it, but the wealth is there. There are a lot of things a lot of people don’t need to know about you because you know the truth and other people may not, but it doesn’t matter if they do or not.”

Evan Birt

Arapahoe Herald | Tuesday, March 10, 2015

FOCUS

take heart A new student-driven initiative has been launched for the purpose of bringing students closer together. Junior Petra Sikorski has always had a passion for people and writing. After she acknowledged that last year was incredibly difficult and tragic, Sikorski felt that she had to give back to the community and bring a little more light into the halls of Arapahoe. “High school is getting increasingly challenging and stressful for students. The carefree atmosphere that high school used to uphold has ceased to exist for many people. I have felt defeated at times, and I know for a fact many students have as well,” Sikorski said. After experiencing some difficult times herself, she found solace in loved ones around her. This lead to further discoveries about her peers. “One day as I was walking in the halls of Arapahoe, I realized how little we actually know about each other,” Sikorski said. “A lot of our peers, those that we walk by daily and sit next to hourly, are nearly strangers.”

Petra Sikorski

Rick Zieser

What is something that no one knows about you? At school from about 6:20 to 2:45 I am usually smiling, usually pretty cheery and pretty light hearted, but in the fall, during volleyball season there was a month there where I had this sense of doom. I had very dark thoughts and a very unhappy view on life. It was a very negative pessimistic view. After I had my concussion I was just focussing on that and it gave me a wakeup call that I need to take care of myself. Once I started healing I fell again over Christmas break and what happened is what I believe to be either Post Concussion Syndrome or just depression as a result of the concussion. All of January I felt consistently depressed and had nights that involved tears and despair for the future and past and the recurring question of what is the point? I felt emptiness and I am still working through those issues. I am trying to focus on the good in life. I want to experience the good and the bad and credit both experiences with what they deserve but focus more on the good.

What is something exciting that has happened to you recently? I was thinking about the school year and thinking about how hard these last two years have been at Arapahoe, considering the tragedies of the shooting and various recent mishaps. As a student at Arapahoe, we focus so much on academics and success. I think that we all tend to go through the motions, but instead of seeking new relationships and diving deeper into each other we dive deeper into our schoolwork and become lost. We compare ourselves to each other instead of learning about each other and pushing ourselves in a relationship aspect versus an intellectual aspect. I had a revelation to start some sort of piece that reveals the personal happenings of the people of Arapahoe in a real way that promotes going past the surface with each other in the classroom and outside of the classroom. This lead me to propose an idea to Mr. Anderson about a publication called “Take Heart.”

“I really like to fly fish. If I could just make enough money that I could fly fish every weekend, I’d be set. I go to Deckers or Silverthorne a lot and I fish the Blue River. My grandfather taught me. In sixth grade I first learned to fly fish, but I’ve been fishing regularly my whole life. It comes naturally but you kind of have to work on your cast and you have to learn how to tie flies.” Is your grandfather a big person in your life right now? “He is. I go to my grandparents’ house a lot. They’ve helped me through a lot of hard times and he’s just a really big mentor.”

HUnter FeTTerly

What is your biggest strength? “I’d like to say responsibility, but only now because I didn’t used to be very responsible. But through my grandfather I learned to be responsible and I am a lot more trusting now.”

“I try to pretend my parents are hoarders and I’m not, but I just love to keep everything, so that’s a lie. I still watch Disney Channel (not because of my siblings - because I choose to, even though the shows are just getting worse). Sometimes I tell little white lies because I feel like I have to know what people are talking about. Especially when people talk about popular culture or their favorite show or something, I pretend I know what they’re talking about so I can relate to them.”

Electa Sutton

“My parents both met on the same flight from North Carolina to Dallas. When they got off the plane, he started talking to her. He bought her ice cream and then asked for her phone number. They dated long-distance for a while, both ended up moving to Denver, then got engaged less than six months later.”

