Vol. 19 - No. 1

THE HOWLER OCTOBER ISSUE 2016

MONARCH HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. 19 - NO. 1

THE BIG 3 THE POWER OF MAKEUP 14-15 STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE 18-19

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HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN 20-21 A DIFFERENT ERA, A DIFFERENT STORY 12-13

Justin’s proudly supports Monarch High School www.justins.com 02 www.mhshowler.com

October 2016 - Issue 1 FEATURES Brought Together 6 Big Role Models 7 What Would You Do As President?

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CULTURE A Blast From the Past 3 The Art of VSCO 22 More Than a Handprint Turkey 23 Fall/Winter Movie Guide 26 Frank Ocean Album Review 27

OPINIONS Standard School Style 5 Staff Editorial: Off-Campus Passes 10 Our Generation on Politics 11 Louisville Rec & A World WIthout Sports Fans 28

SPORTS A Day With An Athlete: Anna Prior & The Start of Something New 8 Gradthletes 25 Introducing Girls’ Rugby 29

NEWS Monarch FRCC 24 cover photo by andrew patra

Dear Reader, I’m sure you’ve noticed something different here. The Howler that you knew is somehow smaller, on different paper, and in full color.

Don’t worry-- it kinda blew my mind too.

My name is Andrew Patra and I am this year’s Editor-in-Chief.

Maybe you’ve seen me running around the floor at a pep assembly, or walking around the halls with a camera in hand. I’ve always been a person who looks to the visual side of life, the snapshots of what makes us human. Those snapshots are why we transitioned to this magazine.

The way we consume what happens in our world is changing in this new digital and visual age. Words don’t draw people in the way art does. Designers, photographers, and yes, writers, all came together to create this 32 page piece of art. It’s a collection of photographs, taken from the rawest perspective of high school life, pages designed from the minds of your peers, and words that reflect the experiences of everyone who picks up an issue.

This new magazine is a reflection of us, not as a staff but as a school, the physical expression of what it means to be a Monarch Coyote. Between us, here on the paper, our website, and the Mosaic Yearbook, we strive to tell the stories that live between these walls. We tell these stories because they matter to us as students, staff, family, friends, and even rivals. We tell these stories in full color because we aren’t black and white. We tell these stories to prove that there are people who give a damn.

I invite you to be a part of this narrative. I invite you to be a part of what we do. There are plenty of ways for you to do so, from dropping a like on one of our social media posts to submitting your own pieces.

Everyone has a voice in this world, we just have to make sure that it is heard.

So welcome to this new era of The Howler and I hope that you will enjoy reading it just as much as we do making it.

Cheers Andrew Patra/Editor-in-Chief

photo by andrew patra

Guest Writers A Few of My Favorite Books/Jessica Nieusma 27 Election: Louisville Rec/Kaylix McClure 28 Fiction: Captain Tory/Sophia Bergman 30

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Culture

PLAYLIST

Here’s a playlist featuring old tunes as well as current ones. It’s a mix of vintage and new, just like the lovely ladies we interviewed. Music inspires the way they dress, as well as the different eras of the past.

BLAST FROM THE PAST Junior Tana Lower (above) wears nineties fashion trends on a sunny autumn day. Photo by Madeleine Rumbach

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ostalgia for the past era of bell bottom jeans and grunge is more alive than ever. The new fashion trend includes a lot of rummaging through what parents wore in high school almost thirty years ago. The old crazes and styles of the decades are just as prevalent now as they were in their time.

People now combine different eras of fashion together to create the perfect outfit.

“I have some bell bottom jeans and I think a lot of nineties fashion is resurfacing, the cardigan and all,” said senior Sarah McCauley.

Many people now opt for vintage and thrifted clothes over name brand stores.

Thrift shopping is popular because shoppers can find unique, classic clothes at low prices.

They give fashion lovers a way to expand their closets with trends from the past decades without breaking the bank. “...You go to the mall and you look at one shirt, it’s probably like $25 or something maybe more. And then you go to a thrift store and find a nice looking shirt you like a lot [and] it’s like $3-5,” said junior Tana Lower. “It’s a big difference. You can save money and find unique things you can’t find anywhere else.”

Along with retro fashion trends, classic music has been revived. More and more people are listening to the nostalgic sounds of Led Zeppelin or Duran Duran. The music of today and the past strongly influences the way many people dress. “[My style is] definitely influenced by the 1960’s and 70’s but meets Boulder,” said senior Izzy Ruscitti.

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Right now, teenagers wear and listen to the same things that their parents did in high school. In 2040 will the next generation be listening to vintage Miley Cyrus and wearing skinny jeans? Will they look back on the 2010s and tell themselves that they were born in the wrong generation? Trends off all kind have an expiration date, but just in case keep those skinny jeans and converse in your closet because they’ll probably be cool again in a few decades.

-Carmen Harris/Culture Editor Madeleine Rumbach/Staff Reporter

Seniors Maggie Griffin (below), Izzy Ruscitti (right), and Sarah McCauley (bottom right) show off their vintage inspired fashion. Photos by Madeleine Rumbach

“Mirror of Time”- Twin Peaks “Tangerine”- Led Zeppelin “Rich Girl”- Hall and Oates “Rainy Day, Dream Away”- Jimi Hendrix “One Million Lovers”- The Growlers “Fortunate Son”- Creedence Clearwater Revival “Play the Game”- Queen “Roll Away the Stone”- Mott the Hoople “Strange”- Patsy Cline “Sunglasses at Night”- Corey Hart “Strawberry Fields Forever”- The Beatles

Opinions

STANDARD SCHOOL STYLE Students and teachers voice their opinions on the school dress code

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n the Student Handbook, it clearly states that the “School Dress Guidelines balance rights of expression with the entitlement of every student and adult at MHS to inhabit a work environment that promotes mental health, a harassment-free social life, and that encourages academic progress and participation without unreasonable distractions.”

Overall, the dress code is there to advocate for free expression among all kids and adults without causing major disturbances to the learning environment.

Some people think the dress code is only geared towards the students. “I do not believe that the dress code is as necessary for teachers,” senior Devon Hudiburg said.

“For teachers, it is their job and their livelihood.

They are professionals and [should] dress appropriately to display that.” As for other students like senior Ashley Childre, some believe in more equality. “If students are supposed to follow specific sets of rules, the teachers should, too,” Childre said.

But what about the teachers? Math teacher Kimberly Palomaa states that there is a fine line between what is and isn’t okay for students and teachers to wear. “For the most part, if teachers were to show up in some of the same clothing items that our students dress in, that would be considered highly inappropriate, and necessary measures would be taken to correct that.” Most people would say that, because the teachers are working, it is important to keep it classy. Social studies teacher Geoffrey Findley concluded that, when it comes to teachers and what they

wear “there is something to be said about a level of professionalism.”

Because the dress code is established for the learning environment, it poses the question: can clothing really distract students in a classroom setting?

“The biggest thing I’ve heard for “distractions” in the classroom always have women as the perpetrator,” Hudiburg said.“Many people claim that if a girl is... showing too much skin she is distracting her fellow classmates from their learning. This, in my personal opinion, is the wrong way to go…

Nobody is responsible for anyone else’s actions and saying so to a young girl, is putting unfair blame on her;” Hudiburg said.

On the other hand, some think that students should put clothing aside, as it is not important or distracting to the school surroundings.

“I don’t really think that clothes affect the environment…,” Childre said. “The whole point of being there is to learn and if clothes are distracting, it’s because they are extreme.”

One of the main points people make about any kind of dress code is that it impedes self-expression. It is essential for students to be able to express who they are through their own personal styles, but if those fashion statements show to be inappropriate, it is no longer about their freedom of appearance.

there are appropriate versus not appropriate clothing items for members of all parties.”

There is a time and place for everything, and sometimes that isn’t school.

“You should be able to express yourself,” Findley said, “but there are certain times and places where you can be more expressive than in other situations.”

Reading the exact words from the Student Handbook, Hudiburg concludes that, “Given its flaws, the dress code does allow more than enough room for any kind of self-expression and [self-expression] is even encouraged.”

The whole point of the dress code is to allow free expression while also making sure appropriateness is encouraged.

Even though the school dress code presents some questions and disagreements, it is there for the well-being of each student and staff member at the school. There is still room for self-expression in a classroom, but it is always important to remember that a school is a place for learning and to keep it professional.

- Emma Baziuk/Staff Reporter - illustrations by Mandy Matteson

“Obviously I understand students wanting to express themselves freely through their clothing,” Palomaa said, “but I think the same thing could be said regardless of gender or sex, that

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Features

BROUGHT TOGETHER BY ONE CLASS Unified P.E.: Drawing students from different backgrounds

The Unified P.E. class poses after class. Photo by Ian Fowels

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here are endless numbers of students not directly related to the programs that are related to the Special Education department and sports Special Education department at special needs area to have a chance to Monarch, but one that really connects help and interact with the students with students from various backgrounds to special needs and a sports impairment, come together is the Unified Physical and serve as a mentor for them. It also Education class. can help the students serving as a mentor The course is created for a student understand how to interact with a student with a “special sports with an impairment or “It teaches really good need” according to special need, which sportsmanship and both many agree is an BVSD.org, and the teams cheer for each class is adapted so the important life skill. student can get an It’s a semester long other.” athletic education with class that students can - Julie Marcus a style of learning that is take as many times as able to work for them. desired. That’s just The class is extremely individualized, what senior Julie Marcus did. Marcus first making it so a student with a special had an interest in Unified P.E. because of sports need is able to work on their a relative who has severe autism. Autism certain impairment.It also gives students is a mental condition that causes difficulty a chance to participate in an activity of for a child to communicate and form interest in a safe environment. relationships with others. This condition “It shows working with each other and is usually found at a young age. Marcus different abilities and capabilities,” said decided to join Unified PE her junior year P.E. teacher Jennifer Dickson. and couldn’t help but take it again her Sophomore Ayla Goodman said senior year.

