May

Friday, May 17, 2013 Monarch accomplishments celebrated

check out where the class of 2013 is headed next year

senior wyatt scott heads to art school

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pageS 8&9

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The Howler Volume 14

A student publication of Monarch High School since 1998. 329 Campus Drive, Louisville, CO

Issue 9

A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A SENIOR: Notable Firsts and Lasts

by Joy Wineman

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enior year is a rite of passage for Monarch’s young adults. It is characterized by beginnings, endings, excitement, boredom, sentimental tears, and essentially just being a nine month contradiction. Reconciling opposing emotions is the struggle of every senior, especially amidst a transitional season of significant “firsts” and “lasts.”

Fall for a senior means Homecoming, football games, and the beginning of college application season. Senior Mackenzie Bloom supervised decoration set up for this year’s Homecoming, among other dances. She describes senior year as a time for “finally being in the leadership position for everything. Senior year is our chance to make Monarch what we want it to be and to leave a legacy.” However, she continued to describe this opportunity as a Catch 22.“Once you get that responsibility it can take the fun out of things. I was in charge and so focused on making sure [set up]

went well that I felt like I didn’t enjoy things.”

Senior football captain Cole Watson identified his hardest “last” of senior year as his last game for Monarch. Even though they won state, Watson said he still found it difficult. “Football is something that’s important to me. We ended the year in such a great way and we’re all friends, and I am going to be playing football again in college, but at that time I wasn’t sure and so it could have been the last time [I played] ever,” said Watson.

Bloom describes her application process as starting very early. “I think I was the first senior to make a meeting with a counselor, so I was really on top of it and really early which was nice because I had all my apps done early.” Watson, on the other hand, struggled with “trying to stay focused and motivated and apply for college, it’s a lot of work.”

Winter for a senior means lots of schoolwork and some admissions decisions. Watson described the trouble with school work, especially during second semester in that “You don’t

really want to do anything but you still have to keep your grades up, I mean you don’t have to but it’s kind of a pride thing,” said Bloom.

Regarding admissions decisions from colleges, they tend to be received with much excitement and anxiety. The trick is what to do upon being accepted. The hardest decision is not by the college but by the student. “The hard part was picking. It became more about money than I thought it would,” said Bloom, but she continued to say that “It all falls into place and you find the right fit.”

Spring for a senior means highlights such as the spring play, ditch day, and graduation.

Bloom’s toughest last, she said, was the last theatre show, by far. “I’ve done theatre for the longest in high school and it’s always been the most sentimental, and the biggest family that I have built. Saying goodbye at the end of the last show was the hardest,” said Bloom.

Bloom also admitted that she “ditched a class for the first time ever because it’s senior year.” This senior specific tradition cele-

brated on a Monday each Spring (and occasionally in the fall as well) was also observed by senior Cole Watson. Along with ditching his first class, Watson also “got a B for the first time,” a common symptom of senioritis.

Finally, after all this, comes graduation, and with it, a sudden, unexpected burst of wisdom just waiting to be bestowed upon eager underclassmen. “Don’t slack off the first three years, especially freshmen year, because people mess up their GPA there, and that will hurt you when you apply for college,” said Watson. Bloom took a more relational approach and advises underclassmen to “Get involved and stay involved. Build those families, because even though it sucks saying goodbye at the end of senior year it’s nice to have people to say goodbye to.” This full and rich year is wrapping up for the class of 2013, and will be starting soon for the class of 2014. For both of these classes, each season will bring a new and exciting adventure.

OPINIONS

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A NOTE FROM THE SENIORS

Howler Staff

Print Editor-in-Chief Aleiya Evison Online Editor-in-Chief Charlie Light Opinions Will Petersen News Bridget Anthony Features Katie Ciaglo Arts and Entertainment Katie Berohn Sports David Andrews Copy Mia Mulvahill Business Tyler Debord Reporters Anna Blanco Olivia Coleman Natalie Forman Jack Howard Ashley Litoff Conner Lund Ellie Oliver Christina Rodie Arika Rooney Grace Tallmon Dalton Valette Joy Wineman

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wo years ago, The Howler was nothing more than an idea. In 2010 the newspaper was forced to close down due to funding, but 2011 marked the fall that it would start back up. Over the summer before our junior year, we began planning for what would be the rebirth of The Howler.

None of us had been on the staff of a publication, and some of us had never even taken a journalism class. Starting the newspaper back up seemed daunting, and we all felt pressure to bring it back with a bang.

As we wrap up our fifteenth issue and second year, none of us can believe how far The Howler has come from its humble beginnings. We’ve watched as our staff has grown, our editors have become experts, our publication has blossomed, and we’ve created a website. We never guessed being a part of this staff would be such an enriching, challenging, and beautiful experience. Being a part of The Howler has become an integral part of all of our high school careers, and we know that what we’ve learned in room L205 is invaluable.

It is an honor to serve the community with our news coverage, and we feel lucky to create a space for topics that might otherwise go unaddressed without The Howler. We feel that the power of words should never go underestimated. At The Holwer we believe we can promote unity, understanding, and action with what we write.

Thank you to all of the readers of this paper. Without your readership, support, and feedback, bringing The Howler back into existence would not have been possible. All of the positive words from our readers both humbles and inspires us to continue creating the best publication possible.

As for next year, we have the utmost confidence that the 2013-2014 editorial staff will exceed all of our expectations and bring The Howler to the next level. We wish all of you the best of luck!

All the best, The Senior Staff of The Howler: Aleiya Evison, Charlie Light, Katie Ciaglo, Bridget Anthony, Natalie Forman, Christina Rodie, and Joy Wineman

Advisor Bonnie Katzive The Howler strives to inform, educate, and entertain the student body of Monarch High School as a monthly student-produced newspaper and open forum for student free expression. The paper will also provide a forum for community opinions.

MS. KATZIVE

Dominic yang YEARBOOK

On behalf of the whole Howler Staff, and especially the seniors, thank you for all of the support, encouragement, and hard work you have put into this publication.

Over the past two years you have helped us with everything from cut=outs to layouts. We appreciate you so much Dom! Without you The Howler would not look nearly as good.

You’re the best K-Dawg!

You Rock Dom!

As our fellow publication, we couldn’t be more grateful for your support and resources. We have so much respect for all of you!

cig: Monarch teens and smoking

by Dalton Valette

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moking is something that everyone has encountered. Whether that is you actually smoking or someone you know who is out smoking or you’ve just seen people smoking on the street. Like it or not, smoking is in our society’s blood (and lungs).Some people become so uptight and irate when smoking is brought up, and many people believe smoking is absolutely one of the worst things a person can do to themselves. How is it that someone can put such foul, awful chemicals into their bodies? That is just so gross. (And I’ve noticed people who say things in this nature usually have a giant bag of fast food in their hands.)

I personally disagree with that philosophy, that smoking is one of the worst things a person can do to themselves. I am not a smoker, never have been, and I probably will never smoke a cigarette in my lifetime (though I do imagine myself smoking a cigar on a special occasion just to release my inner Kennedy once in awhile.) I believe that it is wrong to scorn and berate people over something like smoking. It is their choice to continue smoking or not. But smoking has become less prevalent in American culture.

Over the course of many decades, people have come to better understand that smoking is lethal. The most prominent form of anti smoking campaigns came from education reforms targeted at kids. Contests abound with children painting large scale posters about avoiding cigarettes and the dangerous effects

they have on the human body. I listen to the facts and know that smoking is bad; I’m not saying that it’s healthy by any means, but do you need to belittle someone who smokes?