It seems ridiculous that so many students can spend four years of their lives in classrooms with all these people, yet know only a fraction of them on a personal level. But it seemed a daunting task: how was she to get to know all of these people in so little time? Then Sikorski came upon the extremely popular blog “Humans of New York.” She became inspired: here was an average man, approaching strangers, taking photographs of them and documenting their deepest feelings and most tragic stories. These people opened up to him, a stranger himself, in a matter of minutes. So why wouldn’t it work at her own school? Sikorski approached administrators with a proposal to implement her own version of the New York-based blog, called “Take Heart.” After receiving their approval, Sikorski secured the ArapahoeXtra website as a platform to launch her idea. These profiles of Arapahoe students will be published every other week on ArapahoeXtra.com.

Arapahoe Herald | Tuesday, March 10, 2015

FOCUS

Humans

Around Arapahoe

Robert, King Soopers

Brian, Chipotle

Abe, Shawarma

Josh, Yogurtland

“I want people to see my heritage as an Indian, a Native American. My biggest influence was my mother, who was paralyzed from the neck down when I was seven, so I have been taking care of her and my sister since then. I aspire to go back into building cars, you know, race cars, again. I would have told my younger self to stay in school.”

We see them everyday. At lunch, at the store, in the morning, making our coffee. But what are their stories? They make up our community as much as the students who go here.

What would you tell your younger self? “Don’t go to Mines.” “I want to go into computer sciences eventually. My mom has been very influential. She did the best she could.”

What do you want people to see when they look at you? “A smile.”

“I aspire to travel, like everywhere and get paid doing it. That would be the dream. I did work on a cruise line last year.”

Amir, Einstein’s Chelsea, Starbucks

What do you want people to see when they look at you? “I want people to see someone who doesn’t judge. I’m not judgemental.”

OPinions

Arapahoe Herald | Tuesday, March 10, 2015

PARCC test: to take, or not to take?

he PARCC (Partnership of Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) test is coming up and many students, particularly juniors, are feeling inclined to ditch or be called out of school during the test. From a junior’s perspective, the desire to be called out makes sense, especially after the misguided celebration last year; believing that it was the last year of monotonous state-wide standardized testing, aside from the ACT and SAT. This year, Colorado has welcomed the PARCC test, which juniors are expected to take. The CMAS test was given to the seniors this school year as well in the fall of 2014. As most of Arapahoe knows, a minimal amount of seniors even showed up to their test last fall, setting an example for juniors, sophomores and freshman that ditching on testing days is okay. What exactly is it that makes these standardized tests so unbearable? After observing classmates and peers, it is evident that the effort put into testing by students has declined over the years. Most of the students’ first state test was most likely CSAP (Colorado Student Assessment Program), starting back in the third grade. If the announcement made every spring on your elementary school’s intercom before CSAP read “Go to bed early and be sure to eat a nutritious breakfast,” then it makes sense as to why this test may have seemed like a big deal as a kid. Now that we are no longer in elementary school, we begin to question authority: asking, “Does this test really serve any purpose for us? Is it really necessary to ‘go to bed early’ or ‘eat a nutritious breakfast’? In fact, is it even necessary to show up to the PARCC test at all?” Directly, the PARCC test does not affect the individual student of Arapahoe, but indirectly it has a great impact on the entire student body. Many students think that PARCC will determine the amount of funding Arapahoe gets in the next school year; however, the PARCC test does not have an affect on the amount of money Arapahoe High School will get from the state for the 2015-2016 school year. So whats in it for the school? The answer is that student outcomes of this test will affect the rating of the teachers at Arapahoe. Last week a student said to their teacher, “We are rebelling and going against the system to prove a point.” Another student said, “Let us boycott standardized testing.”