“Playing sports with [fellow students]” “I’ve learned a lot more about and “ having a good time with them” is disabilities [and impairments] and the one of the greatest parts of this course. characteristics and how they form,” She highly recommend other students Marcus said. partake in the PE. She agrees that she has definitely This class is also a great way for gotten better and more developed by

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learning how to best communicate with the students.

“The class is not super competitive and it teaches really good sportsmanship and both teams cheer for each other,” said Marcus.

Senior Saige Blackstad also is a member of the class and a huge fan.

“Julie got me pretty involved in it and we started sitting at lunch and I just really wanted to work with [special education students] more and have fun with them,” Blackstad said.

A common consensus between Marcus and Blackstad was that they really loved working with the students and getting to know and form a friendship with them while being in a mentoring position.

- Anna Wexler & Ian Fowles Staff Writers

Attention writers, poets, artists, photographers, and playwrights: The Writers Society is accepting submission to the literary magazine!

We accept short stories, poems, art, photography, plays, essays, reflections, and more. Submit to mhswriters@gmail.com.

Features

BIG BROTHER, BIG SISTER, BIG

ROLE MODEL

Older siblings help us in many ways every day

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ole models influence everything from how we view the world to how we act and sometimes even how we dress. Our role models help us through hard times and times when we may feel lost.

Family members may have the greatest impact on our lives. Not only do we get traits directly from them, but being in their presence affects the way we think and act. We often want to grow up to be just like our role models. Older siblings make great role models because we will eventually go through the same things as them, and they can offer great advice on how to handle it. When we see that what we are going through is normal, we tend to look up to people who have gone through it in admiration and respect.

“My brother Trevor Isaacson, he is a senior here. He is a role model to me because he’s so caring and very driven, always positive, understanding,” sophomore Cora Isaacson said.

Older siblings make especially great role models because they are close to us and always around.

“He is always there if I need a second opinion or someone to talk to,” Isaacson said.

We look to our role models with our happiness, anger, and tears. “[Trevor] is always there if I need… a shoulder to cry on,” Isaacson said.

More than one of our classmates see their older siblings as role models.

“When [Deshae] was in school she wasn’t a very popular person, but she was really nice and she had really good grades. I looked up to her because I wanted to copy her and what she was doing… She was very successful,” freshmen Manderley Gehr said.

Our siblings know exactly what to say to help us get through life because they have done it all before. “[Deshae] gives me advice all the time… pretty much my whole family has

been advanced in math, but I’m not. She gave me a quote saying… ‘no matter what you do, you’re always smart,’” Gehr said.

Siblings also make great role models because they are there at all points of our live, from when we were born to where we are right now.

“Having a lot of brothers, it was nice to have a sister. She was my only sister out of six brothers. It was nice to have her around and help me through having so many brothers,” Gehr said.

Older siblings may be some of the best role models, but why does the world need role models in the first place?

Role models are essential in the world, especially in today’s society. With social media erupting all around the globe we need a guiding hand to steer us in the right direction.

“Usually people rely on others, and if you don’t rely on others, the world would kind of be incomplete. Nobody would really know what to do without the leaders,” Gehr said.

The role models of the world are also the leaders of the world.

“The world needs role models so we can always better ourselves and always have something to look up to and to strive for. Say ‘I wanna be like them’ and have goals. We need role models so that we have someone to look up to and someone to help motivate us,” Isaacson said.

Role models are very present today, and they are closer to us us than we think.

Next time you are seeking advice, try your older sibling, they may have more to say then you would expect.

Cora and Trevor Issacson as babies. Photo courtesy of the Issacson family.

Trevor and Cora Issacson as children. Photo courtesy of the Issacson family.

- Ellie Guanella/Staff Reporter The Gehr sisters together. Photo courtesy of the Gehr family.

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Sports

A DAY IN THE LIFE: ANNA PRIOR A true Reniassance woman

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ver had a really packed day and gone home absolutely exhausted?

That’s every day for senior Anna Prior. Her day is jam-packed, filled with a busy schedule of challenging classes at school only to be topped off with a volleyball game after. For Prior, 12 hour days are no big deal.

“Calc AB is definitely the hardest class of my day,” Prior said. She wakes up at the crack of dawn every day, 6 o’clock, only to be greeted by Calculus AB as her first period. The challenging class taught by Phil Grace is a tough one-- ask anyone that’s ever taken it. The rest of her day is filled with similarly challenging classes.

She spends her lunch in the theatre hallway where she volunteers her time to assist with any technical help the show needs.

Prior’s final class of the day is Choir. Choir has been a big part of her life since the fifth grade. This

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year Prior was elected onto the Choir Council where she spends her Wednesday mornings brainstorming fundraising ideas to help support the program and also works on organizing upcoming concerts. On top of Choir Council, Anna is also the section leader for the sopranos.

The first choir concert this year was October 10 which made Anna’s already hectic day a little more crazy.

After a day like this any person would be mentally drained, but not Prior. After school she leaves for a quick minute to grab food to give her the required energy to play volleyball for the next few hours. She has been playing Volleyball since eighth grade and hopes to play intramural volleyball in college. Before games she hangs out with her team mates and watches the JV volleyball game.

“The team is like a family,” Prior said.

This is the first year with new Coach Dixon coaching the team.

Dixon described Prior, “ She is such a great person and volleyball players.

She had really stepped up this season, as co-captain, on and off the court.

She’s a natural leader in everything she does.” Her position is right side and she acts as the powerhouse of the team, blocking hits and hitting balls for the next couple hours. Most nights she doesn’t get home till 8:30, and by then she has to start her homework to prepare for the next day, when she starts it all over again.

Prior is truly a renaissance woman, putting in the work on and off the

court. She works hard during the day so she can relish in her hard work by playing with her team at night.

- Estelle Silk/Staff Reporter

Above: Prior leaps up at the net to block the ball photos courtesy of elizabeth danekind

Features

IF I WERE PRESIDENT...

Are citizens commander-in-chief ready?

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eing a president may seem like the Sophomore Ethan Wearner, argues most amazing profession that one otherwise. “It’s too idealistic for a couple of reasons. Number one, professors of could possibly have, but hardly anyone the highest quality would not be paid realizes the countless responsibilities enough, and number two, taxes would that come with being a commanderin-chief. On many occasions, people increase by a lot. It brings a burden down on people, and you wouldn’t get the best have demanded countless things of education,” Wearner said. the president without knowing what In order to connect with their he or she could or could not do. Were supporters (and reach out to nontheir demands idealistic? Were their accusations valid? Could they take on the supporters), candidates campaign.

This includes putting out television ads, job of being president themselves? making signs, and presenting speeches.

Most candidates have a main goal in Nowadays, candidates try their best to mind that drives their campaign. One of Hillary Clinton’s is to break down barriers appear relatable to the voting public by having a presence on social media and that hinder opportunities for women, joining in on popular trends. and one of Trump’s is to bring back “I would use the media more than manufacturing jobs. What would students anything else. In our times, television and prioritize as president?

“My primary goal is to improve foreign social media is extremely influential, even more so than newspapers,” Martin said. relations with developing countries and While claiming to be honest, most improve minority relations with law candidates lie once in awhile to negotiate enforcement.” junior Zoe Woods said. a foreign deal or even to get citizens “My goal is to cause problems in to vote for them. Truth can often be society, not fix them,” junior Madison perceived as dishonesty (and vice versa), Reddick said. and this is the root cause of many forms A common topic posed to the of slander and other presidential candidates is the “The only way America forms of defamation.

“My campaign notion of college will advance is through would be focused on tuition. Why? It is educating the public. It honesty, though I’m well known that college education would encourage today’s sure every president the history of the means better youth to make an active US has said that. paying jobs. Some contribution to our Campaign promises people do not go are extremely to college because society.” frustrating to me they can’t afford it.

Brenna Martin because candidates Tuition alone is at a do not consider what actually can be whopping average $23,893 for students achieved in office,” Woods said. who are planning to go out of state. So Being tactful and diplomatic is a core should education past high school be part of being a politician, let alone a free? Junior Brenna Martin thinks so. president. Many candidates agree that “The only way America will advance although honesty is important, diplomacy is through educating the public. It would is usually the way to go to get the job encourage today’s youth to make an done and avoid ruffling feathers. active contribution to our society,” “The truth could hurt America’s Martin said.

“I wouldn’t put signs in everyone’s front yard. I would try to do something where I act serious, but I wouldn’t try to act like a politician who only wants the votes and not the people. I would make my campaign all about the people,” Ethan Wearner said. photo by Sneha Varanasi.

reputation and destroy chances at foreign relationships,” Martin said.

“Being honest to yourself and your country is important. Being diplomatic with your allies and enemies are equally as important,” Wearner said.

Despite its benefits, diplomacy often covers the entire truth. Politicians are so used to stretching the truth that it often just becomes a lie. The citizens are often at a loss of who to trust.

Although some people claim that they could be President if they wanted to, that usually isn’t the case. But after interviewing Monarch students, we know that at least some people are ready for the presidency.

- Sneha Varanasi/Staff Writer

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Opinions

STAFF EDITORIAL: WHAT ABOUT THE UNDERCLASSMEN? Should Off-Campus Passes Be Given to Freshmen and Sophomores?

photo illustration by Levi Wood

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big part of the high school experience is the freedom that comes with having an off-campus pass. This ability to venture off campus for lunches opens up a whole new world of connecting with friends, experiencing independence from school, or even just spending money. There is a lot to be gained from an off-campus pass, but the catch is that the passes are only offered to juniors and seniors. So what’s the big deal?

Why can’t sophomores and freshmen obtain such a power, and would it really make a difference ?

Off-campus passes are currently only availabe to juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 2.0, however, it was not always this way. “When we first opened up 19 years ago we only had freshmen and sophomores and there wasn’t really anything built, so there wasn’t anywhere kids could go anyway. So when the school opened we opened it as a closed campus,” Director Mark Sibley said. Circumstances changed when “we eventually got our four [grade levels], the conversation became modified closed campus because we knew we couldn’t have a completely closed campus because our cafeteria couldn’t handle that sort of volume,” Sibley said.