“I get harassed, sometimes by teachers,” an anonymous student said with a cigarette in their hands. “And if people are trying to bum from you all the time,” someone else chimed in.

At Monarch, a good portion of the teenage population smokes, but compared to most schools, the regulations about smoking are fairly liberal it seems. I’ve seen teens in the halls with lit cigarettes in their hands or in their lips, but most of the time if one wishes to smoke they head down to the corner. (The corner being the abrupt end of Campus Drive that has a few concrete cylinders and a trashcan or two.) Still, with this overall liberal surroundings towards smoking, most preferred to remain anonymous, while smoking out in the open.

“I wish the corner wasn’t all the way down here though,”an upperclassman remarked as I awkwardly tried to ask some questions just about smoking in general, because I will admit, I know nothing. I think it’s understandable to complain about the faraway location where one has to go to avoid judgmental eyes of peers and educators.

Yet most, when complaining about the downsides of cigarettes, didn’t mention the distance but brought up their high prices.“It just sucks to have tobuy them. They’re expensive.”

Cigarettes are indeed expensive, largely from the over 100 implemented cigarette taxes. The average price for a pack of ciga-

rettes in Colorado is around $5.96, but that is nothing compared to New York, where the average price hovers just under $12. And yet, interestingly enough, a fair amount of the smokers stayed positive about their addiction.

When I asked about Senior Smoke Out I was met with near unanimous enthusiasm. I highly doubt I will attend, but I think it’s just dandy that others look forward to something to celebrate about in an overall orderly fashion. Well, as orderly as a giant smoke out amongst high school students can be.

For me, smoking has never caught my eye the same way a Stephen King book has. I don’t like smoking, the smell makes my nose crinkle and the smoke makes my eyes water. I become paranoid about all the long term health concerns, because I try to be planful about the near and long term future, and yet most didn’t mention fear of cancer of shorter lifespans.

“I’ll stop when I’m pregnant,” someone said in a tone that sounded half joking, half serious. And I’m okay with that.

Smoking can be very hurtful to the smoker and those close to them after a period of time.

Cigarettes become unbelievably addictive thanks to all the chemicals in them. They can drive people to points of desperation and lead people through awful withdrawal symptoms if and when someone decides to quit. Heavy smokers can lose up to fourteen years of their life just from smoking, and the average pack a day smoker will spend nearly $2,500 a year on cigarettes. Cigarettes are dangerous, addictive, and expensive, but if you want to go

out and smoke, that’s fine by me. If you know someone who smokes and want them to stop, tell them. They may or may not heed your advice, but in the end it is their life and their choice. They can do what they please with what they have, even if that does mean knocking a few years off that lifespan of theirs.

Photo courtesy of MCT Campus

Education conundrum by: David Andrews

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elson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Education is essential to a successful future. It may not always seem like what you are learning in school is applicable to adult life. However, an education gives you the skills to analyze issues critically and question the world around you.

An educated population is necessary to a successful democracy as citizens need to be able to make informed decisions.

One would think that this valuing of education would be uniform across society, but surprisingly, it is not. There are few places in America where this devaluing of education is more apparent than Colorado. Funding for education has fallen by the wayside as a result of the recent recession. In the past three years the state legislature has cut funding for K-12 education by $1 billion. Colorado currently ranks 42nd in the nation for per pupil spending and is 49th in state and local support for higher education per capita, according to the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.

Where does the money come from to fund the 178 school districts and almost 850,000 K-12 students in Colorado? Taxpayers.

Taxpayers pay these taxes mainly through property taxes distributed between the local and state governments. In 1982 the Gallagher Amendment was passed and stated that there would be a 50/50 split between state and local contributions. In 1992 TABOR (Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights) was approved by voters. This law took the power of raising taxes away from the legislature and put it into the hands of voters.

Ever since TABOR was passed funding for schools has fallen astronomically. At the time TABOR was passed Colorado was $500 below the national per-pupil spending average.

Today, Colorado spends $1,809 less than the national per-pupil spending average. Colorado is the only TABOR state in the country.

Is it merely coincidence that ever 4 since the power to raise taxes has rested

with voting, tax paying adults, education spending has fallen off a cliff? No. While, the recession has certainly played a part, what needs to be seen is that there is mass injustice within our current system. Voting adults have gone to the polls year after year and voted down raising property taxes and in turn have left Colorado’s struggling schools out in the cold. Of course, we don’t see many effects of this firsthand at Monarch but when the statistics are looked at from a statewide basis it is startling. In a recent Education Week study in which six key factors were analyzed, including K-12 achievement and school funding, Colorado came in 35th.

At first glance it may have looked like TABOR was a positive step for Colorado. It puts the power of raising taxes back in the hands of the people. However, today with the ability of hindsight it is abundantly clear that the people of Colorado have chosen to keep more money in their pockets instead of investing in the future of Colorado’s youth.

It is not only the youth of Colorado that are experiencing the detriments of this system. In the same Education Week study it was found that Colorado teacher salaries rank 44th as a percent of pay in comparable professions.

The entire education system suffers as a result of the restrictive TABOR law and lack of power that is placed in local and state legislatures.

I understand that during tough economic times it is in a family’s best interest to save money instead of paying higher property taxes. However, TABOR was enacted in 1992 and this decrease in funding is not a phenomenon of the past three years. It is a continual cycle of poor funding.

The fact that Monarch as a whole has not experienced any major consequences of decreased education is an indicator of the inequity in the system. Many families are educated and we have in our community the social and cultural capital to succeed without massive funding from the state. However, when there are math classes with over 40 students and many clubs and activities are

Quick Facts for Colorado PerPupil Funding: 1979- Peak of K-12 Per-Pupil Funding at

$202

1986- First time Per-

Pupil Funding goes into the negatives in over a decade, at -$299

1992- TABOR passed 2008- K-12 Per-Pupil

Funding at -$1,145

underfunded one must wonder how poor the conditions must be in less affluent school districts. Because they lack family resources that we possess in Boulder Valley other districts such as Denver Public Schools are being hit hard.

In December of 2012 a group of education advocates sued the state of Colorado for not upholding the requirements laid out in the Colorado Constitution surrounding education. The constitution requires a “thorough and uniform system of free public education.”

A district court ruled in favor of the plaintiff.

The case is currently being considered by the Colorado Supreme Court. If the case is won by the plaintiff it could mean a restructuring of money in the state budget and billions more dollars for K-12 education across the state.

It is intensely frustrating to me that the decision that voting adults make to not vote to increase funding for schools affects those that can’t vote. While it may be the voting population’s money that would be used it is a helpless feeling to be part of a system where a vote is necessary to make a difference. I suppose I am making my voice heard in this article, but overall adults are choosing to keep Colorado’s schools woefully low, and the greatest inequity in my opinion is that they don’t have to attend them.

Student Accomplishments of the year A recap of the 2012-2013 school year that was packed full of incredible accomplishments

by Anna Blanco and Grace Tallmom Photos taken by Anna Blanco

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onarch has been very successful this year, from sports state championships, to state officers in clubs such as DECA. These accomplishments all took place at the hands of the students, who offered their talents, passions, and hobbies willingly, allowing the school to stand out and excel both athletically and academically. The Howler asked a few students to explain their favorite aspect of their accomplishment.

Football State Champions Monarch played Denver South High School and won 17 to 14 in a stunning game. Ethan Marks was named the game’s MVP.

Girls Cross Country State Champions

“[The best part was] coming together as a team, and the memories as a team,” said junior Ethan Marks. “It was a dream come true. We’ve been dreaming about it since we were little.”