The teacher then replied, “Good for you, but I love my job and I want to keep it.” Most students would likely agree that we are lucky, in general, to have fun and engaging teachers. The majority of teachers value the students here and their futures, and when a student ditches a test that has an impact on teachers ratings, the student is saying they do not value their teachers. Students do expect teachers to spend a good amount of their time considering how to teach their students efficiently. Generally, our teachers usually try to accommodate to their students’ learning needs. If students figure teachers should invest in them, then what is so bad about testing two days a year to invest in our teachers? Not attending the PARCC test does not excuse the grade of the student entirely from the school’s average. Every absence of the PARCC test gets that student a 0% on the test, causing a decline in Arapahoe’s overall teacher ratings. Students this year have been discussing and seriously considering not attending the test. If the number of students who actually do this is large enough, the teachers ratings here will drastically decline. While we want to support our teachers, standardized testing is still somewhat unjust, because it does not accurately measure the skill of a student or the quality of teachers at a school. The test makes broad generalizations about what students do or do not know, and whether a student does well on this test or not, their willingness to learn has nothing to do with the quality of education they are getting from the teachers at their school. The lack of attendance the seniors had at the CMAS test in the spring significantly lowered teacher ratings at Arapahoe, although seniors at most high schools around the state

of Colorado did not attend this test, dropping the ratings of teachers at all Colorado high schools. It is really not ok for the state of Colorado to place a large test on seniors in the fall, adding to the already existent anxiety about college applications and the life ahead of them, nor is it right for juniors, who are loaded with class work as well as ACT, SAT and AP tests, to be expected to take a state test. This year, it may seem as though Colorado has gotten greedy with the new changes in standardized testing because not only have they made juniors and seniors now take tests, but they have switched the test to being digital. By requiring the test to be taken on computers, the state of Colorado has lowered it’s governmental cost of testing because school districts have to purchase the computers for testing, not the state. This poses a big problem for school districts in Colorado that can not necessarily afford to buy that many new computers simply for two days of testing. Not to mention that the state no longer has to pay for printing or shipping the PARCC test. Luckily, the LPS district can afford to purchase the new computers needed, but other districts are not so fortunate. Teachers are important to most of the student body at Arapahoe, but it still feels like the only way to stop standardized testing is to challenge authority and boycott it entirely. Being called out of the test due to a disagreement on a moral or political standpoint of the PARCC test and standardized testing in general is okay. Before getting called out of this test, though, consider the pros and cons of this test, and also consider giving the teachers of Arapahoe two test days to improve their ratings and to give back for all they do for us.

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WALKING What are your thoughts on the PARCC test?

“I think the PARCC test is a waste of time. It doesn’t accurately measure how smart a person is or how talented someone is.” – Mitchell Fisher, 12

“I don’t have a big opinion about it. I feel like I would be easily influenced if a lot of my classmates weren’t going to take it. But if not, I would just take it and go with it. The test doesn’t really bother me that much.” – Samantha Mier y Teran, 11

This editorial represtents the views of a majority of the Arapahoe Herald staff.

Graphic illustration by Alissa Brown

New goal for students: meet your peers by Monica Splain This month, I had the privilege to interview members of the student population for “Humans of Arapahoe.” I was told that this spread would be our very own version of the increasingly famous “Humans of New York.” I confess, when I first found out about this new exposé, I did not exactly buy into the awe or depth of the stories being told. I did not feel convinced of the authenticity of the stories told on the New York website. But everything changed when I began my first round of interviews for “Humans of Arapahoe.” This experience solidified my philosophy about one of the ultimate goals of high school. I have concluded that the most important component of high school— besides furthering your education through school work— is to experience and interact with the individuals around you. Students, I assure you that it is worth the terrifying moment of courage it takes to introduce yourself to someone you do not know. I can

say firsthand, from my exposure to interviewing students at random this month, that everyone you meet will have some kind of unique story, or character point of view. Why not get to know people? Take a leap of faith. You get to find out that the people that are just another face in the classroom might actually watch the same television