Along with not having the capacity for the amount of students attending, it is also an

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academic issue. Freshmen and sophomores are new to the high school experience.

Having to juggle seven classes alone is hard to manage, but going off campus could also affect how well they do academically. “We have far fewer Ds and Fs in our freshmen and sophomores than anyone in the district.

It results in better attendance and better grades,” Sibley said. Monarch is one of the few schools who have a modified closed campus in the district which has a correlation to the Monarch’s freshmen and sophomore academic success.

Initially, The Howler believed that granting freshmen and sophomores the power to go off campus during lunches would actually benefit the school. It would allow freshmen and sophomores to bond with the seniors and juniors, strengthening our connection as a community. This way seniors and juniors would view freshmen and sophomores less as underclassmen and more as classmates.

Along with this, restricting the pass to only be obtainable by seniors and juniors has led to the underground smuggling, if you will, of students. It becomes a safety hazard when students are hiding in the back of cars or sneaking around the rear of the school to go off campus. Allowing freshmen and sophomores to go off campus would conceptually eliminate this problem, but it

could also affect student academics Despite the possible benefits from offering the entire school to be an open campus, The Howler staff agrees that it would not be the best decision considering that most sophomores and freshmen cannot go off campus anyway and when it comes to bonding as a community, there are other ways to address that other than making the school an open campus. It is the duty of the students to analyze and criticize the rules of the school; whether there is a change to come from the criticisms or not, it acts as a reminder for the justification of them being in place.

-Howler Staff

What is a Staff Editorial?

An editorial is written to represent the magazine’s view on an issue. Since it is written from the perspective of the whole staff, it is not signed or specifically written by any person.

An editorial piece builds on an argument to influence public opinion, stimulate critical thinking and possibly affect the actions of readers.

Opinions

OUR GENERATION ON POLITICS A

new chapter is opening for the American people. According to the Pew Research Center, this will be the first election in which the millennial voters are equal to the amount of baby boomers voting. Candidates have forced voters to come face to face with issues like government and border security, resisting climate disaster, immigration restrictions, voter rights and more.There is a rising political movement led by the younger generation demanding a new political outlook.

According to Pew Research Center analysis, voter turnout for millennials in the last election was only about 46%, which leaves 54% of millennials who are not voting. In 2012 voters between the age of 18-29 represented 19 percent of the electorate, which is half of the Baby Boomers’ share. The effect this has had in the recent years is only expected: politics have favored the needs of Baby Boomers.

“It’s important for us to be involved because we are the future of politics and will be making the decisions for future generations,” said freshman Julia Mainland.

According to the Office Management of Budget, National Priorities Project, of a 3.8 trillion dollar federal budget, $1.28 trillion is spent on Social Security, $1.05 trillion is spent on Medicare and health including the Affordable Care Act, $609.3 billion is spent on military,

$102.3 billion is spent on education and down the list only $44.9 billion is spent on energy and environment. Retirement plans and social security are dominating the federal budget, leaving little room for education, environment, space exploration and so on.

I went out to Andrew Buhse’s fifth period class to observe a discussion about their take on our Federal budget. “We shouldn’t be spending as much money on older citizens because they’re done working,” freshman John Recchia said while someone in the back row shouted, “We should be spending more money on our future and education.” It’s interesting to note that although these same students will mostly be graduated by the time they are able to vote, they still demand more funding to go towards education. One would assume that once a student graduates high school they just want to forget about it, but having experienced the flaws in the education system, it is easy to have sympathy for those who have not yet graduated and although money is not the simple solution, it is certainly a big step.

Voter education is important and technology has made it easier to obtain information about candidates. It is also a tool to fact check and advertise. “We get to see so much more of the political candidates’ lives.

We get to see both their personal lives and what they say on television,” said freshman Fearnside Zelie. It makes the selection process much easier for voters because there are tools like Google, Wikipedia and so much more to enhance voter education about political issues, candidates and propositions.

Despite being in the age of information, it is still easy, especially for lowinformation voters, to simply look at the surface level

of issues without truly understanding the many possible complications.

“I think [millennials are voting] more so on the party lines.

They like Bernie just because he’s offering free college without thinking, yea we can have free college but we will have to pay 30 trillion dollars in taxes back,” said junior Michael Katona, who sides strongly with the Republican party.

If millennials continue to have a low voter turnout, it is going to be the older citizens deciding what the future will look like for them, and not for the younger populations.

The future is in the hands of the youth, and in order to preserve our political process there need to be consistent participants. Despite the voting age being 18, there are still opportunities for the underage to be politically involved. “I can’t vote, so I’m going to campaign.

I’ve looked into volunteering for conservative campaigns in the area. I follow the news, I follow the Trump campaign.

So, yes, there definitely are [opportunities for the youth to participate]; you just have to do a little research,” Katona said.

- Levi Wood/Opinions Editor photos: Gage Skidmore

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Features

A DIFFERENT ERA, A DIFFERENT STORY Teachers’ High School Experiences

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tudents sometimes forget that teachers went to high school like we do and all their stories are very different from each other’s with a wide variety of experiences. Some went to high school outside of the U.S. and some went to high school in the U.S., right here in Colorado.

They carried with them their most memorable high school experiences to share with us.

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rincipal Jerry Anderson used her high school experience to help her in her goal to make our school the best it can be, as she wants to be as involved in school events as she can.

Anderson attended George Washington High School in Denver, Colorado from 1976 - 1978, when many things were different.

“My high school was very diverse.

I had 800 people in my class. We had a choice of three different start times.

I always went as early as possible and often caught the bus in the dark.

There was forced integration for bussing and my neighborhood kids were assigned to schools by race, not by our physical address,” said Anderson.

Anderson’s school also had strong school spirit. Among her favorite memories from high school were the sporting events, where everybody was excited and yelling all over the place.

“We had so much school spirit that you could not talk to the person next to you. I often left with my ears ringing!” Anderson said.

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Jerry Anderson (top left) and her track team at George Washington High School during junior year. Photo courtesy of Jerry Anderson.

“Kids were assigned to schools by race, not by our physical address.”

- Jerry Anderson

Keith Mainland’s school photo at thirteen years old. Photo courtesy of Keith Mainland.

ocial Studies teacher Keith Mainland went to school in England, where traditions are a little different compared to the U.S. For one, they had to wear school uniform and because of that, their school spirit is very different from ours. We’re loud and excited, yelling across the gym to encourage the people in our grades in competitions. In England, didn’t have pep assemblies.

“Spirit, it was different. It was more ingrained. Everyone’s wearing uniforms, we all look alike. You’re wearing school colors all the time, rather than a MoHi Friday.

Everyone’s in school colors. We don’t have dances like that the way they do here, you know, Prom.

Nothing like that,” Mainland said.

High schools in England also don’t have extra curricular activities so school sponsored sports are not a thing. Instead, if students wanted to play a sport, they would have to join a club. Joining the clubs around the community would be the only way to be on a sports team.

“There were no high school sports. People don’t play high school sports in England. If you’re playing sports, 90 percent of them are club-oriented. So you’re playing outside of the school. No one goes and watches school sports,” Mainland said.

Features together, the same group of people who are still best friends. That’s the best because we used to spend ten hours a day together, at least, because the system in Morocco, everyone, you stay in the same classroom all day. You don’t switch classrooms. The teachers will switch the classes, not the students. So we are Redouan Bouchta (far right) in Tetouan, Morocco together for the whole year. with his study group for IB exam during senior year.

Some of us for seven years, Photo coutesy of Redouan Bouchta. every year we are together. And rabic and Spanish teacher we built very, very good relationships Redouan Bouchta received quite ‘cause we are together in school, the culture shock when he began when we go out of school. We are teaching high school in the U.S. In all together. So those are friends are Morocco, school culture is quite still friends, [and] are still my best similar to school in Europe. Students friends,” Bouchta said. had to wear uniforms, and there were no extra curricular activities panish and French teacher Jenifer to participate in. High school in Farrell went to school in the U.S. Morocco lasts for seven years, as at Alameda High School in Lakewood, opposed to the four years students CO, but she also explored France are required to attend in the U.S. after she graduated high school.

There was also no middle school in Farrell was involved in many different Morocco. clubs and organizations, A student such as Newspaper and would attend Cycling Club. Being elementary part of the clubs was school and go one of Farrell’s favorite straight to high memories. school; there “One thing that I did is no transition that was really different zone. Bouchta in high school was that I does not view was Vice President of the this as a bad Cycling Club. We would thing, as he ride our bikes from the Jenifer Farrell made some of parking lot in Lakewood, his best friends and [we once] rode our over those seven years, from grades bikes to Taos, New Mexico. So we six to 12. rode over four mountain passes and “[My favorite memory of high we camped out four nights along the school was] being with my friends. way. That was a really cool experience The friends I had in high school, that I think kids now don’t have the we’re still friends till today. After opportunity to have.”

40-something years, we’re still After she had graduated high 13 www.mhshowler.com

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school, Farrell went to France as an exchange student. On the way over, she thought of all the clubs and extracurriculars that she would join.

“I spent one year in high school in France as an exchange student, and it was a completely different experience because high school in France is just so different from in America. There are no clubs or sports or activities, at all. So I went to France thinking, ‘I’m gonna be in the Student Newspaper and I’m gonna be in the Student Government.’ And then I got to high school in France and people were like, ‘Oh, you just go to school to study. That’s the only thing you do here.’ That was very interesting and a crazy experience, but neat, too.

They do everything, but none of it is school-based. If you get involved at a community center, if you do a sport, you’re involved with a club sport, but it’s never on site.”

“We rode over four mountain passes and we camped out four nights along the way.”

Jenifer Farrell at her junior Prom in 1989.

Photo courtesy of Jenifer Farrell.

- Claire Malechi & Sali Castro/ Staff Reporters

Culture Makeup: Do You Really Need It?

