Volume 20 | Issue 1
October 2018
we’re BACk! pg. 15
School spirit makes a comeback page 18 October 2018
D
800 College Drive Henderson, NV (89002) (702) 799-3500
CO-EDITORS Elly Davis, Kaylee Schwurack WEB MASTER Bailey Trodahl STAFF WRITERS Zack Jackson, Rehya Corral, Jade Eary, Dustin Jensen, Alexia Stein, Ayla Thompson CUB REPORTERS Karena Alexander, Hannah Bell, Naomi Carpenter, Paul Castillo, Kai Dixon, McKayla Gardenier, Sadie Hale, Jayden Hendry, Chris Jimenez,
Sierra Johnson, Chase Keeling, Malia Lantham, Augustina Maruelli, Steven Murray, Paige Nelson, Abigail Scott, Nevea Smith, Loreai Yinger ADVISER Bill Tobler PRINCIPAL Lisa Burkhead
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the Hillside Hotwire are the author’s and do not represent the opinions of the administration, faculty, staff, or students of Foothill High School. Student-written articles are the individual, private speech of the student and are not endorsed or sponsored by Foothill High School or the Clark County School District. The staff reserves the right to reject any advertisement deemed inappropriate. Letters to the editor may be edited for content, clarity and brevity.
October 2018
ear Hotwire Readers,
Welcome back falcons! We are so excited to get this school year started and we can’t wait to see what this year brings us all! The making of this issue was pretty stressful, but now we are back in action and (after eating a whole pack of Oreos in one day), we are ready to roll. As you flip through our pages, we hope you take the time to acknowledge the news happening around campus that our students wrote about for this issue. You’ll read about the revamping of the Hilltown Posse, the full story on senior schedule lengthening, the new diploma type, and about how we are remembering 1 October a year later. We are so excited to share this year and all the news with you. We hope to shed a light on the important things happening around Foothill as this year progresses. As always, you can send in your story requests by DMing our Instagram or Twitter, @HillsideHotwire, or by submitting them on the “Stories Wanted” section of our website, hillhot.com. As a whole, we are honored to cover the ambition and uniqueness of the students we see every day. We hope that you’ll make this school year the best one yet. Thanks for picking up our issue, and happy reading Falcons! Sincerely, Kaylee and Elly
IN This
issue
EDITORS
Fashion
Fashion at Foothill Looking to the Future
College is an intimidating and scary time. All of our major decisions lie in the next 5 to 10 years. This guide will help you choose the best college for you.
Vegas
Strong
6 13
20 19
Tragedy that made History
20
Twilight Zone
This Homecoming, we entered another dimension: a dimension not only of Falcons and Football games. Journey into a wondrous land of grade point average. Next stop: Falcon Pride.
Thrift stores are the new mall phenomenon. The newest styles and trends are a blast from the past. This story will show you what the new trends entail.
Class Of
Letter from the
The world has changed a lot since last October, but we are still Vegas Strong. This story shows how Vegas has changed for the better.
Foothill’s
25
Twiligh
t
Zone
Hillside Hotwire • News
Life is
Beautiful
T
3
By Kaylee Schwurack • Co-Editor
his year, thousands of concert goers and hundreds of students flocked to Life is Beautiful. The festival happens annually and takes place in Downtown Las Vegas, where dozens of musicians performed across four different stages. This year, headliners included The Weeknd and Florence and the Machine. Every year, Life is Beautiful proves to be the most attended music festival in Las Vegas, and many residents and visitors from around the world take the opportunity to go to the festival and have a good time. Safety became a larger priority this year, and festival attendees were subjected to bag checks and were allowed three re-entry
passes per day. “This year was the most fun I’ve had at the festival so far,” said junior Kyndall Jackson. “Going with my friends and seeing some of my favorite artists like Bastille and AJR made this year one of the best yet. I thought this year’s performers were really good, and I just had a lot of fun.” The festival saw about half residents/half visitors, and this year was one of the safest and most successful years they’ve had. They are planning to take over Downtown Las Vegas again next year from September 20-22, and those who haven’t gone in previous years will get yet another opportunity to go to the festival and have fun.