the swarm of black robes at graduation: introduce yourself to as many people in your grade as you can, and once you have fulfilled that goal, introduce yourself to your fellow Warriors in other grades. It sounds cliché, but just acquainting yourself with your fellow students is not only thoughtful but also incredibly rewarding. When one of your favorite teacher calls your name to walk up and accept your diploma, wouldn’t it be awesome to be the person that people cheer for instead of the “Who is heck is that?” or the “I thought they were a junior…” classmate? At a school the size of Arapahoe, many students find it easy to justify not being acquainted to their fellow students. show as you, might introduce you to a new one, Although our graduating class is in the or maybe tell you a story about their relationship 400s, and not the 40s, and trying to meet all your with their family that is similar to your’s, or maybe peers might be difficult, I will not accept this as totally different. Whatever the case, you will find an excuse but as a challenge. It is more than okay out something new about a person that you if you do not end up meeting every “Human of had no idea about before. This, I have found, is Arapahoe,” but with that goal in mind, I hope you genuinely rewarding. do get to meet a couple new faces that you can So I challenge you, students (and especially cheer for at graduation or even just say “hello” to seniors), before it is too late and you are sitting in in the hallway.

“I think it’s silly to have standardized testing in general because I feel like they put too much pressure on the kids. They also make it difficult for teachers to teach the right curriculum because they are worried about getting the kids ready for the standardized test.” – Sydney Malaterre, 10

Introduce yourself to as many people in your grade as you can, and once you have fulfilled that goal, introfuce yourself to your fellow Warrior’s in other grades.”

“Frankly, it’s pointless. They say they are going to do all kinds of things with it and they just end up changing it and doing something else. There’s no gain for us or the teachers.” – Cameron Hockenhull, 9

Arapahoe Herald |Tuesday, March 10, 2015

OPinions

Fan entitlement escalates in current music scene by Erica Martinez t is next to impossible to go anywhere without seeing people with their phone attached to their hands and their eyes glued to some sort of screen. So it is really not surprising that celebrities are the same way. After all, they are just normal people, living in the age of technology. Those who are famous still update their statuses, tweet and post to social media. Perhaps even more so than the average person. With more posts comes more attention from fans, wanted or not. In order to stay relevant in the never-ending production cycle that is the music industry, artists have to build a strong and loyal fan-base. An easy way to do this is to post a myriad of meaningless pictures to attract fan attention. By bombarding the fans with updates, supporters often believe they play a more important role in the life of their favorite music star than they actually do. Fans think it is okay to comment on every aspect of the musician’s personal life and career. When bored, looking at a musician’s Instagram and Twitter feed is an entertaining way to pass time. People love to live vicariously through those who lead a more exciting life. There is nothing wrong with keeping up to date with what your favorite band is doing in between tour dates, but recently it seems a line has been crossed between being an admirer of the music and actually believing you are an active part of an artist’s life. Musicians do not owe their audience much. The only required part about being a musician is to create music and to entertain their fans. It is not part of the job description to stand outside in the cold for hours after a concert to sign memorabilia and take pictures with fans. But still, many artists spend most of their limited free time replying to hundreds of emails and talking to the people who come to shows. Personal interaction usually makes fans feel special and closer to the band. So why is it the next step to go online and complain about everything that person does? Someone posting a picture of themselves with their significant other does not equal an open invitation to criticize their relationship, and that is what social media has really become. Comments instantly appear with users calling an artist’s girlfriend “gross” or telling a singer to “call me for a good time.” Yeah, that is a sure way to get a musician to notice you. And then they will proceed to stay as far away from you as possible. Getting deeply invested in a celebrity’s personal life makes you look like that creepy guy on the bus who will not stop reading your

texts over shoulder. It is a blatant invasion of this person’s privacy when fans learn the exact time at which they were born 30 years ago, the full names of all of their kids or find out where they live. This is not a hallmark of a dedicated supporter but rather that of a stalker. This kind of “dedication” often leads to an artists taking an extended hiatus from creating music. There is a sense of entitlement growing within many fan bases. The new normal fan-artist relationship seems to be pretty one-sided. Fans complain and disrespect an artist as a person, while artists try to please their fan base. If a concert is booked in a big venue, people moan about the setting not being intimate enough and the band has sold out. If a show is booked for a smaller venue, people complain about not being able to get tickets because the