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guess when it comes to makeup, I’m just confused. I don’t know much and I have a lot of questions. What is the best way to blend? How do I overdraw my lips? Why is makeup even a thing? And who put this idea in everyone’s head that you have to wear makeup to be considered beautiful? A lot of it comes down to the way you look when you leave the house can seriously impact how you feel. For some it means rolling out of bed barely changing their appearance, for some it’s not feeling comfortable unless they’ve caked their face with makeup. Should someone be able to feel beautiful without makeup? Is that a personal problem for them or is it a problem the whole of society has to face?

“With all the makeup trends going on and all the products coming out, I think it’s hard for women to feel comfortable without wearing makeup,” junior Heidi Liles said.

Even though Liles doesn’t wear much makeup at all, she still wears some. Not wearing makeup is hard when it’s been almost an expectation for women to wear makeup as far back as Egyptian times. Today, women all around the world are expected to have acne-free skin, sculpted cheekbones, and plump lips. We’re not allowed to have dark circles around our eyes, or pimples or blonde eyelashes. We are taught to strive to look the same and if there’s something that makes us different, we are taught to fix it.

Senior Olivia Parsons has rosacea, which according to the National Rosacea Society, is a chronic disorder primarily redness on the face, characterized by flare-ups and remissions.

“That’s something I’ve always been insecure about but I’ve always been too lazy to fix,” Parsons said.

Parsons doesn’t wear a lot of makeup, and she doesn’t wear any makeup to cover up her rosacea. Parsons is insecure because women in the media wear makeup to cover up red cheeks and visible veins on their face.

When girls start puberty, young women face many obstacles that young men don’t face. Hygiene and grooming become more than deodorant and regular showers. The onset of adolescence means silky hair, flawless face and a cartoon trail of perfume following behind you. I remember begging my mom to let me wear makeup in sixth grade. I begged

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THE POWER OF MAKEUP her to wax my unruly eyebrows. I wanted to fix every “flaw” I had. When I was 12, makeup wasn’t empowering. It was a shallow attempt to get my crush’s attention... and sometimes it still is.

Consider the red carpet. Men walk down the carpet in a simple uniform: almost all in suits, slicked back hair, maybe a little after-shave, maybe a dab of cologne. Most women are in expensive gowns and go over the top with hair and makeup. When powerful women in the media use excessive amounts of makeup, or heavily promote the use of makeup, it’s telling young women: this is what you need to be beautiful. It’s setting unrealistic expectations for young women.

When there are no men walking down the red carpet wearing makeup it’s telling young boys you cannot wear makeup and be beautiful or masculine, and that’s setting a standard for men, too. Men aren’t expected to wear makeup, and when a man breaks gender rules when it comes to makeup and fashion, they make waves.

Another thing to consider when it comes to makeup is the cost. At school, you will find kids from so many different financial backgrounds every day. Not every family can buy Hoola bronzer and Stila eyeshadow palettes.

Just because you have less money shouldn’t mean that you might be considered less beautiful, but that’s a reality so many girls have to face because they can’t afford the most fashionable products. Apart from the financial side, many women wear makeup, even if they don’t want to or it’s not their style, simply to fit in.

“A few of my friends wear a lot of makeup, so in a way I wear it to be a little more like them,” junior Liz Hogan said.

“Fitting in” shouldn’t have anything to do with anyone’s financial background, a certain way you have to look, or a certain way you have to act. Makeup is just one of these elements in society that makes women and men alike go to extremes just to be well-liked.

“If I’m with a different crowd and I feel like they wear a lot of makeup, I would wear makeup… I think it’s hard not wearing makeup be cause you feel like you don’t fit in,” Liles said.

Society puts so much pressure on women to achieve this standard that most women know they will never achieve. Women

Senior Emily Jacobs demonstrates the difference of not wearing makeup and wearing makeup. photo by Mikayla Dudek

compete instead of supporting and uplifting each other. Makeup forces everyone to strive to look the same, when really we should be celebrating our differences and what makes us unique. If nature intended for us to have boxy eyebrows and shimmery cheekbones, we would have boxy eyebrows and shimmery cheekbones. Makeup can lead women and men to not feel comfortable in their own skin.

They must compensate by adding anything they see necessary to fix their flaws, when

Culture Makeup: It Actually Shows, Not Hides

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in reality, there were no flaws to begin with.

Women don’t look the same with makeup on and without makeup on, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t beautiful or that womenhave to wear makeup to be beautiful. In the words of Beyonce, “I woke up like this. Flawless.”

- Rachael Jacobs/Features Editor

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irls all over the world find pleasure in the routine of applying make up and I, like so many other girls, am a proud make-up wearer. However, makeup has increasingly developed a negative reputation. I hear many opinions that makeup is for insecure girls, in the hallways or on social media outlets like Snapchat and Instagram that make up makes you fake, that make up is unhealthy. If makeup is sooo bad, then why is it that more and more girls are wearing it?

The truth of the matter is that women love makeup and the rest of the world takes an interest in it, too, it’s just that the negative feedback rings out. For every one “make up is dangerous” kind of feature on social media there are twenty “makeup hacks”, styles, or tutorials. People love makeup. Women who embrace makeup embrace it because they embrace themselves. They pride themselves on self beautification and use different products to display what they believe are the best versions of themselves.

“It makes girls more confident..It makes them confident because THEY feel like they look pretty. [Makeup] just makes your natural features stand out more...makeup is used to make natural features that you already have even more beautiful,” said senior Zoe Schmanski.

Makeup is also commonly perceived to contribute an unfair standard that women are held responsible to uphold. In the realm of beauty pageants this may be true with makeup sliding into the must list along spray tans, “pretty hands”, and pageant walks.

But no one HAS to wear makeup and the demographic is changing in terms of who wears makeup. Makeup is crossing over into all genders.

“I think [men wearing makeup is] chill. If you’re a boy and you wear makeup, mad respect,” senior Danny Gallant said.

As the passion for makeup continues to thrive in society, the stereotype that women are the only wearers of makeup is fading away with it. Famous male makeup wearers such as Angel Merino, @mac_daddyy, and Ariel Diaz, @theevanitydiary are bringing male makeup to a whole new playing field. With over two million followers between the the two of them, it’s pretty clear the public is loving the emerging trend.

Makeup is a style choice like any other and

every makeup wearer adopts his or her own style of makeup. Your style is part of what make you unique, so how could a makeup wearer possibly be fake? Exactly. People who embrace their style and preference of makeup are being as true to themselves as anyone else, if not truer. I don’t feel like a fake version of myself when I wear makeup and I don’t feel like a “real” version of myself when I don’t; I simply feel like Mikayla all the time. It is impossible for makeup to make someone fake when they are wearing it out of self-driven desire and choice; when these are the circumstances, makeup is an expression of self.

“I guess makeup is kind of like clothes..

You can wear dresses, you can wear jeans, you can wear sweatpants, and as long as you feel good and like the way that you look then it shouldn’t matter what anyone else says...I like wearing makeup because I like the way that I look with it, but I can feel good not wearing makeup too,” senior Shai Imel said.

We are all guilty of occasionally watching a makeup tutorial by our favorite YouTuber late at night when we are bored, procrastinating, or planning a “look” for our next big event.

This happens because makeup IS interesting, it’s art on the face. With so many different products and styles the extents that makeup can go to are endless. Make up has evolved into an art form. Balance, composition, style, and color all go into creating a makeup look.

The hunt and appraisal for artwork both old and new will never subside and neither will the public’s interest in makeup. “[Makeup] is a big part of our society because so many people like to use it,” Imel said.

Above all makeup is a choice and anything that is a choice can not take you away from who you are. YOU make your choices and the decisions you make are an expression of who you are. Who you are as a person will forever trump your outside appearance but your looks do inevitably make first impressions. The fact that you have the power to choose whether you wear makeup or whether you don’t is empowering. If you want to wear makeup DO. If you don’t want to wear makeup DON’T. As long as you are being who you are there is no going wrong. Makeup has the easy job. It simply enhances. You already did the beautiful part by simply existing.

- Mikayla Dudek/Web Editor in Chief

THE BIG THREE

The Real “Big 3” inside Mohi Football

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ou could call them the three musketeers. You could call them the big three. Whatever name you feel is best fitting, one thing is for sure: there are fewer friends - let alone coaches - who have been together for so long.

Meet the core of the Monarch football coaching staff: Phil Bravo, Phil Grace, and Aaron Paddock. It is a trio that can be traced back 25 years. It all started in 1986, at Whittier Christian High School in La Habra, California. After four

said.

“I met [Coach Bravo] in California, he was four years older than me so once he left, I came in,” said Freshman football coach Phil Grace. “He was playing college football but coaching and helping out on the side, so I’ve known him since 1979.”

Fast foward 37 years later and they still have a close bond. After Bravo got his feet wet coaching in Orange County he departed the West Coast for a new

“So, it’s kinda funny to see those guys and see them in their adult life. It’s one of those added perks to being a coach.”

- Phil Bravo years as an assistant, Phil Bravo took over the head coaching role. Who would’ve known that there was where he would meet one of his future co-workers and assistant coaches?

“I coached Coach Grace in high school, if you can believe that,” Bravo

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job opportunity: the head coaching job at Centaurus High School, which at the time boasted an enrollment of nearly 2,000 students. However, Bravo didn’t depart California solo; he invited Grace to join him on his coaching staff.

There is where he met another person

who would later become part of the MoHi staff: Coach Aaron Paddock was a junior at Centaurus in 1991 when Bravo moved from Southern California.

Bravo started coaching at Centaurus and brought Coach Grace with him from California, so the three have known each other for 25 years in total.

“I played for [Bravo] for two years and I’ve coached with him for 21,” Paddock said.

Paddock graduated from Centaurus in 1992 and went off to college, while his younger brother Ezra Paddock stayed and was coached by Bravo, Paddock was gone for college for about two years before he got the itch for football again.