Your neighborhood restaurant for great Mexican Food, drinks, and Sports Now open! 16 S. Water St. Henderson October 2018
4 Hillside Hotwire • Feature
e d i s n i s ' t It's wha That Counts
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October 2018
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Essentials everyone needs in their backpack na
By Elly Davis • Co-Editor
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reshmen walk down the halls of high school for the first time, their backs aching in pain. Their backpacks are overflow with nonessentials that will never be used. n the other hand, seniors stroll the halls they have owned for the past three years with no struggle at all. They have learned a thing or two after being seasoned veterans of the high school way of life. n modern schooling, little work is actually done on paper. Assignments come from Google Classroom or Turnitin.com. These applications make life easier for both students and teachers. But students should always have a notebook, 3-ring binder and planner. You never know when a teacher will go back in time, or the Internet will go down. Planners may be the most useful thing in your backpack. On average, most students believe that when you have a paper copy of things you need to get done, you will actually do them. lmost every math class in high school is much easier and more interesting when you have a calculator. Instead of wasting your time with multiplication or division, you can focus on things that you are really trying to learn. nly bring ear buds if your teacher instructs it. But when you use a school computer and use headphones, I definitely recommend bringing your own. No one knows where those school headphones have been. um has long been high school’s underground currency. It freshens your breath and definitely helps in making new friends. Gum is great, but remember to not chew super loud, don’t blow bubbles in class, and do not stick it underneath the desk. That’s just gross. elf care is so important in high school. You never know when you will need a hair brush, a hair tie, or a sanitizing wipe. Chemistry labs always need your hair to be tied back, and the one time you forget a hair tie is the one time you have a lab. Sanitizing wipes are a cleaner way to wash your hands and anything you may touch. inally, Hydroflasks the golden girls of high school. Water has been proven to improve mood and help students pay attention during school. This generation is going to be the most hydrated in history since water bottles are cool again.
O
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-Hydroflask
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-Ear Buds
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October 2018
6 Hillside Hotwire • Feature
by rral o a C ary y Reh ade E J and
F
Thrifty Thrifty
Thrift Store Outfits for Under $20
inding a cute outfit at the mall can get pretty expensive, especially when you add in all the accessories and shoes that go along with it. The total could end up being more than $100, which is way more than what the average teen wants to spend on clothes. A good, money-saving alternative to shopping malls are thrift stores. Thrift shopping is definitely a unique experience that can’t be replicated at your average store at the mall. You never know what you’re going to find at thrift stores. However, it’s important to keep an open mind when visiting these types of stores because you might not get a good find right away. It may not sound that appealing to everyone, but thrift shopping can definitely be a great experience. (I mean, Macklemore didn’t write a song about it for nothing!) Shoppers can land some unique and cheap items and can even find brand names for pennies on the dollar. Places like Plato’s Closet and Castaways Resale Store are great places to find brand
pieces on sale, and these particular stores tend to be more up-to-date with fashion than other thrift stores. (Tip: Be sure to look at every item that’s on the rack because sometimes clothes get misplaced or hidden by other clothes.) These stores carry a variety of boots, scarves, skirts, dress shirts, and jewelry. And if you’re not particularly looking for fashionable clothes, you can also check out Savers or Goodwill for movies, books, soap, or even art. These stores tend to have more items that are vintage, wellused, or hard to find in conventional stores. If you’re looking for some cheap, old clothes, some magazines to read, or need dishes to use at home, these stores are the best places to go. The beauty of shopping at thrift stores is that you can look through clothes that others have viewed as trash and make them your own. Thrift shopping is a great way to get affordable, yet stylish clothing. You just have to look in the right places.
Burgundy skinny jeans ($7)
Tan fuax leather combat boots ($10)
October 2018
Yellow crop-top ($3)
Hillside Hotwire • Feature
7
Can You Dig It?
Vintage fashion is all the rage, but are students at the Hill diggin’ it?
H
istory repeats itself, and fashion is no exception. More styles from past decades such as the 70s and the 90s, which include high-waisted jeans, corduroy and jean jackets, and crop tops are now uber popular. But is this going to lead to a repeat of a previous fashion decade, or a whole new style? FHS sophomore Fiona Madison has adopted the vintage style, and has been making it work since age 13. “I get most of my clothing from thrift stores because it’s like recycling; it’s more environmentally stable,” said Madison. “I mostly shop Goodwill and Savers because they’re cheaper, but I only go like every three months.” Madison said she hasn’t gone with the trends most years, but now her style just so happens to be trendy. She has found clothing pieces such as corduroy jackets, 90s jackets, vintage t-shirts and more. Junior Cadence Schwegel recently adopted the style this year. “When we moved from Texas, we went through some of my mom’s old clothes,” said Schwegel, “and I thought they were cute, so I just wore them for one day, and I wear them quite often now.” The clothes included vintage large t-shirts, mom jeans and belts. Unlike Madison, Schwegel shops more often at stores like American Eagle which are similar to vintage styles but with a modern twist. “The ones that I wear have the rips and tears in them, which to me is what some of the modern style is in them because actual vintage ones don’t,” said Schwegel. Is this style popular, even though it’s unique and different? Is it really “trendy”? “I definitely think that it’s popular, especially with teens,” said Schwegel. “I see a lot of kids my age wearing this style, and a lot of popular stores like Forever 21, Hollister and American Eagle sell high-waisted jeans and
By Ayla Thompson • Staff Writer
crop-tops. Some like the past style because it’s bright and loose, but is it really that different? “I do think that this style is different because even though its ‘trendy,’ it still is unique today because it seems not many people wear it.”
