CMR Stampede March 2022 by CMR Stampede

STAMPEDE MARCH ISSUE 2021-2022

Photo by Isabel Foley.

CHARLES M. RUSSELL HIGH SCHOOL GREAT FALLS, MONTANA

EDITOR IN CHIEF

BY KERRIGAN EDWARDS, EDITOR IN CHIEF

Out of all the phrases I repeatedly hear around school, the short sentence: “I’m just so busy,” is the one thing I hear most frequently. Although I genuinely wish to believe the best out of people, I have a hard time believing that one person could be so busy. I ask everyone to question whether or not you are managing your time efficiently, and if you are busy, or just lazy. Yes, there are some weeks where I am consumed with work until late hours of the night, however, most of the time, most of the work we need to complete can easily be finished in passing time. The most important thing is to just understand that even spending twenty minutes on something small can be pivotal in the near future. One technique for completing small tasks is setting a short alarm and aiming towards a goal to meet before the timer rings. This kind of goes hand in hand with a popular study technique that I find to be effective, called pomodoro method. Pomodoro reinforces studying in increments, and provides short study breaks after a certain amount of time has passed. For example, 25 minutes in focus, 5 minutes on break. There are a multitude of youtube channels devoted to creating study-with-me content that

CONTENTS

ARE YOU JUST LAZY?

Kerrigan Edwards

exercise this technique, and sometimes, having someone productive as a model in front of you can be extremely helpful. Recently, I have created my weekly routines that make my life so much more productive and enjoyable. For example, after getting ready in the morning I do the simple tasks of tidying my room for just 15 minutes before I leave the house. I clean up the floor and counter of my bathroom while doing mundane and simple things like brushing my hair or teeth. Although the change is minimal, all the difference is made in the very end. My current obsession is Sunday resets. On Sunday, I do everything that I haven’t had time to do during the week including laundry, cleaning and weekend schoolwork. If you can devote certain periods of time to do something, you feel much more relaxed and accomplished knowing that these bigger tasks are completed. At the end of the day, you still have to complete the things that you don’t want to do. Rip off the bandaid and just do it when time is available to you. By just doing whatever it is you have to do, you save yourself the stress, and are never behind on work that is due.

PHOTO EDITOR Isabel Foley

STAFF WRITERS Ashlynn Kidder CJ Kiernan Jack Sparks Jordan Clark David Case Justin Bollich Madison McMurphey

PRINCIPAL Jamie McGraw

ADVISER

03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11

SPEECH AND DEBATE REMOTE FINALS COVID THESPIANS FAILURES PDA APATHY HOMEWORK SUB SITUATION CHRIS HERREN OUT OF SCHOOL SPORTS STANDOUT STUDENT ATHLETE STATISTICS WHAT TO DO IN GF IT SAFETY EARLY GRADUATION AFTER GRADUATION

12-13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

CENTERSPREAD TRANSGENDER JUGGLING TASKS BPA MOVIE REVIEW BOOK REVIEW BOOKTOK

TEACHERS & BOOKS READ MORE TOP TV GAMES

TV HIGH SCHOOL V. REALITY

TABLE OF

Beth Britton

Photo by Justin Bollich.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Stampede -- produced by journalism classes at C.M Russell High School -- is a public forum for all voices on campus. These voices include the students, parents, faculty, and the community at large. The opinions and views in this publication are not necessarily those of the Stampede staff, the student body, CMR employees, or the school administration. The Stampede strives to cover the news accurately and fairly; however, when a mistake is made, a correction will be printed in the following issue. All writers are responsible for the content of their articles. Editors will edit all copies to be free of plagiarism and libel, and all writers will double-check their facts before publication. Letters to the editor and guest essays are welcome. Letters are limited to 200 words, and essays 350 words. All submissions must be signed and include a phone number so authenticity can be verified. The editors and/ or adviser letters the right to edit all letters for grammar and spelling as well as content that may include profanity, be libelous, obscene or not meet general editorial guidelines. Anonymous letters are not accepted. Submissions can be dropped off in room 326 or e-mailed to: stampede@gfps.k12.mt.us. The Stampede maintains membership in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association and Quill and Scroll. Some material courtesy of American Society or Newspaper Editors/ KRT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

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Three speech and debate competitors quality for nationals BY JUSTIN BOLLICH, STAFF WRITER

After a very successful year, the speech and debate team is celebrating 3 of its members who qualified for nationals. Tamara Patterson has been in charge as the head coach of the speech and debate team for two years, and has been participating in it since high school. “I’ve been involved in [speech and debate] since high school myself. I went to high school in California. And I did a lot of debates in my junior and senior year and then my freshman year in college,” Patterson said, “I professionally have worked as an informative speaker and a presenter for almost 20 years.” Many of the speech and debate coaches have a specific area they specialize in. Patterson tries to focus on both. “A lot of my expertise is more in speech, but I did a lot of moral debate in college so I play in both worlds,” Patterson said. Patterson isn’t the only coach on the Speech and Debate team though she has a group of coaches to help the team succeed. “We have Tony Rosales, who is from Great Falls. He went to Notre Dame and he is our debate coach. And then we have Jason Burleigh

and he coaches all the speak events. And then April Wendt is a lot like me where she coaches all the events as well. She really loves policy debate, but she has an incredibly awesome theater background. So she coaches a little bit of everything in speech as well,” Patterson said. Patterson is proud of what the team has accomplished this year, and is excited for nationals. “We just finished the season this weekend. And we have three that qualified for nationals. Ashton Blake, Madylin Connell and Jake Cherry. And then we had another four on top of those three that made it to finals,” Patterson said, “I will be taking the three that I mentioned to Kentucky to compete as well as 2 who I have not yet disclosed, that are truly capable of representing Montana.” After the success of this year, Patterson hopes to continue the success into future years. “I’m definitely going to be the head The Qualifiers for Speech and Debate Nationals from CMR: Jake Cherry, Madylin coach next year. I love these kids, they are the Connell, and Ashton Blake. Photo by Jason Burleigh. reason I took the job. And we’re going to build the program and we’re going to keep bringing home more awards and hopefully make Bozeman shake in their boots,” Patterson said.

REMOTEFINALS Rustlers tackle semester one tests from home

Photo by Ashlynn Kidder.