This is the second year in a row that the girls have come out on top and won the states for Cross Country. “It was amazing to be able to come back and prove that we had the ability to win not just once, but two times,” said junior Claire Green. “The best part was getting to see the coach’s reactions and the effect that it had on everybody involved.”

DECA State Officer

“[The best part was] when Ethan got the first down, it sealed the game,” said Logan Shapiro. “It was exhilarating, really exciting.”

Also this year: Tyler Warner went through a very long and complicated process to become a DECA state officer.

“It was a huge process. The best part is and will be making a bunch of new friends,” said Warner.

This included many interviews, a speech, and many other things. Warner is now in charge of District 1, which includes three different schools. These schools are Monarch, Mountain Range, and Legacy. Warner is in charge of communication and events for these three schools concerning DECA.

Brian Larson is going to the National Debate Competition in Birmingham Alabama in June.

He is the only BVSD National qualifier.

15 students placed at the World Language Day competitions.

At Disney World, the choir placed best in class in their category and second overall. The rest of the musical ensembles that competed received excellent and superior ratings.

Ultimate Frisbee Boys and Girls claimed the state title second semester, and the Girls claimed the state title in first semester as well.

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a step towards equality 48 couples celebrate first day of Civil Unions ronments for self-expression, gathering, support, and dialogue; advocate for social justice; collaborate with others who share our vision; celebrate the contributions of the many facets of our community; and educate the public about the experiences of LGBTQ people.”

Executive Director of OUT Alicia Lewis Laura Edwards, of Boulder, watches as Marie Banich, her partner, talks to a clerk during their Civil emotionally Union ceremony in the early morning hours of May 1st. (Photo credit: David Andrews) addressed the crowd before

by David Andrews the ceremonies began. “Tonight is a big step for gay rights in Colorado and loving couples s rain and gloom pervaded the world will gain the right to make official their love outside revelers gathered inside of the for each other” said Lewis. Over the course of Boulder County Clerk’s Offices and four hours early on Wednesday morning 48 made merry. At midnight on Wednesday, May couples made their relationships official with 1st, civil unions became legal in Colorado for a civil union certificate. gay couples. The Clerk’s office was alive with Lewis emphasized throughout her speech the sound of music from a deejay and the that public opinion is currently swaying in general hubbub of celebration. Families and the favor of gay marriage equality. President friends waited in the downstairs portion of the Obama has voiced his opinion publicly that building and cheered exuberantly upon each the nation must move forward by extending new couple descending the stairs into their marriage equality to gay people. Also, accordwelcoming arms. Congressman Jared Polis ing to an article by The Huffington Post on could be seen milling about shaking hands, April 14, 58% of the American public support hugging patrons, and handing out cupcakes. the legal recognition of gay marriage.

The event was put on by OUT Boulder. OUT One couple that was further solidifying Boulder’s mission is, “to foster safe envitheir relationship was Laura Edwards and

A

Marie Banich, both of Boulder. Edwards and Banich have been together for 12 years. Edwards echoed the feelings of many others in attendance, saying, “I think it’s one more step towards marriage that we want to take without hesitation. It’s been official between us for a long time, but this is one more way to solidify our relationship in the eyes of society.”

Banich cited the legal upside of having a civil union as a reason for attending. “We used to have a slip of paper we kept that gave medical power to each other if we were in the hospital but now this will allow it to be official.

Who knows if they would have accepted what we had written up before?”

The Boulder County Clerk has a history of playing a role in marriage equality issues. In 1975 Alex Hunter, the local district attorney, interpreted the Colorado statutes to be gender neutral and the County Clerk Clela Rorex issued several marriage licenses. These licenses were eventually struck down in federal court in the Adams vs. Howerton case. The issue came full circle late Tuesday evening as the building issued completely credible civil unions.

With a smile on her face after making all of her paperwork official, Edwards said, “legally, socially it is very important to us, but marriage equality is where we want to go.”

The Supreme Court is currently deliberating over a case involving California’s Proposition 8 which puts a ban on same-sex marriage. Since 2002, Colorado has had a same-sex marriage ban written into their constitution.

While it was a joyous evening for Edwards and Banich they reiterated the thoughts of so many others when they said, “The fight is not over, not by a long shot.”

School Celebrates No Place For Hate Designation

Ups and downs may Caps are up in May! Graduation caps to be specific. Whether the commencement is from high school, college, or even diapers, it is not complete unless some form of headwear has gotten air time. Monarch carries on this time old tradition. The class of 2013 will be graduating on actor and host Bob Saget’s 43rd birthday, May 17th. Parties, summer, and sighs of relief to follow.

Good eyesight has decreased this month, at least for those who foolishly looked straight into the annual solar eclipse. This year the event took place on May 10, and was only visible for about six minutes to those living in Australia and the Pacific. A warning for next year: if your friend tells you that gullible is written on the moon (which would be directly in front of the sun), no matter how tempting, don’t look.

May is a fertile month, or at least so the legend says. According to Greek mythology May was named for the goddess of fertility, Maia. She is fabled to be the mother of Hermes, who turned out to be a thief. Perhap that is who stole spring this year, because there was very little transition from winter to summer.

Couch potatoes lessen this month as the annual Bolder Boulder rolls around. This 10k through the streets of Boulder will be held again on memorial day. Race director Cliff Bosley released that, in response to the bombing of the Boston Marathon, security will be increased, but that it was already a top priority, and will be fully addressed (The Denver Post).

A bounty of holidays have made their home in May. Between May Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day, it is a tall order to find a reason not to celebrate. In fact, May 19-25 is the only week this month not containing a major national holiday. This week is also coincidentally finals week at Monarch. It seems that distractions will be a little more difficult to come by this year.

Windows are down in May as the world’s longest winter finally comes to a close. While May 1st did bring with it up to six inches of snow, meteorologists predicted that to be the last storm of the season. Alas, the resurgence of sandals and shorts may just gain a foothold. Not that Boulderites haven’t been wearing them all winter regardless, but at least now it is no longer a health concern.

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First photo: Cupcakes were provided by the catering class for a No Place for Hate celebration.

Second Photo: Teachers from the diversity committee get together to celebrate No Place for Hate.

Third Photo: Mrs. Reza and her daughter at the No Place for Hate party.

Fourth Photo: Mr. Allen jams with three students while Mr. Bouchta looks on.

The Path Less Traveled

Monarch seniors choose alternative options to immediate college enrollment

by Aleiya Evison

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or the majority of Monarch seniors, the fall after graduation means a brand new path which leads straight to college. Whether it’s in-state or out-of-state, the last two semesters have been all about finding the perfect school to spend the next four years at. However, for some seniors, college will not be the next stop on the list.

“Next year I’m taking a gap year to volunteer,” said senior Taylor Marxhausen. She explained, “I personally don’t think I’m ready to jump right into college, and I want to take a year for myself.” Marxhausen plans on volunteering outside of Colorado and she said, “I’m thinking of volunteering in the marine bio field, so turtle preservations, coral reefs, helping out with lionfish, that kind of stuff.” She hopes that this volunteer work will help her, “find out if I want to do marine biology for an actual career, because volunteering for a year will help me decide if I really like the fieldwork.”

Like Marxhausen, senior Cameron Waugh plans on taking a gap year starting next fall.

“My two options are to either go to Brazil and work with a kids sports program, teaching young kids sports and how to work as a team, or go to Peru and teaching kids english.” Waugh found out about these options through a volunteer network. He explained, “It’ll be through a program called International Volunteer Headquarters. They’re sort of a mediary program that sets you up with

more specialized programs in different areas.”