“I missed football, I missed being a part of a team, [so]I went up to Coach [Bravo] and said, ‘I’ll do anything to be a part of the team.I’ll be the get-back guy on the freshman team,” said Paddock.

And so there was the big three’s first start together, with Paddock as a coach for the freshman team and Bravo and Grace with the varsity.

“It was nice and fun over there[at Centurus],” Grace said. “I didn’t teach over there-- I taught at different school, so it was hard to get to know the boys.”

The big three built up the program at Centaurus and really made an impact there, so much of an impact that when Monarch High School opened in 1998 Coach Bravo was hired as the head coach of the Coyotes football team, and brought along with him Coach Grace and Coach Paddock.

“The benefit of having those guys come up and coach with you is, they already know the the system, they know what you are all about, they know the do’s and don’ts, they know the traditions, and they believe in what you’re doing, so there’s not any period of indoctrination or need to convince them to believe in what I do. They

lived it, so they know this works.” Bravo “We try to be very sequential [with explained. practice],”Bravo said. “We try to build up “So, it’s kinda funny to see those guys on our teaching. For example, we have and see them in their adult life. It’s one a philosophy that kids know why certain of those added perks to being a coach,” certain things are important and how Bravo said. to do those things, and then get them From fun personality to secretive to the do stage, where they actually do mastermind, coaches bring the very those things.” best of themselves to their teams every The different styles allow the coaches time they take the field. Because of this, take advantage of each other’s strengths the blend “When there’s a wrench in the engine, and of unique something’s not clicking, I can help coach characters can provide players through my experience. When things fail, I can with a broad go back and examine why it is they failed.” approach to - Phil Bravo the matters at hand. by bouncing off of each other on the Since their inaugural seasons at sidelines and at practice.

Monarch High School, coaches Phil “Sometimes Coach Grace is a little Bravo, Phil Grace, and Aaron Paddock loose. I push him to be a little more have each brought their own approaches regimented, but he’ll throw back to me to the handling of players. Yet though that sometimes something doesn’t work they may differ in style, their game plans [when you’re too disciplined].” for practice and games are all the same: Paddock, on the other hand, serves prepare the players throughout the week as the disciplinary backbone of the staff. to win. “[Paddock] prepares more for games

than most coaches will in America for games,” Bravo said.

Yet the most important personality on the Monarch football staff is their 36 year tenured head coach. Phil Bravo has been the mastermind behind two state championship squads, more than ten playoff runs, and the leader of a turnaround season in 2016.

“When there’s a wrench in the engine, and something’s not clicking, I can help coach through my experience,” said Bravo. “When things fail, I can go back and examine why it is they failed.”

Even though Bravo recognizes the prosperity he has brought to the Coyote football team for 18 years, he understands the importance of having a pair of talented assistants by his side. “There’s a telepathy between us,” Bravo said. “They all know what I want and I know what they want. Not only have they been a player under my system, but they’ve been coaches in my system for a long time.”

- Jasmine Jeffcoat/Sports Editor Matt Keenan/Associate Editor

Freshman coach Phil Grace teaching his players something new. photo by Andrew Patra

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Left: Coach Phil Bravo talks to his plavers in a huddle. photo by Matt Kennan

Opinions

STANDING FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE

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hat is America? Is it baseball and apple pie? The scream of fighter jets over a football game?

Is it a “melting pot” of hundreds of different cultures, everyone chasing the American Dream? Maybe it’s the rights that our founding fathers gave us in 1776. It is fireworks on the 4th of July and the ability to trust in American freedom.

The stars and stripes stir a patriotic fervor where nothing can go wrong as long as that flag still flies, but to some, the flag stands for systematic oppression that tears down individual liberty.

In recent months the flag, as well as the national anthem, has stirred controversy. In the NFL, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refuses to stand during the anthem. His claim on the matter is that he won’t stand for a country that oppresses people of color. This incited both outrage and admiration and generated a nationwide movement in a year where what it means to be an American is heavily

right photo illustration by andrew patra

debated. browse their phones.

Opinions With this year’s election imminent, “I don’t really notice [the pledge]. there is a constant struggle to define Maybe it’s because other people don’t what is American. In the case of the stand up. I know it’s really important, national anthem, those who prefer but I just Wdon’t,” said senior Victoria to kneel view it as protest against the Suazo. racism that is still very present in this Ever since elementary school, country, or view it as an exercise of students across America stand up, First Amendment rights. Others view place a hand over their chests and it as a form of treason not to stand recite the Pledge of Allegiance. That and say it is unpatriotic and harms the is, until high school, where sitting image of America. becomes the norm and those who You find these same nuances stand are the minority. Only a few reflected across four stick it out through “I don’t really notice it; years of students, their entire high maybe it’s because other students who are school career. people don’t stand up. I Junior Brian shaped by their families and friends. know it’s really important Hummer is one of We don’t play the but I just don’t.” -Victoria the few who stand national anthem for the pledge Suazo. every morning, but every single day. we do at pep assemblies and sporting “[It’s because] I live in America. events. There, nearly everyone stands, I’m going to represent my country and those who don’t receive nothing every morning,” Hummer said. more than a passing glance. However, Others engage in seated silence. the daily routine of the Pledge of Some stay seated because they Allegiance often falls on deaf ears and don’t believe in symbolic patriotism, many students talk to their friends or for some it’s the same reasons as

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Kaepernick, to protest injustice caused by this country, but for others, it is nothing more than indifference.

“People don’t stand for a pledge because they don’t care anymore,” senior Byron Staynings said.

At Monarch, whether one stands or sits for the pledge doesn’t matter too much. There may be a slight acknowledgment, but no strong reaction. There isn’t anyone that gets judged for their choices or are considered disrespectful. Maybe that’s just exercising the American right to freedom of speech, but it’s a starting point of a bigger topic of what it actually means to “be American” in this era.

We’d love to hear what your thoughts are, so please submit your responses to mhshowler@gmail.com and tell us what you think.

- Andrew Patra/Editor-in-Chief Jasmine Jeffcoat/Sports Editor

Above: A Bella Frida employee works on skeleton face paint as part of October’s Day of the Dead Art Walk Near right: A local farmer sells organic produce at the Lousiville Farmer’s Market Far right: Noah Zinzer of Bjorn’s Colorado Honey selects a sample.

Bottom right: an Old Town Suzuki student plays a miniature cello during the Art Walk

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photos by Tori Armitage

HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN Louisville Farmer’s Market- every Saturday year-round from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

As sunlight filters through the trees and live music plays in the background, vendors at the Louisville Farmer’s Market sell a variety of products- everything from jalapeno chocolate to Nepalese coffee, as well as more practical locally-sourced goods such as fresh produce.

“This is the biggest turnout you usually get at a farmer’s market, really. .. You get to just have a conversation with people directly...You get to meet some interesting people,” said Scott LeFrance of Satchi Fudge.

Buying from the farmer’s market also contributes to the local economy and environment.

“We’re local beekeepers, and that’s important for getting pollination into your local area and supporting the species that helps us get food. And then we can partner with organic vegetable growers around here too.

We keep our hives on their farms, pollinate their stuff, and they help us take care of our bees,” said Noah Zinzer of Bjorn’s Colorado Honey.

Many who come to the farmer’s market view also it as a convenient opportunity to eat healthier.

“Most of my food is picked the day before I sell it, and it’s not trucked in; it’s grown organically. I think that that’s better for people’s health...and that’s why I do this,” said Mimi Yanus of Mimi’s Garden.

Art Walk- first Friday of every month year-round from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Art Walk features live music and food, as well as an opportunity to meet the artists themselves.

“On the first Friday, from six to nine, all of these participating businesses open their doors after hours, so late in the evening, and showcase- they have artists that come down, and we usually serve some snacks,” said Geoffrey Whitmore, owner of The Walnut Gallery. Participants follow yellow balloons to businesses throughout Old Town Louisville that feature local artists. “It’s an opportunity to really speak with the artists. We had 12 artists down here last night that want to interact and answer questions, give advice,” Whitmore said.

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No Art Walk is the same as another. “We try to rotate the art. I try to have my artists keep their walls fresh by bringing in new pieces so that it doesn’t get stale, so that it’s always inviting.

And it’s always different artists- I never know who’s going to attend until it’s six o clock on a Friday,” Whitmore said.

As with the Farmer’s Market, the Art Walk is an opportunity to support the local community.

“Most of the art here is local. Out of 80 artists, 60 are from Boulder county. I think I have ten that are from Louisville specifically,” Whitmore said.

- Tori Armitage/News Editor

Culture

ANTISOCIAL SOCIAL NETWORK The perks of the editing app VSCO

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he whole point of a social network is to share cool stuff with your friends and even strangers for a near instant gratification.

It’s why we love sharing family on Facebook, complaints on Twitter, and hipster restaurant boutiques on Instagram. We love social media that allows us to be loved. So why in the world would someone think it was a good idea to take those key interactions, and throw them out the window?

Enter VSCO, a minimalistic photo sharing app built around today’s mobile-first world and trendy aesthetics. With nothing more than filters and a rather vague user interface, it has captured the attention of thousands of teens, and has even caused Facebook’s Instagram monopoly to cast a worried eye.

The app, launched in April 2012, stayed mostly under the radar until picking up considerable steam in the last year and a half, when it has been able to capture the elusive teen audience.

Now, many Instagram user profiles include a link back to their VSCO profiles, a place where they can showcase photos to their heart’s content. It’s a place for both phone and camera photography and racy pictures away from watchful parental eyes.

VSCO also is a magnet for photographers who look to an easy, mobile-first editing solution. From Instagram giants such as adventure photographer Ben Brown to photo enthusiasts, the free and purchasable themes make editing a breeze.

But in the app, one can only view the photos. There are no likes, no comments, and the most a person can do is “collect” images to then re-publish on their own feeds.

It’s like an art museum where the satisfaction isn’t based around a phone notification, but rather the assumption that there is someone who saw it.

VSCO is an antisocial social network that prioritizes content over likes. It may not be for everyone, but its pleasing minimalist approach to networking is a nice change of pace from the notification heavy world that we live in.