BY ASHLYNN KIDDER, STAFF WRITER Finals week is supposed to be a stressful experience on its own. Studying will take up most of your time, especially if you want to make sure you get a good grade. The week of January 11, but Charles M. Russell High School transitioned to remote learning. The Rustlers have done this several times in the past few years, but this particular week was trickier than any normal week – it was finals week. Teachers were caught off guard when they were informed of this change, and they scrambled to come up with solutions for how finals would be taken. Some students were concerned and others were relieved. “I loved taking finals online,” senior Nikki Gambino said. Gambino was concerned that her grades in certain classes would drop after finals, but remote learning stopped her fear from happening. Gambino’s work load became very light, and relieved a lot of her stress. These finals were Gambino’s last as a senior, which

could put a lot of pressure on her. “I knew how easy it was going to be,” Gambino said. She found remote finals significantly easier than sitting in a classroom for several hours, in an uncomfortable chair, taking a long test. Having remote finals gave Gambino more time to herself. “I did all my finals the first day we went on our break,” she said. This gave her the opportunity to catch up on movies and pick up extra shifts at work. “I enjoyed it,” Gambino said. She said she wishes she had the opportunity to do remote finals in the past. When it comes to taking finals at home, you need to be able to hold yourself accountable, which Gambino believes she is more than capable of. For Gambino, the remote finals were a pleasant surprise. Sometimes, life throws people obstacles and they have to power through them, this is exactly what the teachers and students of CMR did during the week of Jan. 11-15.

CORONAVIRUS The Stampede

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Students disagree about Rapid Tests at school r

io en

Nathan Malley

“I think we should have rapid tests at school, but how it should be done is that if a student has symptoms they can go to the nurse for the test. If it’s positive they go home. It’s not a boundary that has been crossed if the student chooses to get tested. If the school tried to enforce the test then it would be a boundary that is crossed.”

Elizabeth Weiss

“I don’t like the idea of rapid testing. It might not be accurate, and I generally would prefer an actual one. Someone may not be doing the test right and just have it be negative, and then you have someone at school going around spreading Covid, forcing the school to shut down. It’s not fun being shut down.”

COVID’S Long-Term Effects BY MADISON MCMURPHEY, STAFF WRITER

BY JORDAN CLARK, STAFF WRITER

Even though there are now Covid vaccines, people everywhere are still affected by the virus everyday. “Since Covid started, I can’t go to certain activities like dances, games, and sometimes even friends’ houses because of the risk,” freshman Dani Krank said. Krank added that Covid has landed in the way of her learning these past couple of years due to online school and contact tracing. She said that her grades dropped over the period of time she wasn’t able to be working at school. “I lost a lot of learning time due to it,” she said.

Not only was Krank’s education affected by the virus, but her sports have also looked different because her grades had dropped. “I can’t play volleyball or anything until I know I can get them up,” she said. A lot of students can say that Covid has had a negative impact. That being said, there is a good side to all of its madness, and people like Krank can agree. “It taught a lof of people to come together as a community,” she said.

has covid skyrocketed?

“Covid Testing Dodger Stadium” by Chris Yarzab /creative commens

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Thespians earn awards at UM

The Stampede

First Semester Failures Across Grade Levels 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

28 31 41

149

184

191

182

30 76 114 138

2019

2020 Freshmen

Sophomores

2021 Juniors

Seniors

total

Report cards reflect 3-year rise in BYFAILURES AVERAGE FAILURES GRADE

Counselor speculates on reasons for increased number of Fs Freshmen

Advanced theater students attend the Montana Thespian festival on Feb. 5 at the University of Montana. Photo by Leslie Evans.

BY SIERRA HIGHWOOD, STAFF WRITER

Actors ringing out a christmas was pretty much me being me on stage,” carol or acting out a scene of a classic Hansen said. Christmas story, is what sparked the Really going all out in her combat in moment of motivation for one senior. the play “The Stamford Five”, and even Kairi Lising landed her feet in the getting an outstanding stage combat life of theater, letting the music and the award, Hansen is excited for encouragement of her grandmother ring the next play, “Trap” loud in her ears. “We’re going to work really hard for [it] “The music and acting was since it was canceled the first time due incredible, and I knew it was something to Covid,” she said. I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” A bonus to being a thespian is Lising said about the play. the community, as junior Sammy Lynch There can atest. are so many “Acting is plays to take something that “MONTANA THESPIANS, AN part in – all with brings me joy, AFFILIATE OF THE EDUCATIONAL a multitude of and I get to be THEATER ASSOCIATION, STRIVES characters – surrounded by TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES Lising’s favorite an accepting OF OUR YOUTH IN MONTANA being villains. community. I’m THROUGH THEATER EDUCATION, She described a really goofy ADVOCACY, NETWORKING them as being person so I like OPPORTUNITIES, AND COMMUNITY “So much fun to to act goofy on BUILDING RESOURCES” go crazy and do stage,” they whatever you said. want.” Lynch got Lising describes emotional after the upcoming production, “Trap” as a the final performance of “The Stamford “documentary style drama about the Five”, since it’d be the last time they’d mysteries of the Oak Box Theater in perform the play. Menachap, California. There’s a lot of “Even though I can see the cast at the twists and turns and you’ll be at the edge end of every class, it feels different when of your seat the entire time,” she said. you’re all putting something together you Fellow senior thespian Grace Hansen hope people will enjoy,” Lynch said. loves comedy. Although Lynch won’t be going “I really love to do comedy. I on stage for “Trap,” they’ll be working think I found my forte when I got to play behind the scenes backstage. the Reverend Mother in Nunsense. It

Sophomores

Juniors

Seniors

BY ISABEL FOLEY, PHOTO EDITOR 78 SInce the spring of 2020, when all Great Falls Public 170 School students learned remotely from home for the last two months of the year, the number of Fs on report cards has increased, resulting in reflection from teachers, counselors and administrators. Remote learning, quarantining and the general anxiety surrounding the pandemic have certainly contributed to academic struggles, but Covid is not the only reason for the increase in failures. Counselor Brittany Light is all too familiar with the various reasons students fail to 149 pass classes. “Students that are still here as juniors and seniors are in it to win it and make it to graduation. So I think that naturally, they’re going to have less failures,” Light said. “Freshmen and sophomores kind of are still figuring it out. I think that you will see that consistent across the years.” Light added that another reason teachers see more failures from underclassmen is that they often have larger class sizes. She said another factor may be the multitude of choices juniors and seniors have over younger grades. “As a junior and senior you get to pick more classes that you’re interested in. So naturally, you’re going to do better because you have more interest, whereas freshmen [and] sophomores have to take [graduation requirements such as] gym,” Light added. “They have to take some of the classes that they don’t love taking, which is why there’s not as much investment until they get a little bit older and more mature and recognize they have to pass.” To earn a diploima, students must earn a minimum of 23 credits.