Waugh became interested in a gap year because, “One of my best friends decided to do it and it convinced me as well.” He added, “From what I hear from people who have done this, they all say it’s the best decision they ever made.” Waugh explained, “I want to do this because i think now is the best time- I won’t ever get another opportunity in my life. I think it will help me grow individually and hopefully help me decide what I want to do with my life.”

Hesitancy surrounding gap years seems to come from the belief that once a student leaves school, they’ll never go back, but Waugh and Marxhausen both plan on continuing their education after their gap years. “For college I’m going to Front Range Community College and then transferring to Humboldt university for my masters,” said Marxhausen.

Waugh said, “I deferred acceptance at Montana State University and University of Puget Sound. I’ll choose between those two colleges when I get back [from my gap year].”

Senior Jordan Gotski, who will be working next year, also plans to go to college af-

ter her year off. “I hope [that I do go to college]. There’s a lot of stuff I want to do that I couldn’t without a degree. I really like history and want to work in a museum, or archaeology out in the field, and I know you can’t just do that [without a degree].

I hope that I rediscover a passion for learning and the motivation for school,” she said.

Gotski will be “working at the Louisville rec-center next year and this summer.” Her reasons for taking a gap year stem from the intense student she has been for the past 12 years, “It’s mostly that I’ve burned myself out too quickly. Since elementary school I’ve been kind of an overachiever and i’ve always gotten good grades, which is fine, but I’ve just lost the fun of learning because I was so focused on getting good grades and doing well and not actually learning the information.” She added, “Personally I need a year to figure out myself and figure out what I want and what I find important. School just didn’t seem like the best place to do that.”

Gotski admits that choosing to take a

“I want to do this because I think now is the best timeI won’t ever get another opportunity in my life.”

-Cameron Waugh

year off came with challenges. “It took a lot for me to be ok with my decision in telling people. Mostly my peers, because I feel like everyone judged it for me.” It also proved difficult finding resources concerning gap years, “Counselors mention there are other options, but it’s not presented in as positive a way as it could be.” She added, “I think it needs to be an option that people can easily get information for just as much as college info, and not be looked down upon for it.”

Marxhausen explained why she thinks gap years are taboo to many, “People expect immediate education. As soon as you go to middle school you go to high school, as you go to high school you go to college. But college is such an open thing, you’re allowed to not go immediately. You’re allowed to take some time off while you’re in [college].” She continued, “It’s more important to take time to discover yourself before you dive into serious careers or serious education. If you feel like you should go to college right away, don’t deny that feeling, but if you have any doubt about going to college, taking a year will help you decide whether or not college is the right option for you.”

Waugh added, “I do think more high school seniors should consider a gap year. I just don’t see why anyone would be opposed to the idea. it’s a great opportunity to go somewhere and learn a lot about another culture, another place, and different people. I’d strongly encourage all people to look into the gap year possibilities.”

Ginge binge: college how-tos

by Ellie Oliver and Arika Rooney

H

ey, seniors! Graduation is right around the corner. You’ll be living on your own, feeding yourself, and paying for your own expenses. That sounds great, doesn’t it? One problem. . .

You forgot to learn how to do these things before you left! Keep calm, it’s all going to be okay because we’re going to show you the basic necessities you’ll need before you head out.

You’ve seen your parents do it a million times, yet you’ve failed to learn how to do it yourself; the laundry. Before you venture on your way, here is a step by step on how to do your own laundry.

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Sort your dirty clothes into separate piles. One for whites, darks, delicates, and bright colors.

Make sure to empty the pockets and pre-treat heavy stains before washing.

If you find any mistakes between your numbers and the bank’s, make sure you know Use cold water to protect colors and keep the darks from bleeding or fading. Use hot water to keep your whites at their whitest.

Wash for approximately 45 minutes.

Use the low-drying temperature for delicates, medium for most fabrics, and high for cotton. If you’re not sure, it’s best to stick with low or medium.

Once finished, fold your laundry and put it away so you can enjoy clean clothes for the rest of the week!

With this new freedom, you’re going to become in charge of your expenses and you’ll need to be careful about it. Never used a checkbook before? This short how-to will teach you all you need to know to keep track of your purchases and balance your checkbook.

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Have a notebook or check register to keep track of your purchases.

Find your current balance by either going to your bank or logging in online to their website. Write this balance at the top of the page in your notebook.

Record all of your transactions and checks used.

Write the date, the payee and the amount given.

Record withdrawals or payments made from the account and deposits or transfers into the account.

Regularly recalculate the balance in your account. When the bank statement arrives, resolve your checkbook.

If you find any mistakes between your numbers and the bank’s, make sure you know where the numbers got jumbled and fix them.

Cars are a must if you want to come back home and visit your family! But, alas, on the way home, boom! Flat tire. Do you know how to fix this to get home in time for dinner? If you read this, you’ll be back in no time!

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Find a stable, safe place to change your tire. Make sure your car is turned off with the parking brake on.

Take out the spare tire, usually found under your seats or in the trunk, and the jack, which is usually with the tire.

Place the jack under the frame. Make sure the jack is in contact with the metal portion.

Raise the jack until it is supporting (but not lifting) the car.

Remove the hub cap and loosen the nuts by turning counterclockwise.

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Crank the jack to lift the tire off the ground. Lift it high enough to remove the flat tire from the car.

Exchange the flat for the spare and put the hubcap and the nuts back on. Make sure they go on nice and snug, tightening them gradually one after the other in a circle, so your tire does not fall off.

7.

8.

Lower the car slowly. After the tire is on the ground, remove the jack. Put the old tire in your trunk and get a new one! Spare tires do not last for a long road trip.

Arika Rooney and Ellie Oliver demonstrating their skills.

(Photo credit: Arika Rooney)

Once the numbers are balanced, start this process over again.

Tips and tricks like these will hopefully help tions in the upcoming future and get you on

get you out of sticky situayour way. Good luck, seniors!

7

Monarch High sChool Class of 2013 Pacific Lutheran University Commander, Morgan

To Infinity...

And Beyond

St. Olaf College

Krinksy, Alexandra Larson, Brian LeBlanc, Reece Lesch, Nicholas Loch, Erika Martell, Brittany Martin, Jack May, Kaitlin McCoy, Kelsey McKenna, Carly Merlino, Kinsey Mickens, Kenny Mohedas, Jimena Monette, Jordan Mulvahill, Madeline Nguyen, Nhi O’Connor, Kevin Oliver, Henry Pham, Vy Reed, Willow Remington, Alysa

Ronacher, Kaylin Rosenshein, Faye Rudd, Natalie Ruske, Rachel Sakaki, Ryosuke Sawtelle, Anna Sloan, Casey Smith, Kylie Stevens, Julian Stimac, Brenna Stonesmith, Cyanne Sucharov Costa, Juliana Szeton, Sonia Turner, Jackie Venkataraman, Nikky Verbeck, Ian Walden, Ben Walker, Jack Wen, Darlene Wilkins, Daniel Yang, Dominic

