The Pack - Vol. 21, Issue 4

the pack The Student Voice of Monarch High School

Monarch’s Updates For better and for worse

329 Campus Dr.│Louisville, Colorado│ 80027 Volume 21 Issue 4 November 2018

&

GOOD GOOD BAD BAD UGLY UGLY

Our rating on Monarch’s updates

By Haley Breit and Lincoln Roch

Desk Chairs:

Purpose: It was rare to find a not cracked, woolly, or harmful chair at MHS before the renovations. These new chairs were meant to put the arch support back in Monarch High School.

Experience: My hair doesn’t get stuck in the chairs anymore because there isn’t any metal on them. Who knew you could make life easier just by getting new chairs?

Rating: 10/10. Truly an amazing use

(Always) Standing Desks:

of tax money. We couldn’t find anything

Purpose: These desks were selected so that

wrong with these chairs.

students wouldn’t be stuck in a seat seven periods a day.

Experience: Because of faulty hydraulics, students have to aggressively sit, push on and, occasionly, put other students on the desks in order to push them down. These are slowly being repaired, and they all should be operational after Thanksgiving Break.

Rating: 2/10. Although an innovative idea, in reality they are just a problem.

Concrete Floors: Purpose: After twenty years, the smell of the halls last year showed how badly we needed new floors.

Experience: Not only do the new floors add to the penitentiary look of the school, but a trip on the concrete is going to hurt.

Rating: 6/10. The smell and stains are gone (for now), but I’m not looking forward to the slipping and sliding after snows and rains.

Teacher Microphones:

Purpose: For the students in the back and the hearing impaired, these microphones bring the teacher’s voice to the whole classroom.

Experience: This system definitely makes it easier to hear the teacher. Not just their lectures, but their lunches, too.

My fifth period teacher forgets to turn her mic off while eating salad.

Rating: 8/10. Although the eating sounds make us uncomfortable, the mics really help when taking notes.

J-Lot:

Purpose: The original J-Lot was a dirt area. When it rained, J-Lot turned into a lake. Cars got stuck and shoes became covered in mud. Paving J-Lot was part of the renovations for safety reasons.

Experience: The seniors believe the dirt J-Lot was a right of passage. The underclassmen believe they deserve a paved J-Lot. Rate: 7/10. The new and improved J-Lot was bound to come at some point; this was just the year they chose.

The problem is, about 40 parking spots were removed during the paving, which results in fewer students being able to park on campus.

TEA TIME WITH

MR. A.

Principal Anderson spills the hot gossip of Monarch High School Why did freshmen receive chromebooks?

“BVSD has an initiative called One to Web. It tries to eliminate the technology divide between schools and households. We didn’t want families to buy a computer now and then have to buy another for college. So, we decided on something that would suffice for their education now at a relatively inexpensive rate of $45 a year, which we could work around with families if it became a hardship. Going across the board with a chromebook for all, it addressed a lot of the concerns.”

You used to be a swim coach… do you miss it?

Why did you bring back tailgating?

“I do what I do because I loved being a

“The head boy and head girl came to me

teacher in the classroom, and I loved

and said, ‘We’d like to bring tailgates

coaching. So, I’d be lying to you if I said I

back, and here are some ideas to ensure

didn’t miss coaching. I get my fix by being

it’s going to be safe for everyone.’ So,

able to go watch games, but it’s just not the

we all went to Centaurus and discussed

same. I miss that dynamic. That’s why I

what it’s going to look like and sound

wanted to come back and become a princi-

like. That was important to me because

pal because at some points I can still have

the students took ownership to increase

the feeling of coaching, be it the students or

and establish an environment that was

the staff or sometimes even the parents.”

safe, productive, and positive.”

Chromebooks: Purpose: These are designed to be a relatively cheap solution to the intersection of technology and education. Students pay a fee once a year instead of shelling out big bucks for the latest MacBook.

Experience: Freshmen seem to not mind the chromebooks, and teachers like the app that keeps you from opening other tabs during tests (sorry, US Gov students).

Rating: 9/10. If freshmen and teachers like them, then they’re probably working just fine.

Q&A with Steve & Roxy

Campus security answers your questions What did you do before coming to Monarch?

Steve: “I was a special agent in the Department of Justice for 21 years and was a military police officer in the Air Force. I have a young son, and this job gave me the flexibility to get holidays off and not have to work twelve months a year.”

Roxy: “I’ve done security most of my life, mostly at big companies like UPS.”

What is the most annoying thing students do?

Steve: “Watching the same kid make the same mistakes over and over. In high school, they get more freedom, and they don’t really know how to handle it, and it’s hard to watch.”

Roxy: “Vaping. Definitely all the students vaping.”

What is your favorite thing about Monarch?

Steve: “I love seeing the kids work hard to achieve goals that they set forth, whether it’s academics or athletics. I love seeing them from their first day to their senior year and the development in each kid.”

Roxy: “The students because a lot of the kids are good. I’ve developed really good relationships with a lot of them, and I get to see them grow.”

Have any sudents made an impact in your life?

Steve: “The seniors this year were freshmen when I started, and watching those kids develop has been great, like being able to see those tiny freshman become 6’4” and really good athletes.

That’s been great to watch.”

Roxy: “The special needs kids. I love watching them do and accomplish things. I just really love them.”

What is the funniest excuse you’ve gotten from a kid you caught doing something?

What The Fob? WHEN AND WHERE

Main Doors 6:45 - 3:30 (Monday - Friday) Internal Wood Doors 6:45 - 3:30 (Monday - Friday) Student Center Doors 7:00 - 3:30 (Monday - Friday) Bus Loop Doors 7:00 - 7:40 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) 10:45 - 11:00 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) 7:00 - 11:00 (Wednesday) 3:00 - 3:30 (Monday - Friday) A Wing Doors 7:00 - 7:40 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) 7:00 - 9:30 (Wednesday) 3:00 - 3:30 (Monday - Friday) Gym Entrance 7:00 - 7:40 (Monday - Friday)

Steve: “We have a really great drama program at Monarch. Some of the kids we deal with should be recommended to Doc. Their body motions and facial expressions are the funniest things we’ve ever seen.”

Roxy: “When we bust kids and they deny it or say, “Oh, that’s not mine,” as they hold it in their hands.”

WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR FOB

Was there a specific time when you realized how important your job is?

2nd Go to Treasurer

Steve: “The history of schools, and the culture we live in, it’s unfortunate, but you need people like Jim, Roxy, and myself in schools. Our job is for you to come into the school safe and leave safe.”

Roxy: “The very first day.”

1st Report it to registrar

and pay a $10 replacement fee

3rd Bring receipt to registrar and have a new fob printed