First Semester Fs by grade level -- January 2022

Freshmen 170

Sophomores 149

Seniors 30

Juniors 78

Note: Numbers reflect the total number of failed classes -- not the total number of students who failed a class. Some students failed more than one class. Data from CMR Records Office.

PDA

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Affectionate actions not appreciated in hallways

BY JACK SPARKS, STAFF WRITER Two people pressed a few levels, and not block against the locker and each the paths of others while other, eating each other’s displaying their affection for faces. This is the type of each other. It’s also very public displays of affection that fills the halls of Charles unprofessional. You wouldn’t M Russel high school on want to see your teachers a seemingly day to day making out, so why would basis. Now, I’m not saying you want to see your peers all PDA is bad. Most people doing it? It’s even worse have no problem with small when people are wearing amounts of PDA, such as masks. This isn’t as much hand holding or quick kisses. of a thing now that the mask But when heavy amounts of mandate is lifted, but it used PDA are shown, everyone is to be common to see people disgusted. Especially when it kissing with their masks on. happens in the middle of the Not only is it disturbing, but hallway and disrupts the hall it’s very unsanitary too. An idea that has traffic, it becomes a major inconvenience for everyone. been suggested to people People need to tone it down performing PDA is to show

affection behind closed doors, not out in the open where everyone has to watch or be inconvenienced by their location. This idea is often shared through the phrase “get a room.” I agree with this idea, and heavily encourage everyone to keep the more intimate displays of affection out of the school learning environment.

Photo by Jack Sparks.

Teenage apathy infects high school students BY ISABEL FOLEY, PHOTO EDITOR

I have noticed a new affliction plaguing teens. Symptoms include: not caring about homework, lack of interest in school activities, endlessly scrolling through social media, a lack of concern for education, taking the easy route instead of challenging oneself, chronic absences, a lack of work ethic, and general laziness. Apathy is a plague infecting the teenage generation, and I don’t know if there is a cure in sight. More and more from members of my generation I have noticed a general disinterest in anything requiring work. I find this to be genuinely worrisome. If we cannot look up from our phones long enough to learn something, then what can we expect this generation to do for the future? What will become of us if all we care about is the frivolity of whatever social media sensation PhotoIllistrations featuring Warren Mays and Jordan Clark. Photos by Isabel Foley.

is trending? If we continue down the path we are on, I fear what will happen in the future. If we as a generation do not take the time and effort to look up and engage in our education – and our lives! – we will not only have let ourselves down, but also society as a whole. The worst part is, that the people reading this are not the ones to worry about. Teens with the affliction of Apathy will not care to give this article a glance let alone read it and realize that I am calling them out. To those of you who did care to read this, thank you. You give me hope for the future. And to those who may have looked up from their phones it’s not too late to change yourself for the better. Start caring about your future.

APATHY

HOMEWORK

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Homework adds stress to student lives

BY CJ KIERNAN, STAFF WRITER

I have to go home everyday to do homework for six to seven classes, and whenever I miss school, all the assignments build up. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of homework, and why I think homework isn’t beneficial. Over the years, my feelings toward homework have changed a lot. I used to think it was a good thing, but now that I’m older, I’ve learned that homework is not as helpful as intended. In elementary school, homework is OK. Most elementary school students have just a worksheet and possibly a few pages from a book to read. For most of those students, this is easy. However, once students hit middle and high school, it is a different story. You no longer have just one teacher assigning you work; instead, you have several. Let’s take into account that many people in this age group have mental health problems, and school is already stressful. Some students also have afterschool jobs and extracurricular activities. Add a few hours of homework to their busy schedule, and you get a stressed out teen who can’t handle life. Most students don’t want to go home (especially after work or a sport) and feel like they’re going right back to school. Home should be separate from school -- a place where students don’t have to stress about assignments due the following day, even more so when they didn’t get to work on those assignments in class. It’s not OK to send students home with homework on a weekday, and it’s even less fair on weekends. Weekdays are busy, and there’s only a 16-hour gap between the end of one school day to the beginning of the next. Give a person hours of homework that takes away from that time, and then by that point, it’s likely time for bed. Students deserve a break between the school days, not just one 48-hour gap between school weeks. Many students work on the weekend, so they don’t get that gap.

When teachers assign homework, they should consider their students’ lives outside of school, their mental health, and their extracurriculars. Look at how hard they work in class, and then think about why homework isnt getting done. It’s not always about a lack of motivation. Hopefully, in the future, the education system will stop requiring homework, and more teachers will have sympathy for their busy students.

Photo illustration by CJ Kiernan

District struggles to find substitute teachers

BY ASHLYNN KIDDER, STAFF WRITER

Teachers do their best to be able to come to work everyday and dedicate time to teach us skills we will need as adults, but even they have to take sick days. In a pre-pandemic world teachers didn’t miss much school, and when they did, there were substitutes able to fill in for the teachers until they could get better. However we are currently experiencing a global pandemic, meaning our teachers are exposed to a virus that requires quarantine, which is currently recommended for at least five days. For Great Falls Public Schools, there are what may seem like a never-ending amount of Covid-19 cases and not enough substitute teachers to fill those empty temporary positions. Covid-19 is not the only reason the district is experiencing a substitute teacher shortage, the blame also partially falls on students, who often treat these adults with disrespect. Substitute teachers have a hard time filling positions when they know it is likely they won’t get treated fairly or with the respect they deserve from their students. Substitutes most likely will not want to take a job when they know they will experience rude behavior. Students need to be more considerate towards substitutes so our learning is not delayed. We can all pitch in to make this Covid season On February 16, in room 312, a substitute teacher guides stuents through easier on schools and their students. their lesson. Photos by Ashlynn Kidder

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Athlete in the

The Stampede Photos of Chris Herren by Isabel Foley.

SPOTLIGHT BY KERRIGAN EDWARDS, EDITOR IN CHIEF

On Tuesday, the 15th of February, former NBA athlete Chris Herren visited Charles M. Russell High School to give students an important message about the negative effects that drugs and alcohol can have on the human body. Herren walked students through his experience as a student-athlete and then a professional athlete, and the horrifying consequences of drugs on his career. After being addicted to OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet, and Heroin, Herren’s career was essentially destroyed, and he was put into recovery at rehabilitation programs that in the end, made him sober. In his career as a sober advocate, Herren has written a book called “Basketball Junkie,” and created a nonprofit called “The Herren Project,” along with a residential health and wellness program called “Herren Wellness.” From a student perspective, the assembly was incredibly eye-opening and the message that Herren put out was something incredibly important that all students should understand. Herren focused on how scary substance abuse can be, and helped students see how dangerous getting addicted can be. Herren also made his opinions on student mental health apparent, voicing his concerns for the present batch of teenagers. Now, Herren has much more awareness about

mental health concerns than he did when he first started being an advocate for being clean. Herren also encourages students to voice their concerns to parents, friends, and peers when it comes to substance abuse. Herren has grown from his experience as a substance abuser and hopes to shed light on the very serious issue. The speech prompted many conversations within the classroom, and it was interesting to learn more about abuse from someone who looked and performed like an average person, rather than your stereotypical crackhead.