Left: This outfit is a prime example of today’s trends. A crop top paired with high-waisted mom jeans and Chuck-Taylors, a mix of both 70s and 90s era fashion. Above: Luke Yacksyzn mostly wears Japanese street wear. “I think 70s and 90s fashion will always be in style because it was the beginning of street wear,” said Yacksyzn.
October 2018
8 Hillside Hotwire • Feature
T
Europe Bound
A Spring Break trip beckons teachers and students abroad
he Eiffel Tower. Stonehenge. Notre Dame Cathedral. Buckingham Palace. Big Ben. Stratford upon Avon. Edinburgh Castle. The Louvre. All of these famous places have been featured in movies and discussed in history classes, but now students have the opportunity to travel to them in an amazing Spring Break trip. Each year, Mrs. Pam Charles leads a group of Foothill students to another continent, and students get
to experience new foods and cultures. Last year, students had the opportunity to visit Paris, Avignon, and Barcelona. Calista Nanney, a student who went on the 2018 trip, said, “Traveling out of the country let me journey through Europe, make new friends, and learn about the European culture.” One of the best parts about the trip is that almost everything is taken care of for the participants: hotels, tour guides, museum entrances, breakfasts and dinners, flights, and transportation. All of these are included in the student price of $3,824 or the adult price of $4,374. For the 2019 tour, the group will be visiting Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh and its prized castle.
Not a schoolsponsored trip.
A trip to Yorkshire, Warwick, and Stratford (home of William Shakespeare himself) will be included before students head over to Oxford to visit New College. After seeing the homes and landmarks of some of literature’s greatest writers, a trip to London will give the group the opportunity to snap a photo in front of the new royal couple’s castle and maybe even a chance to try and get a smile out of a Buckingham Palace guard. Seeing where Harry Potter was filmed is an additional perk, and kids can even hope an owl extends them an official invitation to Hogwarts! After a visit to Stonehenge, students will travel over to Paris to see the smirk of the famous Mona Lisa and even form their own smiles atop the Eiffel Tower as it twinkles over the city.
Sophomore Keely Peterson is signed up for the trip and looking forward to “experiencing the culture that Europe has that the U.S. doesn’t.” She’s also excited to see “a pretty landscape” and “castles,” a stark contrast to Nevada’s empty deserts. Chezanny Villena-Matuska is signed up to go on the trip with her grandmother and looks forward to “experiencing being out of the country with someone I care about.” The trip is open to any Foothill students, their parents, teachers and their spouses, and even previous graduates. Those interested can enroll at eftours.com/ enroll with tour number 2113142UJ. Students can even create a gift-account where family members can donate money to help them fund their trip. Anyone interested in participating needs to enroll as soon as possible to lower your monthly payment amount. If you have any questions, stop by and see Mrs. Charles in the student store. Your adventure of a lifetime awaits!
e p o r Eu
October 2018
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10% discount on your order using Promo Code: FOOTHILLHS18
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10 Hillside Hotwire • Feature
Looking FUTURE to the
Northern Arizona University
GPA-3.52 SAT:1120 ACT:23 Tuition: $24,000 Sports:
Basketball, Football, Women’s Soccer, Golf, Volleyball, Cross Country, Cheer and Dance, Swim and Dive, Track and Field, and Tennis.
Brigham Young University
GPA:3.83 SAT:1320 ACT:29 Tuition: P- $5,150 H- $5,100 I$3,830 Sports: Basketball,
Cross Country, Football, Golf, Swim and Dive, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Gymnastics, Womens Soccer
October 2018
Southern Utah University
GPA:3.5 SAT: ACT: 24 Tuition: $19,132 Sports: Basketball,
Which college fits you best? By Elly Davis • Co-Editor
Art Institute GPA:3.22 SAT:1180 ACT: Tuition: $18,648 Sports: N/A
Cross Country, Football, Golf, Tennis, Track and Field, Gymnastics, Women’s Soccer, Softball, Volleyball
Arizona State University
GPA:3.49 SAT:1210 ACT:25
Tuition:$27,372 Sports: Basketball,
Cross Country, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Swim and Dive, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling, Beach Volleyball, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Triathlon, Water Polo, Volleyball