show sold out quickly. There is no winning for a band. Either they release new music and the “old” fans complain about it sounding different, or their new album is similar to a previous album and people criticize the band for not growing. It is impossible to please every person, and with a growing voice of complaints and criticisms materializing, it is really no wonder that many artists have begun to distance themselves from their fans. There really is a simple solution to this problem. In a best case scenario, musicians do not have to change the way they behave, it is all about changing the fan culture that surrounds music. The majority of people do not realize how draining it would be for musicians to cater to every request a fan has. Once a band garners enough attention to sell out a thousand-seat

venue, they tend to stop greeting fans after shows. It would be a nightmare for a band to meet hundreds of fans every night. There are still a handful who continues to hang out with supporters, who boast of a fan base that totally respects personal boundaries of an artist. People cannot hold it against someone if they do not play the song they requested or favorite a tweet they posted. Honestly, people should be happy enough that artists even release music that has some merit. It is incredible that one person can write a three minute song that appeals to thousands of different people. Music enthusiasts everywhere should try to make it as easy as possible for artists to craft songs. That starts with treating them as a normal human being, and not just as a rockstar.

Graphic illustration by Erica Martinez

True Life: getting over an ethnic identity crisis

All my life, I have felt confused by my racial and ethnic identity. I am Cuban (therefore Hispanic), but I am white – so what does that make me? In reality, the term “Hispanic” is this vast, confusing label, because it isn’t a race at all, but an umbrella term for people who speak some sort of Spanish language, and share Spanish culture. So Cubans can be black, white or anything in between – I mean, I have cousins in Havana with blonde hair and blue eyes. But growing up, I felt a huge disconnect between the way I looked and the culture I came from. I always figured that if I looked more like my mom and was olive-skinned with bigger eyes, people would go, “Oh, I totally see that,” when I said that I was Cuban, instead of, “Wow, I never would have guessed that.” In the mirror, my background is hard to pinpoint. Usually, people see me as vaguely non-Caucasian. When I have a tan, they ask me if I’m Hawaiian. Most of the time, however, people assume I am of Asian heritage. From birth, my nickname has been Chinita, or “little Chinese girl”; even the nurse who delivered me asked who in the family was Asian. In fact, just this year, someone who

I have been friends with since seventh grade finally realized that I wasn’t Asian at all. Sometimes it felt like those comments and conversations stripped me of who I am, of the pride in my ethnicity that I was raised to feel. My grandparents gave my mother, a first generation Cuban-American, the whitest name out there – Elky – after Elke Sommers, the blonde-haired blue eyed German actress. It doesn’t quite fit my dark-haired, olive-skinned mother, but the rest of her name shows her heritage – Elky Maria Garcia. I think mi abuela wanted to break the cycle of terrible, pious Spanish names running through her side of la familia: She was given the name Nereyda (as in the mythological mermaid thing, the neraid), and her sister’s name is Concepción de la Caridad. Conception of Quality. Yeah, that’s her FIRST name. She goes by Connie, because who in their right mind would want to be called Conception de la Caridad Rojas? Family history aside, my own name just compounded my confusion. Madison Lee Dorman is about as white as it gets, and I didn’t even get the Garcia to even it out like my mom did. Naturally, I worried constantly. I was desperate to prove that I really was Hispanic to everyone I met, and positively crushed every time I heard, “No way! I thought you were like half-Korean or something. You don’t look Spanish at all.” But after many years, I came to a realization that made me rethink a few things; maybe my confusing facial features could be a good thing. Maybe my lack of an immediately identifiable,