BY KERRIGAN EDWARDS, EDITOR IN CHIEF

OUT OF SCHOOL

SPORTS

Photo courtesy of Natalie Garner.

Photo courtesy of Clay Walker.

Photo by Kerrigan Edwards.

NATALIE GARNER

CLAY WALKER

COURTNEY BLISS

“Overall, hockey has been pretty great. A couple years ago I got the opportunity to go overseas to Beijing, China, where the Olympic winter sports are being held right now. I got to play hockey for team Canada. I got this opportunity from playing on a travel team from Montana and playing against a Canadian team. They just liked the way I play, so they recruited me for team Canada. I’ve been all across the country like Texas, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, and Canada for hockey, so it’s definitely been a very good experience. That has given me many different opportunities. I recently played in the NA3HL, and that is just a higher level of hockey for young adults to try to get noticed by other leagues to move up and eventually go pro. Hockey has been a huge part of my life ever since I was a kid, so it’s really made me who I am.”

“Most dancers start at a younger age, like 3-5, but I didn’t start until I was 11. I was a little behind so I had to learn years of dance within a few months. I’ve made it to the ability to compete for the past two years. With the difficulties along the way, I’ve learned to love dance and overcome my stage fright. I like dance because it’s an escape from reality where only the music matters, and the team aspect has developed good bonds. I regret not starting sooner, but I’m just happy to dance any day.”

CHEER

“I have been cheering for 13 years now, and it has taught me a lot. It has pushed me to limits that I’d never thought I’d reach. It showed me that you have to fail before you can succeed. I’ve learned that if you want to be the best you have to work for it. Winning does not come easy. This means late night and early morning practices, it means practicing when your body hurts or when you’re sick and don’t feel like getting out of bed, but you do it because you want to be the best. I keep pushing not only for myself but for my team. They are like a second family to me. And overall, cheer has just been an amazing experience, and if i had to go back and do it all over again I would.”

HOCKEY

DANCE

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FRESHMAN DIVES INTO

VARSITY BY MADISON MCMURPHEY, STAFF WRITER

Georgia Hatzenbeller pushes her way through the water on Jan. 29 at the Great Falls High swimming pool. Photo by Julie Pacheck.

39% Girls 180 Boys 325

There is one thing that Georgia Hatzenbeller always wanted to do, and the freshman was proud that she accomplished it in her first year Hatzenbeller said competing at the varsity level is something that she always wanted to do. “For me being a freshman on varsity is an amazing accomplishment, and it’s always something that I have wanted to achieve,” she said. Hatzenbeller said she was so happy to earn a spot on the varsity swim team, and she admits she couldn’t wait for the 2022 season. Sometimes being a freshman on a varsity team can be intimidating. “I do feel intimidated sometimes, but

BY ISABEL FOLEY, PHOTO EDITOR

it is always a great competition, and it makes me work harder,” she said. What made her want to be a swimmer is watching the Olympics. When she was six year old, her parents just threw her in the pool so she could try something new. “Ever since I have always had a love for the sport,” she said. Hatzenbeller has failed before, and to her it just motivates her to keep trying. Her greatest achievement is winning club state in the 100 fly, and she is hoping to win state. “Yes, I have failed before, and to me it means just to keep trying over and over again until you succeed,’’ Hatzenbeller said.

Photo by Isabel Foley.

5 7 505Athletes12 Of CMR students participate in sports

CO-Ed sports Girls sports Boys sports

Total sports

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Ever-changing safety regulations result in removal of chop saws

IT BY JACK SPARKS, STAFF WRITER

Safety regulations within the industrial tech program are constantly changing. Some changes happen over time, while others happen over night. One such example of this happening overnight was with C. M. Russell’s radial arm saw. The guidelines on what was considered safe were changed, and by the next day safety officials came and cut the cords to the machine before it was removed. According to woods teacher John Stewart, there was no warning or pretense to what happened -- the saw was there one day and gone the next. Each machine has its own special set of rules and regulations. But rules being changed isn’t the only reason machines are switched out or removed. Complaints about the safety of a machine can also be a big factor.

Recently, Principal Jamie McGraw received a complaint about the safety of the chop saws. She talked to the instructor of the woods classes, and the chop saws were changed out for different models. The main difference between the models are the safety guards. On the old guards, students used one hand to lift up the blade cover as they brought the saw down to cut. On the new models, students don’t have to manually raise the guards. Instead, there is a small button by the trigger that has to be held down in order for the saw to turn on. Students in the industrial technology classes, including in the welding classes shown here, are subject to many regulations when it comes to using the machinery and tools in the various classes. Photos by Jack Sparks.

WHAT TO DO IN BY ISABEL FOLEY, PHOTO EDITOR I often find myself looking for something to do in my free time and oftentimes come up empty handed and wondering what to do to fill my time. After some research and talking to people I have learned that Great Falls has a myriad of things to do.

Roll into fun by going to the roller derby Shoot your shot at or try on a pair of Valley View Garden skates yourself at Golf Wheels of Thunder

Enjoy the Municipal Band on Wednesdays at Gibson Park each summer Ride the wave at Electric City Water Park Row into warm weather kayaking on the Missouri River Enjoy the sunrise or view of nightime Great Falls from airport hill

Visit Giant Springs

Go fishing

Leap into adventure on hiking and Walk or cycle the bike trails River’s Edge Trail along the river. Explore local shops, such as Candy Masterpiece. Perhaps even try an escape room at Escape the Falls.

Express your artistic Explore the Farmer’s talent at Brush Crazy Market during the summer on Saturday mornings

GREAT FALLS Improve your shooting skills at the GF Trap & Skeet Club

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GRADUATION BY JORDAN CLARK, STAFF WRITER

at semester

Sometimes, time is really all you need. For Lydia Craw, graduating early gave her the extra time she needed to figure out what the future holds for her. “When you’re a senior in high school, all you want is more time to figure out what you want to do. When you graduate early, it gives you that time,” she said. Since graduating at the end of first semester, Craw’s focus is on two main things. She is currently saving up money in hopes of attending BYU in the spring. “I think that saving up money for school is really important,” Craw said. In order to earn those funds, she is working at Smith’s, which she said is something that she enjoys. “I have never really found my click in high school, and so work was always my go-to because I love my co-workers,” she said. Although she likes her job and the people at Smith’s, it hasn’t all been easy and enjoyable. Craw said that the hardest part about her decision to graduate early was people not wanting her to leave school so soon.