University of Nevada Las Vegas
GPA:3.28 SAT:1080 ACT:22 tuition:$6,943 Sports: Basketball,
Fotball, Golf, Soccer, Swim and Dive, Tennis, Cross Country, Softball
Fashion Institute
of Design& Merchandising
GPA: 3.6 SAT: ACT: Tuition: $30,955 Sports: N/A
University of Nevada Reno GPA:3.38 SAT:1150 ACT:24 tuition:$6,902 Sports: Basketball,
Football, Golf, Rifle, Tennis, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Swim and Dive, Track and Field, Volleyball
Hillside Hotwire • Feature
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Acceptance Rate: 72%
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Acceptance Rate: 51%
Acceptance Rate:
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Provo 48%, Hawaii 58%, Idaho 99.6%
11
October 2018
Realtor Jud Carpenter 2831 St. Rose PKWY #100 Henderson, NV 89002
October 2018
October 2018
14 Hillside Hotwire • News
e h t f o e Ey r e d l o h Be Aidan Stratton Captures the World’s Beauty Story by Kaylee Schwurack • Co-Editor Layout by Elly Davis • Co-Editor
October 2018
A
idan Stratton takes the lens off his camera and laughs with his friends as they get ready for a photo shoot. This is what Stratton has done since Spring Break of the 8th grade, and, as the shoot starts, the rest of the world begins to disappear. “I started with photography around 8th or 9th grade,” said Stratton, senior. “I was bored at my grandma’s house since she didn’t have internet, so I took my little iPod touch 5 out into her backyard and started shooting around. I edited them with Instagram filters, and my mom would act like they were good.” Since then, Stratton has embraced his passion for photography and has made it a huge part of his life. He shoots mainly among nature and with his friends. “Honestly, my photography is mainly a channel for me at this point,” he explained. “I’m largely selftaught, and it’s a way for me to control and capture an environment to my perfectionist heart’s desire. I do really enjoy
sharing my photos with people and getting their feedback. Overall, I hope that through photography I’ll be able to learn to push myself creatively and share my work with others.” As his passion unfolded, he found it as a way to meet new people, have fun, and even build his self esteem. “It’s allowed me to meet a lot of cool people and get a sense of pride after shooting and sharing,” he said. “I think it translates to my everyday life in that, if I’m passionate about something and put the work in, then I’ll have something to be proud of. Stratton also says that following his passion was one of his best decisions. “If you’re passionate about something, go for it! Learn all you can and practice. Stay focused on it and always keep that spark.”
“Following his passion was one of his best decisions.”
October 2018
Haunted Henderson
16 Hillside Hotwire • Feature
By Elly Davis • Co-Editor
Real haunted places to go for Halloween in Henderson Haunted Vegas
Asylum & Hotel Fear
Tickets: Asylum: $15.00 Hotel Fear: $15.00 Both haunts: $25.00 Schedule: Open October, Thursday - Sunday Website: http://www.lasvegashaunts.com/ Address: MEADOWS MALL. 4300 MEADOWS LANE. Attractions: The best old school haunted house.
tour & Ghost hunt
Tickets: Tour & Ghost Hunt: $89.95 per person Visit Website for full details Phone# (866) 218-4935 Website: http://hauntedvegastours.com/ Address: 4225 W Teco Ave. Las Vegas Attractions: Real haunted attractions in Las Vegas
Haunted Vegas Tour & Ghost Hunt
Asylum & Hotel Fear October 2018
Hillside Hotwire • News
Bonnie Screams
Halloween Ghost Town Tickets: Bonnie Screams town pass: $30.00 per person Opens: October 5th Schedule found on website Phone# (702) 875-4191 Website: http://wickedhaunts. com/ Address: 16395 Bonnie Springs Rd, Las Vegas Attractions: Zombie Paintball, The Dollhouse, Phobia, Darkness, Serial Killers
Tom Devlin's Monster Museum
Tickets: Monster Museum: Adult $13, Children 10 & under free Opens: 7 days 10 am to 6 pm Phone# (702) 294-1313 Website: http://www.tomdevlinsmonstermuseum.com/ Address: 1310 Boulder City Pkwy. Boulder City Attractions: Tom Devlin’s monster Museum is where monsters reside from all over the world
17
Zak Bagans'
the haunted museum Tickets: Museum tour $44 general admission must be 16 and older Opens: 1:00 pm to 9:00pm Phone# (702)444-0744 Website: https://thehauntedmuseum.com/ Address: Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum 600 E. Charleston Blvd. Attractions: Museum includes more than 30 rooms filled with some of the most haunted objects in the world.
Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum
Bonnie Screams Halloween Ghost Town
Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum
Art by Sadie Hale • Staff Artist
October 2018
18 Hillside Hotwire • News
S
tudents fill the gym as upbeat music plays in the background. Multicolored lights strobe across the room and dance and cheer dances on the floor. The lights suddenly switch off, and black lights are unveiled while students wave their lights in the air. Student Body President Joey Pagan takes the floor, and welcomes all of Foothill High School to The Twilight Zone. This year’s homecoming assembly was like no other. Student council experimented with the idea of black lights, and allowed time for students to really express their spirit in the stands. The assembly, as usual, included performances from dance, cheer, show choir, and football, and held games for students from each class to compete in. “This year, the participation of the student body made all the difference,” said Student Council Member Maddy Korhonen. “We wanted to show people stuff they hadn’t seen before. Our spirit can be accredited to us having a great senior class and Mrs. Burkhead doing a great job promoting the school spirit and students are finally noticing it. It’s the way students have positivity about school, s t that increases the spirit e buck n o s m like never before.” u heri dr e assembly. g n i l Later in the e B e at th n Ryan i l m day, organizations and ru with d clubs participated in Foothill’s first homecoming parade. The clubs went from O’Callaghan Park back to Foothill, going through neighborhoods with families and community members watching. “The Homecoming Parade was a very cool part of the day,” said OneHill leader Patrick Detken. “When I was growing up, the Homecoming Parade was one of my favorite things to be a part of, so it was really cool to see the kids today participating, involving the community, and enjoying themselves while doing it.” After the parade, patrons went back to Foothill and packed the stands for the yearly Homecoming game. The student section was louder than it has ever been, and Hilltown Posse leader Conner Bryan says that it’s a long-awaited
“There is su
change this their time at our spirit and this year is g fun we’ve ha
The dan ce team perform at the as s sembly. October 2018
turn around. “Every student wants to have that school spirit,” he explained. “I think everyone just wanted to see more unity and hype around all the events at our school and show how much more fun it is to be involved rather than not. Last year the only attended games were the big football games and not too many people even went, so I thought it was time to get hype with a lot of student support. ” To end the day, after the football game the bash was held in the quad and the gym. It es s pass r was also black light e h c a e ble themed, and there d in th beach ball. w o r c were games in the The da aroun quad as well as a DJ and cool effects in the gym. “This year’s bash was really cool,” said Mrs. Burkhead. “I’ve never seen so much school spirit around, and the bash was kind of a time to step back and hang out and reflect on all the great things that had happened throughout the day. I really enjoyed taking part in all of the activities and the bash was a great way to end it all.” The Saturday after the Homecoming bash is usually when students go out and do their own things for the dance and students had fun going out to eat, taking pictures, and doing fun activities. “This year, I think all the students at Foothill saw there was something lacking in school,” said Student Body President Joey PaSumme gan. “The senior class r Avant s cheer were really the ones team at the Hom s on the footbal who decided to l ecoming game. make a change. We all stepped up as a team and really showed the other students how high school should be and they followed along. It’s been going really well so far, we have so much planned and I can’t wait for the spirit and fun events we’re going to have in the Jakob P future.”
uch a big culture year. Kids enjoying school has recharged d you can just tell that going to be the most ad so far.”
hill’s
Foot
Twilight
ZONE
etry par ticip at the as ates in a game sembly.
Homecoming 2018 By: Kaylee Schwurack • Co-Editor
October 2018
20 Hillside Hotwire • Opinion
Student opinion
Course correction
Class of 2019 has new policies and options in the state of Nevada By Bailey Trodahl and Zack Jackson • Staff Writers
Seniors in the Clark County School District were a bit surprised with the ways their schedule looked at the beginning of the year. --Art by Kai Dixon
R
eceiving her schedule in homeroom on the first day of school, Kyandra Jeannotte was a bit surprised, and angered. Instead of having four classes, like she expected, she had six classes. “I was kind of in shock that I was given six classes because I had all of the credits that I needed,” exclaimed Jeannotte. “I know the school district wants what is best for us, but sometimes it affects our schedule outside of school.” With the coming of the new school year, many seniors were upset to have a full schedule. Instead of the four classes they were desperately hoping to get, they ended up getting six classes. The majority of the seniors who were affected were not even informed beforehand, due to the change being announced
October 2018
to the district just days before the new school year. The state should have warned all of the schools at the beginning of last year so that juniors could have been aware of the requirements. This would have motivated many to keep their grade point averages higher. “Of my seniors, only a few said that they were upset about it,”said Campbell. “I think, however, that most of them can see the benefits of being better prepared for college and/or careers.” Even in a regular year, students are often disappointed when they receive their schedules. They did not get a class they wanted or the same lunch as their friends, but this year’s seniors take gold in schedule disappointment, hoping to go home two hours earlier than normal and instead getting a full schedule. Many seniors had planned responsibilities outside of school; requiring parents to change work schedules and students to re-adjust after school activities and adjust sibling rides. To change a regulation that affects so many seniors in the CCSD in this manner is a party foul to say the least. Juniors should have been warned in late August or early September of LAST year that they had to qualify to have fewer than six classes. In addition, the open first period option was also not available. “The school personnel were having a hard time keeping track of who should be on campus during first period, and who should not because many students who had open first were coming to school early and just hanging out on campus,” said Campbell. “In our society today, we have to be very vigilant and cognizant about keeping our students safe.” Despite its terrible timing, the new policy is undeniably reasonable. As long as students maintain their GPAs, or have work or family requirements, they qualify for fewer classes. The problem comes from the inopportune time that Foothill received the information about the new rule. Aspects of the new policy make sense, like the minimum GPA requirement and exceptions for working students and students caring for their siblings. However, to enforce it three days before the new school year began, after all the seniors had already signed up to go home early, was undoubtedly a mistake on the part of the state, and we feel that more care should be given in the future to prepare students for policies that will affect them.