solid ethnic/racial identity could be my identity. I look like everyone in my family, and no one. My mouth a combination of both parents, hair from no one in particular, eyes another mystery, nose unfortunately unidentifiable. And it’s okay – every day I try to be as individually me as I possibly can, and have fun figuring out who that is too. My self-discovery made me a more accepting person as well. Every day I do my best to never judge, and to embrace meeting and learning from people different from myself. Individuality is important; if you only follow the crowd, you can never lead it. Leaders are those who stand out from the rest, who listen to the outlandish and are not afraid of the innovative. I am who I am today because I’ve made it a point to develop my own identity. But make no mistake – I’m proud of who I am. A CubanAmerican in the Rocky Mountains is an anomaly, and one that I embrace. Because of my heritage, I know the true value of freedom and democracy; it meant my grandmother coming home from school to find her bags packed, hurried onto a plane without even saying goodbye to her mother, one of 14,000 children who fled from Cuba to the United States during “Operation Pedro Pan.” It meant being alone in a foreign country at 12 years old, crying in the hallway when the bell rang and everyone left, not understanding when they explained because she spoke no English. I am proud of the fact that my grandmother was the first Cuban to graduate from that high school. I am proud that she and my grandfather thrived in this country, made it all by themselves and raised their children to be first-generation Cuban-Americans with a deep connection to their culture and a pride in the country of their birth. Without the hardships that my grandmother and grandfather faced to obtain freedom, I would not be here today. I am a white-sounding, Asian-looking Cuban-American who went from one amongst thousands in Miami to one in a thousand in Colorado. And that’s an identity I’ll embrace.

Arapahoe Herald | Tuesday, March 10, 2015

opinions

The contagious senioritis strikes students again It’s the time of the year where seniors lose their motivation to do or care about anything

by Carrie McDaniel ttention 12th graders: Beware! There is a sickness spreading .throughout the school. So far, doctors are yet to discover a cure for the dangerous and infectious disease called senioritis. Symptoms include: loss of motivation, grades slowly dropping, forgetfulness of important due dates and of course excessive Netflix watching. It is the time of the year where seniors have checked out and avoid doing any homework. Senioritis has hit me like a freight train this semester. Instead of doing homework after school, I go to ChickFil-A with friends or go home and take a two hour nap. It is a daily struggle for me to even wake up and get to class on time. Too be honest, I am shocked that I found the motivation to even write this article about my lack of motivation. In a way, senioritis is a rite of passage, and it is okay to indulge in your laziness to some degree. I find it socially acceptable to go to school in

sweatpants or yoga pants; at least you found the willpower to put on pants that day. I must say that my priorities have changed this year. I still want to do well in my classes, but I have found that getting a perfect 100 percent on a test or quiz is not as important to me anymore. Seniors have worked hard for the past three and half years and deserve to turn down the notch on their workload. Do not get me wrong seniors, this is not a free pass to start failing your classes – but it is okay to not get caught up in every little grade this semester. By now, most seniors have already heard back from colleges, and they are starting to come to the realization that their time in high school is almost over. It is a nostalgic time where many seniors find it more important to spend time with the friends they will not see next year than working on statistic homework. I know I am being cliché, but this year

is the last time where you will see the same people you have walked past in the hallways for the last four years. It is time to see that the world is much bigger than Arapahoe High School and that there are more adventures that lie ahead. Senioritis is causing all 12th graders to lose their motivation, but it is also making them realize that the relationships they have made in high school may come to an end when they go to college. Seniors: Use this time to reflect on your high school career. It is important to remember the times where you learned more about yourself, and the ways you have changed over the course of these four years. Get out of your comfort zone and get involved in something that’s new to you. Never forget the friendships you have made, and make more memories before graduation day arrives. I would add more cheesy things to say, but I have already lost the motivation.

Tips to help conquer senioritis 1.) Google and Wikipedia are your friends when all else fails. 2.) Try actually using your student planner. 3.) Limit your social media use. 4.) Get a study group together with your closest buddies. 5.) Ask your parents to change the Netflix password and have them not tell you what the new one is.. (This is a last resort.)

Passion should be driving force behind graduation credits by Katie Franklin All students at Arapahoe have different opinions concerning the number of credits for graduation requirements. Core classes require anywhere from two to four years, while electives vary depending on the subject. Core classes should all be required for at least three years. The basic information obtained in all of these courses apply in multiple ways, even if it does not seem that way. In addition, they are essential for most college admissions. Currently, math and science have less requirements than language arts and social studies, because these subjects can be more difficult for some students, according to guidance counselor Scott Wadsworth. If the requirements were raised to four years for each, graduation rates may fluctuate. I, along with 40% of 330 students surveyed, do not think that 12 credits of P.E. should be required for graduation. These credits often get in the way of other classes students are more interested in taking, and there are already many students that participate in sports throughout the school year. Elective classes can also be a nuisance to many students. Many claim that it should not be necessary to take a certain amount of art classes,

a certain amount of practical arts and so on. I strongly feel that students should be able to take the elective classes they want to take. High school is the time when people are deciding their futures and what they want to pursue in life, so they should be able to take classes within their area of interest. For example, if students