Photo by vsco.co/issacmoorman

- Andrew Patra/Print Editor In Chief

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Photo by vsco.co/andrewpatra

MORE THAN A HAND TURKEY

Culture

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all is a great time to get artsy and make some cute decorations and get creative with food. The changing of the season and the cold weather bring us indoors, so here are some crafts to get your through the season!

Pumpkin Rice Krispies Time: 10-15 minutes Materials: 6 cups Rice Krispie cereal 1 package marshmallows 3 tablespoons butter White chocolate Orange food dye Reese’s peanut butter cups, mini size

Antique Mason Jars Time: 5-10 minutes

Directions: 1. Pour paint out onto a plate.

2. Dip paintbrush into color and lightly brush color onto jar. *Helpful hint: be able to see the brush strokes to get the perfect antique jar.

3. Keep painting until you get your desired about of paint on the jar.

4. Let dry.

5. Sand paper the words on the mason jar and little sections everywhere else.

Materials: Mason jar Plate Various colors of paint, matte Paint brush with bristles

Oreo Turkeys Time: 10-15 minutes Materials: Oreos Reese’s peanut butter cups Mini Whoppers Chocolate, melted Candy corn

Directions: 1. In a large sauce pan, melt butter on low.

2. When butter is fully melted add the marshmallows and mix until melted. Remove from heat.

3. Pour rice krispies into the bowl and mix until well combined.

4. Roll the mixture into fist size balls and let fully set on a pan. Let cool.

5. Melt the white chocolate and add the orange food coloring to it until you get the desired shade of orange.

6. Dip cooled rice krispie treats into the white chocolate and let set.

7. Add one mini Reese’s peanut butter cup on top.

Directions: 1. Get out two Oreos.

2. Put a little drop of melted chocolate onto one Oreo.

3. Place Oreo perpendicular to the other one.

4. Put 1 mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup onto the bottom Oreo.

5. Place one Whopper on top of Reese’s.

6. Add three candy corns to the center of the vertical Oreo.

7. Cut white tip off of candy corn and add to Whopper with a little bit of chocolate.

- Aidin Velick & Hannah Gross/ Staff Reporters photos by Aidin Velick

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News they would be able to co-teach with a professor from Front Range. Any college credit earned at Front Range through the early college program would be guaranteed transferable to any in-state college. Even if students don’t earn enough credit hours to get an actual degree, they will still receive the college credit for courses where they earned at least a C. Students stand to receive massive benefits. If a student takes courses throughout their entire high school career, then they can graduate high school and already be halfway Earning a degree while still in high school through college. The early college program also enables students to any students in high school can’t process. “We don’t just want to get finish their first two years of college wait to get into college. Soon you in college, we want to help you without having to pay anything. they won’t even have to wait untill complete it,” said Anderson.

Taking college courses in high school they get out of high school. Monarch Monarch as an early college also enables students to enter college is in the application process of would be like having a school within feeling more prepared and with more becoming an early college. The new a school. Students would have to program would enable students to be choose to be concurrently enrolled at practical experience.

Students would also be able to able to earn college credit, and even Front Range to earn the college credit an Associate’s degree from Front towards their Associate’s degree. This get internships in high school. This would allow Range Community College by taking would work in “I want the High School them to explore concurrent enrollment courses while a similar way to still in high school. This means that CU Succeed, but of Business to thrive and I career options by actually the first two years of college would the difference is be completed by the time participants that it would not want to get kids ready for going out into the fields graduate. cost a student college.” that interest . The proposal to become an early anything. them and get - Rudolph Sumpter college began with the business Everything is real world teachers, as a natural extension of the paid for by the High School of Business. Students district and student COF funds,which experience.

The application for Monarch to are already able to earn 18 college are funds that help eligible Colorado become an early college is currently credit hours in the business classes students pay tuition. at the Colorado State Board of at no cost; a maximum of 29 credit Monarch only needs to add Education awaiting approval. If it hours total can be earned in high five courses: new math and English school. Once a student hits the 29 courses, as well as an Art Appreciation goes through, Monarch is poised to start as an early college in Fall 2017. hour ceiling, they don’t earn credit class. Some classes would also need anymore. To solve this problem, to adjust course competencies to - Bryan Dumpert/Staff Reporter Monarch needs to become an early align with Front Range. college.

Many of the teachers are already Principal Jerry Anderson has played qualified to teach the college courses photo by Bryan Dumpert a critical role in the application as well. If a teacher isn’t qualified,

EARLY COLLEGE

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photo by Andrew Patra

photo by Lucy Vermeersch

Photo courtsey of Jay MacIntyre

photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Benner

Gradthletes

Section

Gradthletes

How former Monarch standouts are doing out in the world of Division One sports Kristin Barbour Jay MacIntyre Mae Williams Kaitlyn Benner A former Boulder Valley standout and fixture on defense for the girls’ soccer team, Kristin Barbour has taken her talents to the Big East conference and swapped her Monarch jersey for a Villanova one. She has had no trouble at all stepping into a main role on the team despite the challenges of “playing against 21 and 22 year olds [physically] as a freshman.”

Named the Big East Freshman of the Week on October 3rd, Barbour led both Villanova and the Big East in points and goals. Always a fan of the team atmosphere of soccer, she loves being at Villanova because “the team itself [is so fun] and [she gets to] represent the school in a positive way [and she] gets a ton of free Nike gear .”

Since it is Barbour’s first year on the team, she is excited for what is to come both this season and in future years, as well as “see how the team changes year to year, just as it did at Monarch.”

A two-sport star in football and basketball in his years at Monarch, Jay MacIntyre was as versatile a player as they come on the court or field.

After deciding to play under his father’s (Mike MacIntyre) tutelage at the University of Colorado, MacIntyre focused in on the wide receiver position, and it is one he excels at today, but it didn’t come easily.

His time at Monarch taught him the key elements to the game and“prepared [him] to step into a bigger scene and be able to succeed,I had to work hard at [his] craft to become a good receiver at the college level.”

Now a redshirt sophomore wide receiver and punt returner, Jay is a key factor in The Rise of Colorado Football, and has been making an impact since his first ever catch last year that was a touchdown.

A fixture of the Class 5A runner-up team, Mae Williams was a leader on the women’s basketball team for her entire Monarch High school career.

Williams credits the coaches at Monarch for much of her success at Lehigh due to their preparation for the demands and discipline of college basketball. Looking back at some of the little moments in practices and games made her realize that Monarch high school really set her up on a path to success in college.

“I will never forget Coach Hook saying to us “You better look at me when I’m talking to you,” Williams said.

Playing at an excellent division one school like Lehigh has its perks, like free gear and a nice locker room compared to the PE lockers at Monarch.

However there are some drawbacks, like the distance from Colorado.

“What I miss most [from high school] is that my family [isn’t] able to attend all my games because Lehigh is 2000 miles from Colorado.”

Williams said.

A three time state champion with the cross country team and a two-time Nike Nationals Qualifier, Kaitlyn Benner competed with the best in the nation throughout her high school career.

However, it wasn’t until she started training at CU that she started beating the best in the nation. Benner loves how much of a team atmosphere there is on the team at CU and how similar it is to the team vibe at Monarch, although she sometimes misses the more laid-back high school approach.

“The intensity of the workouts and the mileage [are a lot harder]. Intervals, long runs, even recovery runs are a lot faster and I run almost twice the amount per week that I did at Monarch,” Benner said.

This increased intensity has made great strides in her career capped off last year by her 16th place finish AllAmerican finish at NCAAs in cross country.

- Samantha Wexler/Staff Reporter

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Culture

FALL/ WINTER MOVIE PREVIEW

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hat are movies? Some see them as an escape from day to day life. Others see it simply as a form of entertainment. In reality, it is much more than either of those. They provide us with various stories. They have they ability to make us cry, make us laugh, and/or make us In today’s age of modern filmmaking, the range of possibilities are endless. Aside from the regular Hollywood blockbuster films, we are also seeing local indie films as well being made from filmmakers of all ages. As we say goodbye to the summer blockbuster season, it is time to turn our heads to the last few months of the year and see what’s coming to a theater near you.

DOCTOR STRANGE Based on the titular character from Marvel Comics, Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Dr. Stephen Strange. Doctor Strange follows the life altering origin story of Dr. Stephen Strange after he suffers a horrific car accident.

With traditional medicine failing him, he attempts to find healing in an unlikely place called “Kamar-Taj” in Nepal. Here, he finds himself at not just a place of healing, but also the front line of an unseen mystical battle.

Fully equipped with his new powers, he must make a stand against the mysterious villain, Kaecilius. Also starring Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg , Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton . Doctor Strange is directed by Scott Derrickson and is written by C. Robert Cargill and Jon Spaihts, with a score composed by Michael Giacchino (The Incredibles, Up).

Releasing November 4, 2016

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY With the amazing success of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Lucasfilm is adding to the Star Wars canon with the addition of Rogue One. It will serve as the first “Star Wars Anthology” film. Presented as a prequel, Rogue One sets itself 18 years after the formation of the Galactic Empire. This film stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, Jiang Wen, and Forest Whitaker. Rogue One is directed by Gareth Edwards, with a screenplay written

by Tony Gilroy, and Chris Weitz. Alexandre Desplat (Argo) was originally hired to score

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this film, but scheduling conflicts led to the hiring of Michael Giacchino (Up, Star Trek: Beyond) as the composer. Giacchino serves as the first composer to work for five of Disney’s major film subsidiaries (Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation, Walt Disney Pictures).

Releasing December 16, 2016

PASSENGERS

Originally written in 2007 by Jon Spaihts, Passengers was among the 2007 “Black List” (Hollywood’s most admired scripts, that are yet to be given the green light), and since then, has never been able to get past that phase. It was finally given the green light in early 2015. In the film, the Starship Avalon is on a 120 year journey heading to a distant colony planet. Two passengers suffer a malfunction in their sleep pod, and are prematurely woken up 90 years from their destination. Soon they realize that the pods aren’t the only things malfunctioning on the ship. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, Andy García, and Aurora Perrineau. Passengers is directed

by Morten Tyldum and is written by Jon Spaihts. Thomas Newman (Finding Nemo, Bridge of Spies) will serve as the composer for this film.