Hillside Hotwire • News
21
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22 Hillside Hotwire • Sports News
Trailblazers fall prey to Falcon’s talons
Homecoming win of 20-7 keeps the team undefeated Alexia Stein • Staff Writer
T
he Hilltown Posse went wild as the Varsity football team ran through the massive blow-up Falcon. Bright lights and big smiles filled the field as they got ready for the kick off. “We started pretty flat,” said Jordan Blakely. “But towards the end of the game, we started to pick it up, and overall, it was a good game.” Seniors Jordan Wilson and Jordan Blakely both got touchdowns and quarterback Koy Riggin also got a rushing touchdown. Ollie Chori kicked two points bringing the score to 20 while Durango languished with only 7. It wasn’t for lack of trying. “The Durango quarterback was a great athlete,” said defensive lineman Ezekiel Mareko. “He’s also a wrestler and could change directions really fast.” Despite his quickness, Mareko was able to get a sack when he held the ball for too long during the last play before the half. “It helped set the tone for the next half,” said Mareko, meaning the momentum stayed on Foothill’s side. Jordan Blakely ended the game with 14 tackles, and Jordan Wilson followed with 11. “We definitely played together as a unit,” said Wilson. The student section was the biggest it had been in many years. “HTP was thriving,” said Kate Allen. “Everyone was dressed in neon and excited. This year, our new Student Body president, Joey Pagan, has made many changes to amp up school spirit.” Other students agreed. “No one is too cool for school anymore,” said Justin Nuebeck. “Nobody really thinks they are better than anyone. We are all together, and we are all here to have a good time.” October 2018
23 Far left: The offensive line get ready for the next play. Middle Top: Defensive tackle Ezekiel Mareko takes down the Durango quarterback just before half time. “My hand locked in perfectly to just under his shoulder pad,” said Mareko. “He was a good athlete who was really shifty and could quickly change directions. Stopping their progress helped set the tone for the second half.” Middle bottom: Quarterback Koy Riggin dodges tacklers during one of his runs. Bottom right: Outside linebacker Braedon Wilson tackles a receivewr, with a little extra help from Matteo Monterde. “We knew they were fast,” said Wilson of the Durango receivers, “so we gave them a little space at the line, then we swarmed to the football and used team tackling to keep them from scoring.” Photos by Bill Tobler
October 2018
24 Hillside Hotwire • News
The Tragedy That Made
ee Kayl By:
ura Schw
r
to -Edi
Co ck •
History How Las Vegas came together approaching the anniversary of 1 October
O
n the southern end of the Las Vegas strip, the “Welcome to Las Vegas Sign” stands loud and proud. It’s been a trademark of Las Vegas since the very beginning, and is one of the most easily recognizable monuments in the world. It is swarming with people at any
October 2018
time of day during any time of the year. Now, a year after the tragic events of 1 October, 2017, the sign is surrounded by 58 crosses; each displaying a memorial for the victims of the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Around this time last year, the city of Las Vegas was in turmoil. The community was faced with something that had never been seen before as news spread that 58 members of the Las Vegas community had been killed and hundreds more had been injured in a shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival. Shortly after the shooting, the commu-
nity came together like never before. In an area with around 2 million residents, it was evident that, for most, it was feeling more like home than it ever had. In the wake of the tragedy, thousands of people donated their blood and volunteered around the city. Residents and even tourists came out and donated food, water, clothing, and blankets to the victims and the families of the victims. There is no doubt that everyone was in a time of mourning, and some were more personally affected than others. “I knew Quinton Robbins personally, and this year I went to his memorial and we did a balloon release by the ‘Q’ painted near the Basic B,” said Aubrey Danser, junior. “Honestly, after the shooting happened, I was taken aback by the unity. I would’ve never imagined Vegas ever uniting as one since we are so much big-
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Middle: A Vegas Strong banner waves proudly on the fence shortly after the October 1st tragedy. Other signs, one saying that we need to come together and one saying Choose Love also decorated the fenced area just outside the concert venue on the strip. Photo by Leigh Quarles
ger than other cities, but seeing everyone come together and being there for each other was absolutely breathtaking. Random people were helping each other, which is what truly showed how strong Vegas is.” This year, in remembrance, a memorial was held at the site of the crosses. People were given the opportunity to pay tribute to the victims and many took the opportunity to remember a year later. At the memorial, many attendees noticed an arc in the sky forming directly above the memorial, and the weather phenomenon was believed by many to not be a coincidence. As the year went on, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department also revisited some of their policies to ensure that something of this caliber never happens again. “We’re looking at all of our big events that are happening around town and taking more steps in order to ensure the safety of the public,” said Officer Taun Yurek. “We’re also adding more manpower for these events for security purposes and are running a really tight ship on safety. After the shooting, I saw a city in need really come together in a time of tragedy. All law enforcement agencies, first responders, and medical personnel quickly reacted to it and worked hard to be there for those affected. We all suffered deep loss on that day, and it was so great to see the community unite as one.” Since 1 October, many places around Vegas and institutions have done more than ever expected to remember the lives lost and forever changed on that day. At Foothill, the week of October 1-October 5 was designated as a week of respect, and many other schools across Clark County also set this week aside to remember the victims. The remembrance, however, happens all year long. Around the valley, we are reminded every day that we will remember 1 October, and that we are and always will be Vegas Strong.