But, in the end, Craw is thrilled with her decision to graduate early, adding that it was one of the best decisions she’s ever made. “I don’t regret it at all,” she said. Even though the process wasn’t easy, Craw said that she has known she wanted to graduate early since her sophomore year. “In my opinion, if you’re not super into the high school experience,” she said, “Why are you still there, when you have the option to find out what you do like?” She said that graduating early gave her the opportunity to take time for herself and do things that she enjoys, including skiing and hiking. “For anyone graduating early or thinking about it, it doesn’t mean you’re stupid or that you’re copping out of school. You’re making a decision for yourself and to discover your own passions. High school isn’t everything or everyone’s cup of tea, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” Craw said. “If anyone has thought about it, they should look into graduating early. It gives you so many more options.”

Photo illustration by Jordan Clark.

AFTER GRADUATION BY KERRIGAN EDWARDS, EDITOR IN CHIEF

Rustlers share their plans for life after CMR

CAMERON TORRES

I plan on attending Montana State University Bozeman, pursuing my bachelor’s degree. I will be majoring in math and minoring in either German/Latin American Studies. While there, I will also be enrolling in the AFROTC unit. I plan to finish out my four years there, commission into the USAD as a Personnel officer, whose job is to write plans and policies, maintain organization structure, manage equal opportunity and sexual assault prevention and management programs. Photo by Isabel Foley

I have joined JROTC, as that will somewhat replicate what will be expected of me in AFROTC. And because I knew I would pursue an undergraduate degree in math, I had decided to take every math that CMR has offered, in hopes of preparing myself for the extensive work that will be required and in hopes of earning some college credit as well. I’ve also applied for several scholarships, one of them being a full ride through AFJROTC. Unfortunately, I did not get it, but I’m still pushing forward.

“I am planning on going to the University of Montana in Missoula. I am going to work on my major in music education and work in composing music as well. I am going to learn how to be a choir teacher so I can continue doing the things that I love. I also want to minor in French because it’s important to me that I can communicate with others and hopefully one day I’ll get to go to France again. I got the opportunity to apply to the honors college and decided to

go through the process. I was very happy that I got in so I have more opportunities in my college learning. My mother has been teaching me music since I was little, so it’s just always been a part of my life. I’m in the Chanteur Choir and Russel Ayres, and it takes up a lot of my time (but I absolutely love it) . I have taken piano lessons and am taking voice lessons in town. “

Photo courtesy of Megan Reno. “I’ve been moving up in the job that I have, and it’s been really fulfilling for me. I haven’t been passionate or interested in a career, so I didn’t want to go straight into college. I work at Starbucks right now. I’ve been there for about a year. I’ve become a shift supervisor and have been talked to about becoming an assistant store manager, which can sound like kind of small things, but there’s so much traveling and training that goes into it, and I feel really good about being considered

MEGAN RENO

MORGAN MCKNIGHT

for such a big role. I’ve learned how to manage my time so much better between work and school while still having an important role at work, and I’ve also become much more confident in sharing my opinion and being a leader instead of a follower. I’m not sure how long I’ll be with my current job, but I feel really good now about having leadership roles in the future.”

LIVING BY CJ KIERNAN, STAFF WRITER

The Stampede

Rustlernews.com

IN A CISGENDER WORLD “They” is a marvelous word, a versatile pronoun. If you don’t know someone, don’t assume their pronouns. One of the safest things to do in a situation where you don’t know someone, is to use gender neutral pronouns for them. If you want to know how they identify and what pronouns to use, don’t ask them if they are a boy or a girl. That question is often construed as rude. Instead, try asking, “What are your pronouns?” This is the easiest and most polite way you can get the information you need to start respecting your transgender (and even cisgender) peers. Transgender is an umbrella term, attached to many gender identities. Here are a few common ones you may come across. Female to male transgender, male to female transgender, and nonbinary. And every single person you meet, who identifies as any of these will look different. Not every female to male person will be the picture of masculinity. Not every male to female person will be the picture of femininity. Non-binary people will present all over the gender spectrum. Being transgender at CMR will be a different experience for every person. Mason Lehman, a female to male senior, came out as transgender his freshman year. He said he didn’t change his name until this year though, because he didn’t want to burden people with the change. He also said changing his name was a relief, because everyone knew, and his deadname (previous name) didn’t suit him at all. He said that he’s only faced disrespect from “people with poison in their minds.” He added that there’s probably been a lot of disrespect behind his back as well. When it comes to his overall

experiencel at CMR, he said, “It’s not horrible… I just wish things were a little easier for trans[gender] kids.” Lehman said he wants other transgender students to know what resources they have at the school. He mentioned the unisex bathroom in the office, and the school’s Gay-Staight Alliance. For senior Julianne Jensen, or Jill, who is transitioning from male to female, the coming out process was slow. She started coming out to friends her freshman year. “I didn’t fully come out until this year,” she said. Even though she only fully came out this year, she said that the adjustment for her peers hasn’t taken long. Most of the people in her life that needed to know about the change already knew. Every student is going to face some hardships, especially LGBT students who are inevitably going to face homophobia. Jensen does her best to stay away from homophobic people. “I surround myself with people who don’t care [about my sexual identity],” she said. Overall, as a transgender student at CMR, she said she’s had an alright experience. “I think everyone spends their time changing,” she said of high school. She believes that everyone is going through their own changes, and shouldn’t bring any negativity to anyone else’s changes. She wants to tell other trans students that the people around you will change, and unfortunately change is inevitable, even if it hurts. But there was a main point she really wanted to get across. “Surround yourself with people who care about you,” Jensen said.

Words and terms that may be new to you Cisgender male Tyler Yuhas poses with the transgender symbol on his face. Photo by CJ Kiernan.

Resources for LGBT teens and allies

Transgender: Having a gender identity or gender expression that differs from the sex assigned at birth. Cisgender: Having a gender identity or gender expression. Female to Male: A person who was assigned female at birth, who is transitioning to be male

LOCAL Great Falls LGBTQ Center: 14oo 1st Avenue North

Male to Female: A person who was assigned male at birth, who is transitioning to be female

Planned Parenthood: 211 9th Street South

Non-binary: Someone who does not identify with male or female, but somewhere else on the gender spectrum.