Releasing December 21, 2016

ASSASSIN’S CREED

With the amazing success of the Assassin’s Creed video games, Ubisoft entered negotiations with Sony Pictures to create a film adaption. Later, talks would break down between the two studios and Ubisoft would later announce that the film would be co-produced between New Regency and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Michael Fassbender would later be casted in the main role of Callum Lynch/ Aguilar de Nerha. A descendent of the Assassins, Callum possesses genetic links to his ancestor, Aguilar. As he experiences Aguilar’s memories, he begins to learn of the Templar Order in order to defeat Abstergo Industries. Fassbender stars in this film, along with Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, and Michael K. Williams. Assassin’s Creed is directed by Justin Kurzel, and written

by Michael Lesslie, Adam Cooper, and Bill Collage. Jed Kurzel (Macbeth) serves as the composer for this film.

Releasing December 21, 2016

photos: Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Pictures, Lucasfilm/Walt Disney Pictures, Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox Film Corporation/Ubisoft Motion Pictures

- Kevin Wu/Staff Reporter

FALL MUSIC REVIEW

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his fall we were all graced with the long awaited Frank Ocean album Blond. After releasing a visual album titled Endless and leading on his fans for a couple days (and a couple years), he finally released the album.

It has been four years since the release of his debut album Channel Orange, and since then Ocean had gone completely off the grid.

Without a doubt, Blond was worth the wait.

Before dropping the album he came out with a visual titled Endless where Frank could be seen building a staircase with songs playing in the background. I myself bought Apple Music with the hopes of getting to listen to the album, but I couldn’t really hear the album well enough to get anything out of it. A day after the release of his short film, pop up stores were featured in New York, LA, London, and Chicago where people could pick up magazines titled Boys Don’t Cry. The magazine is filled with pictures, but also featured the CD version of Blond.

Those lucky enough to get their hands on the magazine received a different tracklist from the version released on Apple Music.

Blond is different than most albums dropped this year with the songs focused on the ideas they convey with a more simple production unlike Ocean’s other albums (TLOP, Views). It’s beautiful. Rooted as a R&B album

focused on soul with layering of vocals and simple production, it has a unique sound. The album is very minimalistic; he didn’t produce his songs to become radio hits. Frank Ocean is the only artist who could be this successful with the type of album he made.

Ocean’s songs convey extremely strong emotions throughout the album. In songs like “Skyline To” he sings about substance abuse and “Self Control” in itself is a full blown love song. The album covers a lot of ground.

Ocean touches base with some contemporary social issues, mentioning Trayvon Martin on the opening standout track “Nikes”; later in his music video for the single he can be seen

Culture holding up a picture of Martin.

The album includes some surprising features, including vocals from Beyonce, Andre 3000, and Kendrick Lamar. Yet when you listen to the album it’s hard to pick up both Beyonce and Kendrick’s voices since they are only background vocals.

My favorite song on the album is “Nights”, which is split up into two parts. The first half of the song is little faster, touching on some everyday items and emotions, the second a little slower delving further into late night emotions.

It’s hard for an artist to release an album that has a crazy amount of hype behind it-luckily Blonde surpassed the hype. It has very quickly become one of my favorite albums released this year and will definitely become a classic in my books. Regardless of the music genre you prefer, Blonde is amazing and I can’t stress enough how much you should give it a listen if you have not yet.

Standout Tracks: “Nikes”, “Ivy”, “Pink + White”, “Nights”, “White Ferrari”, “Self Control” -Estelle Silk/Staff Reporter photo: Boys Don’t Cry

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: BOOKS!

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love a lot of things in life: the beach, good movies, books… So I decided to start this guest writing segment about my top three favorite books. There was a time in my life where I hated to read; it was the worst daily chore, EVER. But now I hardly go anywhere without a book. Hopefully you find a few new favorites from my top choices.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly This book is amazing. It is my absolute favorite! The story is about a high school student named Andi who is struggling with her life.

Her brother passed away driving their mother to crazy town and her father out of town.

Her life seems to be in a downward spiral with an underdeveloped senior thesis, an absent father trying to control her life, and a winter break trip to Paris. That’s rock bottom for Andi. But then Paris makes life worth living with discoveries of exquisite guitars, mysterious journals, and a trip Andi will never forget.

This is the perfect page turner for any book lover (or slightly disliker).

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley I literally flew through this book. I opened it on a Tuesday and was done by Saturday, school permitting. An author by the name of Carrie is trying to write her next great historical fiction novel. When her research in France becomes stifling, she takes a weekend trip over to Scotland to visit some close friends. There she comes across the ruins of Slains, a Scottish castle that holds over three hundred years of history. From there her book comes alive, with the characters demanding to tell their story. This is the perfect balance of nose crinkling romance and historical intrigue, with an ending that is truly unforgettable.

Tumble and Fall by Alexandra Coutts If you only have a week before your world will be wiped out, what would you do? A milewide asteroid named Persephone is headed to do just that. Nothing can change its course and the countdown has begun. For Sienna it’s time to step away from the darkness of life and fight for a second chance. Caden he

needs to find that one person he cannot live without. And for Zan the love she thought she would have forever is snuffed out and she has to learn it’s okay to be her own person.

These three teens vaguely remember each other from childhood trips spent in the same coastal town, but they don’t come together until the countdown is almost complete. If there was just a week left of existence, what would you fight the hardest to keep safe?

Of course there were many other books that barely missed this list, but these are my favorites. Next on my list are Lexicon by Max Barry, The Muse by Jessie Burton, and Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind. I am always on the lookout for new titles to explore and review. To keep this column running please send all of your suggestions to mhshowler@gmail.com, and I would love to review your favorites. Hope you found some top favorite new reads!

- Jessica Nieusma/Guest Writer

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Opinions

Guest Opinion: SUPPORT REC CENTER EXPANSION AND RENOVATION

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courtesy of Sink Comb Dethlefs

ave you heard about the proposed renewal and expansion of the Louisville Senior/Recreation Center and Memory Square? There are two issues, 2A and 2B, on the ballot this upcoming election.

The plans include many upgrades that would be great for the youth in our community, such as a new leisure pool with features like a lazy river and slide. The plans include additional lap lanes and locker room space for the Monarch swim team.

New huge openings onto an expansive deck with a splash pad and concessions will be built. A turf field house will provide an indoor location for soccer and other sports.

The weight lifting and cardio space will be expanded and upgraded. Overall, the rec

center will gain a 50% expansion in square feet. In addition, Memory Square will recieve more shade structures and an upgraded clubhouse.

I was originally on the Louisville Youth Advisory Board that brought this issue to City Council. Then, the City of Louisville formed a Task Force to work with consultants, which I advised as the youth representative . Then an issues committee, Building Healthy Louisville, which I am also a member of, as formed to campaign for this issue.

If 2A and 2B pass this November, our recreation and aquatics facilities will substantially improve. Supporting this ballot

A WORLD WITHOUT SPORTS FANS

Michigan Stadium wouldn’t be an outrage.

There would be no chanting recitals of “Let’s go _____”, and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” would just be an ordinary tune.

Without fans, the national anthem wouldn’t be a nationwide controversy. Social media feeds would be far less absorbing, and fantasy sports would truly be just a fantasy.

The percentage of awkward car rides would sky-rocket, and the beloved voices of Vin Scully, Al Michaels, and Chris Berman would go to waste.

Imagine a world where when you think ESPN, you don’t think “the worldwide leader in sports.” Where statistics are only a topic for mathematicians and a “ballpark” estimate would just be a “random guess.” America would be without a national pastime, and chicken parm would have never tasted so good.

Imagine a world where senseless debates about whether Jordan or LeBron is the GOAT (it is clearly His Airness) are never initiated. Heck, ridiculous acronyms such as GOAT, MVP, and KO would solely be ridiculous acronyms. Trash-talking evil figures (I’m looking at you, Roger Goodell and Bill Belichick) cease in sports bars every Sunday afternoon because a sports bar would be worthless and irrelevant.

Imagine TV devoid of Stephen A. Smith

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ports teams have up years and down years.

It is a natural occurrence in the athletics world. As the famous saying goes, “you win some, you lose some.” Yet one thing is for sure: this year, every team has a losing record when it comes to television With recent reports disclosing the falling television ratings of professional sports (down 13% since the start of the NFL season and the lowest prime time ratings in 47 years), fans from around the country have officially entered panic mode. Questions have been tossed around social media: what is going to happen to the sports world? Will we even have televised sports games in the near future? Sure, this apprehension is premature.

Yes, it is almost certain Americans will be able to enjoy their team in the comfort of their home ten years down the line. But one has to wonder: what would happen if sports fandom suddenly disappeared from the United States?

Imagine a world without sports fans.

The Yankees and Red Sox would fade into irrelevance, along with other fierce debates about which team is technically “better” than the other. Wearing an Ohio State jersey at

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initiative will benefit children, youth, seniors, and everyone in between. Please vote yes or urge others to vote yes on 2A/2B! For more information, visit www. buildinghealthylouisville.com.

- Kaylix McClure/Guest Writer

(wait, would that really be a bad thing?).

“Dude, let’s go to B-Dubs” wouldn’t have the same ring. America would be without a national pastime, tailgating would lose its flair, and the beloved chips and salsa combo would lose most of its flavor.

Attire would become dull without the flamboyance of an Atlanta Hawks jersey or the tradition of a Blackhawks sweater.

Imagine walking through the streets of Philadelphia without sighting a kelly green or hopping on a New York subway without one Yankees cap. Speaking of colors, no one would ever associate silver and black with a football team in Oakland or neon green or black and yellow with any select club in Pittsburgh.