Bottom Right: The crosses stand in a row in tribute to the victims of the Vegas shooting. “It was honestly really chilling to go down there and see the memorial,” said Hotwire photographer Leigh Quarles. “I had been wanting to go down there, and being able to go and pay my respects as well as see how the city had responded was amazing.” There are 58 crosses that still stand next to the Welcome to Las Vegas sign that are still visited by thousands of residents and tourists daily. Each cross is decorated with an American flag and are surrounded by flowers, candles, and letters. Photo by Leigh Quarles
October 2018
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Falcons back in action Wrangling spirit at the Hill Story by Kaylee Schwurack • Co-Editor Layout by Elly Davis • Co-Editor
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enior Conner Bryan stands at the foot of the student section at the first football game of the year. Looking out into the crowd, he sees hundreds of students participating in the game and having the kind of spirit the senior class has hoped for since freshman year. He starts getting the crowd riled up and leads them in another cheer. “We wanted to show how much more fun it is to be involved,” explained Bryan. “Last year, the only football games with a large student presence were the big games, and, even then, not too many people went. I thought we should strive to get every event hype with a lot of student support. Everyone has wanted to see more unity around all the events at our school, and this year, everyone is buying in and coming to all the games.” This year, students have seen an overwhelming change of spirit very early on. The student section, The Hilltown Posse, has been revived by the senior class and is better than ever before. This has led to a huge change in student spirit, and the first game saw an estimated 300 students in the student section. “I think the change in spirit has a lot to do with how the seniors have pushed the spirit,” said senior Allie Gonzales. “A lot of the younger October 2018
kids have just seen how fun it can be when you’re involved, and they wanted to do it too. The change this year has made it easier to enjoy the time we spend here. Student Council is also trying really hard to get kids involved, and all the new events and assemblies have made it a lot more fun to be spirited.” In years past, the student section has been non-existent. As a result, our school suffered with the lack of spirit that everyone wanted, and Student Body President Joey Pagan said that bringing back HTP was a matter of leading. “I think it was possible to bring it back because we, as leaders of HTP, showed our peers that we can be trusted to make our games hype, and they believed us,” said Pagan. “They started coming out to games and supporting, and it’s all thanks to the students of Foothill that the Hilltown Posse is great this year.” The Hilltown Posse is aspiring to bring even more spirit to the Hill this year, and hopes that this year will be the most spirited year we’ve had yet. Top photo: The student section gets wound up doing a roller coaster cheer during the first white out game of the year. Right: Members of HTP pose for a photo while holding up their spirit gear outside the bleachers at a football game.
Copper Cat Book Shop 157 W Horizon Ridge PKWY #170 Henderson, Nevada 89002 (702)567-2666 October 2018
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Hillside Hotwire • News
Don't tread on me An informative guide to rattlesnake safety By Zack Jackson • Staff Writer
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s fall draws closer, all kinds of animals will be out enjoying the autumn weather, including people. Animals that were mostly active at night due to the heat are out during the day, including rattlesnakes. They will be active all day, not just in the morning and evening when they are typically out and about. With this coming overlap of snake and human activity, it is important for you, the trail goer, to know how to be safe around these animals and to give them the respect they deserve. Rattlesnakes are most commonly encountered by hikers and trail goers when they are either stretched across or coiled up on the trail. In this situation, simply give the snake a lot of space and carefully walk around it. Five to ten feet of is enough in any situation. It might rattle, but it will only try to get away and find a safe place to hide. It never attempts to bite/harm you. During the day, rattlesnakes will most commonly be basking near rocky outcroppings, tucked away in shady crevices, resting in bushes, or moving to one of these locations. If the snake is moving, pause and let it continue on it’s way. If the snake is coiled up basking or resting, give it some space and either continue on your way, or if you’re not too freaked out by snakes, stop and observe it for a while. They are pretty cool animals. If by chance you are bitten, move away from the snake, remove jewelry/shoes from the bitten area, dial 911, and sit calmly with the bite area below the heart. Due to modern medicine, your chances of being ok are incredibly high. 1 in 50 million bites are fatal. Rattlesnakes, while potentially dangerous, really just want to remain unseen, and be left alone. When given space and respect, they are perfectly safe to be around. Stay safe, and enjoy the upcoming cooler weather. October 2018
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Harmless look-a-likes The Night Snake
Night snakes are a small snake that occurs throughout southern Nevada. They rarely exceed one foot in length and eat very small animals, usually invertebrates. These little guys pose no harm at all to people, and are very docile. They don’t seem to mind being held, and the only gripe I have with them is that they won’t stay still for photos. This one was encountered laying across a desert road at night, soaking up the warmth of the road. I moved it off the road, took pictures and let it go.