ONLINE The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Gender Spectrum: The concept that gender exists beyond male and female (masculine and feminine), but instead exists on a continuum. Some people are masculine or feminine, some people move fluidly along the spectrum, and some exist somewhere outside of the spectrum entirely.

GLSEN Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network: https://www.glsen.org/student-and-gsa-resources It Gets Better Project: https://itgetsbetter.org/

Deadname: the name that someone was given before they chose their new name LGBTQIA+: acronym for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer/Questioning Intersex Asexual/Ally, the plus is for all the other identities that don’t fit in the acronym.

BPA Rustlernews.com

The Stampede

Teaching students the importance of business

BY MADISON MCMURPHEY, STAFF WRITER

Senior Hannah Bingham has only been in BPA for two years, but it taught her important skills. “This club is a career and technical club, which allows students to pursue and compete in their business- related interests,” she said. Bingham said she has loved competing and all the opportunities the club has given her. “I’ve especially [appreciated] connecting with business professionals in the Great Falls Community,’’ she said. BPA has grown in participation within the past couple years, which is really exciting. In the future, she hopes the club becomes more active in giving back to the community, she added. Regionals are held at CMR, and the bigger competitions are the state leadership conferences, she added. What they do at their practices is mostly individual work, she said. “Mostly it is individual work on a computer writing a paper, creating a presentation, and then preparing a speech,” Bingham said.

Juggling

BPA Club– or Business Professionals of America Club – participated in regionals, which were held Jan.17 at CMR. Photo by Beth Britton.

BY JUSTIN BOLLICH, STAFF WRITER Managing your time wisely is stressful sometimes,” Premo said. a topic many at CMR struggle Stress can affect many people when it with, but 3 of the best at CMR comes to time management, and Premo isn’t the understand how to juggle your only one. Keira Richards also deals with stress tasks effectively. due to the amount of activities she has. Peyton Premo is a “I’m always stressed out. Like I’m stressed student at CMR that participates out right now, because I have a basketball game tonight in drumline and church, as well as and I need to get a lot of homework done. It’s stressful for managing her schoolwork. sure,” Richards said. “It takes time and planning, and Even though it can be stressful, Richards manages to keep herself on whatnot. So, for example, I have to track and figure out what needs to be done. [go to] drumline after school until 4:00 “I like to write things in my notes and my calendar just so I know things then I have to go to church at 5:30,” I need to do and things to get done. I also communicate with my parents so that Premo said, “Somewhere in between they’re aware,” Richards said. that time after you figure out how to eat and Another student that excels at time management is Janica Clark, who do homework and whatnot, so it’s just all about participates in gymnastics, as well as doing her homework, and a job. planning and looking ahead.” “I think the most important thing for time management is prioritizing. Fitting so many activities into your schedule can be It’s important to know what needs to be done and what’s most important to you,” a challenge for many people, even including those Clark said. that are good at it. According to Clark, one of the most important aspects of time “It really makes me have to have good time management is prioritizing. management skills. It’s almost like a puzzle. I have to “I manage my time by prioritizing. Sometimes there just isn’t time for figure out what I can fit into my schedule in order to get to everything you want to do. I always make sure there is time for things I need to everything okay,” Premo said. do, like homework,” Clark said. Having so much to do can be stressful, for even the best at time Janica Clark, a freshman, prepares for the Mascarade management. ball. Photo courtesy of Janika Clark. Junior Jordan Clark “It really is [stressful]. Because I have a lot that I have to do in between juggles paper towels. Photo by Justin Bollich. those times and just making sure you get from point A to point B can be really

How Rustlers keep their time on track

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Painfully boring movie was hard to watch BY CJ KIERNAN, STAFF WRITER When I sat down to watch a certain movie recently, I actually found myself so bored that I actually was tempted to do homework instead. In short, “The Blair Witch Project” was not worth the one hour and twenty one minutes I invested in watching the film. Written and directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, the movie is about three high school students who are doing a research project on a town legend called the Blair Witch. First they interview some townsfolk, and then they head to the woods, the supposed home of the witch. They proceed to get lost in those woods and panic ensues. The movie has poor qualities in all aspects: camera, acting, editing, writing, sound. The best thing this film has to offer is the credits, signaling its end. Though the poor quality and editing was purposeful for the aesthetic of the film, it also takes away from the actors. You’re more focused on trying not to get dizzy from the shaking camera than you are on the plot. I will say the marketing for this movie was great. Upon its release in 1999, the marketing had made everyone believe the events in the movie were real, which built up anxiety at the time. Marketers had genuinely convinced people the movie was made up from real camera footage found in the woods. Personally, I can’t find a reason why people would believe that. And that marketing tactic could be seen as a failure now, 25 years later, because now viewers know it’s not real, making the movie a lot more dull. A lot of the scenes are just the three main characters arguing about how they got lost and whose fault it was. I don’t see how that’s entertaining. In high school and college, you can literally watch the freshmen do that in the halls at the beginning of the year. The female lead, Heather, played by Heather Donahue, is pushy and rude, and her male counterparts are just imbeciles. To me, a lot of the acting looks forced, and the writing doesn’t help the actors at all. The end of the film is just a lot of screaming and camera shaking, so much that you can’t even tell what’s going on. I was told this movie is amazing before I watched it, and I was disappointed. It’s only saving grace at release was the marketing, which doesn’t help now. It’s basically a video of some dumb teenagers lost in the woods, pancking from fear they themselves created. As a whole, the film could have been better.

Photo by Jordan Clark.

Novel grabs the reader’s mind with mysterious plot and bone chilling events

RATINGS 86% on Rotten Tomatoes 3/5 Stars on Common Sense Media 3.3/5 on google 6.5/10 on IMDb 81% on Metacritic

BY JORDAN CLARK, STAFF WRITER She woke up to a completely different world with no trace of her family, friends, or anyone. Her house had been demolished, she looked like she has aged ten years, and everything was quieter, creepier, and darker than she had remembered. The chilling opening of this story written by Bethany Wiggins was unexpected, and it made me want to keep reading. “STUNG,” published in 2013, is a 290-page thriller about a girl who is completely lost. I’m not giving anything away, but this book is, without question, definitely worth reading. I am one to easily get bored while

starting a new book, but while reading this I was paying attention to every detail page after page. Not only did the mysteries of the book keep me on the edge of my seat, but it also made me connect with the characters. I felt scared and defensive when they were in danger, and I was relieved when they found their way out of trouble. My mindset towards the events in the book were based on the characters, and I have never made such a strong mental connection to any other book.