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Advanced Business Technology II would be a better option. Social studies is another controversy. Four full years of social studies classes are already required, but another three credits on top of that is necessary to graduate. I do not think that a two or three credit social studies class

I do think that core classes should all be required for at the majority of students’ high school careers, but electives should vary based on the individual student’s passions and interests.”

are interested in business, they should be able to take more business classes instead of art classes. It is important for students to learn what they like, and high school should be the place to start. The only essential elective that should still be required is Business Technology. It is important for all students to have at least basic skills and understandings regarding computers, being that our generation uses technology for almost everything. Some students may think that this course is too easy or irrelevant, in which case

provides much knowledge to retain for a long time. Last semester, I took the course Human Behavior. This two day a week, three unit course only vaguely covered information on all three endless subjects of psychology, sociology and anthropology. In my case, I only took this class for the required social studies credits (which I did not even complete, the class being only two credits). I am not interested in taking the full course of any of these subjects, so it was nonessential for me to take this introduction

class. I do not think it is fair that I only took a class for the required credit without actually being interested in the subjects being taught. I am also among the 20% of surveyed students who think that the fine arts category has too many required credits. If students are more interested in art than in other classes, they should be able to take more fine arts in place of other subjects, like practical arts, for example. I believe that electives should be classes that students want to take, not have to take. Even if students took more credits in some areas than in others, the total number of credits for graduation should remain the same. Taking different classes than currently required should not be because they are easy or do not have any homework; they should be because the student taking them is actually interested in the subjects. Overall, the classes students take should depend on who they are and what they are interested in. I do think that core classes should all be required for at the majority of students’ high school careers, but electives should vary based on the individual student’s passions and interests. I feel that standards like these would give students more of an individualized education and make school more enjoyable if they could take more classes they actually enjoy.

Bidding farewell to immortal actors of this film era

As a die-hard movie fan, this past year has burdened me with heavy losses. I am not only talking about “The Imitation Game” receiving far fewer Oscars than it deserves, but also the fantastic actors that passed away this year. The world was deeply saddened a few months ago when beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams passed away. I know I was not the only one who thought the world could never be the same without him. Recently, actor Leonard Nimoy also passed away at the age of 83, saddening the entire Trekkie community. However, there is a silver lining in these tragedies. While fans may not be able to see these two amazing men in any upcoming films, we are all blessed to have their lives’ work. From Williams’ stand-up comedy to his

hilarious films, and the TV seasons and movies that Nimoy spent as Captain Kirk’s first officer, these actors are truly immortal. This comes, without a doubt, as a result of their long and illustrious careers. Nimoy spent several years of his life in the highly successful and adored role of Mister Spock in the original Star Trek series and motion pictures. As long as the episodes and movies that Nimoy appeared in are still with us, Mister Spock has not left us, even though Nimoy has. The same goes for Williams: the world was saddened by his loss, but characters such as Mrs. Doubtfire still live and breathe in every re-run of one of his stellar movies. It is now up to the fans to keep their legacies alive. The two actors

undoubtedly wanted to produce material that would entertain and inspire their audiences, and they are still able to do that with every airing of a Robin Williams comedy special or a re-run of “The Wrath of Khan.” The days of mourning are necessary in order to get the big picture. During the weekend following Nimoy’s death, he was recognized as an accomplished director, actor and friend to all those who knew him best. It is important that he is recognized this way so all fans can fully realize all his amazing life achievements. But as grief settles, we Trekkies need to remember that Leonard Nimoy is, and always will be, Mister Spock. Nothing can be allowed to shake the faith of those who enjoyed his work so much throughout the years. Love for the fallen actor came pouring out in the days after his death. His lifelong partner on the set of “Star Trek,” William Shatner, said, “We will all miss his humor, his talent and his capacity to love.” Even his successor in the role of Spock in J.J. Abrams’ newest “Star Trek” movies, Zachary Quinto, said, “I love you profoundly,

my dear friend. And I will miss you every day.” The entire community has responded in a similar manner, spreading love to the fallen actor and director.