Colorado School of Mines Epstein, Molly Keatley, Rachel

Colorado Mountain College Silverthorne Lozano, Mateo Staffa, Alex

Colorado Mesa University Allen, Nicholas Beswick, Austin Warman, Tatiana

Bilecky, Parker Dorr, Bri

University of Oregon Evison, Aleiya Ganahl, Tori Rainone, Jessi

Stanford University Wright, Danny

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Scott, Wyatt

Community College of Denver Satar, Hosna

Denver Body Art School Tattoos & Piercings

Adams State University Sanders, Jon

Holt, Kevin

Leuthaeuser, Chloe

New York University

Hope College

Creighton University

Kim, David

Watson, Cole

Tzegai, Mesel

Lehigh University

Wayne State College

Gallant, Julia

Fransen, Tyler

West Chester University

Univeristy of Nebraska Kerney

Westminster College Prior, Kenneth

Shanahan, Jack

Nguyen, Justin

Weber State University

Hidalgo-Cuellar, Melisa

Luther College

Naval Academy Hahm, Changdae

University of Notre Dame

Rodie, Christina

American University

Dougherty, Garrett

Kansas State University

Forman, Natalie

Benedictine College

Fenn, Caleb

Miami University of Ohio

Cannella, Jordan

Fort Hays State University Clark, Ashley

Northern Arizona University Bloom, Mackenzie Jones, Kyle Lofstedt, Addy Palmer, Jack Parker, Sean Stewart, Marcus

O’Gara, Keegan

Mid-America University of Kansas Nazarene University

Duke University

Dietz, Ellie

Lin, Antonia Naqeeb, Sama

Vanderbilt University Barrett, RJ

University of South Carolina

Oklahoma Christian University

Smith, Logan

Scharf, Megan

College of Charleston

Southern Methodist University

Talaric, Quinlan

Burton, Juliana Gambino, Alexis

Clemson University Meyer, Ally

Baylor University University of Arizona Bartlett, Caroline Leonard, Trey Smith, Steve Tennigkeit, Nathan

Wineman, Joy

At the date of this publication, these were the students who had informed the Howler of their future plans. Not all seniors are represented.

Rice University Castillo, Aida

Tulane University Johnson, Elizabeth

University of Miami Frazier, Mandy

Alternative Options

Lynn University Peterson, Kendall

Gap Year: Steven Hattel, Taylor Marxhausen, David Pollicita, Sarah Wait, Cameron Waugh Immediate Employment: Jordan Gotski, Kristina Hill, Ian Skarka

Young, Hannah

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Brown, Nick DeVito, Alexandra

Goossen, Ben

Art Institute of Colorado

Martinelli, Jaxon

Pikes Peak Community College

Northeastern University

Lake Forest College

Boston College

Findley, Lindsey Gardner, Tyler

Utah Valley University

Eisler, Jordan

DePaul University

University of Wyoming

Oah, Chantel

Redfern, Emily

Ciaglo, Katie Walker, Eric

Minter, Will

Floming, Taylor Madeson, Jessie Oetting, Carson Reis, Wyatt

University of California Davis Saint Mary’s College

University of Vermont Carleton College

Montana State

Bachrach, Melissa Cook, Nathaniel Brown, Hannah University of California Chrisbacher, Cole Santa Cruz Brigham Young University Frazier, Ben Gilpin, Shay Spong, Virginia Haddad, Morgan Langton, Daniel Harper, Rebecca California Polytechnic Hitchcock, Hannah State University Hunt-Woodland, Tessa Cuesta College Cabrera, Alex Johnston, Andrea Stork, Joe Magness, Fallon Krenik, Lauren Roeber, Josh Pepperdine University Krenik, Sydney Tenge, Meghan Ramsey, Eryn Larson, Mackenzie Morton, Erica University of Southern California Nelson, Connor Muller, Dane Picker, Katie University of California Los Angeles Sabio, Katrina Biffl, Natalie Sahud, David University of California San Diego Schreck, Laura Steffen, Mathias Seydel, Ashley University of Northern Colorado Silk, Gabriela Armijo, Madeline Simon, Sheridan Falloon, Jamie Stotsky, Mariah Kirk, Emily Vandenbergh, Will Riegel, Nic Wood, Joscelyn Wagner, Kingston University of Hawaii Manoa Zale, Abby Kawulok, Lia Kennebrew, Lauren Front Range Community College Altamirano, Carolina Hayford, Joe Hawaii Pacific University Jimenez, Nick Elsayed, Shareef Radley, Bridget Kuhns, Olivia Barney, Dustin Leedy, Cedric Burnett, Brittany Mansour, Janine Capoccioni, Nicole McSheehy, Randi Chosang, Tenzin Radley, Megan Cowern, Kevin Ribble, Kaylin Escobedo, Breanna Silk, Carrie Gilboy, James Xiong, Khaujshoua Goldstein, Eliot Hasbrouck, Cory

Western State Colorado University

Arato, Aren Enroth, Ashley Glassford, McKenzie Godec, Genevieve Lewis, Steve Pearson, Georgia

Britt, Cristiana

Oregon State University

Colorado State University University of Colorado Boulder

Anthony, Bridget Pai, Chris

Cuthbertson, Alison

Weideman, Kaitlin

Ensign, Levi Fitzgerald, Connor Forsyth, Hailey Funk, Steven Gamber, Trent Gamblin, Travis Gedrich, Grace Gerleit, Chelsea Gerliet, Derek Goldstein, Star Haertling, Zane Hoerling, Kelly Hudiburg, Kaitlyn Huynh, Lee Hykan, Josh Iarovoi, Dragos Jupille, Michael Kaler, Tristan Kershner, Jacob Kim, Andy Kinney, Elise

University of Wisconsin Madison

Krautler-Klemme, Meredith

Evergreen State College

Santa Clara University

Albrecht, Taylor Anderson, Emma Anderson, Erin Andrews, Taylor Ansell, Jon Ball, Ali Bennett, Kelsey Brunette, Paul Burgener, Roni Cai, Nicholas Cecil, Mackenzie Cevaal, Johnny Chadalawada, Sindhu Chen, Alana Cimino, Stephen Coffey, Aidan Conlin, Shannon Dean, Richard Donato, Andre Dorsey, Andrew D’Souza, Ryan

Gonzaga University

Metropolitan State University of Denver Alm, Landon Armijo, Lily Castano, Lorenzo Castano, Nicolas Fabrizio, Alexandra Fitts, Brian

Hillam, Isabel Jennings, Landon Maulsby, Michael Nellessen, Noah Nophal, Daniel

Connelly, Delani

University of Colorado Denver University of Denver Light, Charlie Robertson, Emily Sanders, Amanda Walden, Sarah Ward, Eric Wickers, Sean

Abraham, Sharon Corrigan, Kelly Farrell, Quinn Lee, Kuan-Hsuen Mota, Liz Moua, Rosemary Thomassen, Jeff

Congratulations Seniors!

artsANDentertainment BREAKING Tradition Senior Wyatt Scott chooses art school in lieu of traditional college

by Katie Berohn

F

or many students, going to a normal college or university is perceived as the only viable option for their future. But what if your passion lies in something different from the norm? Senior Wyatt Scott’s passion has always been in art. Because of this passion, he has decided to spend his college years at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, an art school in Denver. His plan is to major in Graphic Design, a field that he has been passionate about for his entire life.

“I knew very early in high school that I wanted to continue my art career outside of school,” Scott explained. “(RMCAD) was really impressed with my portfolio, so they really pushed me to go there.”

“Once I took a tour of the facility and I saw the studios and I figured out the programs, I realized that they’re the one school in the nation that has the highest employment rate, and I saw how creative the environment was. I knew it was where I needed to be.” Scott elaborated.

Scott also knows that at RMCAD, he will be able to stand out as an artist. “I can really be top dog and shine [at RMCAD].” Scott said.

Once Scott decided to attend RMCAD in the fall, he started to get excited for all that is ahead of him in his future there. “I’m most excited to be surrounded by kids that are passionate about things other than graphic design. Here at Monarch, I see a lot of kids that are also interested in Graphic Design.