BOOKS OF THE INTERNET

Rustlernews.com

BY KERRIGAN EDWARDS, EDITOR IN CHIEF BY ISABEL FOLEY, PHOTO EDITOR

The Stampede

The Selection- 0/10

The main character’s name is America Singer. And her hobby is singing. Overall the book is entirely boring and not at all well thought out.

Dance of Thieves- 2.5/10

This was the most boring book I have read in a long time. It takes ages to get anywhere plot wise and the whole book is filled with filler and unnecessary material.

We Were Liars- 9/10

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is .a beautifully written, tedious book illustrating the impact that trauma can have on an individual. The writing style is incredibly confusing to make readers understand the exact mental state of the main character. The ending is extremely gripping and will make you question everything you just read.

From Blood and Ash 7/10

This book was decent. I like the premise though the first book feels a bit half baked. The series gets much better the further in you go.

Normal People- 6/10

I picked up Normal People solely because of the cult following Sally Rooney has. I was disappointed to learn that the more popular Normal People, was not as good as Conversations with Friends. Although this happened to be the case, the way that Rooney writes gives the characters more personality than expected, and readers get a more realistic insight into their lives.

The Once and Future Witches 10/10

A Historical Fantasy surrounding witches and the American suffragette movement. This is amazing. If you like fantasy read this.

A Court of Thorns and Roses 1/10

daniel green If you are an avid fantasy reader like myself looking for incredible recommendations of new books, look no further than Daniel Greene. His channel is full of amazing recommendations as well as analyses of all varieties of fantasy books. Greene has a wonderful sense of humor and never fails to make me laugh. His videos keep me entertained and I have found many of my favorite books through him. Aside from his reviews, his other book related videos make for great entertainment as well. He has multiple read alongs for various series where he shares his thoughts as a series develops which is a wonderful outlook into different series. All around, his channel is a great place to turn to for anything fantasy related and his videos always put me in a better mood. I highly recommend anyone interested in fantasy reading check his channel out.

A bad retelling of Beauty and the Beast in which nothing makes sense. I think the only reason people like this book is because the characters are hot.

The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo- 7/10

The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo deserves all of the praise that it receives. BY ISABEL FOLEY You develop connections and distaste with every single character. Although it can be difficult to read a book full of judgment, prejudice, and homophobia, the way that Taylor Jenkins Reid allows characters to learn and grow from their mistakes is honorable and makes readers learn something deeper from the book.

Kingdom of the Wicked- 8/10

JACK EDWARDS

Italian witches, murder, mystery, and devils. The book takes place in Italy during the 1800s the story revolves around two twins Emilia, and Vittoria, born into witchcraft and surrounded by a prophecy. When Vittoria dies Emilla must retrace her twin’s steps to solve her murder and ends up with If you’re looking for someone who is more trouble than she could have ever imagined. This book is beautiful. It witty as well as extremely educated in the is astoundingly written with intricate worlds and characters. world of literature, Jack Edwards is the man for you. Edwards has two youtube channels, The House in the Cerulean sea- 5/10 This is a children’s book and a fantasy. The House in the Cerulean Sea Jack Edwards, and Jack in the Books. was a beautifully illustrated piece of work that was a happy quick read. Edwards’ channels feature an abundance of The overarching theme of valuing others allows readers of all ages to content including reading all of a celebrity’s favorite books, reading books based solely learn something. off of their covers, and reading books One of Us is Lying- 0/10 I have never been more disappointed in anything. I don’t know if it’s featured in television. Edwards might be the because I read it over audiobook, but I thought this book was incredibly most devoted book reader of all time, with awful and it was an embarrassingly huge waste of my time to consume a multitude of videos involving a cumulative four days worth of reading. Over the last few everything this book put out. months, I have consumed what seems like all The Shadows Between Us 5/10 if not most of Jack Edwards’ content. He has A fantasy advertised as being enemies to lovers.. The ending didn’t feel become a comfort person and his channel is natural and seemed very rushed. The first half of the book is amazing one of the few things that I can always count while the rest is very mediocre. What saves this book is the descriptions on- at least internet related. Not only does of the fashion. The main character sews all of her own dresses and the he recommend books constantly, but his way they were described made them seem so real it was extraordinary. recommendations always knock it out of the However the book entirely failed at being enemies to lovers. park. I would trust Jack Edwards to be my The Cruel prince - 7/10 librarian 365 days a year, not just because This is a fantasy set in a realm parallel to ours populated by Fae. The book we share the same last name. itself is Fantastic, the pacing is amazing and it left me wanting more the whole time. I have been a fan of the author for a while, I read the book before it was even being talked about. I reread it and it still holds all of the same value as the first read. The only fault i can think of is some minor BY KERRIGAN EDWARDS plot developments that don’t quite tie up as nicely as i would have liked.

The Stampede

Rustlernews.com

Photo by Isabel Foley.

One book at a time BY SIERRA HIGHWOOD, STAFF WRITER AND ISABEL FOLEY, PHOTO EDITOR When English teacher Holly Ingeman wants to learn something new or simply relax, there is something she has turned to for years -- books. One book right up Ingeman’s alley, author Susan Orlean’s 2018 non-fiction “The Library Book,” is about the Los Angeles Library fire of 1986, and it includes plenty of additional information about library politics and history in the mix. “Reading is a great way to quench my thirst for knowledge,” Ingeman said. “However, I mostly read for pleasure.” She rates “The Library Book” 8/10, but she admits that it is a bit of a drag on. “I love all that I am learning, but I want to know what happened,” she said. “While I understand why she is drawing the story out, it is time to finish it up.”

English Department Leader Danielle Hogan also enjoys spending time with good books. Hogan said she recently read the historical fiction novel “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The plot revolves around fictional Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo, a woman furthering her career through any means necessary – even if this includes marrying seven different men. In the novel, Hugo gives one final interview to an unknown journalist to help the world understand more of her story. The journalist annd Hugo end up building a relationship, and have more in common than first expected. “The story follows all of her seven marriages and what she went through in her career,” Hogan said, adding that she rates the book a 9/10. BY ASHLYNN KIDDER, STAFF WRITER Reading is not just some boring homework assignment your English teacher gave to you. It is a hobby, a coping skill, a distraction from the disasters happening around us. Whenever I am having a bad day, curling up with a good book always makes me feel calmer. As a junior in high school, my days are pretty stressful. Several days out of the school week I go home feeling anxious and want at least an hour to wind down, so I choose to make myself a cup of tea and I pick up a book to read. Occasionally I read something familiar and comforting instead of one of my newer books. One of my favorite books to reread is the series “The Mortal Instruments” by Cassandra Clare. These books are the perfect combination of adventure, friendship, and

Junior Abby Virts reads during period 7 in the media center. Photo by Ashlynn Kidder.