As we return to our lives away from remembering the interstellar joy that Nimoy brought into our lives, we can all find solace in the fact that in both Nimoy’s career and during his 83 years on this earth, he lived long and prospered.

Graphic illustration by Brian Heissenbuttel

Arapahoe Herald | Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Critical Reviews

2015 brings multitude of genres to movie screens by Reid Conant & Quinn Trask n the day and age of Netflix and on-demand TV shows and movies, going to the theatre with your buddies, family, or even a date is still classic fun. Nothing can beat the feeling of

being lost in a story where heroes and villains clash over the cliche morals of good vs. evil. 2015 is anticipated to be an amazing year in film and it is just getting started. Just because the winners of the Oscars and

the Emmy Awards have been announced, it does not mean that people should pass up these ‘underrated’ films. Here are some of the great films out right now and some of the most highly awaited upcoming films.

A film directed by Ethan Cohen, “Get Hard”, portrays the main character, millionaire James King ( Will Ferrell) being wrongly convicted for fraud and sentenced to prison. King, turns to his friend Darnell Lewis to prepare him for a ten-year sentence at San Quentin. Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart) is a luxury car washer before King turns to him to harden him up for his time behind bars. Darnell teaches James how to survive various prison situations Photo courtesy Warner Bros. Entertainment/TNS including a prison riot that is played out in King’s wine cellar. This flick, starring two of the funniest men in America is expected to be one of the funniest movies of 2015 and one of the most anticipated. This movie also stars Alison Brie and rapper T.I. The film comes out on March 27. –QT

Photo courtesy of www.foxsearchlight.com/birdman

“Birdman” is about a washed up actor who tries to rejuvenate his career by acting and directing in his own broadway play. He once played an iconic superhero which was his claim to fame and is now looking to become that actor once again. While he battles with his ego, he tries to fit his family back together as well as his acting career, and he tries to keep his life in order in the days leading up to the play. As his life begins to fall apart in front of his own eyes, the only piece of the puzzle keeping everyone together is the Broadway play. This film was very weird to me because it was in between a black comedy and a

superhero movie. Going into the movie, I thought it was going to be comedic because the genre is a dark comedy. A black comedy is a morbid or dark humor story and it is a very controversial genre. This film did not seem like a black comedy at all to me because it was dark but I didn’t get the humor out of it. I don’t understand how the movie got The Academy Award for Best Picture because the story was weird and it didn’t make sense to me at all. I would suggest to go see it yourself and maybe you will understand better than I did, many people liked this movie but I was not one of them. –RC

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” comes out on May 1, 2015 and is the sequel to the first movie, “The Avengers.” The film goes into more detail about how the avengers must come together and work as a team after S.H.I.E.L.D. is broken down and no longer funded by the government. It also goes into more detail about each character’s backstory and lets the viewers see into each character’s life. The movie has many scenes full of action in it but the difference between the first movie and this one is that it shows the crowd more about every character’s life before and after they became superheroes. It also introduces a character named Ultron, who was created after Tony Stark tried to kickstart a sluggish peacekeeping program designed to help keep peace in the world. This program backfires immediately and Ultron and company become evil and try to take over the world. –RC Photo courtesy of www.marvel.com/avengers

Photo by Anna Zeek

SAY WHAT?!

Ridiculous, out-of-context comments overheard throughout the school.

“If you step on Strawberry Shortcake she will become a martyr for the rebellion.” -Cafeteria

“Waffles are just pancakes with abs.” -E8

“Is she Italian? No, she’s Catholic.” -E8 “Oregon is the only place where organic isn’t good enough.” -North Entrance “I like Chipotle because the burritos are spicy like my personality.” -Bubble