That’s fun, and that’s cool, but I really wanna see what other mediums are out there, because I’m really interested [in things like] photography and sculpture as well, and

not just graphic design.” Scott explained.

“It’s just gonna be something completely different.” Scott said. “I might know everyone’s name, but everyone will be interested in the same things and I cannot wait.”

Scott is also excited for many of the features that RMCAD has to offer to him. “RMCAD has a great animation program. They have this program that takes a 2D drawing and automatically converts it to a 3D drawing. It’s the first mesh between 2D and 3D animation. RMCAD is the only college in America that has that program. They’re so advanced, and they’re also so green. everything is wind powered, everything is solar powered, it’s awesome.”

Even though going to RMCAD is Scott’s dream, he still has some pre-college nerves, just like any college freshman. “I’m nervous that I’m going to lose my creativity before I go to college. I haven’t really taken any art classes this year, so I’m feeling a little bit rusty, but I think once I get to that environment, my creativity will come back,” said Scott.

He’s also a little uneasy about his living situation for the coming year. “I’m kinda nervous too because you stay at the Regency, because that’s the only housing they have; they don’t have dorms. You either stay there or in an apartment. So basically if you don’t get into the Regency it’s like ‘hey, be a grown up already’. So that’s another thing I’m a little nervous about.” Scott said.

Scott is following his dream by going to art school. He’s breaking the norm by pursuing his passion, and proves that not everyone has to take the traditional route to college.

Senior Wyatt Scott andone of his designs, along with his college decision. (Photo by Katie Berohn, design by Wyatt Scott, courtesy of Wyatt Scott.)

Hanging up the costumes

Seniors in the Monarch theater department relay their high school experience

by Ellie Oliver

H

igh school has come and gone and for some seniors leaving isn’t so sweet. For Natalie Biffl and Natalie Rudd, leaving their thespian family is going to be harder than they thought.

“Alice in Wonderland was the first show I did,” said Biffl. “[I did] costumes.” After four years of being with the Thespians, Biffl has risen to be one of three Costume Goddesses. “[My fa-

Seniors Natalie Rudd, Jack Walker, and Chloe Leauthaeuser in costume from 80s Prom.

(Photo courtesy of Natalie Rudd)

10

vorite show was] Awesome 80’s Prom because the costumes were fun and it was just a really fun show and everyone liked each other.” This previous show was her 15th show at Monarch.

“I’m going to miss the people.” Biffl plans to continue working with costuming in television and movies. Biffl will hope to prepare for her aspirations at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is planning in majoring in languages and Business with a minor in Fashion.

Senior Natalie Rudd explains that leaving

Seniors Jordan Gotski and Natalie Biffl on Halloween.

(Photo courtesy of Natalie Biffl)

her theater family will be a tough goodbye after sharing so many memories here. “[My first show was] Alice in Wonderland my freshman year. I played Subject #3” she laughed. Getting two lead roles her junior year, Rudd has said Miss Saigon and MASH were her favorite shows. She, too, is going to miss her thespian family. “I plan on minoring in theater or at least being in shows if I can.” Rudd will attend the University of Colorado in the fall and wants to pursue becoming a history teacher.

Seniors Aleiya Evison and Natalie Rudd in costume from Kiss Me Kate.

(Photo courtesy of Natalie Rudd)

After sewing costume after costume and memorizing line after line, their journeys have finally come to an end. From looking up to the big kids in Alice in Wonderland to mentoring the incoming freshmen in Merry Wives of Windsor, these girls will remember their theatrical experience at Monarch High School forever.

Seniors Hannah Hitchcock, Ashley Seydel, Natalie Biffl, Jordan Gotski, and Hailey Forsyth.

(Photo courtesy of Natalie Biffl)

summer event calendar JUNE

JULY

MUSIC

Music

2nd: Taylor Swift @ the Pepsi Center 3rd: The Xx @ the Fillmore Auditorium 11th: Pitbull & Ke$ha @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre 30th: Vans Warped Tour @ Sports Authority Field at Mile High

5th & 6th: The Avett Brothers @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre 15th: Matchbox Twenty & the Goo Goo Dolls @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre 16th: John Mayer @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre 24th: One Direction @ the Pepsi Center

Kesha arrives to the 11th Annual NRJ Music Awards 2010 held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, Jan. 23, 2010. (Nebinger-Gorassini/Abaca Press/MCT)

John Mayer performs at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 21, 2010. (Bob Williams/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)

MOVIES

MOVIES

14th: Man of Steel 21st: Monsters University 21st: World War Z 28th: White House Down 28th: The Heat

3rd: Despicable Me 2 12th: Grown Ups 2 12th: Pacific Rim 26th: Wolverine 31st: The Smurfs 2 11

P.E. CREDITS FOR MUSICAL THEATRE

A new gym option may be available for musically inclined students

by Olivia Coleman

M

any students play sports throughout high school. Each sport a student plays is worth two Physical Education credits. These two credits are rewarded because of the level of physical activity and exercise the athlete must do during the season.

The graduation requirement is fifteen PE credits, so if a student takes Freshman Comprehension PE and plays five sports throughout high school, they will meet this requirement.

For the past several years, Brian du Fresne, the director of the spring musical, has been trying to get the musical approved for giving each member two PE credits. Hearing this at first might sound crazy, but students who aren’t involved in the musicals don’t understand the extensive workouts the cast members go through.

In a typical rehearsal for the musical, the cast will go through a couple of warm up games to boost up their energy, then they start with their physical warm ups. To begin, the actors run

up to three laps around the auditorium going up and down the stairs. Once they’ve completed their laps, everyone gathers on the stage to do stretches. Each year, there are a number of student choreographers who will lead stretches.

Stretching is followed by extensive ab workouts that involve crunches, bicycles, and planks. This schedule is followed everyday for the length of the musical, which is about how long a season of any sport would last. These extensive exercises are meant to get the actors into shape just as any sport would too.

Actors in the musical work just as hard as athletes do, and in return want to receive PE credits. If you still need a couple of PE credits to meet the requirement and sports don’t quite suit you, the musical might now be another option!

So, Thespians, keep an ear out. Sometime soon, if du Fresne succeds, you may be able to earn PE credits.

“Students who aren’t in the musicals don’t understand the extensive workouts the cast members go through.”

DALTON’S CINEMA SPOT: IRON MAN 3

By Dalton Valette PG-13, 130 minutes Starring- Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Ben Kingsley 2/ 5 Stars

I

ron Man 3 picks up just a little while after the events of last years The Avengers so everyone knows about mythical gods, aliens, and superheroes but people don’t seemed all that phased by this. Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) has a great life and is at the top of his game, but he is plague by nightmares and (many, many, many) panic attacks. While he is dealing with these attacks on his mind that push away his girlfriend Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow), he has to deal with a new threat from the East in the form of a terrorist called The Mandarin (Kingsley.)

Let me start by saying that I quiet enjoyed the first Iron Man. I thought Iron Man 2 was a mess and I was hoping for a good change of pace. No, no change of pace.

Overall, this was just a boring slosh of explosions that left me feeling as if I had seen this before. (And thinking about it, I had. This is basically The Dark Knight Rises Tony Stark edition with more explosions and less story.) I admire Downey Jr. as an actor and he plays the role of Stark with gusto, though I just find Tony Stark to be an unlikable jerk most of the time with little to no redeaming qualities.