Without sports fans, I wouldn’t be able to write this article. The number of journalism jobs would plummet beyond their already limited opportunities, and weekends and family gatherings would hardly be the sacred days which they are today.

Without sports fans, the nation would forever change. Without sports fans, there would be no fun.

- Matt Keenan/Associate Editor

INTRODUCING GIRLS’ RUGBY

Sports

Who they are and what they’re about

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veryone at Monarch may know from her friends on the boys’ rugby about the rugby team, but what team. As far as the game and the rules about the girls’ rugby team? The go, the girls’ game is pretty much the girls’ team is new this year and word same as the boys’. How ever, the girls around town is that this team is pretty only play 7’s, while the boys play 7’s, awesome. Most of these girls have 10’s, and 15’s, meaning that the girls never played before, but the team is play with only 7 players on the field doing well and having a great time. while the boys play games with 7, 10 The team was started by seniors or 15 people on the field at a time.

Lauren Savage and Quinn Noonan.

Since girls’ rugby is still a new sport For Savage, the inspiration for the in Colorado and there aren’t many team came from a desire to play after teams, 7’s works better for these watching both newer programs.

“I love it, I am her brothers play There are 16 girls on rugby for years. “ definitely going to the team this year.

My brothers play “We would love play rugby for life.” and that was kind to get more girls, Sydney Morgenstein of a big factor particularly more and I wanted to incoming freshman bring in a new club to Monarch. The and sophomores,” Savage said. community in rugby is so different The team would love to keep their from any other team and it’s just so legend going and expand what they fun to play, so I thought it would be have started this year. really cool,” Savage said.

“Don’t be scared to join girls’ Savage is one of the team captains rugby,” Noonan said.“This team is and, like most of the other girls, had built on a strong foundation and all not played on a rugby team before the girls have really bonded. “I’ve this year. made friends with people I normally For Noonan, the inspiration came don’t see and people I wouldn’t

expect to be friends with and we are a really close team,” senior Sydney Morgenstein said.

Morgenstein joined the team after hearing about it from friend Quinn Noonan.

“I love it; I am definitely going to play rugby for life,” Morgenstein said.“Anyone who joins the team loves it,” Noonan said The organization has taken off.

There is no telling what kinds of things these athltetes can accomplish.

- Sarah Schemmerling/Staff Reporter Above: Senior Lauren Savage warms up during a rugby practice. photo by sarah schemmerling

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Sports

THE START OF SOMETHING NEW Meet Jennifer Dixon, the New Head Coach of the Volleyballl Team

With spirits high, coach Jennifer Dixon congragulates her team on winning a set during a mid-season match.

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lear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose. That’s the hope of this volleyball season. Coach Jennifer Dixon is new to the volleyball team this year and is both the varsity volleyball coach and a gym teacher. When she isn’t coaching the varsity team, she is teaching freshman P.E. classes and the adaptive P.E. class.

Before coming to Monarch, Dixon coached Volleyball at Boulder High for five years and then went on to Chicago where she continued coaching. If she seems familiar you might have had her for P.E in middle school if you were lucky enough. Coach Dixon taught P.E at Louisville Middle School for nine years, from 2007 to 2015.

In high school Dixon played volleyball.

Her position was middle and right side, which meant she was at the net blocking shots.

Dixon’s goals for this season were to improve the players mentality. “The talent is there. I want Monarch to return to being that dominant team,” Dixon said.

While coaching at Boulder High she thought of Monarch as being an “unstoppable force” and hopes to get the team back to that point by first having them believe in themselves.

In the future Dixon hopes to add more league championships to Monarch’s title andl-

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photo by Anna Wexler

make Monarch as competitive in the league as possible.

“I want to improve the mind frame of the team, make them more determined and focused, there’s a ton of talent and I want to show everyone what they can do,” Dixon said.

- Estelle Silk/Staff Reporter

photo courtsey of Jennifer Dixon

“I want to improve the mind frame of the team, make them more determined and focused, there’s a ton of talent and I want to show everyone what they can do.”

- Jennifer Dixon

CAPTAIN TORY

Fiction

- Sophia Bergman/Guest Writer

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he car speeds down the highway. Pouring rain beats against the windows. A little boy sits quietly in the back seat. Suddenly, the car's tires skid on the slick pavement and it spins out of control, heading for the metal railing along the side of the road - the only thing separating the highway from a steep, rocky ravine. The car breaks right through the railing, plummeting towards the jagged rocks below. The man and woman in the front seat are jerked forward so hard their seat belts snap and they are thrust towards the windshield. As their bodies strike the dashboard, the gruesome sound of bones breaking echoes throughout the car. “Mom! Dad!” the little boy cries. They do not answer. A scream bubbles up through his throat and spills out into the air. . .

--lex sat up in bed, shaking in fear, the scream still echoing in his ears. I hate that dream, Alex thought. The dream reoccurred every few nights, the memory of his parents’ death refusing to leave. Having been strapped into his car seat, the only injuries Alex received were a cut on his arm and a sprained ankle. Now, the faint scar on his forearm tingled and Alex reached over to touch it. Suddenly, his Grandmother’s voice called to him from the kitchen downstairs, telling him to come down for breakfast. Alex glanced at the clock beside his bed. Realizing he’d overslept, he leapt out of bed. He rushed down to the kitchen, taking the steps two at a time.

“Good morning, Grandmother,” he said, sitting down at the table.

“Eat your toast,” she grumbled, setting a plate down in front of him.

Alex looked at his grouchy grandmother with her face set in the usual scowl, unsurprised by her harsh tone. He had almost never seen her smile, even before the accident. After his parents died, she moved in to the house with him.

“Alex if you want to get to the bus stop on time, you better hurry,” his grandmother said impatiently.

He wolfed down the rest of his breakfast, grabbed his backpack, and rushed out the door. As he hurried down the street towards the bus stop, fallen leaves crunched under his feet. He stopped for a minute and looked up

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at the trees, their leaves bursting with color as if they were on fire. Suddenly from down the street he heard the screech of the bus’ brakes.

Alex broke into a run and arrived just as the last passenger climbed on.

“Wait!” Alex called out as he rushed towards the bus.

Fortunately, the driver saw him and waited as he climbed onto the bus and flopped down into an empty seat, breathing hard. The bus doors closed and the driver started down the street in the direction of the school.

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he day dragged by in a blur of worksheets, lectures, and homework assignments. Alex was more than relieved when it was finally over. As he was gathering his things at the end of class, his teacher said to the class, “Have fun tonight! And don't forget to save me some candy!” Alex was confused. What's happening tonight? He wondered. Then he remembered. Tonight was Halloween! He wouldn’t celebrate of course. He hadn’t been trick or treating since his parents died. Besides even if he had wanted to, he wouldn’t have been allowed to go.

His grandmother never celebrated Halloween or any other holidays except his birthday. She spent Halloween in the house with the curtains drawn and the porch light turned off. She never came to the door or even left out a bowl of candy for the trick or treaters.

When Alex got off the bus after school, he decided to take the long way home - the street that went around the graveyard. He was not in any hurry to get back to the house, or his grandmother’s cold welcome.

As he neared the graveyard he decided to stall getting home even longer by visiting his parents’ graves.

Alex noted that the weather this afternoon was much different from the morning’s warm sunshine. Now the sky was cold and gray, and the trees were shrouded in fog. As Alex entered the graveyard, the fog floated about the gravestones, shifting in a way that played tricks on his eyes, making strange shapes that seemed like the spirits of the people the gravestones marked.

Alex stumbled through the cemetery until

he found his parents’ gravestones. As he knelt in front of them, he felt the prickling sensation he was being watched. Suddenly, he heard a twig snap from behind him. Alex jumped to his feet and whirled around. At first he couldn’t see anything, but then a bearded man dressed in a ship captain’s uniform emerged from the fog. He was holding an old fashioned kerosene lantern in one hand and when Alex looked at him, he realized the man looked familiar, but he couldn’t remember where he had seen him before. Then the man spoke.

“Hello, my boy.” His voice was deep and warm and seemed to come from everywhere.

“Who are you?” Alex asked. “I feel like I’ve seen you before.” The man laughed.

“All in good time, Alex,” he responded.

“Now come with me. I have something to show you.” Before Alex could ask how the man knew his name, he had turned and started off into the mist.

Alex followed him as best he could, for the man faded in and out of the fog as though he were part of it.

“Wait up, um . . .” the end of Alex’s sentence trailed off, for he was unsure what to call the strange man.

The man chuckled and called over his shoulder, “Call me Captain Tory.”

Who is Captain Tory? Find out at www.mhshowler.com!

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The Howler reserves the right to refuse advertising which does not adhere to the publication’s standards, particulary in reference to good taste and to products and/or services that are illegal and/or immoral for the majority of high school readers. Guest contributions sent to The Howler which do not adhere to the publication’s standards may be turned down for publication.

The Howler strives to inform, educate, and entertain the student body of Monarch High School as a student-produced newspaper and open forum for student expression and opinions. Expression made by students in The Howler is not an expression of Boulder Valley School District Board policy and the School District and its employees are immune from any civil or ciminal action based on any expression made or published by students in The Howler.

STAFF Andrew Patra/Editor-in-Chief Carmen Harris/Culture Editor Rachael Jacobs/Features Editor Levi Wood/Opinions Editor Jasmine Jeffcoat/Sports Editor Tori Armitage/News Editor Mikayla Dudek/Web Editor-inChief Matt Keenan/Associate Editor

Monarch High School 329 Campus Drive Louisville, CO, 80027

Staff Reporters Samantha Wexler Emma Wolters Emma Baziuk Sali Castro Bryan Dumpert Ian Fowles Estelle Silk Hannah Gross Ellie Guanella Zikra Hashmi Kanika Hicks Nick Kauza Claire Clarissa Maddie Rumbach Sarah Schemmerling Estelle Silk Chase Standerwick Sneha Varanasi Aidin Velick Anna Wexler Kevin Wu Advisers Bonnie Katzive Emily Stanley