The Coachwhip
Coachwhips are very fast and energetic snakes, most commonly active during the day, specifically in the morning. They have been nicknamed the Red Racer snake because of their impressive speed. They usually have a reddish tinge and black markings on their collar. They range from a foot in length up to about four, sometimes five feet long. They can be confused for rattlesnakes due to their tan color patterns, but are much skinnier, longer and faster, not to mention missing a rattle. These too are harmless in terms of venom, though they will sometimes bite if picked up. This one was encountered on an early morning hike. I found it sitting perfectly still, basking in the sun. I took pics, and left it as I found it.
The Gopher Snake The gopher snake is the snake most frequently confused with rattlesnakes due to their habit of acting like them when threatened. They puff up, inflating with air, causing their head to flatten into the triangular shape attributed to rattlesnakes. They rattle their tail in leaf litter, (poorly) imitating the sound created by a rattlesnake. They range between two and five feet as adults, but babies and hatchlings are much smaller. The patterns on the gopher snake can be confused with those of a rattlesnake to the untrained eye, and they often rear back and hiss when threatened. They are completely harmless, possessing no venom, and like all snakes, will only retaliate if harassed. This one was encountered crossing the road at night. I moved it off the road, took pics and let it go. October 2018
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Millennials V.S. Gen Z
Two Generations, Two Different Stories
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By Jade Eary • Staff Writer
our whole life, you’ve probably thought that you were a millennial. Your family has probably joked about you being a lazy millennial, or you’ve probably talked about being a millennial with your friends one time or another. However, you would be very wrong. You are actually in the Gen Z generation. If you were born in the year 1995 through 2009, you are considered to be in the Gen Z or “Post-Millennial” generation. Generation Z includes the last letter of the alphabet, which seems fitting because Gen Z is the last generation of the 1900s. The next generation starts over in the new century and is being coined as “Generation Alpha.” Millennials and Gen Z are mistakenly grouped together as the same generation. However, they have subtle differences that set them apart from each other. An example of one of these differences is that, while
millennials grew up during the birth of technological innovation, Gen Z kids have been fully immersed in the advanced age of iPhones, 3D movies and other devices. This has made Gen Z less patient than millennials when it comes to dealing with technological problems. And contrary to popular belief, millennials are the ones who prefer online shopping and buying name brands, not Gen Z kids. The Gen Z generation tends to value experience and independence more than the previous generation, which shows in the way they shop and dress. While millennials and Gen Z kids are alike in many ways (since there is no gap between the generations), there is a slight and subtle difference between the two that increases as the years goes by.
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n terms of what sets [the two generations] apart right now? It’s just maturity,” said social studies teacher Mr. Robert Laas. He believes that once the Gen Z generation grows up to be the same age as the millennials, they’ll be very similar in mannerisms and personality.
Millennials: • Tend to prefer collaborating with others to complete a project • More likely to share personal info • 67% believe their life is full of purpose compared to 53% of GenZ • Less likely to be addicted to their digital devices
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llie Welch, a Gen Z, wasn’t aware of the two different generations. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard the words Gen Z before. I always hear the word ‘millennial’ when someone is talking about generations, and ‘baby boomers’ sometimes, but not ‘Gen Z.’”
Generation Z • Holds individuality as a higher priority • More frugal than millennials • Crave more independent work situations • Most diverse generation • More stressed
October 2018
October 2018
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Boys’ Soccer Wins- Two Losses- Six Tie- One
“We started out a little rocky in the beginning of the season, but we are getting better. We do not have the best season score, but we are going to regionals, so that says something about our coaching staff. We will see what happens at the end of the season,“ said Ryan Bellingheri.
Tennis Boys: Wins- Eight Losses- Seven Girls: Wins-Eleven Losses- Five
“Our season actually just ended! The only thing we have left is individuals at Darling Tennis Center. We made it to the Quarter finals, which is amazing. I’m so proud of my team and how we played this year,” said Emma Grant.
Girls’ Volleyball Wins- Seven Losses- Fourteen
“I think our season has been going well! We have a lot of young players, but I think we’re all working together really well,” said Brooke Bykowski.
October 2018
Girls’ Soccer Wins- Four Losses- Two Tie- Two
“Our girls have really been pushing at practice in order to compete with the teams in our region. There are some teams that have been tough to go up against, but we have pushed through,“ said Brooke Voukon.
Cross Country “The season kicked off with a great start. We all have our individual strengths. Personally, while I am running, I try to zone out a little but still stay focused on running the fastest I can. When I am focused, I feel like I am working harder and running faster,” said Brynn Olsen.
Girls’ Golf “Our team really progressed this season,” said Ava Klubnik “Medina McCallister, one of my teammates, actually made it to regionals this year. Golf is a very competitive sport, so it makes it a really fun sport to learn. Our coach mostly focuses on the driver because it tends to make the most difference in the game.”