The acting in this is all fine and well, though the best part of this film is The Mandarin who sadly receives little screen time, but the story is what really brings this po-

tentially great film to its knees. The story is so convoluted, uninteresting, predictable, and is reminiscent of the disastrous The Green Lantern. Yes, avid moviegoers, I would put Iron Man 3 in the same ring as The Green Lantern.

Everything in this is designed for cheap thrills and cheap laughs that have all been done before. The script is flimsy with gaping plot lines lingering at the end and there are so many unanswered questions that left me scratching my head at the abysmal ending which should have come a half hour sooner.

In the end, I was left feeling numb. My head hurt from all the explosions I had just seen, I didn’t feel for any of the characters, the story devolved into a poorly arranged ballad of chaos and I walked out the theater thinking, “man, I’m starting to get really fed up with all these superhero movies.” If I, a seventeen year old male who is the target demographic for these types of movies, am feeling bored, overwhelmed, and uninterested by all these movies, studios should really rethink the movies they’re pumping out every action packed summer.

Iron man 3 is grand on explosions and effects and skimpy on just about everything else a good movie needs.

summer HOROSCOPES Astrologist in residence: Narcissa Luna After waking up one day, I, Narcissa, felt that I had obtained all the knowledge of the stars that I could ever need, despite the fact that I have never read a single book or taken a single class on anything space-related. My calculations are taken simply through observation, intuition and a small bit of guessing. Enjoy.

Gemini: (May 21-June 20): This summer is gonna be a hot one, Gemini! Beware though, as the orbit of the moon shifts, you’ll be especially prone to painful sunburns. Slather up with sunscreen and be sure to remember your hat!

Cancer: (June 21-July 22): Prepare for an especially water-filled summer this year, Cancer. You will be drawn to the water like... well, a fish to water.

In fact you may even begin to see some gills sprouting and a slight webbing of your toes. Don’t worry; it will disappear come August.

Leo: (July 23-August 22) Summer 2013 will be a summer of love for you, Leo! Unfortunately, you will not be partaking in that love. Those around you will be intensely infatuated with their mate of choice, and you will be left sitting on the sidelines as the lonely moon of Venus rises.

12

Virgo: (August 23-September 22) As the westerly winds change rapidly this summer, you will be taken on a roller coaster of emotions Virgo. May will be a month of fury, but will soon transform into the sadness that June will bring. July will leave you especially ashamed, and finally August brings nothing but happiness.

Libra: (September 23 -October 22) This summer will be an especially confusing season for you, Libra. The details of your life will become fuzzy as you quickly forget where you live, who your friends are, and why the heck you walked into the kitchen and immediately forgot why you were there.

Scorpio:(October 23-November 21) As temperatures begin to rise, you will begin to melt.

Literally! your bones will become porous and pliable and you will begin to struggle to stand and walk as your legs sway under your weight, and your skin will begin to wrinkle as its elasticity fades. Blame it on the weak magnetivity of Pluto this month!

Sagittarius:(November 22-December 21) Lucky for you, Sagittarius, this summer you will be the life of the party! Everywhere you go people will congregate around you, music will blast, and dancing will ensue, whether you’re shopping at the grocery store, having your teeth cleaned at the dentist’s office, or even trying to nap in the privacy of your own home.

Capricorn:(December 22-January 19) As the wild stars of the milky way shine bright, you will find yourself especially drawn to the wilderness.

Stock up on camping gear and bug spray, and follow your instincts into the wild!

Aquarius:(January 20-February 18) The summer of 2013 will be an especially isolated one for you, Aquarius. You will find yourself craving alone time as the summer progresses. You may even resort to building cave-like blanket forts and locking your doors just to escape from other human beings.

Pisces: (February 19-March 20) While your classmates will be bronzing by the pool, you may see the exact opposite happening to your complexion. This summer, the longer you spend in the blazing sun, the milkier your skin will become. Spend too much time outdoors and people may mistake you for Edward Cullen.

Aries: (March 21-April 19) This summer, as the moon of strength enters Earth’s orbit, you will begin to look Hulklike as your muscles explode.

Your shoulders will broaden, your veins will burst out of your skin, and you will be pounding protein shakes as the summer months pass.

Unfortunately, you will shrink back to your naturally scrawny build around August 3rd.

Taurus: (April 20-May 20) Good luck will be pouring your way this summer, Taurus. You will find money on the street, win every game you play, and just be all around successful in your endeavors this season. Enjoy it!

Sports Athletic Department Faces Difficulties During Spring Season Weird weather sparks turf field debacle

by Conner Lund

T

his past year, issues have arisen with regard to the athletics and the athletic department. But this past month, the main focal point has been over the turf. Many students actually believe that it was in the hands of the athletic department. But although the athletic department has faced problems this year, it is actually not their fault.

The plowing accident in regards to the turf field was actually a freak weather accident. The turf is naturally sloped so as to allow draining to the sides during rain or snow. These drains actually got backed up during the snowstorm, and so this water was basically saturating under the field, creating major problems. In fact, the plowing should have been fine, but that water was under the turf, and so as soon as the tractors started plowing, they created the ruts that persist today on the field, according to Athletic Director Lani Nobles.

This field issue has now thrown off spring teams, such as Lacrosse and Soccer. Both of these spring sports now have lost out on home field play, which can be a major issue.

“All of our home games turned to away games for the rest of the season,” says senior girls soccer defender, Meghan Tenge. “We now have to travel farther away for games,” says junior lacrosse attackman, Troy Naudin. “You have a certain fire at home, and we just lost that fire.”

But all hope is not lost. In fact, Monarch has been slated by the BVSD maintenance department to get an entirely new turf field, starting construction in late May and scheduled to end in the middle of the summer. “We are also looking into a new track, because ours isn’t in the best shape,” says athletic director Lani Nobles.

Although sports teams are suffering now, this will change by the 2013-2014 school year. Monarch will have refined facilities for these sports to use by the next school year.

“This is not a typical problem. It’s really just a weird weather

accident,” said Nobles. “[This school] is 15 years old. It’s time for things to start going wrong, and with infrastructure, things are bound to need some attention after 15 years.”

Although this was a freak accident, other problems have occurred this year that can be traced back to the athletic department. During the first game of the boy’s fall soccer season, the boys team won 3-0, but the game didn’t count due to a lack of referees, a responsibility that rests on the athletic department.

The boys baseball team also played a game that was delayed two hours. Once the umpires arrived it was reported they didn’t know they had a game to officiate, according to pitcher Tyler DeBord.

It is inevitable that throughout the course of a sports season problems will arise. The logistical load is immense. Problems this season have been partially due to human error in the athletic department and partially due to weather; however, the weather has not only had negative consequences. Monarch will soon have a completely new turf field by the next school year, thanks to the odd spring weather that has occurred this season.

A Letter from the Editor Goodbye from the helm of the sports section

by David Andrews

k Booow! n

Athletic Director Lani Nobles works in her office on May 1st, 2013. Nobles has been busier than usual this Spring as heavy snow and rain forced many rescheduling of games and contributed to the collapse of the turf field.

(Photo credit: Conner Lund)

THROW A BUCA-STYLE

GRAD PARTY

Book it at Buca or Order our Party Pans To Go.

W

hen I joined journalism my freshman year I wasn’t expecting to find something I was passionate about. I knew I would need a language arts elective credit in high school and I liked writing, so it seemed like a nice way to get the requirement out of the way.

Within the first month of school I realized that this was something I genuinely enjoyed. I had my first experience with interviews and writing stories, telling people’s stories essentially.

Following my freshman year I knew that I wanted to be involved with the newspaper. The previous year Monarch did not have a paper due to low class enrollment, but we were determined to reincarnate the school paper. Because of the fact that I had been in Beginning Journalism the year before I became sports editor and had a sports section thrust into my possession.