Photo of Holly Ingeman by Isabel Foley.

romance, which is everything I look for in a good book to help ease my nerves. However, not everyone who enjoys reading is seeking relaxation. “I love to read because every time I pick up a book, there is a whole new world for me to learn about and experience,” junior Aerin McIntosh said. Sometimes our lives are simply uneventful, and other times our lives are overwhelming, which is why many people choose to read. Reading is a form of escapism. It is a coping mechanism much healthier than drugs or alcohol. Even if you don’t feel like distracting yourself from the events happening around you, I encourage you to explore new and different fictional worlds that books have to offer. Some people choose

IT’S GOOD FOR YOUR BRAIN

to attend a school for magic and battle evil wizards. Others choose to compete in a series of dangerous games mandated by a broken government, or even train at a camp of Demigod children. With a properly enthralling book, the possibilities of adventure are endless. Reading has a lot of positive effects on your body. Not only is it excellent for stress relief, but it also improves your memory and concentration by developing new neurons in your brain. The more you read, the easier it is to recall things. Whether you need a healthy coping skill, a way to stimulate the neurons in your brain, or even just a fun independant hobby, you should definitely read more.

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TOP TV

The relation with high school

TV Shows have changed from fantasy to reality when it comes to high school activities. The TV shows that have become more popular over the years with their new seasons out include Euphoria, Cheer, Emily in Paris, and Riverdale. These TV programs involve drug, alcohol, sex, trauma, teen pregnacy and other promlems that teens deal with everyday.

Emily in Paris

Emily is a driven 20-year- old from Chicago who moves to Paris for a job opportunity. She is tasked with bringing an American point of view to French marketing.

The Stampede BY MADISON MCMURPHEY, STAFF WRITTER

What should YOU be watching? EUPHORIA

RIVERDALE

Euphoria is a teen drama television series created and written by Sam Levinson for HBO Max. The series follows high school students through their experiences of identity, trauma, drugs, friendships, love, sex and more.

Betty Cooper unravels her feelings for Archie and her family secrets. After a teenager was murdered in the town of Riverdale, a group of teenagers try to unravel the evils within the innocent community.

CHEER

The six-part series follows the 40 member Navarro College Bulldogs Cheer Team from Corsicana, Tex., under the direction of coach Monica Aldama, as they prepare to compete in a Championship held in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Rustler gamer argues in favor of a new Donkey Kong game

BY JUSTIN BOLLICH, STAFF WRITER Donkey Kong is arguably one of Nintendo’s better franchises, but it seems to not be receiving enough

Screenshot by Justin Bollich. attention from them in recent years. The most recent game is a four-year-old port of Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, which was already four years old in 2018 when it was released on Switch, meaning that the last new Donkey Kong game was eight years ago. The modern Donkey Kong series has only two games, Donkey Kong Country Returns, released in 2010, and the previously mentioned Tropical Freeze. Considering the release pattern of the games in this series, we should be due for another release in the series this year. However, there has been little news on it, even in the most recent Nintendo direct, which is Nintendo’s live presentation of upcoming games. There have been rumors over the last few years

of a new 3D DK game, in the style of Mario Odyssey, The star coins in Mario and KONG letters in DK which would be a welcome addition to the series, since it both serve a similar purpose. Once you collect all of them has only had a single 3D game, released 23 years ago. in a world, they unlock a special, extremely difficult level, Donkey Kong is one of my favorite platforming a total of eight in most games for both series. In Donkey series, and I think it’s arguably better than even the Kong, completing all of these unlocks even more levels, mainline Mario series. For example, secret exits have one in Country Returns, and three in Tropical Freeze. existed in Mario games since the beginning, and allow Another area where Donkey Kong is superior to you to skip large portions of the game. In DK however, the Mario is boss fights. Mario’s most recent games all have most recent game also features secret exits, but instead fairly consistent, predictable boss fights. DK’s boss fights of skipping levels, they give are all in different styles, you even more to play. Screenshot by Justin Bollich. such as a fight on a train, Another part that underwater against a fish, is better is the collectibles and fighting three monkeys in DK. Mario has two main with hammers. Almost all of types -- coins, which add the boss fights are unique one to your life count when and memorable, in both you collect 100, and star setting and style. coins, which you can get Finally, the overall usually after completing a level design is better than small skill based challenge Mario. Taking the most in level, of which there are recent games of each as an three per level. Donkey example, both usually have Kong has four unique a main gimmick for each types instead of two. There are bananas, which are the individual level. In my opinion, however, some of the equivalent to coins. DK also has a coin, but it’s used in smaller gimmicks carry over between levels more in DK, the game’s shop instead. There are also KONG letters, and the theming feels more consistent. which are an equivalent to star coins, but there are four Donkey Kong is one of Nintendo’s strongest instead of three, and finally there are puzzle pieces modern franchises, and I hope it isn’t forgotten. hidden in each level which encourage exploration, and there are usually between five and nine.

HOLLYWOOD V. REALITY

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The Stampede

BY ASHLYNN KIDDER, STAFF WRITER The idea of entering high school has always been intimidating, whether you are an eighth grader about to transition into freshman year, or a sixth grader binge watching “High School Musical” at a sleepover with friends. Most teens and pre-teens are familiar with television, especially shows revolving around the lives of high school students. Television, however, often portrays high school in a completely unrealistic manner. They script cafeteriawide food fights, feature provocative outfits that would never pass a dress code inspection in a real school, and display cliques so stereotypical you may become paranoid of crossing paths with anyone fitting that description. In reality, it is highly unlikely you would witness this kind of behavior. Cafeteria food fights would get you a much more severe consequence than detention, which is often the consequence fictional teachers give to students starting such a disruption, and most likely would never get the chance to escalate as far as they do in the movies. School dress codes are strict, and the mini skirts you find in “Mean Girls” would be corrected by an administrator before you could get to first period. Hollywood even goes so far as to romanticize harassment. Directors and screenwriters often script that the high school bully is secretly in love with his victim and that is why he bullies her, which is not the case most times. Bullies don’t attack people because they find their victims attractive, and implying that this may be the case will tell kids they shouldn’t speak up, because movies view bullying as a normal school experience. Movies and television set intimidating and nerve-racking expectations for high school, causing anxiety for no good reason. High school is far from what Hollywood makes it out to be.

Seniors Alex Halvari, Raymond Luna, and Alex Justman hang out in the Commons during seventh period on Feb. 17. Photo by Madison McMurphey.

Today’s high schools not the romanticized version of the movies