I remember feeling unsure and scared about how I was going to put a viable sports section into print each month. As I look back now on our first issues, it’s visible to me how far we’ve come as a publication and as a sports section. When we brought back the paper the goal was to scrabble together enough content to fill the pages, and now the goal is to have a real and meaningful presence both online and throughout the school.

Of course, the first year was hard and we faced our many challenges. The most important part about these challenges was that we faced them together. Newspaper taught me how to work together with other people and create a product that was not just my vision, but a shared vision that took input from everyone involved. I’ve joined other activities at Monarch and overall newspaper thus far has been one of the most enriching. It has been an honor to tell the stories of Monarch students and experience the different views that each person holds. There is something we can all learn from this: other people’s viewpoints matter. I implore you to take the time to talk to one of your fellow classmates and see how they feel about an issue so as to enrich your own view.

As a sports section we are still working towards these goals, but it is the experiences that I have had along this journey that have defined my time I’ve had with the Howler. I am going to be the Editor in Chief next year, and while I’m ecstatic about this new opportunity I will miss being able to have the sports section to experiment with new ideas and find different ways to get out the word about Monarch sports.

BROOmfiELd 615 Flatiron Market Place Drive 303.464.7673 • BucadiBeppo.com

I hope the changes we’ve made this year in our coverage, both online and in print, have been helpful for you, as the reader. As i move on to Editor-in-Chief along with my Co-Editor in Chief I know I’m leaving the section in good hands with Olivia Coleman and Will Petersen.

Feel free to let us know what you want to see next year or what we could have done better on twitter. Tweet us at @HowlerSports.

Lastly, I want to say thank you for being the engaged student body that you are and caring about Monarch sports. It seems simple, but at the end of the day, without all of you I would never have had the chance to work on the school newspaper. The experience I’ve had and the countless lessons I’ve learned would never have been possible if you didn’t take the time to read the newspaper and create the demand for the stories that we create.

See you next year, -David Andrews 13

Snapshot: Cam Waugh

by David Andrews

Bombs Away: Cam Waugh and Boys Ultimate Frisbee CApture state title Ultimate Frisbee may not be an official CHSAA sport, but since its inception at Monarch in 2003 it has garnered a considerable following. Head coach Fin Waugh has crafted a winning program that has won seven combined state championships, three in mixed competition, three in girls varsity, and one in boys varsity. This year, both the boys and the girls varsity squads captured state titles. Downfield threats Will Minter and senior Ben Goossen played key roles in the title run. Cam Waugh, senior handler, also played a large role throughout the season providing experience and maturity for the team.

Waugh is the “designated puller” as he describes it. We broke down the steps it takes for Waugh to “pull” the disc to start off a possession following a score.

“I release the disc and try and keep it as angled as possible because I know it’s going to flatten out.”

“I use that lunge to start twisting as I’m coming down. You get a lot of torque there.”

“I come down on my left foot and then let it fly. I know it’s a good throw when I can feel my abdomen tighten.”

“I start out, collect myself, visualize where I’m going to throw it.”

“I take a big step, almost lunge forward with my right foot. This part is all about building momentum.”

Photo credit: Dominic Yang

Swimming in Obscurity

Seniors find motivation in areas outside of student support

by Will Petersen

A

s a student body, many enjoy going to football and basketball games throughout the year, but there are various other sports where there is a low level of support shown by students. “Everybody goes to football games, but nobody even really thinks to go to swim meets,” said senior girls swimmer Morgan Commander.There are obviously many factors that play into deciding which sporting event to attend, but attendance at events does affect performance of athletes. Many swimmers echo the opinions of Commander and believe that swimming doesn’t quite get the recognition it deserves.

“I understand we don’t get much recognition because we don’t win state championships, but it is definitely a big part of swimmers who go to this school’s lives,” said Commander.

Commander has been recognized as the swimmer of the meet at the State meet, and has placed first multiple 14

times at meets in the 100 Freestyle as well as the 100 Backstroke.

Cyanne Stonesmith said that many Monarch swimmers “wake up at 4:30,” to go to the pool and train.

Many swimmers at Monarch are required to wake up around 4:30 to 5:00 and swim for up to two hours every day of the week, not including the dry land practice they have after school, which is a large amount of practice time in comparison to other sports. It is a serious commitment to be a member of the swim team due to the sacrifice of sleep that is required.

Because of the small amount of support from fans swimmers get at meets, it is harder for them to find motivation within the crowd.

“We don’t get a lot of support at meets,” said Stonesmith, “I look to my teammates for support and motivation.”

Senior Josh Roeber finds his motivation in “other schools.”

Roeber will be attending and swimming at Cal Polytechnic State University next fall, and has placed first in the State Qualifiers and many meets

Seniors Elise Kinney and Morgan Commander talk with coach Ted Romero at the Mustang Invitational on January 12th, 2013. Girls swimmers put in constant work throughout the winter and sacrificed sleep to go to 5 a.m morning practices five days a week. (Photo credit: Nick Cai)

including those at Fossil Ridge, Boulder, and Mountain Range high schools.

What are these graduating swimmers hoping for from students in the future? “If more people came to meets and

to our fundraisers we would appreciate it,” said Commander.

Swimmers hold fundraisers throughout the year for Monarch students, and the money raised goes towards the team and anything needed for their season.

Teammate or Mate?

by Bridget Anthony

M

onarch baseball’s season came to an abrupt halt on Saturday, May 11th when the team fell to Smoky Hill 8-0 in the first round of the 5A state playoff. Fred Good pitched four innings and gave up five runs. It may not have been Good’s finest outing, but the team may not have made it this far without Good, who was solid all season. We decided to take matters off the field and set up a postseason competition.

We asked Good, his girlfriend senior Tori Ganahl, and best friend and teammate senior Cole Maltese questions about Fred to see if his team mate, or mate knows him the best. The competition is stiff though because while Good is Ganahl’s long time boyfriend, Good and Maltese won Best Bromance in the yearbook this year. This may even take extra innings!

Favorite RESTAURANT?

TORI GANAHL ‘13/Girlfriend

FRED GOOD ‘13/Baseball P/C

El Tapatio or Tres Margaritas

El Senor Sol

P.F Chang’s

Favorite MOVIE?

COLE MALTESE ‘14/Best Friend and SS

0

0

For Love of the Game

For Love of the Game

Batman 0

5

Favorite ANIMAL?

Snake

BEST TRAIT?

Dog

Humor

Favorite PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE?

Humor

Albert Pujols

Celebrity Crush?

MOST PRIZED POSSESSION?

Mocha Baseball Glove

0

Humor

5

Bryce Harper

Carrie Underwood

His dog, Toto

0

0

Carlos Gonzalez

0

Mila Kunis

Carrie Underwood

0

5

Baseball Glove

5

Catcher’s Glove

5

5 Photo credit: Allen J. Schaben/ Los Angeles Times/MCT

LEAST Favorite Baseball ACTIVITY?

Running

Favorite off Campus Eats?

Five Guys Bad Drivers

PET PEEVE? S c o r e b o a r d

Hitting

Catching Bull Pens

0

Qdoba

Bad Drivers

Qdoba 0

5

25

Horrible Drivers

0

0

5

15

The time Ganahl has spent with Good has obviously paid off. Ganahl pulled out the victory by a close margin over Good’s best friend.

While Good’s answers proved as elusive as a down and out curveball, Ganahl managed to track them down with more accuracy than Maltese.

15

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